Like Falling Asleep

We don't need Yugi's flashback because their story has been told for a long time. (an analysis) Part 2.

3. Hakubo and Sumire. Mystery and yorishiro continue. How does this relate to Yugi?

Tsukasa is also a sacrifice to the demon hole in exchange for a wish, also a yorishiro in the form of a human. There is a difference in how Sumire was betrayed against her will, while Tsukasa died of his own free will.

Tsukasa sat alone in Hanako's boundary for a long time, calling for him, but he never came.

Most likely, Tsukasa has not met Amane since the very day of his death, and when he appears in the chapter with donuts, this is really the first time he was able to go free and enter the plot.

Tsukasa, unlike Sumire, is sure that Amane hates him, and does not consider himself significant to him, he is surprised when Amane begins to cry.

Tsukasa is also tired of his existence, he just has some goals that still keep him afloat, but having achieved them, he is just as ready to disappear if it will help others, close to him.

What is so good about Amane, because he is unbearable? Why did Tsukasa and Nene love him so much? Here it is, the irony. Sumire had no options, Nene and Tsukasa still get along with people easier

and nevertheless, love is blind.

Tsukasa is very unrestrained, and probably because he finally got out of prison and can control his and even other people's actions. Tsukasa does not ask to be remembered, but deep down he also wants at least some recognition of his value. Amane also suffers that he acted this way towards Tsukasa, he blames himself a lot, but at the same time also shifts part of the blame to his brother.

After all, it is his fault that he is fake, if everything were different, if Amane had lived a different life, he would not have done this. He, just like Hakubo, did not value the time he spent with his brother, and now he is stewing in his own guilt, while leaving Tsukasa alone in the locked boundary and not answering his call.

4. Aoi and Akane. Close since childhood.

These two were close like twins, growing up together since childhood. Aoi was a shy girl, while Akane was more easily approached by people, and as a result, she remained in his shadow.

At first, they grew up like normal children, and both acted completely normal, until one fateful day came...

The Clock Keepers recruited Akane by threatening to kill Aoi, and thus, he made a contract with them, becoming half-supernatural.

Here, I want to refer to the theory of friend if mine that Aoi died that day and Akane sacrificed his lifespan for her. [But he doesn't remember it. Come to think of it, the flashback abruptly ends with "do you want to gain the power to control time?", continuing the story from the perspective of an unreliable narrator - Akane. I say "unreliable" because it was easy for him to have his memory erased, or even have some of his memories fabricated.

It's worth remembering that the senior guardian can actually rewind time, deleting unnecessary memories. And I don't believe that the guardians of the clock choose a third one for fun. They probably have some kind of selection criteria. Besides, Akane is literally half supernatural, and I don't think that will go unnoticed. Most likely, his days are numbered, like Yashiro's. Maybe he wasn't supposed to die in the first place, but he probably sacrificed his lifespan to correct a terrible misunderstanding. He thinks that after graduation he will simply stop being a guardian of the clock and return to his normal life, but what if everything is played out in such a way that he does not remember the first and most important point of his contract: in exchange for Aoi's life, he gave up his future?]

Also, Akane is very traumatized by what happened. I already said that the reason why he clings to Aoi so madly could be his trauma that day. Just like how Tsukasa got fixated on the idea of "knowing more about Amane" because he discussed it before Kou traumatized him with his revelation, Akane got fixated on the idea of "enjoying the time spent with Aoi and confessing my love to her because I love her and want to be with her" because he also talked about it with Aoi before the Guardians put her in danger.

That's why he doesn't act like a normal person anymore, and that's why he's becoming less and less like his calm younger self. Akane made a contract with a supernatural in exchange for the life of a loved one and became half supernatural, changing internally, but mostly because of the trauma and fear of losing Aoi rather than the effects of the supernatural specifically.

The boy who came back to Aoi after that day was a slightly different person. He acted differently and hid a lot of things, and that's why there was a distance between them that grew wider as the years went by. This isn't an "Akane is hiding something" level problem, it's an "Akane has really changed a lot" level problem.

So Aoi, who was initially comfortable around him, starts to feel weird. She stops being playful and teasing around him like she used to because Akane has become so obsessed with the idea that she's slowly starts pushing him away.

Eventually, the tension reaches a breaking point and Aoi is pushed to such a stalemate that she lays hands on the person closest to her, Akane, because she thinks that will solve her problem.

Continue in the next post 🙌🏻

Part 1

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We don't need Yugi's flashback because their story has been told for a long time. (an analysis) Part 1.

We don't know much about the twins, but I think that's enough because their personal story parallels all the characters in this manga. And w

watching the new episode i can't help but wonder how hanako felt when, trying to act closer to what nene would like, she is just missing the real him

watching link click and i gotta say again how i adore doomed siblings

i love when my children are doomed by the narrative

yugi "no matter the tl dies" amane and kamui "and the illusion of free choice"

Interview

Part 1:

AidaIro: Mangaka. With Iro as the writer and Aida as the illustrator, the two create as a team. Their works include Furyō to Megane to Koi to Sensō, published in the September 2012 edition of Monthly G-Fantasy, and Dear My Living Dead, published in the November 2013 edition. Following a miniseries version in 2014, Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun has been serialized in G-Fantasy since 2015. Starting in 2018, they created a spinoff called Hōkago Shōnen Hanako-kun hosted on Pixiv Comic in the online publication “P-Fantapy”. Along with receiving an anime and musical theater adaptation, Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun begins its second season in January 2025.

The appeal of Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun lies in its slightly retro setting, where the author blends eastern and western concepts with unpredictability, such as turning infamous Japanese urban legend Hanako-san of the Toilet into a boy, as well as another familiar topic to its Japanese audience: “the seven wonders of the school.” Even the items, hairstyles and clothing featured in the work create their own narrative. The supernaturals encountered leave a lasting impression with forms that are more than just terrifying, and Hanako-kun’s boyish qualities that contrast greatly with his dark side create a gap in personality that gets your heart thumping. We asked AidaIro to tell us more about the captivatingly comical and serious world of Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun, its characters, and the making behind it.

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Interviewer: The theme of this special feature of Quarterly S magazine is “the supernatural.” In a prior interview, Iro-san talked about how they love Western and Japanese horror, folklore, nursery rhymes, and more, but could you tell us what draws you to them? On the flipside, Aida-san mentioned that they watched something based on “Hanako-san of the Toilet” when they were younger. We’d love it if you could tell us about creative works that have left an impact on you both over the years.

Iro (Writer): Fear is universal, something that all of us are familiar with, right? Even in our day-to-day lives we fear the dark, imagining there’s something lurking inside it. And if you were to combine this fear with a fable, like one about a “monster that lurks in the dark”, it helps to strengthen the power of the imagination. Adding a sense of realism to fiction, leaving the reader wondering if what’s written down could actually be true, is something I really enjoy. Also, I think there’s a part of me that sees horror as a kind of entertainment, like a rollercoaster.

Aida (Illustrator): I watched a TV program called Ponkickies that featured an anime called “Gakkou no Kowai Uwasa: Hanako-san ga Kita!! (Scary School Rumors: Here Comes Hanako-san!!)”. The Hanako-san in that show is an ally, so it left me with the deep impression that Hanako-san is “one of the good guys!”. “Sacchan no Uwasa (The Rumor of Sacchan)” and “Kaijin Tonkaraton (Phantom Tonkaraton)” were episodes that I found particularly scary.

Iro: I found the song “The Girl Who Trod on the Loaf” from NHK’s “Kodomo Ningyou Gekijou” scary. It was only a shadow puppet, but there was this visual of a girl sinking into a puddle of water…

Interviewer: ”The Girl Who Trod on the Loaf” is meant to teach kids a moral lesson, but the story and the events that transpire are pretty severe, so I could see how viewing it at a young age would be pretty traumatic. “Sacchan no Uwasa” and “Kaijin Tonkaraton” are both urban legends. Were there any rumors like that at the schools you two attended?

Aida: When I was in school, there was a horror boom. On school trips, everyone desperately tried to get their hands on paranormal photographs. Of course, the professional photographers never had any spirit photography available…

Iro: The school I went to had no ghost stories whatsoever. I looked around, but sadly I found none…

Interviewer: During the boom, I saw a lot of spirit photography for sale on television programs. And now, I’d like to hear about the kinds of fictional settings and motifs you both enjoy.

Aida: I have an appreciation for the old over the new. For example, back in the 1910s when commercial illustrations began to appear, they had these posters, like of posing actors, that I personally find really cool. Much of the furniture and clothing made back then I still find cute today. I also like how the people of the 1960s imagined the near future—what’s called the “retro future”.

Iro: Whether it be reading or writing, I love settings with fantasy elements. Like what you might find in a children’s book…… Recently I read House of Many Ways (Howl's Moving Castle Series #3). I enjoy the horror and mystery genres as well, but I think I prefer watching them over reading them.

Interviewer: The time periods that intrigue Aida-san are close in time to the fictional settings seen in Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun. Moving on, I want to ask you both more about manga. What was it that got you to create manga together in the first place?

Iro: I started off writing short stories alone. When I was a student I wrote a script for a play, and after gaining the experience of working with multiple people, I wanted to try creating more works as a team. I liked manga, and after meeting Aida-san in college, I fell in love with their art at first sight. I asked them if they would be the manga artist for my stories. 

Aida: I read Iro’s work, thought it would be fun to work with them, and readily agreed. But once I agreed I wondered, “How exactly does one draw as a team!?” and began to worry (Laugh). In the end, the manga BAKUMAN。had a great influence on the way Iro-san and I work together. It's a great example of creating manga as a writer-illustrator duo, and it was what helped me first understand what that really looked like.... It told me what I should do and gave me the push I needed when I was just starting out. Besides that, I thought, "I can't be the only one reading Iro-san’s fictional worlds. I want more people to experience their writing!" and that was a great motivator as well.

Interviewer: What a wonderful story. Have there been any changes between the way you two produce the manga today in comparison to when you first started?

Iro: We used to meet up before, but nowadays we mostly work via voice call. Aida-san and I live close enough that we can reach the other's house before a bowl of soup cools, so we go out together often when there are events in the neighborhood and such. When we meet up, our conversations will naturally drift to work-related topics; perhaps that's a sign that we keep close contact.

Interviewer: Thank you so much. Moving on, I’d like to look back and discuss your debut work, Dear My Living Dead (included in Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun, Vol. 0). Lilia’s unchangeable fate and the path that Cult chose were really heartbreaking.

Iro: I like anything related to zombies.

Aida: I designed Lilia to look soft and full of happiness, while Cult was given a simple design that conveys an intense weariness. When drawing the important scenes, I would adjust the lines and angles until the faces looked just right, to the point where a single panel could take me 5 hours to draw. This isn’t limited to just Cult and Lilia, but I was conscientious of how lower eyelids would move when I was drawing.

Interviewer: 5 hours... that's incredible! I find it fascinating that you even paid attention to the way the lower eyelids moved. Furyō to Megane to Koi to Sensō (included in Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun, Vol. 5) is a comedic work that was published before Dear My Living Dead. It contains Akane-kun and Yamabuki-kun, who appear in Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun.

Iro: Akane and Yamabuki were created before JSHK. They were positively received back then, so we decided to have their characters reappear in Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun rather than leave them lying around.

Interviewer: Is that so! This was followed by a three-chapter miniseries (included in Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun, Vol. 0) which then kickstarted the serialization of Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun. Themed around a well-known concept, “the seven wonders of the school”, and mixed with unexpected elements like having a male “Hanako-san of the Toilet”, the manga sucks you in with its retro fictional setting. Tell us how you develop ideas for stories that combine dark themes with humor.

Iro: It was originally a short story I wrote for an assignment that I then turned into a manga. The main characters were Yugi Amane, Hanako-kun in his previous life, and the character who would later become School Mystery Number 4, Shijima Mei. It didn't have any love comedy or ghost story elements, it was just about Amane and Mei's lives as high school students and their interactions. When we added the "seven wonders of the school" element, Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun was born. The retro and ghost story elements were added after; the foundation of the story, its darker parts, were there first.

Aida: When brainstorming ideas, there are times when we’ve done it over meals, but we don’t typically decide on things that way? Usually it starts with either a suggestion from Iro-san or a new character I designed. For example, the school mysteries Number 6 and Tsuchigomori had their character designs completed first. In the seasonal events we host on social media, it starts with an illustration I draw, then I create a world and clothing to go with it, and finally have Iro make a story out of it.

Interviewer: So you have a flexible creation process. I see. “Picture Perfect”, the arc where Yugi Amane and Shijima Mei appear, didn’t start with a rumor but with the characters being unknowingly captured by a supernatural and taken to a world that confuses the ordinary with the extraordinary. It was a very memorable arc.

Iro: I started writing the Picture Perfect arc with a desire to create a story that you could read as a standalone, like something that could be adapted into a movie. In movie adaptations, the story takes place on a large scale and ends with a dramatic finish, so I kept that in mind while I was writing. Within the pilot version Shijima-san was in love with Number 7 (Hanako-kun), but when she came to the long series adaptation of Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun that element disappeared. Since I was writing about school ghost stories, and haunted art rooms are a common theme in those, I wanted to include one here.

Interviewer: It was extremely dramatic, it had me invested. The “Number 6” arc, where Number 6’s (Hakubo’s) story is told, also took place on a large scale. The visual of him wearing a bone mask left an impression on me.

Aida: We decided a character wearing bones would appear early on in the series… Later on we settled on Number 6 being a shinigami (god of death) and the decision that he would be an oni came after. He has an invigorating face, like one that would belong to a member of a baseball club, but his actual personality is nowhere near sportsmanlike. Being able to dig deep into Aoi’s character during the No. 6 arc was really fun.

Iro: Since the Picture Perfect arc was a refreshing change of pace, I started conceptualizing the No. 6 arc by going in the opposite direction. I wanted to create a grimy, unpleasant story, containing self-serving old customs and disagreements between the characters. It was fun to have the characters get shaken up by new plot developments; I labored really hard while writing it.

Interviewer: Being able to see sides of Aoi she wouldn’t show to Akane and seeing her get worse was painful. I feel that seeing the characters grow and change is another one of the highlights of reading Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun. I also felt that Mitsuba and Kou had a nice relationship in the “Night Out” arc.

Iro: I enjoy writing about Mitsuba and Kou’s relationship. Writing the script for the Aquarium arc wasn’t easy…

Aida: We were mulling it over during karaoke when suddenly we saw clown fish and coral reefs pass by on the monitor. “Should we do an aquarium?” “Aquarium sounds good.” And the rest was history.

Interviewer: So that's how that came to be! Next, I want to talk about the spinoff, Hōkago Shōnen Hanako-kun (After-school Hanako-kun). The humorous chapters and crazy plot twists make it so fun! Tell us more about the chapters you were able to make because they were made for Hōkago Shōnen Hanako-kun and the scenes that you personally enjoyed.

Iro: I plan it so that all of the characters get equal amounts of screen time. That said, occasionally there is some bias. We were able to create the chapter where Nene turns into a Mokke precisely because it was a chapter made for “Hōkago.” That chapter (Day 9: Truth of the Mokke) is my personal favorite.

Interviewer: Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun, a brand rife with animated shows, events and the like, is nearing its 10th anniversary! Congratulations! I’m looking forward to all of the anniversary events.

Aida: Thank you! A lot of merchandise has been made in celebration. Get excited!

Interviewer: Additionally, Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun Season 2 begins airing in January 2025! Tell us what you’re looking forward to seeing in the new anime.

Iro: There is so much I’m looking forward to it’s hard to choose… I’m excited to see the opening and ending.

Interviewer: The opening and ending are like a condensed version of the work, so it makes sense they would grab your attention. To cap things off, not limited to just Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun, tell us what’s been on your mind, what you’re into lately, or something you want to try in the future.

Iro: I love escape rooms, so I have a dream of one day collaborating with SCRAP and making one. I also love haunted houses, so I want to collaborate with one of those someday, too. I want a Mokke alarm clock. Also, I want to make a Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun horror game. I love video games, and I’ve always felt an urge to create them. This feeling will never die.

Aida: I like railroads, so I would like to ride the Jungfrau in Switzerland one day. There are many railways I haven’t ridden yet that I’d like to ride within Japan, too.

Interviewer: Thank you for answering all of our questions!

Part 2:

Comments about the cast from AidaIro themselves! Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun’s Human and Supernatural Cast 

Hanako-kun | Leader of the Seven Mysteries・No. 7 “Hanako-san of the Toilet” A ghost story in the old building of Kamome Academy, “Hanako-san of the Toilet.” Dons a gakuran and school cap. Although cheerful and innocent, he’s experienced gloomy events in his past. His favorite food is homemade donuts.

Iro: Hanako-kun thinks Nene is cute, so he keeps close to her. He can be excused for this because he’s younger than Nene. Aida: The decision to make the toilets western-style came naturally. And because Hanako-kun lives in them, we didn’t want to make them too uncomfortable to live in. I thought stained glass would help make the bathroom look more attractive.

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Yugi Amane Hanako-kun’s name during his “lifetime.” Loves stars. His personality is more mild than Hanako-kun’s. During the time period he’s shown interacting with Tsuchigomori-sensei, he’s drawn with ever-present wounds. Within the story, his physical appearance varies; he’s seen in his early childhood, his adolescence, and even as a working adult.

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Yashiro Nene A first year student in the high school division. In order to get her beloved Teru-senpai to reciprocate her feelings, she summons the rumored wish-granter, “Hanako-san of the Toilet.” Contrary to expectations, she winds up with the mermaid’s curse, and turns into a fish when she gets wet. Cares deeply about the subject of daikon legs. Ends up learning she’s going to die soon…

Aida: In manga, a character can’t always be in full view, so you have to ensure that a character’s unique characteristics shine through when nothing below the face or bust are shown. That’s what Nene’s skull broach and magatama hair clips are for. As for her daikon legs, I recall the editor-in-chief asking for the heroine to have a defining feature of some kind. Her face is pretty.

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Mitsuba Sousuke (Mitsuba) | Seven Mysteries・No. 3 “The Hell of Mirrors” A cute face with a problematic personality. Loves to take photographs. As a ghost, he met Kou and was able to let go of his lingering regrets, but due to Tsukasa and his posse he gets transformed into a terrifying form. Mitsuba, whose appearance has changed multiple times, continues to live as a supernatural. Although he is no longer the old Mitsuba Sousuke, Kou continues to be friends with him, and encourages him whenever Mitsuba feels disheartened.

Iro: He first appears in Vol. 4, and was created out of a desire to make a character of a different archetype than the rest. Aida: In contrast to Hanako-kun and Nene whose colors look chic when combined, we wanted him and Kou to really pop together. Iro: Mitsuba made his exit at one point, but because there was potential to show more between him and Kou, and because we thought he could help us dive deeper into Kou’s character, we decided to bring him back.

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Minamoto Kou A third year student in the middle school division. A hot-blooded teen who feels his emotions intensely. His omamori piercing is his trademark. Through his interactions with Hanako-kun and Mitsuba, he begins to empathize with supernaturals, unlike his brother. His special skill is cooking.

Aida: His staff and omamori piercing were designed to easily communicate the genres of the work, Japanese and Horror. Moreover, his hairstyle and face scream "lively!", though he might make more soft expressions now than he did at the beginning of the manga.

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Minamoto Teru A second year in the high school division. The student council president who doubles as a powerful exorcist. While on the outside he appears to be a dazzling, fine-looking man, when it comes to supernaturals he is unforgivingly harsh. Fond of his little sister Tiara and terrible at cooking.

Aida: Teru keeps his elbows in and legs straight, giving him great posture. I always take care to draw him making refined gestures. When he’s thinking, he has a habit of touching his chin. Incidentally, Kou touches his ear or cheek. Iro: In his first proper appearance in Chapter 9 (published in Vol. 2 of the comics), he tries to exorcise Hanako-kun. In the magazine’s questionnaire, he scored super low (Laugh). It was then that I understood that being pretty wasn’t enough to absolve you from all crimes.

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Aoi Akane | Seven Mysteries・No. 1 “The Three Clock Keepers” Nene’s classmate. A prodigy who serves as the student council vice president. Aoi’s childhood friend. Confesses his feelings to her and is continuously rejected. Even his reason for becoming a Clock Keeper links back to Aoi. Has the ability to stop time.

Aida: When he turns into his Clock Keeper form, I try to draw him a little more mature. When he’s with Aoi, his eyes sparkle with delight, but with everyone else he loses his enthusiasm and his eyes seem to gloss over.

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Akane Aoi Nene’s best friend and the popularity queen of Kamome Academy. Knows a lot about the rumors circulating through the academy. Rejects Aoi’s advances because her name would change to Aoi Aoi if they ever got married. In the “No. 6 arc”, after she confessed the feelings she’d bottled up inside, she began to see supernaturals, and now her behavior is overall more laidback.

Aida: When drawing beautiful girls (Aoi) and beautiful men (Teru), I line in a lot of extra detail, creating silky smooth hair and sparkling eyes. In comparison to Nene-chan, her eyes have smaller highlights and are overall darker. I feel these traits are both very Aoi-chan, and very cute. ♥

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Yako | Seven Mysteries・No. 2 “The Misaki Stairs” An Inari statue with feelings for the human Misaki. In charge of the “Misaki Stairs.” Now that her yorishiro’s been destroyed, she pretends to be a cat and is taken care of as one in Kamome Academy. She and Tsuchigomori get along like dogs and cats.

Aida: The bib in her kitsune form turns into an apron in her human form, maintaining a sense of unity between the two. The basis of her design are the colors red and white, and I take care not to ruin the balance between those colors in both of her forms.

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Tsuchigomori | Seven Mysteries・No. 5 “The 4PM Bookstacks” A supernatural that’s dwelled in Kamome Academy for many years now. He was Amane’s homeroom teacher when Amane lived, and now works as Kou’s homeroom teacher. His defining features are the spider web-like pattern on his forehead and his long fingers. Wears a white lab coat and can be found in the science prep room.

Aida: There was no trouble when designing Tsuchigomori. I think I designed his supernatural form first. He’s a kind supernatural with an indifferent face.

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Hyuuga Natsuhiko A second year in the high school division. Lures Nene and friends in with his casual tone of voice. Sakura treats him like the air. A human that won’t die however many times he’s killed whose blood is deathly toxic to supernaturals. Works to destroy the yorishiro of each of the seven mysteries.

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Nanamine Sakura A third year in the high school division. An aid to Tsukasa, she spreads rumors about supernaturals in the broadcasting room. A beautiful young lady whose eyes are usually downcast. Like Nene, she formed a bond with a supernatural (Tsukasa) as payment for a wish.

Aida: When I draw the three members of the broadcasting club in a panel together, I make it so they’re all looking in different directions. With Sakura-san as their leader, there is a cool atmosphere. This contrasts with the main character group (Hanako-kun, Nene-chan, Kou-kun), who tend to gather in a circle and exchange looks. By the way, Natsuhiko has a habit of putting on airs and posing like he’s going to be photographed, while Tsukasa floats freely through the air.

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Yugi Tsukasa The younger twin brother that Hanako-kun (Amane) says he killed, Tsukasa. They resemble each other, but he has a higher level of brutality and a deep darkness inside of him. The cursed red house is haunted by “something” taking the form of a young Tsukasa. It seems he was trapped inside in exchange for saving Amane, who was terribly sick. The seal on his cheek is pasted on the opposite side to that of Hanako-kun’s.

Aida: Even in the pilot, many compositions were created with the idea that Tsukasa was a thing. Iro: It’s not that I particularly like twins, I just think it’s cute when two characters share the same face. Or I’ll think I want there to be more of a face I like, and split them into separate people to give that face a variety of different facial expressions. And then the number of twins increases, for whatever reason. Aida: Isn’t that the same as liking twins? (Laugh)

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Shijima Mei | Seven Mysteries・No. 4 “Shijima-san of the Art Room” A supernatural born from lament towards the fictional rumors that started after the death of Shijima Mei. Able to create ideal worlds within her boundary. Memorable for her ability to bring drawings to life.

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Hakubo | Seven Mysteries・No. 6 “Shinigami-sama” A supernatural with the power to control life and death. The visual of him wearing a skull head covering in addition to his animal-like hands leave a strong impression.

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Mokke

Iro: I always have fun when writing about the Mokke. In truth I would like them to appear more in the main story, but alas… Even when the main story gets serious, the Mokke are there living their Mokke lives.

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“The Boundary”: What Connects This World and The Next The boundary, the place where the Seven Mysteries can exercise their power to its max potential. The visuals within the boundaries are extravagant and large scale. No. 2’s is like a road approaching a shrine, No. 6’s has arched bridges, and the Clock Keepers’ boundary is composed of clock parts big and small. Each boundary is original and impactful in its own way.

Aida: The boundaries of the Seven Mysteries are composed of two things: something related to the Mystery’s name, and something that has nothing to do with the name at all. For example, Number 2’s boundary is composed of stairs and dolls, Number 5’s is bookshelves and butterflies, etc. Number 6’s boundary is composed of large lotus flowers and buildings resembling the stacked rocks of Sai no Kawara (Children’s Limbo.) This is based on what someone from his past told Number 6 the afterlife—“Paradise”—was like. The lotus spirits (one-eyed creatures who speak in various combinations of ma, mi, mu, me, and mo) are the part that have nothing to do with the name. The boundary I’d want to go to is Yako’s. Iro: The boundary I want to visit most is also Number 2’s. It’s photogenic, like something you’d see on Instagram.

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Aida's Key Points for Illustrating

Line Art Style Crisp lines drawn with varying degrees of pressure give the art a charming, three-dimensional style. Compared to the style used early on in the series, the lines are now sharper and have a stronger presence on the page. The effects produced by distorting lines are interesting, too. Aida: When drawing impactful scenes, I will alter the panels that come before and after and adjust the balance of the inking. I also apply light sources to produce effects rather than to show the actual light source.

Balance Between Black & White Hanako-kun's black hair and gakuran aren't just inked in pure black--strokes are added to express their sheen and create a three dimensional feeling. The balance between black and white can also be used to convey tension in a scene. Aida: Once I'm finished inking, I distribute the lighting and shading so as create contrast with the other drawings.

Triangle Motif The triangle motif appears when worlds crumble after a yorishiro is destroyed, in backgrounds and props, and even in the texture of Mitsuba's scarf. Triangles also appear in the designs of the volume covers; see for yourself! Aida: The triangles were included because I wanted to add an effect that was unique to the work. I was partially inspired by the uroko- (scales) patterned kimono worn in kabuki theater. Other than that, perhaps I incorporated them because I enjoy glass and glass-like things.

The Beautifully Decorated Recap Pages The decorations surrounding the panels are also worth looking at. Particularly in the "recaps", where characters will introduce themselves and get readers caught up on the story. The witty lines accompanying the characters’ self-intros are part of the fun. Aida: Since Hanako-kun is currently serialized in a magazine, I drew them thinking that readers who have not yet read Hanako-kun may be intrigued by seeing something cute and retro while randomly flipping through the pages. If they find the panels unique and wonder why that is, then we might succeed in grabbing their attention.

Styling the Eyes The eyes in Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun are unique, being shaped and detailed in such a way that you can tell the characters apart through their eyes alone. Here are some of the various eyes seen in Hanako-kun, showcasing emotional highs and lows to the seemingly inhuman. Aida: Nene looks at others head-on, so her eyes clearly reflect what she’s seeing. I try to make Hanako-kun and Tsukasa distinguishable through their character design. I often give eyes no highlights when I think it’ll produce a good effect.

Index Pages The table of contents pages in the manga volumes are also beautiful. The index in the Picture Perfect arc is linked to the story by depicting an unsettling broken canvas. Volume 21 contains the school festival, and depicts a flyer posted on a bulletin board. The same design appears in the story itself. Aida: The index page designs are often chosen based on how exciting they are. I create many drafts depicting impactful scenes, then select one from the group.

Covers Aida: The cover illustrations are decided by the characters. I will draft many different compositions for each cover, and there is always a lot to consider. Even the main color of the volume, which I might pick out early on, can change if it doesn’t fit the feel when I start coloring in the characters. It is a dynamic creation process.

Drawing Tools [For colored pages, colored illustrations, and black-and-white pages] Tablet: LCD Tablet (Wacom Cintiq) Art Program: Easy Paint Tool SAI 2 (Most-used brush: 鉛筆・平筆 (Pencil/Flat Brush)) Aida: I struggle with pen pressure, but I find the pressure sensitivity in SAI to be the easiest to draw with. I use Clip Studio Paint to add screentones to black-and-white pages. Also, I sometimes use Muji’s 週刊誌４コマノート (Weekly 4koma Notebook) when drafting the manuscript. At first I only ever drafted things on PC, but occasionally I feel like 'drawing while eating tasty food!', so I also do it non-digitally.

Q: What is indispensable when creating manga? Iro: Definitely Japanese Tea. I fill a 700ml teapot and have it placed beside me as I work, and I can empty it up to 3 or 4 times a day. There’s also this handmade coaster I received from a reader a long time ago that I still use to this day. When I conceptualize the story, I put on background noise that would have played during those story events. Back when I was brainstorming the scene in volume 5 where Nene meets Yugi Amane in the past, I played the 5 PM / Evening Chime on repeat for 10 hours. Aida: I take a walk for about 2 hours every day. I’ll go to the gym, or the library, or play with my hamster… in addition to copious amounts of drawing. Occasionally I’ll go on walks with Iro-san.

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Houkago Shōnen Hanako-kun: Houkago Shōnen Hanako-kun is more humorous than Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun, featuring many slice-of-life episodes where readers can learn new, unexpected sides of the characters. Editor: When the editorial team was planning to collaborate with pixiv to create an online magazine (P-Fantapy), I pitched the idea of a Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun spinoff and brought it to AidaIro-san. I remember telling them it would be nice to have a spinoff where readers could take a breather from the seriousness of the main plot and enjoy humorous short stories.

This has been a most worthwhile evening 🍽

what i love about Maomao is that she is ALL for the girls like she doesn't judge or look down on the concubines she calls the courtesans she grew up with her sisters and when Lady Lihua looked like she was about to fucking deck Lady Shin she literally giggled and was proud that Lihua was standing up for herself like Maomao is the NUMBER ONE supporter of women and strong women shes a cheerleader for women and i will always love that about her

are you gonna look me in the eyes and tell me Dazai doesn't have poor blood circulation? anyways happy belated valentines

It’s heartbreaking to know that when Anshi looks back on her first encounter with the late emperor—the man who sexually abused her for years—she can only describe her 10-year old self as ambitious.

In the light novel, Anshi is far less aware of why she was sent to the rear palace, and it’s clear in the books that she did not intend to grab the emperor’s attention.

But in the manga—now the anime—she says she knew, that she understood what she was getting into, and that she reached out to him deliberately.

This is very likely a lie she told herself to cope with the trauma of the abuse she endured, abuse that dictated the course of the rest of her life, for better or for worse.

Because, even if Anshi knew, on paper, what her father intended by sending her to the rear palace, what 10-year old would understand, truly, the implications of winning the emperor’s favor? What prepubescent child fully understands sexual grooming or abuse for what it is, understands how it will hurt them?

Anshi falls for the oldest lie children of sexual abuse tell themselves: that they brought this upon themselves, that they were somehow responsible for what happened.

Telling herself that she put herself in his path out of ambition gives her the illusion of agency. It allows her to ignore the glaring, obvious signs that she could not have refused him if she’d wanted to. It is also a manifestation of her own self-loathing, the all too common misplaced guilt that rape survivors feel in the wake of their assault.

This particular coping mechanism is what drove her to assault the late emperor right back when she was in her late 20’s.

That helplessness, that rage, that unresolved trauma, led to her repeating the cycle of abuse, led her to forcing herself onto him as an adult to reclaim that agency she knows she never had.

And this assault brought about her second pregnancy—the birth of the moon prince, the current emperor’s younger brother.

And even though Anshi knows Jinshi is Ah-Duo’s son, not hers, Anshi was still the woman who raised him. She feels this guilt and revulsion every time she looks at Jinshi, especially since he resembles the late emperor so strongly.

And even though Anshi loves Jinshi deeply, she is constantly haunted by the self-loathing she associates with him. She calls his very existence immoral, a living embodiment of her sins. And it’s so heart-wrenching, so tragic that she blames herself for everything, that she believes all of this happened due to her own, selfish sense of ambition.