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Table of Contents Cover: “Green Hopes and Dreams,” an illustration by Page 11: Aya Hatashima “A Mane of Fire,” a story by Lola This Page: “The State of Pokémon,” an illustration “Flames in the Darkness,” a photograph by The Calico Cat “three haikus in candlelight,” a poem by Vérité by Bleach Lord “Light,” a poem by The Cold Hearted Queen

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Ask Aphro & Dite

• A Worried Sibling thinks their sister is making sacrifices to a cult • Someone wants help sticking to their New Years resolution The Hues of Blue

• Blue remembers an incident with the police Monthly Otaku Column

• Aya talks about a Netflix series and Ancient Greece Page 4:

“Sing of the Moon - The Collection,” a story by Verovyva “Light from Above,” a photograph by The Calico Cat

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“Sing of the Moon - The Collection,” continued “Sleepover,” an illustration by Poppy

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“Sing of the Moon - The Collection,” continued “Greed,” an illustration by Bleach Lord

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“Rootless and Free,” a poem by The Midnight Raven “Walking On A Bridge Over The Creek Looking Out At The River On The Bloody Way To Practice At 5:30 In The Bloody Morning God Damn Why Couldn’t I Have Picked A Normal Sport It Is 31 Degrees Out And I’m Wearing A Tank Top I Hate This Cursed Sport Hey @ Coach Try Having Practice At A Time When Normal Human Beings Are Awake Maybe??” a photograph by Calliope

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“Adelaide (3),” a story by Blue Serendipity “This Is The Result Of Me Running 10 Miles in 90 Degree Weather: I Lie In The Middle Of My Road And Take Photos Of The Cherry Blossoms. Even Dead Tired I’m A Photography God,” a photograph by Calliope

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“Adelaide (3),” continued “I Literally Have No Idea What To Call This To Be All Clever But Let’s Pretend That I Did,” a photograph by Calliope

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“Sing of the Moon - The Collection,” continued “Monogram M,” a manga by Aya Hatashima

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“The Tale of the Constellations,” a poem by The Midnight Raven “Helio!” an illustration by Cupid “The Olive Grove by the Sea,” a poem by The Midnight Raven

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“Moonlit,” a story by Vérité “Path of Leaves,” a photograph by The Observer

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“Without Light,” a story by The Midnight Raven “A New Year,” a poem by Blue Serendipity “Missing Work,” a poem by Lola “Ten!” an illustration by Cupid

Ask Aphro & DiteDear Aphro, I think my sister is trying to do sacrifices for some kind of cult. What should I do? Yours, A Worried Sibling Dear Worried Sibling, My, that’s quite worrisome indeed. First of all, you should make sure cult sacrifices is really what she’s doing. Maybe she’s just recently gotten into candles or has an innocent fascination with cults? Either way, you don’t want to jump to conclusions. A good idea would be to just ask her what she’s doing. If it turns out she really is making cult sacrifices, you need to gauge the severity of the situation. Then, decide from there what the next best thing to do is. Perhaps that’s talking to your parents or a teacher. Perhaps that’s calling the police. But then again, if she’s making sacrifices to me... well then you need not worry. With love, Aphro Dear Dite, How do I stick to a New Years resolution? Yours, A Goal-Chaser Darling Goal-Chaser, Try picking a long term goal and then making little shorter goals within it. That way, you will be reaching self-set milestones as time passes and it will keep you motivated. A lot of people fail to keep their resolutions because they make them unrealistic and there is no pay-off until the end of the year. Without a short term goal, they begin to forget about their resolution. But even if you forget about your resolution for a few weeks, don’t give up! Just do your best to do what you can. Good luck! With love, Dite

issuu.com/midnightwriters wchs.midnightwriters@gmail.com

The Hues of Blue Monthly OtakuThis month I have yet another story that takes place at my old house. It was late at night and Column I was once again looking out my window. I The themes this month were candles and was checking to see if all the cars were in the presents. I know these are loosely related, but driveway which would mean everyone was I drew a manga about writing a letter. I like home. Sure enough, they were all accounted watching ASMRs of wax seals and calligrafor. Before I went back to bed however, I phy, which definitely inspired me to draw this. noticed a figure walking around my dad’s van. It was strange. There was no way my dad was However, I was most inspired by this Netflix going anywhere, and there was no reason for original series, Violet Evergarden. It is an him to be walking in circles around it. Much anime series about Violet, an orphan girl who to my surprise and horror, multiple police was in an army since her childhood, becoming cars began pulling up in front of my house an “Auto Memory Doll” - people who assist from both sides of the road. The figure jerked with writing letters to others in need. She and rushed behind the van, disappearing into fought in a war and was treated as nothing the shadows of our cars. I started yelling at more than a weapon. She is seeking the meanmy sister and running into my parent’s room, ing of “I love you,” words uttered by Gilbert shouting about how there was a man hiding Bougainvillea. He is a major of the army and behind our cars and there were police every- her beloved who adopted her, trained her as where. We all ran into my room and watched a soldier, and the first to treat her as a human as over 12 police cars stopped on our street. It being. Through the letters she writes, she was insane. After all, what could this per- learns the many meanings of emotions and son possibly have done to warrant a police what it means to love someone. The art is chase of this scale? They stayed for about 15 breathtaking, and it was such an emotional minutes, the street clogged with police cars., plot that it was the only anime that has made Bbefore, we saw a group of police officers me cry. Violet was a character I really cared crowded around a man sitting at the corner of about, and I was glad she found hope in her the street. Three officers talked to one of my life. I’m glad I joined Netflix (don’t judge me, neighbors who demanded to know what was our family finally subscribed to it this month). going on. Other houses began turning on their lights. A group of officers walked toward my The illustration I drew was inspired by house and to the side gate. My family and I Ancient Greek sculptures. I had this idea wasted no time running downstairs and ques- stored for months, but it’s only now that I had tioning the officers who had begun searching enough time to finish it. I always wanted to try our backyard. Apparently, the man they were layering and the oil painting style on digital after had hopped backyards and they believed art. I’m glad I put time into this. I am currenthe had dropped something. I personally would ly taking AP Art History, and I really enjoy like to believe the man had drugs or some- exploring different art from different times of thing and it wasn’t something more sinister. history. So far, my favorites are the HellenisBut why would so many police show up? tic, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. After all that has happened with the police in 2020, we can all make a few guesses as to Special thanks to Sra. Steele, Blue why. Anyways, it was quite a freaky event to Serendipity, Aya Hatashima, The Calsee and definitely not a memory I’ll be forget- ico Cat, Calliope, Bleach Lord, The ting any time soon. Midnight Raven, Cupid, and Vérité.