June 12, 2020

Free Talk: Kono Oto Tomare 92

This chapter seems like a conclusion to the arc. Through Chika, everyone remembers what’s important about music. And, the other part is Hiro giving advice and encouragement to Satowa regarding how to deal with the romantic feelings they both have. I wonder if Satowa figured out who Hiro likes?

Hm...just a month and a half to go before the Nationals. It does seem that there’s little time left and yet they haven’t exactly progressed much in terms of making this performance work. I guess it is the type of scenario wherein things just so happen fall into place in time before the competition? I’m just wondering if that is enough time to realistically/at least convincing in manga, be able to pull a first place-worthy performance for the Nationals.

23 comments:

  1. I really liked Take and Hiro here. While Take is still in denial of Hiro and his own feelings, he's pretty sharp in noticing the need of "girl talk". Hope he can get out of his "self selling short" sooner than later. I don't know if Sato figured out, she might have since she's not as dense and the others, haha.

    Realistic? No, no, and no, hahaha. But in this manga it might be, I'd still be kinda against them winning first place, but I could still let it go depending on how everything happens. I'm guessing that now they remembered how they're sound is they'll know what to do with the hardest parts they're struggling with, put up some more practice and be ready'ish' to go.

    After watching a girl band anime, I started to think that they might pull some: best club, best performance, best song, best "rookie" and so on placings in order to reward everyone and get rid of the defeated/not first place stigma;
    -
    Speaking of other works, I finally finished Niijiro Days, the last 10 chapters were pretty dull/boring, but a nice read overall, the extra chapters so far are more enjoyable. ^^
    -
    I don't really know if it's actually more than a million. I didn't check this and just yesterday there was this one and only apparent honest journalist saying it was a bit more than 400k. Comparing the two countries I'd say it's a lot less, but still high. Do you know the death/recovery ratio?

    "Specialists" around here said we'd have 2 million deaths by now, and people/media/politicians still listen to them...
    -
    Yea, happens here too. They never work, but when they "do", it's only in the middle of the night. ALWAYS only in the middle of the night.
    -
    They said they did and was a glitch and in some cases a lone hacker, and that was it.
    -
    I see, that actually happens here, too. But I guess it's somewhat changing, but only if you're trying to sue due to some political reason, like being black/lgbt+/woman going agaisnt w/e, because then the media will make a ruckus and everyone'll pull in. Otherwise, me, being white/straight/man and having faith am pulled aside and almost 6y fighting to get decent treatment that I already have to pay.

    Sad, crazy and revolting.

    Yea, you said it, incompetence + w/e is a receipt for disaster. And bad people in charge, here, there are a lot of cases of overpay on bills for breathers and other equipment, empty hospitals that are firing employees because they can't pay their own bills and since they're not treating corona, people are not going there - but still media and most politicians saying stay home and hospitals are overburden. There was even a "health secretary" that was buying corona patients off other cities so he too could gain the funds the federal gov. promised to send. His city had no cases up to that point.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And obviously, thank you very much!! ^~'

      Delete
    2. True. About finding it out, even if she hasn't yet, Satowa can figure it out later on by observing ^^

      Hehe, I see.

      Hm...but are there such rewards in a Nationals competition? Somehow, since this is traditional music, I think they are stricter = less rewards to make everyone happy. I think it is just rewarding top 1 and 2 like the one between Satowa and Akira. Then, certificate for reaching the Nationals?

      - - -

      Niijiro Days, iirc, the last few parts are about going to college, right?

      - - -

      According to corona tracker, we are at 4% fatality rate and 25.5% recovery rate. In the same site, your country is at 4.9% fatality rate and 52.4 % recovery rate.

      Hehe, are these specialists from the government? Here, there is one doctor, who is part of the govt group, called out the health department head being incompetent and should be replaced because of our data being separated from 'fresh' and 'old' cases. Guess who was forced to resign?

      Actually, any competent govt official who doesn't do what the govt bids are forced to resign. That included our economic head last April. He was arguing about lifting the lockdown in areas that aren't badly hit by the virus.

      Now, they are loaning a lot of money with nothing to show for it. We are drowning in debt again just when we finally paid the debt of the former dictator. Ah, that debt went into him, his family and cronies' pockets.

      Haha...so they are like copying each other? I think Trump is copying some stuff from our president, too ^^; Unless, they think alike. ^^;;

      - - -

      Oh, so no punishment? Here, someone was caught hacking the election site and stole a lot of data. No one was really punished since the main suspect was acquitted.

      - - -

      Ah, yes, publicity helps. Though, after it dies down, one usually doesn't know what happened to it.

      Wow, actually looking for patients. Ah, your govt has a lot of money that they'll do that?

      No problem ^^

      Delete
    3. No, I don't think so. In my experience, they only come up with these rewards/nominations to not discourage the participants. I remember some events that didn't even pay third place. Only a cheap/fake bronze medal for 'participating' that I called consolation. But that's changing and nowadays I've seen a lot of events with such nominations, I even lost one sometime ago because I had already won the first place, so the best performance went to another who didn't make to top 3. So, who knows? It'd be realistic, at least.
      -
      Yea, but it was too much whining, some of the characters - that were supposed to be mature - acted like they were 10. I thought that really cheap drama. Only the best couple acted they're age. The epilogues are nice, tho, and it was a nice read overall.
      -
      Yea, like I said, pretty easy info to find, still people don't even look for it, instead, they only focus on the bad and even make it worse. The biggest tv station here, which is clearly against the president and is making campaign for that, even published that there's a death caused by the virus per minute. And people believe! My brother is an example of that, he had a panic attack after hearing one of those "news".
      -
      No, for some odd reason the govt doesn't even try to hire good scientists. These specialist are mostly paid by the tv station/media that I mentioned earlier, or youtubers, believe it or not.

      That's the norm, right? Do what you're told, or else...

      Haha, well, I think politicians in general copy each other, and think very much alike. They don't care about the people and don't do what's best for the country at all.
      -
      There was some hackers that got caught recently, but most didn't even spend a month in jail so you could say that, yea, no punishment.
      -
      No, the country is actually broken, but does anyone care? Of course not. And hear this, there's no meetings in the congress anymore, it's being done online for sometime now, but even so, they're spending almost 10k monthly in fuel/gas...

      How can one stay sane in this situation is beyond me, lol.

      Delete
    4. I see. Hm...if they'll do just that then perhaps, they should said that former winners cannot officially join? Haha, somehow I'll feel irritated that I won but sorry, you won before so we'll give it to someone else.

      - - -

      Hehe, I see. I think I'm inclined not to like 'go to college' arcs since it is the same drama/issue and I feel that it is kind of boring.

      - - -

      Haha, who wouldn't panic with that information. It would seem like a horror movie = we are coming to get you soon. Ah, I'm curious though if one does the math for that, how long will the whole population be wiped out at that rate? ^^;

      - - -

      Haha, that is 'typical' here, too. The good ones aren't hired. Actually, instead of doctors or health related people, the ones being hired/to take control are the military and police. Instead of more testing centers, we got a lot of checkpoints. Instead of visiting the health areas, the president plan to visit military camps. Haha, I guess he wants a loyalty check.

      Yup, do what you're told or else... Ah, unless you are related to the government. You get a free pass especially if you have very good connection. There are some who were caught breaking the protocol. And, we were asked to be lenient on them. If it is the poor and anyone else, you'll be beaten (for the very poor) and put in jail.

      That's true.

      - - -

      I see. It makes one think that the hackers have strong backers.

      - - -

      Wow, really thick-faced, the politicians there and I guess like here, they don't care if they were caught = using gas money even if meeting online? Okay, I think at this time, I can guess that that's just a small thing from all the stuff they've done before and will do in the future.

      Here, yes, they also have online meetings though more for senior politicians. But then, congress is useless since they are prioritizing the harassment bills instead of the important ones like for economy and corona, etc.

      I just read that the Senate got some people with the virus so they're on quarantine for 2 weeks. And perhaps, to rub salt, one of the stupid senators gleefully exclaimed during an online session before, 'Life is good!' Hehe, even if he actually meant that he is glad that the online session is short...people get irritated since he is saying that during this time.

      True. I read someone is coping with it by having an online product delivered to him = something to look forward to.

      Delete
    5. Haha, well, I wasn't supposed to know that, I only caught wind of it because I heard a conversation about it and then after talking to some of the judges, I put two and two together. Didn't say anything to anyone in the competition, ofc, but it was a very "strange" feeling.

      But the author might have something else in mind and surprise us, though I can't really say it'd be surprising to see something good out of it, on the contrary, lol.
      -
      It was very boring and I fail miserably to see how they can provide a relatable drama out of just going to college. I mean, really? I'm not going to see my friend anymore? Only the best couple had a relatable issue and they got over real fast, which was moving out to go to college and then living alone and apart from everyone, including the significant other. Aside from that, I really can't relate to any drama...
      -
      That's why I said their specialists are something else. I wonder how they can get away with some much...
      -
      That's probably it. Over here we have a running joke that the army are the only civil workers since they only build new roads and pave old ones, that's the sole work they do, haha.
      -
      Yea, and some even applied to the corona voucher. Believe that if you will.

      Well, his live is surely good, alright. I'm learning to let it go in order not to go crazy with rage. Difficult, very hard, but I guess I'm getting there? At least now I only feel the urge to beat senseless instead of unspeakable brutal crimes against 'humanity' every time I hear something like that.

      Speaking of only delivery, I have a product that's been "delayed" for over 3 months now, no idea when I'll receive it and I can't even ask for refund because the order is 'too old'...

      Delete
    6. Oh, I see. It suddenly made me think of it happening here. Ah, Ichiei won so many times already, let's give it to the some other group. By the way, in your case, there was no uproar? Rather, is it a close competition that no one questioned the decision? Of course, even if it is questioned, the judges will stick with their decision.

      - -

      Hehe, maybe it should be I couldn't hang out with my friend everyday anymore. ^^;

      - - -

      Haha, I see.

      Ya, sometimes ignorance is bliss. And perhaps, it is peace of mind.

      Ah, there is no 'progress report'? So there is no 'protection' that if the buyer didn't get the item yet, there is refund? Is it from an online store?

      Delete
    7. Uhm, I don't think the author'll put it that way, rewarding other just because Ichiei won too much already, it's easier to imagine the special occasional multiple rewards this time.

      The tournament was pretty small in my case but I guess that everyone had kinda guessed what happened and decided to just move on. I remember that a lot of players had come to talk to me and congratulate me on the performance and all that. But honestly, it was strange and we just moved on.
      -
      It really is reaching too much, isn't it? Aside from the one I mentioned of moving to another town - that still only an hour to get - seems pretty shallow. I don't remember that happening to me or any of my friends at all.
      -
      It's from amazon, I contacted the seller multiple times, they replied all but the last two, always saying it was getting here, it was already here in the country but so far... And the other day when I said to myself I'd cancel and ask a refund, there was this option saying I couldn't apply to it anymore because the order was too old/long ago...

      Delete
    8. Well, realistically no. Actually, as a shounen series, wouldn't that happen? Winning against the multi-winner? Unless, the author will go for...they lose this time and win next time but without Takezou and Hiro.

      Ah, I see. It does seem like an open secret. Actually, it makes me wonder if the winner would feel like Akira in that Nationals against Satowa. Didn't exactly win but rather winning for another reason.

      - - -

      Ya. I guess that's the best conflict the author can think of for that kind of arc 😅

      - - -

      Oh. But you didn't get the item yet.

      Delete
    9. Yea, that's a common trope, beat the unbeatable adversary that has many more years of exp and is far more talented. So it's hard to see something along the lines here because how the author goes with her story, while not actually realistic, but still feasible to imagine - as a bunch of good hearted kids gather around some really talented and start to play some good music with a lot of effort, hit and miss. It's easy to get behind this driving force, not so easy to suddenly be able to win the most prized/hard competition against the better in almost all sense opponent. I myself can't see them winning without HiroxTaka, but it's possible if they failed now and have an even stronger driving force to next time and they want to give their senpais the best they could offer and thanks.

      Hopefully not, but it'd tie in the light drama but heavy emotion side of the story.

      Yeaa, that's also why everything was so strange/weird. Everyone was feeling that way.
      -
      Speaking of it, I recently started 100 days, a very sweet manga, guess it's shoujo but I'm not sure. In case, they were building a lot of expectation to finale, but then it felt like the author said: you know what? I'm actually tired, see you in the next series and just finished like, whatever? Hahaha. It's a nice kill time reading, don't get me wrong, haha.
      -
      No, and I'm pretty sure I won't ever. And if I cancel the order, that's even worst. So next week I'll leave a 'review' of the item and the company. And will do so for every week until I'm banned or actually receive it. Not much, but what else can I do?

      Delete
    10. Hehe, true. I'm still wondering if the series will continue when Hiro and Takezou are no longer active especially with the emphasis of winning with this group. Anyway, let's just see how things go ^^

      - - -

      Is that the title 100 days? I couldn't find it. I only found a love in 100 days and it is Korean comic. Haha, she lost interest I guess. There are authors who are like that and I have reach such a series.

      These days, I'm more on watching Kdramas. Haha...maybe because they are short even if the endings can be WTH/ruined. Check out the famous ones. Fastforward the boring parts. Skip to the end if it is slightly interesting but I don't want to go through all that. I couldn't find a good shoujo lately...cannot go past chapter 1-5. It doesn't help that the updates are very erratic.

      We are technically still in semi-lockdown. The cases are increasing, in some way, thanks to the 'go back to province' govt program that I told you about. The secretary of finance is freaking out that we should open up already. Haha. I guess the economy is going down the drain. Too many problems aside from the virus like a foreign/Chinese/HK ship hitting a small fishing ship and the crew are missing. Then, an incident wherein the police killed some military intelligence officer who are after some terrorists. The military are obviously pissed off since this isn't the first time the police had killed deliberately or not a military man.

      What is the government busy about...change the name of an airport so that it would improve its image, shutting down a TV station = more people losing jobs, investigating a courier service for throwing packages = a crony wants the company just like they want the TV station. Haha...they are indeed adding more to the craziness and hardships.

      So, is it better on your side of the world?

      - - -

      Hm...isn't it more problematic if you're banned? Hopefully, it doesn't cost much...wait, you haven't paid for it yet, right? Usually, I tend to chose COD so that I'll only pay when I get the item. Then, just get a refund later on if it is defective.

      Anyway, it's July...hopefully, the other half of the year would be better ^^ Take care~

      Delete
    11. Yea, pretty hard to get a prevision with KoT, that's rare, haha.
      -
      It's Hyukunichikan, I might've misspeled some 'i', haha. If she didn't lost interested, I'd say the manga got the axe. Don't want to believe that the author couldn't deliver due to not being a good writer. Sounds strange when you consider everything.
      -
      The last show I watched was Kingdom, then some anime things like Goblin Slayer, which I had read the manga first and Kaguya. Speaking of Kaguya, the 2nd season is over and was better than the first.

      FF it's what I've been doing with most series/shows. That and/or looking for spoilers to see if I'll really want to waste my time. It's getting hard to find a good one in either media. I think I'll reread Tayou no Ie, it's been very long and I barely remember anything, tho I do remember liking it.
      -
      A lot of crisis, uh? But from what you're telling me, they don't seem to be fabricated, they're real crisis born from bad decisions/management. Over here most of the crisis is political and fabricated in order to undermine whoever is in power just so they themselves take it and do even worst, again.

      But we still have the real crisis, the economic one which it was already here from like, 10y and the c19. They are even politicizing the use of a verified medicine that if taken when the first symptoms appear has almost 100% of curing right then. All just because the ruling party said it was good... So I don't know about being any better, I'd say we're pretty much on the same boat, destined for failure, only waiting to see which part sinks first.
      -
      I don't really know if I'd be banned, but see, this manga I pre-ordered even before just arrived. A book I bought after also arrived like 10 days after paying for it, so which it'd be the problem of this specific case? Just because it's way too more expensive, and when I bought it wasn't - the currency at the time wasn't as high as it is right now.
      -
      Yea, but reading the news about these 'lords of the world' I shudder to even try thinking about the future. T__T

      Delete
    12. Ya, and it's good that it is unpredictable ^^

      - - -

      Well, there are authors who cannot finish their series properly. Usually, it is either just dropped or a rushed/hanging ending.

      Kingdom...I have watched season 1 and a few episodes of 2. I'm getting confused with the names and the art isn't helping. Hm...in what way is it better? No longer episodic?

      Hehe, I see. In some of those series, I watch while multitasking...hehe, half-attention and just watch when it gets interesting. 😅

      - - -

      Haha, true. Though it makes me wonder what you mentioned...perhaps, some of it is fabricated. Well, you know, rather than undermine whoever is in power, it is more on distracting the people with one problem after another that the major problem is forgotten. Major problem about their bad decisions. hehe

      Ah, yes true. Speaking of cures, the 'miracle cure/prevention' by a governor whose place has the highest cases, insist on steam inhalation to prevent the virus. A doctor said that it isn't true. The governor then rants about the doctor for being stupid, etc. Hm...though there are a lot of Chinese medicines here that are suppose to be helpful against the virus. Usually, Chinese people drink that but it isn't FDA approved. A lot are found in secret Chinese hospitals/clinics.

      - - -

      I see. So, I guess there's nothing really can be done but wait for its arrival...if it arrives. Hm...and nothing to do if it doesn't, right?

      - - -

      Haha, true.

      Delete
    13. Yea, but, if it wasn't axed, would you rush your own story?
      -
      It's still a bit episodic, but it soon picks the more regular arcs. I haven't finished myself yet, just heard everyone saying that.

      Hahah, I get that. Sometimes I do it too.^^
      -
      You definitely have a point.

      Steam inhalation? What?! And those chinese medicine work, at least?
      -
      Yea, and as I said before, I just left another message there. Am not hoping for anything but it's the only thing I can possibly try. I'm sure they won't even respond, again.

      Delete
    14. Hm...depends. Like, the writer has a better idea/story and got bored with the one s/he's working on. I got that impression with a shoujo wherein the ending is open ended...really rushed like it is a reverse harem which was resolved with an elopement, and a new series is immediately out.

      - - -

      Ah, I see.

      - - -

      I don't know if the Chinese medicine works. Maybe... There was an ad from someone who used it..swears that it saved him from corona when the doctors have given up on him...urging the govt to allow its use. But, a lot of people are selling that medicine underground...usually for Chinese and perhaps, who believes in it.

      These days, the cases are going up again. The govt seems to have given up. The spokesperson is now saying that whether things will improve or not, it will depend on the people = you are on your own. Then, today, he said, about the corona problem, let's just dance. Lol. Well, he did dance to Tiktok and got a job 😅

      - -

      Hehe, I see.

      Delete
    15. Hahaha, that example hits the nail, uh? It's too common and not only on shojos. But as a writer myself, I wouldn't do that at all, can assure you that.
      -
      That's tough to determine, then. As I said, here we have a lot of cases where the medicine worked, but people from the other party or who don't like the president are against. Evil and wicked stuff.

      Is that the tiktok dancer? Wow. I mean, yea, it depends on people, if they're actually taking things seriously and trying their best to avoid contagion, but wow...
      -
      My sick leave got out, finally. So now I have a few days not to worry about this and focus in other problems, but I'll tell you, that's one thing to get you stressed out, haha.

      Delete
    16. Hm...I guess it is likely that it will be done if say, the current series has poor sales and the new one has potential to bring in the money.

      - - -

      True.

      Yup. Now, it seems that they've given up on contact tracing, they just say, it's everywhere. Haha. Oh well, it seems that the govt is just waiting for a vaccine to solve everything with the promise that China will share once they made it.

      - - -

      That's good ^^ And, that will be for a year, right?

      Delete
    17. But that'd be what we call axed, right? It's not like the author suddenly felt like doing another thing and screw this one. But you might be correct in saying the a lot of them can't just write a proper ending/lack this ability. I mean, I know myself that it's not easy so I can understand if that's the case.
      -
      So they're waiting on china? Well, it'd make sense, considering how they're selling everything.
      -
      No, no, no. 30 days, give or take. Next month I'll have to do all the procedures again from the very beginning, except another MRI as I did the last, but I'll still need one new exam but muscle strength and everything else.

      In other news, some manga and other books that I've pre-ordered more than a year ago arrived, meanwhile, the one I was waiting eagerly hasn't. Funny that only the truly expensive didn't.

      Delete
    18. Well, it's possible especially if the story is going nowhere = train wreck. Ah, I see, so it's hard? In shoujo, it is usually easy/predictable especially if there is an OTP.

      - - -

      According to them, yes. There is a conspiracy theory though that they aren't resolving it because they are using the pandemic to control people's movements, scare people from protesting, borrowing huge amount of money and we don't know where it is going, etc.

      - - -

      So, short. Just one month! It's really such a hassle. Ah, there are no lining up and stuff? Here, there are a lot of lining up for almost everything since we are still in semi-lockdown. People are made to wait outside each store/bank which allows like 5 people inside. A lot of people still cannot go to work because of limited tranpo.

      That's good, those have arrived. Ah, you mean the most expensive didn't arrive? Still...that's such a long wait. Is it usually that long or because of the current situation?

      Delete
  2. I think for the national qualification they only had less than 3 months for the song and they did it so realistically 1.5 months is a good enough time for a song they already know how to play just lack a little input on few things like how to connect it and what sort of emotion to input in it , moreover since their song is an original i think there is the advantage of the judges having no reference to it so they can do whatever they want with it (when it comes to other teams they have a base song and they can re-interoperate it but then the judges can always reference back to the original for comparison of course in this case too these teams have something to use as a reference which makes their life a bit easier) so difinitly i think 1.5 month is a good time specially for an original

    hiro is amazing i think just like what takezou said back in the akira sensei arc she does really think a lot about other people (similar to takezou) and honestly i never thought the sotawa issue was any big deal since i was seeing all the sides of the story but t=when she started talking to hiro i realized that in a way both chika and sotawa has a strange way of thinking about some issues (in chika's case he has tetsuki) so i'm glad hiro was there for sotawa, and i guess it's easy to figure out who hiro like by the process of elimination, i mean in the end its not like either will confess now so its good for someone to tell sotawa that things will be ok , it will be interesting to see how things will go on from now on and i'm quite impressed with the way takezou also understands other people it is interesting how initially i thought the poeple of this club are all so different which makes it interesting yet if you look closely a lot of them are quite similar

    thanks
    emmahoshi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Is that so. Thanks for that, emmahoshi ^^ True, being an original has its advantages.

      Yup. Ah, I just have a thought, would Satowa assume that it is someone who isn't from the club?

      True.

      Delete
    2. I never really thought about that since she said we are the same as in have the same situation and it wouldn't destroy the club which to me sounded like all people involved are from the club but indeed to be honest maybe I assumed that since I know all sides of the story and it is possible that it is someone else (for example from hiro's class)it will be fun to see how this will develop

      thanks
      emmahoshi

      Delete
    3. True. I guess we'll see later on how Satowa will think/guess who it is...if she thinks of it. ^^

      Delete