Em Reads Shin Tenipuri, Part 5! [Vols. 4-5, Chapters 28-38]

[emothy]

I think I'm starting to get more drained than outraged. This isn't a good sign, is it? :x


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ShinTenipuri Vol. 4 Ch28 - "The Mysterious Relationship between Oni and the Middle Schoolers"

Ah, see! I knew someone was going to explain it to me! :D Yay for exposition!

Does ANYONE ELSE think that not only does Konomi have some kind of UST where Sanada is concerned, but that it's SO bad when it comes to Tezuka that Konomi is subconsciously aging him up more and more with every appearance just to feel less of a pervert? XD

...Just me then?

OHLOL THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE YAMATO-BUCHOU? I only ever saw the anime version of him, tell me the anime version is a little closer to this new look than that XD BECAUSE LOL KONOMI STOP REDESIGNING CHARACTERS FOR NO REASON.

Awwwwww Tachibana and Chitose doubles! WILL WE GET EPICNESS THE ORIGINAL SERIES NEVER SAW FIT TO GIVE US EVEN AFTER ALL THAT "OMG I INJURED HIM I MUST MOVE FAR AWAY AND ADOPT AN ENTIRE TEAM OF FUDO BABIES TO SMOTHER MY ANGST!" DRAMA?

Ooooh Atobe is Singles 1, Tezuka is Singles 2... if this is in order. (I know it should be, but I am not falling into the trap of trusting Konomi...)

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ShinTenipuri Vol. 4 Ch29 - "Team Shuffle"

AND THIS IS WHERE I STARTED LAUGHING MY ASS OFF. Just when you think the nicknames/reputations can't get any STUPIDER BETTER: "THE TENNIS ROBOT WHO MADE YAKUZA WIDOWS CRY."

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ShinTenipuri Vol. 4 Ch30 - "Gravestone"

...Oh so Liliadent Krauser's whole move throwing Akaya into the fence at Nationals is an actual tennis move? (COUGHCOUGH "MOVE" IN TENIPURI-LAND AT LEAST). I thought it was just overdramatics. Which is normal for highly emotional middle school tennis players XD

So, really, crucifixion is kinda cool.

(It's adorable how Akaya can't decide if he wants to cheer for his teammate or not XD After all, it's an insult if the dude who almost beat you loses too badly!)

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ShinTenipuri Vol. 4 Ch31 - "The Oath on the Cross"

Oh damn, isn't this match over yeeeeeeeeeeet?

Oh look, Liliadent Krauser got some characterization! BIT LATE KONOMI.

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ShinTenipuri Vol. 4 Ch32 - "Forbidden Devil Mode"

I was going to comment on the randomness of the Shiraishi-Kirihara doubles combination, but I figure coming from Rikkai Kirihara has been well trained (by thoroughly wholesome means) in how to work in a doubles combination with anyone. Cough. I didn't even attempt to make that sound dirty, it's all legitimate.

Ahoy pervy coach! <3

Two sets of data - this is why Yanagi finds Akayabb so sexy!.

omgomgomg what is this?

WHO WOULD'VE GUESSED RENJI WOULD BE THE FIRST OF THE TROIKA TO FEEL THE GUILT OVER WARPING AKAYABB'S MIND ALMOST BEYOND REPAIR? <3333333 I mean... well yeah, it had to be Renji, didn't it? XD

Oh Konomi, you're about to ruin the actual ~serious issues~ we've got going on here aren't you? "WHAT'S UNDER SHIRAISHI'S BANDAGES?! FIND OUT NEXT VOLUME!"

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ShinTenipuri Vol. 4 Ch33 - "Gold"

"How gaudy," Atobe says, about the gold gauntlet, whilst wondering which speed dial his jeweller is on exactly.

...Platinum will be much more awe-worthy XD

ROFL. I HAVE NO WORDS. OH, BB!

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ShinTenipuri Vol. 4 Ch34 - "Angel Mode"

Just read the caption on the left hand side there. Shiraishi's "clever words"?

...HE COMPLIMENTED AKAYA'S HAIR.

KONOMI WHAT ARE YOU, I DON'T EVEN-!

Please don't "Mmmmm ecstacy!" near Akayabb, it doesn't take a hell of a lot for me to ship things you know.

/ttly ignores the pages that suggest the gap between Shiraishi and Fuji is even wider than originally hinted at in their Nationals match, and immediately backpedaled on at the time with the "Fuji never loses to anyone twice" threat we never get to see in action. FUJI IS STILL MY SECOND FAVOURITE OKAY, YOU DARE FUCK ANYTHING UP ANYWHERE NEAR HIM AND I WILL CUT YOU KONOMI.

CUT. YOU.

Who else ignored the rest of the page and wondered who Tezuka has been making out with to get that darkened lip look? (Konomi, your issues are showing again!)

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ShinTenipuri Vol. 4 Ch35 - "Decisive Battle between the Seigaku Captains!"

I swear to god one thing I took away from the anime was that Yamato probably wasn't all that talented at tennis, but appeared to be a good leader and that was why he was Seigaku's captain? (And why they never made it to Nationals coughcough). But not apparently everyone is not only good at tennis, they're the BEST EVEREVEROMGRAINBOWS.

/clings to Pre-Monarchy headcanon where people aren't perfect and they don't all have the most stupid "special maneuvers".

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ShinTenipuri Vol. 4 Ch36 - "Wish"

...No seriously, I've just about had enough now. Konomi just pulled some shit right out of thin air here. Does any POT character get to have created his own backstory, or is it all recycled from a former captain?

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ShinTenipuri Vol. 5 Ch37 - "Farewell Tezuka Kunimitsu"

Ignoring the dialogue, I like this page <333333

And UNF. Characters Konomi seems to enjoy drawing a leeeetle too much has just expanded by one more ;D

NONONO DON'T GIVE A SHIPPER THIS MUCH AND NO MORE THAN THAT.

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ShinTenipuri Vol. 5 Ch38 - "One Step Ahead"

OKAY I FORGIVE YOU. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HEAR MY FANGIRL SQUEES REACH THE ROOFTOPS.

You may have just butchered Tezuka's characterization, Konomi, but you've attempted to distract me with a Tezuka-Fuji match and I applaud you for trying.

idkidk though. Does this completely change my headcanon, or not? God, this requires some serious musing over. WHAT BAD TIMING, I WAS GOING TO WRITE UP SOME FUJI HEADCANON FOR CYN SOON.

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Comments

[thelittleone]

Does ANYONE ELSE think that not only does Konomi have some kind of UST where Sanada is concerned, but that it's SO bad when it comes to Tezuka that Konomi is subconsciously aging him up more and more with every appearance just to feel less of a pervert? XD

You already know my theories for Sanada. Now apply that to Tezuka. God, someone shoot me Especially NOW. ...Think about it. /leaves it at that


I am telling you. There is a special nexus of utter, illogical CRACK where this is all from. I am not even-- LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL


I swear to god one thing I took away from the anime was that Yamato probably wasn't all that talented at tennis, but appeared to be a good leader and that was why he was Seigaku's captain? (And why they never made it to Nationals coughcough). But not apparently everyone is not only good at tennis, they're the BEST EVEREVEROMGRAINBOWS.

/clings to Pre-Monarchy headcanon where people aren't perfect and they don't all have the most stupid "special maneuvers".

/is just... nodding and shaking her head. And nodding some more IDK.


...No seriously, I've just about had enough now. Konomi just pulled some shit right out of thin air here. Does any POT character get to have created his own backstory, or is it all recycled from a former captain?

/plugs ears with fingers ~LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA~

ohgodicannot. not even for all the GORGEOUS LINE ART OF RIKKAI would i pick this up.

EM. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEM. BBY BOY IS READING THIS NONSENSE. CLEARLY ONTOP OF YOU HANDLING HIS PROJECTS YOU NEED TO CHECK IF THIS THING HASN'T WARPED HIS MIND. ;n; okay maybe i am overreacting a little /neesan-mode okay


Alright, backtracking to the Akaya bits. As much as I love the three demons being assholes and totally giving Akaya enough rope to hang him with, this whole Life Threatening State of Mind is just... GIVE THE BOY A LITTLE CREDIT OMG. :| /throws up hands in the air.

And God. It's just... more than just a little unbelievable IDKIDKIDK /huddling in WtSH now.

[emothy]

EM. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEM. BBY BOY IS READING THIS NONSENSE. CLEARLY ONTOP OF YOU HANDLING HIS PROJECTS YOU NEED TO CHECK IF THIS THING HASN'T WARPED HIS MIND. ;n; okay maybe i am overreacting a little /neesan-mode okay


AH CRAP, IS HE? KONOMI, YOU ARE POLLUTING PURE AWESOME MINDS, STOP NOW.


this whole Life Threatening State of Mind is just...

LOL. It isn't Shin Tenipuri unless it's completely and utterly over the top, okay? XD

[thelittleone]

YES OMG STOP NOW, KONOMI. HE WORSHIPS THIS SERIES BUT OMG NO. JUST NO. he has better sense, i know but asdlfkjh

[vacivity.livejournal.com]

Wait. Who is reading it?

[thelittleone]

MASSU DOES ;n;

[vacivity.livejournal.com]

omg some of those panels. *_* So PRETTY. And I am totally okay with Konomi having Sanada/Tezuka/Atobe issues if mt means we get to see more of them!

Yanagi trusting Kirihara to Shiraishi! So CUTE. Although the angel thing is kind of creepy. I wonder if it lasts? Very little Sanada and Yukimura in here but that's okay. We got lots of other people and it was awesome.

That captain so doesn't look like Yamato in the anime. I wonder if that is how he looks in the manga? And I thought that he was all about the leadership and less about the tennis. So ugh. Konomi. :(

/clings to you

Ignore the shintenipuri stuff for now?? Although if you want you can ramble to meeeeeeeee.

Also, who is your first favorite? If Fuji is your second favorite? /suspects but isn't sure?

[emothy]

I didn't realise everyone was going to be so right when they said the art had improved. To the point of perviness ;D

I WAS VERY SAD OVER THE LACK OF SANADA AND YUKIMURA, I COULD'VE CRIED. Rikkai in general are totally underutilized. YES, I SAID IT.

I read on and Yamato in flashback looks exactly like he does in the anime, so LOL MORE.

Yukimura is my favourite now XD Fuji was before that <3

[vacivity.livejournal.com]

THEY ARE. But um Maybe the next chapters will feature them?

I thought it was that! :D :D Yay Yukimura!

[umiyuki]

Forgive the lateness of this comment; I needed some time to go over my thoughts on the matter! IT ONLY TOOK A YEAR, YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF ME 8D

What I want to talk about here is the match between Yamato and Tezuka. Because okay, first of all, you’re right. The developments with Yamato aren’t built up to well or foreshadowed in the original and so they do come off really sudden and kind of jarring. And you’re also right in pointing out how poor Konomi is at writing people with differing skill levels most of the time. So I really don’t disagree with you as to how the whole thing isn’t written well.

And at the same time? I loved it. It’s one of my favorite matches in the series.

I loved it because to me personally, Tezuka’s whole story is all about generational hurt, and how much pain he causes himself and others because he’s so desperate to earn his captain’s approval. Yamato tells young Tezuka to “become the Pillar of Seigaku”, and what Tezuka hears is that he has to be just like Yamato. And so he makes the same mistakes that Yamato did because that’s the example he’s trying to follow, and it hurts everyone, just as it did when Yamato was captain.

I see this the most with the way Tezuka favors Echizen over the other junior regulars. From the beginning Tezuka chooses Echizen, singles him out as the one who will become the Pillar of Seigaku and carry on his legacy. And in doing so he’s essentially passing over Momoshiro and Kaidoh, even though they’ve been on the team longer and worked harder to get where they are. I don’t think Momoshiro is terribly hurt by this because he’s not the kind to take things hard like that. But Kaidoh, on the other hand, is not only more sensitive but also needs Tezuka’s approval in a way that Momoshiro doesn’t. Kaidoh loves and idolizes his captain deeply, and works his ass off because he wants so badly for Tezuka to look at him and tell him that he’s worthy to be his heir. He works himself to the limit every day and claws his way up trying to get Tezuka’s attention, and then Tezuka passes him over in a heartbeat for a cocky first-year who doesn’t even have to try.

And I think this is exactly the same thing that Yamato did with Tezuka two years before - passing over the second-years who’ve been working hard because they have less natural skill in favor of a first-year who can beat them without trying. It’s pretty clear that Tezuka is Yamato’s golden boy just due to his talent level, in the same way that Echizen is Tezuka’s. Tezuka does the same thing that Yamato does because he thinks that’s what he’s supposed to do, he thinks that’s what a good captain is supposed to do. He essentially thinks that in order to live up to Yamato’s expectations, he has to be exactly like him. And so Tezuka perpetuates this cycle of generational hurt that is, in the end, broken not because Tezuka did anything to stop it but because Kaidoh is a kinder and gentler person than Tezuka’s sempais were and doesn’t have it in him to break Echizen’s arm.

And the thing of it all is, trying to emulate Yamato is hurting Tezuka himself, too. He pushes himself more than he ever should because he thinks he has to, forces himself to play through horrible pain that he knows will worsen his injuries and probably cause him chronic pain for the majority of his adult life for the sake of middle school tennis because he thinks that’s what he’s supposed to do. He’s essentially trapped by his own perception of what his duty is, and he’s destroying his body because of it.

The part about Yamato having arm injuries too is, admittedly, a total ass pull on Konomi’s part. There’s no doubt that it could have been written better. But because I’m already so invested in the parallels between Yamato and Tezuka, I still enjoyed it as a development. The part that I liked the best was that Yamato actually said, “I never meant that I wanted you to become like me,” and in doing so freed Tezuka from his sense of duty, from the idea that he had to push himself to the point of further injury because that’s what’s needed and expected of him. I loved that being freed from his duty and his need to emulate Yamato was what it took for Tezuka to be able to unlock Ten’i Muhou no Kiwami, because that freedom is what I’ve wanted for Tezuka all along. So it’s not the best written development, but to me personally it’s the fulfillment of the way I’ve been reading Tezuka’s storyline from the beginning. It’s so satisfying to me that I can’t help loving it in spite of its flaws.

Also, I love that Tezuka’s reaction was “I don’t have to be here anymore? In that case, I’ll just be on the next plane to Germany.” Because really, the one thing I think everyone in NPoT should do is just remove themselves from the situation, so I’m glad at least one person had the good sense to do so XDDD