For months I’d had a list of shows I kept meaning to watch. This break gave me the perfect chance to dive in: hours of captivating stories and beautiful animation, finally ticked off.
One unexpected highlight: joining anime and creative communities on Discord and ending up in great conversations with fellow fans. It added a warm, social layer to an otherwise quiet Christmas.
I finally started a project I’d been planning: anime clips. Combining my love for anime with editing was incredibly rewarding.
I started an A1 textbook. Challenging, exciting, and every day a little more vocabulary sticks. A new language feels like a door to a whole new world.
I discovered chess analysis told as anime: the strategic depth of chess with the storytelling of anime. Entertaining and educational.
No morning was complete without it. Simple, addictive, and a good way to wake the brain up.
I treated myself to a jacket I’d been eyeing for ages. Warm, stylish, and it makes me feel great every time I wear it.
Twinkling lights, festive stalls, seasonal treats. I also found an adorable animal-themed gift that was far too cute to pass up. It might be a present, or I might just keep it.
Exactly what I needed: a balance of rest, creativity, learning and connection. Staying home didn’t mean missing out. It gave me space for the things I truly enjoy. Here’s to an exciting year ahead. 🎄
]]>She starts as a victim of the academy’s cruel hierarchy and becomes a fierce, independent gambler. Being around Mary means being around someone who makes you stand up for yourself.
A master tactician who reads people and situations like an open book, and commands respect through pure intellect. The mentor in strategic thinking I’d want.
She seems to enjoy the chaos of gambling for its own sake. Unpredictable, fearless, pure passion for the game.
Deceptively childlike, with razor-sharp observation and a deep understanding of game mechanics. She teaches you to look past appearances.
Calculated precision and ambition. His methodical style and organisational skill make him someone you want on your team, humbling moments included.
From status-obsessed collector to someone who gambles for the thrill. Proof that growth often comes from losing what you thought defined you.
The perfect idol on the outside, a calculating mind underneath. Spending time with her would be a masterclass in performance and image.
Unwavering loyalty and exceptional competence. As Kirari’s secretary she plans and executes flawlessly, and her growth toward her own agency is beautiful. She’s the secretary Risa aspires to be.
Each of them sharpens something: strategy, insight, resilience or growth. In the high-stakes world of Hyakkaou Private Academy, people like these make you better, or make you broke.
]]>Mysterious aura, that iconic mask, and a duality I adore: shy and reserved when masked, fierce and confident when she shows her true self. Her development is phenomenal and her loyalty is endearing. (I wrote a whole entry about her.)
A traditional aesthetic combined with sharp neutrality. She is elegance itself, composed even in the most intense situations.
Genuine kindness in a school full of chaos. Her pure-hearted support for her friends proves you don’t need to be ruthless to be strong, and she grows as a gambler without losing her moral compass.
The queen herself. Chaotic energy and a genuine love for gambling; fearless joy in the most extreme situations. Terrifying and attractive in equal measure: unpredictable, brilliant, infectious.
A unique intensity. She turns what others see as weakness into power, and her determination at the table shows real mental fortitude. Unapologetically herself.
Technical expertise and professional neutrality in a world of bias and manipulation. Underrated, essential, and very cool.
Who’s on your list? Turn the cards on Risa’s page and tell me where I’m wrong.
]]>Ririka begins as a silent, masked figure: a mystery that slowly unravels into someone thoughtful and genuine. Her journey from a voiceless shadow to someone who can say what she wants resonates with anyone who has ever felt they had to hide.
She’s timid and capable of incredible bravery at the same time. When she removes the mask (literally and figuratively), she shows a person learning to be confident in her own way.
Once Ririka lets someone into her world, her devotion is absolute. She doesn’t chase the spotlight; her bonds are quiet and real.
Let’s be honest: the mask, the long silver hair, the elegant presence. Even after her face is revealed, she keeps an air of mystery that makes every scene with her feel special.
Watching Ririka learn to stand on her own, make her own decisions and find her own voice is genuinely moving. Hers is a story of self-actualisation.
While she learns to express herself, Risa can give her the encouragement she needs. In return, Ririka’s quiet wisdom grounds her. Her calm to Risa’s energy, her thoughtfulness to Risa’s enthusiasm. Neither has to pretend to be something she isn’t.
Mary Saotome is an incredible character in her own right, but:
Ririka represents everything I value: depth, growth, loyalty and genuine connection. She’s a reminder that the most beautiful relationships are built on understanding, patience, and the courage to be yourself with someone who truly sees you.
That’s Ririsa. 💜
]]>I just moved pieces around, convinced I understood the game. Spoiler: I didn’t.
Things came to a head when I played my deskmate. I lost so badly that I didn’t even notice I was in check. The embarrassment was real, and that one defeat made me avoid chess for years. Why play a game you’re that bad at?
Fast forward to recently. Two things brought me back: Kakegurui and Duolingo.
There’s a chess puzzle in Kakegurui that caught my attention. The strategic thinking, the mind games, the calculated risk. It reminded me of what chess could be. At the same time I was (probably procrastinating) on Duolingo, and somehow the two sparked something.
In this academy, progress isn’t measured by grades, but by how much you’re willing to risk.
So I gave chess another shot.
I still lost. A lot. So I started “cheating”. Not the Hyakkaou way: I played with an engine looking over my shoulder and watched what stronger players would do. Slowly, patterns appeared. Then I hit a wall: trial and error wasn’t enough. I needed structure.
I’m working through the plan one phase at a time. It’s structured, it’s complete, and, most importantly, it’s actually teaching me chess instead of letting me push pieces around. Maybe one day I’ll be the one delivering the checkmates.
Chess is not about memorising moves. It’s about understanding ideas and seeing patterns. Once you grasp that, improvement becomes inevitable.
Want a game? Find me on Discord. Challenge accepted, stakes negotiable.
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