#//couldn't come with anything akihiko related

[yuseirra]

Been playing episode Aigis lately, (about ten hours in) and here's my honest review on it:

There's a whole lot of grinding.. they really did keep to the original source material. It isn't bad, but the whole structure of this DLC is clear a dungeon->a little snippet of plot->more dungeon->story (on repeat) Oh, I do like how the "doors" have names that are related to Dante's Divine Comedy... it's the one work I always attempt on reading but never make it past Inferno...I'd like to complete reading it one day.

Reload did a pretty good job with adding some extra interactions, thus enhancing the characterization, that part of it isn't totally gone in this DLC either, but there is too little plot compared to the fights. I had fun fighting in Tartarus in the main game, but I find it to be a bit tiring on this one (bet that was even more stronger in the original FES)

The best part about this DLC is Metis for me, she's really pretty and I like her character. It's nice seeing Aigis having a cute sibling who cares about her well-being. The dungeon dialogues are pretty nice too, I think I like that second to Metis, it's good that it's there.

The rest are spoilers regarding the plot~

Another thing I felt about the story is that, it actually may be Akihiko who took the protagonist's loss the hardest besides Yukari and Aigis who are clearly suffering... he used to be very kind and understanding while being pretty righteous, but now he seems to be constantly on edge. I get that coming from him, because he keeps losing all the people he's wanted to protect, it's his third time now. The link ep in Reload really does add to his character if you think of it, I think he thought of the protagonist as his little brother and decided he wanted to watch over him, but that couldn't happen. Mitsuru and Junpei and Ken are seemingly taking it relatively better, I guess. Koro and Fuuka.. they're the quiet type so...There's no wonder why Yukari and Akihiko had the biggest conflict upon how they should handle the keys later in the DLC. They both hold very strong thoughts about how things must be resolved, and it's hard to find a middle ground.

I wish they added more to the story, there were some opportunities like adding a new third-tier persona, or the characters talking more about the protagonist and sharing some thoughts about him. I kind of feel a bit disappointed that they don't address him so much at all, after all those times they spent together.. I see how hard it'd be for them to bring him up, but as a player, you want you to be acknowledged.. We had a bond, guys...!! Moving on and forgetting, being a source of trauma.. that's sad! ;v;) talk about him more, he did so much for you guys!! (and that's where Yukari's whole, "Now everyone needs to realize their own feelings. Think about who he was, and what he meant to us."- comes in - it's there in the the trailer too- that line resonates with me. She does have a warm heart)

Yukari's like the only one who suggests, "We have to go back to save the protagonist from death if there's a chance to!" out of the entire SEES group;; If it weren't for her, I feel like the story would have ended at the spot with everyone agreeing to move on. Even if it's wrong, I feel like she's the one who brought a different perspective to things that's helped lead to a perfect ending. You need a thesis and an antithesis to form a better synthesis and that's what happened.

They seem to have taken out the part where she tries to grab Aigis's key out of desperation in Reload and I honestly didn't like that, because.. if someone's life you love is on the line and if it's your last chance to get them back, it doesn't matter if you're sweet or anything, it's natural to be desperate. I really liked that part of her in the original, she'd do ANYTHING to try and get him back alive. It was the only way to see him alive again, even if it were to be flawed...It felt real and alive. It was something pretty powerful and what's made her my favorite girl out of the series. I was really looking forward to seeing that scene happen again as I bought this DLC and I find it a bit of a bummer after having learned this... o<-<

but Reload Yukari seems to be a much more softer person... a lot less thorns in her, maybe that's what will make her more appeal to more people..she always had that caring side to her too, and it's a crucial trait, she's ultimately a loving person. It's love that makes her do things. If that part of it is intact, it's a bit of a shame on my end but I'll still care for her.

Override was a really good piece of work, it handles what could be episode Aigis if she's the one that's gotten together with the protagonist as well as the female protagonist being there in the story too, I'd like to take that as semi-canon in my head :) Um, I really would like to draw fanarts for it in the future, when I have time and some focus, right now I'm quite distracted with life and other works hehe

anyway, that's it for now! Changed the difficulty to "Peaceful" for this one..; overall, I don't regret having bought the DLC but it's been..tedious. That's my honest feelings towards it. There are some things I appreciate about it, but I think they could have done more with it.. but considering how reload was in the first place, I guess they went with preserving the experience and making minor adjustments overall. It's not a bad remake, it's very true to the original material, but certainly.. warmer and toned down. That can be both positive and negative, and considering the theme of the story, it can have many different effects. I guess it's its own thing on that regard.

[thenotesofaveryoddgirl]

28. What’s the most emotional pain you’ve ever felt?

Oversharing asks|| accepting || @hearteyes-stitchedthighs

“Emotional pain… I don’t know. Dammit, this is hard. Hmm… Probably when I realized Anya left and I stayed behind. Like… I know she didn’t have a choice and that she is not happy on this more then I am, but… She was the best friend I had in ages. She was my classmate, my friend, she helped to cheer me when I needed it…. And didn’t know- I still don’t know- How am I going to handle school without her.”( @ailuropile)

[dragbunart]

A Dysfunctional Kuzuryu (Akamatsu) family photo.

Time for more of Hessonites "Kaede is totally a Kuzuryu' Headcanons:

Their father's name is Akihiko and their mother is Haruka.

Their marriage was arranged by their parents who wanted to strengthen gang relations.

They had only planned on having Fuyuhiko at first since they only needed one heir, but after Akihito's brother died... They decided to have another child just in case anything happened.

Having twins was a surprise.

Kaede's talent for piano showed up shortly after she started to crawl, and her parents largely supported it since having a talented daughter made her that much more desirable to other gangs as a wife.

Natsumi is actually pretty good at the piano too since while they were really young the girls didn't like being far from the other. She's not on Kaede's level, but if she wanted to enter a competition she could hold her own.

Kaede is considered the flight risk of the family. She runs away a lot for many reasons: She wants a normal life and doesn't want to be part of the gang, but also her parents yelling matches can overstimulate her.

Kaede has Autism and ADHD. She loves auditory sensory input, playing piano is actually a stim for her. But this makes sounds she doesn't like (like her parents yelling) that much worse.

Natsumi, despite being the younger twin, is VERY protective of Kaede. Because Kaede is so sweet and... Not built for Yakuza life... She worries about her.

Kaede changed her last name in middle school. Fuyuhiko and Natsumi were worried about her... She distanced herself from them in public. But they respected her wishes to try and live a normal life.

When Fuyuhiko, Peko, and Kaede were all recruited for Hope's Peak, Natsumi waited up for nearly a week for her letter to come.

Kaede's family didn't know she accepted her invitation to Hope's Peak. Honestly, her parents thought she had just run away again, assuming they'd find her and drag her back home after her next Concert or Competition.

Fuyuhiko had found out where she was on accident. If Chiaki hadn't been planning a cross-class event with 77-b (SDR2) and 77-a (V3) wouldn't have realized Kaede was attending Hope's Peak.

Natsumi knew she accepted because she and Kaede share everything.

Did either of her siblings tell her parents where she was? Hell no. If one of them runs away from home, even for a little bit, the others pretend not to know where they are.

Natsumi has the best relationship with their parents. She's fine with being Yakuza and she knows if anything happens to Fuyuhiko she'll likely have to lead the gang, and if not she'll be married to another rich Yakuza to create bonds.

Fuyuhiko has a strained relationship. He knows he's expected to inherit his father's title. He disagrees with their treatment of Peko and his sisters. But he often compromises to make sure that Peko and the girls can live the life they want.

Kaede has the WORST relationship. Particularly with their father. He tells Kaede that she needs to rep the Kuzuryu name in competitions because it would add value to her name. They often have fights about Kaede's future. Meanwhile, their mother became a control freak over Kaede's life. What she could and couldn't do so that her hands had minimal use when it wasn't playing piano.

After all the killing games and shinanigans happened:

The Kuzuryu/Akamatsu's went from one family of five to Two.

Kaede (if you follow my Ultra Despair girls: Aftermath shit, you know) and Fuyuhiko are the only survivors of their families.

Fuyuhiko doesn't exactly reveal that he and Peko may or may not have been the ones to... Exact vengeance on Akihiko and Haruka.

Kaede figured it out, but hasn't confronted him on it. They visit the family graves every year together.

After Fuyuhiko Marries Peko and Kaede Marries Shuichi and they both have kids they bring their kids to the graves.

"Natsumi would've loved to meet them..." Fuyuhiko stood there watching the kids play in the garden. "She really got the short end of the stick too... She never got to meet our uncle, and she'll never meet her nieces and Nephews." "She'd want us to be happy. Take lots of pictures in her sted..." Kaede agreed. "I think she'd have been ecstatic to hear I had twins, just like her and I..."

"How do you think the old man and mom would've reacted?" "Oh, they would not approve of our choice in partners at all... But I like to believe they would've loved the kids. Dad always said family meant everything when your blood had such a bloody past."

"So you would have introduced your girls to them?"

"As long as they respected the fact I didn't want them involved in Yakuza stuff..."

"The old man would've had a problem with it..."

"You know despite all our disagreements and fights, and all the yelling... I still loved them. They weren't the best parents... But without them, we wouldn't be the people we are today or met the people we love." They paused for a second. Unsure what to say. "Sometimes... It feels like Natsumi's watching over them, Y'know?"

"Yeah, I get ya. Ain't nothing gonna happen to the kids.... Dead or alive Natsumi's gonna be watchin' them."

The two blondes smiled and continued watching the children play.

[theredcuyo]

About Akechi in post-game social media AU!

I first have to say, I don't really know a lot about how the fandom sees Akechi, and as far as I know half wants him 6ft under and the other will give their life's for him, but I don't really know how they represent him besides comics and fanart, I don't really know about how he is in fanfiction, just in case my view of him doesn't match with the "normal" one.

That said, let's go to the point.

Akechi post-game

After he was again in the real world, he was confused to say at least, he wasn't even sure how the hell he was alive, and he wasn't sure either if it was good or bad, it all became worst when he realized he didn't knew where he was, and that he was surrended by strangers faces.

He had the vague memory of being in mental health before, but he was quite sure this wasn't the place he was meant to be, or maybe he was in some kind of hell, that'll could make sense.

Then he heard a door opening, and a lot of light entered the room alongside a silhouette he couldn't see until the door closed again, it was a tall, long redhaired woman, with a serious face, she was holding some papers that she had the view in, Goro didn't knew why, but she gave of a really menacing aura, it was different from Shido's one though. He was already planning of how to escape until the woman started talking. - Goro Akechi, am I rigth?

Goro slowly nod, without wanting to say anything. - 18 years old, Masayoshi Shido unrecognised son, never formally adopted after mothers disease -She said, reading the paper she hold, as Goro was shocked to hear the information, it was meant to be classified- The one behind the mental shutdowns... Am I right again?

Goro stud quiet, if she was saying that, was he, then, in a prison or something? - That look gives me the answer.

-...What do you want? -He finally said, he wasn't sure if he could take down all the guards in the room. - I'll be short in what I want...

The woman take some steps towards him and then took out of somewhere in her clothes a gun. Goro immediately took a step back, but then smiled unconsciously, it was his fate coming for him anyways, right...? He closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable end, but nothing happened. - What...?

He look up again at the woman, who now pointed the gun towards herself and shoot. Goro stud shocked at her, but trying to not look like so, as behind her appeared something vaguely familiar... A persona, at least it was like one.

-For that look in your face, I bet you know what this is, don't you? - She asked, walking back at the door. - Follow me.

And then Goro, still surprised and yet not trusting her at all, followed her, because he had no other option.

Now the headcanons

Goro takes a similar medicine to what Chidori used, to be able to control Loki

Goro works for the Kirijo group, under the same as Akihiko and the rest, Mitsuru decided to not let him do too many missions until he's totally trained to control his personas

Goro is usually put in a team with Ken, because they're the same age, Goro has the strange feeling of have met him before, but he can't remember from where, even so, he started to slowly trust him

Aigis tends to keep asking him a bit awkward questions, but they get along as they have the same training for the change personas ability, he's still annoyed about her asking every single day why he wears an unmatched glove

When the shutdowns case started, the Kirijo group already had some suspicious, so Mitsuru asked for it to be investigated, when they did discover it was persona related, Mitsuru had certain blue haired girl to keep an eye on Goro

Goro was actually quite excited to met Naoto, he tried to act like he wasn't, tried to use his old acting skills, but it was impossible to fool her

Goro has never revealed too much information about the phantom thieves but the Kirijo group knows enough, and he was put in charge of checking on them, he wasn't at the begginig, but as he kept doing it, Mitsuru ended putting him in charge

Goro get to meet Lavenza again in the velvet room, as Igor give him this time access, he asked her to not tell a thing to Akira

Goro said he's not ready to met them again, and that he'll be ready when he's actually become someone better

||||

I kept this for a while, but I finally finished it!

[ghooostbaby]

I just read through up to the last translated chapter of the Given manga after watching the anime, and I just... its kind of disappointing ?!?! I just need to yell about this somewhere.

I related so much to Mafuyu and I loved Uenoyama when I watched the TV show, everything in the story about music, art, love, trauma, and loss was so beautiful and resonant, but it was like this romantic climax building toward this peak when they performed their first song and then it just kind of dropped abruptly and ended somewhat anti-climactically. From the first few chapters of the manga I wondered if this was because this moment in the manga isn't anything conclusive - in the manga it seems more pronounced that Ue is terrified of physical intimacy and Mafuyu still quite closed off emotionally so the story after their first show they continue to have tensions and don't seem able to come together, and maybe the anime was trying to fit this story into a conclusive romantic arc while staying true to the manga so it just feels odd that they have this huge moment playing together on stage, a kiss, a confession, and then ... they don't touch or barely interact one-on-one for the last few episodes. But if in the manga its more like the show/kiss is just one moment and they continue to have communication/intimacy problems following this, that makes more sense. Its even weirder to me that in the movie set after the first series of the anime, there is absolutely no romantic moments between them! Its the story of Haruki and Akihiko and Ugetsu. After being such a focus in the previous series, its like Mafuyu and Uenoyama are background characters and I was just so tense the whole film waiting for something more from them, after getting invested in the story I was waiting for more about them that never came. They put all the romantic moments between the two of them in a side episode, which I find SO strange - why couldn't it have been part of the story of the movie? Its feels so weird to separate it in this way, their stories should all work together.

I guess I read the manga hoping for some of the meat of the story about Mafuyu and Uenoyama that I was missing in the shows. However it seems like there often is this rising romantic tension that builds into a moment of confession of love, and then - nothing. Then the view shifts and we're following a different couple in a state of tension. Its so unsatisfying to go through all that with these characters and not even see a hint of them together, being intimate, enjoying each other. I guess I've been spoiled by danmei extras with 10+ chapters of domestic cuteness after the novel worth of suffering. Its just good practice!!! It's aftercare!! you can't just pull me through all this pain and not treat me to some cuteness.

Its not even that things aren't great between Mafuyu and Uenoyama and thats hard to read, but things just AREN’T. they're not fighting (at least not till the recent chapters) nor are they shown being loving to each other, the lens turns away from them for those part. Its like trying to glimpse a relationship through a dirty window. They never touch, there are rarely any scenes of them spending time together one-on-one. Its a surprise in the last chapters when Ue says he doesn't know what happened between Mafuyu and Yuki and music, you don't even know enough about their relationship to know what they've talked to each other about. Every once in a while they call each other their boyfriend, but I wasn't sure until that happened- are they still actually dating? They seem so distant. That could be intentional in an interesting way I suppose but a lot of the time it just seems confusing - what is their relationship like? Is it like this because of their characters or is the author just not interested in showing anything but the build up to thr confession? It seems like the story for other characters also turns away as soon as they kiss or confess. At least there was a bit of Akihiko and Haruki in bed and seeming to be very into each other. But also that was a while after they originally got together and its just been in the background that their band hasn't been playing together. Its a kind of desolate apathy to each other i find so much more heartbreaking than the most hurtful conflicts. I kept wondering, if mafuyama are supposed to be together, what are they doing together, what are they like with each other? You rarely see them other than when they're with other people, standing several feet a part and not usually talking directly to each other. Fan fiction leans a bit more into Ue being nervous about being physical because it's his first gay relationship and he's a bit freaked out by touching, either that or he's on the ace spectrum, and that Mafuyu wavers between fading away in his grief for Yuki and being more sexually assertive. But the relationship in the actual manga just feels .. empty. It felt like the final nail for me when Ue heard from Mafuyu's friends that Yuki and the others distanced themselves from Mafuyu because of music, which lead to Mafuyu's fight with Yuki that seemed to provoke Yuki's suicide - its sad enough that Ue doesn't know any of this and they've been dating for how long now? But Ue seems shocked and guilty and seems to realize how hurtful it must have been for him to keep turning down being with Mafuyu to play with the two people originally in a band with Yuki - without Mafuyu all over again. But then - nothing happens. He doesn't talk to Mafuyu, the next few chapters focus on other characters. Then when Ue finally goes to see Mafuyu its when Mafuyu sent him texts that he misses him. And Ue mostly just yells at him, offers to do music with him, and then goes home. He's got this piece of info now that music has baggage for Mafuyu but he doesn't ask about it. If I was Mafuyu I would be really hurt and find it difficult to trust Ue at this point.

Arrrrrrrrrghhhhhh

[hikayat]

are you a simp for Ryo, Naoto?

It was supposed to a quaint breakfast between him and his mentor, Sawamura Akihiko but the lil' birdy definitely caught him off guard [ in relation to @miimpii ]

Sawamura Akihiko whom did not see the question coming almost choked on his rice while Sugita Naoto had a sheepish smile on his face, "To be called a simp may be too extreme?" Now his chopsticks rest against the rice bowl. "Ryo-san is actually cute! Don't you think so Akihiko-san?" At the question Aki waved his hand to disagree, "Well, in my humble opinion, I think she is cute and very nice too so" Naoto shrugged his shoulder without any care in this world. "It is natural that I return her kindness, right?" Other than Aki, Ryo is the one who had seen him as a fellow man too and not someone beneath unlike few bureau members.

"But I would do anything that Hanesawa-san asks me so" He resumed eating as if Akihiko wasn't there to even listen to what he had said, "Brat" Akihiko laughed and downed another meat. He understood where Naoto is coming from so he couldn't be mad at that man. Ryo is indeed a nice lady.