Well now I feel bad... I spent all this time working on this, and now it's going to look like I was stealing someone else's thunder. And to make things worse, I don't even think I'll be able to come close to matching that.
Really like the Kyonko facepalm, Sherby. Then again, I can't think of anything you've done I haven't liked.
-----
Off topic(but kinda what I've been planning for about a week now)... three years ago, I first started coming here(no, seriously, I registered on April 4th, 2008. That's three years ago to the day.), and throughout all this time, the only thing I did I was even remotely serious about has gone unfinished for pretty much the entire time.
But I couldn't just leave things that... Ah, who am I kidding? There's no point in building up what was started mostly as a joke anyway. So here, enjoy a bit of an edit to something I did way back when, plus an actual conclusion to it.
Spoiler for Kyon-chan no Bouken! Episode 01:
Spoiler for A-Part:
My name is Kyon. Okay, so that's not really my name, it's just some random nickname I've been stuck with for reasons I can't really explain. My real name isn't all that important, or at least not at this moment. It's best if we just go with Kyon for now.
At first glance, you'd probably think, "There's nothing special about that girl with the ponytail." Well, you'd be right, there isn't anything special at all about me. So why am I here talking about myself if I'm just some ordinary 15-year-old girl? Just bear with me, as things aren't always how they seem.
I should probably start from the beginning...
{cue cheesy intro music}
THE ADVENTURES OF KYON-CHAN!! Episode 01!! The Masked Sorcerer and the Pounding Heart of Justice?!
It all started on a Saturday. For many people my age, this is the first day of resting before returning to school life. I, on the other hand, had gotten a part-time job on the weekends, which means I don't get any rest at all. The job was pretty simple; all I had to do was stand in front of a few stores and attract customers. I know, sounds like an easy job, right? That's why I agreed to it in the first place. However, after I had agreed to it, I found out what the "uniform" was: a leotard, net stockings, high heels, white cuffs and long, floppy ears to wear on my head. It even had a little fluffy ball for a tail.
In other words, while attracting business to the store, I had to dress like a bunny girl. The only thing that kept this from being a complete humiliation was that it was nowhere near the school. Wouldn't want people I know finding out about this, now would I?
"Everyone, please stop by! We have new supplies of fresh cabbage today. What's more, for the next hour, it'll be on sale for half price!"
I shouted with a stiff voice. Most of the customers were middle-aged housewives, so I never could understand how me dressing up in a bunny girl outfit was supposed to be effective. I suppose seeing a high school girl doing this sort of thing while dressed in a particularly embarrassing outfit just seemed to work, as everyone who passed by seemed glad to part with their money.
"Hurry up and get them while supplies last!"
While I have no supernatural traits, I apparently possess superb marketing abilities, as I have the impeccable ability to change a customer's dinner menu from a simple cabbage into a vegetable hot pot. Within minutes, the store was filled with customers. All the cabbages were gone shortly after.
I was then summoned by the owner of the grocery store, Morimura-san, who gave me an envelope with my salary in it,
"You always come to help us out. I know it isn't much, but please take it,"
I took the envelope from her hands, which were weathered by many years of blood and sweat, and said,
"Don't mention it. I'm not really doing all that much, so this is more than enough."
I bowed and thanked her. As the outfit really had nowhere else to put it, I had to make do with the temporary solution of sliding the envelope down the front of it, making sure not to tear anything.
"Please excuse me, I've got to help the butcher's next. See you later!"
By this point, I had become something of a mascot for this shopping area. I still haven't figured out why, but I've always seemed to be rather popular here. I eventually finished my usual rounds and was preparing to call it a day and go on home.
I know, aside from the bunny girl outfit, this all seems fairly normal. I did say there's nothing unusual about myself, after all. However, it was at that moment that I narrowly averted a potential disaster.
A good distance in front of me was a guy who sat behind me in class. Normally he doesn't talk to people, but there was always the chance that his first topic of conversation with others would be me in a bunny girl outfit, so, I quickly hid behind a fairly large sign.
His name is Haruki Suzumiya, but we'll just stick with Haruki here for the sake of convenience. Like myself, he doesn't look all that different from anyone else. However, he has some rather peculiar traits that one wouldn't know just by looking at him, though I'd imagine describing them would take away too much time.
After Haruki had left, I gave a sigh of relief and walked in the opposite direction. If anyone was watching just this scene, they'd probably think that it was the sigh of a girl who couldn't bring up the courage to say hi to a guy she likes. I assure you, that is certainly not the case.
After nodding my head to everyone's greetings along the way, I had arrived in front of the dimly lit stationery store. The owner of this store, Suzuki-san, is the president of this shopping district council, and is also the person who hired me.
"Welcome back, Kyon-chan. Was the work hard today?"
Suzuki-san spoke in a formal tone while greeting me, smiling gently as if she were a kind grandmother.
"Not at all. There were a lot of customers today. It seems like the area has been rather prosperous lately."
"Good, very good."
After nodding and thanking Suzuki-san, I walked up the slightly steep stairs, passed through a narrow corridor and finally arrived in a small room. After closing the door, I began removing the bunny girl outfit...... but that's irrelevant to the story. There is absolutely nothing to see here, please just move right along and forget everything you may have seen.
On my way to the train station, I'd felt a little uneasy, as if someone were following me. However, every time I looked behind me, all I saw were random people going about their daily lives. Eventually I gave up on trying to figure out what was going on.
However, that feeling of uneasiness grew more intense as I boarded the train. I looked around at the other passengers, but they all seemed fairly normal. I smiled and nodded at everyone who noticed I was looking. I sighed and just passed it off as being nothing unusual, then began staring at my feet as the train left the station.
"...... That boy from earlier. Do you know him?"
"Excuse me?"
I looked up and saw someone I certainly didn't see before. I'm positive I would have recognized him, given his appearance. He wore a very stylized half-mask covering the top half of his face. Above that, he had a top hat. In addition, he was wearing a fancy suit and a cape.
"Do you know him?"
Well yeah, sort of. He's in my class, I mean.
"Do not get close to him."
What's that supposed to mean? I have no intention of getting involved with him.
I began looking around to see what everyone thought of this, but they were all frozen in place, as if time were standing still for everyone but the two of us. Just what was going on around here, anyway?
"See to it that things remain that way. For your sake as well as his."
What do you......
At the moment I had started to ask, he had disappeared as mysteriously as he arrived and everything was back to normal. Had I been imagining that? Was it just someone's practical joke? Whatever it was, that was the end of it, as the rest of my trip home was uneventful.
That night, I didn't get much sleep, as I couldn't stop thinking about that guy on the train. Get close to Haruki? Why would I want to have my name soiled by being associated with him? And why would it be a problem if I did? My personal life should be of no concern to some random guy on a train who dresses like some sort of stage magician. He should be pestering Haruki about this if he's so interested in him. It'd save me a lot of trouble...
After a rather restless night, I prayed the next day would be normal. After my usual morning rituals, I left home, rode the bus to the shopping district, greeted Suzuki-san, changed into my... uniform, and performed my promotional duties; this time for an electronics store having a sale on batteries and a model shop that had been underperforming, to put it lightly. Another job well done for the poor little "mascot" girl. Hooray.
However...
As I was heading back to the stationary store, I had the unfortunate pleasure of encountering two people I really didn't want to see again...
"Come on, like I'd really believe that! Just who do you think it is you're talking to?"
"It does not matter if you believe me or not. What I say is the truth."
... If it isn't obvious who these two are, you haven't been paying attention. About the only thing new here is the cat on the magician's shoulder. As for what they were just talking about, I couldn't tell you. Asking random bystanders would also be impossible, as once again, they're frozen in place. How utterly convenient.
"Okay, fine. If you're telling me the truth, then prove it. Surely someone of your awesome power level could fly or shoot laser beams. If you can't even do that much, you're just wasting my time."
"I have no reason to convince you that what I say is true. However, your lack of cooperation is problematic."
Now, normally I'd just walk away, but something about that exchange seemed... off. Or maybe it was the fact that, shortly after he finished saying that, a black mass of energy or something started coming from the fingertips of the magician's left hand. As I watched, it slowly formed into something the size of a basketball.
"Whatever..."
And it seems as though Haruki somehow didn't even notice. Great. Just to make things even better, he turned away just as it was sent in his direction.
Most people, when presented with a situation like this, would tell the person in trouble to duck for cover or at least shout "Watch out!" or something. So, why is it that I found myself running up to Haruki to save him? More importantly...
... With Haruki out of the way...
The sphere hurdled towards the two of us, making a sound like sparks shooting from a damaged electrical wire as it cut through the air.
... The person who will get hit...
With every ounce of strength I could put into it, I somehow managed to move Haruki out of the way.
... Is me.
Um... pretend this is a commercial break. Go and get a drink or something. Or just go on, whichever.
Spoiler for B-Part:
"What was that for?!"
"... I see..."
Somehow, despite taking a direct hit, it seemed as though nothing happened to me.
"I thought you had said you would not get involved with that boy."
Well I couldn't just stand back and watch you kill him, could I?
"He would have survived. However, your interference has complicated matters. I must reevaluate the situation."
Reevalutate? What are you...
"Would you mind telling me what's going on?"
If I knew that, I wouldn't be confused myself. And thanks for interrupting me, by the way. Really appreciate that.
"I'm talking about you shoving me onto the ground. Why'd you go and push me?"
Oh, that? Why, I was just saving you from... hey, where'd he go?
It seemed that, once again, a certain magician disappeared while I wasn't looking. That'd be a useful ability for getting out of an awkward situation. And it seemed as though Haruki lost interest in that conversation, as he walked over and picked up... a cat?
"Now why is it you're the only thing other than us moving around here?"
He noticed that, but not the energy ball? Is this some sort of selective ignorance on his part?
"What do you think? Is it an alien? Or maybe it's some mutant cat from another dimension that came here to discover some mysterious secret only ours has."
Seriously? It's the cat that guy had with him. I don't think it's any more complicated than that.
"Let go of me."
......
For the record... that was neither Haruki nor myself, and everyone else was still frozen at the time. There's only one place that voice could have possibly came from, but I didn't really want to believe it.
"Hey, it talks! I found a talking cat! I'm taking this home with me. 'Shamisen' sound like a good name to you?"
And with that, 'Shamisen' hissed, bit Haruki's hand, then jumped from his loosened grip to the ground and ran behind me. Can't really say I blame the cat for wanting to do that, but I'd prefer it if I weren't dragged into things.
"Ow! Stupid cat, I don't want you anymore."
"That's perfect. I had no intention of being your pet in the first place."
Okay, you two can argue all you want later, but for right now, can someone explain what's going on?
"Hmph... Stupid girl and stupid cat."
"You're in a sort-of pocket dimension created by magical incantations. If you need proof, just ask the statues around you. Or not, they won't respond either way. That's what happens to normal people inside one of these, after all."
Excuse me... what?
"So you're saying the two of us are special?"
"In a way, yes. You being fully aware of the situation surprised me, as well as my acquaintance from earlier, but I knew the girl was special."
I'm sorry, but I'm perfectly normal. There isn't anything unusual about me at all. I have bad luck and average grades, and my athletic abilities are abysmal.
'Shamisen' looked at me briefly, then began to scratch its neck. Meanwhile, Haruki walked over to the cat and sat down next to it.
"Are you sure? As I said, normal people aren't even aware spaces like this exist. Even if that weren't the case, that sphere of energy certainly would have taken you off your feet and left a particularly nasty burn if you had no magical defenses. I certainly wasn't able to maintain my grip when it was launched, after all."
While I was trying to take in everything that was being said, Haruki casually picked the cat up again and started up a conversation.
"So, what? Are you saying she's some kind of magical girl or something? If she kept you as a pet, that'd make you a familiar, right? That's actually pretty cool. While that kind of show is usually too girly for me to stomache for more than a few seconds when I happen across it, actually running into one is something else entirely."
And with that... Haruki started poking Shamisen, resulting in him being bitten again. Serves him right.
"I'd prefer the term 'partner' if that were the case, as 'familiar' makes it sound as though I'm some lowly servant. But, yes... I suppose the term 'magical girl' would be appropriate for her."
Okay. I'm still trying to take in the whole 'I'm not normal' thing, so could you please not label me as a magical girl? Besides, don't they normally try and keep a low profile about the whole magic thing? Why would you go and talk so casually about that stuff in front of him?
"Well that's simple enough. While he may be able to move around in here, the likelihood of anyone not capable of using magic retaining any knowledge of what happens in one of these dimensions is practically non-existent."
"So what? You saying I'm just going to forget everything? Kinda hard to forget about a talking cat. Not to mention the guy in the freaky magician suit and this bunnygirl he pulled out of his hat."
......
Oh, right. Thanks for that friendly reminder, Haruki. I was on my way to get changed out of this stupid outfit when all this started. Sigh... can this day get any worse?
"Come to think of it, you look familiar... do I know you from somewhere?"
N-no! I'm just some random passing bunnygirl, that's all! Oh, would you look at the time? No time to say hello, good-bye! I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!
"Hey, wait a sec-"
And before Haruki could even get up to stop me, I ran away as fast as one can in heels. Feet, please forgive me for making you suffer for the rest of me.
After some time, I found myself in front of the stationary store, completely out of breath. After changing out of that ridiculous outfit that's proving to be more trouble than it's worth, I walked out and slumped down for a bit of a breather.
"It certainly took you long enough. Do you have any idea how hard it is to not only escape from someone of his size while trying to get him to follow you, but also hide long enough for you to change out of that costume?"
Okay, cat. While you've explained some things, please tell me why it is you're following me now. And why aren't you with that other guy anymore?
... No, I can't believe I'm talking to a cat and actually expecting an answer, either.
"Didn't you hear me? I just ran around this entire area trying to keep that lumbering giant away from you. I'm worn out. Just take me home with you and I'll explain everything later."
It almost seemed like 'Shamisen' didn't really want to answer my questions. However, given what the cat apparently did for me, the least I could do is accept its request. Unfortunately, as animals aren't generally allowed on the trains here, I had to sneak it on in a large bag from the store.
Of course... just like last time, I couldn't help but feel someone was watching me on the trip home. Maybe I was just being paranoid, given all that happened, as I still couldn't find anyone. I don't know, this is all too strange for me.
{cue outro music... which is also incredibly cheesy}
Most people say that black cats bring bad luck, but I'd say that talking ones are worse. I mean, this sort of thing never happened before meeting 'Shamisen.' And why'd it have to be me, of all people? I'm more the "friend of the main protagonist" kind of girl, or maybe even a once-in-a-while side character. I can't be the star of the show, can I? The only thing that prevents this from being a complete disaster is that no one other than me will remember it... right? And what's with that weird feeling someone's watching me all the time? At first, I thought it was the magician, but I didn't get the feeling it was him just now. Oh well, maybe I'll get some answers later. For now, I'll just have to sit back and try to forget what just happened.
... Yeah, that facepalm will probably be seeing use right away.
*e* Episode 02 is found here.
*e2* Episode 03 is found here.
*e3* Episode 04 is found here.
__________________
WARNING: Kogetsu Shirogane cannot be held accountable for any actions taken by someone else. Potential side effects of communicating with this user include headaches, mild confusion, insanity, delirium, and jumping into fires. Do not expose this user to sunlight or water or feed this user after midnight.
... so you think you're a king now...
Last edited by Kogetsu Shirogane; 2012-05-01 at 16:18.
I've tried reducing the file size of it, but when I do, the quality turns into crap.
If there's some other way to reduce the size of it, let me know.
Due to the 256 color palette, the dithered pixels must be recalculated for every frame, and therefore it cannot be fully optimized. Try an APNG version instead. (make sure it's optimized, otherwise they're HUGE)
Also the source doesn't seem very good seeing how there are JPEG ARTIFACTS. >_> This kills the compression for both GIFs AND PNGs.
EDIT: Even with the dithered 256 colors and the JPEG artifacts, just converting the already-made GIF to an animated PNG still gave a smaller filesize. (the GIF is 195KB)
Since this was just a filesize test, I didn't replicate the frame duritation - each frame is set to 100ms
122KB (lossless from GIF)
Now if I use lossy optimizations, then I can get it even smaller. However, 15% tolerance is about as far as you can go before it starts looking noticeably more crappy due to the above-mentioned JPEG artifacts and 256 color dithering.
86KB (lossy from GIF)
Nice job!
I just wish there was a way to keep the timing there without making the file bigger. Ah well.
On another note, with the release of Surprise, Kaisos and I were wondering how we could genderbend the Anti-SOS and Yasumi, including Yasumi's name (Kaisos was thinking about keeping the "Watashi wa Su(zu)miya" concept somehow) and who exactly the shotas would be. (Because shotas are IMPORTANT...apparently)
2011-04-04, 16:29
