Yamaku Book Club (20210125 A Runner's Afternoon)

[Razoredge]

When I see a Natsume fic, I'm happy. I'm not very fond of the writing, I have to say, but so far, it's not too shabby. It's a bit forced, yeah, a bit akward too, and yes, writing an article about the new student would be really akward.

That being said, that was quite a fun read. Waaaaaaay better than the last 4 ones. In fact, everything is better than the last 4 ones.

[Fourthsubset66]

I feel like this wasn't too bad. Maybe forced in some places so it didn't exactly feel natural but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

I don't think I have seen a completed Natsume or Naomi fic out there though so I can't really compare this to anything

[woohootouhou]

The first part was quite a bit better than the second. Felt a lot more natural both with the characters and general pacing.

[Oddball]

It's the first book club of the New Year. Hooray! Hope everyone had a nice one.

To start things off with, we're going to look at something special. Me.
(Or rather, I story I wrote.)

What a perfect way to start the new year, right?



Red Fish Blue Fish by Oddball.

This story features Lilly and Akira when they were younger.

[Razoredge]

This was so cute. I love pieces like that, about the characters childhood. Some sisters action is what I needed, I don't even know why, but I needed it. This was wonderfully made, you did a really great job. Thanks for that, really, I mean it. It was great.

[Oddball]

... Okay, so apparently people DIDN'T want to start the new year by reading some Oddball. That's fine. I'm okay.



So maybe people will be happier with this classic.
It's listed on the forum here as
This Is Not Canon but is perhaps better known as A Runner’s Afternoon

It's by Cpl Crud, and shows as future take on Hisao and Hanako. While it's not exactly positive, it still feels realistic in ways that only the devs ever really handle the KS cast.

There is also a part two written on Crud's blog posted two years after the first part if you want to track it down.

[BristerXD]

I remember reading this on his blog only a while ago actually. I think he mentioned it on the MattyD manly picnic and so I sought it out. I mean, what else can I say but he proves that the entirety of Hanako's route wasn't just some big fluke or the product of editors.

I think what I like most about the piece is the banality of it all. It's played so straight and grounded, it really lets me feel the conversation the two characters have as it feels like I've had this exact same conversation with people in my own life. I think that's the piece's main strength. I like the breaking of the text, keeps a brisk pace and uses every word perfectly. No wasted space. Overall, not much to say but, the man who wrote the thing that fucked me up when I was younger isn't a hack fraud. Maybe there is a God.

[woohootouhou]

This is about how I would expect an epilogue to a neutral ending would go. Very nice to read, and is open ended enough that it gives a nice satisfying conclusion while also letting your imagination have some space. Also about how I would expect the characters to act after a few years, although that's not surprising given who the author is.

I forgot to check back earlier this month, but for what it's worth the previous story is one of my favorites. I'm a sucker for Akira anyways, but it's still great and the childhood versions of the characters are adorable.

[Chatty Wheeler]

Quite an interesting take on a possible epilogue to Hanako's route. I read both parts on Crud's blog, and I really enjoyed both. Short, effective, and very well written. Crud definitely has writing chops to spare. Everything else that I could say has already been said by BristerXD and woohootouhou, so I'll just leave it at that!

Take care, everyone.

[NoticeMeOppai]

Don't be salty Oddball it doesn't suit you - besides I haven't really read much at ALL this year so far!

Red Fish Blue Fish
Very cute little piece, I love the image of Hisao looking at this bizarre child's painting with no context and wondering what's going on. The flashbacks were adorable, Akira is a good big sis.

A Runner's Afternoon
A nice piece with a great gut punch of an ending - slightly wish I hadn't gone off and read the second part now as while it was still really well written and evocative I think I preferred not knowing the full explanation.