Thoughts: I discovered New Trials a couple of months after this chapter was posted so this marked the end of my first NT binging and the beginning of NT waiting.
The Li Council voting to remove Syaoran as the Chosen One if he doesn't return to Hong Kong is huge -- and we don't even know what fully happened in Voice of a Wolf. I wonder if Wish-chan is holding off on writing that fic because it necessarily means killing off a dog.
This is the first time Sakura visits the orphanage and low and behold, CCS:CC Sakura is also planning on visiting children to read to them! Not only are the similarities continuing, but they're happening at a nice pace with my NT re-read.
Oh, it's Subaru's introduction. He calls Sakura a witch and by Harry Potter standards, he's actually on the nose.
Sakura finally gets some background information about pre-Dark Ones Erika and Eron thanks to Yuri's shared history with them. I'm glad Yuri mentioned that she was adopted because I was wondering about her situation too.
I used to be miffed that Subaru crashed S&S's date, but now I can enjoy the comedic effect of it all.
Aquariums are fun. I'm glad that Wish-chan predicted that NT-CC coincidence too.
“I want you to kiss the grouchy ‘nii-san” ~ We are all Subaru in this moment.
I'm glad that S&S got to have dinner alone in a fancy restaurant in Tokyo. I recently came back from vacation and we went to the Moscow aquarium and had a couple of fancy dinners so this chapter is well timed with my life.
Syaoran explaining Sakura's Star Analogy is one of my favourite examples of CCS and NT blending together seamlessly. And seeing it all come together in Arc 4 is great. In the mean time, this scene can be revisited because I made it into an appendix.
With The Wave triggering so many earthquakes, I'm surprised that The Dark Ones let it become so chaotic. No wonder Sakura only waited until now to confront Eron.
Fanart spotlight: Since this is Subaru's introductory chapter, it only makes sense to use this sketch by Wish-chan. He was such a brat and then we grew to love him to pieces. Thanks to eagle-eyed Wish-chan, he'll get to live on in CCS:CC.
I'm glad you had an awesome time in Moscow. And so cool that you're doing this re-read to coincide with CCS:Clear Card as well. I like pointing to some more superficial similarities with New Trials, but someday, I think I would like to delve into the actual larger themes as well. I loved Su-chan to pieces and glad he's made his debut over here as well.^^
ReplyDeleteWhen I launched this project around NT Day, CCS:CC couldn't be further from my mind. But now the timing couldn't be better. And because my re-visting is inspiring others to follow suit, we're uncovering all sorts of hidden gems such as Meilin dressing as a cat in Chapter 8!
DeleteI have whole new appreciation for Subaru now that I know his whole story. I'm going to savour every moment!