【episode comment】i left my a-rank party to help my former students reach the dungeon depths episode 11

Finally get to doing this before I end up not doing it at all. But why is it that this episode seemed to be going a bit fast than how it was in the web novel? I'm pretty sure Clover still explored the inside of Glad Shi-im before encountering Loge. And it was supposed to be a little bit similar to a ruin, not a ghost town. Not sure if they were supposed to mean the same at this point, though.

Of course, that issue with Rain's relatives trying to get her to return to them just to practically sell her off and marry her off to a prince. The first time I read this, though, I was so ready to hate the people involved here. But, yeah. Looks like Yuke still has some plan left in his sleeves. In my opinion, though, this only solidifies fans' expectations that Yuke and Rain are going to end up together. Then again, the web novel almost mentioned that part. So who knows what they will do in this adaptation.

Things are going to get crazy in the next episode, it seems. Especialy with that cliffhanger, although I do remember that they were supposed to encounter that thing in a church and not by the entrance of that city-like dungeon. Hmm... More differences, huh? Oh, well. Let's see what happens.

【episode comment】from bureaucrat to villainess episode 12

The last episode! I can't believe it. I actually reached this far in doing this. I mean, I rarely finish reviewing an entire series like this before, you know. So this is indeed an achievement for me.

Then again, this series was definitely a cliffhanger for me and would definitely in need of Season 2 just to see more adventures of Kenzaburo as Grace. Like what she said in her last line here — her journey as the villainess has just began. If there was even a light novel version of this, or even just the web novel version, then I could continue reading this. But alas, that's not the case here.

So this episode basically showcased the events leading up to the play that the student council had prepared for the festival. And several questions were answered... in a way. One was about Anna's mother who attended the festival. It looked like Grace's father knew her, from the looks of it. But she was playing mysterious here. And then Grace's mother who appeared to be more than aware of what was going on with Grace prior to the presentation of the play. Not to mention, the indication that Jacqueline Auvergne appeared to have some sort of precognitive ability, if Kenzaburo had to analyze everything that had transpired. And of course, that rainbow orb that Jacqueline (who looked eerily similar to Grace) was talking to. What the heck was that? For some reason, it has similar voice to Prince Lucas, for some reason.

At least, the play went well. So does the campus festival. But even through all her effort of staying away from Anna and anything that could cause another intimacy boosts aimed at her, Grace seemed to have underestimated all of her efforts and deeds that has transpired ever since Kenzaburo reincarnated inside her. Even with all of that, all's well that ends well for all of them, I guess.

Now I really want a second season soon for this anime. I enjoyed it, overall. Without a doubt. I might read the manga, but maybe some other time.

【episode comment】no. 1 sentai gozyuger episode 5

This was a bit more serious than the previous episode. But it did make me realize that there seems to be conditions to accessing Tega Sword's power to Engage. At least, that's what I noticed about Sumino's case in this episode. You got to have a true (and maybe also pure) reason to fight and receive Tega Sword's power. Sumino lost that reason because of her desperation to find her sister who had been missing for so long. I initially thought that she was gone for only a year or so. But eight years? That's already a long time.

And that clue she mentioned about the kidnapper. Why did they have to show Rikuo with the gray eyes as soon as she said those words? I mean, seriously? Their rivalry over getting the rings even when they were supposed to be teammates already was intense enough as it was. And now this? You've got to be kidding me. To think we're only on the 5th episode.

At least they're gathered... for now. The next episode would definitely be a crazy one since they would be dealing with the Prime Minister who just turned into a terrorist? There has to be something going on behind the scenes here, even if it was to have the fruition of the PM's desire — whatever that would be. Now let's see how Hoeru and the others would have to deal with this in the next episode. 😁✌️

【episode comment】i left my a-rank party to help my former students reach the dungeon depths episode 10

So this is basically just a preparation for the adventure that Clover would be encountering in that new dungeon in a new city. It was called Duna, which was a trade city, and no name was ever made to that new dungeon. I still managed to read this part in the web novel version, so I'm still keeping up.

I still found one part funny about Yuke saying that Marina and the others as his wives — or specifically, his property — just so they wouldn't be taken by some Samultarian people. Not sure if they were adventurers or knights or something else. I guess I wasn't paying attention when I was watching it.

In my opinion, Clover looked like they were given some sort of preferential treatment by the guild even before they arrived, considering that the Guild Master Maniella had prepared everything for Yuke and the girls. By the way, I really imagined Maniella as a lot wrinkly and sort of short. So she didn't resonate with me the first time I saw her in this episode. But hey, she was capable, without a doubt.

I did notice, though, that the ending song was changed. I guess this was an indication of a new story arc that would be unfolding, considering that Jamie was in the sequence and the girl Nibelung. Honestly, I imagined her a bit younger when I was reading this arc. But let's see what the heck was actually happening at this point since this arc was just starting. 😁✌️

【episode comment】from bureaucrat to villainess episode 11

Second to the last episode. I never thought I'd be able to consistently do this for one show, you know. But hey, I made it!

Now things got a little bit trickier here that added more pressure to Grace, even as Kenzaburo. All because of the script that Grace's mother, Jacqueline Auvergne, hs written 30 years ago. And to think no one had actually performed that script for that long, if I interpreted Francette's words right. That's crazy, you know. This has only made Grace's mother a bigger mystery here, to be honest.

As for the play that the student council would perform, they really had to do gender-swapping on this. And it seems to me that it was like a gender-bender version of "The Prince and the Pauper" with hints of magic and stuff. Gosh, that makes it even more confusing with the soul-swappind the like. This has just gotten even more chaotic. The real problem now would be Grace as she would recite her lines when she had to act as Toby and the other casts unable to actually practice properly. Then the real pressure would come because it looked like Grace's mother would be attending the scampus festival for the sake of watching the play. Talk about real pressure!

Now let's see if Grace would be able to really pull this off somehow. 😁✌️

【poem】Where Love Chose To Stay

So this is the poem I wrote for the third part of "I'll Hold On To You". It's another villanelle and maybe I'll be making this a pattern for each arc of the stort. This was (I think) describing a bit more about the emotions that the pair were dealing with as they (finally) come in terms with their feelings for each other.

Here's the poem:

Here's to that love that bloomed between us since day one
As I whisper more I-love-you's now that I can hold you like this
The flowers that conveyed my feelings smiled at us with the sun

The world becomes scary as soon as I turned my back to run
But I want to hold your hand more so I won't ever miss
Here's to that love that bloomed between us since day one

Our past will give us more pain and won't let it be done
Yet your smile that's meant for me gives my heart so much bliss
The flowers that conveyed my feelings smiled at us with the sun

More nightmares continue to haunt me that I can't outrun
But hearing your voice soothes my heart before I could even notice
Here's to that love that bloomed between us since day one

Even as I continue choosing you, life with me won't always be fun
But every darkness that surrounds me, I can fend them off with your kiss
The flowers that conveyed my feelings smiled at us with the sun

Another journey begins now that we become each other's special someone
And love chose to stay with us as it burns brighter for us to cherish
So here's to that love that bloomed between us since day one
The flowers that conveyed my feelings smiled at us with the sun

【poem】Now That You're Here

New villanelle alert! Yes, I made another one. This is still for my story arc division and a sort of summary for the story arc of "I'll Hold On To You". I didn't think I'd start making this a habit, for real. But I guess this is a good outlet, whether I admit it or not.

And of course, more things that I can post here as part of variations that I intend to do here in my blog. 😊✌️

Here's the poem:

We start our new journey here, now that you're here with me
With each smile and hug that makes our hearts beat fast
As this love that remains hidden continues to bloom for us to see

I can't believe that everything led us here with glee
But here we are, together with you as someone I can trust
We start our new journey here, now that you're here with me

In your eyes, I envision a beautiful future that feels so free
In your embrace, I imagine a life in which my heart I can entrust
As this love that remains hidden, continues to bloom for us to see

Since you came to my life, I wish to the stars reflected in the sea
All I ever want was for these beautiful moments between us to last
We start our new journey here, now that you're here with me

Let me forget the worries in my heart that I still carry
Even without knowing what continues to hover in our past
As this love that remains hidden, continues to bloom for us to see

Each day between us may not always be a one big party
But in time, we know that our life together will be a blast
We start our new journey here, now that you're here with me
As this love that remains hidden continues to bloom for us to see

【poem】The Pain That Brought Us Here

I'm pretty sure I was in 3rd year college (maybe 2nd semester) when I last wrote a villanelle — mainly for a school project. I think the subject was World Literature and we were tasked to create poems using the different styles. We had to do haiku, sonnet, quatrain... Those kinds of poems.

But the one that really stuck with me was the villanelle. I don't know why, but that was the poem I enjoyed writing the most back then.

By the way, that was back in either 2012 or 2013 ( I really can't recall the year I wrote that). And now, after more than a decade, I finally got to write another one. Wow!

I placed this as an introduction for the first story arc of "I'll Hold On To You" and I only placed a bouquet emoji as a chapter title. But I'm making it different here.

Here's the poem:

We met when each of us were in pain
As if it felt like reality was never there
I never thought we'd be freed from it ever again

It all started abruptly, even fate can't explain
Yet the flowers still tell us it's a destiny that's rare
We met when each of us were in pain

All efforts we do to get out seems to be in vain
But we knew that we both have to be aware
I never thought we'd be freed from it ever again

Can we still believe in a freedom that we can attain?
We knew we can, even when it's becoming heavy to bear
We met when each of us were in pain

Each of the hurt we run away from gives our heart the stain
But it's making us the people we are that's beyond compare
I never thought we'd be freed from it ever again

I don't know where our journey will lead us in between its sun and rain
But we have each other now, as if life answered our one great prayer
We met when each of us were in pain
I never thought we'd be freed from it ever again

Just started that new journal! Crazy that I'm already on my 15th journal when I couldn't even finish one journal when I was studying. But here I am! And it really feels amazing.

I only realized that I never paid attention to the number of days that I've been journaling lately. I even feared that I missed another journaling milestone again. I might have to check my notebook once again for me to be able to check.

I just continued counting words on my quotes list and added more lyrics prompts on that other list. Yikes! I'm really giving myself a lot more to work on with what I'm doing.

Finally finished watching all episodes of Rescue Mediums that I downloaded. Man, that was one crazy watching marathon for me. But at least I'm done with it.

[wrote something around this part, but choosing not to type it down. 😁✌️]

We were all busy preparing for the early black-out tomorrow. I mean, from 5 AM to 5 PM? I still have to cook rice for my sister's lunch box around that time using a rice cooker. So the solution? I need to cook rice an hour earlier. I don't mind boiling water for her bath at the usual time since it doesn't use electricity, anyway.

Well, I've finally watched "Royal-ish" and here I am, just repeating scenes I liked. Now let's see if I could read the book version soon. Sure, there would still be differences. But I still want to see.

Why do I feel sleepy the whole day? I didn't even realize I fell asleep until my mom woke me up. Weird. 😕

【episode comment】i left my a-rank party to help my former students reach the dungeon depths episode 9.5

Honestly, I wasn't even planning on watching this when I realized that this was just going to be a recap of the first arc. But here I am, writing down this short episode comment. They actually made it like a livestream and an interview-like feature on Clover. Which is kind of amusing, by the way.

There's nothing much to say, though, as it was, in fact, just a recap of what happened. Mainly focusing on reintroducing the members of Clover without ever mentioning the other parties, even the scandals and such. I thought they would mention that, but didn't. So this was just like featuring the new adventure party that really rose from below with their skills and achievements as a party.

So, yes. This was just a light one to watch. Nothing disheartening or even annoying. They actually had to do interview and such. This one featured Rain, Marina, and even Yuke made an appearance near the end.

Now, let's see what the next episode is going to feature. But if I'm going to be honest, I haven't even finished reading the web novel version of the next arc to be featured here. So you could say that I'll be watching it with no clue how it would end in both the anime version and the web novel version.

【episode comment】from bureaucrat to villainess episode 10

Half part was about summer vacation and the other part was the preparation for the academy's campus festival. Both parts were chaotic in more ways than one. That's all I can say about this.

But both parts does show/mention the two girls' respective mothers. And both does air some sort of mystery in each of them. Like, when Anna's mother was able to point out the "commoner" disguise that Grace had put on when she visited Anna's hometown. And then there's the issue about Grace's mother that Kenzaburo hasn't met yet because the storyline mentioned that she was recuperating in a villa. I did read some interesting theory about Grace's mother, though. But honestly, I doubt if I'd be able to learn much about it in this season. Then again, we'll see.

At least, their preparation for the campus festival was going well. And then there's the plan to make a cross-dressing play, based on the hidden rule that Grace's mother had surprisingly formed during her time as the student body president. Now let's see how this will actually turn out. Or if this will even succeed.

【silent vlog】recording in the morning

This was just something random while I put the dogs out for their usual morning routine. I mean, the sun was rising and it was beautiful. So, yeah. You could say that this was a spur-of-the-moment kind of silent vlog I decided to create and post.

I just realized something today. I never really gave a damn care about what was happening in the politics of the country. I mean, the former president was arrested and basically exiled in The Netherlands. And maybe a large rally (with the possibility of another People Power?) could occur because of what happened. This info was something I only obtained because my mom won't stop talking about it since it started. I mean, yikes! Seriously?

(*something I don't intend anyone to read was originally in this spot*)

I don't know why, but I felt like I wanted to sleep the whole day. I just wanted to lie down and sleep. That doesn't usually happen to me and I couldn't help questioning what was going on. I felt like I walked the whole day without rest. Weird.

Watched some more episodes of Rescue Mediums that was on my phone. But I think I've only watched about 4 or 5. Not exactly too many. But this will do.

One more page and I'd be able to fill that journal up. Finally! But I'll celebrate once I actually got to write on it. Right?

Starte reading a new light novel called "They Don't Know I'm Too Young For The Adventurer's Guild" and I was able to read 46% of it. I mean, it's okay. I'm liking it in a way. Not sure if that even mean anything clear.

Ended up changing the covers of the original stories I posted on Wattpad. You could say that it would allow people/readers to distinguish which are fanfictions and what are the original ones. That means there would be no visual casts or anything like that on the original stories.

Went out to go to the market to buy ingredients for palitaw and burgers. Yup, that's what we had for dinner.

TP's day-off today. She was the one who made dinner tonight. Also the one who washed the dishes.

Watched episodes of Rescue Mediums. Though I have no idea how many episodes I watched today.

Uninstalled FGO and yes, it was indeed distracting me with my productivity and my writing.

I did start writing a one-shot fanfic featuring Sousuke/Saki. Managed to write a page today. I'm happy with that.

Downloaded lots of episodes of Rescue Mediums and watched some more of them. I don't know why I decided to watch this show, though. But I'm loving it.

[wrote something here, but i won't show it]

I'm lost. I'm actually feeling lost on what to write. Or maybe I couldn't get into writing mode again. And honestly, that's not good at all. I shouldn't be like this. I shouldn't be feeling that way. But at the moment, I have no idea what to do.

I added margins to one of the journal notebooks that I just opened tonight. I actually just need to use one of my micron pens and completely consume it after two years (or probably more). And then there's also my blue sign pen that I intended to use now for the same thing. I really shouldn't be buying pens that I wouldn't fully use in the end. I need to do something about this. 😐

【episode comment】no. 1 sentai gozyuger episode 4

Okay! Now I finally caught up in both watching and writing my comment on this series. As per usual, this was another chaotic episode. I mean, an old man who reverted back to his younger self? Or wait. Was that how it happened or something else was in the play? Hmm... Maybe I'll figure it out when the other episodes aired.

But before that, it seems that there was something wrong with Sumino since she couldn't transform for some reason. And that lawyer she confronted was definitely not looking like a good guy at all. He looked like those easily bribable (if there was even such a word) lawyers who would do anything to cover up a case for a price. And there's also the Prime Minister. He does seem like a good guy now. But who knows what will happen in the long run.

Now back to that old man Joji. It was still crazy that Tega Sword chose him. I get it that he hasn't live his life the way he wanted to because of the responsibility of raising a family. But it looks like his wife, before she passed, actually told him what he has to do now that she finally lived her life and left it. Not sure if that was even the right way to phrase it, though. That dream of living his life the way he wanted to — I don't think his family even knew about it. Which was why his grandson talked to him that way at first (without knowing that he was the grandfather). But as his son said, he was stubborn. He would do what he wanted, even with several people getting in the way. And now he was starting to do it, although he has to do it using a different persona.

As for Hoeru... he was a bit surprising, sometimes. No matter how he looked like he was bored out of his life, it seems like he was perceptive about life in a way. Though I couldn't help wondering what happened to his family for him to become like that — a man with no wishes for him or anything else. Even when there was a glimpse of his mother actually contributing to that because of her words, there has to be something else. Something big for that to become her perception about wishes and dreams that she even passed it on to her son. Well, maybe we'll see that in the upcoming episodes.

Thank goodness! Now I just have to focus on commenting on each episodes without getting late this time. See you in the next entry. Ciao!

【episode comment】i left my a-rank party to help my former students reach the dungeon depths episode 9

This one was just a light episode. Maybe you could say that it was the calm before the storm. I don't remember a particular part where Jamie actually joined the celebration in the web novel. But I like this little addition to the anime version. I do know that she and Yuke were talking about their own thoughts about each other before Mamal even mentioned about the new dungeon in the other town. But there was never a mention about six-leaf clover or something. Nene officially joining Clover was just briefly mentioned in the last part of the first episode/story arc of the web novel. It seems that they lengthened it a little bit in this anime episode. So I think that's good.

I don't really have much to say about this episode, except that it was calm and the girls just hanging out. By the way, I think Rain's getting more points towards getting closer to Yuke. Or have I stated it the right way? I'm not really sure. But let's see what kind of dungeon would be featured in the next arc. I really feel that a new arc would start next week.

【episode comment】from bureaucrat to villainess episode 9

Just a lot more weird stuff going on in the academy and the student council had to do something about it. Even when Grace was trying to do things lay low, some of what she was doing only ended up increasing the intimacy boost of the characters towards her. Not exactly a villainess thing to experience, but there was nothing she could do about it. After all, the differences in knowledge in the world where Kenzaburo came from and the world that the otome game was set is one factor for that to occur.

It's good to see more of Hinako's perception about the game and the changes that happened now that her dad is in that world. Just a question, by the way. Did she already graduate from high school or even college? I mean, the amount of time she would spend playing the game and keeping up with her dad's actions there as Grace is seriously huge. I mean, she could pause and all. But who knows what else was happening for her to be able to keep up with her dad's antics.

As per usual, this was an amusing episode. Especially for the love interests who were trapped in the cube. Not sure if I should give any credit to Prince Lucas for actually becoming the reason why they were trapped in that rubik's cube, anyway. By the way, was he really like that? Playful, mischievous and sort of an airhead? Why do I feel that it was just an act or something? But since I have no way of knowing at the moment, let's just leave him as he was.

【episode comment】no. 1 sentai gozyuger episode 3

Well, that was... still weird for me. But it was definitely intensifying in terms of their battle for gathering the rings. I didn't realize that I would see the black ranger girl in this part, though. Of course, I later learned that her name was Ichikawa Sumino and that she was aiding the Prime Minister, for some reason. And that Prime Minister was one of those who has a Sentai Ring. Definitely one thing that was strange for me. And that she was also watching the other 3 Gozyugers, enough to question them as to why they were working together when they were supposed to be enemies because of the goal to gather all the rings.

In a way, this episode's theme was a bit controversial for me because it has something to do with popularity. Kind of crazy, but it does show a lot of what people do just to achieve it. At least, that's what I noticed. And then there was Bouquet, who I thought was a bit uptight at first. I didn't think she would immediately become starstrucked with Rikuo. That was something I found amusing in this episode.

So this time, Rikuo used Tega Sword and made it become Tega Sword Blue. I still think that there could be a way for the five of them to pilot Tega Sword in a way. Maybe I'd be able to see it in the upcoming episodes when all five were finally gathered together and actually starts working together. But I have a feeling that it would still be a long shot.

Another strange thing — Gozyu Eagle. The cast featured was young. So what the heck happened when they introduced him as an old man here? What was going on? So I guess something happened for the cast to change — at least for this green warrior — from an old man to being a teenager who... seems to dress like an old man. Old-fashioned, so to speak.

Okay. Maybe that's all I have to write here about this episode for now.

【episode comment】i left my a-rank party to help my former students reach the dungeon depths episode 8

This is crazy, not gonna lie. So you could say that this is one of the final battles for this anime. At least, that's what I was aware of, if I were to base it on what I read at the web novel version. I mean, saving Jamie from the Achromatic Darkness after nearly escaping death, so to speak, is definitely a mission worth considering since she did what she could to save Yuke and the other Clover members from Simon's insanity. Of course, there were also other stuff worth considering, especially when they finally realized the true nature of that particular dungeon. Now they had to enter it one last time before the guild finally seal it to rescue Jamie. But before that, it was so satisfying to watch Rain beat up Besio and place the collar on him. And of course, that last spell that Yuke put on that fatty annoying jerk just to make sure he would stay away from Rain.

The one thing that I noticed about this anime version was the amount of (possibly) gory details that were present in the web novel, but not in this version. Especially about the part where Simon was basically a zombie with some of his internal organs coming out and stuff. Crazy, right? But yes, it was more gruesome in the web novel. Perhaps it was because of the way it was described that the production had to consider some stuff to put in the anime version, just to be on the safe side, so to speak.

The one about Yuke firing Prismatic Missile on Simon was probably the turning point of this, in both versions. But if I have to say so myself, Yuke's anger on the web novel was more intense than how it was shown in the anime. I mean, he fired the most powerful (if not the most complete) version of that spell not only because of the dark magic he received by becoming Persephone's disciple or something, but he said in the novel that it was because he never had enough negative emotions in him to unleash that spell's full power. But when he saw what Simon did to Jamie and his attempt to further hurt the other Clover members, all Yuke could see was murder. His desire to really kill Simon for all that he did was what fueled Prismatic Missile. I think that was the most terrible punishment that he could ever give to one of the most horrible people to ever exist. Seriously. And since Simon was already an undead, he would have to deal with the spell's effects for eternity. Sucks for him. Not to mention, attacks from many Shadow Stalkers would definitely intensify his sufferings in that dungeon. Really crazy.

【episode comment】from bureaucrat to villainess episode 8

So this is more like a deeper glimpse (if that was even a proper phrase) about the servants (specifically maids) of the Auvergne estate. I mean, Grace does want to teach Anna manners of the high society with the goal of letting her experience life of that rank. But as per usual, she and Anna weren't exactly on the same page with regards to the end goal of that immersion.

It doesn't have much going on other than seeing at least a small part of Grace's daily life. This was more focused on the maids around her that Anna got to meet and interact with. I thought Josette was the only beastkin servant there. But it seems that I was wrong on that. Of course, when a certain estate has around 300 servants, who knows just what other creatures were in there, serving the Auvergne family. 

The one thing that I was curious about was the scene about Grace in a cage and Kenzaburo actually seeing that. But Grace doesn't seem to notice him, for some reason. Would they explain this in the later episodes? Hopefully, they do.

【silent vlog】escaping for a bit

Going to the beach in February? Yup, that's definitely new to us. But I can understand the reason, though. And if you live in Baguio whenever there would be festivals or occasions, you know the issue that I'm talking about.