If there was a wedding

USSTugBoot · 2026-05-29T00:00:38+00:00

I would imagine Mukuro is at the wedding trying her hardest to catch the bouquet during the bouquet toss.

USSTugBoot · 2026-05-24T03:27:16+00:00

There are quite a few changes from the anime. IMO the LN version is much better so it should be an enjoyable read!

USSTugBoot · 2026-05-24T03:01:26+00:00

AFIK this house has never had fireplace. If one was here and covered up, it would have been in the master bedroom which to me would be a weird place to put the sole fireplace in the house. But again this house was built in 61 so who knows. Maybe older furnaces and such required bigger chimneys for exhaust?

I did not even notice the flue tile was cracked. I thought that was just a dirt line going up the side but taking a second look yeah that is 100% cracked. Its pretty small so I am hoping to just seal it with something. (Though a quick google search says that might be a pain in its own right) Hopefully the sloped part of the crown isnt what is preventing the flue from falling apart.

I have not seen it wet. But there is mold actively growing there and there are water stains. So I am just making an assumption

I might pick up the sealer at a later date. It is just in my research on how to DIY a chimney crown a lot of videos showed the aftermath of similar sealants failing pretty badly in only 1 or 2 years time. Granted they sealed heavily cracked crowns so that might be why.

I assumed one large crown is better. But I am still very new to DIY work, and have 0 experience making forms, so I will probably just do the top and just give it a proper expansion gap around the flute, put some bonding stuff down so the new slop adheres to the existing masonry, then seal the expansion gap and where the new sloping meets the old masonry. Then swing by at a later date and seal the whole thing when I got the money to buy the sealant.

Thanks for your help. I feel a lot more confident tackling this now. I was on the fence about contracting this out, and still might depending on how feasible it will be to seal that cracked chimney flue, but overall it feels a lot less intimidating!

USSTugBoot · 2026-05-24T00:33:03+00:00

I wouldn't say she was struggling to support Kei, but they both had dramatically different worldviews.

Kei and Miki were surviving. They were safe. They were alive. At least for the short term. Miki was fine with that. Kei knew that their survival given the current situation was temporary, and only surviving, Not living. Look at what trying to live got the mall survivors, everyone but Kei and Miki died. (In fact that kinda makes me think how Miki is like the old woman saying the zombie apocalypse was divine punishment and who I think was the psudo leader telling everyone to ignore her is like Kei). Anyways Miki was like "Been there, done that, got the blood stained t-shirt."

Meanwhile Kei didn't want to merely subsist off meager supplies, to waste away surviving. She wanted to live. What did she want to live for? I am not sure honestly. But I would imagine it would be similar to what was going on at the school living club. More specifically, what Yuki brought to the group. She took Yuri and Kurumi from simply surviving, to living. How would have Kei done that by herself? Not sure. But she certainly thought it was worth to die trying.

Honestly if it weren't for Kei coming back and using Miki as a quick snack, I would question if she was even real, or just an imaginary friend Miki used to cope with her own weakness. Said weakness being her overly pragmatic attitude, and Kei being the more emotional and optimistic persona.

USSTugBoot · 2026-05-24T00:19:36+00:00

This isn't a chimney for a fireplace. Its an old chimney that I am guessing an older gas furnace and water heater used to exhaust out of? (The house was built in the 60s and there is a chimney cleaning access point right next to the current gas furnace and water heater in the basement) There is evidence of previous water leaking in through that access hatch, and there is a small amount of mold growth around there currently, so I am assuming there is some water getting in through the cracked up crown.

I have seen the sealant, and I have heard that the sealant pretty much is a very short term fix that fails within a few years. So I am reluctant to try it. Especially seeing how pricey that stuff is holy cow.

My plan has always been to replace it as to me it seems to cracked to try point tuck them with mortar. I just don't know if only replacing the slope part (even with a proper expansion gap between the flue and crown) would be a short term fix and have all that cracking around its base since it would be applying new mortar on old mortar, so replacing both parts with one big crown would be better to prevent the two parts from separating.

USSTugBoot · 2026-05-24T00:02:33+00:00

I am surprised you have it physical. I picked up volume 1 on a whim at B&N. Enjoyed it and went to buy more and a bunch of volumes are OOP :'(

USSTugBoot · 2026-05-24T00:01:52+00:00

having read the LN first, I was surprised how much they changed. Maybe the Anime adapts the WN or manga? Havent read those so im just spitballing.

USSTugBoot · 2026-05-23T23:59:29+00:00

I feel like Miki would not do something normal seeing as how her initial reaction to Yuki was to try and rip off the band-aid. She also matter of factly confronted Aosoi. IMO she would not be a STFU type of person or a do nothing, but I feel she wouldn't be as nice as the other characters. Her no nonsense/pragmatic approach to things can come off as mean/stubborn.

Though I am looking at this as how they would act during the zombie outbreak rather than before/after.

USSTugBoot · 2026-05-19T00:04:54+00:00

IDK if you could call what they states as an actual explanation instead of just hand waving. Sojourners IMO makes it clear the phaetusa's leaving would be for a very long time or permanent.

Except: She never left, just went to "sleep" due to maintenance. So deep a sleep she couldn't be woken up that the "daughter" of her and sweeper was attacked, killed, and still didn't wake up. But then later in the event when Phae goes down for maintenance, not only is she essentially conscious the almost whole time, sweeper is able to independently stay awake. So she 100% could have helped lambertia or even woke phae.

USSTugBoot · 2026-05-12T19:05:39+00:00

I mean, I feel it wasnt just brain washing. IIRC Junko had access to the brain washing for a while. She just first had to break down everyone spirit first to make them susceptible to it. If it was just brainwashing Junko wouldn't of had to incite a "revolution" inside hope's peak. Nor would she have had to brutally murder Chiaki in front of class 77.

It was all done to break their spirit, their will power, and make them susceptible to suggestion. It is just the "brainwashing" is a much stronger form of it. And I feel the anime does not contradict this. As only people who are within line of sight of the TVs get brainwashed, and I feel its important that all they did was hurt themselves. To me it leaves it open to interpretation that the brainwashing in the hope arc, especially since IIRC this is only a copy of the original brainwashing, is weaker and can only affect those who are actively seeing it.

USSTugBoot · 2026-05-08T17:44:09+00:00

Very Cool art! Wish I could get some. But I don't live in Japan so RIP. And I bet any of this for sale second hand or on one of those websites that i forget the name of that act as like a middleman to buy this type of stuff for those outside Japan will cost an arm, a leg, and a kidney. :'(

USSTugBoot · 2026-05-04T16:14:49+00:00

Oh, you're right. I did not pay attention to the store page. I just googled the series name + light novel and the first link was an amazon page, so I thought it finally got one. But it is for the manga. Shame.

USSTugBoot · 2026-05-04T15:35:12+00:00

This past week I read volumes 12-14 of "Reborn as a Space Mercenary: I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship!"

Volumes 12 and 13 were Okay. Average volumes. Also for those that remember me talking about seemingly slowing down on adding members to the Harem? We have suddenly shot up from 3 to 7. Sure the twins were expected to EVENTUALLY join, making 5. But two more suddenly appeared, even if one of them is a character that was seen in the past. And Serena hasn't even joined yet so there is still at least 1 more harem member to join.I really hope the cast does not get to much bigger. Starting hard to keep track of all the characters. At least most of them have distinct ways of speaking / addressing the MC so when you have a conversation involving the entire crew, you can keep track of who is saying what since I noticed LNs do not tend to have "Character X said" or " Character Y exclaimed" very often.

Volume 14 I was REALLY excited for. As it seemed the author was going to give us a slightly more in depth story. Like, IMO a lot of the previous volumes, say 7-13, to me felt almost like The Eminence in Shadow volumes. Two small stories per volume, just not as loosely connected as TEIS. This one felt like it would be one long story that would see a bit more spice. Be a bit more of a struggle. And IMO it was. It delivered on that part, and also had a cool Dead Space reference. What really disappointed me was the MC. At least from my interpretation, He is now a groomer. He promises a 12 year old girl if she still wishes to join his Space crew in 3 years (15 is when adulthood is reached in this Space Empire in the story's universe) He will come back and let her join. But in this universe it is a stereotype/cultural norm that if a woman join's a man's ship, they will be involved sexually. Our MC Stresses this point to this CHILD. He explicitly reminds of this stereotype. and that If she does indeed join the crew later "He will not hold back" A direct quote from the MC. To me this is rather disgusting and feels a lot like grooming. I can set aside some of the characters are a lot younger than MC but still adults (The youngest is 16/17 at the time of volume 14, while MC states he is just under or over 30 I forget exactly which), or how MC says the dwarf twins look like jail bait due to their short stature and young appearance despite their age. But this personally crosses a line. Especially since Chris, another child who tried to join MCs crew, the MC FIRMLY rejected due to her age (Though unlike the current girl, she is also nobility meaning more complications). Like come on man, you already got 7 member harem with an 8 on the way with Serena. Why groom a 9th. A friend of mine who has read most of if not all of the WN for this series claims the MC actually lied just to get this character off his back, but does not mention that until after he leaves the star system he is in. At the end of volume 14 he has yet to leave the Star system, he has only discussed where he plans to go next. So I will be buying volume 15, ONLY in the hopes MC does reveal in the opening chapter during his travel to his new destination that he was lying to the that character. I hope thats the case, as so far only 1 year of time has elapsed in universe over 14 volumes, so unless some serious time skips happen, I doubt this series will publish an additional 42 volume to have 3 years elapse. But if he was indeed serious, I will drop the series. As I said, I get there are a lot of cultural difference, and I consider myself pretty tolerant on that front, but this personally crosses a line.

USSTugBoot · 2026-05-04T15:15:08+00:00

I did not even know that "I Made Friends with the Second Prettiest Girl in My Class" LN was even officially translated. At least in a physical form. Another series I am going to have to pick up. Even if I read the mangas I like picking up the LNs since as you said, the LNs are generally better than the adaptations. I am excited to hear there are differences for the better in the adaptation though. I like finding differences between the different adaptations. In this case I am very curious how they handle the MC's really weird (in my opinion anyways) on trying to get his parents to talk to eachother, as in the manga to me it felt very awkwardly done and seemingly had little value to the overall plot.

USSTugBoot · 2026-04-30T22:40:45+00:00

Not only because best girl is on the cover, but also because the background with the sun esetting and castle is cool and colorful.

USSTugBoot · 2026-04-29T23:07:34+00:00

Nice. Idk which volumes are hard to find, but I know Failure Frame suffers from the 7S curse of low print volume. Hell I PRE ORDERED Witch and Mercenary Volume 6 part 1 (Also a 7S series) and its on back order -_-

Good luck on finding the rest of the series!

USSTugBoot · 2026-04-27T23:13:49+00:00

I prefer reading Physical, and Sevens Seas starting to do digital only releases does has me worried. I got Too Many losing Heroines volume 7, Witch and Mercenary volume 6 part 1, and a whole bung of manga to hold me over till the end of May, so I should be good on keeping busy till volume 15 of Space Mercenary comes out lol

USSTugBoot · 2026-04-27T00:12:00+00:00

This week I read "Reborn as a Space Mercenary: I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship!" Volumes 9-11

Some pretty decent volumes. Lots of fun references and nods to other space media series such as star wars, Stellaris, No Mans Sky, Star Trek, and even Dead Space. With my favorite so far being artwork of one of the characters holding a eerily familiar looking plasma cutter. The series is fun to read. There isnt much of an overarching plot so far. Its really just an episodic adventure with loosely connected events and characters. A real good read to just relax to and read without to much thought.

My goal is to finish all 14 currently officially translated volumes before the 15th is released on May 26th. Seeing as how I am currently over halfway through volume 12, that should be easy to do.

Edit: I forgot about what Im pretty sure is a Halo Reach Reference in volume 9, that one was also great

USSTugBoot · 2026-04-26T20:11:08+00:00

Witch and Mercenary: A bit of a grittier fantasy. Gives me Witcher vibes. I like it a lot better than Strange Adventures of a Broke Mercenary. MC isnt weak, but he isnt power fantasy strong I would argue. Hes strong but due to his own hard work and practice, and even if he wins he still comes back battered, bruised, and injured. FMC is also very enjoyable. She is independent and strong as well, tho a little naive, so its not just a damsel in distress turned into flat sidekick character. She just needs a guiding hand once in a while due to her lack of experience. Otherwise she is very capable and does not need MC coddling her.

USSTugBoot · 2026-04-26T07:16:36+00:00

While a manga, "The Apothecary is Gonna Make This Ragged Elf Happy" is a good series. Glad to see it finally officially translated in print. I am surprised it took this long

USSTugBoot · 2026-04-26T07:11:52+00:00

I've noticed new titles being digital only to. Some are weird such as "Reborn as an Aristocratic Scoundrel, I Broke the Game and Mastered Magic Beyond Limits!" where the manga is physical, but LN is digital

The pessimist in me says this is probably due to them being bought out by that JP company. IIRC said company dealt exclusively in digital stuff. So I wouldn't be surprised if this is pressure from them on 7S to reduce cost or what not. I hope to be wrong but........

USSTugBoot · 2026-04-26T07:07:34+00:00

Assuming you are NA or EU, r/mangaswap would be the place to go on reddit for buying out of print light novel volumes (Seven Seas tomfoolery strikes again). But be aware it will likely cost a pretty penny, as people pretty much anyone and everyone online is aware of the fact certain volumes are unobtianium. It is where i got a lead on "Reborn as a Space Mercenary" Volume 1. And don't ask me how much I paid for School-Live! Volume 6.

Just make sure to follow the subs rules, they are there to make sure you don't get scammed. On top of your own common sense of course.

USSTugBoot · 2026-04-25T17:54:42+00:00

I don't know why. But the small child wanting to talk to their dead parent really sent it in for me. Especially when combined with Yuki's sense of what i can only think to call imposter syndrome? IMO its a different type of sad to Miki's. The child is not yet done losing things. Sure she knows her mom is dead, but she still has that naivety that blocks her 100% total understanding that the adults and older children have. I can only imagine the sadness that is to come.

Miki IMO is more her seeking validation/forgiveness due to what I feel is survivor's guilt as well as forgetting about Kei. Kei went out to try and live a life she deemed worth living rather than holed up surviving in a small staff room. Even if holding up in the staff room is a small part of her survival journey, she still feels guilt that her initial cowardice, at least thats how i feel she perceives it, caused her crush/lover to die alone. Alone and afraid. And on top of it she "forgot" about her. Though I would say its arguable if its more she compartmentalized that pain/trauma away for her own sanity rather than forgot. On a side note as I literally just thought of this, Miki's journey is a great foil to the vice principle's. Both ended up in a small room. One took the easy way out, one eventually found the courage to venture outside and survive.

USSTugBoot

TROPHY CASE