@mc5punk 25 January 2025 more from that month

Short story: The Coffee Club and the Best Anime of All Time

In a small cafe called "Café Kōsen", a group of Otaku friends met every Saturday afternoon. The place, decorated with classic anime posters and action figures that seemed to come to life, was his refuge. That afternoon, the topic of the debate was one that always ignited passions: what were the best adult animes of all time? Hiroshi, the self-proclaimed leader of the group, leaned forward with a smile that could have melted the ice at the North Pole. He was wearing a black T-shirt with the symbol of the *Brand of Sacrifice* of *Berserk*, and his enthusiasm was contagious. "Listen, there's no discussion here. *Berserk* is the undisputed king. Guts is so complex that it could be a puzzle of a thousand pieces... without the instructions! His struggle against fate is like trying to diet at an all-you-can-eat buffet." "Insurmountable? Please," Akira replied, adjusting his glasses as if he was about to solve a complex mathematical equation. "I'm not going to deny that *Berserk* is amazing, but if we talk about complexity and depth, *Death Note* surpasses it. Light Yagami is a perfect anti-hero. The series makes you question what you would do if you had absolute power in your hands... as if you could decide which pizza to order without feeling guilty." "You're both right," Mei, the calmest of the group, interjected as she absent-mindedly stirred her matcha tea. "But I think they're leaving out something important: *Elfen Lied*. It is a work that not only shows extreme violence, but also touches on issues such as abuse and discrimination. Lucy is a tragic character that breaks your heart... and it also leaves you wondering why you haven't done the laundry this week." From the next table, where two other members of the group were listening in silence, Riku raised his hand as if he were in math class. "Excuse me, but I think you're forgetting something essential," he said with a mocking smile. "What about *Attack on Titan*? That series not only has spectacular action; it also has an epic narrative about human survival and secrets that leave you speechless... like when you find out your pizza has pineapple in it." "Exactly!"exclaimed Sora, who until then had been busy flipping through a *Chainsaw Man* manga. He closed the book with a dramatic bang and pointed at Riku as if he were his ally in battle. "But if we're going to talk about recent series that have redefined the genre, then *Chainsaw Man* should be on the list. Denji is as human as any of us: he wants to survive, eat well and have some love in his life. It's brutal and funny at the same time... like trying to juggle three pizzas while dancing!" "I'm sorry, but I feel like they're leaving out something really special," Kaede said from her usual corner by the window. She was the most reserved of the group, but she always had something interesting to contribute. "What about *Tokyo Ghoul*? Kaneki's internal struggle to accept who he is and find his place in a hostile world is incredibly moving... although sometimes I wonder if I should stop watching anime and just go out and socialize." "That is indeed true!"Mei replied excitedly. "Kaneki's transformation is heartbreaking. Also, the way the series explores issues like identity and social rejection is brilliant... like when you're trying to explain to your parents why you want to be a streamer instead of a doctor!" Hiroshi threw up his hands to calm the waters before the debate got even more out of control. "All right, all right. They all have good points. But I think we should try to make a definitive list. Something like...... the essential series for any adult otaku." "If we're going to do that," Akira said as he took out his notebook to jot down the ideas, "we should also include something less conventional like *Dorohedoro*. It's weird, yes, but his mix of black comedy and action in a dystopian world is unique... like finding a thousand yen bill in an old pocket!" "And don't forget *Hell's Paradise*," Riku added as he checked his phone for images from the anime. "The story of Gabimaru seeking redemption while facing unimaginable horrors on that cursed island... It's just spectacular; it reminds me of my family vacation." Kaede nodded slowly as she looked out the window towards the twinkling lights of Tokyo. "All these animes have something in common," he said in a soft but firm voice. "They are not only violent or complex; they also make us reflect on ourselves and on what it means to be human... or at least they make us feel better about our own questionable decisions." The group was silent for a moment, taking in Kaede's words. "Well," Hiroshi finally said with a wide smile, "it seems that we have come to some kind of consensus... although we will never completely agree." He raised his cup as if toasting his friends. "For the best animes and for our eternal discussions about them." Everyone laughed and raised their cups too. As they left the cafe that evening, each one carried with them a renewed mental list of series to re-watch or recommend to others. And although they knew that there would never be a definitive answer to the debate about the best adult anime, the important thing was to share that passion together. The conversation would continue at their next meeting... because there would always be more stories to discuss and new worlds to discover together... and maybe some pizza without pineapple! --- With each weekly meeting, the Kōsen Cafe became a hive of absurd ideas and hilarious theories about the most complex characters and plots of anime. A week after the last meeting, Hiroshi arrived at the cafe with a big bag full of collectible figures. "Boys! I've brought something special for our debate," he announced as he pulled out a giant figure of Guts. "Are you going to use that as an argument?"Sora asked between laughs. "Because if you do, I'm going to bring my entire collection of *Death Note*. Let's see who wins then!". "That wouldn't be fair," Akira replied with serious but funny tone. "Your collection only includes dead characters... and I have L!". Mei laughed as she took a sip of her matcha tea again. "And how about we do this? Everyone brings their favorite figure and we argue why it deserves to be among the best adult anime." Kaede smiled sheepishly from her usual corner, “We could have some kind of contest... who can make the best argument without mentioning violence?”. “That would be impossible”" Hiroshi replied sarcastically. "It's like asking Guts to talk about flowers." Meanwhile, Riku had started searching for images on his phone to show them shocking scenes from his favorite animes. ”Look at this," he excitedly said while showing an epic scene from *Attack on Titan*. "This has more emotional impact than any romantic drama." ”Of course,“ Sora replied mockingly, ”because nothing says ‘I love you’ like watching giants devour your mother." Laughter echoed between them as they continued to exchange jokes about their favorite animes. They finally decided to make a definitive list to present to the otaku world: 1. Berserk - For Guts and his existential problems. 2. Death Note - Because we all want to be evil geniuses. 3. Elfen Lied - For teaching us that family problems can be even bloodier. 4. Attack on Titan - For reminding us how fragile humanity is. 5. Chainsaw Man - Because Denji represents our most basic aspirations. 6. Tokyo Ghoul - For those dark days when you just want to cry. 7. Dorohedoro - For being so weird that we don't even know how to describe it. 8. Hell's Paradise - Because we all need a little chaos in our lives. At the end of the day, everyone left the cafe with a smile on their face and new ideas about what to watch or discuss next time. And so their weekly meetings continued: full of laughter, absurd debates and that unwavering love for anime that only they could fully understand... although the eternal question would always remain: should the pizza have pineapple or not? Source of the images. Image created with Starryai.