#Don’t get me started on Junpei I’m so fucking pissed

[rodentsunite]

Tag Game

Gracias, K ;)

Nickname: Rodent

Zodiac: Aries

Height: 5’2”

Last Movie I Watched: Suicide Squad 2

Last Thing I Googled: Jujutsu Kaisen English dub online free (I’m on the last two episodes of the season babeyyy. The credits make me want to tear up every time)

Favorite Musician: Rihanna

Song Stuck In My Head: I’m Just Your Problem (From Adventure Time) cover by AnnaPantsu on YouTube

Other Blogs:

Blogs Following: Blogs that are following me or blogs that I follow? Because I follow a lot of artists and fanfiction blogs of various fandoms. The blogs that follow me are also all over the place.

Amount of Sleep: 😬 Not enough. Melatonin doesn’t work on me so I’m gonna open up DMs for people who’re willing to knock me out every night before midnight.

Lucky Number: 3! And other single digit odd numbers.

What Am I Wearing: Pajamas consisting of an oversized t-shirt and owl-patterned pajama shorts.

Dream Job: DNA Analyst

Dream Trip: Singapore, Dubai, and Japan. Mainly for the hotel stay and food though.

Favorite Food: Shrimp cocktails

Play an Instrument: When my dad passed away I chose to keep his acoustic guitar. He never played it so it’s practically brand new. I’ve been meaning to learn I just have motivation issues.

Language: Spanish and English.

Favorite Song: Kiss Me More by Doja Cat and SZA + Montero by Lil Nas X

Tag Game

Thank you for the tag, @blooddrop-palace!

Nickname: K 

Zodiac: Leo

Height: 1.64

Last Movie I Watched: Godzilla vs Kong. Didn’t like it lmao they did Godzilla dirty. 

Last Thing I Googled: Zagreus (I’m making thumbnails for my friend’s Hades videos and I needed a png image of him, lmao).

Favorite Musician: The Weeknd. Been a fan for a couple of years and I’m still obsessed with Trilogy.

Song Stuck I’m My Head: DNA by Kendrick. 

Other Blogs: None! I can barely keep up with this one, lol.

Blogs Following: Mostly DMC with a couple of OW blogs and a few shitposters.

Amount of Sleep: Between 6 and 8 hours (if my cat lets me).

Lucky Number: 9.

What I Am Wearing: Pajamas. It’s a little too early to be wearing ‘em but meh, I wanna be comfy.

Dream Job: Subtitler.

Dream Trip: I’d love to go to Europe and visit a bunch of countries! 

Favorite Food: Mushroom alfredo pasta. It’s my comfort food too! 

Play an Instrument: I took piano lessons for about… 6 months and still know how to play 80-90% of comptine d'été no. 2. Does that count?

Language: Spanish, English, and a bit of Italian. 

Favorite Song: Streets by Doja Cat cause part of it perfectly describes the way I feel about some fictional men, lmao.

Random Fact: Quirky coffee drinks are getting me through the pandemic. 

Tags: @shiranyaaww, @tyrythewolf, @rodentsunite

[chiruba]

JJK BOYS' WHEN YOU CALL THEM BY THEIR LAST NAME !

an. ur so cute when u reblog aha

ft. itadori, fushiguro, gojo, nanami, inumaki, junpei x gn!reader

wc. 0.6k

genre. fluff

► MASTERLIST ► TAGLIST ►

ITADORI YUJI — POUTY. think he's done something wrong or something to make you angry, so he subtly acts more affectionate throughout the day, makes sure not to piss you off in any way, etc - and you have to hold back your laughter all the while. yuji isn't the type to be confrontational about but if you do decide to keep up the act for a while, he'll nervously ask you later on - "are you mad at me?" - he looks like he might cry with those puppy dog eyes of his, please tell him it's a prank and shower him in affection as an apology <3

FUSHIGURO MEGUMI — "hey fushiguro, could you pass me that?" ...what. gets salty LOL he'll probably even do it back to you, "yeah, sure, (name)". he figures out it's a prank pretty early on, but he won't stop until you do. he does get a little upset and moody if you say his name like that in front of everyone else, mostly because he isn't into pda, so you calling him by his first name and vice versa is his own version of pda that lets you everyone know you're his. eventually, the frown that keeps growing on his face is too much and you give in, and only then do his wrinkles disappear and his lips tug upwards.

GOJO SATORU — doesn't really affect him, tbh. will also figure out it's a prank quickly and instead of being petty and doing the same like fushiguro, he will instead start calling you every pet name out of the book, and not just that - every pet name that you hate. gojo is so annoying and the pet names make you cringe so hard you just give up an hour in. you don't really think anything of it until later on that night, where he forces you to cuddle and call him each pet name you know he loves, whispering "don't do that to me again," as you drift off to sleep.

NANAMI KENTO — another one that doesn't get affected, unless you count getting confused. will immediately ask you "what's wrong?" or if you're mad at him. if you tell him nothings wrong then he'll just be straight up - "please don't call me 'nanami' then, love." won't know it's a prank until you tell him, and won't be impressed SJDGGHD - "i'm sorry, kento! it was just a prank!" . blank stare . this man's reactions to pranks are the WORST 2/10 won't get you tiktok famous no matter how hot he is sorry bestie

INUMAKI TOGE — gets SO Upset LOL he immediately starts whining and spewing out onigiri ingredients and for once neither you or panda can interpret it. he definitely wraps his body around yours, head in the crook of your neck as he presses kisses to it, muttering "okaka," each time you try to say it again, he bombards you in affection - "inu-" that deserves an open mouthed kiss "inum-" and that one deserves a gentle lovebite on your neck. won't stop until you call him by his first name or a cute pet name. ps. this man lives on social media, ofc he knew it was a prank from the start, but that doesn't mean he liked it !! >:(

YOSHINO JUNPEI — oh no. please don't. he gets so worried and insecure. unlike itadori who just doesn't bring it up or nanami who just does, junpei doesn't know what to do. but the way he avoids your eyes to hide his own glassy ones and his grip tightening on your hand tells you he's quite affected by it which obviously makes you drop the prank because who is cruel enough to hurt junpei Fucking mahito. please shower him in your affection and reassurance afterwards <3 ps. junpei's favourite nickname is def smth like 'honey', or 'my love' ^-^

ill give u a kiss goodnight if u reblog <3 

©  2021 sinrinyoku — please do not repost, translate, modify or plagiarize my work! i will beat the shit out of u (maybe)

[bonsai62]

I just realized something... I was talking to this person one time on a post before and as I was typing that’s when i realized something:

This is for my fellow Nobamaki & Itafushi shippers! If you guys don’t ship it then it’s okay! This is just like a small analysis in my eyes and the way I read things! I can be wrong or just love reaching on a shit ton of things but this is all for fun and I love sharing with you guys!

Let’s get started! Also, this contains spoilers!

Do you guys realize that Nobamaki/Itafushi actually parallel to each other? Let me explain in shitty English and basic grammar and vocabulary lol:

As I watch and read Jujutsu Kaisen I see a lot of parallels between characters; Gojo with Megumi or Yuji, Getou with Megumi and Yuji or Nobara and Maki... but what I want to parallel between characters is:

Yuji & Maki

1. Raw strength:

Both are hella fucking strong and for people who don’t have cursed techniques, they know how to kick fucking ass. What made me realize that both of them are the same is honestly during the baseball game. I like how we were able to see Maki and Yuji making a home run... okay well Momo fucked up Maki’s groove! Haha! But during the Tokyo vs Kyoto event, Maki and Yuji go ham on their enemy.

Yes, Maki used weapons but still, we can’t deny she got good speed and strength that is similar to Yuji’s. That’s why I wish I can see them both doing a bad ass duo fight together.

I have a small headcanon that Yuji actually enjoys training with Maki the most because I feel like he can understand someone who shares similarity in natural raw strength and speed. And Maki feels the same way and it’s a good excuse to bully Yuji as a joke. I would honestly love to see that! Lol!

2. Their story:

Yuji and Maki honestly have it bad. Yuji loosing his only family member (his abuelo) and becoming Sukuna’s vessel which leads him to a future execution. For Maki is the fact that her family treated her like garbage and having to leave her sister behind and eventually her sister dying.

Both Maki and Yuji share that same pain when it comes to loosing someone. We saw Yuji with Junpei and in the Shibuya Arc with Nanamin and Noabra. Again, Maki the same with Mai.

I think what made me even realize it MORE on how alike and how they parallel with each other are these images right here and how they worded their final saying:

In the Shibuya Arc, Yuji lost it. He lost it with Nanamin and Nobara (but luckily for Todo, he was able to pick his feet back up).

If I was Yuji, I would’ve reacted the same way because imagine having the idea you want to save people no matter what but people keeps dying around you or by you? It’s tiring and I would’ve had a mental breakdown too.

After kicking Mahito’s ass, Yuji says there is no reason anymore. For me, when Maki’s arc came it really reminded me of this:

When Mai died and was killed by her own dad. Her dad took away someone who was precious to Maki no matter how much they didn’t get along. Maki really wanted to create the Zenin clan just for Mai to be safe and free.

Again, same with Maki, I would’ve killed the whole clan too because of how in general the Zenin clan is and how they treat people.

3. Having a “curse”:

Nanamin to Yuji: “You’ve got it from here”

Mai to Maki: “destroy everything”

I don’t necessarily mean a curse curse but it’s more like final words that someone important to them said before dying.

For Yuji, he won’t die because Nanamin believes that Yuji can move forward and save the world.

As for Maki, Mai tells her to destroy everything in order for things to change (I might be wrong). It’s for the Zenin clan to start fresh. That is another way I kinda Interpreted (again, I can be wrong). Maki still isn’t done with destroying things plus she is going to move forward just like Yuji. 

I have a thing that if the higher ups find out about Maki, she would be on the verge of being executed as well. So imagine both Maki and Yuji together being executed.

Now on to the next pair!

Megumi & Nobara

Again, this is just me analyzing. But if you ship Itafushi and Nobamaki, you can actually see another pair that parallels to each other but so far I haven’t seen anyone compare them yet, or it’s just me lol!

1. No rivalries:

I think what I love about these ships so damn much is that there is NO RIVALRIES. Even if you don’t ship them you have to admit it is amazing seeing a m/m or f/f getting along without being damn rivals. I’m glad Gege decided not to do that especially towards the women because it does get so tiring that two women don’t like each other for no damn reason or fighting over the main guy or other main guy. At least when Nobara didn’t like Mai or Momo, she had a reason for not liking them.

And don’t get me started with Megumi and Yuji. I was so happy to finally see two boys be friends instead of the usual, boring rivalries. I’m a be honest with you, I was pretty shocked that Gege was able to make Megumi and Yuji be so close and trust each other as friends. It’s a breath of fresh air for the two ships like omg I was happy not seeing the basic shonen bullshit with the f/f and m/m relationship.

2. Hyping up their pairs:

What I mean by hyping them up, I’m talking about the potential that Maki and Yuji has that Nobara and Megumi sees from them. Nobara since the start acknowledge that Maki is strong and vice versa with Megumi with Yuji. What made me see that Nobara knows that Maki is just amazing and strong was during the baseball when Maki was able to hit almost a home run. Nobara just knew that Maki would be able to make that home run but again Momo ruined her moment! Lol!

As for Megumi, we see while the Tokyo students came up with a strategy to win against the Kyoto students, we see him saying that Yuji can actually beat all their asses without curse energy or energy(one of those). Megumi reassures to people that Yuji can take care of himself and is very useful. Another time Megumi reassured that Yuji is strong is when he was in his bed healing from Hanami’s attacks and when they fought tiger against that one dude (forgot his name)

3. Thinking about them/defending them:

Now… this is really what made me think why Nobara and Megumi parallel with each other

It’s becasue I feel like they’re the ones who are more attached and over protective with Yuji and Maki than how Maki and Yuji are with them.

Now, I’m not saying it’s vice verse with Maki and Yuji. But I’m talking about how Nobara and Megumi expresses it. Let me explain:

While reading and watching JJK, we see how Nobara is with Maki compared to anyone else. And no, I’m not saying that Nobara isn’t overprotective with Megumi or Yuji but just the way she is towards Maki. I would honest love to see how these girls got along and how they became close!

Ever since Maki and Nobara had that deep conversation about why Maki choose to be a sorcerer, that is when I actually started shipping them because of how much respect Nobara has towards Maki and it continues to develop more and more with the two of them. We saw how Nobara got super defensive when she fought against Mai (First time) and started dissing Mai. The second time was with Momo, when she was straight up talking shit about Maki.

I love how when Nobara was talking about Maki and Yuji when fighting against Momo. However, I felt a different vibe towards it as well. What I mean by that is that I got more of a “big sister vibe” toward Yuji and a “I love and respect Maki”

But again, I feel like Nobara had some sort of feeling and attachment toward Maki ever since that fight with Momo and more than anyone else too. However, that is just me though! You do t have to agree with my reaching!

For Megumi and Yuji… First of all… Megumi would not hesitate to pull a trigger if anyone is trying to harm Yuji. What made me see that was against Kamo and the Kyoto students. I swear that day Megumi was literally about to commit murder.

Yeah, Nobara got pissed but she went easy on them, but Megumi didn’t. Oh no, he was about to commit a felony. He wanted all the smoke. He wanted that curse. I swear I even felt how pissed he was. I just feel like every time and separates, shit goes down the wrong way and everything goes wrong.

For me, shipping Megumi and Yuji is a whole ass different post but I won’t do that lmao same with Nobamaki because I can write a whole ass essay why I love how compatibly/perfect for each other lol

Bonus:

But guess what… during the Kyoto and Tokyo event, same shit happened with Megumi like Nobara: Megumi was thinking of Tsumiki and Yuji. And again, I felt like it was still different when Megumi was thinking of Tsumiki and Yuji. I find it crazy how Nobara and Megumi were thinking about two people during that event:

Nobara: Maki & Yuji Megumi: Yuji & Tsumiki

This is my personal favorite image of Nobara and Megumi. *wink wink* it’s basically the same image on who is important to to them.

Again, for Nobara and Yuji’s relationship, I just love the way it is. She gives me “big sister” energy towards Yuji and vice verse. Yuji and Nobara are those chaotic siblings that are the hyper ones while Megumi and Maki are the chill ones that can actually keep them down. There has been one occasion where both Megumi and Maki calms Yuji and Nobara down because of how they were acting and I’m not gonna lie it’s kinda cute lmao:

4. Not leaving them:

During the Shibuya Arc, Maki and Nobara separates but at one panel, Nanamin was telling Nobara and Nitta that he was going to join the Zenins. Nobara quickly picked her head up and suggested that she wanted to join him in order for her to be with Maki (this is a stretch but hey Iike being dramatic) however, Nanamin quickly declines her and tells her that it’s too dangerous. I think she was disappointed that she couldn’t go, but hey, Nanamin is a gentleman and he knows when a child is gonna end up getting hurt. I thought it was cute that she was super worried about Maki and just doesn’t care and wanting to join her.

Now, up the recent chapters, Megumi really shows us that he doesn’t want Yuji leaving him or he wants to stay by his side. Those few chapters really made my heart feel some type of way because it just the way Megumi is for Yuji and I can honestly feel how much he cares for him. As I mentioned above, I feel like everything goes to shit when those two aren’t together and I hope that they develop more and more. There has been two more occasions where Fushi doesn’t want Yuji to be left behind; one during when they were in prison and the second during the fight against Hanamin. The eyes that Fushiguro gives Yuji is full of trauma and careness.

In conclusion, I can’t wait for Nobamaki and Itafushi to develop more and more in future chapters. Again, you guys don’t have to agree with me on this. This is just for fun and sharing is fun too! If I’m overreaching then I’m sorry I just can’t help it :(!!

I hope you guys enjoyed my lil analysis! I’m sorry for the bad writing, I’m not very good at translating my feelings as I’m typing because my brain goes all over the place lol! But please, feel free to comment or give me an ask! I’ll be happy to elaborate more for you guys!

Stay safe y’all! And good night or morning!

[dkronpa]

Chapter 4: The Sky is Just a Skip Away ~Post-Trial~

//Return of the DKronpa!

//It has been a looooooong long time since I last uploaded to this series. I really regret leaving it for so long but unfortunately a lot got in the way of writing and I just could leave it where it was. I’m happy to say though that I’ll be back to working on it a little more consistently in my spare time.

//I still have to iron out specifics for chapter 5, but it is for the most part complete. Please be patient and as always thank you for reading!

“Ahahahah! You guys never fail to pull through! Once again you were correct, the killer of Doi Kurohiko was indeed Junpei Yokozawa, the Ultimate Blogger!” Monokuma exclaimed. Yokozawa-san’s shoulders slumped, and he held his head in one hand upon hearing the confirmation.

 “So, it really was me…shit.” He said, his voice completely devoid of any kind of emotion. It was completely broken, apathetic. We had seen three other people have to accept they lost the trial, but this one was different. Yokozawa-san, he…

 “This is bullshit.” Okanaya-kun cursed. “Monokuma, are you seriously saying that Yokozawa’s the culprit when it was fuckin’ Graves’ fault?! How the fuck is that fair?!”

��Monokuma tilted his head, “Fair? I think it’s pretty fair. After all, you guys all know how the rules work. You’re all free to use those rules however you want. Technically, Karma Graves is a smarty pants for being able to come up with a great plan like this! You can technically be responsible for as many deaths as you want and be unable to get punished for it!”

 “The rules shouldn’t be allowed to be used like that…! D-dammit!” Kobo kicked the podium.

 “Hey! I’m tolerant to a lot of things, but if you damage the trial room in the slightest way, I won’t hesitate to punish you!” Monokuma warned.

 “Shut up, bastard! You think I’m gonna fuckin’ let this one slide!? I don’t give a shit about the official ruling, Yokozawa ain’t at fault here!”

 “Stop it, Okanaya-kun. You’re just embarrassing yourself at this point.” Yokozawa-san said.

 “What?! You can’t be alright with this!”

 “Of course, I’m not. I’m pissed off as well…but it’s not a big deal. Seriously, just let it go. I just gotta know though…why did you do this, Graves-san? Why all of this? If you knew that Kurohiko-kun and Asano-san were planning to die, why do all of this?”

 Graves-san stared at Yokozawa-san with an empty gaze, “because there’s no way I was going to wait another trial to pass by before killing you.”

 What? What the hell is she saying?

 “So, your goal was to kill Yokozawa from the start? Then why not just fess up the truth from the start? What about those moments where you were preventing us from reaching the truth?” Sly-san said.

 “…I so wish Junpei could have stayed alive but that stopped being an option after everything I learned recently. My lab is super useful, you know? I wonder if the mastermind set it up like that on purpose? Did they maybe manipulate the situation so I would act like this, and if that’s true, is it true for all the other motives too? Curious. Suuuuuper curious.”

 “Th-the fuck are you talking about…?” Okanaya-kun stepped back instinctively. The more Graves-san spoke, the less sense she was making, and the darker her expression got. Does she know something that the rest of us don’t know? Is there something in her lab?

 “Could it be…did you find something out about our situation?” Kurosaki-san asked.

 Graves-san stared intently at Kurosaki-san before smirking, “Shouldn’t you already know that Yuuki?” She said with an almost teasing tone.

 Kurosaki-san stared at her cautiously, then for a split second his eyes widened. I didn’t miss that look of horror in his expression before he tipped his hat down to hide his face, “How much do you know, huh? What did you find out?”

 “I know plenty about you~!” She said in a sing-songy tone, “What was it you introduced yourself as again? The ‘Ultimate Explorer’? What a cool title when you get down to what it means, but I wonder what the point was in lying to everyone about that?”

 Huh?

 “L-lying?” Kirishima-san repeated.

 “Yuuki Kurosaki isn’t the Ultimate Explorer. Judging from his talent lab, it’s got absolutely nothing to do with that. You should really think through some stuff more, the Ultimate Theorist should have been able to figure out I might have security cameras in my lab.”

 …Theorist?

 “Kurosaki.” Sly-san stepped towards him.

 “Ублюдок!” Kurosaki-san exclaimed and before any of us could react, he had Graves-san pinned against the trial stand. “You would dare?! Do you even realise what you’ve done by saying that?! You could have very well killed us all!”

 “Ahahahahah! That doesn’t matter!” Graves-san laughed almost carefreely.

 “Doesn’t matter?!” He spat.

 Before anyone blinked, Graves-san had Kurosaki-san on the floor, pinning his arm to his back and held it in place with her foot. “Let me clarify something, we can kill each other as much as we want, and it doesn’t mean a damn thing in the end. Do what you want everybody because it’s totally fine as long as we’re in this killing game!”

 “Y-you’ve lost your fuckin’ mind…!” Okanaya-kun said.

 “On the contrary, knowing what I know I can finally stop holding back! I’ve been so stressed out that I was worried about what I might do when the pressure gets to be too much, but I’m totally relaxed now! I can do whatever I want!”

 “Those words…you think we’d ever let you run wild and do what you please?” Amaterasu-san’s stance changed as if ready to pounce onto Graves-san.

 Graves-san tutted and shook her head. “So aggressive. Don’t make me break Yuuki’s arm. That would just leave him super vulnerable for anyone to pick him off. And let’s be honest without him and Ryuu, you all would’ve gotten us all killed by the second trial.”

 “Go ahead and try, I’ll separate your head from your body before you can do it.” Sly-san threatened, reaching into his hoodie.

 “Cool! A trial right after we just finished one? I wonder if that’s a record? What do you think Monokuma?”

 “Upupupupu~ It certainly would be the fastest it’s taken.” Monokuma added. Is he really not going to stop this? Would he really just them all fight each other like this?

 “Stop it! All of you!” Yokozawa-san exclaimed. Everyone’s heads turned to him. His eyebrows were turned downwards, almost like he was getting impatient. Annoyed, even. Like everybody arguing right now was just some kind of inconvenience to him. He just turns to Monokuma, “Hey. Are you sure this is alright? I’m not sure if this is right.” Is he…talking to Monokuma?

 “Wellllllll~ It’s definitely a new experience. But shouldn’t we try to always experience something new? New can be good and fresh! And it’s getting very exciting!” Monokuma said.

 “So, you think it’ll…” Yokozawa-san’s voice trailed off, as if the rest of the sentence was already obvious.

 “When does it not? Don’t you stress so much!” Monokuma responded.

 “If that’s the case then I have no objections to all of this. But let’s make it quick, and I don’t want one of those damn chains dragging me away. I’ll cooperate and all that, so just let me walk there myself.” Yokozawa-san said.

 “Y…Yokozawa-kun? Is it me, or are you acting very strangely casual about all of this?” Kirishima-san asked. Yokozawa-san’s eyes passed over all of us, taking in each of our perplexed expressions, until he landed on the only one who didn’t seem confused at all by his tone or words.

 “I assume you understand it’s better for you to keep what you know to yourself. Right?” Yokozawa-san asked Graves-san.

 She just grinned and nodded, “Of course. I’m not going to let this pass me by.” Graves-san said.

 “Hold on now! I still don’t get what’s going on! Yokozawa, why the hell’re you talking so casually to Monokuma?! How the hell can you be so calm about the fact you’re about to die?! And most importantly…the fuck’re you and Graves talkin’ about?” Okanaya-kun badgered him. One question coming quickly after another. Each other, making Yokozawa-san’s expression sourer and sourer.

 Graves-san could only laugh. A full belly-laugh that filled the trial room. “Awww dude, don’t you understand it? Of course, Junpei is being so casual with Monokuma. Wouldn’t you talk pretty casually with a good co-worker?” Everyone falls silent, staring at Graves-san or Yokozawa-san. Dumfound. That was the only word for everyone’s faces.

 “Co-workers?” Sly-san almost whispers.

 “Co-workers!” Graves-san repeats cheerfully, “That was one of the things I found out thanks to my talent lab! Turns out Junpei wasn’t actually trying to figure out the wi-fi password the whole time he was in his talent lab. He was talking to Monokuma a whoooole bunch! Talking about progression of the killing game and about their goals and everything. Yeah…Junpei Yokozawa is actually on Monokuma’s side. Always has been.”

 “Tch!” Junpei clicked his tongue, “You heard all of that? What a pain in the ass. No wonder you’re acting so well informed.”

 “Hey.” Kobo-kun says, his voice deeper than usual, “You better refute what was just said.”

 “Graves-san, it’s already annoying that you told them all that, but in the future be careful with what kind of information you reveal. If you tell everyone stuff too soon, you’ll probably just end up getting yourself killed and you don’t want that.”

 Graves-san scoffs, “As if it matters.”

 “Hey! Of course, it matters! The killing game is very serious business, so you better not think of throwing your life away so easily, got it?!” Monokuma snaps.

 “Exactly! What Monokuma said!” Kirishima-san agrees.

 “Don’t agree with him.” Amaterasu-san says.

 “Isn’t this an exception?” Kirishima replies.

 I’m sure I would have missed what happened next if I blinked. All of a sudden, Sly-san’s hand was wrapped tightly around Yokozawa-san’s neck, nearly holding him off the ground. I’d never seen Sly-san make an expression like this before- sure I had seen him angry before but this felt completely different.

 His eyes were laser-focused on Yokozawa-san. The veins in his hands were protruding from the tension along his arm and in his grip but the rest of the features were eerily neutral. No smile. No scowl. No emotion whatsoever.

 This must be the Ultimate Assassin’s face of bloodlust.

 “Enough of the comedy act. Talk. What is the relationship between you and Monokuma, in full.” He says evenly. So calmly that it’s unsettling.

 “Herr Knives, stop.”

 “Not until he starts answering.”

 Yokozawa-san grins, his voice is breathy are full of cracks, “Y…you think you can make me talk? I’m gonna die anyway…you gonna kill me?”

 Sly-san’s free hand dips below the neckline of his hoodie, “I’ll certainly make it more painful than whatever execution Monokuma can think up, that’s for sure. So, I’ll ask again: what’s the full relationship between you and Monokuma?”

 Yokozawa-san’s eyes drift over to Monokuma who is watching this happen silently from his chair. The lack of response seems to be enough of an answer for Yokozawa-san, “Fine.”

 Sly-san’s eyes lose their intensity almost instantly and he drops Yokozawa-san. He stumbles and supports himself on the trial podium, rubbing the bruising that’s already beginning to show on his neck.

 He takes a second to gather his thoughts before speaking, “There’s only so much I’m really able to tell you all, so I’ll give you the simple version. Like Graves-san says, I work with Monokuma- or rather, the person controlling Monokuma. I guess you could say I’m like a…middleman. Someone that can keep an eye on the game itself from the inside.”

 “What exactly does that entail?” Kurosaki-san asks.

 “To sum it up, my job was to report back anything interesting I learned that Monokuma’s controller might have missed whilst dealing with other matters. And if all else failed, I was to either instigate or commit a murder.”

 “And you and Monokuma…who is it you work for? Some kind of organisation? Are you just a pair that works together that orchestrated this by yourselves?” I ask. Yokozawa-san glances over at Monokuma, as if asking for permission.

 “Now now. You guys don’t want all the spoilers, do you? Where’s the fun in that?!” Monokuma sing-songs, “If you reveal all the secrets too early, then what’s the point in playing the game until its ending? You guys have start using your noggins!”

 “Shut up! We deserve some fucking answers after all we’ve been through!” Okanaya-kun argues.

 “You guys haven’t earned those answers at all! You’re lucky I even gave you that much info! Don’t you know that exposition dumps at the end is my thing?!” Monokuma’s claws protrude further from his paw as he speaks.

 “If Monokuma says I can’t speak anymore then I’ve gotta listen. He’s my boss after all.” Yokozawa-san says.

 “He’s going to kill you in a moment, you do realise that, right?” Amaterasu-san says.

 Yokozawa-san shrugs nonchalantly, “I know the risks. But it’ll all be worth it as long as we reach our goal in the end. We are still on track to do so, right?”

 “Yep! Just leave it all to me and everything will be smooth sailing.” Monokuma promises.

 “Then it’s all good. Nothing left to say…well, almost nothing,” He looks towards Graves-san, “I feel sorry for you the most. Knowing what’s coming next, I regret not being able to be there to try and help you circumvent it. Still, you’ve made your bed. I’m sure you’ll learn to sleep in it.”

 Graves-san doesn’t say anything, the smile plastered on their lips doesn’t drop. They just stare at Yokozawa-san, unmoving. It seems the conversation is over to the both of them, even if it ends cryptically.

 “If that’s all, then it’s time to get the show on the road, don’t you think?! I’ve prepared a very special punishment for our Ultimate Blogger, Junpei Yokozawa!”

 Yokozawa-san sighs, “God, you’re not gonna take it easy on me then? I guess I’m not surprised. It wouldn’t be fair for me to participate and have you guys treat me any differently. In that case I’m at least gonna accept it gracefully,” Yokozawa-san raises a hand into the air and with a defiant smirk, flips off the whole room, “Don’t go forgetting my name or my face. I’ll make you all regret it.”

 “Let’s give it everything we’ve got! Iiiiiiit’s PUNISHMENT TIME!!!!!!”

 -Game Over- -Junpei Yokozawa has been found Guilty!- -Commencing Execution-

 Like clockwork, it repeats. When Yokozawa-san has been dragged away in chains, the monitor flashes on to display him sat in a dimly lit room, the only light source being from a computer monitor a couple of feet in front of him. Displayed on the monitor is a webpage that’s titled “Daily Updates with Yokozawa-kyun~”. A message begins to type in the text box:

 -Ugh. Can’t believe that I got splashed by a car today! #Unlucky-

 When the “Send” button is pressed, something squeaks, and water pours from above and drenches Yokozawa. His eyes wide in cold-water shock, shivering in his restraints as the next text box beings to type.

 -Junpei Yokozawa’s Execution: Junpei’s Daily Life!-

 The next posts finishes typing:

-Just dropped a knife in the kitchen! Might need to see a doctor about this #klutz-

When the “Send” button is pressed this time a knife shoots out from the dark and skewers itself through Yokozawa-san’s calf. He lets out a scream just before a second knife shoots out from behind the monitor and imbeds itself into Yokozawa-san’s shoulder.

The posts continue on and on with the same theme. A spanner falls and strikes Yokozawa-san on the head. A cigarette burns the back of his hand. Hot oil is splashed on his clothes and skin, the flesh bubbling from the scaling liquid. Then it’s another blade to his arm, an iron to the back of his head. On and on and on.

Yokozawa-san’s left bloodied and bruised and still soaked from the water that was originally splashed over him. One eye is sealed shut from a hammer striking him in the side of the head. He struggles to read the blog in front of him anymore, the letters blur together. Then the chair he’s sat in move forward slowly. Closer to the monitor until the letters begin to come into focus.

-I feel exhausted. But still, I’m think I’ll survive it all-

Yokozawa-san’s good eye widens in surprise when he reads the text. A smile that’s filled with chipped and blood-stained teeth begins to show until he hears a spark above him. He looks upwards at a falling electrical cable descending towards him, then back to the post in front of him as the wire pasts his face.

-LOL #JustKidding-

The wire drops onto Yokozawa-san and instantly the electrical current surges through his body with the water as a conductor. The rooms sparks and the monitor short circuits momentarily but it finally blacks out for several moments. An announcement of a backup generator plays and the screen turns back on. Showing the still body of Yokozawa-san, now covered in electrical burns. Unresponsive. Unmoving.

Dead.

___

 We all stand in silence. It’s so much to take in. Yokozawa-san, who we had just learned to have been tricked into being the killer was tricked because he was actually working with Monokuma- or rather, the person controlling Monokuma whoever that is. Then we had to watch Yokozawa-san be treated just like any other participant of the killing game. An execution just as brutal as any other.

 “You’re sick.” I say without waiting for Monokuma to come in with a silence-breaker.

 “Oh? Are you not happy? You guys just eliminated a spy within your midst, you should be overjoyed with yourselves! I’d say this is a very productive day for the team!” Monokuma says cheerily.

 “Don’t mock us. And you still owe us answers.” Sly-san says. When Monokuma tilts his head, his eyes narrow impatiently, “Just who the hell is Yokozawa? Was he really an Ultimate? Or was he just an accomplice for you? After all…Ultimate Blogger is something that you could pretty easily lie to us all about.”

 “But I’m sure I had heard of Yokozawa-kun before I joined Hope’s Peak, so I’m sure he must’ve been a real Ultimate.” Kirishima-san says.

 “Of course, he was a real Ultimate! I only allow Ultimates to play the killing game. Nobody wants to see a bunch of talentless nobodies try to kill each other, there’s absolutely no pizzazz in a situation like that. In fact, you should be the happiest of all with this outcome, Kirishima!”

 “M-me?”

 “Weren’t you the one that tried to talk sense into Yokozawa after the last class trial? He broke down and was blaming Nagata left and right about his lucky talent being totally useless and you tried to give him a big inspirational speech. But after all that, it looks like he was just trying to manipulate you all into forming a thicker sense of distrust between you. Doesn’t that just suck for you?”

 Kirishima-san looks down at her feet and runs her fingers through the middle strand of her hair. I try to reach out to say something but-

 “And same goes for you all. I mean, that was Kurohiko’s killer! You should be super happy, Hokama! And since Sly and Kurosaki have been trying so hard to end the killing game then they should be happy an accomplice for the game was killed!” Monokuma continues.

 “I’m not happy at all.” Amaterasu-san retorts.

 “Oh? Why’s that?” Monokuma asks.

 “Because Junpei-chan isn’t the reason Doi-chan’s dead. Karma is.” Amaterasu-san turns her glare towards Graves-san who hasn’t moved an inch, the same smile still plastered in place. Almost like a statue.

 “Don’t think we’ve forgotten so quickly. No matter who Yokozawa actually was, you were quite happy to use him in order to kill Kurohiko. I won’t so easily overlook such actions.” Sly-san says, his eyes almost glowing a bloody colour.

 “Aren’t you overreacting? Doi was gonna die after the class trial anyway, so what does it matter if I just sped up the process and also took out an enemy?” Graves-san asks with a shrug.

 “No matter what your motivation were, it shows you have no respect for the rules of the killing game. If you’re going to bend the rules to do whatever you want, then it makes you the most dangerous person in this group.”

 “I’m really not. At least I’ve been upfront with all of you about everything I’m thinking this whole time. Yuuki on the other hand…well, he’s had pretty much everything figured out from day one and has refused to indulge anyone with the information except for Sly. Now, that doesn’t make him seem trustworthy at all does it?”

 “The Ultimate Theorist.” Amaterasu-san recalls.

 “Wait, how do you know if Kurosaki-kun told Sly-kun anything?” Kirishima-san questioned.

 “Easy! When I revealed it, Sly wasn’t surprised in the least. Which implies he already got told this info, or he knew the information beforehand. I wonder, what is your guys’ relationship? Could you possibly also have some kind of connection to this killing game that you’re hiding?”

 “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course, we don’t. We’re trying to end the killing game.” Sly-san says.

 “By keeping the rest of us in the dark?”

 “That’s not it, Herr Okanaya-“

 “Save it. Everyone…everyone here is lying. Or hiding something. Or shutting people out. It’s bullshit! I’m just…” Okanaya-kun’s voice trails off, his shoulders sag, “I’m so fucking exhausted. I can’t deal you people anymore.”

 “Okanaya-kun-“

 “Don’t even get me started on you, Nagata!” He snaps, “Listen. I meant what I said about you being important in the class trials, but I know you’re hiding shit from us all as well! I’m just so over it! All these secrets, I just can’t keep up anymore!”

 “Oh~ So even our precious Ryuu is hiding secrets as well?” Graves-san grins.

 The archives he means. When Amaterasu-san and I were looking for evidence on the truth on the killing game. I still can’t tell any of them about it. Dammit.

 “I’m…sorry.”

 “You always are.” Okanaya-kun whispers in a voice that feels so heart-breaking to me, “I just…I can’t do this tonight. There’s too much going on.” He says, making his way to the elevator. Nobody stops him or says anything as he hits the button and starts returning to the surface. I didn’t even realise until I drew my eyes away from him, but Monokuma seems to have disappeared at some point during the arguing.

 Kirishima-san lets go of the middle strand of her hair and finally speaks up, “E…even if Okanaya-kun is struggling. I still trust everybody! We…we can still-“

 “Trust everybody? You really trust everybody? Does that include me then, Rina?” Graves-san asks.

 Kirishima-san hesitates then purses her lips, and ultimately answers, “Yes. Even you, Graves-san. I think you want the killing to end. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have done what you did. That’s why I think we can still trust you.”

 Graves-san laughs, “Is that so? Then will you kill someone for me? After all, you trust me so much that you must understand that if I want someone dead it’s for the good of the group!”

 Kirishima-san freezes when asked the question, like a deer in the headlights, “N…no, I don’t want anyone else to die. Please don’t ask me to do that again. We should try and co-operate to end the killing game. We have to…end the killing game as soon as we can.”

 “Then we’re on the same page! Let’s work together and end this killing game as soon as possible, right?” Graves-san exclaims. Then, before Kirishima-san can respond to Graves-san, they scamper off to the elevator and ride it back up to the school building.

 Kurosaki-san, Sly-san, Kirishima-san, and Amaterasu-san are all silent. I don’t even have a means to break the silence. What can I even say? Kurosaki-san looks so broken in this moment…

 The Ultimate Theorist.

 …now isn’t the time to quiz him on this. He’s clearly not in the right state to answer either…”Let’s go back.” I say.

 Without any verbal response, we all file into the elevator and ride it back up. Finally putting an end to the 4th class trial.

 -Chapter 4, Post Trial, Yuuki-

Yuuki sits solemnly on his bed, Sly staring down at him with crossed arms. They had been quiet since they got back. Sly was clearly waiting for some kind of indication of what to do next. He always had something to say so it was unsettling for him to be so quiet. He gives in and clicks his tongue.

 “Kurosaki. Talk to me. What’s our move?”

 “We’re doomed now.” Yuuki says.

 Sly’s eyes narrow, “Come again?”

 “We’ve gone off-book. I showed you my theory book and this isn’t what’s supposed to happen. All this rule-bending and everybody finding out about my true talent. With their perception of me forever changed, I can’t do what I need to do in order to end the killing game…I’m sorry Sly. After everything I got you involved in, I can’t even deliver you the promised results…I’m a failure.”

 Sly stares at the wallowing boy. His body is tense with anger. “You’re just giving up then?”

 “I don’t have time to draft new theories. There’s no way to know what’s going to come next. Graves…Graves has changed the course of fate. We might very well be doomed now.”

 That’s enough, Sly decides. He turns and goes for the door. It’s unbelievable. After everything he’s done, Yuuki wants to say Sly’s work means nothing? There’s no way he can accept that. He ignores Yuuki calling after him and leaves the door with a loud slam of the door.

 …

 If bending the rules is the only way to move forward, then maybe the rules should bend to their breaking point.

 -Chapter 4, Post Trial, ???-

 Monokuma stirs his tea and stares at the person sat in front of him, kicking his legs in the air, “You know! It shouldn’t be much longer until we have enough! Do you think you’ll be satisfied?”

 {REDACTED}

 “I get you, I get you. But it’s all on track. I’m sure everything will go as planned, and then the killing game can end on a happy note! Won’t it be just so exciting when it comes!”

 {REDACTED}

 “Well, maybe you feel like that, but I guarantee that not everybody shares the same perspective. Of course, I always share your opinion. Fun part of being controlled, I guess. I’m a fan! Though doesn’t it mean that you’re just talking to yourself in situations like this?”

 {REDACTED}

 “Fine, fine. In that case, I’ll keep doing what you want…let’s just hope the results are what we’re looking for. I’m excited either way…so very excited! Upupupupu~”

 -Chapter 4: The Sky is just a Skip Away END-

-7 Students Remain-

[princekirijo]

Hey hey hey, what are your top 5 persona 3 ships? >:)

OH NICE!!!!! Excellent question thank you. OK so I’ll do this in order of preference (number 1 to 5).

Yukamitsu. I mean no one is surprised here but it is honestly my favorite ship out of any piece of media ever, I’ve never grown this attached to a ship before, but I absolutely adore Mitsuru and Yukari on their own as separate characters and together? The progression of their relationship throughout P3? I absolutely love it. It’s done so well and there’s not many other relationships done as well as theirs in the series. They live in my head rent free and I honestly wish I could make more content for them but unfortunately life is a bitch and so is creative burnout.

Akimina. Specifically Akihiko/Minato. OK so I started getting interested in this ship thanks to the wonderful @/ask-the-arisato-twins ask blog (great blog love them). It was a ship that I never really considered but now I really like? I think what I like about it is that they’re quite different so they’re a nice contrast to each other? OK so Akihiko values strength and is very strong. His strength is very loud so to speak, I mean when he’s on the battlefield he’s always yelling and his presence is quite loud. Minato is also very strong, but in a more quiet way? Like looking at him you wouldn’t think he’s very strong but suddenly he goes into battle and he’s wiping the floor with Personas like Lucifer and Messiah. And I think they would both respect each others’ strength and also they just vibe well? I don’t know if any of that makes any sense but it’s just something I noticed about them. Basically, I kinda started shipping them for fun but then accidentally got super invested in them.

Jundori. Oh god I get so emotional thinking about their relationship. Like the character development both of them have because of it. And like also the symbolism when Junpei’s persona evolves? Just amazing. I love them and I love their relationship so much.

Akishinji. Another relationship that makes me so emotional. They are literally best friends to lovers which is hands down my favorite kind of relationship. I just adore these two so much and like there’s so much stuff in canon where their relationship could be easily interpreted as way more than a friendship? They are ride or die for each other and their personas are literally twins they’re so connected.

The last one is tough because there’s so many I like. I’m gonna give it to Hamaigis and Shinjiham though. Both of these relationships are so good and they’re both possibly canon, if you do their social links. I loved both Aigis and Shinji’s SLs so much and are a large part of the reason I ship both of these. Both of these had so many cute scenes that I just love.

Honorable mention then to Mitsuham which I will forever be pissed at Atlus for not making possible seeing as Mitsuru literally asks Hamuko TO RUN AWAY WITH HER and during rank 9 ASKS HER TO STAY BY HER SIDE UNTIL THE END LIKE ATLUS WHAT THE FUCK LET ME DATE HER AS MINAKO YOU ASSHOLES.

[houseisekai]

House Isekai: Valentine’s Day Special

House Isekai Masterlist

----

[Mezame no Waltz - Gakkou Gurashi OST]

Yuki hummed happily as she stepped through the dorms of Garreg Mach Monastery, boxes of chocolates in her arms.

She finally arrived at the entrance to House Isekai’s classroom and opened the door.

Inside, Byleth, Megumi, Towa, Sharon, Doomguy, Sara, Angelica, and Cocytus turned to look at her.

(Megumi) “Yuki-chan?”

(Angelica) “Oh yikes, that’s a lotta boxes!”

Angelica, Sharon, Doomguy, and Towa walked over to Yuki and helped take some of the boxes.

Each one of them had a box yet Yuki still had a tower in her arms as she sat them down on the table.

(Yuki) “Whew, thank you! That was getting heavy!”

(Sara) “Are these chocolates?”

(Yuki) “Yup! I made these with Mercedes, Ashe, and Dedue! We made it for everyone in House Isekai!”

Yuki excitedly grabbed the boxes and handed them individually to the staff members.

(Byleth) “We appreciate it, but what’s the occasion?”

(Yuki) “Well, Fodlan seems to share the same calendar as most of us, and right now it’s February 14th! Which means its Valentine’s day! Normally these are given to the people you love in our world, so that’s why I’m giving it to everyone!”

(Byleth) “Valen...tine’s?”

(Cocytus) “AH, I BELIEVE I HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY. LORD AINZ HAS MULTIPLE ITEMS WITH THE NAME OF VALENTINES, RANGING FROM ARMOR TO WEAPONS WITH HEARTS ON THEM.”

(Sara) “...So, when you say hearts you mean-”

(Cocytus) “NOT ACTUAL HEARTS.”

(Sara) “Ok, figured. Just wanted to make sure, we never know with your group-”

(Towa) “A-Anyways! Yuki, thank you so much!”

(Megumi) “You still have a lot of boxes Yuki-chan, do you need our help?”

(Yuki) “Nope! I know you guys are really busy, so leave it all to me!”

(Sharon) “If that is what you wish. Again, thank you very much, Miss Yuki!”

Yuki saluted the staff and walked off with significantly less boxes in her arms.

Doomguy was the first one to open his box of chocolates.

It seemed fairly standard, heart shaped chocolates, but several appeared to be something similar to dog treats. They had the label “For Daisy.”

And more importantly, he had a note specifically for him.

“For Slayer: Thank you for being so nice, even though you can be really scary!”

Doomguy was seen smiling through his helmet as everyone else opened theirs.

“For Towa: Thank you for working so hard!”

“For Angelica: Thank you for not hitting on us!”

“For Cocytus: Thank you for teaching Kurumi how to fight!”

“For Sara: Thank you for looking out for us and Megunee!”

“For Sharon: Thank you for being House Isekai’s retainer!”

“For Byleth: Thank you for everything you’ve done for us!”

“For Megu-nee: Thank you for being the best teacher ever!”

Everyone looked back at the door smiling. Except Angelica.

(Megumi) “Yuki-chan...”

(Sara) “Hah, bet she’ll lighten someone’s day.”

(Angelica) “...Do I really hit on people that much?”

(Everyone) “Yes.”

Rest of House Isekai under the cut!

Abyss, Denizens of Nazarick’s Room

[Oath of Loyalty to the Supreme Being - OVERLORD OST]

After saying hello to Yuri and the other Ashen Wolves, they directed Yuki to where Ainz’s group was.

Ainz knocked on the door politely and waited.

There was no response for a minute before she heard something behind her.

Turning around, Demiurge was right in front of her, looking down.

(Demiurge) “Ah, Miss Takeya. To what do we owe the pleasure?”

(Yuki) “Valentine’s Day! I’m giving everyone some chocolates, including you Mister Demiurge!”

He took a moment to examine one of the boxes and sure enough, there were labels for each member, including Ainz.

Demiurge nodded and opened the door for her.

(Demiurge) “Right this way.”

As she followed Demiurge, she failed to notice that several members were now eyeing her suspiciously.

(Shalltear) “Oh, it’s her.”

(Aura) “Weird, Yuki’s got a lot of boxes.”

Demiurge stopped in front of Ainz, who was in the center of the room with Albedo, overlooking a war table of some sort.

Ainz looked at Demiurge, then at Yuki.

(Ainz) “I see we have a delivery.”

(Demiurge) “So it would seem, my lord.”

(Yuki) “Yup, I got a box for everyone here!”

This made Ainz curious. Yuki making something for them?

(Ainz) “Everyone, to the center of the room.”

Everyone in the room dropped what they were doing and followed Ainz’s instruction, getting on one knee.

Ainz grabbed a box and opened it up.

“For Ainz: Thank you for being a good friend to everyone, despite our differences!”

(Ainz) “Ah, a Valentine’s box.”

(Yuki) “Oh, you know what it is too, Ainz?”

(Ainz) Lots of Valentine’s events happened when I was playing Yggdrasil. Never cared too much about these since I never had a girlfriend or whatever but...eh. Made for fun collectables throughout the years. Why discard this one? “Yes, I do. Thank you very much.”

(Shalltear and Albedo) “WHAT?!”

[Shut up, lower life form - Overlord OST]

Ainz immediately noticed that they were frothing with rage.

(Ainz) Shit! That’s right, they think this is solely romantic! “AHEM! Do you have a problem with this gift, you two?”

(Albedo) “Of course, Lord Ainz! How could the man I love accept a gift so precious and romantic from...FROM HER OF ALL PEOPLE?!”

(Shalltear) “IT’S UNACCEPTABLE!”

(Ainz) You got to be fucking kidding me-

(Yuki) “Romantic? But these are friendship chocolates! I made everyone here friendship chocolates, including you two!”

(Ainz) Oh thank god.

Yuki grabbed their boxes and happily walked over to them.

Albedo and Shalltear looked at each other with an eyebrow raised, then opened the box.

Sure enough:

“For Shalltear: Thank you for protecting us when we’re in the Monastery!”

“For Albedo: Thank you for protecting us when we’re in battles!”

(Albedo & Shalltear) “...Oh.”

Demiurge, Aura, Mare, Sebas, Pandora’s Actor and the Pleiades got their chocolates as well.

“For Demiurge: Thank you for giving us the knowledge of Fodlan!”

“For Aura & Mare: Thank you for being someone the younger students of House Isekai can talk to!”

“For Sebas: Thank you for helping Sharon and the other staff out!”

“For Pandora’s Actor: Thank you for always making us laugh with your fantastic performances!”

“For the Pleiades: Thank you for keeping us safe!”

(Yuki) “Anyways, that’s all I wanted to do! Thank you for your time!”

Yuki bowed and quickly left the room.

Ainz slowly turned to Albedo and Shalltear, who started sweating.

(Ainz) “Of all the people to be skeptical of, you really chose Yuki...?”

S.E.E.S, Dormitory

[Iwatodai Dorm - Persona 3 OST]

(Minako) “Oh, hey Yuki-senpai!”

(Yuki) “Hello! Happy Valentine’s!”

Everyone turned to the door and saw Yuki unloading chocolates.

(Junpei) “Oh, sweet! Chocolates!”

(Yukari) “Jeez, the year flew by so fast!”

As Yuki handed the chocolates out, some of S.E.E.S spoke amongst themselves.

(Akihiko) “Can’t believe she’s the same age as us.”

(Mitsuru) “It is a bit weird, isn’t it?”

(Shinjiro) “Who cares how old she is? She’s more considerate than some people I know here.”

(Akihiko) “Hmph.”

(Koromaru) Bark!

(Aigis) “Yuki-chan, Koromaru wishes to have some chocolates.”

(Yuki) “Oh, sorry! I don’t think you can eat any of these, but don’t worry! We did make a tasty treat for you!”

Koromaru wagged his tail excitedly.

(Ken) “Thanks, Yuki-senpai!”

(Junpei) “I think this is the first time I’ve gotten chocolates from a girl-”

(Yukari) “Jeez, Stupei! Is that ALL you can think of right now?! This is obviously friendship chocolate!”

(Junpei) “Hey, what’s that supposed to mean? I was just makin’ an observation!”

(Fuuka) “A-Anyways, thank you so much!”

(Yuki) “Sure thing!”

(Minato) “...You could at least say thank you before stuffing your face, Minako.”

(Minako) “Huerh?Owhrite!Thamfkyu!”

Minato rolled his eyes and finally noticed the note written to him.

“For Minato: Thank you for being so nice!”

“For Minako: Thank you for helping Yuuri out with her problems!”

“For Fuuka: Thank you for helping me with tech problems!”

“For Junpei: Thank you for helping Kurumi how to fight better!”

“For Yukari: Thank you for teaching Miki how to use a bow!”

“For Mitsuru: Thank you for being smart to help us out in battle!”

“For Akihiko: Thank you for helping Kurumi train!”

“For Shinjiro: Thank you for teaching me how to cook!”

“For Aigis: Thank you for protecting us in battle!”

“For Koromaru: Thank you for playing with me!”

“For Ken: Thank you for your help with studying!”

(Yuki) “Okay, that’s it for this group, I have to go now!”

S.E.E.S waved her off as she left the dormroom.

(Minako) “Hah, being nice? That’s a first-”

(Minato) “Piss off.”

Investigation Team, Dormitory

[Signs of Love - Persona 4 OST]

(Teddie) “Hey, it’s Yuki-chan!”

(Yu) “Hey, what’s with the boxes?”

(Yuki) “Valentine’s!”

(Chie) “Jeez, that’s a lotta boxes! Here, lemme help you with that!”

(Rise) “Oh, that’s so nice of you, Yuki-senpai! Thanks so much!”

(Teddie) “Is...Is this a confession?! I don’t know what to say!”

(Yosuke) “It’s not a confession, idiot! It’s friendship chocolate!”

(Teddie) “Yikes! It was just a joke! Why do you sound so angry? What, do you have firsthand experience on getting nothing but friendship chocolate?”

(Yukiko) SNRK!

(Naoto) “Thank you for your gift, Yuki-senpai.”

(Kanji) “Cool, love chocolate! Thanks man!”

“For Yu: Thanks for always taking the time to help out Yuuri!”

“For Yosuke: Thanks for being like a big brother!”

“For Chie: Thank you for being like a big sister!”

“For Yukiko: Thank you for the gag glasses and making us laugh!”

“For Teddie: Thanks for always making me smile!”

“For Naoto: Thank you for spending time with Miki!”

“For Rise: Thanks for helping us with the Ball concert!”

“For Kanji: Thanks for teaching me how to knit cute animals!”

(Yuki) “Alright, I have a few more stops to make, catch you later!”

Everyone said goodbye as she walked out the room.

(Yosuke) “...Wait a second, when did you give Yuki gag glasses?!”

(Yukiko) “That would ruin the surprise!”

(Chie) “Ugh, great. I thought we got rid of all those by now...”

Phantom Thieves, Dormitory

[No More What Ifs (Instrumental) - Persona 5 Royal]

(Yuki) “Hello, Valentine’s delivery!”

(Akira) “Oh, it’s already Valentine’s?”

(Ann) “I didn’t even know Fodlan had one!”

(Makoto) “They most likely don’t, but they do share our calendar year. I suppose it makes sense for those from our world to celebrate it.”

(Ryuji) “Eff yeah, hand that stuff over!”

(Haru) “Oh, how thoughtful!”

(Yusuke) “Hm, it has been a while since I’ve had any food...”

(Futaba) “Dude, you get FREE food for being a student, how the heck have you not eaten?!”

(Morgana) “Hmph...Wish I could cook chocolate, then I could give mine to lady A-”

(Kasumi) “Thank you, Yuki-senpai!”

(Akechi) “...You know how I am and you’re still giving me chocolate? Ugh, fine whatever, hand it over.”

“For Akira: Thank you for being so fearless in fighting!”

“For Ann: Thank you for all the sweets you’ve shared with me!”

“For Ryuji: Thank you for teaching us how to run and fight better!”

“For Yusuke: Thank you for your wonderful paintings of our class!”

“For Morgana: Thank you for driving us all around Fodlan!”

“For Futaba: Thank you for playing video games with me and Kazuma!”

“For Makoto: Thank you for teaching me how to be a better student!”

“For Haru: Thank you for teaching us how to garden!”

“For Kasumi: Thank you for teaching us how to protect ourselves and jump out the way of danger!”

“For Akechi: Even though you don’t like a lot of us, me included probably, thank you for all that you’ve done for us!”

(Yuki) “Okay, 3 more groups to go, see you all around!”

(Akira) “How sweet of her.”

Akechi stared at his box, then shrugging, making no comment as he ate his chocolate.

Class VII, Dormitory

[Afterschool Hours - The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel OST]

(Emma) “Oh, hello Yuki!”

(Yuki) “Hello, I have Valentine’s chocolate for everyone!”

(Millium) “OOOH, CHOCOLATE! GIMME GIMME!”

(Fie) “Thanks.”

(Elliot) “Oh, thank you, Yuki!”

(Laura) “I believe this is the first time I’ve gotten something like this.”

(Machias) “It is very much appreciated.”

(Jusis) “You have my thanks.”

(Alisa) “Aww, thank you!”

(Gaius) “These don’t look half bad, thanks.”

(Crow) “Hell yeah, hand that good stuff over!”

(Emma) “Thank you!”

(Rean) “If you needed some help passing these out, we would’ve been glad to, you know!”

“For Rean: Thank you for everything that you do for House Isekai, don’t wear yourself out too much!”

“For Alisa: Thank you for teaching me how to use the bow!”

“For Elliot: Thank you for teaching us how to play music for the concert during the ball!”

“For Laura: Thank you for giving Kurumi combat lessons!”

“For Machias: Thank you for teaching Miki how to play chess!”

“For Fie: Thank you for teaching me how to nap anywhere!”

“For Gaius:  Thank you for teaching me how to paint!”

“For Emma: Thank you for teaching me how to be a better student!”

“For Jusis: Thank you for helping us out with the more physical chores!”

“For Millium: Thank you for always making us smile!”

“For Crow: Thank you for teaching me how to gamble!”

(Yuki) “Okay, two more to go! See you later!”

(Rean) “Crow...”

(Crow) “’Sup, Rean-bean?”

(Rean) “When did you teach Yuki-”

(Crow) “GOT TO GO.”

Konosuba Gang, Mess Hall

[You should have many companions - Konosuba OST]

Kazuma sat alone on the docks as he was fishing, Megumin, Darkness, and Aqua not too far behind, speaking to each other.

(Aqua) “Oh, hey Yuki!”

(Kazuma) “Yo.”

(Yuki) “I got chocolate for you four!”

(Megumin) “Oh, sweet!”

(Darkness) “Ah, thank you dear.”

(Kazuma) “Put it over here, yeah?”

Yuki nodded and gave everyone their chocolate.

“For Aqua: Thank you for your water tricks!”

“For Darkness: Thank you for always protecting us!”

“For Megumin: Thank you for casting the coolest explosions ever!”

“For Kazuma: Thank you for always being so nice to me. And to everyone when they really need it. I know you don’t get along with Kurumi well, but it means a lot that you try to.”

(Yuki) “Okay, I got 3 left! See you later guys!”

Kazuma didn’t say anything as he smiled, looking at the box.

He shook his head and continued fishing, putting a chocolate in his mouth.

(Kazuma) “...Being so nice, huh?”

School-Living Club, Dormitory

[Yasashisa ni Fureta Toki - Gakkou Gurashi OST]

(Yuuri) “Welcome back, Yuki-chan.”

(Kurumi) “Busy day, I take it?”

(Miki) “Are those boxes?”

(Yuki) “Yup, handed them out to everyone in House Isekai! I saved the best group for last!”

Yuki gave the final three boxes to them and smiled.

(Yuki) “Happy Valentine’s!”

“For Yuuri: Thank you for getting us through the hard times we had in our world, and for never failing to look out for us, even when it hurts yourself to..”

“For Kurumi: Thank you for protecting the three of us, from last world and even now.”

“For Miki: Thank you for becoming my friend, and for joining the School-Living Club.”

Yuuri put the chocolate down and smiled. She gave Yuki a hug, which Kurumi joined in.

(Kurumi) “Come on, not gonna join in?”

(Miki) “I-I think I’m good, thank you!”

(Kurumi) “GET OVER HERE-”

(Miki) “WAH!?-”

Kurumi reached over and had Miki join in the group hug.

Miki was flustered for a moment before just sighing and embracing her fate.

Yuki had a tear running down her eye as she hugged them back.

(Yuki) “W-Why...am I crying? We’re all together...So...Why...?”

(Everyone) “...”

Yuuri, Kurumi, and Miki hugged each other tighter as sniffles from Yuki were beginning to grow louder.

Megumi looked through the door and wanted to say something, but heard a voice behind her.

(Sara) “...You haven’t told Yuki what happened to you, yet?”

(Megumi) “...No. I’ve been trying to find the right time.”

She smiled at seeing her students safe. Even though she didn’t know Miki all too well, she was glad they had found another survivor.

That means there were still people alive other than them. There had to be.

(Sara) “Well, I won’t tell you when to speak to them but, if you don’t act, then you may lose that chance forever. Not many people get a second chance like you.”

Megumi stared at her arm where the infected’s bite used to be. It was thanks to Aqua that she didn’t turn.

(Megumi) “...Right.”

Sara smiled and hit Megumi’s shoulder.

(Sara) “Come on, let’s grab a drink together. We can complain about our single lives together this Valentine’s.”

(Megumi) “Huh? But that’s never been an issue for me-”

(Sara) “Tonight it will!”

Megumi sighed but smiled, it was going to be a lively night.

Yuki opened the door and saw Megumi walk off with Sara. She wanted to say something to her but instead just smiled.

(Yuki) “I can speak with Megunee later...”

Nodding, she walked through the dorms, humming to herself. Her Valentine’s day plan was a success.

Give something to the friends she loved.

[Harmonize Clover - Gakkou Gurashi OST]

The chit-chat on the way home It's girl's secret, right Even if the 5 o'clock chime rings We talk enough yet, I wonder why?

The small four-leaf clover Fu... swaying in the breeze Hey, of course, yes, of course Hope that tomorrow will be sunny

The road I walked with everyone "The usual place" is the watchword Ah... the sheep cloud that looks like going to be burnt Dazzling Some day, days like these Even if the memories fade Hey... A lot of smile I feel like to give it now

====

Guess this kinda gives away how I feel on Valentine’s, huh? 

To me, Valentine’s is a day where you give appreciation to the people you love. Friends, family, whoever means a lot to you.

So, this is kinda my lame way of saying I appreciate everyone who follows this blog.

If it weren’t for you guys, I wouldn’t have been able to make a blog of this caliber, write something that means so much to me, or even just have fun stupid ideas with ya’ll.

I’ve been writing on tumblr for a long while, but I think this is the first valentine’s where I’ve written something from the heart.

Being able to appreciate House Isekai, something I hold dear to me, with ya’ll.

I hope you all can appreciate this too, with many more posts to come, especially Shadowbringers!

Thanks for your support, love ya guys.

- Chris

[hecksupremechips]

I’m gonna have a nerdy rant about video games please excuse me (zero escape spoilers)

K so my fave game series I’ve become obsessed with is zero escape, aka a weird bullshit series where the fandom is both small and dead as shit. Yay. And I just finished the last game, zero time dilemma. I wasn’t initially gonna play this game just cuz I heard it was kinda bad, but the ending to vlr had me curious. Plus it had Junpei in it and, well, I think he’s neat :)

But aaaaaaa

Yeah it was bad. Ill go over the good things though. I thought the escape rooms were like challenging without being toooo challenging. They were a good medium between the 999 and vlr puzzles. I liked them. I also really liked the D team a lot. Luna was one of my favorite vlr characters so it’s kinda natural I liked Diana a lot too. I also thought Sigma and Phi were really good in this game. I wasn’t to crazy about either of them in the second game but like. They’re cute in this game. And even though they’re "getting together" situation was kinda iffy, I think Sigma and Diana were cute together. The only valid het couple in this series. I’m kinda indifferent about the whole twist where Phi is their daughter. I don’t hate it, and I think it was cool how it was foreshadowed in vlr, but I think it makes some dynamics weird. Personally, I think Sigma and Phi would have a better siblings relationship but eh

Now let’s get into the bad, even though there’s so much that I physically cannot go over all of it. Idk where to even start. First off, the art style and designs had like no heart. Like everyone has interesting designs (one might even say too interesting) in the first two games. In ztd though, everyone was boring as shit. Junpei went from cool Marty McFly trans king to emo middle schooler. HE WAS LITERALLY IN JUST A BLACK SHIRT AND BLACK JEANS GOD. I’m gonna save him for later though. I’m just disappointed. Also the art style was bleh. I thought it looked nice on the cover, and I was also really excited cuz I read that there were "animated cutscenes". Y’all. Ugh. The cutscenes ended up being like the whole game. I was just watching it all go by and I couldn’t skip any dialogue without accidentally skipping important stuff. Not only that, there was no heart in it at all. I’d argue that the 3D models looked better in this game than in vlr (I’m personally not into how they changed to 3D but that’s a rant for another day), but the models in vlr had GREAT emotions! They had zero emotion in this game. I hated it. Thankfully the voice actors were able to add emotion but damn

Next is the characters. Needle to say, I didn’t enjoy most of them. I liked everyone on D team, the end. First of all, freaking Carlos. Talk about boring. Like god maybe I would’ve liked his design if he wasn’t wearing the button up and also maybe wore like any other pants aaaa. Also like hm. He uh, sure liked his sister. In a concerning way. Like it wasn’t a super obviously bad thing but every time romance was mentioned he’d be like "I don’t need romance, I have my sister!" Do you see what I mean? It’s sketchy to me.

Then we got Eric 👺👺👺. I hated this guy. First off he’s like a ripoff of Kristoph from frozen, without the fun himbo personality. And the whole time he was thirsting after Mira which ughhhh. They were worse than Junpei and Akane in 999. Maybe I’m just too gay for this shit but ughh. Also it was a thing that was pretty well established thing that his father was abusive but like. It didn’t really...mean jack shit? Honestly nothing about Eric’s character mattered, he was pretty irrelevant. Also he was super super shitty to Sean who was literally a fucking child

Then Mira. How disappointing aaaagh. Like they were literally just like "oh here’s this chick that has committed murder, this isn’t relevant at all :)". Like damn they really just had her be completely unnecessary huh. It was super obvious to me that she was the one who killed Eric’s mom and I thought that would’ve come up but. It just didn’t. I was also curious about their relationship in general since it seemed like she only got with Eric so she could kill him. And god they could’ve at least done something like idk. Make her like Dio and break into the game to cuz trouble. Or she could’ve been zero. Maybe that’s lazy but it would have been better. But no they literally did nothing with her. There was a timeline where she brutally murdered Junpei just like, for no reason I guess??? Jesus

Sean and Akane were characters I’m just meh about. I didn’t hate Sean, but I didn’t really like him either. Akane was never really my gal in 999 in the first place so hm. I think she’s funny but she’s done some sketchy stuff and idk I’d probably like her better if the games weren’t always trying to put her with Junpei every five minutes

Then there was Junpei. Ughhhh. They were trying something but ughh. He was very emo and kinda douchey and I just wasn’t into him. Which is a massive shame cuz I liked him a lot in 999, and especially in vlr. Like all I can say is that it’s a real disappointment for me

Now onto plot holes and things that didn’t get covered that should have. As previously mentioned, they didn’t do anything with Mira at all. They also didn’t properly go over Sigma and Diana’s relationship that Sigma had vaguely talked about that happened in another timeline. Carlos’s sister was not important at all and they threw in some "she’s got the mind abilities" bullshit in without really doing anything with it. The timeline shit made my brain turn into goo aaaa. We dont get closure on how the pandemic was stopped, which was the reason I played this fucking game. We didn’t learn jack shit about the third nonary game. And then of course, there’s fucking DELTA

This filled me with so much rage y’all. The game was just like "oh yeah btw there was this random old man who was just there the ENTIRE TIME that never got acknowledged ever and he’s the big bad villain of the game. Not just that, he’s the founder of the crazy cult from vlr. AND he’s Diana and Sigmas kid!" Like wow you know I don’t think words can describe how bad that was. I think things would’ve been better if he just like wasn’t there yeah. Also I guess he’s supposed to be like, the player cuz he mind controls the characters into making certain choices. Ugh. IT WAS SO STUPID MAN. And I guess the only ONLY reason he made the second nonary game was to make sure he was born which is just eghhhmm. That is too messy for me. That’s some bad time bullshit. And weird reason but okay. God

There’s literally so much more I have to say but if I don’t I’m gonna pass out so I’m just gonna take a nap and die. Moral of the story is that I’m pissed a series I loved ended so shitty and don’t play this game unless you hate yourself. The end

[ravenoftheskyes]

Mako-fam (a pq2 fanfic)

{Made another commitment to @thieves-in-the-palace so let’s go! (It’ll be a short fic I said, I’ll only hint at my ships I said. I might actually write a sequel to this focused on 20XX) Rated T, for strong language, “slight” (Ha, this thing is flooded with ship content) Okijuma, Yukichie, Souyo, Pegoryu, Annshiho, Yukamitsu, Junpei x Chidori and Akimina[just gonna shove a bunch of ships in here. I actually hit the tag limit.] and spoilers for Ticket 32}

Makoto Niijima, a girl with three families. One, the Phantom Thieves. Two, the Investigation Team. Three, SEES. Though she didn’t exactly know about the persona part. Until now.

They’ve just rescued the IT from Junessic land. Except for Yosuke. But they’ll have to find him later.

“Goro, can I speak to you for a second?” Makoto asks the brown-haired boy next to her.

“Yeah sure, in the theater?”

“Of course”

They walk over to the Kamoshidaman theater and plop down into the seats.

“FUCK, GORO! AUNT CHIE AND AUNT NAO HAVE PERSONAS?!”

“I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!”

They screamed for about another five minutes before they calmed down.

“Okay so, we just have to act normal. We can deal with this. It’s just Aunt Chie and Aunt Nao.”

“Yeah, I mean what are the odds that Uncle Aki has one too?”

*A.I.G.I.S*

“Goro, can I talk to you? Please?!” Makoto almost yells out, letting the slightest amount of panic into her voice.

“Yeah... sure...”

As they walk back into the Kamoshidaman theater, Goro‘s eyes start to widen. He’s finally comprehending.

“UNCLE AKI HAS A PERSONA?!”

“FUCK, MAKOTO I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!”

“YOU THINK I CAN?!”

Another five (20) minutes of screaming later...

“Okay, so our entire family has personas. We can deal with this.”

“Makoto. Uncle Aki just used an honorific on you. He never does that. It’s always either Mako-chan or Makoto. Same thing with Aunt Nao and Aunt Chie. And the rest of the family.”

“...I still remember how proud Aunt Nao was when they started calling you “the second coming of the detective prince”. She literally screamed out “THAT’S OUR BOY” when you were on tv. She was so happy.”

“Ha, remember when on your 15th birthday Uncle Aki and Aunt Chie gave you brass knuckles? Sae was so pissed”

“And then they got me Steel-toed boots and taught me how to do a roundhouse kick!”

“Do you still have those?”

“I never go anywhere without them.” And she pulls the brass knuckles from her bag.

“We’ve just got to bite back a few nicknames, and we’ll be fine.” Makoto whispers.

“Yeah.” Goro says back to her, with a small smile.

*ticket 32*

Makoto’s talking to Haru.

“Mako-chan, you’ve got to be a little less reckless! I don’t have my grenade launcher here to protect you!”

“I know, Haru. It’s just that I can’t help it when I see someone hurt my family.”

“Hmm...” Haru says, with a contemplative look on her face. Makoto wonders how she got this lucky to have this beautiful and sweet of a girlfriend.

“I guess I have Ren to thank for that” she thinks

And then Elizabeth talks about a new special screening.

“Maybe this is our chance?” Akihiko says to Chie.

Oh god oh no oh fuck- Makoto thinks

“Huh?” Chie replies to him

“Remember what Makoto said?”

And suddenly, Makoto’s having a flashback.

“Makoto, learning close-combat battle’s all well and good, but you need to learn a proper diet. Don’t eat meat 24/7 like they do” Naoto says to a younger Makoto.

“Aw, come on Naoto! Steak’s delicious!” Chie fires back.

Makoto smiled, a rare occurrence since the death of her father.

“Hey, look! She’s smiling!” Akihiko said to the other two.

“Aww, you’re so adorable, Makoto!” Chie said to her.

“I’m 13! Not three!”

Akihiko laughed, and said “I think she’s been hanging out with Ken too much.”

“Now come on! Show me a kick that could punt someone into the stratosphere!”

“Chie-!”

“Watch me go, Coach!” Chie says, and Makoto’s violently thrown back into the present.

“Heh! My fists have been aching for some action. Time for a one-two punch into the finishing blow!”

“*sigh* Whatever you say. Let’s just get going for now.”

As they’re walking, Yukiko walks up to Chie.

“Chie, you’re starting to scare her. Calm down a bit. I mean, you barely know her and you’re calling her Coach!”

“I’m sure she’s fine!”

“...I still can’t believe you’re my Prince Charming.”

“Ha! No take-backs, Yukiko! You’re my princess and I’m your Prince!”

And then Yukiko falls into a laughing fit.

And right behind them, Goro and Makoto are having a panic attack conversation

“I can’t believe they’re asking you to train them. They taught you everything you know!” Goro says, shocked.

“I know!”

“...Don’t you already know their weaknesses?”

“Yeah, Aunt Chie moves just slow enough to sweep her stable leg out and if Uncle Aki gets riled up enough he exposes his stomach.”

“Then fight them!”

“That’s not actually a bad idea...”

“There it is! Let’s get in there and land the first strike!” Akihiko yells.

Goro rolls his eyes and says “There he is. I was wondering when he was gonna go battle crazy.”

“Roger that, I’m ready to learn from the best!”

“And there she goes...” Makoto whispers

“...Wait, there’s no road!?” Chie screamed

“Whoa!”

Goro was barely able to restrain his laughter

“Calm down, you two. First, we need to assess the situation. See the enemy’s orientation. Gauge it’s speed, movements, and position. Observe, then predict its actions.”

This time it was Goro’s flashback.

“Come on, Goro. You need to observe. Predict their actions.” Naoto whispered.

“She’s right. Now, come at me!” Akihiko told him.

“Wait!” Minato walked in. “Use this!” And he handed him a wooden rapier.

Goro’s eyes glittered. “It’s just like the ones heroes from those movies use!”

“Très Magnefique!” Mitsuru exclamimed. “A one-handed sword!”

“Babe, Mitzi, come on. You know that the best weapon is a pair of fists.”

“You’ve got Makoto, let us have him!” Minato said to him.

“Come on, Lances are the best weapon to use!” Minako said, as she walked in.

Everyone in the room shot her down.

“You have Ken!” Chie said.

“What about me?” Ken said as he walked in.

“Nothing, we’re just arguing about weapons again.” Minato said to him, with a small smirk on his face.

“Nothing beats a Katana!” Yu said as he walked in.

Yukiko said, “You’re all wrong! Fans are easy to hide, and they can pack a punch!”

“Yukiko. My princess. I love you, but you’re wrong.”

The squabbles between them brought a sweet smile to Goro’s face. He had a family.

“Okay, come on! This is how you use a sword!” Minato said, and Minato and Mitsuru did a demonstration on sabers and swords.

“Let’s go, Chie! I’ll race you!” Akihiko said to the brown-haired girl, just as Goro’s flashback ended.

Makoto backed up to join Goro.

“Think we should join them?” She asked

“Of course we should, Queen.”

And they both bolted off to join them.

*after the ticket*

“So, a special diet, huh? You know they’re gonna cave. Aunt Nao’s been trying and failing for years.” Goro whispered to her.

“I know, but I might as well give it a shot, huh?”

Meanwhile, in the background, Minato and Yukiko are chatting.

“God, why is she so similar to both of them? They never told us what year they were from... Do you think that maybe they left us for each other or something and had her?” Yukiko said to him.

“No... that’s crazy. At least I hope not.” Minato replied to her.

“I mean, if they’d be happier with each other, then I’d accept it. Because I love her too much to not see her happy.”

“Yeah, same.”

“Ugh, I’m weirdly jealous. I mean, it might not even be true.”

“Yeah...”

And a few more battles in ??? later...

“Ugh!” Yosuke said, as he collapsed in a heap.

“Partner!” Yu said, as he took out the shadow and bolted to Yosuke’s side. “Yosuke, are you alright?!” His voice going a few octaves higher than it normally would.

Makoto gets another flashback.

“Partner?” Yu asks a half-asleep Yosuke, as they watch a movie. “Come on, we’re with Makoto and Goro. Weren’t you the one who wanted to watch this movie?”

Yosuke plants a sloppy kiss on Yu’s cheek

“Yeah, but I’m tired. I mostly wanted an excuse to spend time with you.”

Yu had the tiniest hint of a blush on his face.

Makoto and Goro stopped watching the movie in favor of watching the romcom taking place right next to them on the couch.

“P-partner please there are children watching”

“Aw, getting flustered already?”

“Mako-chan! Behind you!” Haru screeched out

Makoto dodged it and kicked it in the face to kill it.

“Thanks, babe!” She yelled to her as she got back onto her feet.

Akihiko walked up to her, and asked “Are you alright?”

“Yeah thanks u- Akihiko-san”

Phew, that was close she thought to herself.

Meanwhile, back to the salty s/os...

“She cut herself off. She was going to call him something different. It seems more and more likely that Akihiko’s her dad.” Yukiko muttered.

“Earlier, I think she did the same thing to Chie.” Minato whispered back.

“I’m so fucking jealous”

“God, same”

“Ooh, my brother’s jealous, huh?” Minako said, as she popped in.

“Minako-!” He said back to her.

*back in the theater*

Hikari clapped her hands as she welcomed them back.

“Yeah! No sweat! Eff those shadows!” Ryuji said as he threw his fist into the air.

“I still don’t understand why you can’t just say fuck, like the rest of us.” Chie said to him.

“Well, you see...” Ren started. “My boyfriend here is a total momma’s boy. We love him for it. His mom told him to never say fuck, so he doesn’t. He loves his mom. And so do we. She’s basically all our mom now.”

“Yeah, I still remember the look of horror on her face when I said it around her!” Ann said to everyone else.

Ren planted a soft kiss on Ryuji’s cheek.

“Ugh, why is everyone so affectionate here?! I miss my sweet Chidorita...” Junpei exclaimed.

“Oh yeah, same. I miss Shiho so much. I should take her out for crepes when we get home.” Ann said.

And then

“Whoa, the room just got a bit colder...”

“I can feel it. Someone’s salty.”

“It’s coming from... over there!” And Junpei points to an obviously pissed off Yukiko and a Wildcard Mode Minato.

“Okay, what are you two so salty about?” Ann asks them.

And then Minato does his catchphrase. “I don’t care”

“Aw, are your s/os not paying enough attention to you two?” Ren teases.

Minato’s hand slightly curled and the other three protags show their shock.

“Guys! What has you all going insane?!” Ann screams out.

“That thing Minato did with his hand? That’s the wildcard equivalent of ‘I’m gonna cut a bitch’” Ren explains.

“...That little hand thing?”

“Yeah!!”

“Okay, but that still leaves the question, why?”

“That, I don’t know.”

“I’m just going to say it!” Yukiko says, with barely restrained anger

“Makoto, what were your parents names?” She asks.

“Wait! Hold the fuck up! If you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking, you’re wrong! I’m Ken’s age! I’m not the child of anyone here!” Makoto screams out in a single breath.

“Oh. Well now I just feel like an idiot.” Yukiko says.

Minato rubs the back of his neck with his hand and blushes just the tiniest bit.

And Makoto gets another flashback.

“Hey! Uncle Mina! Didn’t you say that Aunt Mitzi and Uncle Aki were teaching you french? Could you help me with my homework?” Makoto asks.

“I’m... not very good, but alright.”

“It’s just a reading assignment. We’ll be fine.”

Goro gives a small smirk from where he’s sitting on the dorm couch.

“What is it supposed to be?” Minato asks the girl.

“I don’t know, just read it!” She yells out.

“Okay, okay!” He chuckles as he starts translating it

“My love, your hair is as soft as a flower’s petals, yet your heart is thorned. Never to let anyone too close. I’m glad that you let me and everyone else into your heart. I never thought I had an eye for beauty, until I saw your face. I’ve traveled the world, and yet I’ve always wanted to come home to you. You’re a warrior. And I’d like to fight by your side until the end. So, will you be by my side forever? Love-” Minato choked on the last word. He dropped the letter and slammed his hands over his mouth. He turned around, not quite trusting his voice. There, Akihiko Sanada sat, blushing so hard that it seemed he might pass out. Minato thought a nod yes would suffice. It did. The entire dorm went up in cheers and everyone was excited for the newly engaged couple.

Makoto loved that memory. She always thought it was romantic, the way he proposed.

So when she saw them on the couch, Minato asleep on his boyfriend’s shoulder, she was happy knowing that a couple who fights together, stays together.

But there’s something more important to do, soon. After Minato wakes up.

After he does wake up, Makoto finally challenges Akihiko and Chie to a fight.

“A fight?” Chie asks her

“Well, a training bout.” Makoto says. “Both of you, against me.”

“If you insist.” Akihiko says, and he throws a punch that Makoto dodges easily.

“Too easy! Give me a challenge at least!”

Chie throws out a kick. Another dodge. And Makoto takes out her leg from under her.

“Huh!” Chie screams, as she collapses into a heap.

“Chie!” Yukiko screams from the back.

“That’s one down!” Ren screams from the back.

Another punch. Makoto pirouettes out of the way.

“That all you can do?!” She taunts him

Akihiko’s temper gets the better of him. Makoto smirks. He leaves his stomach exposed for a split second. Makoto throws as much force as she can behind a punch directly to his gut

Makoto shakes out her hand, as Akihiko goes crumbling to the floor.

“Damn. I’m impressed.” Mitsuru says from the back. “Are the two of you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine” Chie tells the redhead.

“Same here.” Akihiko says as he brings himself to his feet.

And then their eyes start sparkling. Makoto’s bombarded with questions.

Makoto and Goro have the same flashback at the same time.

“Alright, is everyone ready?” Minako asks the kids, who are holding wooden weapons. She kicks off a training match between Goro, Makoto, and Ken.

(Everyone knows Ken’s going to win, but it’s good experience for the others.)

Unfortunately, Ken forgets that this is a training match. He puts too much force behind his hits and accidentally knocks Makoto’s arm so hard that he dislocates her shoulder.

“Ow, damn!” She mutters out, not wanting to seem weak.

“Sorry, sorry!” Ken yells as he throws the wooden lance to the side and runs over to her.

Yukari runs over to her side and starts to examine it. She sighs in relief. “It’s okay, we just need to pop it back in.”

The entire dorm sighs in relief.

Yukiko plops down on Makoto’s other side, and grabs her hand.

“Look at me, alright?” She tells the girl.

Yukari pops here shoulder back in, which gives her pain for a split-second, until a cool, soothing sensation permeates her body

Looking back on it now, Yukari had probably used diarahan on her.

“-oach? Coach? Coach!” Chie’s voice snapped her back to the present.

“I’m sorry, I got distracted. What were you saying?” She asked the brown-haired girl.

“Makoto, are you feeling alright? You seem a bit out of it.” Akihiko asked her.

“I’m fine” she says. She’s a liar.

*another run in ??? later*

“Makoto-san, I’ve been wondering. How did you learn to be so good at riding a motorcycle?” Mitsuru asks her.

You taught me! She thinks

“Johanna taught me. She is a part of me after all!” Makoto quickly says, trying to act casual.

It seems to satisfy the red-headed executioner, as she walks away.

Flashback time~

“Mitsuru, I swear to god if you take her out on your motorcycle-” Akihiko starts

“She’ll be fine! We’ll be with her!” Yukari replies

“That’s what I’m worried about! Mitsuru, you once used a pileup as a ramp, and Yukari, you once took a sharp turn on an icy road so fast that we almost skid into another car!”

“Just because you can’t handle the way I drive-” Mitsuru starts

“You once told me ‘I paid for the whole speedometer, I’m using the whole speedometer!’”

“Exactly!” Yukari replied to him.

“...I’m not going to talk you out of this, now am I?”

“Not even close!” They both replied, in unison.

“You two are perfect for each other... just don’t get yourselves killed.”

And that was the day that Makoto learned how to ride a motorcycle like a maniac, with a crash course from Mitsuru and Yukari.

Makoto literally drives herself off a tree.

“Mafreidyne!” She screams, and takes out the shadows.

She returns her mask and walks with the rest of the group.

Surrounded by all three of her families, she thought that this alternate dimension thing might not be so bad after all.

[dangansuffering]

Teddi Time || Ch1 Suffering Game || Pt. 3 [Feat. Teddi]

The wheel itself looks simple enough, grab the edge, give it a spin. Without the full context there wouldn’t be anything sinister about it, but knowing what the colors mean lends the whole thing an unsettling, tense atmosphere. The colorful wedges continue to blink, lighting up in a steadily alternating pattern. Occasionally when they light up little images are visible, just for a moment. A hand. A syringe. An eye.

Probably best not to think too much about what that means, right now.

Teddi eyed the wheel as well as Kazuya, His hands clenched and unclenched. He wasn’t scared he was pissed off. With bold steps forward Teddi approached the wheel. He wouldn’t show whoever was doing this the satisfaction of seeing him sweat. Kazuya wasn’t doing this of their own free wheel and Kiki was standing right there. So Teddi held in the desire to deck Kazuya in the face as he reached up and grabbed the wheel. He heaved and the wheel spun.

Click click click click… It’s not hard to imagine that sound will quickly take on some very negative associations. Around and around the colors go, the spinner at the top dragging against the pegs sticking out of the colors until finally it coasts to a gradual, harrowing stop.

Magenta.

The wedge lights up, showing the silhouette of a disembodied arm.

Teddi’s face dropped from cold defiance to something uh…… Distraught. He took a wild guess what the punishment showing a disembodied arm would be. Absolutely not. He understood that there was a chance he could die but he would literally rather die than relearn how to do basically everything if he was unlucky enough to lose his left hand.

“Pass, I think the Fuck not. You can kill me but you’re not taking my fucking arm. May i just fucking say Kazuya, I know this isn’t your fault. But. Bitch.”

“...Just spin again, then. Someone else will go when you’re done.” If Kazuya is judging this decision at all it doesn’t show. They sound and look resigned.

“Eat shit.” Teddi reached out and spun again Making direct eye contact with Kazuya. No muss, no fuss. His face twisting to anger. He didn’t know what Cyan or Yellow would bring him but here we went anyway.

Once again the wheel spins… and spins… click click click click click… and finally, it slows and rocks to another stop. On Yellow, this time. When it lights up, it shows a question mark.

“Fuck it. Fuck this. Fuck your boss. Just fucking, I don’t know what’s this one? Getting hit with a car? Bring it. You can’t hurt me in any way that matters.” Teddi is being bold. Maybe putting on a front for the rest of the class. Like maybe if he just had enough bravado the incoming impact would be lessened. He was a fool but he was a stubborn fool. He stood there arms crossed. Waiting.

For a moment after the result is confirmed, there’s quiet. Kazuya shakily lifts a hand to their ear, touching the device there as if to improve the sound or reception. Their eyes widen. “I can’t - ...” As quickly as they’d started to speak, tone almost frantic, they stop. There’s a silence that stretches for a few seconds but feels longer, and then they take a deep breath, and start again.

“Teddi Tatsumi left his boyfriend, Junpei Takeba, for dead. Because of his association with Teddi, Junpei was attacked and severely injured. He survived, but is now paralyzed from the waist down. Teddi never bothered to check on him after the incident.”

Silence, again. A brief but poignant one. Kazuya is visibly shaking as tears start to quietly fill their eyes.

“That’s all. You can go stand with the others, now. Th-the next person who has to spin is... Mariko Tomomi. You should come up here and get it over with. I’m sorry.”

[akaskira]

My Favourite Songs of Hosoya Yoshimasa

I don't think I need to say how much I love him. One of the factors that lead me to be such a fangirl was because of his singing. Below, I shall document some of my favourites and tell my story. Characters included. Click on the names for links!!

Clutch time - Hyuuga Junpei in KnB

This was one of the first songs I heard of Hosoya, purely due to curiosity, and then I was just like WTF. I wasn't expecting anything and didn't think that this guy, who has such a deep voice, can sing in such a high pitch. The start just took me away. After that, I found it amusing cause he turned pissed lol but that was surprising too. But everything basically escalated from just hearing this song.

Ashita e no Last Race - Yamazaki Sousuke in Free!

Just Wanna Know is also good, but I prefer this song. The start was beautiful af, and I was just amazed. The song is so sad I felt a little emotional. It's just so beautiful. Sousuke is fucking beautiful. Hosoya is so beautiful.

Kaze no Requiem - Nezumi in No.6

I literally teared up the first time I heard this song. This song is just.... really beautiful (I've been using this word too much) and the lyrics mean a lot too. And I repeat: this is the anime that saved Hosoya. So this song kind of saved him in a way. This other song: Buna no Mori de is also a nice one. 

Boku ni Totte - Yamato Ishida in Digimon Adventure Tri.

This song seems a little not-like Hosoya, especially with the beginning, but it turned out really nice too. Definitely recommend a listen. And his "kimi ja nakya" killed me lol. (Translates to something like "it can only be you")

Song for You - Shiraishi Kuranosuke

SO MANY FEELS. Listen to the Shiraishi Kuranosuke Concert version, it’s much nicer there I swear. I already cried while watching the concert, and cried a river when he sang this song. It's such UGH so so so fucking nice. Please have a listen to this song, as well as the whole concert! (This song is about 47 minutes in the concert).

Other favourites in the concert: Ecstasy,  l.ng (apparently Hosoya wrote some of the lyrics or sth), Get Started, Kaburiel Hakusho, Go on, Prayer, Ashiato, etc.

I feel like I should try to translate his songs but idk and copyright

Lost in Thoughts All Alone - Shigure in Fire Emblem Fates

Again, fell in love with the first line. This is a song I play on repeat Everyday and just indulge myself in this slow song. A song that is so peaceful it’ll bring you to sleep. Also what the heck is this (Shigure being our boyfriend???) haha I’m dead. 

OTHER SONGS BECAUSE WHY NOT

Tengenji Kakeru: Angel Lost (Just like the song title, this is angelic and totally made me cry) 

Haruto Kirishima: Kimi no Iru Machi (Ending song for the anime: Kimi no Iru Machi sang by the one and only) 

Trurugi Yashiro: Under the Moon (Yet another nice song)

Yuuki Tetsuya: Billion Swings (A manly yet good song proving the efforts of this character from Diamond of Ace) 

Perabu: Little Happy Days (with Kimura Ryohei, Maeno Tomoaki, KENN, Kakihara Tetsuya) 

Okay, I ranted enough. If you read until the end, congrats to you XD I will forever and ever share my love for this talented person. Looking forward to the day I meet or hear Hosoya singing live. I will legit cry like a baby. 

Thank you for reading!!

[kitto-toberu-sa]

DigiFes

It’s a long day folks. We were up at 5 to get to the venue by 7. You aren’t meant to line up until 8 and goods weren’t meant to go on sale until 10.

Heaps of people were there earlier in a somewhat orderly fashion. But management decided to fuck us all around and said we needed to line up from the opposite end of where we were. This may not seem like a big deal, but remember items are limited and resellers are a thing. This was a chance for people who arrived later to get to the front.

There was a literal stampede. People were screaming and being shoved. I was separated from my group numerous times, and only got back with them due to shoving others and the kindness of other fans who clearly realised I was with the other foreigners.

To get to the other side, management made us go in a complete circle. It was unnecessary and quite frankly, a little dangerous. It didn’t stop people who were there earlier from being close to the line, or help those who arrived on time be rewarded. It was just bad planning.

Of course, then it started raining. Umbrellas went up and if I hadn’t of been wearing glasses I would have been poked in the eye more than once. To say it was unpleasant would be an understatement.

The line slowly shuffled along. Every now and again people behind us would start pushing like mad, despite the fact that the line wasn’t moving. It was 35+ degrees Celsius, no air con, everyone was a bit hot and bothered. These jerks were not helping or doing anything to get the line moving faster.

If you follow my snapchat and/or twitter, you may have seen me mention the kindness of fans. This specifically refers to one lady in line who let me stay under her umbrella with her and who talked to me when I was separated from my friends. It also refers to another girl who kindly returned one of my badges to me.

You read that right. The lines and shoving were so bad, numerous people were having items ripped off their ita bags.

I don’t care where you’re from, that’s disgusting. It’s unnecessary, rude and disheartening. We’re all meant to be fans of the same thing and we all know some of these items are expensive or rare. The fans who were helping others get their things back were the MVPs of the day. Everyone who pushed and shoved can eat dog food for the rest of their life.

Goods started being sold early, at 9. Most likely due to the feral crowd. We were only a little over 100 people into the line, but by the time we got there, all of the keychains had sold out, as had some other items. On the other hand, by the time the first session finished, most items were sold out yet the amount of tshirts left was overflowing. Whoever did the math in the product department really needs to be fired. So many goods were gone, and the badges being so limited was honestly appalling. They want our money and Tri is a pretty blatant cash cow to the point it’s disgusting, yet they limited the badges (among others), one of the few things people are happy to buy quite a lot of, to such a small amount. Very bad planning. Lots of people were disappointed and trading was mediocre as a result.

We left the building just after 12. We’d spent around five hours lining up, buying goods and trading. We went to a supermarket and got some food, and since we had our trading stuff still out, a little girl came over to talk to us. I was with people who got Meiko badges (so many people did) and they didn’t want her, so they gave the badges to the little girl and her brother. A new set of Digi fans in the making???

I ended up trading the Koushirou acrylic stand to THE Koushirou fan. She lost her shit. In exchange I got ‘frontier no debu’ (the frontier fatty). She couldn’t remember Junpei’s name ;;; I also traded something else (Omegamon?) for LadyDevimon which is an A++++++ trade, tho the other girl was very confused as to why I wanted LDevimon. I SO regret not ordering that figure it’s sooooooo beautiful!!!! They had the prototypes for the sibling figures as well, and I can’t wait until the Yamakeru one is mine, they’re so cute!!!

For seats, I was in the fifth row, pretty much in the centre. Before you went in they had the life size AguGabu duo. One kid was like ‘um, no thanks!’ when his mum made him have a photo with them and I ended up sitting next to him. The girl on my other side was there for the first time too and pretty much cried the entire time haha

So first up was a talk and the reveal of the twitter poll. Nobody believed Jyou has a girlfriend – everyone thought that scene was the funniest moment. This happened a few times during the conversation. Every time it came up, his VA would just stand up, shrug and go I DO TOO HAVE A GIRLFRIEND.

Meiko got a lot of support – Junko (iirc) said she supported Meiko because ‘she moved to Tokyo from the country’. As someone who lives in rural Japan, I can totally relate! Literally nobody supported Yamato lmao

I apologise that it’s short, but it was funny and interesting, but I can’t remember a lot of specifics sorry ;;; Fans and staff were shocked Leomon died. Like, have y’all ever been involved in this franchise????

Mini live – Miyazaki then AiM. Most people are only familiar with adventure stuff tho, which is kinda sad. It is also the main focus of fes so it’s understandable.

Next was advertising. Basically the figures, Agumon being in Appmon etc. Unfortunately, they showed a lot of this pre-show while we were waiting, so it was pretty dumb and pointless unless you came in just before the show started :/

The trailer, obviously online now, made people excited. I’m hoping Hikari goes dark either because of Taichi, or she tries to fight Takeru and Taichi gets in the way and gets hurt hehe~ Nobody really spoke about it tho.

Next was the drama segment. Essentially, there’s a singing contest and the winner gets an all you can eat buffet with them and friends. Obviously, with nine kids and mons, that's a great prize! Yamato wasn’t there due to his VA being ill, which came up a few times.

They all sung their chara songs, which was a little dull tbh. If it had been last year, it would have been great promo for the cds, but this year it feels too late and they didn’t want to put effort into a full drama.

Jyou ran off because the pressure made him have a bad stomach. Gomamon tried to bring him back and failed. Gabumon tried to bring Yamato in but failed but Gabu sung. Most of the cast didn’t sing. Hikari and Gomamon sung. Takeru did as well, Patamon blew him out of the water since it’s Seiyuu was jumping around and being cute.

Mimi sung I wish iirc and then started with Super Girl. AiM came out and they duet’d. It was pretty rad and you can hear how close new Mimi is to AiM’s Mimi. Palmon was like ‘wow two Mimi’s!!’ and Koushirou was ??? a little confused by past and present versions.

Agumon’s seiyuu ROCKED Agumon Sunba and then  Agumon Ondo (fit will since it’s matsuri and obon season). I would drink with her any day of the week. The seiyuu and lifesize Agu Gabu all joined in to dance, and it was cute how some of them had no clue what they were doing.

Meikuumon also sung. Weird to see the VA do the voice change so quickly. And she’s so tall??

Anyway, Agumon won and Mimi was low key pissed. “I lost to Agumon? That’s kinda…”

Then, the new song. Aikotoba. Holy shit it’s pretty. It’s very soothing, their voices work so well together. Please buy a copy of the CD!!!! I haven’t heard a single person say they didn’t like it. Wonderful song and lyrics.

Of course, everyone sang Butterfly. They had Wada-san’s performance from the time when they announced tri, which was special. Everyone gets kinda emotional. It’s definitely a moment where everyone feels like family.

In the group photo, I can’t be seen but I can see my light stick lol Most people had red or blue, so I chose green to represent Mimi (no point in representing Yama if he isn’t there lol). So it was easy to figure out where I was haha

By the time we left it was 4ish, and by the time we got home it was 9. A very, very long day, but a mostly eventful and amazing one <3

[hirosesyasuho]

What are your thoughts on ZTD?

i’ve been thinking about this since lunch so here it comes

(zero escape spoilers in general ahead)

i both like and dislike ztd, and let me tell you why. i’ll start with why i dislike ztd, and it’s simply because it was so rushed. like i mean???? delta’s story and everything oh my god free the soul was a really interesting concept but it got so fucked up? idk i expected a longer explanation or something but not that. i mean it’s cool to know that delta’s parents are diana and sigma but i mean that’s the least of my worries?? they could have explained SO MANY THINGS, especially those ones mentioned in vlr!!!! i don’t I wished they could have explained more things¿¿?? because well what the fuck actually they only explained how delta was born, how he met Left and so on and his (complex) motives - the reasons for this nonary game?? anyways

more rushed thingssssssssssss well basically the whole game was so rushed. i want to think that they wanted to explain as many as things as they could and even insert new ones. but what the fuck. they opened more holes and did not even closed them??? idk for example what happened with aoi? snake? clover? i mean uchikoshi said we would know how they were doing and so on in ztd but we got? absolutely. fucking. nothing. okay junpei talks about working with seven but that’s all? NOTHING ELSE????? i don’t know boi but I was pissed af. anyways I think they opened new holes by introducing the whole Q team and so because I MEAN okay they were necessary for the game but still………. i was so indifferent at the end? like they meant nothing for me (and every ze character are important…) mira would be important if we take into account she is the one who injected phi with radical-6 and so on BUT THAT’S IT¿¿¿??? then well of course she’s the killer that killed eric’s mom and the snail and so on (with this I wanna end up with Akane’s parents dying), but srsly I didn’t see that really important like?? 999 worked perfectly without us knowing why aoi and akane’s parents died. i don’t know boiiiiii

then the transport machine and the fuckign aliens oH MY GODD I’M FUCKING CRYING FROM LAUGHTER LIKE REMEMBER WHEN UCHI ASKED WHAT MEMES WERE AND SOMEONE REPLIED WITH THE MAN SAYING ALIENS jfhkg okay but. what the fuck was that. srsly totally unnecessary¿¿??

some dilemmas were….. bad too. like that’s really personal but kjfhgf.

the true ending? was………………………… also bad. so bad. really bad. awful. the worst. i mean how do you dare to finish these games like this. how do you fucking dare. they fucking got to stop radical-6 but you don’t know if they fucking killed the man who killed 6 billion people? i mean srsly…….. no. we deserved a clearer ending, damn.

then…….. akane’s change. like what the fuck bitchhhhh jAJAJA OH MY GOD HERE COMES ANOTHER THING I DIDN’T LIKE AT ALL. like okay we hadakane as this machiavellian woman who will do anything in order to save the world and follow her ideals and so on (even being killed as seen in vlr, or giving up on the love of her life), and this is what we learn in both 999 and vlr. she will lie, kill or do whatever is needed in order to keep forward but suddenly she gets this yandere complex? really? akane is, by far, NOT LIKE THAT. (anyways i love akane so much don’t get me wrong)

junpei deserved fucking better but this is not related to ztd so let’s keep it like that.

ah… the fuck i don’t remember its name but those things you could read once you finished the game? the ones who talked about junepei’s future and so on? okay c’mon that is NOT ENOUGH. like you cannot not expect us to simply be satisfied with that, especially not knowing d-team’s future? what happens to old!sigma? and diana? and phi? srsly fuck off.

i will edit if I think of something else but I think this is it

and now for good things well I like junpei and akane fucking confessing to each other like WOW IT’S BEEN 84 YEARS (no but ty I was so glad with that……..), I also enjoyed c-team and d-team!! like i don’t know I like how they work together and their dynamics and so on!!! i don’t know i really liked carlos and diana!!! my bbys. I also enjoyed the ost, as always, and actually I pretty much liked the new art? i don’t know, it pleased me really much!!! ohhh SOME PUZZLES WERE SO GREAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yesss i enjoyed that very much actually!!! anddd idk for now I think I will end here but will edit if something comes up to my mind

that’s it ty for asking!!!!

[askthedespairkids]

Never A Real Victory

*LONG POST CUTS OFF TO SAVE YOUR DASHBOARDS THE STRESS OF THE LENGTH - PLEASE CLICK THE READ MORE*

*Atop the roof after everyone gathered*

Ah. Here they come! *points up to the helicopters with the Future Foundation logo on the side*

*Sides the door of one open as they land* Hey, assholes, guess who got put on as your rescue leader? Good to see none of you decided to bite the dust yet.

Good to see you too Fuyuhiko.....

Weird to think, huh? Finally getting out of this shithole in one piece.....

I....I’m so happy, I could cry!

You already look like you’re about to......

Alright guys, no point in wasting any more time, right?!

Heh, you’re right. Let’s- *The sounds of another helicopter becomes audible*

Huh.....? We didn’t bring any other helicopters.....?

Sly: Then what’s that up there...? *Points towards the helicopter nearing towards them, eventually landing on the building adjacent to them* .....another organisation, maybe?

Shin: I highly doubt that.....

*Climbs out of the helicopter and lands on the other rooftop* Well well, just look who we have before us! 'Tis the one and only menaces to the Despair Movement!

Junko...? What the hell are you doing here?!

Oh, nothing much. Just wanted to chat. Pick up a few things, you know? Normal business.

(I knew things couldn't go our way for long) Well, it's been a while hasn't it? You and your ilk have certainly been...busy.

Oh, tell me about it. We've been all over the place. *Looks at Shin* Though I see you're trying to weaken us a little. Not that the 79-B class are actually all that useful. They just provide some fun support. Also heard about what happened in Tokyo with Ibuki, that was certainly something.

Yeah, that was definitely something. You know, Ibuki mentioned you guys dug up some old projects of mine, most of which even I couldn't get to work properly

Seems you were just missing the necessary secondary talents that would make them work properly. Can't do everything when Geneticist is your only field you got going for you. Monaca's really been working at the fatal wound one though, she's loving it now that she's gotten the hang of it.

Really now? Well, I'd put an end to that area of development. You might not like the consequences of that ability. I mean, having broken arm bones fuse together at the wrong angle is just one of the nasty outcomes.

I know that. However, like I said, Monaca's gotten the hang of it...it's still hard to get it perfect. But...she managed a few...isn't that right?

*The door behind Junko opens and four figures step out onto the roof*

Th...that's....!

...........

Then we didn't just imagine that.

....

Shall we do rollcall?! I think we fuckin’ need it! Up first we have the truest of fakest! The demon of the underworld, not of the Gundam variety, but of the gambling variety! Here she is in the flesh, once again! Motherfuckin’ Ultimate Gambler, Celestia Ludenberg!

.....Mr Nakamura. Kyouko. Good to see you both once again.

Up next! He's the sacrificial lamb that I predicted well into the future, but his talent is just too good to let it go to waste! Here we are, the Ultimate Mechanic, Kazuichi Souda.

.............

Nothing? Alright then. Up next, a truly unsurprising one considering his powers of bullshit. The 77th class' own lucky student, Nagito Komaeda!

Well...? I guess I really am lucky if I was the first to be reanimated perfectly. What are the odds?

And out final contender. A girl nobody would have ever guessed would make an appearance like this. The girl was a bona fide bitch, just like yours truly, but all she wanted was to stay with her brother...everyone, let me introduce Natsumi Kuzuryuu

Heh...

You...did it....you...you actually did it. Not only did you trample all over human society, but now you've trampled all over nature as well.

I know, right? I'm impressed with myself.

What the fuck...what the FUCK did you do to my sister?!

Oh, give it a rest, Fuyuhiko. This girl's given me the talent I've been wanting so I can match you. I don't care if it makes me a despair or not. I'm on your level now, if not higher.

It's not worth it. Listen to me, all of you, it's not worth it. Talent isn't worth anything. N-Nagito, what about you? I thought were against despair! You said yourself you wanted to kill Junko!

Of course...however, I figured if I joined despair and was then defeated...I could become a real stepping stone for hope, don't you think...?

Celes, I know you're better than this...they shot you, for crying out loud!

I knew what my fate would ultimately be, and I knew about the project they were developing. So, I took the gamble and bet my life. I won, naturally.

Kazuichi? What about you? Even when you had the chance, you couldn't kill Sonia. You said that you wanted her and Gundham to both survive.

 Y...yeah, I do...but I know there's never gonna be a real place for me there...

Wh-what does that mean?!

Come on...there's...nothing for in this world anymore. I know you like Sonia anyways. I'm always just gonna be the background guy. At least here I can have a purpose, even if its a negative one.

It doesn't have to be like that. You can have your own life. All of you can! There's so much more you can do. The depairs may have brought you back, but they have nothing else to offer you. I can help you all, I promise.

Help us...? If that were the case, where was Future Foundation when we all died, huh?

Maro, Hifumi, Sakura, Hiyoko, they couldn't be revived....

I'm sorry...I wanted to save you all. I swear I did.

And now apologies. How pathetic.

Sh...shut up...!

You're lucky that neither Monaca or I killed you on the spot when we lured you. You're nothing but a mere toy to be tossed away, now silence yourself and let those with a meaning in life speak.

What the hell did you just say to him?!

Hey, man, calm down!

Everyone, please. Listen here. Junpei has been a tremendous help for us. He may be a bit of dumbass, but he's making a conscious effort to improve. He made the smart choice and turned away from this bullshit ideology. Which is more than can be said for you, Ms. Ludenberg. You can call me a pathetic, low-class fuck-up because it's entirely accurate. But don't you dare slanderize anyone here.

I can slanderize all I want. There's nothing to stop me from speaking my mind. I mean with members like a baby-faced gangster-

You...

To the literal embodiment of the homosexual agenda-

...!

To the runt that thinks he can supernatural abilities

You fiend...

I apologise, but it's hard to not make comments.

Wow...yikes.

I could make a comment about you, but I'm not going to stoop to your 4th grade level of trolling. Instead, I'm just going to ask if there was a point to this meeting.

Just to let you know I'm expanding a little. Of course, there's still others you haven't met, but these guys needed to see you now, just so you now what you're up against.

The look of despair on some of these faces...it's hard to watch...but I know they'll probably end with the most hopeful expressions imaginable! I hope I get to see them!

I couldn't give two shits either way, really.

Who...who even are you...? You aren't Natsumi....

You...y-you killed Sakura! Without mercy! Why the hell would I want to look at any of you?! Just get out of here already!

Hina, please. They're just trying to rile you up. Listen, if you really think this is gonna change anything, you're solely mistaken. If you think that showing us some pale imitations of people we lost along the way is going to deter us, you're wrong.  Even if I feel despair, it's not gonna stop me. *Briefly glances over at Mikan* We all feel the same way. You despairs are a dead end. There's no future awaiting of any of you. But that's fine; I'll save you anyway, along with everyone else.

Pale imitations...? Nah, just repaired originals. We should thank you though. It was your work that made this a reality.

But, I've gotten what I came here for. So, if you'll excuse us *The five all get into their helicopter* We'll meet each other again soon, Nakamura-senpai! Promises! *The helicopter takes off*

*watches them fly off* They might look like them and talk like them, but you know what your friends were really like. Those four were caricatures. She made them to piss us off. Nothing more.

No matter you say, that was Kazuichi. A despair version, but Kazuichi nonetheless.

Natsumi....

N-now what are we supposed to do...? We can't have just one freakin' victory, can we?!

.............

Ka-chan...

LISTEN! This is exactly the reason she stopped by. She's trying to make us thing she brought them back, but that's impossible.

I couldn't do it, and there's no way she could do it either. It's impossible to bring back the dead...no matter how much I wish I could. I know how much you wish they were back, but there's no proof what she's say is remotely true.  They could all just have been clones. Whatever the case, we can deal with it when we get back to base. Let's just get out of this rotten shit hole of a city.

Y...you're right... Let's head back. Looks like we've got a lot to report... *they all start getting on the helicopters*

....do you really believe they're clones?

I know what clones are like. They're born without knowledge, so it has to be transmitted into their minds. Yasuke worked with them, so they probably have brain-computer interfaces. Yes...that's it. That has to be it...

Kyoji, listen to yourself... I won't say anything to the others, but you know Junko wouldn't lie about this.

......what I think doesn't matter. Let's just get back to base, okay? We can figure things out from there. But listen...they weren't lying about getting their technology from me. It was an old idea. So, whatever they really were, I...understand you blame me for this. Whatever this is.

I don't blame you, you never could have known it would come to this... But you're right. Let's just get back to HQ for now...

Yeah. We can figure this out, guys. We can still win. I know it.

*the two get on the helicopter* (Junko...just what the hell is your end plan for this...?)

[gigapoodle]

My Big Ass Long Necessary Rant Post Comparing Persona 3 and 4

Literally the most indulgent shit ever I just beat P4 and I gotta talk about it turn your eyes away unless you care for some reason

Things Persona 4 Did Better Than Persona 3

-The Social Links, oh MAN they were so much better in this game. Persona 3 had some pretty mediocre Links (Tanaka and that one fat cult kid immediately come to mind, also the student club kid who was obsessed with the cigarette). I don’t think any of the links were bad at all? Hell even the ones that I thought were gonna go sour (the Nurse one started off rough) ended up taking a really interesting turn. I also think that P3 relied too much on Social Links for random people I don’t care about, whereas so many of the SLs in P4 were already established, like Nanako and Dojima, all of the investigation friends (seriously P3, why couldn’t I SL Akihiko or Junpei?? What the hell???). It was just so much more rewarding in the end and I loved all of them. 

-To add on to the point above without making the paragraph too long; I like how all of your friends were INVOLVED in the plot before you even get to do their SL. The whole Shadow Self thing was so clever and made the characters so much more interesting. Like Kanji? SO interesting. Struggling with concepts of masculinity and his own self image, and you know all of this BEFORE you even start the SL, so when you do get around to it it is much more interesting and fleshed out. I’m so happy about all of this

-The whole Romance thing. P3 handled it terribly. Apparently in P3 I wanted to date everyone (no choice on just being friends!) and if I talked to too many girls it would screw up the whole system. In P4 everybody still wants to fuck you but at least it doesn’t screw up my other SL links thank God (but I would like it if I didn’t have to be romantically interested in every girl plz and thank you)

-THANK GOD I COULD CONTROL MY TEAM LIKE HOLY SHIT....thank GOD. Now they actually felt like super strong teammates with something on the line rather than robots who I hoped wouldn’t do something fucking stupid. (I’m pretty sure Junpei killed himself literally 10 times during the Nyx fight and I couldnt’ do anything but watch.) 

-P4 protag was still the most powerful member of the team but wasn’t blatantly OP like P3 protag

-Being able to look at what the fuck my skills actually did was a godsend (like I remember the difference between Masukukaja and Marakukaja, jesus) 

-Social events were generally funnier and better. I laughed like 10x more in this game than in P3. (God bless Kanji and Yosuke tbh)

-The individualized dungeons were much more fun to go through. Tartarus becomes a fucking drag around level 150, but jumping from a sauna to a strip club to an underground secret base? LOVE IT

-Music was generally catchier and I found myself humming along too it way too often 

-Way more save points, thank GOD (although they did screw me over at one point so this isn’t that much of a bonus)

-I like that when Rise couldn’t scan the enemy for weaknesses, I just had to figure them out on my own. Made the dungeons enjoyably harder. I also appreciate that healing spells cost less in this game, considering how much you need them. 

-Having the after-battle reward be basically ONLY personas was a smart move. The addiction of the Tarot Card Bonus/Drawback was a super neat feature as well that I absolutely loved. 

-Rise got on my nerves much less as an announcer lady than Fuuka. (Teddie was the worst though. Thank god we only had him for a little while.)

Things Persona 3 Did Better Than Persona 4:

-Even though P4 made a huge improvement with the battle system by allowing you to control your teammates, P3 had a vastly better battle system imo. The three different physical attacks (Slash/Strike/Pierce or whatever) made physical attacks actually feel lie they matter. P4′s system was way too watered down and as a consequence I never used Light/Dark ONCE and it felt a little too easy. 

-Better pacing. There were set dates for when I had to finish dungeons of Tartarus, and I could do whatever I wanted during those times. Afternoons were always free for SLs since exploration was at night. In P4, the fact that dungeon crawling took up an entire afternoon on top of the fact that I never really knew when the fog was gonna settle in made it hard for me to plan out everything. (I ended up having a lot of unfished SLs in P4 which pisses me off.) (P4 tries to make up for this by moving some SLs into the evening but it wasn’t enough.)

-Much better ending. Once you found out who the killer was for P4, everything just felt anticlimatic. His boss battle wasn’t even that bad. And then he turns out to be the opening battle for some weird God eye that I don’t give a shit about. It felt like nothing was really at stake and it was just weird. But P3? You knew your damn destiny. The world was gonna end and you literally had no hope but you fought anyways. The entire MONTH leading up to that felt so somber and powerful. Climbing up the stairs on that final day to battle the Strega members and then finally, Nyx (in a boss battle that took a HOUR AND A HALF on top of some cool symbolic shit where the protagonist literally dies) it as just...something, man. And then everyone meets on the roof as you die, like...it’s so neat. P4 felt like they were trying to live up to that while still keeping the wacky cartoony vibe and it didn’t work out. 

-The theme was much stronger in this game, and holy shit was it powerful. I get that P4′s whole thing was discovering the True Self, but it doesn’t really tie into the ending imo, nor the murder mystery shit. P3′s theme of Death is much more powerful and well written in the story. Everyone in this game has had at least ONE person die in their life, and seeing how everyone copes with it is sooo interesting. And dealing with the futile fact that everyone dies eventually with Nyx like....so fucking cool. And to top it all off, YOU die. The P4 protag doesn’t discover shit about himself (maybe in Golden? idk). Very very cool 

-Evokers are way way way cooler than some fog glasses. 

-Music was much better in this game. It was so damn unique. And it worked! It was weird and kinda glitchy at times but it worked so damn well! 

-More on the battle system - I’m really sad they took away group member healing in P4 because that was so helpful. I’m also sad they took away general healing of everything whenever you went back to the base of Tartarus. That made it so much easier to grind and just get through Tartarus. Forcing me to only heal SP by paying the fox a shitton of money (and man this is the first RPG I’ve played in a while where money was actually on shortage and a problem) made it suck. It took away precious time from SLs that I needed. 

Things They Both Need To Work On:

-Is Japan just super fucky about social issues? It was way worse in P3 but man do I feel played over by P4. Like the whole Kanji thing, CLEARLY his Shadow stuff was alluding to him possibly being gay, but they pull the rug under form you at the last second and throw that out the window. Same with Naoto - there was literally DIALOGUE about how she wanted to be a man but they threw that away too! Why??! They gotta stop skirting around these things. Also why are all of the dudes so pervy in these games? Junpei and Yosuke sucked about that, both games HAD to have a weird men-accidentally-walking-in-on-bathing-girls scene (P3 literally had a MINIGAME baed on it ffs). Also they are really mean about fat people in these games and always make them the butt of the joke. Stop it Persona 

-This Good Ending/Bad Ending shit. WAY worse in Persona 4 but P3 still had it. I think that’s part of the reason why P4′s ending was eh? because even though you face the final boss, of course there’s a TRUE ending where you face ACTUAL God instead of EYEBALL God. Ugh. Also they made it way way WAY too easy to get the Bad Ending in P4. Like you literally have to use a guide not to get the Bad Ending. At least P3 made it very obvious how not to get the Bad Ending and they didn’t do any of that true ending bullshit.... (I guess they kinda did with The Answer but THE POINT IS STOP WITH THESE MULTIPLE-HOUR ENDINGS GOD)

-Please give me female friendships where they don’t end in fucking. It complicates things so much and makes me feel weird. 

Overall Verdict:

I like them both equally and cannot place one over the other. Persona 3 felt more cohesive and satisfying but Persona 4 had a better cast and was arguably more enjoyable. I think that P3 will always have a special place in my heart since it was my first Persona game and it just fucking blew me away, on top of the fact that it took me about 4 months to complete whereas Persona 4 took me like 3 weeks (whoops). I think that Persona 4 tried to tackle too much (murder mystery while also keeping their whole ‘facing god and humanity’s fragility and flaws’ thing) whereas Persona 3 arguably did too little at times. But in the end this game is probably now my 2nd favorite series (behind Fire Emblem) and you can bet your sweet ass I’m getting P5 literally the moment it comes out. I’m almost salivating over it. I’ve already got PQ and P4A to tide me over while I wait so! 

[zecretsanta]

Fic: Something I need

 To: @eatingfireflies

From: @hardcoreprince

Merry Christmas, D!!! I was super excited to get you as my giftee! I hope you like what I’ve put together!

Notes: In my mind I kind of continued off what I established in The Knowledge Argument, but you definitely don’t need to read that to read this. It’s really just a bit of pure fluff. Enjoy and Merry Christmas, D!!

AO3 LINK

“Do you really need another boyfriend? You’re so greedy!”

Carlos blinks as he tears his eyes away from his phone and stares at his sister, who is grinning maddeningly at him. They’re sprawled out on the couch at his apartment as a cheesy Christmas movie plays in the background. They’re only about twenty minutes in. The city slicker main character is still adjusting to life in a small town.

“What—”

“Don’t play dumb.” Maria sits up and examines him critically. “No morphogenetic field required, I can tell you like Aoi. You’re texting him now, aren’t you?”

Carlos goes a little red as he stares down at the phone in his hands. “Maybe I am,” he mumbles. “But it’s not like that! He wanted to know what we needed at the store.”

Maria shakes her head. “I wrote him a list. It is like that. Geeze, maybe I should become a firefighter. I can’t even get one boy to date me.” She sighs and shakes her head ruefully.

“We’re not dating!” Carlos laughs a little. “Maria, anyone would be lucky to date you.”

She scoffs. “Don’t give me that line. Anyway, we were talking about you. Why not? What’s the harm in one more? Junpei’s dating him too, isn’t he?”

The phone vibrates in Carlos’ hands, only further incriminating him. Another message from Aoi. It had started out with Aoi asking Carlos to remind him what he wanted from the market… but it had quickly devolved into a conversation about what brand of crappy instant coffee is better, which turned into what Carlos thinks could be flirting…

“He is,” Carlos says carefully. “But I don’t want to assume that just because Junpei is dating him means that I should, or that he even likes me. That’s too complicated, right? This thing with Akane and Junpei… that’s enough without me getting involved with someone else.”

“He’s not a stranger or anything, he’s Akane’s brother. And I think he does like you.” Maria lifts her eyebrows a little and leans closer, as if she has a secret. “Anyway, I know you like him because you forgot to check the roast.”

A jolt of panic goes through Carlos as he leaps from the couch. “Oh sh— shoot, the roast!”

Maria’s giggles follow him into the kitchen as he scrambles to the oven. “I’m not twelve anymore!”

But all his haste was for nothing. When Carlos cracks open the oven, the roast looks fine, despite the fact that he was supposed to check on it ten minutes ago. As he pierces the skin with the thermometer, he tries to put what Maria said out of his mind. But it’s hard when Aoi is coming back in about ten minutes…

Junpei, Akane, and Aoi have been visiting for the past few days and his apartment has never been more crowded. Junpei keeps telling him to get a bigger place but Carlos insists the housing market is terrible and he doesn’t have enough time for that. So, they’ve made do. Carlos, Akane, and Junpei sleep in Carlos’ room and Aoi gets the couch. Aoi initially complained, saying he didn’t come all the way to America to couch surf, and almost got a hotel. But Akane sweetly reminded him that hotels did not offer five-star breakfasts and cute firemen to cook them. Carlos had blushed at that and Aoi had rolled his eyes but agreed to stay.

How Aoi ended up in America in the first place was all Junpei’s doing. The official line is that Junpei insisted it would be pathetic if Aoi spent Christmas alone, so he dragged him all the way out to California. Maria suspects Aoi tagging along has less to do with that and more to do with Carlos. But Carlos doesn’t think it’s too much of a stretch to bring your boyfriend when you’re visiting your other boyfriend with your girlfriend…

What has his life become?

The door squeaks open in the other room just loud enough for Carlos to hear it and he smiles. He washes his hands and leaves the kitchen to find Aoi, Junpei, and Akane coming in the front door with probably more groceries than strictly necessary. Aoi had only proposed the trip to get some (good) wine to go with dinner, and Maria made up a list of a few things they could use, but it looks like they’ve come back with much more than that.

“Blame Junpei,” Akane says when she sees Carlos’ questioning gaze. “He was the one who insisted on getting three flavors of instant ramen like he’s still at University.”

“I’ve never seen those flavors,” Junpei scowls, brushing past Carlos to drop his bag in the kitchen. “Besides, Akane bought a lot of coffee creamer.”

“I’ve never seen those flavors,” Akane parrots innocently.

Carlos shakes his head, but he’s smiling. He looks to Aoi, who’s struggling with an overpacked bag, and takes it from him effortlessly. “What did you buy too much of?”

Aoi grins and there’s something about that expression that’s so inviting and teasing that it makes Carlos a little bit flustered. “Alcohol. Too many flavors and all that shit. Americans really like that flavored crap, don’t they?”

“I guess…” Carlos says with a little shrug. He peers into the bag and sees a variety of holiday flavored wines and vodkas. Are you planning on drinking all this?“

“Oh?” Aoi steps closer to Carlos and even though he’s shorter, Carlos can’t help but feel like he’s being loomed over. “Can’t hold your liquor?”

Carlos can only stare as Aoi brushes past him to bother Junpei in the kitchen. Now without Aoi in front of him, Carlos can see Maria and Akane watching him.

“Told you,” Maria says, giggling.

Akane grins. “You were right. My brother and your brother… we’ll be, double sisters in law?”

That really makes Maria laugh. Carlos goes red as the both of them giggle at his expense. “It’s not like that,” he insists.

Akane steps forward and cups Carlos’ face. He leans into her touch. “Sorry, just teasing. I know how you are, don’t worry, okay? It’s Christmas Eve.”

But Carlos is very good at worrying.

During dinner, Aoi serves Carlos a generous helping of a very sweet wine that tastes off puttingly of peppermint. There are three bottles of various flavors open at the table and it seems random who has gotten what.

“Pumpkin spice wine?” Junpei sputters, looking scandalized. “Aoi… you’ve really gone too far this time.”

“Don’t blame me,” Aoi says with a little shrug. “I’m just the messenger. You should really be blaming this fucking sinful country for concocting such an abomination.”

“Mine’s not bad,” Maria offers. holding it out to Junpei for a taste. She’s sitting next to Carlos. Across from them are Akane and Junpei, and right next to Carlos at the corner of the table is Aoi.

Junpei sips the dark liquid suspiciously and pulls a face. “Is that supposed to be chocolate?”

“You’re so uncultured,” Aoi says with a long-suffering sigh as he clinks glasses with Akane.

In turn, Akane drinks her white wine and blinks. “Cheesecake. Here, Jumpy, maybe this is more to your taste.”

After Junpei decides he definitely does not like that one either, he looks to Carlos, who shrugs. “No, you won’t like mine. Peppermint. A lot of it.”

Junpei turns to Aoi with disgust. “Why did you even buy that? Anyone who drinks that better not kiss me.”

Before Carlos knows what’s happening, Aoi is reaching for his glass. He downs the rest of the wine in one go, not breaking eye contact with Junpei. “Whoops. Guess I don’t get to kiss you now. Big fucking loss. I’ll just have to kiss Carlos.” Aoi leans over and slips an arm around Carlos.

Carlos goes a little red and even redder as Maria catches his eye and raises an eyebrow at him. He coughs and averts his gaze as Junpei fumes.

“You’re a dick,” Junpei grumbles. “I didn’t want to kiss either of you anyway.”

“Liar.” Aoi idly refills the wine glass and passes it to Akane as Junpei’s eyes go wide.

“No, don’t do it, Kanny, please. I swear I’ll shift right now to some other timeline where you don’t ruin the taste of your lips.”

Akane grins at Aoi and takes the glass. Junpei gapes at her as she brings the glass to her lips ever so slowly. Even Carlos holds his breath with anticipation. But she doesn’t take a sip. Instead she giggles and puts it down. “Jumpy, you’re so dramatic.”

Carlos starts tuning out the rest of their banter because Aoi’s arm is still draped tantalizingly around him. He serves himself some more of the offending wine and drinks it too quickly. The roast is good, no harm done for ignoring it for a little while, and the meal passes by comfortably with Aoi’s arm around him. Every time Carlos thinks he’s going to pull away… he doesn’t. If anything, he draws closer.

Towrds the end of the meal, everyone is a little tipsy and Aoi leans close to Carlos’ ear to whisper, “Meet me outside in two minutes.” He gets up from the table and stretches out like a cat while Carlos stares bewilderedly after him “Be right back,” he tells the table. “Gotta take a piss.”

“Go wash your mouth out,” Junpei gripes. “Plenty of mouthwash.”

Aoi flips him off as he leaves, and Carlos is left with a growing pit of dread in his stomach. He watches the next two minutes crawl by as he stares at the clock on the wall. When it’s finally time for him to get up, he lurches unsteadily to his feet and Maria looks up at him with concern.

“Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah.” Carlos waves her off. “Just need to get some air.”

“Okay…” Maria is looking at him with too much scrutiny, so he hurries out of the kitchen before she can pick up anything weird from him. They’re so much more in tune these days that he’s had to ask her to stop prying into his mind. She complies… most of the time.

When Carlos gets outside the front door of his apartment, Aoi is waiting there, bathed in his porchlight and smoking a cigarette carelessly as he leans against the railing. “You actually waited two minutes.” He shakes his head and grins. “What a fuckin’ dumbass.”

Carlos falters. It’s cold outside and he’s just wearing a stupid holiday sweater Maria picked out for him. He shoves his hands in his pockets and averts his eyes. “I’m good at following instructions,” he offers.

At that, Aoi snorts and takes a drag of his cigarette before stubbing it out. “I just didn’t want the others to get suspicious. You blush too easily.” He takes a step towards Carlos, who instantly gets tense. “Relax. Jesus.” Aoi reaches forward and brushes a piece of hair from Carlos’ face.

“Oh,” Carlos says softly. A puff of his breath materializes between them. He tries to look anywhere else but Aoi is so close. “This won’t… this doesn’t complicate everything, does it?”

“Goddamn, you talk too much,” Aoi says, slipping one of his hands behind Carlos’ neck. His hands are cold, and it makes Carlos shiver. “I’ve already stolen one of my sister’s boyfriends. Another one isn’t going to hurt, right?”

“I-I guess?”

“You like me, right?” Aoi’s words are more of a demand than anything. He already knows the answer, obviously. His brazenness makes Carlos laugh helplessly.

“Y-yes, but—”

“Then quit fuckin’ talking! Jesus, I’m trying to make out with you at a holiday party. I shouldn’t have to say anything except ‘you, me, outside.’”

Carlos doesn’t have time to say anything to that before Aoi is leaning up and pressing mouth firm against Carlos’. He tastes strongly of peppermint wine but it’s not off putting anymore. Carlos slides his eyes shut and winds his arms around Aoi’s waist. He lets himself relax and the cold melts away as Aoi digs his fingers in Carlos’ hair. He’s not as tall as Carlos, so he’s pulling him down, pressing his body up to meet him.

When they break apart, Carlos is breathless and pink and Aoi is grinning at him like the Cheshire Cat. “Alright, fix your face, they’re going to wonder where we’ve been. I’ll go first.”

And then Aoi is gone and Carlos is standing on his porch wondering what the hell just happened.

The next ten minutes pass by in a blur. Carlos returns to his kitchen. Maria raises her eyebrows over and over at him, Junpei is still complaining about the wine, and Akane is giving him a knowing look. Finally, Maria excuses herself, saying she’s meeting up with some friends, and she winks at Carlos not so subtly as she leaves. Now, left with a mountain of dishes, Junpei says they should clean up later and the four of them end up crammed together on Carlos’ couch.

Carlos ends up exactly where he does not want to be, stuck between Akane and Aoi. Akane curls into him at once and Aoi slings an arm around him.

“Of course, I’m on the end,” Junpei mutters as he makes himself comfortable on Aoi’s other side.

“Quit whining, you’re going to have to learn to share this solid asshole.” Aoi pats Carlos’ shoulder appreciatively. “You two have really been holding out on me.”

“I knew something happened when you both disappeared,” Akane says, looking up at Carlos brightly. He’s trying very hard not to look flustered. “You have my full support. Jumpy? Tell him you support him.”

“What? Hell no. I can’t let Carlos date this… this degenerate.”

Aoi swiftly elbows Junpei in the stomach and Junpei starts swearing at him and Carlos can only watch in mild horror as the two of them start wrestling on the couch, right there next to him. Akane puts a hand on his cheek and gently guides his gaze to her.

“Jumpy’s joking. It’s alright. We’re both happy for you. I know it seems like too much, but you don’t have to worry.” She smiles at him and her eyes are so soft and gentle as she leans forward to give him a chaste peck on the lips.

As Akane pulls away, Carlos is smiling. “Uh, thanks, Akane. Guess it’s too much to ask for a normal Christmas, huh?”

Akane grins back him and puts a hand on his chest as he slips an arm around her. “Don’t worry. This is as normal as it gets.”

After a moment, Aoi settles back against Carlos, apparently done wrestling with Junpei.

“You see what he’s like?” Junpei grumbles, resting his head on Aoi’s shoulder and closing his eyes. “But if you must… I guess I support you.”

“Didn’t need your approval, asshole,” Aoi breathes into Carlos’ neck.

Carlos laughs. He’s comfortable and full and still a little tipsy and maybe just slightly overwhelmed to suddenly find himself entangled with Akane’s brother but… he’s happy above all else. And as the four of them eventually fall asleep on the couch, watching a movie that none of them were paying attention to, Carlos can’t believe how lucky he is.