#(Koushiro ' I Know. ') {'Believe Me I Know'}

[koushirouizumi]

Me, looking around my old Digi-O.C.s site C.D.: ... "Myotismon" in this super old thing I wrOTE: "This {"world" you live in} is *an alternate world* {from 'my own'}! You can thank (TAKERU) T.K. TAKAISHI and his silly NOVEL for THAT. Because of HIM, this {real} world is a NEW reality in which THE {Original} DIGI-DESTINED {I KNOW} never EXISTED!" m E: (GENUINELY having forgotten I wrote that in) I can't BELIEVE ""T.K."" ALSO accidentally created the Repeatverse {+before This Site even Existed}

[ashxketchum]

Besties we got new Digimon Adventure merch art!!!

After sort of a dry spell in since April due to all the collabs actually getting their proper run in cafes/stores etc, there is finally some excitement for the 25th Anniversary celebrations again (tbh they should've announced this on the livestream smh smh) . The theme this time is "marine" and it's a nice follow up to the Digimon Tamers merch that was announced about a month ago.

The vibe of being part of a crew is coming off really well through the outfit design, but the key point is the pins of their crest and the type of hat that the kid is wearing. If you look closely, Koushiro, Takeru among the boys are not wearing the officer style hat but berets and their pins are missing as well, similarly for Hikari her beret hat is differently style than the other girls with the missing pin. Koushiro and Takeru are also not wearing ties like the other boys but the sailor knot, which leads me to believe that this is a reference to the their roles on the ship, implying that Koushiro, Hikari and Takeru still lack a designation.

When we look at the other kids, the difference in roles becomes much clearer.

While Taichi greets us with a perfect salute, Yamato takes the helm. A very interesting take where Taichi (as the Captain?) sets direction and Yamato ensures that they follow his desired path. Tbvh I could write a whole essay about why this specific depiction of their roles is so groundbreaking, but for now I'll just end on how whenever they're depicted as a team, the sense of equilibrium between the two of them is never lost.

PS: I also love Agumon's little lop sided hat, he is trying his best to support Taichi and that's just adorable.

Next we have Sora and Mimi and again the detailing in their positions to their actual roles in the show is very visible. Sora is on lookout duty, keeping watch against any unchartered occurrences, making sure that the crew can be alerted before disaster falls. Mimi on the other hand, is most likely the stewardess, and is keeping the morale up with her cheers and support! Love the little crests flags she is waving, and the groupings of the crest is definitely interesting 🫣 Jou with the map of their course is very apt as well, in the show we see him attempting to find his footing as the voice of reason between Taichi and Yamato arguing many times, so now he's here making sure that the two stick the job they have been given, ready to correct the course if any tensions rise.

Koushiro, Hikari and Takeru are for me the most interesting of the lot for the reasons pointed out earlier. While the other kids are portrayed as taking some sort of role on the ship, these three seem to be enjoying their times as cadets (in training?). Especially Takeru and Hikari, who are the youngest, are having fun playing around with their partners. Koushiro on the other hand, definitely wants to contribute in some way, and maybe the best way Taichi and Yamato could get him to stop tailing them was to put him on fishing duty lol.

All in all, this is a great piece of illustration, I'm glad we got some more new outfits! If someone has a more in depth understanding of how things work on a cruise ship or similar, please share your thoughts and let me know how you interpret the roles here!

[sillypiratelife]

Kuina is probably my favorite female character of One Piece, but that's because she represents just perfectly the experience of being a little girl that's into martial arts— and some other stuff.

Kuina would never be enough because she could not be man enough to inherit the dojo, according to her dad, but she was also not lady-like enough to be considered a "woman". To the eyes of other people (and what they make her believe), Kuina's dream marked her as an eternal outcast, someone who would never reach one shore or the other.

To Kuina, her body was a cage. Even if she had everything within her, her body would make her naturally weaker. Similar to being condemned to fight with a bad sword, a blade that would break. Being a child was safe. Little boys and little girls are equals. Growing up meant losing time, losing ground. Every year must have to be a burden to her, with the constant reminder that her time as the best was running out.

The fear and hatred of puberty, the horror of the way your body changes without your permission, the experience of girls who feel uncomfortable in her bodies because they don't want breasts, they don't want to be weaker once a month because their bodies are bleeding and their hormones are ruining everything— I've seen it all.

Worst even, the way people would stare at those bodies and lust for them. The trauma of being desirable. Now they think that they're entitled to your body, that they can disrespect you. You're a toy, an object, you're a woman so you're weak and fragile, you're a woman so give up, you're not in control of the situation anymore.

When Koushiro said that a woman could never be the best swordman in the world, there are soooo many things in between the lines. Why not?

As if it wasn't enough, the boys accused Kuina of being that much better than them because her dad was the leader of the dojo, so he must be teaching her in secret. Her merits were never hers, just the results of another man. "Ah, that girl can't be that good, she must be getting help, receiving special treatment, getting extra training, etc". It's infuriating and Kuina shows it. They disrespect her like it's nothing, like it's natural. Her own dad allows it and participates in that.

Before Zoro, Kuina had no one to tell her that her skills were only hers. Her body, her heritage, not of that mattered. She was the rightful winner of their matches, at least so far.

When Zoro cries out of frustration and Kuina asks him if he even knows why she should be the one crying for it? Life changing moment. Zoro got the praise and loyalty of the dojo boys, the admiration of the older people training there, he was even the special boy of her dad— Koushiro let Zoro clown around with multiple swords and watch Kuina beat his ass, but it'd never matter.

Zoro wouldn't be betrayed by his own body, his own family, his own dojo and his own hometown. He was an outsider accepted by the community, their pride even. He came out of nowhere and they gave him everything she wanted and both of them deserved. It's just that it wasn't a fair fight: Zoro was a boy and Kuina was a girl. She'd always have to fight harder even if she was better.

For me, I really think that only Zoro could carry Wado Ichimonji with him. He was the only one who respected Kuina as a person and a rival, not seeing what others saw in her. Zoro honored all their fights, never tried to discredit her, because even when Koushiro tried to give Zoro an excuse "you forgot that she's a little older than you", Zoro brushed it away. No, he could beat grown-ups. That was not it.

Kuina was better than him. Period.

The fact that she died in such an accident and the way Koushiro said "humans are fragile things"... It is just so amazing. What Kuina feared the most: all her potential, wasted. When she was finally ready to go after what she wanted, she fell down the stairs and died. Simple. The promise Zoro and Kuina made was wasted too. Now Zoro had all the time in the world and Kuina had no time at all. She was always against fate and Zoro rode with it.

I still think about how Zoro plans to make it all worth something: if she can rightfully fight for the title, then he won't let anyone have it but him. If Kuina was able to beat 2001 times the boy who would become the best swordman in the world, then no one could insult him ever again. And if he won that title with her sword, then he'd elevate both their names. If he could fulfill his promise to her, then that night would hold its meaning.

I love Kuina soooo freaking much and I love how much Zoro values her, even to this day.

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 01x24 - Break Through! AtlurKabuterimon / No Questions, Please

Previously on Digimon Adventure: Yamato and Jou got jobs at a diner that was way more invested in torturing employees than profitability. So, y'know, corporate chain. Realizing that collective labor action is the greatest force in the world, Yamato and Jou made omelets and went on strike.

Half of the band has come back together now, but Sora, Mimi, and Koushiro are still out there somewhere. Following separate Digivice signals, Yamato and Takeru have gone one way while Taichi and Jou go the other.

We join Koushiro some time after his parting from the group. We already had a hunch about where he went; He brought it up back in Takeru's flashback. Koushiro quickly confirms it.

Tentomon: Koushiro-han! Let's take a little break! I'm exhausted! Koushiro: I want to meet Gennai-san no matter what! Tentomon: But it's already been two months! Koushiro: I don't care how many months it takes! Tentomon: (hangs head in defeat) Koushiro: I'm going on ahead. Tentomon: Ahh! Koushiro-han! Wait for me!

Koushiro remains dedicated to finding Gennai, and he left the others because they didn't agree. This is his new hyperfocus.

The two month timescale is interesting. It was a month and a half of searching for Taichi, followed by everyone breaking up over an ambiguous period. We don't know how long that took, but the implication to me here seems to be that Koushiro was already searching for Gennai when they were supposed to be searching for Taichi.

During the Big Argument, when he proposed searching for Gennai, he wasn't suggesting a new course of action but trying to bring everyone on the same page as the one he already decided on. And when they didn't agree, he left. Just like Sora.

The dub presents this argument straightforwardly, while inserting a couple laugh lines from poor put-upon Tentomon to lighten the tone.

Izzy: We've been trying to find Gennai for over two months! Got any ideas, Tentomon? We're walking in circles. Tentomon: We could walk in squares, but that's not likely to work either. Let's take a breather and wait for him to come to us! Izzy: I'd prefer to take a more scientific approach to this problem. Tentomon: Yes, but even scientists need to take a break! Izzy: There's no time to rest so stop asking! Tentomon: (hangs head in defeat) Eugh.... Izzy: I'm absolutely certain that he's around here somewhere! Tentomon: I hope so, for my feet's sake!

They also start the conversation sooner so they can give Izzy a chance to strike it up rather than Tentomon.

Izzy's a bit friendlier in this version, even soliciting Tentomon's opinion outright. But over the course of the conversation, he finds his way to the same stonewall that Koushiro starts at and conveys the same idea: He will not stop to let Tentomon rest because that would impede his search.

Izzy's also fairly certain that Gennai is here somewhere. Koushiro's passing through with no clear direction.

Ahead on the path, we find PicoDevimon pounding in a wooden sign. As he stops to worry, he gives us the Japanese name for our new villain, who DemiDevimon already name-dropped at the end of last episode.

PicoDevimon: (nervous and tearful) Vamdemon-sama... will scold me. Vamdemon-sama will scold me!

He flashes back on his last meeting with Vamdemon. Not the one from last episode, because these events are happening prior to Taichi's return, but the one that set him on course to meddle with the kids in the first place.

Vamdemon: PicoDevimon! PicoDevimon: Y-Yes, sir? Vamdemon: When are you going to steal the Crests from the Chosen Children? PicoDevimon: V-Very soon, sir! Vamdemon: Should I believe that? PicoDevimon: Do these look like the eyes of a liar!? Vamdemon-sama! (long pause) Vamdemon: I trust you. PicoDevimon: (exhale) Vamdemon: But if you don't steal the Crests, you'd better prepare for the consequences. PicoDevimon: If I don't steal the Crests.... (Back in the present, PicoDevimon pounds in the sign as he mutters.) PicoDevimon: ...this time, I'm dead! I'm dead! I'm--

Distracted by panic, PicoDevimon pounds in the sign so hard it breaks the post and sends him tumbling to the ground.

Learning a bit more about PicoDevimon's mission here. In previous episodes, he's taken strides to disrupt the attributes that the Crests embody in each child. In reporting his failures, he's described it as "the light returning to the Crests".

Now, it seems he's not only trying to corrupt the kids' traits but to steal the physical Crests themselves; Something he has not had much success at even in the present.

DemiDevimon: This better work! I hate it when Myotismon gets angry! (flashback) Myotismon: DemiDevimoooOOOOOON!!! DemiDevimon: (nervously) Hehe heh... Nice day, huh, boss? Myotismon: I'm still waiting for you to steal the Crests from those kids. DemiDevimon: I've got a surefire way to get 'em! Myotismon: I've heard THAT one before! DemiDevimon: Would this cute little face tell a fib, boss? After all, you're Myotismon! I'd be out of my head to make you mad! Myotismon: I'll give you one more chance. DemiDevimon: (exhale) Myotismon: But I won't be so benevolent next time! Do you understand!? DemiDevimon: Loud and clear! (back to the present) DemiDevimon: If I don't steal those Crests, he's gonna rake me over the coals!

I honestly can't decide if I love or hate this approach to Myotismon. They're doing the same thing they did with Devimon, amping him up like an overdramatic American supervillain. Appropriate, since the Japanese version is also doing the same thing as Devimon: Cold, reserved mastermind of wickedness.

But man, that line. "I've heard THAT one before." You can feel him folding his arms petulantly and eyerolling. It's hilarious. But unmenacing.

Worth noting that Vamdemon is, in fact, the Perfect-stage evolution of Devimon. He's what Devimon could become if he worked hard enough. So it makes sense that both versions play him similarly.

It's a small thing but I don't like the new final line. It messes with the gag of the sign breaking. In the original, he punctuates pounding in the sign with short repetitions, one for each stroke. This draws attention to the sign breaking when it disrupts his third repetition; His voice is hammering the sign as much as his talons are.

Here, he's able to complete his sentence, and then the sign breaks. The focus is on what he's saying, rather than his voice emphasizing the pounding motion, so his dialogue doesn't build to the snap. The two are divorced from one another.

PicoDevimon needs to pick himself up fast, however, as Koushiro and Tentomon are coming this way! He scurries out of the path before they see him.

Koushiro: I'm sure when I meet Gennai-san, he'll know the secret to these Crests.

Koushiro takes out his Crest to look at it. PicoDevimon seizes the opportunity to snap a photo with a small digital camera.

(Where has he been keeping that?)

Tentomon: You always want to know everything about everything, Koushiro-han. That's what I like about you. Koushiro: Oh, stop, you're embarrassing me. Tentomon: I don't mean anything weird by it. Koushiro: I know. Still, I wonder where Gennai is...?

This is just as sweet in the dub.

Izzy: I'm curious to know why Gennai is so secretive. I want to discuss the merits of the Crest with him! Tentomon: I like that about you, Izzy! You have a never-ending thirst for information. It's amazing your brain doesn't explode with all that knowledge. Izzy: There are a lot more things I can learn! Tentomon: How much room do you have left in your brain? Izzy: As much as I need! ...I wonder where Gennai could be? With all my knowledge, I still can't find him!

Though Izzy's more receptive to Tentomon's flattery than Koushiro is. Though they do drone on a bit, hammering in that knowledge is Izzy's thing.

Continuing ahead, the boys find PicoDevimon's sign.

Tentomon: Here's a signpost! Koushiro: You're right!

The dub sticks a laugh line here.

Tentomon: Look, Izzy! It's a sign! Izzy: (from offscreen) YOU MEAN FROM ABOVE!?!? Tentomon: (flatly) No, here on the ground. Izzy: How bizarre.

It's well timed to the animation; Izzy only joins Tentomon onscreen after delivering that first line, so he only sees the physical sign after making his wild assumption. It also follows pretty quickly after he expresses frustration about not being able to find Gennai, so that topic then flows into this reaction.

The sign reads "Beware of huge falling poops!"

The dub's been pretty inconsistent with how it handles onscreen Japanese lettering; Here, they take the Infinity Mountain approach and rewrite the sign in English to read "BEWARE OF FALLING SLUDGE".

The Monzaemon episode referred to poops as Nume Sludge, while the Kentarumon episode called it hair mousse. Here, we're back to sludge.

Not wanting to be buried under shit, the boys go a different way only to find another sign warning of a bottomless pit of shit. They turn around only to be confronted with a warning of ferocious poop.

Koushiro: This place is full of crap! Tentomon: What a nasty place!

Indecision of where they can even go keeps them in place until PicoDevimon's real trap activates. The ground beneath their feet gives out, plunging Tentomon and Koushiro down into a deep metal hole.

Upside-down, Tentomon and Koushiro plunge into the abyss. After the initial screaming is over, Koushiro tries to problem-solve.

Koushiro: Tentomon, can you fly? Tentomon: I can't! (tries to flutter his gossamer wings) Look! It's making me fall even faster! Koushiro: I wonder how far we're going to fall? Tentomon: How would I know!? Booming Voice: To Hell. Koushiro: Hell!?

That gets both of them. Koushiro and Tentomon start flailing in the air to try and flap their way back up.

Koushiro: Y-YOU'RE JOKING!!! Tentomon: REALLY!?!?

Tentomon rights himself and buzzes his gossamer wings but makes little progress. Koushiro grabs onto him, pulling them both down.

Tentomon: I DON'T WANT TO GO TO HELL!!!

Y'know, it makes sense that a form of Devimon would know where to find all the best gateways to Hell. This checks out.

Since religious references aren't allowed, the dub needed to do something about that Hell thing.

Izzy: There's no bottom to this pit! Tentomon: Well, that could work in our favor. (tries to flutter his gossamer wings) It's a lot easier on your head that way if you ask me. Izzy: Unfortunately, that's impossible. Tentomon: If we fall any farther, we'll be in-- Sassy Voice: A very unpleasant place! Tentomon: That's not good!

Then they shriek and yelp for the rest of their dialogue.

Koushiro and Tentomon plunge into the abyss, but are soon lifted up by temporary salvation while the voice explains their plight.

Voice: Grab onto these. (Koushiro and Tentomon rise slowly up from the depths) Voice: Anyone with an obsession will be dragged down into Hell. Koushiro: I don't think either of us is obsessed with something. Voice: No, you are. You are obsessed with knowing everything. Koushiro: Is it wrong to want to know everything? Voice: There! When you get offended and ask questions like that, the weight of your curiosity grows and drags you down to Hell. Koushiro: Why!? Voice: See, you asked 'why' again. Koushiro: But-- Voice: Your inquisitive heart is swelling and swelling!

Punctuating the voice's argument, Koushiro's duck floaty suddenly swells up until it plunging him back into Hell.

Voice: Does anybody need a lift? Izzy: Hey, what are these? Voice: I have temporarily given you a life raft! You see, all those that are greedy fall into the pit. Izzy: I'm not sure I comprehend what you're saying. What are you accusing us of being greedy for? Voice: Wanting to know too much, of course! You're sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong! Izzy: What could possibly be wrong with gaining knowledge and information? Voice: See! You're doing it again! You can't seem to stop yourself! You're headed straight for the pit if you don't learn to control yourself. Izzy: How come!? Voice: (agitated) You don't even know that you're doing it! Izzy: I don't? Voice: IT'S LIKE A DISEASE WITH YOU!!! Well, nice knowing you~! (pop)

Replacing Hell with "the pit" has some effects on the way this conversation breaks down. The voice in the original sounds as if he's speaking from authority. At least allegedly trying to explain to Koushiro the sin that condemns him to Hell, and walking him through what it means.

"The pit" sounds like this dude has a hang-up about being asked questions, especially as he becomes more and more irate. He's scolding Izzy for what honestly sounds like a personal problem, dude.

(I mean, this voice obviously isn't trustworthy, actually. But it's the pretense of the thing. Dub version is nakedly malevolent.)

Koushiro falls once more, but he's able to grab one of Tentomon's legs to keep from falling entirely - Though Tentomon's floaty can't support both of them, and slowly begins to descend back down towards Hell.

Voice: Do you want to go to Hell? Koushiro: NO, I DON'T!!! Tentomon: ME NEITHER!!! Voice: Then throw away your inquisitive heart! Tentomon: ...I like your inquisitive heart, Koushiro-han. Koushiro: But at this rate, the two of us will fall into Hell!

Suddenly, Tentomon's floaty pops too, sending them both falling into the abyss once more.

Koushiro: HOW DO I THROW IT AWAY!?!? Voice: Pray for it! Koushiro: (praying) I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!! I... don't want to know....

As Koushiro and Tentomon fall away into blackness, a strange bubble suddenly emerges from the darkness, rising upwards.

In the dub:

Voice: It's your decision. Do you want to fall in the pit!? Izzy: No way! Of course not! Tentomon: That makes two of us! Voice: Then give up your curiosity to me! Izzy: It appears I have no other choice! Tentomon: But it's your curiosity that I admire! Izzy: What procedure should I utilize to keep us from falling down this pit? (Tentomon's floaty pops) Voice: STOP ASKING QUESTIONS!!! Izzy: I WON'T I WON'T I DON'T WANNA KNOW!!! Voice: That's more like it. Izzy: I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!!

Once again, this is much more clearly extortion. Tonally, there's a difference between "Do the thing or your soul will be perforated on the needle mountain of Jigoku" vs "Do the thing or I will punch you." Even though they're kind of the same, the former carries the ambiguous weight of presumed guidance.

That said, I like how the dub handles the popping of Tentomon's floaty. In the original, it happens abruptly and without warning to add urgency and force Koushiro into making a snap decision. The dub gives the floaty a legitimate reason to pop.

Falling into what the voice claimed to be Hell despite doing what they were asked, Koushiro and Tentomon find themselves floating in a strange space vacuum. There, they're greeted by a strange creature.

Tentomon: Where are we? Voice: (manifesting from the void) In the Sacred Mysterious Universe.

Koushiro's eyelids are half-closed and he has a dull expression on his face. Upon seeing this creature manifest in a meditative pose, Koushiro folds his hands in a prayer gesture and bows his head to him.

Tentomon: Who are you? Voice: I am Vademon, the ruler of the Sacred Mysterious Universe.

The narrator chimes in here to give us our rundown. Vademon is a Perfect-stage Virus-type Alien Digimon. His name is derived from the word "invader", and he's the super-evolved form of last episode's Vegiemon.

There's a bit of confusion over whether it should be spelled "Vademon" or "Vadermon". The spelling of his name is of no help, as it's ベーダモン which is, in Katakana, "Be-e-da-mo-n". It's officially romanized on the rundown screen as "Vademon" while it's pronounced "Vay-der-mon".

Narrator: Vademon. A creepy Digimon through and through whose true nature is unknown. His special attack, Akuma no Nage Kiss, mortifies his enemies.

I love it when codex entries for monsters read "Fuck if I know."

Akuma no Nage Kiss stands out distinctively for the fact that attack names are almost always in English. The battle cries of Harpoon Vulcan and Fox Fire are shouted in English. But Akuma no Nage Kiss only uses English for the "Kiss" part. Odd.

Akuma no Nage means "thrown by a devil". So the attack name could fairly be translated as "Devil's Blown Kiss". Doesn't sound too impressive, but neither do Lovely Attack or Love Serenade and those moves can fuck people up.

Unsurprisingly, Tentomon handles the rundown over in the dub.

Tentomon: Well, we've finally made it out but where are we now!? Vademon: Welcome to my universe. I certainly hope you enjoy your stay here. Izzy: (prays towards Vademon) Tentomon: Izzy!? Vademon: I'm Vademon. I personally designed this universe. Pretty nice, don't you think? Tentomon: (rundown) Vademon was living proof you should always stay away from Digimon with unusually large heads. That big brain of his was scrambled if you ask me.

Your words make Togemon sad.

Again, the dub's Vademon foregoes all the mysticism and is like "Welcome to my pad, broski." Weirdly, they did not cut the shot of Koushiro praying. I totally expected they would.

Now that we're in the Sacred Mysterious Universe, there's one little thing we must attend to.

The little bubble from before floats up to Vademon.

Vademon: This is the inquisitive heart that you threw away. It must not dirty the sanctity of the Sacred Mysterious Universe. I will dispose of it.

Vademon takes out an alien blaster pistol and sucks the bubble up into it.

Vademon: Learning about Cosmic Power will be more valuable to you.

A textbook with the English word "COSMOS" in all caps floats down into Koushiro's hands. He opens it and begins reading, while speaking in a dull monotone.

Koushiro: A textbook on how to obtain Cosmic Power.... Vademon: That's the way to go. NYEH YEH YEH YEH YEH YEH!!!

Vademon suddenly unfolds from his meditative pose. He fades away back into the void from whence he came while flailing about and letting out ecstatic yelps.

In the dub:

Vademon: Your curiosity is in this sack. It's garbage. You don't need it! And I don't want it messing up my universe. I just hate having clutter. If it's not needed, I zap it. (Vademon's gun absorbs Izzy's curiosity) Vademon: Now that that's done, I want you to read my latest book. It's all you need to know! Izzy: (reading) All you need to know, whether you like it or not. Vademon: It happens to be a bestseller. WHOA HO OH HO HO HO!! (flails and vanishes)

I think Izzy's line is supposed to be the title of the book, but it doesn't gel because we can clearly see the title of the book is "COSMOS".

With Vademon gone, Koushiro opens the book and begins to read.

Koushiro: (reading) The basics of Cosmic Power lie in your breathing. Tentomon: Koushiro-han! Don't believe in that crazy stuff! Koushiro: (reading) The correct way to breathe is to release alpha rays from your right chest. Tentomon: Stop reading that!

Tentomon lunges for the book, but Koushiro slaps him away.

Koushiro: What are you doing!? (resumes reading) As a result, your blood flow will increase and energy will flow throughout your body. Therefore, your breathing is....

While Koushiro continues consuming this questionable literature, his Digivice begins flashing and beeping. He doesn't even notice it.

Let's have a look at what Dub Vadermon's book says.

Izzy: (reading) In order to be one with the universe, you must erase your thoughts. Tentomon: But your thoughts make up who you are! You mustn't erase them. Izzy: (reading) It is important to breathe into your thoughts until they disintegrate and slowly turn into mush. Tentomon: I've heard enough! (lunge) Izzy: (swat) KEEP AWAY FROM ME!!! (reading) The less you think about, the happier you'll be. (unintelligible because Tentomon's talking over it) Tentomon: Someone's trying to send us a transmission! Izzy: (reading) Soon your mind will shut down and you will have nothing left to worry about.

Oh, that's even more ominous. The Cosmic Power notebook is filled with general cult-sounding gobbledygook like managing your thetan levels and shit, while Vademon's Bestseller is outright advocating for turning off your brain and becoming a vegetable.

While Koushiro's reading, Tentomon opens up his backpack and takes his laptop out of it.

Once it's open, Koushiro stops reading and floats over to talk to Taichi.

Taichi: Koushiro! Koushiro: T-Taichi-san? Where are you right now? Taichi: At home. I'm back in the real world. Koromon is with me! (screen begins to go static, disrupting connection) Koushiro: I see. Then that means you're not coming back here. But please contact me once in a while. (screen goes blank) Tentomon: It looks like Taichi-san is having his share of troubles too-- KOUSHIRO-HAN!!! Koushiro: (returning to reading without paying any further mind) With Cosmic Power, you will acquire tranquility with all things....

Here, we see Koushiro's side of the ominous transmission to Taichi. What Taichi took as a warning of "Do not come back!" was actually the statement, "You're not coming back here."

There was never any danger he needed to rush back to confront. Except. You know. The tremendous danger everyone's in right now. So. Uh. Task failed successfully, I guess.

The dub's got a bigger problem on their hands, because they missed the fact back then that Koushiro is speaking in a dull monotone and being misinterpreted. They had him screaming a much more explicit warning at Tai. It's going to hard to connect that to this scene.

Tai: IZZY!!! Izzy: Look, it's Tai. Where are you? Tai: I'm home but I got your message that you're in danger! I'm trying to find you! Izzy: Tell me about it. I'm trying to find myself. Don't bother coming back to the Digi-World, Tai. You'll just clutter up the universe. Tai: IZZY!!! (screen goes blank) Tentomon: Tai's risking his life to save you, Izzy! Izzy: Oh well. Tentomon: He's your FRIEND!!! Izzy: (reading) Indifference is the key to success. Practice it. Tentomon: The Izzy I knew is no more....

So they just... don't. The danger message was another one he sent at some point while he was wandering around looking for Gennai. When he was screaming "Digi-Monsters everywhere" and "Don't come back here", he didn't mean anything by it. Whatever that was, they got over it. It's fine now.

(He stubbed his toe on a Gennai-shaped rock and was being overdramatic about it.)

Now this is a separate follow-up message Tai sent at... Some point before leaving the real world and returning to Digi-World.

Meanwhile, Vademon reveals how exactly he intends to dispose of Koushiro's inquisitive heart. Securing it in his... vault? Warehouse? Incinerator? Uh. Not exactly.

Vademon: Ehehehe, the inquisitive heart can go right next to the ignorant heart! (Vademon places Koushiro's purple bubble next to an orange bubble on a store shelf) Vademon: If there are people willing to throw away their hearts, there are people willing to buy them. I am the shopkeeper of the Universe of Hearts, Vademon! Hee hee hee!

Yeah, he's a grifter. Selling people on ideological nonsense so he can pick their pockets. No shortage of people like him in both religious and secular spaces.

Honestly, with the modern state of internet punditry, the Digital World of 2024's probably overflowing with Vademon.

In the dub:

Vademon: Oho ohohoho!!! I've got a warehouse full of curiosities and other castaway items, and all of them are for sale! (Vademon places Koushiro's purple bubble next to an orange bubble on the store shelf) Vademon: There's always someone who wants to buy junk and I know the salesman who can give them a bargain: Vademon, Curiosity Salesman Extraordinaire! A penny for your thoughts and a nickel for your fears!

So, downside, he's so busy expositing about what a good salesman he is that he forgets to tell us about the ignorant heart clearly visible next to Koushiro's inquisitive heart.

What we gain, however, is fantastic wordplay around the "curiosity" pun. That last line from him is perfect, too. They did not have to go so hard but they did and it's glorious.

Suddenly, the doorbell rings. Eager to do business, Vademon emerges from his realm with, let's call it, gusto.

Vademon: YES YES, WELCOME!!! PicoDevimon: AHHHHH!!!

PicoDevimon falls to the ground visibly having a heart attack. But a second later, he gets back up and tries to recompose himself.

PicoDevimon: Umm-- Vademon: My store has everything you need to suit your tastes-- Huh?

PicoDevimon interrupts Vademon by holding out a photograph of Koushiro and Tentomon arguing with one another earlier.

PicoDevimon: Did this kid and Digimon fall in this area? Vademon: Oh? They did! They did! PicoDevimon: And? Vademon: Ahhh, I understand. Please wait here a moment!

Vademon returns to his hole. He emerges a moment later, startling PicoDevimon a second time, with the inquisitive heart in hand.

Vademon: Thank you for waiting! Here is that boy's inquisitive heart. PicoDevimon: I don't want that! Vademon: (upset) Sir, did you come here just to play around?

PicoDevimon shows Vademon the photo of Koushiro's Crest he took earlier.

PicoDevimon: I want this thing that the boy was holding. Vademon: Hmph! I only sell hearts! You won't find that for sale here! PicoDevimon: But I have such a tremendous pile of poop waiting to be spent! Vademon: (fantasizing about a thirty foot crystallized poop) POOP POOP POOP!!! PicoDevimon: I don't mind bartering for it.... Vademon: (snatches the photo away and sends PicoDevimon tumbling to the ground for a third time) I'LL DO IT!!! I'll get a hold of it and trade it for your huge pile of poop!

We're seeing a bit of a difference here between Vamdemon and Etemon. As King of DIgimon, Etemon had reach all across the continent of Server through his Dark Network, as well as Digimon working for him ready to throw hands with the kids at his command.

Vamdemon, by contrast, doesn't seem to have that level of sway and authority over the Digimon of Server. PicoDevimon is forced to manipulate and barter, striking deals with the locals to get force he can turn against the children.

(Nobody tell Jou about the system of currency on this mountain. If he thought USD was bad....)

The dub changed Digitamamon to a mercenary who does regular jobs for DemiDevimon, but they keep Vademon as a free agent.

Vademon: Well! DemiDevimon: AHHHHHH!!!! (falls) Vademon: Have I got the bargain for you! DemiDevimon: (gets up) I hope so! Vademon: I'm running a sale right now! Dreams and curiosities are at bottom-line prices! I'm telling you, it's a steal-- Huh? DemiDevimon: (shows first photo) Did anyone in this picture happen to tumble into your universe? Vademon: Why, yes! They did! DemiDevimon: Perfect! Vademon: You must be in the market for their curiosities! I'll fetch them for you! (Vademon returns below, then comes back up with Izzy's curiosity, startling DemiDevimon) Vademon: They're very fresh! If you're looking for brain garbage, this is the place. DemiDevimon: I'm looking for something else! Vademon: (upset) Don't try to give me a hard time or I'll get mad! DemiDevimon: (shows second photo) I want this. Vademon: (scowls) Hrmm.... DemiDevimon: The kid in the picture was carrying a Tag and a Crest with him. Vademon: Well, that's not something I ordinarily carry! It's a very expensive item! DemiDevimon: Huh? Hmm... How about I trade 'em for some of my curiosity? Vademon: (fantasizing about a thirty foot crystallized "curiosity") He must have a mountain of curious thoughts! DemiDevimon: So what do you say, Vademon? Is it a deal or not? Vademon: It certainly is! (snatches photo, sending DemiDevimon tumbling) I can tell from looking at you that you're a Digimon with enough wacky thoughts to make me a fortune!

For some reason, the dub pluralizes Izzy's curiosity as if it's Tentomon's too.

It's no surprise that they had to censor out the giant crystal poop, though they do still show it onscreen. Turning it into "DemiDevimon's curiosity" is probably their best attempt at covering up a poop yet, however; The crystal poop is pink, the same color as Koushiro's inquisitive heart, so it connects really well.

Even though it's still obviously a poop.

Making Vademon's business into a general-purpose pawn shop instead of a used heart retailer works against the dub here, however. It's harder to grasp why he'd get upset at DemiDevimon wanting to buy the Tag and Crest if he sells just about anything that comes into his clutches.

Meanwhile, down in the Sacred Mysterious Universe, Curiosity-free Koushiro is forming his body into the English alphabet.

Tentomon: Koushiro-han! Koushiro: I'm training to attain Cosmic Power, so quit bothering me!

He resumes forming his letter-shapes. At N, Vademon returns with new instructions for him.

Vademon: I forgot to tell you something. Koushiro: Vademon-sama. Vademon: To attain Cosmic Power, you must first discard everything. Koushiro: Everything? Vademon: Throw away everything that you have. Koushiro: Yes, sir.

Koushiro reaches into his pockets and casts away various pieces of paper. (Yen notes? Hard to tell.)

In the dub:

Tentomon: Izzy, what are you doing!? Izzy: I'm preparing my brainwaves by focusing on some basic fundamentals, so I would rather you did not disturb me. Vademon: (appears) There's something that I forgot to mention to you. Izzy: Oh, yes? What? Vademon: In order to fully improve yourself, you must throw away possessions that are considered excess baggage. Izzy: Such as...? Vademon: Just about everything except your clothes. Izzy: Of course.

Here, Dub Vademon's more verbose lines do a more thorough job of sounding genuine. The original just says "Something something Cosmic Power, gimme your stuff." But it occurs to me that it doesn't really matter how well he bothers selling this. With his inquisitiveness gone, Koushiro's incapable of properly scrutinizing what he's being told.

Koushiro empties his pockets and discards everything. Then he comes to his Crest.

Koushiro: I don't need this. Vademon: Yee hee hee hee hee!!! Koushiro: (tosses away the Crest) Tentomon: AUGH!!! You can't do that! Vademon: Mmm! (catches the Crest) I'll be taking this! Tentomon: (air-swims through space towards Vademon) Give back the Crest! Vademon: Be quiet! (Vademon takes out his laser pistol and shoots Tentomon, sending him hurtling through space) Tentomon: AUGH!!! Vademon: (to Koushiro) Continue your training. Koushiro: Yes.

Tentomon's efforts to break Koushiro free from this spell remain ineffectual.

In the dub:

Izzy: This is expendable. Vademon: Hahahahahaha!!! Izzy: (tosses away the Crest) Tentomon: Have you gone bananas!? You can't throw those away! Vademon: Hm! (catches the Crest) What a nice looking trinket! Tentomon: (air-swims through space towards Vademon) Give back that Tag and Crest, you poor excuse for a Digimon! Vademon: Back off, bug! (Vademon takes out his laser pistol and shoots Tentomon, sending him hurtling through space) Tentomon: IZZY!!! Vademon: (to Izzy) Forget about him. Now get back to your training. Izzy: Yes.

I like Tentomon crying out for Izzy to come to his senses rather than just screaming. Of course, he did just get shot by a Perfect-stage attack so being in a lot of pain makes sense. Both of these work.

With the goods in hand, Vademon returns topside to make the sale.

Appearing from the ground so quickly he startles PicoDevimon and knocks him over yet again, Vademon shows off the Crest.

Vademon: Thank you for waiting! (holds out the Crest) PicoDevimon: AHH!!! This! This! Hurry up and gimme! Vademon: Not so fast! This is a trade. Where's your huge pile of poop? PicoDevimon: W-Wait a minute! I'll have it out right now!

PicoDevimon drops to the ground and aggressively tries to evacuate his bowels onscreen, accompanied by incredibly obnoxious farting noises.

It does not go well.

Over in the dub, Devimon has an even greater hurdle in front of him.

Vademon: YOO-HOO!!! So sorry to make you wait! (holds out the Crest) DemiDevimon: Yeah! Alright, come on! Gimme the goods! Vademon: Wait. Don't you recall the deal that we made? I want a piece of your brain! DemiDevimon: I'm going to crank out some of my thoughts! Vademon: Huh!?

The frames of PicoDevimon attempting to poop are thus replaced by DemiDevimon trying to think so hard that his thoughts will materialize externally from his body. That. Doesn't sound like a thing, but it is how Koushiro/Izzy sold his inquisitive heart so there's no reason this couldn't work.

Nonetheless, both versions of his attempt fail. Vademon gets impatient waiting and gives PicoDevimon a kick in the ass, canceling the sale.

Down in the Sacred Mysterious Universe, Tentomon watches helplessly as his Partner repeats the alphabet motions again. There is nothing left of the boy he knew in there.

Tentomon: (defeated, quiet) Koushiro-han....

Then he degenerates into his Baby-stage, Mochimon. The degeneration catches Koushiro's attention, and he stops going through his motions to stare blankly at Mochimon. After a few seconds, Mochimon degenerates further to his Baby I stage, Babumon.

Babumon's name comes from the word "Bubble". The dub, however, mistranslated it as Pabumon, which means nothing.

Koushiro: Babumon.... Babumon: Babu! Babu! Babu.... Koushiro: Shut up! Why do I have to keep telling you to stop getting in the way of my training! Babu: (crying) Babu! Babuuuu....

The dub plays this precisely, even letting the quiet moments sit and not trying to destroy them with dialogue - with the exception of Tentomon's first line, which is made a bit longer.

Tentomon: I've lost him! I... I have no energy... left....

But once he degenerates into Motimon and Pabumon, they follow the script and keep him only repeating his name.

Pabumon weeps for Koushiro. His tears form into bubbles, floating into the air. Koushiro watches the bubbles and, inside of them, something takes shape.

Memory of Koushiro: (exploring the hillside) I'm sure when I meet Gennai-san, he'll know the secret to these Crests. Memory of Tentomon: (suspended in the floaty with Koushiro hanging from his leg) You always want to know everything about everything, Koushiro-han. That's what I like about you.

Then another set of memories plays out in the bubbles. Koushiro sees their visit to the inside of the giant battery at Andromon's factory, when he discovered the coding script of Digimon World.

But when he tries to take a closer look, it pops. All of the bubbles pop at once, startling Koushiro.

This scene, the dub does add silence-destroying dialogue too.

Pabumon: Pabu pabu! Have you forgotten who I am already, Izzy? Have you forgotten who you are? Try to remember. Try! Memory of Izzy: (exploring the hillside) I just want to figure out what the Digi-World really is! Memory of Tentomon: (suspended in the floaty with Koushiro hanging from his leg) Hold on, Izzy! And don't let go of your curiosity! It's your curiosity I admire! Memory of Izzy: This is merely scientific speculation, but I believe I've stumbled onto something more than just a simple computer key!

Tonal shift. In the original Tentomon degenerated to Pabumon because he'd given up on being able to reach Koushiro. He's reached the event horizon of total despair, and his tears are a sincere expression of his grief and hopelessness.

In the dub, he just ran out of juice. He's still trying to get through to Izzy, and creating memory bubbles on purpose as a new tactic.

Also, the memory quotes in the dub version aren't things they ever actually said. In the original, they're direct quotes from the earlier exchange up on the hillside.

When the bubbles pop, something seems to snap in Koushiro. As if waking up from a dream, the listless expression fades from his face and he truly sees Babumon.

Koushiro runs to Babumon, picking him up and embracing him.

Koushiro: Babumon! Babumon: Babu! Babu! Babu! Koushiro: I'm sorry for making you degenerate! Babumon: Babu! Babu! Babu! Vademon: (overheard) Stop messing around! PicoDevimon: Vademon-san, calm down! Vademon: Sir! You are being too persistent!

The door to Vademon's shop appears in the void. Koushiro and Babumon move closer to listen in. PicoDevimon and Vademon are having it out in his store.

PicoDevimon: W-Wait a minute! Vademon: I will not! Leave! Right now! PicoDevimon: I can't! Vademon: Why not!? PicoDevimon: If I don't take that Crest with me, who knows what Vamdemon-sama will do to me! Vademon: Ha! That's got nothing to do with me! PicoDevimon: Please! Vademon: (slaps PicoDevimon, lobbing him into the shelves) Go away!

Over in the dub, Pabumon's stopped speaking normally and returned to the Pabu Pabu lines.

Pabumon: Pabu! Pabu! Izzy: Please don't cry, Pabumon! Ohhh, sorry. Pabumon: Pabu! Izzy: I didn't mean to make you de-Digivolve. Pabumon: Pabu! Pabu pabu! Vademon: (overheard) YOU LIE!!! Izzy: Huh? Vademon: You're nothing but a weaselmon! DemiDevimon: Don't get bent all out of shape! Vademon: I always change shape when I'm mad! (Izzy and Pabumon move closer to listen in) DemiDevimon: Give me a break! I'm gonna get in big trouble! Vademon: That's not my concern, you pesky pipsqueak! Now beat it, pal! DemiDevimon: Oh, please! Myotismon will pull my feathers out if I don't bring him that Tag and Crest! Vademon: You got yourself into this; Now you can get yourself out. DemiDevimon: Please, I'm beggin' ya! He's a big brute! Vademon: BACK OFF! (slaps DemiDevimon, lobbing him into the shelves)

"I always change shape when I'm mad" got me. XD

Watching this all unfold, Koushiro comes to a realization about his Cosmic Power training.

Koushiro: He has the Crest I threw away. Babumon: Babu! Koushiro: Since I don't have my inquisitive heart, I don't really understand, but... I think I've been tricked. Babumon: (nodding) Babu! Babu! Koushiro: Let's take back my Crest and my inquisitive heart. Babumon: (determined) Babu!

Koushiro opens the door to the shop, letting in Pabumon. Without a word or an ounce or hesitation, Pabumon executes his own plan for retrieving Koushiro's Crest.

A reckless smash-and-grab, snatching it straight out of the hands of a Perfect-stage Digimon that could erase him with a whisper. Taichi would be so proud.

(Mimi too. Babumon's demonstrating the value of taking action instead of sitting around overthinking.)

Pabumon flees back into Koushiro's arms. Vademon and PicoDevimon race for the door, trying to grab the Crest. Koushiro sidesteps them both and lets their momentum carry them out into the void, then slips inside and slams the door shut.

He then bars it shut with a large wooden beam, buying himself time.

Koushiro returns his Crest to its proper place around his neck, then follows Babumon to the other thing he's missing.

Koushiro: Ah! My inquisitive heart! An incurious me isn't me! Wanting to know everything is part of who I am! Babumon: (nodnod) Babu! Babu! Koushiro: My inquisitive heart... I'm sorry for throwing you away....

Vademon and PicoDevimon break down the door, right as Koushiro places his heart to his forehead and prays for it.

Koushiro: I want to know. I want to know!

The pair come around the corner just in time to see Koushiro's inquisitive heart disappear into his chest and return to him.

Vademon: AUGH!!! He selfishly took back the inquisitive heart!

The dub makes this scene about the value of curiosity in general, instead of to Izzy personally.

Izzy: Prodigious! You found my curiosity! It was a mistake to give it up; I'm sorry I just tossed it away. Curiosity is essential! Pabumon: (nodnod) Pabu pabu! Izzy: I'm going to have to concentrate. I hope it transfers. (places the curiosity against his forehead) Come back in my heart. Come back in my heart! (Izzy reabsorbs his curiosity right as Vademon rounds the corner) Vademon: Ha! Now you're going to pay for this! Stop!

Dub Vademon doesn't care at all that he's been robbed. He's still mad about the door thing.

Koushiro and Babumon flee through the aisles, looping back and escaping out the door back into the Sacred Mysterious Universe. Vademon gives chase, firing on them with his handheld blaster.

Fortunately, now that Izzy's back up to full speed, it doesn't take long for Babumon to recover too. Evolving back into Mochimon, and then into Tentomon, before going one step beyond.

Kabuterimon buzzes PicoDevimon and Vademon, easily beating Vademon's little blaster. But then Vademon gets serious and unleashes his Akuma no Nage Kiss.

It's surprisingly straightforward. The kiss turns into giant rocks that brutally tenderize Kabuterimon.

Koushiro: Kabuterimon! Vademon: You'll only get hurt if you underestimate me. EEE HEE HEE HEE!!! Koushiro: Kabuterimon! Get up!

In the dub:

Izzy: Kabuterimon! Vademon: Sorry, but I've never been very partial to vermin Digimon. Bahahaha! Izzy: Get up! You've gotta Digivolve!

Vademon, can you really say that with a straight face when you've spent half this episode trying to do business with a sky rodent?

Ignited by this battle for Koushiro's curiosity, his Crest activates. Kabuterimon CHOU-SHINKAAAAAA!!!

AtlurKabuterimon pierces through Vademon's debris field with his horn while the narrator gives the rundown.

AtlurKabuterimon is a Perfect-stage Vaccine-type Insect Digimon. The Atlur for his name is a Romanization of the letters アトラー A-to-ra-a, or "Atlas". Kabuterimon was the rhinoceros beetle Digimon; AtlurKabuterimon is the Atlas beetle Digimon.

Though, like MetalGreymon, AtlurKabuterimon's color scheme is off-palette. He's blue in the V-Pet, though still Vaccine-type. Red and Blue AtlurKabuterimon are now recognized as separate species in the video games, though Blue doesn't see nearly as much action.

Narrator: AtlurKabuterimon. A giant insect Digimon that evolves from Kabuterimon. Using his large horn, he stabs through the enemy with his Horn Buster!

The dub calls him MegaKabuterimon. MegaKabuterimon is an Ultimate-stage Digimon, not to be confused with Ultimate-stage, which in the dub is called Mega-stage. Make sense?

Izzy: Kabuterimon was successful! He Digivolved to Ultimate MegaKabuterimon! Let's see if you can take him on, Vademon!

Realizing he needs more firepower, Vademon lets off another Akuma no Nage Kiss. This time, he conjures up a ringed planet to slam into AtlurKabuterimon.

AtlurKabuterimon breaks through the planet with so much force that it destroys the entire Sacred Mysterious Universe in an eruption of blinding light.

The dub calls this attack as Horn Buster, but it's given no name in the original. It's not super clear what exactly he did to make this happen.

This scene also lays bare how awkward Hey Digimon is as a theme. Show Me Your Brave Heart is able to cover everything from the start of AtlurKabuterimon's evolution. Hey Digimon is so short that it has to start in here, at the moment the winning blow is struck.

From there, AtlurKabuterimon grabs up a screaming and tumbling Koushiro and departs for the surface - Emerging not far from where some familiar faces have arrived to search for him.

Koushiro wakes up to find AtlurKabuterimon degenerated into Mochimon.

Mochimon: Koushiro-han! Koushiro-han... Are you okay? Koushiro: Mochimon? Mochimon: I used up too much of my energy. Koushiro: (embraces Mochimon) Mochimon, thank you. Mochimon: Koushiro-han, that hurts....

Suddenly, Yamato and Takeru come running with their Partners. Koushiro stands up, lifting Mochimon in his arms.

Yamato: KOUSHIRO!!! Tsunomon: MOCHIMON!!! Takeru: KOUSHIRO-SAN!!! Koushiro: Yamato-san! Takeru-kun! Mochimon: Tsunomon! Patamon! Yamato: Are you in one piece!? Koushiro: Yes. Takeru: I'm glad we found you! Tsunomon: Mochimon, you look like a baby when you're held like that. Mochimon: Koushiro-han! Put me down! Koushiro: It's okay. You're tired.

Yamato snapping straight into big brother mode after seeing Koushiro emerge in a beam of energy from the earth.

In the dub, Matt's group inexplicably seems to know a lot of details about Izzy's plight, rather than just reacting to his sudden emergence.

Matt: Izzy! Awesome! You made it back! Izzy: That's right! We're back! Motimon: Yeah! We're back! Matt: How's it going? T.K.: Yeah! Izzy: Better now. T.K.: Tell us what happened! Tsunomon: Yeah, how did you get here? We thought you were a Digi-goner! Motimon: Izzy was taking a self-improvement class. Izzy: I improved so much, I flunked right out!

I wonder if the censors will let me use the 'm' word if I call it Digi-murder? Food for thought.

Suddenly, Gennai (!!!) appears in the sky with gifts.

Gennai: Chosen Children. Koushiro: Gennai-san! Gennai: The distortions in this world haven't been corrected yet. Group: EH!?!? Gennai: Use the information on this world, available in the Digimon Analyzer I've sent, as a reference from now on! (fades away)

Yeah, he seriously just shows up like "Hey I heard you like knowledge so I bought you a database GENNAI OUT!"

Koushiro pulls up the Digimon Analyzer. As a fun note, the screens of the Digimon Analyzer, shown here, are different from the typical rundown screen. However, each Ultimate-stage Partner Digimon that evolved up to this point has used the Digimon Analyzer screen instead of the typical rundown screen.

Koushiro: This is the Digimon Analyzer. (pulls up AtlurKabuterimon) Here it is. AtlurKabuterimon. An Insect Digimon. Mochimon: Hee hee, that's me!

In the dub, they rename the Digimon Analyzer.

Gennai: Hello, kids! It's been a while! Izzy: It's Gennai! Gennai: The connection between the worlds is still damaged. You'll have to stay longer. I've collected some information about the Digital World that you'll be able to use. Be sure to take a look at the Digimon File; It will tell you all you need to know! (fades away) Izzy: I wonder if there's anyone we know in here? (pulls up MegaKabuterimon) I've just downloaded my favorite: MegaKabuterimon! Motimon: Yeah! I'm a cool dude!

That was a weird decision because it literally says "DIGIMON ANALYZER" in English script repeatedly across the analyzer screen.

While the kids are enjoying their new tool, PicoDevimon has the unpleasant task of reporting in to Vamdemon.

PicoDevimon: Vamdemon-sama.... Vamdemon: Where is the Crest? PicoDevimon: Please, forgive me-- Vamdemon: No! Take your punishment! (bat swarm) PicoDevimon: AHHHHH!!! SAVE ME!!! VAMDEMON-SAMA!!! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!

We close on PicoDevimon's agonized cries.

The dub tries so hard to make it not look like he's being attacked by the bats, it's hilarious.

DemiDevimon: Hehe, a funny thing happened to me on the way to Vademon's-- Myotismon: Prepare to face the consequences. DemiDevimon: I hate this part! Myotismon: Quiet! You had your chance! DemiDevimon: Don't make me sit in this tree all night! AHHHHHH!!! I'm afraid of heights! Can I at least have some milk and cookies!?

Definitely not being bit and clawed by angry bats, nope nope!

(Why was the bat assault okay last episode but not this one? Weird.)

Assessment: Man, this episode has some shit to say about religions that weaponize fear of the afterlife to coerce their followers into obedience.

It makes for an excellent companion piece to the Andromon and Kentarumon episode. Yes, Koushiro is obsessive in his desire to learn and that's bad... when it comes at the expense of other people around him. But on its own, there is nothing wrong with a ravenous curiosity.

Koushiro needs to learn to temper his hunger for knowledge so that it doesn't hurt his relationships with other people, but he shouldn't have to give it up outright.

What really makes Vademon's trap interesting is that he accuses Koushiro of obsessive curiosity, then liberates him from curiosity... but not obsession. He simply gives Koushiro something new to mindlessly obsess over, rather than his usual mindful obsessing.

The actual problem behavior, shutting people out, is still there. Because this isn't actually a self-help program; He's being grifted.

There is, however, an extensive amount of shit in this episode. By which I mean literal shit, not bad storytelling.

The dub, meanwhile, had to take a black pen to so much in the course of removing religious references and literal shit. But I think they did a pretty good job of making it work nonetheless.

[that-green-haired-swordsman]

Found this on Pinterest and it's not meant to be taken too seriously, but yeah, I get where this comes from. Usually you see Zoro being pictured as either a sex machine or as aromantic/ace, and literally never anything in between, and I personally believe that either of these takes is true. It's a manga of the shonen genre and follows the respective, genre-based rules. My interpretation of the character is that he undoubtedly puts his goal(s) on top of everything else. Luffy gets to become the pirate king. Zoro himself is going to be the world's strongest swordsman. Period. BUT. These ambitions go hand in hand with a sacrifice, at least to Zoro. This is going to be a long read and I have to digress a bit so please be patient lol.

Zoro has lost the person most important to him and there was nothing he could do to prevent it. He couldn't protect Kuina. Now, we don't know his own knowledge of his parents, but I always assumed that his desire to become stronger and stronger is a direct result of the loss of his parents, something he witnessed, but couldn't do anything about it either. So he chose to follow his father's footsteps and became a swordsman, trained in Koushiro's dojo, driven by anxiety. He made friends with Kuina who died too. And then he swore to himself that never again he would anyone ever become close to him. He traveled alone and at first and kept his distance to Luffy, Nami and the others.

But there's no way to fight human nature. Slowly, he allowed himself and them to get closer and he found it comfortable to be around them, but accepting that they're his friends also multiplies his anxiety and ultimate weakness: losing someone again. He not only wants to become stronger to be the WGS, he also thinks it's the only way to protect his loved ones. When he struggles with an opponent, he can be seen training even harder afterwards. He takes the night's watch. He guards the ship. He only sleeps when someone else is awake. He tells the others to escape when it's dangerous. He tries to take incoming damage alone. He refuses that anyone sacrifices themselves and knocks them out should they try (Sanji @ Thriller Bark). He keeps things a secret. He holds back emotions to remain collected and supportive. The further along they travel, the more of his humanity he has to lose in order to keep them all safe.

Back to the original intention of this post. Zoro has kind of a soft spot for women who need help with something. They just trigger his protective instinct. But he also tries to keep away from any woman because they'd weaken him. And he can't afford to be weak. A woman by his side would mean he'd have to look after her, provide for her, protect her, make sure she's alright, take better care of himself in order to be there for her, all things he simply can't afford and which distract him from his goal (he would think that way, being a bit traditional). Maybe he doesn't trust himself to remain as determined as he was once he's in a relationship. Maybe he's afraid that his partner would try to talk him out of his goal and stand in his way. Which leads me to think how a woman has to be in order to be a good match for him?

We've covered that a woman often triggers his protective sense, I'm not sure though if that is what he finds an important trait. I like to imagine that a woman he'd be interested in has to be similar to himself - independent, strong, able to defend herself, not afraid to put him in his place, self-confident and courageous and most importantly be supportive and understand how he rolls. He wouldn't have to worry about her as much then (he'd still be worried though of course lol). So yeah, ZoTash all the way!

However, even if they'd fall in love during the series, he'd not give in to his feelings before he would have reached his goals, due to the above mentioned reasons. He'd ask her to wait or he wouldn't open up to her until he's the WGS, and then reunite with her and be like "Hey sorry you had to wait" and you know how loyal he is, he'd stay with her until the end of his days. And I think that's another reason why he's not dating a woman - he wants to make sure that she's THE ONE. He's not interested in an affair or something not serious. He's there for the long run. He doesn't give away his heart so easy. He could even play hard to get, to check if his love interest really means it. He wants to protect himself from heartbreak and loss, afraid to experience it ever again.

He wouldn't be a perfect lover, but try hard to be the best version of himself.

[reliablejoukido]

my feelings on The Beginning. I welcome discourse and dissenting opinions, but I do NOT welcome hate. Also I'm going to bed literally right after publishing this, so I will talk to y'all tomorrow.

I loved Fullmetal Alchemist: Digimon The Beginning a lot. Seeing the English dub was a wonderful experience and it brought me back to the reason why 02 was my favorite season in the first place. I also appreciated seeing the subbed version tonight, as it helped solidify the plot in my head.

I adored Daisuke especially. I loved Daisuke's emotions and his dialogue and his ability to strike friendship into the heart of anyone. I loved his adorable interactions with Ken, his chaotic interactions with Miyako, and his extremely ship-worthy interactions with Lui. And that scene where Ken pointed out how calm he was? Extremely powerful. Also Daisuke's queer energy was off the charts in this film, just saying. That alone means so much to me.

Also Takeru was SO in character when he was like "I know there is the possibility of Digimon partner-induced nuclear war, but hello??? Patamon might die????" I realize that's an oversimplification of his point, but it felt so right for him.

So like... I don't want to get into arguments about this, because I always feel like I'm wrong about lore and people yell at me just for thinking things they think are "wrong". So these are just my personal opinions which are obviously in no way accurate.

But in my opinion, Lui wasn't the first person to partner with a Digimon. I felt that Ukkomon was unreliable and untrustworthy and unstable, so I don't trust anything he claimed was true. I don't trust Ukkomon's concept of being the reason for Digimon and human partnerships to be accurate. I mean, I could bring Hiroki Hida and Oikawa into the mix. Or Maki and Daigo (if you try to tell me tri isn't canon just because of some interview, I'm going to block you just fyi).

I also don't entirely buy Ukkomon to be the reason the Chosen Children were even Chosen. Wouldn't Lui have been part of their adventure if that was the case? There are so many reasons the Digital World needed the Chosen Children that had absolutely nothing to do with Lui and Ukkomon. The whole Digital World's existence wasn't even mentioned regarding Ukkomon.

I really just don't trust anything Ukkomon did or said. He litterally brainwashed, manipulated, and eventually killed Lui's parents, so forgive me if I find what he says hard to believe. But I seriously loved that Ukkomon was chaotic and untrustworthy. It made for a fascinating "villain". I loved that we were lead to believe some new lore that may or may not be true, depending on how much you believe Ukkomon and Lui.

I also want to believe that now that the digivices are gone (which already happened to Sora, Taichi, Yamato, and implied Mimi, Jou, and Koushiro), that they will receive Digi-eggs soon, perhaps after they go through more important situations in their adult lives. If you know me, then you know I'm not the biggest fan of the ending of Kizuna, because I felt like it was a personal attack on my adulthood. I want more than anything for there to be a reason for Taichi and the others to see their Digimon again. I believe the ending of The Beginning gave us hope that Taichi's bond with Agumon transcends his own broken digivice.

So that's it, mostly. You can all stay tuned for when the movie is available on streaming/blu-ray, because you KNOW I'll be photoshopping ponytails onto Ken again. Also I'm planning a Daisuke/Lui fic at some point.

[izzyizumi]

Digimon Adventure ~ Episode 24 (J.P.N Version) ~ TIMELINE Hints & CLUES ~ Digital World LORE ~ Koushiro’s Character Traits ~ IMPORTANT Quotes + Koushiro[u] Izumi & Tentomon + Koushiro’s Communication

gifs by @izzyizumi​ / @koushirouizumi {DO NOT REPOST} {DO NOT REMOVE CAPTION} {DO NOT use this post or my gifs for spreading series negativity}

{usage of gifs may be allowed if permission is asked / or if credit is given. However, read my about & FAQ pages first. Please do NOT use / ask if you match anything in my “Do Not Interact” sections.}

Further transcript and my own commentary under the ‘read more’!

(Episode start): {Tentomon}: Koushiro-han! Let’s take a little break! {Koushiro, only briefly pauses, with a notably perturbed look}: I want to meet Gennai-san as soon as possible! {Tentomon, insistent}: But even so, it’s already been two months! {Koushiro, surprisingly direct, and yet still using typical speech*}: (*Koushiro in the J.P.N version commonly uses a more polite J.P.N speech form than characters like Yamato, or even Taichi, which is quite notable with Koushiro.)

“It doesn’t matter HOW LONG it takes!!” {Tentomon, immediately in response}: (*sighing*)/(*sweatdrop*) {Koushiro, matter-of-factly/calmly}: I’m going ahead. {Tentomon, quickly}: A-aa, Koushiro-han, wait for me!...

(They walk together as the calm OST {music} track playing fades.)

My commentary: Episode 24, Koushiro’s focus episode where Koushiro will later obtain the Crest of Knowledge, opens on this scene, and in the original version, right away, you begin to get a feel of the character progress he will eventually have- For a start, Koushiro actually insists a little at Tentomon. The Adventure novel (also penned by a head/“main” director + writer, Hiroyuki Kakudou) indicates in a later Dark Masters “Arc” scene that Koushiro “never” raised Koushiro’s voice towards a “senpai”/“upperclassman” - especially NOT Taichi, as the scene stating that line involved Taichi - and even these lines Koushiro states using overall “polite” form J.P.N speech, but Koushiro DOES insist a little, and it’s very obvious from the look on Koushiro’s face that Koushiro Means Business, OK, Don’t Argue With Me On This! Tentomon responds by immediately sighing, and another common pattern of this episode are the close-ups of Tentomon’s reactions to basically everything Koushiro is saying.

Tentomon clearly notes that it’s been “TWO MONTHS” in the Digital World since Taichi vanished. The novel is a bit more vague there, but it’s also a direct timeline clue - keeping in mind the time difference between the worlds. However, it also hadn’t been longer than two months since Koushiro split from the group of other Chosen, who Koushiro left behind in the search. Koushiro’s plan is apparently to FIND “Gennai” - It seems Koushiro believes Gennai can help with the search.

The novel does go a little more in depth in various places there... Taichi isn’t directly mentioned, {though still goes missing} but Koushiro, DOES feel a “pull” by the Crest of Knowledge - not knowing it’s the Crest. Vademon will then proceed to immediately trick Koushiro & Tentomon by scamming Koushiro out of Koushiro’s often-referred to as “Inquisitive Heart”, convincing Koushiro that what Koushiro “needs” is ““Knowledge””.

But the fake, anti-intellectualist “Knowledge” Vademon talks about is not necessarily the kind of actual “Knowledge” Koushiro NEEDS...

Tentomon clearly recognizes at least a little of this, and with the ‘expressions’ (sudden shocked or panicky movements) Tentomon ‘gives’, often reacts in turn.

{I will slowly be dropping more image sets of this episode as time goes on, with further commentary, along with possible comparisons to the novel, so please keep a look-out!}

(While the images used may not highlight Koushiro’s best moments, This is STILL a Koushiro POSITIVITY Post.)

[Note: commenting/tagging positively/respectfully is ok!] (Please AGREE TO BANNERS BEFORE interacting) (Note: click on the banners to enlarge / read text more clearly!)

[digisurvive]

Children’s problems

Or why Shuuji makes Survive what it is.

cw: child abuse, self-harm, abuse

Spoilers for the Truthful route

[Image ID: Screenshot of one of Ryo’s dialogue line that reads “What? Like anyone’s listening to what you have to say. Heheh, yeah, nobody’s listening.”]

One of the standout qualities to the writing of Digimon Adventure (1999) was the honest and nuanced yet still optimistic portrayal of the problems children face and the ways they dealt with them. From Koushiro’s alienation from his family due finding out about his adoption to Yamato and Takeru’s awkward bond, abandonment issues and stunted growth stemming from their broken family, and everything in-between, Adventure’s writing managed to shine an empathetic light to the stress responses originating from these difficulties while still showing the possibility of growth and healing.

As a game purposefully advertised as a more mature version of Adventure, Digimon Survive takes upon itself to tackle the depiction of children’s problems with a philosophical core that delivers a well-rounded thesis to this thematic thread.

To say Survive portrays the stress responses the kids carry from home to intense extremes in their life-and-death adventure is probably an understatement. Shuuji is a specially good example of deplorable and difficult-to-deal-with behavior — constantly belittling his own partner as well as relentlessly nagging and snapping at the other kids. Shuuji mirrors the way his own father treated him growing up; his treatment of Lopmon serving to showcase the way the verbal abuse he endured has taken root in his own inner monologue and self-perception and sprouted a really visceral self-hatred that spills out and corrodes his relationships with others. Through re-enacting his abuse on Lopmon, whom he recognizes as the same as him, he’s essentially self-harming and fueling his inferiority complex and suicidal ideation. 

The way the game makes the player witness his behavior as it unravels and slowly spirals until it reaches its most vicious expression in part 5 makes for a striking and effective portrayal of his household problems. The fact the only way to kickstart any positive character growth from him hinges on saving Ryo, shines a light on Survive’s ideals of communal care: after being forced to face what happens when the people who are deemed as lost cases are abandoned to their demise, the importance of making sure everyone is care for is evident.

Furthermore, the manner in which Ryo saves Shuuji heavily involves calling him out for his deplorable behavior, going as far as punching him in reliatation for bashing Lopmon. By addressing the harm Shuuji is causing his partner and the others, Ryo stops him just before he does something he can’t take back. It doesn’t stop there, as Ryo forces him to get out of his head and acknowledge the others are there, going to lenghts to support him when he’s at his lowest.

This enables Shuuji to begin to mend his relationship with Lopmon — and himself, by extension. To be able to get back up after hitting rock bottom and not to give up in the uphill battle towards self-improvement: to know there’s people around him who both will help him weather his inner turmoil and shoulder his responsabilities; but will also confront him without antagonizing him and won’t allow him to hurt himself or others any further.

[Image ID: Conversation log between Shuuji and Lopmon during their perfect evolution cutscene.

Lopmon: Don’t throw the towel, Shuuji! Didn’t you want your own approval?!

Shuuji: It’s no good... No one’s going to approve me the way I am now...

Lopmon: That’s not true! You’ve at least got me believing in you! No matter how down in the dumps you get, I believe you’ll get back up, so...

Shuuji: Lopmon...]

Shuuji’s growth is further nurtured by his relationship with The Professor, which brings in a literal game-changer reveal that changes the end-stretch of the game. The Professor as the kids’ only adult figure available to guide them is by design, given The Professor himself had to grow up to be the kind of adult who could understand and help the scared, dismissed child he himself once was. He exists in opposition to the largely absent, neglectful or downright harmful adult figures that failed to support the kids back home.

In this way, Survive goes a step further from simply portraying the maladptive stress responses the kids display to posit that for the group’s growth and continual efforts for healing to be possible at all, it’s absolutely essential to foster a caring community for them. One that is capable of both calling them out for their negative behaviors but also supports and encourages them to improve. This goes hand-in-hand with the game’s response to the duties of leadership, survival and making an impact in the world — for any of that to be achievable, both internal and external burdens must be shared responsability within the group. 

[nami-moittli]

My headcanons behind all the dub names for digimon:

Adventure:

Taichi —> Tai. Very simple, making the name shorter

Yamato —> Matt. Took a try or two to get to this nickname, but also a pretty simple nickname

Koushiro Izumi —> Izzy. At first he was called “Kou” but then one day someone called him “Izzy” instead, because it was ‘more fun to say’ and it stuck

Takeru—> T.K.. When he was like, in kindergarten or first grade, there was another kid named Takeru, so T.K. Ended up being called that

Hikari—> Kari. Once again, a very simple nickname

02:

Daisuke —> Davis. Noticed that all of his friends have nicknames, and wanted one too. Davis was the first thing he thought of

Miyako —> Yolei. Probably was just hanging out one day and decided that she wanted to give herself a weird nickname, Yolei was the one that made it out

Iori—> Cody. Yolei’s the only one who really calls him this, furthering the idea that they were just hanging out one day, and gave each other nicknames

Extra: Wallace—>Willis. Someone mispronounced his name, and now no one knows which is right

Tamers:

Jianliang—>Henry. He got tired of everyone mispronouncing his name, that he just started saying, “Call me Henry”

Ruki—>Rika. A mispronunciation of her actual name. She hates it, but it won’t leave her alone.

Shaochung—>Susie. One day Henry told her that people have a hard time saying their names, so she should pick out a nickname.

Hirokazu—>Kazu. Once again, a very easy nickname.

(Think that’s all?)

Frontier:

Takuya—>Taky. Very easy nickname.

Izumi—>Zoe. A nickname she got from her friends in Italy. She liked it so she kept it when she got back to Japan. Sometimes shortened further to Z.

Junpei—>J.P.. he wanted to act cooler, so along with the magic and chocolate, he started to introduce himself as J.P. Zoe called him out on this when they first met on the Trailmon.

Tomoki—>Tommy. Again, very easy. Like how Thomas becomes Tommy.

Data Squad/Savers:

Masaru—>Marcus. I’m not even sure. His name just got corrupted one day and it stuck. He sometimes doesn’t even respond to his actual name now

Thoma—>Thomas. Thomas is his name, though sometimes people take off the ‘s’

Ikuto—>Keenan. Ikuto is his birth name, though when he got to the digital world, no one knew that, so they just called him “Keenanmon” Keenan eventually dropped the “mon” though

Chika—>Kristy. A corruption of her name that came about one day.

(I think that’s all?)

Xros wars/Fusion/Young Hunters:

Taiki—>Mikey. Jeremy wanted to see how many people he could get to believe Taiki’s name was Mikey, so one time when he was helping out a club, he yelled, “Go Mikey!” It confused the heck out of Taiki, but now people don’t know which is right. Tagiru just calls him “T.M.” At this point

Zenjiro—>Jeremy. First it was shortened to Jiro, then Jiro became Jeremy. Probably through a mispronunciation mixed with how the name Thomas became Tommy

Akari—>Angie. Jeremy is also behind this one. Probably the same reason he calls Taiki Mikey.

Kiriha—>Christopher. Christopher’s just his middle name.

Yuu—>Ewan. Tagiru gave him this one. Though, he’s not sure how the “an” part of that nickname came to be.

And, I think that’s it. Cause Hunters and Appmon weren’t dubbed, 2020 is just a reboot, and I’m not sure if/when Ghost Game is getting dubbed, so I can’t say.

[beginningobserver]

[RE:CONNECT - blog v.] Link 11- The hues of IMAGINATION

[AO3 version]

“Ok, this is has been buggin’ me since last year,”

Daisuke gathered all of the group for an URGENT mission. And yes, he included Rui and Ukkomon in it as well. The other five were confused and some of them a little concerned, since when Daisuke says something is IMPORTANT, then… It could mean many things.

"What is it, Daisuke?" Ken was one of those that was completely worried about the gravity of the problem.

Daisuke had managed to convince Koushiro to let him borrow one of those rooms where they usually make reunions at Izumi Corp. The young adult man was sitting in Koushiro’s seat, wearing he orange shades on, arms on the table and intertwined fingers in front of his face. Like… that iconic scene from Ev※ngelion.

Somehow that whole scene was making Rui get an ugly anxiety just by watching Daisuke’s cryptic and ominous pose.

“It’s not a problem, it’s… an important question.”

“Daisuke-kun, what is it…?” Hikari asked, she was frowning.

“Do you all remember when we first met Rui, right?”

“Yes, we do” Iori said, and his curiosity picked his next choice of words, “Is it something related to that encounter?”

“Yep.”

“Then… What is it?” Takeru asked this time.

“Uh… I think… I know what it is…” Rui commented awkwardly. The other five turned to him.

“Do you!?” they all exclaimed.

“As expected, heh” Daisuke adjusted his sunglasses and did that shining lens effect from countless anime series.

“If Rui-kun knows…” Miyako started, “Then it’s something about him , right?”

“As you always say, BINGO.”

“Then… what is it!?” she snapped.

“... I think he wants to know how Rui-san managed to climb the Tokyo Tower,” Iori pondered, then looked at Daisuke, “Am I correct?”

“Exactly that,” Daisuke smiled, but that whole behavior was getting on everyone’s nerves right now.

“You could just ask Rui then--” Ukkomon tried to complain, but Rui interrupted him, with a snarky remark:

“So you want to know that, huh? But you gathered everyone here just for that… I guess you got your own theories regarding the Tokyo Tower Guy incident, huh?”

“You’re not mad at him asking something insensitive?” Patamon blinked.

“Oh it has been a whole year already. I can’t keep stuck in the past” he snickered.

“Rui is really feeling well now,” V-mon blinked, “He would flinch just by hearing that name.”

“I do have my own theories!” Daisuke nodded, “I think everyone has been asking the same question. How did you do that?”

“But it’s so boring just telling it without hearing your theories” he continued, “It would end this gathering that fast, don’t you agree?”

“Rui-kun, are you feeling well!?” Miyako frowned, she never had seen him being like that before.

The truth is… The moment Daisuke asked about them remembering or not the events of Feb 28 2012 that led them to meet Rui… Rui himself managed to catch the gist. And he just got a silly curiosity on how this could end. Also, considering how Daisuke is a very funny guy, he believed there could’ve been some very crazy and hilarious theory regarding the execution of the “climbing the Tokyo Tower” mission.

And this is nothing he could be upset about anymore. Soon or later they would ask him that, after all!!

“I’m fine, I’m curious to hear what everyone thought about how I managed to do that.”

“A-are you sure!?” Armadimon babbled.

“Don’t tell me none of you were thinking about that.”

“Well, we’re more busy with other tasks and our private lives,” Wormmon explained.

“But to be honest, We all might be curious about it,” Tailmon added.

“You could’ve asked Rui,” Ukkomon pouted, “But if Rui said he wants to hear your guesses, then I’m fine with it too.”

“It might not be a big deal,” Ken said, raising his index finger, “Because all he would’ve done was--”

“-- I know there was a ton of coverage and security around the egg!” Daisuke interrupted the other, “So there were a ton of guards and government agents securing the area, there’s no way Rui would’ve gotten there that easily!!”

“Daisuke-san, you have to remember that--” Iori was trying to tell something, but Daisuke continued:

“So what Rui did was trespass the agents, go to the top deck and then start climbing from there!” 

“Daisuke, what we’re saying is--”

“He had to avoid the guards, so he kept sneaking thru the shadows and the blind spots of the cameras, ran to the elevator, hit the top deck and reached the stairs leading to the exterior of the tower!”

“Daisuke-san, are you--”

“From there he started to climb the tower in silence, until he got caught and they couldn’t do anything anymore until someone could come with a big ladder and--”

“Daisuke, the Tokyo Tower and EVERYTHING else were working normally already!” Miyako screamed, her voice was the most powerful weapon to make Daisuke stop his nonsense spy-esque storytelling.

“EH!?” which made him gasp and put his sunglasses on his hair (like he usually wear them)

“We were trying to tell you,” Ken sighed, “Iori-kun pointed this out that day, remember?”

“The Tokyo Tower was working normally,” Iori confirmed with a nod, “Since the egg had not done anything suspicious or even dangerous, everyone started to get used to it.”

“But--”

“Cool story though,” Takeru chuckled, “It would’ve been funny if it happened like that, right Rui-kun?”

“But he could be partially right about it,” Rui smirked.

They all glanced at Rui, speechless.

“You could just try to guess how I got in there without them noticing me before,” he shrugged, and yes he was having fun with that already.

“If that is so…” Takeru smiled and cleaned his throat, “* ahem* ”

“Considering that the tower was still working normally and the security was keeping an eye on any suspicious activity in order to inform Taichi-san and Koushiro-san, what Rui-kun did to not get caught trespassing the locked area was…”

“Was…” everyone (but Rui) repeated in unison.

“... that he disguised as one of the guards, fooled the others, knocked them down and moved to the exterior of the tower, in which he got rid of the disguise and started to climb the tower. It was when he was a good reasonable distance from being caught by the security, they noticed him there and the news reports were spread everywhere.”

"Wait a minute, that's not possible either!" Ken argued, “You’re just creating another fictional story like the one you and Hikari-chan told me later that week!”

“They told you a fictional story??” Daisuke babbled

“And you fell for it!?” Miyako added incredulously.

“Hey, everything is valid here,” Rui called their attention to him, “Don’t forget I want to hear your assumptions before I tell you what actually happened.”

“He’s having fun with it,” Armadimon muttered to the other digimon, who nodded sagely in return. Ukkomon was the only one of them to just sigh and shrug though.

“Oh, so what would’ve been Ken-kun’s theory then?” Takeru grinned, the usual ^_^ face that always made both Daisuke and Ken mad.

“I don’t think it was that hard to do that, that’s all,” Ken pouted and crossed his arms.

“Oh?” Rui looked at Ken, “At least you could play along too. I’m not mad, it’s really funny to use the imagination on trivial things like these. Besides, it’s already in the past so don’t worry about me.”

“Did you just say Ken-chan has no imagination!?” Wormmon hissed.

“Well, he made Chimeramon onc--” Patamon said, only to have Wormmon hiss again:

“HE WAS ONLY A CHILD! GIVE HIM A BREAK, PLEASE!!”

“A-ah… No, I… I didn’t mean that!!” Rui babbled awkwardly, “I… I just liked to hear Daisuke-kun and Takaishi-kun’s ideas… I wanted to say it’s okay to be creative and imagine what could’ve happened…”

“Then you want us to imagine what could’ve happened,” Hawkmon mused.

"The funnier, the better" he chuckled.

“If that is it, so…” Ken stroked his chin.

Iori then said, deadpanned, “Rui-san might have deceived the security by disguising as the staff member, or specifically a janitor in order to get access to the exterior area of the tower.”

“Hm?” Ukkomon tilted his head.

“Yeah and he had a fake ‘stache and glasses, dagya!” Armadimon added quickly.

“That’s not that far from being the truth,” Rui rolled his eyes.

“Wait, you really did that!?” Daisuke exclaimed “You disguised as the janitor and fooled the guards?!” 

“With a fake mustache and glasses!?” V-mon added, impressed by that.

“Oh I don’t think so” Hikari said with a smug, “I think Rui-kun used a real-life promotional cardboard standee to hide and approach from the locked area,”

“Then, he attracted the security by discreetly tossing a coin” Tailmon continued, “and once the guards were running after the coin, he took advantage of it to access the restricted area.”

“That’s it, Hikari-chan won!” Daisuke said immediately, slamming his hands on the table, “She got the best theory of us all!”

“Did you forget that Ichijouji-kun and I hadn’t given ours yet, right?” Miyako squinted her eyes at Daisuke, in retaliation.

"Right," Rui nodded in agreement, "Yagami-san's theory is good, but we still have to listen to Ichijouji-kun's and Inoue-san's."

“Then, what either of you have in mind?” Ukkomon asked them.

“We got our theory while Hikari-chan told hers” Ken gave a Kaiser-trademark chuckle.

“I forgot you two are a power couple now…” Daisuke complained in a sigh.

 “Ohohoho~ With Ichijouji-kun’s intellect and my skills…” Now it was Miyako’s time to adjust her glasses and reflect the room’s light on them, “... we got the best ‘what IF’ scenario of the group.”

“You shouldn’t celebrate that early though,” Takeru chuckled nervously.

“AHEM! Hear us out!”

“Rui could’ve done it easily if he had tried to get up on one of the helicopters flying around the egg,” Ken started, and weirdly he had his Kaiser shades on (????????) (Daisuke: where did you get those ol’ shades, man!?)

“But he couldn’t get aboard one” Wormmon continued from there, wearing star-shaped shades, “so he resorted to normally paying a ticket to access the top deck, and…”

“... He pretended to be a staff member,” Hawkmon then proceeded, wearing a gold framed sunglasses with purple lens, “with this he could get a permit to access any area of the Tokyo Tower. Though he didn’t go immediately to the exterior area,...”

“He had to evacuate the entire building to not get caught,” Miyako adjusted her glasses again, “so he went to the control room and rang the alarms, and with that everyone ran away from the building, and then he had no issues climbing the rest of the tower.”

Incredible silence.

“... Ok, I admit that was good indeed” Daisuke shrugged.

“Where did you get those shades though!?” Patamon asked, pouting.

“That was indeed a good hypothesis,” Iori commented, “I assume now that everyone has given a piece of their minds, Rui-san will give us the real answer next.”

“Oh… Yeah, sorry I was just… lost in my thoughts imagining that, haha” Rui scratched his hair and smiled awkwardly.

“Then, what was it?” Daisuke asked, “How did you do that?”

“Oh it’s something boring but…”

I paid the ticket to access the top deck, just as everyone guessed. The tower was working normally and even: they were capitalizing the egg, as if it was a brand new event. “...” That part made me even angrier than just witnessing everyone else pretending there weren’t a 50 feet (or even bigger than that) Digiegg at the top of the Tokyo Tower. “... I have to do something.” I was completely blinded by a few mixed feelings and didn’t think straight. So I just… “Hey kid, you can’t go there.” “I’m sorry, but I’m the son of the owner and I have a permit.” "Do you know how many people have tried this only this week?" “Well, I tried…”  I shrugged and ran away, then I hid behind a cardboard from one of those collabs from that time and… “He went that way!!” It was dumb luck, I guess. So I went back to the restricted area and started to climb the rest of the tower quickly.

“Maybe that’s why it got in the news reports quickly,” Rui concluded his story.

“Ah… I see” they all said together.

“It’s not exciting like disguises or smooth spy moves, but… Yeah, it would’ve been funnier if those ideas were true”

“So you just ran from the security and started to climb as fast as you could…” Hawkmon commented with a deadpan expression.

“Well, in his defense we would’ve done the same in his place” Ken said, and then everyone turned to Miyako.

“True,” she added. Then… “Why are you all looking at me!?”

“The only person to climb a tower before was you,” Patamon said shamelessly.

“I think Yagami-san and Daisuke-kun told me about that before…” Rui mused.

“We still don’t know how she managed to climb a whole Dark Tower with her bare hands” Daisuke shrugged, “Y’know, those towers were not… built to be climbed.”

“Hmm…”

“I guess this mystery should be left for another time” Ken concluded, “But I’d like to know as well.”

“Haha… Sure sure!” Miyako giggled nervously.

They didn’t talk about it ever again though… At this point they just accepted that Miyako is incredibly SCARY and skilled, so no one should try to make her their enemy.

[koushirouizumi]

To the person I just blocked who Liked an old post of mine about Koushiros J.P.N V.A.:

When I checked your blog the very first post on it is a scam/spam post for the sun-glasses scam (a very old scam that first happened years ago and I'm very aware of). I was concerned your account was hacked, since that post was the newest on your page and from 2k21, so I blocked.

Please interact from an account that doesn't have scam posts on it, even old ones, thank you. You may want to also double check your own mutuals and people you messaged to make sure your account isn't sending them spam.

[zonaenthusiast]

Maybe I will regret this later but I'm going to overshare.

Recently, I don't know why, I'm reading a lot of people talking about how much Luffy means to Zoro because he was alone before he met him. And I disagree a little bit because I don't think he was completely alone (he had Koushiro and Johnny and Yosaku), I think he FELT alone.

Zoro is a lonely person, and that's not a bad thing, but I think Zoro also always felt inherently alone. Because being lonely and feeling alone is not the same thing.

I think Zoro never felt part of something... and Luffy was the first person that made him believe he belonged somewhere. And I think he doesn't want to lose that, he doesn't want to go back to how he felt before he met him because he is terrified of that feeling, and that's why he is so obsessed with being the protector of the crew. He would rather die than lose what he has now.

And this is one of the reasons why Zoro is my all time favorite character, because I am the same. I've always been lonely and I've always felt alone at the same time, and this can be an awful combination. Because being lonely can be a consequence of feeling alone.

Feeling alone is a terrible sentiment because I feel alone even when I'm surrounded by people I love (and who love me, I hope). And the moments after I've spent time with those closest to me are the moments I feel more alone that ever. So I tend to avoid them.

I can't get rid of it, I've been like that since I was a child, and I had to learn to live with that. Maybe I'm just projecting over Zoro but I think I'm not, I think he really is like this, whether or not it was Oda's intention.

[atsoraasayoma]

Takari Week 2024

Fourth Day: Fourth Contact:

Title: Digimon ‘Whirled’ Tour Misunderstandings

Summary: Hikari, covered in ink and tired from her journey while traveling home on Imperialdramon after her trip to HongKong has some interesting conversations with Koushirou and Takeru. These talks lead to some misunderstandings due to some poorly timed phrasing from their partners and even hers as well where she will have to clear her name.

***

It had been forever since Hikari had seen Takeru. Ok, maybe less than twenty four hours thanks to Imperialdramon’s blistering light speed taxi that dropped them off to all corners of the world and then back again...But still. She couldn’t wait to see him again yet wished it could have been under better circumstances.

The briny scent of the ink from the three brother’s Octomon Digimon clung to her hair like a sticky sweat. The burning sun and dusty winds also did not help, Hikari feeling worse for wear. Koushiro himself had come out of it unfazed, having somehow been so interlocked and focused on his planning/computer work it shielded him from any Digital or environmental hazards.

Hikari had not noticed she had been staring at him, Koushiro looking a bit nervous, pausing, and then resuming typing on his computer. “Hikarichan,” he said, “I can’t concentrate when you’re looking at me like that. Do I have something on my face or something?”

Hikari shook her head a bit. “N-no,” she said, “Its just that I’m just surprised. How is it that I look like I’ve walked through a wilderness and a pen factory, but you look like you just got out of the shower? We were both at the same place so I’m just wondering how can you be so clean after our last adventure?”

The typing of hands tapping on Koushiro's keyboard immediately ceased. His eyes locked onto the screen, but as if he was looking at something else.

“Koushirousan?” she questioned, Koushiro not turning away.

Sweat beaded down Koushiro's face, his breathing shallow.

“Oh no,” Tentomon said, crawling up on his back inspecting him with his pincers. “It’s happening again.”

Hikari stared at them both confused. “I’m sorry, did I miss something?”

“You wouldn’t know it,” he answered, “But Koushiro has what you call post traumatic stress disorder,” he said. “My Koushiro has been living with it for a long time.”

“PTSD?!” Hikari said a bit shocked. “I had no idea! I can’t believe that our Digimon Adventuring left that much of an impression on you! But you’ve never showed that side of yourself before,” she said calming down. “What changed?”

“Hmm?” he said, turning towards Koushiro, Koushiro weakly glancing at him and nodding his head.

“Oh, you don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?”

“The terror of soccer.”

“Terror of soccer?”

She glanced up, Koushiro's face turning even more despairing as if he had just accepted he would die. His hands trembled, his eyes shivering as if not wanting to relive something unpleasant.

“You see,” Tentomon buzzed manner of factually with his pincers, “Koushiro told me about it. Back when he was little he often went to Taichi’s soccer games.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” she said, Tentomon glancing at Koushiro and patting his back.

“But, that’s the problem!” he gestured holding them both up. “That was back when Taichi was not, shall we say, very good.”

“Oh?”

“I still remember it quite well,” Koushiro said his breathing shallow. “Hey Koushiro! Koushiro look at me! Watch this! You’re not paying attention!” he said repeating inflections, placing his thumb and index finger spread apart touching his cheeks so the small curve of skin between them was pressed to his lips shaking.

“I used to watch his games, but the moment I looked at my computer a soccer ball came flying at me. No matter what I did, or position I maintained, I always locked on me somehow like a heat seeking missile- even when I actually sat in a tree watching from overhead!” he said incredulously over the bizarre situation. Over time I learned how to handle such trauma,” he sighed out. “...I never want to go through such a learning curve ever again.”

“Well, that and Taichi did get better,” Tentomon said making sucking squishing sounds between his tiny fangs in his mouth, Hikari a bit creeped out by it, but realized that must have been how he laughed.

“But by that time my Koushiro had adapted natural reflexes towards anything coming his way. Regardless it was a soccer ball or a Digimon attack, Koushiro could dodge it or bat it away and continue his work on the computer as if nothing had happened.

“That’s...impressive,” Hikari said glancing at Koushiro a bit differently as if he was a battle hardened soldier. It was no wonder he got so perturbed so easily when he multi tasked and someone interrupted him.

“Regardless,” Koushiro said, “The only way to snap him back out of this was either green tea or...lavish praise.”

“What, like saying ‘good job?” Hikari questioned.

“Yes, but you’d have to take it up a notch by a scale of 100!”

“Huh,” Hikari pondered.

“And it can’t just be one or two people. It has to be everyone present. Even you Tailmon.”

“Even me?”

“His pride won’t let him recover until everyone in the room acknowledges him.”

“Huh, you’ve got it tough,” Tailmon acknowledged. “All right, I’m in.”

“Very well,” Tentomon said. “I’ll start. Follow my lead,” he said holding up his claws and waiving them as if conducting a symphony. “And a one a two,” he said, “And a now! Koushiro is an outstanding upstanding citizen!”

“That’s a compliment?” Hikari said having a hard time believing they were actually doing this.

“Anything works!” Tentomon said still holding up his claws. “In fact I accidentally told him one time he was the smartest pizza maker! I think he just honed in on the ‘smartest’ part.”

“I think I get it now,” Hikari said having understood. “We just need to inflate his ego.”

“Let’s try it Hikari,” Tailmon smiled nodding her head

With that all three of them started singing Koushiro's praises one by one, some of them even starting to overlap together, this continuing on for several minutes, Hikari starting to feel dazed at the chaos of their words clashing like three symphonies overlapping and their notes narrowly avoiding colliding into each other. Worse, she had been running out of things to say!

Koushiro seemed to still be out of it, Hikari's’ turning having come around again.

“Hikari?” Tailmon said looking at her expectantly.

“Don’t stop now!” Tentomon said trying to keep everyone together. “We need one last push! Anything! Make it up if you have to!”

Hikari searched her mind this way and that, and knew she just had to say something. “K-Koushirou is the only one who can handle my mom’s special recipes!” she yelled raising her voice, Tentomon stopping.

Tentomon stopped, the imaginary rhythm he had been connecting coming to an end.

Koushirou stared at his computer, blinked his eyes a couple of times and glanced up at them all having regained his composure.

“I’ll have you know,” he said, “Those recipes are delicious,” he said. “I could eat blueberry bean spinach casserole any day of the week!”

“Koushirou!” Tentomon said relieved giving him a hug, “You’re back with us!”

“Yeah, I’m here,” he said calmly typing on his computer again. “Though, I don’t remember why I stopped working to begin with. Did something happen?”

Tailmon and Hikari exchanged glances, both of them silently acknowledging the same thing: Koushirou had become so traumatized he had blocked the memory out completely.

Don’t worry about it. Oh look,” Tentomon said flying over to the barrier wall and sticking to it. “Looks like we’re at the next stop!”

***

Eventually Imperialdramon had reached the other locations, the Digidestined greeting each other and catching up, Hikari a bit winded from this Reunited Digidestined Celebration. Lastly they started to slow down landing on the ground with a bit of a rumble, Hikari wishing Imperialdramon had seat belts, but thankfully none of them suffered jet lag...except Jou of course being comforted by Gomamon.

As it slowed down, Hikari felt her heart leap as Taichi and Takeru came up. A pretty girl with blue eyes and blonde hair and a Floramon waving at them. Both Taichi and Takeru waved back,Taichi grinning stupidly which meant that Hikari knew by his mannerisms he had gotten involved more than he probably should have. But that shouldn’t be a problem.

As the other Digidestined greeted them, Takeru walked over to the gleaming blue light and leaned back into the wall sighing out.

“Welcome back...Takerukun,” she said having turned away from him a bit.

“You to Hikarichan. Felt like I haven’t seen you in forever, even though it’s only been less than a day. Kind of weird huh?” he smiled Hikari turning his way, realizing he must have also missed her. She couldn’t react too strongly though in case he might think she cared for him more than what she was letting on, even if it was true.

“Mhm. Time flies when you’re...on Imperialdramon,” she said, Takeru just staring at her.

“And I thought I was tired,” he said lifting up his head and sliding to the ground, Hikari just glancing down at him a bit anxious.

“Hikari, you’ve been standing up this whole time. You sit too,” Tailmon said grabbing her by the hands and making her sit down next to him.

She then sat down as well, Patamon having found comfort curled up resting on Takeru’s hat.

She glanced down at Tailmon who had already passed out, her head nodded down against the wall.

“Our Digimon are really something,” he said. “They work so hard for us. We couldn’t ask for better partners.”

“Mhm,” she said stroking Tailmon’s fur, her ears folding back a bit.

Takeru glanced up at Patamon and tickled his ears a bit, both Digimon mumbling in their sleep.

“Anything interesting happen?” Takeru asked. “You know, aside from probably needing a shower.”

Hikari glanced away from him wishing he had not noticed that. Of course, that would have been impossible.

“Aside from this, nothing,” she said not wanting to talk about herself.“What about you?” Hikari asked, “Taichi was smiling so wide something must have happened. And he’ll never tell me, just get mad and tell me not to worry about it.”

“That sounds like Taichisan all right,” Takeru chuckled. “But, no nothing I could think o-”

“-Takeru,” Patamon moaned sweetly in his sleep, “Why are you kissing that girl?”

His eyes froze, Hikari staring at him, her mouth open.

She wanted to say something, but refrained herself at least for now. She could only could think about that blonde haired girl Katherine she had seen him wave to earlier. She was really pretty too.

Hikari pursed her lips holding them shut not wanting to imagine him kissing another girl. She could have sworn she heard voices in her head saying ‘What’s wrong with them?’ And another voice saying ‘The Lovebirds are being dramatic again’ but she just looked up at him expectantly for an answer.

She wanted to ask it. To ask if it was true he did that to say-

“-All right Hikarichan,” Takeru smirked, “I know you want to ask me if I really kissed a girl. Probably the Katherine girl, am I right?”

Hikari lowered her head and nodded.

“Well, I actually did. And Taichi too!”

Hikari felt her heart sink and then her stomach twist hurt and then horribly confused at the same time.

What kind of situation or relationship would Takeru and her brother and Katherine have to be in to...have such a...relationship? She imagined Katherine wasn’t so nice and had them chained like dogs enacting all kinds of torture on them with chains and a whip and the dogs enjoying it.

“Hikarichan? Hikarichan?” Takeru said having interrupted her imagination.

“Hmm?” she said glancing at Takeru like a dog as if he was beneath her. She couldn’t believe the Takeru she knew so well had-

“-I think you’re misunderstanding something,” he said with a wry smile. “In France people greet each other with a little kiss on the cheek.”

“On the cheek?” she said turning her face his way.

“Mhm, It was pretty awkward for me and Taichi but we managed to do it near the end of our adventure there. Part of my family has a french background. It felt kind of...familiar. I don’t remember ever going there though. It must have been while I was little.”

“Oh,” she said, Her face staring back down not wanting to look up at him. She should have realized the context of all of this. Why was she so flustered? Takeru was her friend. He had the right to do anything he wanted to. They were not going out or anything. It felt wrong of her to even think of him in a negative light.

She sighed out. “I’m sorry Takerukun,” she said. “I could only imagine about what you said when the both of you had kissed her.”

“Right?” he smiled as if a bit relieved. “I mean it’s not like I would come to any weird misunderstanding about you if I heard something about-”

-Tailmon meowed out loud like a yawn, holding up one paw weakly as if warding something away. “No, get away. Hikari, you can’t allow all three of them to surround you like that! Those brothers are dangerous.”

Hikari stared down a bit nervously, a strange pressure glaring down at her from overhead. She slowly lifted up her head to see Takeru smiling, but it wasn’t a happy smile. It seemed kind of...angry.

“Well, I’m sure YOU must be tired from your journey Hikarichan,” he said as if looking past the situation. “I’m sure all the attention really must have been exhausting. Since YOU put yourself in that situation maybe YOU should just sleep it off,” he said, Hikari irritated by his inflections.

“N-no That’s not it!” She protested. “I didn’t choose to! They came at me!”

“What? They came at you Hikarichan?” Takeru said turning seriously, his now icy blue eyes glancing her way and cracking his knuckles in a fist that somehow made Takeru look not only incredibly attractive to her, but also kind of dangerous.

Hikari didn’t know what to do anymore about the situation. She hit her head back against the blue barrier of Imperialdramon wanting to snap herself out of it. She couldn’t lie. Just like she imagined Takeru having once been that Katherine’s ‘Pet’ she couldn’t stop her mind from seeing Takeru beat up a bunch of guys, Takeru shielding her in a seductive manner. It was even worse, or in this case better than Miyako sharing her romantic fan fiction stories with her.

“So, did you get their names?” he asked. “Maybe I’ll have Imperialdramon fly back after everyone else gets off.”

“No, don’t do that,” she said with an exhausted smile. “I can already tell what you’re thinking. But really it was no worse than Daisuke if there was three of him.”

Takeru’s eyes lit up a bit as if having snapped out of it. He also leaned back against the barrier resting his head against it. “I don’t know...if I could win against that,” he sighed with a smile.

“Thankfully I’m gone now though,” Hikari agreed. “I might have had a nervous break down if I had stayed any longer.”

Takeru snickered Hikari returning his back with a sweet smile. She really did miss him. Despite what they thought happened to each other, it was just one big misunderstanding after all. Maybe he even felt jealous too?”

The thought seemed so pleasant, Hikari’s mind drifting back to her imagination about Takeru. She couldn’t get that image out of his mind...in a good way.

“Hikari!” Miyako exclaimed running over to her and sliding down next to her. “Oh, good, your warm. I have the latest chapter on my fan fiction by the way. I wanted to know if you wanted to read it.”

“Maybe later,” she said. “It’s good to see you Miyakochan. “Did you have fun?”

“Of course!” she said. “And I got to meet Yuri, one of the cutest boys I’ve ever met! Man, I’m so lucky! I probably had the best romantic chance meeting yet out of all of us. And there was no weird misunderstandings,” she said both Takeru and Hikari smiling at each other, as if it was there own little secret. “In fact, I’m sure none of us had any-

A shocked gasp escaped from in front of them as everyone looked at Ken.

Both Sora and Mimi stood on either side of him both angry and demanding.

“What do you mean Ken clinged to a little girl?!” they said in unison towering over him.

“Wormmon!” Ken snapped agitated. “Phrasing! Phrasing!”

Hikari couldn’t help but smile just a little more matching Takeru’s smile with her own.

Just then Iori walked over to them a bit wary of them.

“Whatever’s the matter Iorikun?” Hikari asked.

“Come have a seat with us!” Takeru added.

Iori started to slowly back away from them. “You look like your enjoying this,” he said. “Is it that fun to take joy in watching one of your friends suffer?”

“What?” Hikari said turning towards Takeru.

“That’s not what we’re doing,” he said. “Really Iorisan you have such an imagination.”

“I’m not imagining!” he said defensively. “And you’re not answering my question!”

“N-no you’re just misunderstanding,”Takeru said getting up. “Look we’re almost back to Japan!”

Hikari adored him as he continued playing with Iori, dodging his question, Takeru turning back towards her with gladness.

She smiled back, Miyako glancing up at her. “Seriously, would you two just cut it out and stop telepathically communicating while smiling? I haven’t gotten that far even in my fan fictions!”

She could only be amused by her, Hikari knowing this must have been exactly how Takeru felt. She missed that about him; His jokes, his witty sense of humor, his protective eyes that would cut someone to pieces if anything threatened her. Sometimes he even made her feel safer than her own Digimon who could go to the mega level!

She glanced at him a bit differently affectionately retaining the image in his mind of the Takeru she knew so well. Whether being serious or joking and laughing with her, Takeru was Takeru. And no misunderstanding or fantasy could ever change that.

[detectiveichijouji]

How would you guys react if Tai, Daisuke, and Takeru suddenly vanished? Like, up and gone, with almost no trace, not knowing what actually happened.

The Day Taichi, Daisuke and Takeru went missing for a whole day… They all just went into panic mode – Had Ken, Iori, Jou and Sora trying to contain their panik fiesta but it wouldn’t work very well.

It all started because Yamato friggin entered the Koushiro’s office KICKING the door in despair screaming HAS ANYONE SEEN TAKERU TODAY?? HE DIDN’T MESSAGE ME SINCE YESTERDAY!!

Koushiro says Taichi had sent them a message yesterday about having something IMPORTANT to say but he never answered past 1 AM. Miyako believes it was Arsenemon’s fault. Iori thinks it might be another reason, and Mimi wonders if they got a triple date with people they have a crush on (Hikari: Are you implying Daisuke-kun would like someone else than me??)

Jou think they might have forgotten their phones at home (Ken: Would all of them do it at the same time!? | Iori: I suppose Taichi-san and Daisuke-san would, but I’d be surprised if Takeru-san did forget his phone at home too… | Yamato: TAKERU NEVER FORGETS HIS PHONE AT HOME, I KNOW IT I’M HIS BROTHER!)

Sora’s theory is that they’re in a place with too much noise that they can’t hear their phones ringing… Or are on silent mode. Hikari thinks this is plausible, because sometimes she can’t hear her phone ringing in the middle of the crowd in Shibuya Crossroad.

Miyako keeps insisting it’s Arsenemon’s fault, only to get a Calling Card saying… “Nope. Try again, mademoiselle Miyako 😐” – mysteriously Noel pops in seconds later because he was instructed by Daisuke to come gather with them, and then Daisuke suddenly stopped messaging him.

None of the Older Chosen know Noel, but they just accept he’s just another of Daisuke & co’s friends. Ken suspects Noel of eavesdropping on them. Noel denies, and shows his phone – The last message Daisuke sent was last night, telling him to gather with the group for something. Iori knows Noel is just a recent Chosen Child, so he assumed Daisuke wanted to introduce them to Noel.

(Soleil and Lune are not there, and they don’t give a frick to Taichi, Daisuke and Takeru either. None of their business. However Noel does care about Daisuke and Takeru, and to some extent Taichi – Daisuke’s friends are his friends in some way)

Everyone was losing their minds, having wild guesses for HOURS until Yamato started calling the police, Miyako and Koushiro trying to ask the Chosen Network, Sora and Jou trying so desperately to keep everyone CALM but getting headaches, Mimi teasing Hikari even more with the idea of the three boys being on a mixer in secret, Ken and Iori just believing Noel might be lying to them about further details WHEN…!

The door opens. Taichi, Daisuke and Takeru come in with snacks and a cake. It was a surprise for Hikari but all they see is CHAOS AND EVERYTHING BURNING. (No, the digimon didn’t set things on fire, they were just also arguing between each other about what happened to the trio and Agu-Vee-Pata too)

Yamato SCREAMS “WHERE DID YOU GO TAKERU!? WHY DIDN’T YOU MESSAGE ME THIS MORNING!?” – Takeru answers he was out with Taichi and Daisuke, but then Daisuke squints at Taichi, who was the one supposed to gather everyone for the surprise PARTY AND….

Nope. Taichi forgot to send the message talking about HIKARI’S SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY to everyone but Hikari herself. Hikari then smirks at Mimi, “See, they weren’t on a mixer, I know none of them would enjoy that kind of activity!!”

Everyone is now staring at Taichi. So, the important thing Taichi wanted to tell them was that? Oh it was to celebrate Hikari’s birthday (Sept 26) and HE DID NOT SEND THE FRIGGIN MESSAGE!? Taichi protested that it was too late and he was tired from work.

Crisis averted, they had a double feature party – one for Hikari’s birthday, and one to introduce Noel into the group.

The End.

[dutchforstrangers]

Taishirokoura x possibilities - "What if" pt. 2

For @taikouvember 2023 - Day 2: Past, Present & Future + Day 6: Brave Knowledge, Unexpected Impulsive Love & Curious Courage

[0. Author's note] [1. Koushiro] [2. Sora] [3. Taichi] [4. Taikoura]

Taikoura | Genre: Young oblivious romance, mild fear | Characters: Sora Takenouchi (POV), Jyou Kido | Wordcount: 603

I think of you Pick up my phone Then put it down again There's no way for you to reply To the messages I never send In my mind, we'd never fall in love But what if I'm on your mind?

Pt 2. Sora

“Why don’t you just text her?” Sora decided to blatantly ask. “You’ve compiled so many nice messages, but you never seem to send them. It’s a pity, really.”

She looked at Jyou who was sitting left from her. In order to get to their work, every week they both traveled by bullet train crossing Tokyo, often ending up in the same train. Despite Jyou’s sometimes usually twitchy nature, Sora really enjoyed his company.

“I just don’t feel comfortable yet…” Jyou said and Sora could hear the nervosity rise in his voice again. “We only met again last week after years.”

He was referring to the girl he had borrowed a bike from during the events of Diablomon. Sora laughed to herself recalling the moment Jyou told everyone what he had done feeling incredibly guilty, yet blushing madly when he called the girl by name all the same. A few weeks ago, they had accidentally bumped into each other again, rekindling old sparks and Sora had been helping Jyou with dealing with his feelings ever since.

To her, it was always easier to deal with someone else’s feelings, her own being way too complex anyway. While she turned her own phone in her hand a couple of times, her thoughts wandered off to not one, but two people. She quickly shook away any more thoughts and composed herself by responding.

“But if you don’t send them, she will never know how you exactly feel. I mean, you do like her, don’t you?”

Jyou nodded. “It’s just... not the right time yet,” he stammered, his eyes fixated on his phone, a small smile across his lips. Sora watched him carefully, mirroring his smile. He then looked up, catching her watching him. “How about you, Sora-kun?”

“What about me?” She moved back slightly, ducking away from his question.

“Well, you’re not any better than me regarding sending messages.” His tone was light, but serious.

“I’m not following.”

“Every time we’ve been on this train together these past few weeks, you have been fumbling with your phone. It’s been weeks now,” he said as he showed her one of his kindest smile.

It was a sympathetic smile, with it telling her he understood. Sora smiled back, her gaze directed towards her feet, thinking back to these last weeks. How she had been nervous to receive messages, avoiding to opening the ones she had received, anticipating a rejection while there was nothing to reject yet.

She had typed what could easily be a hundred messages, never believing any of those was the right one. And thus she never sent one, that way there was nothing to reply to for the others.

Sora looked back up to look at Jyou. It was funny how she was able to tell him to send those messages, while she herself couldn’t do it. Maybe she needed to hear her own advice from someone else.

“ I didn’t know you could be so observant,” she lowkey teased him.

“I’m usually not, anyway, not when it comes to these things,” Jyou awkwardly laughed away, his right hand scratching the back of his head. It was almost apologetically. “But you three are so obvious.”

A feeling of being caught came over her and Sora’s cheeks turned as red as her hair. “U-us three…?”

It was never supposed to go that way, she shouldn’t be feeling what she felt. She couldn’t chase after that kind of love… Could she?

“Everyone knows, except the three of you.” Jyou said, interrupting her thoughts, sounding more calm than ever before.

“Just send those texts already and you’ll find out.”

[citrus-cactus]

For the character ask game - Haru (appmon) 1, 2, 11, 12, 23!

HAAAAAAAARU! THANK YOUUUUU~! <3

The character ask game is here!

1. My first impression of them

Honestly my first impression (from seeing promo images and such posted on this very website!) was something like “Whoa. Clashing colors much?!” So I guess you could say it was not the best 😂

Obviously I got over that, but I did learn recently that trying to apply his color scheme to any other character is still quite a shock! ROTFL Click for proof if you dare!

The rest is cut! For! Spoilers!!!

2. When I think I truly started to like them (or dislike them, if you've sent me a character I don't like)

The first time I watched Appmon, I felt like basically the whole first half of the series was a bit of a crapshoot, quality-wise (not in terms of the animation or anything, but how I felt about it). Like, if you tried to graph my enjoyment of each episode right after I watched it, it would look like a jagged mountain range. The first episode was ok, the second episode was “eh,” the third and fourth episodes was pretty good, the fifth was back to “eh,” etc. I don’t know, pacing and tone and kind of unsympathetic character introductions and it just being “different” were all things that were working against it at that point in my mind, and made me wonder what the writers were really trying to do (honestly, what REALLY sold me on watching Appmon at all was @firstagent’s pitch at a con, which explicitly plugged Offmon and Yuujin’s dynamic!).

(I should say here that despite those rough beginnings, Appmon is probably my favorite Digimon series now, so yeah I take time to warm up to things sometimes but the right combination of factors makes me fall and fall HARD)

All that said, I know exactly when I really start to like Haru, and it was during the third episode (the dungeon one with Roleplaymon). He’s just so excited and happy throughout, while also being a complete nerd, and instead of a big Appmon fight at the end (well, being unable to have one due to an evolution whoopsie), he just talks to Roleplaymon… and it works. That felt kind of revolutionary, and it was the episode that I started to not only understand his character, but (maybe) gain a bigger picture view of the series and what the show was going for. This episode just crystallized a lot of things for me.

Me after episode 3: Haru is kind. Oh, and also he’s my son now, I want to see him grow up strong, I WILL keep watching FOR HIM actually (best decision ever!!) 💖

11. What’s the first thing you think about when thinking about the character?

Joke answer: “Do I need to be working on the blog queue right now, or can I procrastinate a few more days?” 🤔

Real answer: No thoughts anymore, just feelings (rotfl). After watching every episode in order to look at every single shot of Haru and find the very best frames, I can still say definitively that he’s so cute and I love him and all Harus are good Harus 🥺🥺🥺

12. Sexuality hc!

Bisexual! And uh… one specific android-sexual? You cannot deny his crush on Ai, and Haru/Yuujin is so good. They’re one of my OTPs, they’re soulmates (by some definition of the word “soul”), they were made for (and made by) each other, they’re actually making eyes at each other from across the room in my head right now 🤫

23. Future headcanon

Oh, he’s definitely going to be an AI researcher, that much I believe! One who is very literature- and ethics-minded, and thinks a lot about what what “existence” means, and is hyper-aware of beings’ rights and the need to advocate for both humans AND AI, in a world where both appmon and general artificial intelligences actually exist. These beliefs are the cornerstone of his work, regardless of what he actually does with AI. Would he follow in his Grandpa’s footsteps in being an academic designing his own? Maybe borrow a page from Koushiro Izumi’s book and start a company? Or go the Susan Calvin route and become an AI psychologist? Any! All! Idk 🤣

Honestly, so much else about specific future headcanons depends on how you interpret the very last moments of the series (literal or symbolic), and for me it could go either way. I really like interpreting it as literal, if only because it’s such a great hook into the nebulous Appmon Season 2 that exists in my head. Yuujin’s back, but how? Cue mystery and more Appmon shenanigans.

Regardless, I’m most interested in the future where Yuujin comes back in some form at some point during Haru’s lifetime, and no matter how, when, or why that happens it’s going to be a joyous occasion, but also a bit of a rough transition. Yuujin may have changed. Haru may have changed. There would be a LOT anxiety about “is this ok?” and “how do you feel?” and “what does it MEAN that this is how you feel?” and “what does ANY of this mean for us as individuals, and us together?” because it’s all very complicated when you bring the android that was programmed to be your best friend and your ideal version of a person back to life. Is there even a happy ending out there for them? Again, for me it could go either way.

So yeah, a bit rambly, because to me there is no one answer I could ever 100% decide on. They’re all possible. And that’s kind of the great thing about the vagueness of the ending! I will say I like drawing them in happy-ending mode best though, even though I would probably write their future in a way that involves more drama, because it’s way more interesting, and nothing in life is ever that easy (I’m rooting for them though!).

Again, thanks so much for the ask!!