#I really just made this for Ranmaru

[daily-yttd-something]

Day 129: Gender

[zettaireido-emotion]

Camus character analysis: games VS anime

If you finished the Uta no Prince-sama anime and your opinion of this man is "wow, he's kinda terrible," I don't blame you. in fact I've seen a lot of people say this

In this post, I want to talk about his characterization in the games and give my two cents on what the anime was trying to do with him, especially in his single focus episode Saintly Territory (S3E6).

Disclaimer: I wrote this on a whim because I'm sick and stuck at home so if anyone reads this, sorry I might go all over the place

Spoilers for all of the games!

The "be my slave" thing

Starting with Anime Camus's most egregious crime: treating Haruka like a servant/slave (however you want to translate it)

Basically in his focus episode, Haruka is tasked with writing a song for Camus. She wants to learn more about him in order to write it, but Camus will only let her follow him if she acts as his servant. She accepts without complaining, Cecil is rightfully angry, Haruka continues anyway and the song gets completed.

Now, am I about to say that Game Camus would never do this? No because he literally does lmao.

The anime doesn't pull this "servant" plotline out of nowhere, here's the context in his route:

Haruka accidentally overhears Camus talking about a plot to assassinate Saotome on the phone. When he notices that she heard everything, he basically tells her that he has to kill her now. But if she served him, he'd be able to keep an eye on her, make sure she doesn't leak anything, so she could escape death.

Okay uh "work under me or DIE" isn't exactly better, nor is it a good start to a love story, but I'm not finished!!

(A side note: I have to add that the anime made him look like an even bigger asshole and borderline dumb when it came to the things he made her do. Like he expected her to know that snapping your fingers means you want coffee without prior explanation. bro

^This might have been for comedic effect but I promise he can be actually funny and endearing.)

What the anime couldn't cover

The Camus episode wraps up with Haruka pulling through and writing a song that makes Camus "sincere," he says it's cool at the very end and that's the episode. I think the problem is that we technically didn't see him being sincere or what that even means to him, besides when he was singing (banger song btw)

It's a shame because in a 20-minute episode you really can't show the game experience of slowly piecing together what this man's problem is.

First of all, in Debut and AS you'll be quick to notice that he always has homeland and duty on the mind, constantly reminding himself that he's in Shining Agency/Japan for a reason, and it's NOT to have fun or make friends

The truth is, he slowly starts to appreciate the banter with his colleagues, music, and working there in general.

But because of his initial mindset, he has to rationalize & justify every connection he forms, like "it's just for work" or worse: "actually it was ALL A LIE and I NEVER ENJOYED A SECOND OF THE TIME WE SPENT TOGETHER, I'm such a great actor haha"

He uses that to fool himself and to push the other person away so it doesn't happen again. This scene is probably the best example:

(I'll be using google lens because it's faster but I checked that the tls were okay)

He also does this in the Non-Fiction drama, which may or may not have actually happened, but I think it's still a pretty good reflection of what could happen in reality because he tells Ranmaru their bond was a lie, then mopes around in his guilt thinking about the good times and wondering why he's sad, and THEN later doubles down on the "it was a lie, I don't care about you" because he just can't let himself get attached to anything.

Basically, he's terrified at the thought of forming actual bonds because he genuinely thinks he's nothing if he stops being a cold weapon:

At one point he does admit he sucks (as a love interest)-

-which is pretty huge by utapri standards. I love these games, but the amount of times where a male lead does something icky, and everyone, including Haruka, acts like it's normal or like it's Haruka's fault is ehhh but I digress

Upbringing

Of course he's very proud of his homeland and status, but sometimes it's to the point of thinking he can't be anything other than his title. So why is he like this?

We got to hear about his childhood from Camus himself a few times, and it often ended with Haruka thinking "wait? that's kinda messed up?" and Camus insisting it's nothing/it's normal so yeah that's something...

His parents were in an unhappy arranged marriage, and his mother was forced to birth an heir which traumatized her so much that she can't see Camus without falling ill. Overall it's a pretty tragic situation since what happened to her was horrible, though not Camus's fault either. Even now she refuses to see him, and I wouldn't say that makes him sad because he never really met her, but simply knowing of her sacrifice probably adds a lot of pressure. As in, he only exists for this one purpose (inheriting his father's title and serving the country), so if he doesn't play his part correctly, it would have all been for nothing.

He was raised by his father not as a child or son but as the heir, always treated and judged as an adult (even during physical training apparently, make of that what you will)

When Haruka asks about childhood memories he has a very hard time finding something that doesn't have to do with his duties or the nation. And then admits he didn't truly have a "childhood" since he was never treated like a child

As for the queen, I think his love for her is sincere: she taught him a lot of things growing up, and according to him, she's also a victim trapped by her duties so he wants to ease the burden.

So hypothetically, if he found things or people that made him happy in Japan, he would feel obligated to lock them away because that happiness is incompatible with his life: he'll have to leave when his mission ends, he shouldn't be spending time on things that aren't "useful" as he doesn't have the free will to pursue them

In his mind he's completely tied down by the fact that he was born and raised for a single reason, and the fact that he does want to serve the queen.

(This is Saotome describing him btw)

Also it might sound ridiculous to bring his self-worth into question because of how pretentious he is, but I've counted a few situations where he seemed to have complete disregard for his own life, only worrying about Haruka and Cecil's safety in scenes when they were present. And he thinks wanting to be loved unconditionally is a childish thought he shouldn't have.

"Double Face" was a lie. There's like at least 10 layers

On the surface he does have two personas, his perfect polite butler act for the media, and his cold bitchy attitude off camera. But honestly, even when he's not acting as a butler, he's often putting up a front to hide any form of vulnerability (from himself as well)

His main struggle is finding who he is outside of what he's being told to do. Before, he never actually stopped to think about what he WANTS because it just never occurs to him, or if it does he ignores it.

That's why realizing that he has his own desires is essential to his character development, and him staying with Quartet Night (and Haruka in his routes) is so important. It's why Reiji feels the need to reach out and when he does, Camus either freezes up or tears up;

This all makes him the opposite of Ranmaru (being true to yourself and sincere), and similar to Ai (gradually learning to view the world in a less cold and logical way), but I kind of want to save that for another post lmao

He is especially hard on Cecil because Cecil says & does whatever he wants, and everything still works out for him, which is a way of life that Camus can't imagine for himself at all (despite maybe wanting it?)

That he can realize this and eventually admit out loud, despite all his pride, is also one of my favorite things about him

Season 2 does hint at something, so that's pretty cool!

Side note, I really love that his theme in the new Oracle series is "Change," the melting of ice.

So what was the anime supposed to do??

Of course there's no way to show all this in a single episode or even during the runtime of the anime, and I never expected them to because the story is very surface-level (that goes for all characters).

It's just unfortunate since the anime is the most accessible and well-known utapri media in the western fandom, and the character's main episode is bound to leave the biggest impression.

I understand the choice of being laser-focused on the servant plotline, it's supposed to be funny (?) and waters him down to a trope that's easy to understand at first glance (the step-on-me guy I guess)

Still, I can't help but compare it to Ranmaru's episode, who was also hard to work with in the games but was chill in S3E7 and got to pet cats. Anime onlys will never know how much Camus loves to dote on his dog smh.....

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

My Yakuza Man (Mitsuhide)

Translations may not always capture the exact nuances or tone of the original text. Expect grammatical errors and inaccuracies.

✮⋆˙ Prologue

Mitsuhide: "What's wrong? You don't seem to have much of an appetite."

Mai: "I think it's weird to eat normally in a situation like this."

Mitsuhide: "Agreed."

(Then why did you even ask!?)

Mitsuhide: "However, on that first night we met, you stood up to a group of armed men with remarkable boldness. I figured someone like you might actually eat heartily even now."

Mai: "Sorry to disappoint. But seriously, that doesn't sound like a compliment at all."

Mitsuhide: "Not true. Back then, I did say you were interesting, didn't I? That's quite a rare compliment coming from me."

Gracefully holding his knife and fork, Mitsuhide smiled at me with an air of elegance.

I could feel the occasional glances from the other women seated at nearby tables, their gazes filled with admiration.

They didn’t seem to hear the unsettling conversation, which made me sigh with relief.

(He's talking about that, isn't he?)

That night, caught in a violent conflict, I ended up yelling, 'You should value your lives' when I tried to protect a young man named Ranmaru.

Mitsuhide: "That was a good first meeting."

Mai: "It was the worst for me."

Mitsuhide: "Don't say that. Learning your name and workplace so quickly was a stroke of luck. Thanks to that, I managed to keep you from slipping away."

(I should've just removed my ID back then!)

It was too late to regret it now.

Having had my identity pinned down, I found myself at the mercy of Mitsuhide. 

Under the guise of a date (blackmail), I ended up being dragged to this fancy restaurant.

Mai: "Um, you really don't need to threaten me into silence. I swear I won't tell anyone about what I saw that day."

Mitsuhide: "Silence you? That's an odd thing to say. What exactly did you see?"

Mai: "You know, um, possession of unauthorized firearms and swords?"

Even though I knew no one around could hear us, the topic was sensitive enough that I instinctively leaned in and whispered.

At this, he slightly narrowed his eyes as if holding back laughter before exaggeratedly raising his eyebrow.

Mitsuhide: "Oh dear. You've witnessed something amusing, haven't you, Mai?"

His teasing tone was lighthearted and annoyingly smooth.

(Ugh, it’s like nothing I say bothers him at all!)

(If this isn't about silencing me, then why is he involving himself with an ordinary office worker like me?)

Mai: "You really don't want me saying anything, do you?"

Frustrated, I tried to test the waters, but his perfectly composed face didn't flinch in the slightest.

Mitsuhide: "If that's what you want to believe, I won't stop you. But it's a bit sad."

Mitsuhide: "All I've done is genuinely invite someone I'm interested in for a meal."

Mai: "Y-You're so full of it!"

Mitsuhide: "What would it take for me to earn your trust?"

His evasiveness, paired with words that almost sounded like flirtation, was starting to confuse me.

Unable to read his intentions, I could only stiffen in frustration. Seeing this, Mitsuhide chuckled softly before saying something completely unexpected.

Mitsuhide: "Do you eat meat?"

Mai: "Huh, meat? Uh, yeah, I guess."

Mitsuhide: "Then try this. I've heard good things about the food here."

Cutting the dish into a refined, bite-sized piece, Mitsuhide held the fork up to my mouth.

(Wait, is this a 'say ahh' situation!?)

Mitsuhide: "Truth be told, I don't really care about food. As long as it fills me up, that's good enough for me."

Mai: "Huh?"

(This guy has perfect table manners, but his way of thinking is like that of a warlord.)

Mitsuhide: "But that wouldn't satisfy the chef, would it? So, instead, I'd like you to enjoy it."

Mai: "This is ridiculous. If that's the case, then why did you even invite me to a restaurant?"

Mitsuhide: "I figured you'd find it harder to make a scene in a crowded place. Plus, I wanted to see that kind of expression from you."

Mitsuhide: "Come on. Give up and open those stubborn lips of yours. You don't want me to force it open, do you?"

Mai: "………"

(This is already forceful enough.)

Even as I thought this, his voice, laced with a seductive tone, caught me off guard, making my heart skip a beat.

Mitsuhide: "I'm going to touch your lips."

Mai: "Mmm."

As he brought the fork closer, I had no choice but to surrender and open my lips.

The meat touched my tongue. I gently bit it down, feeling the hard touch of the fork.

Mitsuhide: "Good girl."

(Please don't smile so beautifully like that.)

He watched me quietly as I ate, pleased with my compliance, and finally withdrew the fork.

I felt an overwhelming embarrassment as if I had been forced into doing something shameful, and my cheeks burned with heat.

Mai: "I really don't get it. I have no idea what you want from me."

Mitsuhide: "I'm flattered that you're thinking about me."

Mai: "Stop joking around."

Mitsuhide: "I just wanted to know more about you. It'll be useful for the future."

His words felt loaded with meaning, making me feel uneasy and restless.

But at that moment, his gaze suddenly turned cold.

Mitsuhide: "It seems I have some guests."

Mai: "Huh?"

Man 1: "There he is! Mitsuhide Akechi of the Azuchi clan!"

Man 2: "Don't let him escape!"

Mitsuhide: "Fighting here would be uncouth. Mai, stand up."

Mai: "What!?"

He didn't even flinch when the men pointed at us and charged toward our table. He calmly stood up and, almost as if escorting me, elegantly wrapped his arm around my waist.

Mitsuhide: "You'll accompany me on this little escape, won't you?"

(----!)

He whispered into my ear with an almost playful tone, and it hit me again that this man was unlike any ordinary person.

(This guy is way too dangerous!)

Even as I realized this, I couldn't resist and found myself running alongside him.

[doonalli]

Mai and Humanity in Autonomy (Mai Character Analysis)

I think Mai Tsurugi is a character who has a lot to her and while I know she is talked about a bit I think she should be talked about more because she is a truly fantastic character and I hope this post gets you to start thinking about how and why!!

To understand Mai’s character I think it's important to talk about a major theme in 3-1. Obviously at its core Chapter 3 Part 1 is about what makes something human, and its shown through each of the dummies, each encompassing a different aspect of humanity, and for Mai this is the humanity of being able to make your own choices.

And this is made extremely clear during one major point in 3-1 where Ranmaru gives a speech about how humanity is about making your own choices after Keiji gets locked in a coffin. 

And throughout the chapter Mai ends up emboding everything that Ranmaru and this scene is trying to say.

In this speech Ranmaru states that being human is about making your own choices, something that's a constant struggle for Mai’s character, but also something she ends up learning throughout the chapter and finally proving her humanity through it.

and Mai is the one who by far encapsulates this the most throughout 3-1, ironic considering how she is also the only one who didn’t get to hear the speech on account of being unconscious.

When we first meet Mai it’s as a doll during the Murderer Game, the subgame in which the survivors must kill Midori in order to proceed however the dolls instead have a different objective. As a doll Mai is told she must kill her partner (in this case being Q-taro) if she wants to survive. Here she starts off as someone unable to make her own choices and that's shown off almost immediately when Mai ends up being the first doll to play into Midori's hands and try to kill their partner, it's a choice that was set up for her, not something she chose herself but rather it's just her playing along with Midori's puppet show. However, after she wakes from being knocked out by Qtaro we see the first signs of her breaking from that.

When she wakes up, we see the aftermath of her choice from her perspective, and she regrets it, not from a regret of her betrayal but because of her failure.

If Sara tells her “you’re awake…” she’ll say

Its only when Qtaro decides to forgive that she finally regrets her actions

And Qtaro tells her that this doesn’t mean anything, as he claims he would have done the same, and the only thing that stopped him was that he was never given the opportunity. The only thing stopping him was the lack of a choice in the matter, mirroring how the only thing pushing Mai is the looming threat that if she doesn’t kill she dies. Both given only having one real choice presented to them. 

Q-taro even said as much right after Mai stabbed him.

Q-taro calls out the lack of choice the dummies have in the matter, and makes it clear that its Midori who has control over them. Forcing them to play along with his puppet show.

Once Mai is awake it's from this point forward where we see more of who she really is, rather than the cutesy persona she put on before, and that's shown through her actions. 

As a first step towards reconciliation Mai steps up to take Qtaro off Yabusame’s hands and let him lean on her instead. (and if Anzu died Gin will tell Mai that they can take turns if she gets tired, to which she thanks Gin)

The next scene I want to talk about is when Hinako asks the dummies how they plan on surviving with both the humans and the dummies intact. If Anzu and Hayasaka both died earlier Mai will step up to fight back against Hinako and Kurumada’s reluctance.

Rather than speaking from a reluctance to kill such kind people like Anzu or Hayasaka, she argues from experience. She can’t say she couldn’t kill them, but she still doesn’t want her allies to feel the same feeling she did, even if she would have to stop them herself

Finally when Maple starts going on a rampage she decides to risk her life to stay behind and protect Qtaro. Interestingly she also is required to beat the Maple fight as she is the one who reads Maple’s instruction manual and figures out what must be done, which leads into the connection Mai and Maple have in their arcs.

Speaking of, during Keiji’s POV section, Mai and Qtaro hide in the coffins to get away from Maple until they’re unlocked and they are able to save Keiji. Qtaro gets the idea to shut off the elevators to stop Maple from being able to get to the 5th floor after the others. Maple then stumbles in and collapses, starting another scene which highlights the connection Mai and Maple have.

And she explains that her goal as an obstructor was to kill Midori, however there was something that stood in the way of that.

Maple regrets the terrible things she did to everyone but Mai tells her it's because the cast took the ID card from her. Maple tells her that it was because she was programmed into loving Midori, that even this love wasn’t her choice and ultimately relegates her to a “gimmick”, robbing her of her autonomy, a similar situation as to what happened with Mai. During the Murderer game Mai alongside the rest of the dummies are reduced to gimmicks, to the point that unlocking the first level of “gimmick security” lets you see information on the dummies and their collars,

and unlocking the second level causes the victim videos of the dummies to play, ending with a video of what happened as they woke up. Its clear that, to Midori and Asunaro at least, the dummies are simply gimmicks for the Murderer Game.

And this is shown again when Maple explains the true meaning of the “Murderer game”, and how they were pushed into thinking that killing the survivors was their only choice, despite that not being the case.

However Mai doubts it at first, saying

She wonders if Asunaro would even charge them if their battery runs out, she then insists Asunaro was planning on disposing of them from the start, and that they were just watching them struggle helplessly.

Until Qtaro speaks up to make a promise to Mai,

Through the Banquet and Qtaro’s promise a new path opens up, one paved through the bonds between the humans and the dolls. A new choice was created, a choice they made themselves, separate from the “the human lives or the doll lives” dichotomy they were fed before. And with Mai’s help, alongside Qtaro and Keiji, this choice became an actual possibility. 

Once Keiji leaves to charge the Midori doll’s head Mai and Qtaro stay behind and they end up enacting their own plan to help everyone during the banquet. Qtaro lays down in Keiji’s coffin, taking his death into his own hands, in a way alleviating the blame from Mai for her actions, and opening up a new possibility for the dummies with the banquet. Mai still cries out that it's her fault. However the death now has a purpose, has a reason past Mai’s mistake, and it changes the death from one done by a lack of choice, to one that opens up new choices from a lot more people.

From here Mai is alone, with Keiji on the 5th floor and Qtaro gone, she is the only one who is left that knows about the plan, and the only one at all who knows about Qtaro. From here she walks her own path, obtains the ID card from Sara and starts to boot up the Qtaro AI into the doll. Soon an announcement from “Keiji” calling for Sara occurs and Mai tries to push everyone to go with her, likely to make sure Keiji isn’t spotted on the way down, but Sara charges on alone regardless, leaving Mai alongside the rest of the others, and with no Keiji in sight.

She then later meets up with Sara alongside the others and a new Q-taro doll in the classroom after Sara awakens from being stunned.

Very quickly I want to call attention to a scene in the Logic route after Ranmaru kills Yabusame.

After Ranmaru claims that this is the only way left to save Sara, Hinako calls him out on wanting to save himself, causing him to retaliate by asking when she decided to side with them. Hinako, shocked, doesn't manage to reply, but Mai steps in to tell Ranmaru that no one would side with him.

In a way Ranmaru in the Logic Route is the exact opposite of what Mai is striving for. Just the same as her, he killed someone to survive, and while she wouldn’t know that Ranmaru was pushed into this choice by Sara’s words, similar to what Midori did to Mai, there is a large difference in the fact that Ranmaru’s goal includes killing everyone to save himself and Sara but even past that he revels in what he did as the right choice, mirroring Mai’s almost immediate regret at her actions. Even the way she specifically kills her partner while Ranmaru's goal is to kill everyone EXCEPT his partner adds to this.

Right afterwards the fight against Maple 2.0 happens, and there are a couple moments I want to discuss on how they pertain to this theme of making your own choices shared between the two. Firstly, Maple’s first attack.

But, despite her own thoughts…

Here Maple is stuck following orders, and Mai understands that, she tries to tell her to be strong. However this doesn’t end up working out and Maple throws her first attack of the fight, regardless of what she truly thinks.

Next, Mai’s early death.

Mai ends up dying due to Maple’s lack of autonomy in her own actions, and Midori mocks her in that, asking her “You fine with that Maple…?” despite knowing he has her wrapped around his finger. The way Mai dies is in a way she personally could relate to, and relates to her final apology to Q-taro.

In both examples Maple is trapped by her programming in the same way Mai was trapped by the knowledge that she must kill to survive, but Maple shows something important with her final moments.

As she is about to die she breaks from Midori’s control on her and uses this chance to die alongside him, thanking everyone and saying she has “finally woken up” if Mai lived or denying Midori’s reward if she died instead. 

When she finally catches up to him Midori in a last ditch effort tells Maple that he loves her, trying to abuse the programming placed into her, and Sara has 3 possible responses she can give. “He’s lying” and “Hurry up and finish him” both leading him to restate the sentiment that he loves her, but this time Maple isn’t led astray and affirms that she won’t believe him. And if Sara says “Don’t kill him” she continues to lead her own decision stating that she will herself.

However despite this her body fails and she isn’t able to kill him. In the Logic Route, if Ranmaru is still alive, this is specifically caused by Ranmaru shocking her with his stun gun finger, adding another layer to my earlier point on how he is the opposite of Mai with him denying Maple’s own final action. Notably Mai sits down next to Maple’s corpse during the pre-banquet.

Despite this However Maple’s attack showed us cracks in Midori’s facade, cracks that will eventually break him. Maple’s actions here are the first step to breaking Midori and truly winning.

And this is shown in full force during the banquet with Mai’s decision, but before that I want to talk about a scene that occurs beforehand.

When the possibility of a human being a part of the dummies is brought into question, the realisation that Mai isn’t the exact same as her doll comes to light. Eventually this leads to the horrible truth that Mai’s hands aren’t actually her hands at all, but rather Midori’s human hands. In a way this is the physical manifestation that Mai’s actions weren’t by her own hands, but rather she was a tool for Midori, playing along with his puppet show. (and yet another mirror to Ranmaru who also had a scene focusing on his hands earlier in the chapter.)

Upon this reveal Mai swears she’ll kill Midori, something missing from Qtaro’s words if she died, instead his resolve is shaken, wondering if they’ll even be able to beat a guy like him. And this leads to the epitome of her arc, the third hint.

When Sara is forced to pick a red coffin she is afraid to make the choice in fear that her logic isn’t even correct. This is where Mai steps in to tell her to pick a red coffin so she can win.

Mai encompasses Ranmaru’s words from the start of the chapter, no longer too scared to die that she can’t even resist Midori’s hold on her, but proving her humanity by taking her life into her own hands to stand up against Midori, to claim her autonomy, because that's what separates a human from a tool. She quite literally made her own choice with the Banquet, allowing both the humans and the dolls an opportunity to make it through together, a possibility opened through the bonds between the humans and dolls, Qtaro and Mai being at the forefront of that.

Now Mai is willingly telling Sara to choose a coffin, even if its at the cost of her life. She isn’t going to allow Midori control over anyone again. The Mai we see before us here is so different from the at the start of the chapter, one who was too afraid to fight back and make and descision for herself. And even as far back as her victim video where she couldn’t even make a choice between which gun she needs to pick,and died as a result of her panicked state, where she shot the wrong gun. The through line of guns being present in both scenarios also adds to this aspect.

Mai proves humanity through actions, because being human means being able to make your own choices, something both Mai and Maple struggled with at first, but also something they ended up demonstrating over the chapter. They proved their humanity by not letting their actions be decided by another, to not be treated like a tool. Because being human means being able to have autonomy in your actions and Mai proved without a doubt that she is human, despite the physical aspect of being a doll. Because while a doll can’t move, talk or feel without someone forcing it, it's nothing but expected for a human.

==================================================================================================

WOOO MAI ANALYSIS DONE!!! only one dummie left!!! hopefully soon???

Also kinda a Maple analysis by mistake LOL hopefully that's okay lmao, the characters are majorly linked to each other so it didn't feel right to just omit her

But yeah hopefully you enjoyed this and it got you to think about Mai and Maple a bit more as characters, if you liked this and its the first one you've seen then I've got more analyses like these on my blog

and of course its not lost on me the fact that its the 2 women dolls that have an arc about their autonomy, and I love how it falls into YTTD's themes of gendered power as a whole

And as of the day I'm releasing this HAPPY ANNIVERSARY 3-1B!!! The best chapter! I hope this counts as a good enough anniversary post lol, the dummies are a major part of 3-1 after all! I'm happy to give more 3-1 content to the world!

As for now though, I hope you enjoyed and see you next time for my Hinako analysis!!!

[ikeromantic]

Ikesen Boys React to Tattooed MC pt 6

Thank you again to @otomedad for this fantastic idea ^_^ This one has Mitsunari, Ranmaru, and Kyubei! Approx. 3000 words of tattoo and MC appreciation!

Mitsunari

You blink. Twice. Mitsunari is still standing in the doorway when your eyes open the second time. He’s still smiling, a book tucked under one arm. You scrabble for your kimono, draped on the bench across from you and manage to drape it over your damp skin. 

“Mitsunari!”

“Good morning!” He steps through the door as if it was no big deal to see you standing there in nothing but your skin. “I found this book and it reminded me of you. I thought you might like it.” He holds out the thin tome.

You look at the book and back up at his sweet, smiling face. You gesture toward the tub behind you. “Umm. Thanks? But I’m naked right now. And wet. Can you give it to me later?”

His eyes widen and for the first time since he opened the door, his gaze sweeps down your body and back up again. “Oh. Oh! Yes, we wouldn’t want to get the pages wet. You’re right, of course.” He glanced down again, at the kimono barely covering you from chest to knee, the thin fabric clinging to your skin. “Here, let me help dry you off.”

“That’s really ok. I can - I don’t need - Mitsunari!” You stumble over your words as he grabs a soft cloth and sets down the book. Your face is hot and your heart is pounding. You try to turn, to keep the modesty of the kimono between you, but Mitsunari can’t be so easily stopped.

“Your face is so -” he cuts off as his feet catch on a board and he tumbles forward. His hands catch on yours, and both of you end up on the floor. You are grateful that he somehow turned you so that he landed on the ground with you atop him. “Red?” He blinks. 

If he were anyone else, you’d think he did this on purpose. But it’s Mitsunari and he is so oblivious that you know he didn’t intend a thing by it. Now if you could convince your tummy to stop fluttering and your pulse to stop pounding . . . because this position is so . . . intimate. You feel frozen in place and like leaping out of your skin all at the same time. 

Mitsunari’s gaze narrows as his eyes light on the upper curve of your breast. “Is that irezumi? You have a tattoo! He reaches out, tracing the delicate lines of your peony tattoo. The flowers follow your natural curve so that the last blossom lands just above your heart. And that is where his hand stops as he looks up from the soft, pink blossoms to your eyes. 

You can’t move. You know you should stand but the feeling of his finger on your bare skin is electric. 

“Why are you holding your breath?” His wide, violet eyes search your face. 

“I-I’m not!” You gasp for a breath because you definitely were. With the moment broken, you manage to peel yourself off of him while positioning the kimono for maximum coverage. It drapes over your chest like a soft, silk blanket, and your inked skin buzzes under it, sensitized from Mitsunari’s touch. 

He stands, his clothes rumpled and damp now. “I didn’t know you had irezumi. It is beautiful.” His eyes sweep over you, widening slightly. Faint color touches his cheeks. His lips part and a slight, audible breath escapes. 

“Mitsunari -” You aren’t sure what to say. Scold him for walking in on you? Explain your tattoo? Thank him for the book? “They’re peonies. For a happy heart.” You pause again, and take a breath. “I’m glad you like them.”

“Yes. I . . . do.” He sounds out of breath. “I should go. I need to - I have to -” Mitsunari turns, almost tripping again. He knocks over a pile of drying cloths as he hurries out. 

You watch him go, a strange tightness in your chest.

Ranmaru

“Look at this one!” Ranmaru’s excited voice pulls your attention from the hairpins you are looking at to a carved jade and gold bracelet nearby. 

“Beautiful,” you say, looking at the carved stone, made to look like little flowers twined with golden vines. 

His attention has already moved on and he grabs your hand to bring you alongside him. “Oh and this one! The color would really suit you!” Ranmaru is pointing at another hair pin, this one more elaborate than the others. The slim pins hold a fall of delicate rose quartz that catch the light, glinting white and pink. 

You smile as his eyes meet yours. “It’s very pretty,” you agree. 

“They would look so nice in your hair. And look!” He lifts your hand to his chin, displaying the small, pinkish red peach tattooed at your wrist. “It would match!”

“Erm, yes,” you nod as you try to tug your hand down and cover the design with your sleeve. As much as you love your tattoo, you know in this age they aren’t common. 

Ranmaru isn’t letting you get away with hiding it though. Instead, he puts his thumb over it, rubbing your wrist in a small circle. “This is really pretty. I saw it when I met you. Remember?” He smiles brightly. “You stuck up for me.”

You nod, finding it a little hard to speak. Ranmaru is always so touchy-feely. It’s hard to remember sometimes that he doesn’t mean anything by it. A pleasant warmth washes up your arm from his touch and you do your best not to let it show. 

If he notices your reaction, he doesn’t give any sign. “You are always so nice. That’s why I decided right then that I wanted to be your friend.” His gaze drops back to your wrist. “So, can I ask you about this? Your little peach?”

“Y-yes?” You clear your throat, hoping you don’t sound like you feel. 

“Well? Where did you get it? Why did you get it?” His eyes are wide and innocent, though you detect a mischievous gleam in their depths. 

It takes you a moment to collect your thoughts and respond. “I got it in my, uhm, my home village. And I got it because I wanted to remember that I am strong. That I can protect myself.” Talking about it brings up a slew of unhappy memories. Bullying and teasing. The awfulness of your school years. 

Ranmaru must see something of those feelings in your expression because his smile fades. Then he brings your wrist to his lips and presses a quick kiss to it. 

You are pretty sure your heart almost bursts from the unexpected intimacy. His lips are warm and soft and the brush of them against your skin does all kinds of crazy things to your insides. Perhaps that was his intent, to wash away the bad memories under a deluge of cuteness. 

When he raises his head, his smile is back and twice as bright. “You really are strong. But I hope you know, I will be here to protect you too. Always.” 

There is something so genuine in the words that you don’t know how to react. You want to cry and hug him and get away all at once. Instead, you take a breath. “Thank you, Ranmaru. I’m glad you have my back. There’s no one I trust more.”

Something dark flits through the depths of his gaze. He looks away, but he keeps smiling. “I’m glad.” 

Days later, you find the rose quartz hair pin on your desk, with a small note. “You’re my favorite peach.”

Kyubei

You glare at Kyubei from your seat across the table. “What do you mean, I got it wrong?”

He shrugs uncomfortably and drops his gaze from yours. “The picture was painted by Kano Eitoku. You wrote -” He glances down at the paper, “Banksy. That isn’t the right answer.”

“I’m not an art major,” you huff, feeling a mix of embarrassment and exasperation. “Why does it matter if I know who painted what? I’m supposed to be a chatelaine. Cleaning and stuff, right?”

Kyubei sighs and you’d have to be blind and deaf not to see his exhaustion. You wonder if it’s your fault or if Mitsuhide is just running him ragged. “A good chatelaine can tell quality from the dross. And a noble lady would know this as well. I am not sure how you expect to pass as a princess if you don’t take your studies seriously.”

You rub a hand over your face. He’s right, of course. And even if he wasn’t, you can’t take your frustration out on him. Kyubei is just doing what he’s told. Which is what you’re supposed to be doing too. “Sorry.” You take the paper back from him, accidentally touching his hand as you do.

A slight flush heats his cheeks. “You don’t need to apologize. I - I shouldn’t have said that. If there’s any failure, it’s mine.”

“Kyubei, calm down. It’s fine. I’m not mad. It’s just hard to remember all this stuff.” You frown at the list of answers you wrote. Most of them are probably wrong. “Let’s go through it again.” You roll your sleeves up to keep them out of the ink.

His gaze returns to you, timidly, as if he isn’t sure whether or not you’re still annoyed. “Ok. If you like.” He clears his throat and looks down, the motion pausing as he notices the marks on your wrists. 

Your tattoos. You almost forget you have them. Geometric designs around your wrists and ankles, delicate and complex traceries that travel a little way up your forearm and calf. You love the way they look. At home, you’d show them off all the time but here, you’ve been cautious not to have them on display. 

Surprisingly, Kyubei says nothing about it, just launches into his lesson. You do your best to take careful notes this time. Writing the names of the current popular artists and poets, what they are known for. When he tests your knowledge at the end, you get nearly every question right.

You feel a rush of pleasure at his proud smile, and your heart does a tripping thud when he tells you, ‘good job.’

“Thanks,” you reply, reminding yourself that Kyubei is only here because he’s ordered to be. It’s not like he actually enjoys teaching you. 

He reaches out and puts a hand over yours. “You do very well when you focus. I should thank you, for giving me your time and attention.”

“You are a good teacher. I’m just - it’s a lot to remember all at once. Thank you for being patient with me.” You let your thumb brush the side of his palm.

The touch seems to draw his attention to where his hand rests and his eyes widen slightly. He pulls his hand back quickly, heat suffusing his cheeks. “Umm. Yes. I - I - it’s - we should -” Kyubei stumbles over his words as he stands. 

You watch, unsure what to make of this suddenly unsettled vassal. Usually, he’s the picture of appropriate. Serious, studious, and dutiful. Is he embarrassed about touching your hand? Curious, you reach out and take his hand again. “Should we?” You ask in your best bedroom voice, fluttering your eyelashes. 

His eyes go even wider, skin flushing to the roots of his hair. “I - I must. Go! Yes. Because. The lesson. It’s over.” Kyubei nearly falls in his haste to draw away from you. You let him go, though you’re tempted to keep hold of his hand just to see what he would do. 

Once he’s gone, you feel loneliness settle in again. The isolation of being a person outside the world at large. Belonging nowhere, with noone. You distract yourself for the rest of the afternoon with simple chores. It’s easy to ignore your feelings when you’re busy scrubbing the floors, dusting the shelves, and sweeping the halls.

Even with the distraction, you can’t stop thinking about your tutor. You start to feel a little guilty for teasing him. The poor guy has no choice but to train you, and you haven’t made that easy. Getting frustrated, not paying attention, and now today when you noticed him blushing you made it worse. 

You decide to go apologize once your work is done. After you put away your bucket and cleaning cloths, you grab some snacks from the kitchen and head over to his quarters in Mitsuhide’s manor. Kyubei doesn’t answer when you knock at his door. You could leave, but you decide to drop off the snacks and write him a note.

His room is surprisingly spartan. When you step inside, there is just a desk, and a small table stacked with papers held down by a flat, dark stone. No decorations, no sign anyone really lives here. You feel a spike of disappointment that this little adventure won’t tell you anything more about your tutor. 

You set the tray of snacks onto his desk and open a drawer to find something to write with. The drawer has odds and ends, including a pretty yatate. The slim pen compartment has a delicate jade inlay, and the ink box at the end bears the Akechi clan symbol. You lift it up, and the edge catches on something you didn’t see. A tiny mechanical switch hidden in the lip of the drawer. 

The bottom of the drawer makes a small pop as it opens. Sneaky, you think. And even though you know you shouldn’t snoop, you can’t help but look inside. A small notebook rests in the secret compartment. You pick it up and open to the last page with writing on it. 

She is clearly intelligent, but wholly ignorant of basic knowledge. I struggle to know what to teach her. Her accent, while lovely, places her nowhere I recognize. I also cannot place her features. Beautiful. Where is she from? The markings at her wrists and ankles may indicate Ainu heritage? <sketch of your wrist and ankle designs beneath>

Is this about you? You flip a few pages back.

Her perfume lingers in my nose. Tempting, like a sweet I know I cannot have. I asked again today to be reassigned. A common vassal should not instruct a princess. Again, the answer was no. Is my lord mocking me? Perhaps. He must know I am - no, he would not ask me to complete a task I cannot do. Besides, she has never looked at me as I look at her. 

“What are you doing in my room?”

The voice startles you. You drop the notebook. “Ah! Kyubei!” You know your cheeks are stained and your voice is unsteady. “I - I was bringing you a snack. And an apology.” You stand and point to the tray.

“Did you find . . . anything . . . in my desk?” He moves closer, his expression a tragic mask of embarrassed futility, made worse by a hint of hope.

“No!” You can’t help the way your gaze drops to the notebook you just let go of. His gaze follows.

Kyubei’s shoulders fall. “My observations.”

“Sorry.” You try for a smile. “I didn’t mean to be nosy.” Lie. “I mean, I guess I did but . . . I was just curious why you would hide a notebook.”

He lets out a long sigh. “Again, it is I that should apologize. I was tasked to keep watch over you and report anything of note to my lord. You have . . . every right to be angry.” Kyubei looks as if he is ready for a storm, his eyes downcast, his hands clenched.

That wasn’t the response you expected at all. He should be angry with you for snooping. “You - Kyubei, are you serious right now? You’re apologizing to me for coming into your room uninvited and looking through your things and -” you pause, “I mean, you did spy on me. But you said some really nice things.” 

“You - what?” His gaze snaps up, surprise evident in his features.

You can’t quite respond. Your breath catches as you see emotion in the depths of his dark gaze, a flicker of heat that has nothing to do with embarrassment. The words in his journal flit through your mind. 

Neither of you say anything for a long moment, the only sound is your shared breath and the quick-skip-stutter of your heartbeat. You clear your throat, trying to think of something to alleviate the tension between you. “So -” you start, and stop again. “Ai-ainu? M-my tattoos?”

Kyubei draws a breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Oh. That. Yes. Your ink reminds me of the northern people. I thought you might be from there but . . . I’m guessing you are not.”

You laugh, the sound a bit unsteady. “No. I’m not. I got these when I turned 18.” You show off your wrists, the geometric lines wrap your wrist and extend a little way down your forearm. “I liked the way they look. A bit like bracelets,” you grin, “or shackles, I guess.”

He takes advantage of your display to get a closer look. “They are very nice. You just got them because they were pretty?”

“That, and I like the meaning. Balance. Harmony. My place in, well, everything. I just really felt adrift and I wanted an anchor. So I got these to remind me every day. I belong. And since I came here, some days,” you pause, trying not to get emotional. The last thing you want to do is start crying. 

Kyubei reaches for you, his hand stopping just shy of your shoulder. “Is it alright if I - if you want - I could -”

You let yourself lean into the offered touch, his arm wrapping gently around your shoulder. 

“Thank you for telling me about your tattoos.” His cheek rests again the side of your head. “I hope you know. You do belong. Here. I like it that you’re here.” Kyubei’s voice is soft, barely audible.

A warmth flows through you, a comfort you didn’t expect or experience in a long time. There are questions to answer, but those can come later. You let yourself enjoy the moment. “Thanks, Kyubei. That means a lot.”

[selenacosmic]

hiiiiii i have been so inlove with your headcanons lately so i wished to ask you for a request if you please

I saw a film or heard a story lately can't remember though- but it was about a child that child was about 6-9 years old but was a genius strategist for every war they made a strategy in was always won because of how smart they are and so they were used because of it- by their emperor/lord but they were attached to him thinking that the way they were treated (physically and mentally abused) was love so how would the iksen characters think of this traumatized but genius child

Hello, I am so happy to know you like my writing! This sounds really interesting, thank you for the request!

Warlords reaction to a genius but traumatized child.

Oda forces.

Nobunaga Oda.

Just because it’s a child doesn’t mean he cannot recognize talent, Nobunaga would bring the child under his care to war council and, maybe, even war.

Nobunaga would provide care and safety for the child, while he wasn’t the best at affection and healing since he also suffered a lot as a child, he would try his best for this child.

Hideyoshi Toyotomi.

Hideyoshi would try objecting to the child attending war councils, not that he would ever go against his lord’s decision, but to hideyoshi this child is still too young to participate in these matters, even if they are a genius.

He would be exactly like a mother father to them, while also feeling deeply sad about all the abuse the kid suffered.

Masamune Date.

Masamune is like that cool uncle that tries to take the child out to have fun, forget all about the pain, focus on the fun. He feels sympathy for this little genius and decides to be by their side, the same way he would have wanted someone by his side when he was a child.

It’s not that he doesn’t recognize this child as a genius, but he thinks that they should enjoy their childhood more.

Ieyasu Tokugawa.

Ieyasu worries about them, but he never really shows it in an obvious manner. He gives the child treatment over past scars and tips on how to defend themselves, under the premise of “don’t be useless” when really, what he means to say is “be more careful”.

Doesn’t matter if the kid is a genius, they can’t be reckless over their safety.

Mitsuhide Akechi.

Mitsuhide likes testing how intelligent this child is, wanting to see how far their education goes. He decides to take part in the child’s education since he sees great potential in there.

Also, he likes teasing them since they children tend to be more naive, all in an brotherly affectionate way, not in a cruel way.

Mitsunari Ishida.

As a fellow strategist and genius himself, Mitsunari is like a safe port for the child, both understanding each other in many aspects. Differently from Mitsuhide, mitsunari would become a trusty elder who the child would seek guidance to and opinions. Perhaps because both would have a sense of kinship to each other.

Ranmaru Mori.

Ranmaru is softhearted, and also knows the pain this child has gone through, he would try to be like his master and try helping the child grown up healthily and happy, to leave behind all the pain from the past.

Keiji.

Keiji tries using his cheerful persona more often to keep this child happy and entertained, he would need to be more careful since this kid is very intelligent and would be able to figure it out eventually about his true personality. He feels sorry that this child’s talents were constantly exploited and would rather they don’t take part much in war councils.

Uesugi-Takeda alliance.

Kenshin Uesugi.

Kenshin would first consider if this kid being a strategist genius meant they could fight him, but was immediately stopped since this is still a child nonetheless. While he can sympathize with this child’s traumatic past, he also believes they need to become stronger so that no one else was able to abuse them ever again, so he takes part in their training personally.

Shingen takeda.

Ah, another fellow strategist? Shingen would be very happy to take this child in as his own, deciding to raise them just like he has raised Yukimura. Giving the child classes of his own when it comes to war and strategy, while also giving them sweets and spoiling them rot.

Knowing how much this child suffered, he would rather they don’t participate in war councils until they become a teenager.

Yukimura Sanada.

Yukimura would take this child as a young sibling, being the best big brother there is. Sure, the kid might be a genius, but they should enjoy their childhood as much as possible. He often takes the kid out with him to town and on missions, teaching them things at first hand.

Yoshimoto Imagawa.

Yoshimoto would rather teach this child the ways of art and beauty, rather than let them focus on war and battles. They had already enough of these brutalities in their childhood, they should focus on relaxing and enjoying their youth.

Sasuke.

Being from the future, Sasuke knows that childhood in this era was never easy, and seeing how this was a gifted child that was taken advantage of for their intelligence, he decides to help them by being their friend, showing them that it’s ok to let their guard down and be a normal child for once.

Kanetsugu.

Kanetsugu may be stern and a bit frightening, but he doesn’t think this child should immediately take place in a war council. He agrees, however, to molding this child into someone who can aid kenshin in the future, so he becomes a teacher to them as well. He tries to not be too strict as to not scare this child.

[myturntocryy]

transfem joe because I've been thinking about her for ages and I don't know if I've drawn her

headcanons:

-i don't think she'd mind he/him pronouns being used on her, she just is happier with she/her . I think she'd also vibe with they/them and maybe some neos too but I'm not sure which

- I honestly think she'd keep her name Jou/Joe. It's familiar to her and she doesn't really feel any disconnect to it, it's still her. I do think it'd be cute for Sara and Ryoko to have a girl sleepover with her where they research name options though. I think she'd be /open/ to changing her name but ultimately Joe still feels good for her for now and she's in no rush to change it

-She wouldn't figure it out until her mid 20s ish and that's only because she has her friends to help her. Like Sara would have to sit her down and the conversation would be like: Sara: Joe... you know most boys don't wish to be a girl or feels happy when they're mistaken for a girl, right? ...You know if you want to be a girl, that's okay. Joe: What? You can do that? Sara: *waving her hands wildly at Ranmaru* Joe: *eyes wide* RANMARU'S A GIRL?! Sara: NO

-Reko and her band is what got her into the queer scene at first. I think she probably knew her sexuality before her gender lol. Meeting Reko in person just made her more into the band and she became a BIG fan and then Reko recommended her some other queer musicians and it's like an entirely new world was opened for her. I think Sara wouldn't really get it (I don't see her as a girl that's into much music in general and so being a fan would confuse her) at first but after she gets used to it and goes to a few concerts with Joe she really enjoys it. Ryoko was ecstatic when she found out the music Joe was listening to and proceeded to share her her playlist of lesbian artists she loved lol.

-don't think she'd stick to any certain aesthetic. one day she could be wearing hippie clothing, the next punk and the next just strolling around in her pajamas.

-

[blueesnow]

Amakusa Shion's Birthday (Year 1) Voicelines Translation.

-You can look at it again on the Event Log, Mini-Event section (for the other boys messages to him) and Talk section (for a one-on-one conversation with you and him) in Idol Page.

-Also the translations might not be fully accurate since I'm not that fluent on jp/en, so if i ever made a mistake do correct me🙏

<You (Player)> Shion: To be hearing your voice as you give me your blessing…how soothing it is. So this is exactly what it means when people said that they're ascending to Heaven. Shion: Your words along with the gentle waves that you've gifted me are healing my soul. For today, I'd like to sleep with them as my lullaby.

<Otoya> Otoya: I heard that it's your birthday today, Happy Birthday! Since all of the members of HE★VENS are all close with each other, I was wondering if you guys sometime go stargazing together or something? Shion: Yes, there are indeed some occasions where we did that. To think that you can even feel the bond between us, I'm happy to hear that. My deepest gratitude for the blessing.

<Masato> Masato: I heard that it's your birthday today, Happy Birthday. I sincerely hope that you will have a good time with everyone at HE★VENS. Shion: Thank you. To be able to become a part of HE★VENS… Nothing could bring me more happiness in my life other than that.

<Natsuki> Natsuki: Happy Birthday! For celebrating your birthday, I'll secretly tell you the perfect place to bask in the sun~ Shion: Oh, my…! I'm very grateful for the information. In exchange, I'll also tell you some of the hidden spots that I know…

<Tokiya> Tokiya: I wish you a Happy Birthday. I heard that you like nature, so I brought you a landscape photography book. Shion: Oh…I really appreciate it. I'm sure that each one of them is stunning. Thank you for thinking of me…

<Ren> Ren: I heard that it's your birthday today. By chance, I actually saw a bird with a very unusual color just this morning. It probably wanted to celebrate your birthday too. Shion: I'd be delighted if that's the case. Perhaps it got attracted by your heart as you were trying to give me your blessing.

<Syo> Syo: Happy Birthday! You actually have more guts than I ever thought, don't you~ And I think that's good! Shion: Hearing that from you doesn't feel bad at all… And besides, Amakusa also like those optimistic part of yours.

<Cecil> Cecil: I wish you a Happy Birthday! I'm sure that your deep love for music will once again bring you many more blessings in return. Shion: Thank you. My heart is now full of happiness… But, to be able to give us even more than this, as I thought music is indeed amazing.

<Reiji> Reiji: Happy Birthday~! Your choice of words is very unique, aren't they? I'm always getting inspired by them☆ Shion: I'm happy to hear that… and I'm also grateful for the blessing as well. I'd like to learn some of your words too.

<Ranmaru> Ranmaru: I heard that it's your birthday today, Happy Birthday. You like forest, don't you? Sometimes there are some dangerous places out there, so be careful. Shion: Nature is a place of healing for me… However, you do have a point. It's better to be safe than sorry after all.

<Ai> Ai: Looking at you makes me to re-think more about our group. And I mean that in a good way of course. Happy Birthday. Shion: HE★VENS is everything to Amakusa. I'm sure that you also have your own feelings for your group as well. Let's both express our gratitude to our fellow comrades together.

<Camus> Camus: I wish you a Happy Birthday. For celebrating your birthday, how about some Japanese confectionary in the shape of autumn leaves? Shion: What a thoughtful gesture…! I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to make this arrangement for me…

<Eiichi> Eiichi: Let's continue to rise up to a higher place together with Shion's noble and pure singing voice. Happy Birthday. Shion: Thank you… I promise to devote all of my efforts so that my song can be a source of strength for Eiichi and HE★VENS.

<Kira> Kira: Happy…Birthday. Shion…has always been a part…that lives and stays in our heart. …Thank you. Shion: Likewise, I can't even count just how many times Kira has helped me out. I'm really happy from your nonchalant kindness. My deepest gratitude to you.

<Nagi> Nagi: Happy Birthday♪ You can cling to Nagi as much as you want for today. It's a special offer, okay~? Shion: Fufu, Nagi is indeed kind. Well then, I shall take your offer with no hesitation and snuggle in those warmth…

<Eiji> Eiji: Shion's love for HE★VENS has encouraged me many times. Let's celebrate your birthday a lot for today, shall we? Happy Birthday! Shion: I believe that Eiji's love for HE★VENS is also huge too… I'm glad to have you as a fellow singing comrade of mine.

<Van> Van: Happy Birthday, Shii-chan! We've all seen how hard you've been working. Let's celebrate your birthday in a big party today! Shion: Van's warm words and smiles has always make me feel happy. It's truly the best blessing I've ever received.

<Yamato> Yamato: Shion, Happy Birthday, It's your birthday today, so make sure you eat a lot of food, okay? HE★VENS can only exist with you around. Shion: I can't actually eat as much as Yamato did, but I'll give it a try for today… Thank you for your honest and straightforward blessing.

[writingwhimsey]

Okay just finished reading Hideyoshi’s sequel for the first time. Blissful route ending. But like...DAMN! Thoughts below the cut (spoilers ahead).

Okay this route WREAKED HAVOC on my heart. This is legit the first time I have ever cried (and ugly cried) from this game (have come close but this one just really hit me).

Like MC not only not being able to touch those she loves but her touch actually causing them PAIN! AND IT COULD EVENTUALLY KILL THEM?!

The damage that that would do to you mentally. And when she's thinking of committing suicide...I was 😭! Her pain and hopelessness felt so real and raw.

And then to turn Hideyoshi into the type that would burn the world for MC?! Turn pur sweet sunshine man into this beast?! I know they've hinted at it before but he REALLY took it there in the sequel. And that was one of the things I loved though. I love a man who would turn against the world for turning against me. Favorite type of fictional man.

And I fucking swear..KICHO PISSED ME OFF AND DISGUSTED ME! He's definitely been twisted in other routes...but he seems the most unhinged to me in this one. He made an aide fall in love with him in order to experiment on how far the physical pain would go! And then blinded the poor man and killed him with his voice...literally making his flesh melt off!!! The actual fuck?! How can you justify that?! And how is that finding life previous?!

Okay...loved Ranmaru and Kennyo being silent protectors of MC and just constantly showing up when needed. It was beautiful.

Loved the banter between Hideyoshi and Mitsuhide. And I adored when we got to our happy ending ALL OF THE GUYS DOTING ON MC!!! And making Hideyoshi jealous in the process. Man even scolded Nobunaga!

Happy ending was appreciated after the heartbreak that was the rest of it. Seriously ripped my heart out and stomped on it. But that just means it was so well written and just shows how much I love these characters.

[frenchkanna1808]

it might sound weird coming from me but I would honestly prefer a ranmaru mini ep and a hinako one over a kanna mini episode. This might sound shocking to some since I'm a big Kanna fan and I already stated my distaste for ranmaru but yes I would honestly prefer a mini ep about him first.

I think mini ep are an excellent way to give depth to a character make us change our way of seeing them and depenibg their already excellent traits. The kurumada mini ep is truly a masterpiece in my eyes because I already liked kurumada but it really deepened his character in so many way, he wasn't just an angry man. The kai mini ep, oh god the Kai mini ep is so good it made me realise that Kai was probably one of the best written characters in the game. Mini EPs make me like the characters even more, and give them so many layers.

Compared to what people might think I want to like ranmaru, really, I really hope that maybe this mini episode will make me like his character, for now I think that he is a bad person and a boring character, but I want to like him like the rest. Giving depth and explaining why he acts this way that's what I want. Hinako is such an interesting character which we know nothings of, who are you what's your real identity and name. Who are you truly fake hinako. I'm so interested into giving those characters depth complexity to make them truly special. Which I swhy I want characters who I do not care or like that much to get mini episode first before the others.

Kanna is already the best character in the game,I already love her, and having a mini ep will just be a bit of fanservice for me. Kanna does not NEED a mini episode right now, I do think she DESERVES to have one someday, but maybe later.

This is the same reason a Keiji mini episode would be useless I think, I know he will get one but we already know everythings about that guys. I know he will get one since he's the writer pet but still he does not NEED one immediately.

So yes nankidai please do mini episodes on characters that really need it, to give them depth such as Joe, hayasaka, Miley, ranmaru, fakehinako,mai etc.

BUT YTTS KANNA IS STILL MY ONLY HOPE IN LIFE I NEEED IT SO BADDDDD

[ultimate-character-design]

The 2nd Character Design Tournament

Please remember to vote for characters solely based on their design, rather than which character you are more familiar with or like more!

Uruu Seiren | Fairy Ranmaru

Stitches | The Last Halloween

*Image below the cut for: Body Horror

"Not too graphic but prepare to see some cartoony, non bloody organs with lots of frankenstein style stitches and also this character who is two dudes stitched together."

“The last halloween has so many good monster designs that it's almost difficult to pick just one! I like how expressive Stitches' design allows him to be, and the fact that the 'smiling' face has crossed stitches on the border of his speech bubbles while the 'frowning' face has single stitches (like pluses and minuses). His two faces squashed together are also kind of awful to look at, in a good way. The thing where he's entirely made of dry grafted together skin, including all of his insides is delightfully horrifying as well. As a god conceptually I think he's meant to represent a fear of bodily harm, and I think his design works really well for that.”

[yttd-silliness-showdown]

Round 1, Bracket 12:

Ranmaru propaganda:

Pros: we get a lot of time with him compared to the other dummies and he is in fact very cringefail. His fashion is wack and he probably listens to mcr all day and based his personality on that one ghost and pals song Appetite of a People Pleaser. I don’t think he’s really done anything that made sense, and is just a total loser around sara in general which leads to plenty of silly antics

Cons: gets a bit yandere, to the point of murder in the shin route and throws himself away with the joe ai in the kanna route. He can be a bit of a whiny bitch and sometimes the humour comes from him trying too hard or being a little annoying.

Shunsuke propaganda:

Pros: expects us to call him by his last name bc he’s a businessman, however this would imply that I respect him. He’s extremely pathetic which can be funny if you look past his office-ness.

Cons: often comes across as bland/boring/forgettable and his outfit does not help with that at all. His main appeal to most is gin liking him, and he can die extremely early if you’re an inexperienced player

[the12thnightproject]

Hi! Can I have a request please in which MC decides to have le Warlords try the "Period Cramp Simulator"? Just imagine them boasting that they'll be fine, only for them to kneel over in pain. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Again, Anon, I am sorry for taking so long. Hopefully my schedule should clear up soon…? But here is your request!

Oh, this is a fun request. But it involved some serious thinks… these warlords are pretty stoic. In my memory they’ve been shot (arrows and bullets) beaten up, fallen (or jumped) off cliffs, stabbed in battle, stabbed daily by Kenshin and defied a terminal illness without complaint….

So, really, are they going to be defeated by a period simulator? Are they? Let's see....

Upon hearing of such a device there is a great argument over who would be able to last the longest. And so a contest is proposed….

Contest Rules:

One: Mai is not allowed to watch as all agree that none of them will admit to pain in her presence. (She hides in the ceiling and watches anyway).

Two: Yelling, yelping, screaming are grounds for elimation.

Three: Sasuke runs the experiment and controls the simulator. He is the judge as to whether or not a warlord has been eliminated. Why Sasuke? First, because they all trust him enough to run the device equally and not cheating for your lord, Hideyoshi and Kanetsugu. Second, because he is a sensitive new age guy and freely admits that period cramps hurt (he secretly tested the stimulator on himself when he was alone and tapped out at level eight).

Let the games begin! Sasuke places the simulator patches on everyone, and from a master switch, turns the device on so that everyone hits level one simultaneously.

Level One:

All warlords are fine. Ranmaru earns the wrath of the room by noting that it “kind of tickles.”

Sasuke bumps the intensity to Level Two:

Such serious faces. Everyone is concentrating.

Sasuke bumps the intensity to Level Three:

There are a few deep breaths happening now, but nothing that could be defined as yelling, yelping, or screaming.

Sasuke bumps the intensity to Level Four:

Sasuke walks around the room for a long, slow time, looking at everyone’s faces, until Kenshin tells him to get on with things and start making it hurt. When is the pain going to start? Kanetsugu chimes in, telling Sasuke to move things along, so that Kenshin can have his pain. There are quiet whispers of, ‘yes, hurry, let’s move it along,” and a lot of internal, “let’s get this over with now, kthxbye” thoughts.

Sasuke bumps the intensity to Level Five:

Kicho accuses Nobunaga of wincing. Motonari is quick to agree that Nobunaga winced. Hideyoshi defends Nobunaga, says that he would never wince, it was just a natural blink. After a short discussion, it is decided that Nobunaga did not wince, and further accusations of wincing, or yelling, or thereof will be cause for forfeit.

Nobunaga silently admits to himself that he quite possibly winced, but now that he knows what to expect, he is prepared for the next wave of … oh shit.

Sasuke bumps the intensity to Level Six:

Ranmaru, Keiji and Yoshimoto incur a forfeit by accusing each other of wincing. They escape the room. The fourteen remaining warlords quickly look around, but no other accusations are made.

Sasuke bumps the intensity to Level Seven:

There is a lot of visible sweat, careful breathing, and gritted teeth happening. Internally, there is a lot of very creative swearing, using words in combination rarely spoken out loud.

Kennyo puts himself into a meditative state. Masamune wonders if that would be considered cheating, but Kennyo points out that he’s not preventing anyone else from meditating, he’s just using the skills he has.  No one is willing to discuss the matter further, and Shingen notes that Kennyo is correct, and can they please keep going.

Privately, Shingen vows to give every one of his female spies three days off a month, and a pay raise.

Sasuke bumps the intensity to Level Eight:

Sasuke looks at every face and pauses at Ieyasu’s for a long time. Ieyasu says that while he is not bothered by the cramp simulator, Sasuke is making him very uncomfortable. Sasuke replies that he’s impressed by Ieyasu’s stoicism and by the way when this is over, can he have Ieyasu’s autograph. Ieyasu rips the simulator off and stomps out, deciding that while he can endure the pain, he can’t deal with Sasuke.

Ieyasu goes home and hugs his emotional support sourdough starter for the rest of the day.

Sasuke bumps the intensity to Level Nine:

Kanetsugu looks over at Mitsuhide and Hideyoshi…. “Are you two holding hands?!” Mitsuhide and Hideyoshi look down at their joined hands and instantly let go of each other. “No!” they both yelp.

Some time is lost while it is debated whether or not that counts as period simulator yelping, and after everyone votes (voting signified by slow careful hand raises), they are both allowed to continue in the competition.

Yukimura curls himself into a silent, fetal ball – but he does not yelp or yell, so Sasuke is inclined to let him continue.

Sasuke bumps the intensity to Level Ten:

The warlords sit in silent agony.

Time ticks onward.

Slowly.

No one taps out.

Everyone stares at each other’s faces.

“Perhaps we can consider this a tie,” Shingen suggests.

There is immediate universal assent from the rest of the room, and Sasuke agrees. “Take off your simulators.”

Twelve warlords quickly – but nonchalantly – remove their devices. Then Masamune notices… “Mitsunari, lad, you can take the device off now.”  Hideyoshi rushes over to his vassal, worried that perhaps the young man has passed out.

Mitsunari looks up from the book he has been reading. “I’m sorry, did you say something? He gazes around the room. “Oh, are we starting the contest now? Go ahead, Master Sasuke, I’m ready.”

Mitsunari declared the winner.

There will be a celebratory banquet for him…. next week… when everyone else has recovered.

@lorei-writes

[setholopod]

yttd unpopular opinion: gashu is hot and deserves more simps(in response to the one post about yttd-related asks). also keiji shinogi chose the worst shade of yellow to dye his hair with. it legit looks like piss. also get some sleep mf. also i feel bad for hinako man, gurl's only value in her eyes was having information. she got like betrayed and stuff by the skinny green haired slut, its so unfair. also nankidai HOW DARE YOU NOT MAKE A RANMARU ROUTE ur telling me sara cant escape with this mop headed little sheep boi?!!?! tsk, sighs in major disappointment i expected more out of you nankidai. safalin is.. um. kind of an asshole?? kind of not?? mixed opinion here. in love w/ her design, though. also imo what she did to rio ranger(returning his emotions to him and turning him back to rio laizer) wasn't really cruel, i hope we get to see more of rio laizer in the last part of ch3. mai's arc is so amazing. big qmai shipper here. just yes. like im not too good at putting stuff into words but i love how she at first treats him the same way she'd treat her customers at the bakery- with a fake, bouncy, happy go lucky attitude, and it makes him uncomfortable, but when she starts acting like her real self he accepts her for who she is and prefers it to the mask she'd put on before. also bro forgave her for(literally) stabbing him in the back, that is so cute. its always 'the keiji simps' STFU WHERE MY KURUMADA SIMPS AT??? maple doesnt realize how LUCKY she was to get a face full of that guys tiddies. also in the emotion route when he asks reko to sing its just so frickin cute omg when everyones listening and glasses guy is like clapping and stuff :( reko x nao is so real, but honestly i dont ship naosara too much. like in the massacre ending i interpreted as like, platonic and stuff. i just think itd be sweet that way without making it romance. kanna is smarter than a lot of people give her credit for. she made the conscious decision to go alone with sou's lies in ch1 and she herself says its because she felt like sou had more useful info than kai, and one or the other had to go. i dont rmmber where she says so exactly?? but ill shoot my shot and assume its the emotion route. mishima is a madly underrated character. nao has a truly noble teacher. kai is canonically my wife. i have a lot of yttd related stuff dont mind me 😌🎀

ONE FOR EACH!!!!!!

one. as an official old mad lover i can confirm he's kinda hot. annoying? yes. hot? also yes.

two. YES BRO IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE PISSED ON HIM?!?!?! (me /hj)

three. i get this but as an original hinako fan i cannot stand her i dunno it's the attitude. she did NOT deserve to get kebabbed though.

four. hah. i HATE ranmaru so i can't relate. i giggled and CLAPPED when bro died. (he put me through hell in your turn to shine and also he killed my dude in the logic route </3)

five. I LOVE RIO RANGER // LAIZER SO MUCH I HOPE HE COMES BACK. and as for safalin me and my friend both agreed she's okay because she bends over in that chapter three

six. YESYEYSYEYSYEYS i love qmai (i don't SHIP-ship it but it's cute platonically and i love their relationship) and i love how they both had really good development towards each other and the others. UGH cubetaro hamburger makes me sick i adore him (my baseball husband </3)

seven. I AM HERE. I AM HERE. KURUMADA CAN GET IT ALL DAY ALL NIGHT. he makes me giggle i wanna take him out to lunch >_<

eight. i love naoreko!!! the scene in the alice route with nao painting mishima with reko AIRUHKETHJ. THEY HAVE SUCH A WHOLESOME RELATIIONSHIP UGHGHG. naosara makes me... eugh. since sara's seventeen and nao is implied to be in college so. uhghguhg i dunno. doesn't sit right with me?

nine. i've done the emotion route and. i don't remember this. hahahah. i love kai and hate sou so i'll just ignore it /silly. but. kanna IS a lot more important than sou (she has a higher survival rate than sou guys. it is more LOGICAL to choose her. but whatever.) i love kanna

ten. yYEYSYES?!?!?! I LOVE MISHIMA SO MUCH HE IS MY WIFE AND ALSO JUST SUCH A GOOD AND HONEST MAN?!??! the scenes with him and gin or kanna or nao made me wanna cry honestly. i hope we find out where his head went.

eleven. i think you mean. OUR wife!!!

UHG THANK YOU FOR THIS... FRIEND!!!!

[doonalli]

Hayasaka and how humans change (Hayasaka character analysis)

In this post I want to talk about Hayasaka, and what I think his character proves to us in terms of humanity. At first he doesn't really seem to do much at all, in fact he seems like one of the most boring characters in the cast, but I think Hayasaka is so much more than just that. To me Hayasaka shows what it means to be human, and its shown through his contradictory feelings and his entire story of how by being willing to give your allies a chance they can prove that they really aren't as bad as they may first seem. Before talking about Hayasaka himself I want to bring to attention a scene that I think is probably the most important scene to understanding the point of Hayasaka's character. When the cast find out about upgrade parts, Ranmaru finds out he can take of his hand and realises that he isn't really "human", seeing this Reko (or Alice) try to cheer him up by claiming that being human doesn't have anything to do with the physical aspect but instead saying

while in the moment these words are meant for Ranmaru, I would argue its Hayasaka who encompasses these themes the most and its how Hayasaka proves his humanity throughout the whole chapter despite physically being a doll. Hayasaka dealing with "contradictory feelings" is a major part of his arc but in that same way Hayasaka's character is all about the contradictions between who he is as a doll and who he is as a human. When we first see Hayasaka in his victim video that we find on the monitor in Miley's room we see him in his final moments.

Our first impression of Hayasaka in the video is that he is somewhat selfish and very self-preserving, we see Hayasaka beg for his life, claiming that he doesn't know anything and pleading for someone to help him. He shows that he doesn't want conflict, and he tries to weasel his way out without any qualms, whether that be by claiming he doesn't know anything about what's going on, promising to keep a secret or attempting to come to some sort of understanding. But when he finally realises that isn't going to happen...

Realising he was put in this situation supposedly for Sara's sake he quickly switches to becoming much more spiteful and resentful to her, no longer working towards a comprise and instead saying he will kill all the organisation members and cursing Sara's name from hell. Clearly Hayasaka DID know something about what was happening and his earlier remark was just a lie he made in an attempt to get sympathy.

This victim video shows clearly the type of person Hayasaka is, right? He seems to be some someone who is very self-preserving and at times deceitful as he attempts to talk his way out of conflict, fitting for his profession as an office worker. But as we find out when we meet his doll that isn't necessarily the case. Keep in mind that Sara, Keiji, and Gin are the only people who see this video

When we actually get to meet Hayasaka as a doll in Chapter 3 he seems very different, he comes off as a very nervous and anxious person and when Sara confronts him about his victim video Hayasaka first tries to act dumb just like he did in his video which Sara doesn't believe for a second,

This is the first thing Sara does upon meeting Hayasaka, literally the only words exchanged before this was each other's names. Hayasaka acting ignorant is accurate to how he is in the victim video, trying to avoid conflict however he can. Then he claims that since he isn't the "real Hayasaka" he wouldn't be left any memories that could be a problem to the Organisation.

This again shows how Hayasaka tries to come to a comprise, but more importantly it makes it clear that he doesn't see himself as the "real" Hayasaka separating being a doll and being a human, implying that being a doll means he isn't "real" and lesser than a human would be. It's clear that this Hayasaka doesn't bear any ill will to Sara unlike his human counterpart, which is what I want to focus on now.

The Hayasaka before us isn't the same Hayasaka as the one in the victim video, and it goes past just him being a doll now, he doesn't antagonise Sara at all, he doesn't bear the same ill will his human self did. Regardless of being a doll or a human its clear this Hayasaka is different from the one who cursed Sara from hell, but either way it seems that the damage was already done,

Even if he doesn't think the same way he does in his video, even if the actions in his video weren't technically his own, Sara and Keiji both already don't trust him and they aren't willing to give him a chance.

Keiji shows his distrust a scene early into chapter 3 pretty clearly, not trusting Hayasaka with a weapon or any of the dolls for that matter.

With Keiji and Sara seeing his final moments as their first impressions Hayasaka is put in an interesting situation where his demonic actions seem to be the default to them, as the Mishima AI says back in 2-1

and that's exactly what happened with Hayasaka in his victim video, it would be like if we judged Nao or Joe based on what they did at the end of the main games when they attempted to get everyone killed to save themselves and Sara. The difference here is that this was Sara and Keiji's FIRST time seeing Hayasaka, they don't know who he is past this video and their impression on him is built on that one demonic action that he made in a desperate situation and because of this they are both unwilling to give him a chance, however, we can see that there is still one person who does.

Even when both Sara and Keiji distrust Hayasaka, Gin instead decides to trust Hayasaka despite also having seen the video and knowing what he did. Hayasaka and Gin fall into an "inverted relationship" very quickly where Gin acts as the leader who protects Hayasaka, which is shown clearly when Gin ends up getting himself in danger when he tries to protect Hayasaka from the locker room trap.

As a result of this Gin is knocked out and Keiji tells Hayasaka to carry him, and Hayasaka after a bit of hesitation, obliges,

Hayasaka and the rest of the group then go to the 5th floor and enter an office similar to the one Hayasaka used to work in, there the cast finds a physical exam on Sara. Hayasaka is immediately antagonised, after explaining his hand was forced by Asunaro and it wasn't by his own choice, despite this Kurumada realising the information that was gathered included everybody else too also antagonises him without giving him the chance to explain himself before Gin waking up puts a stop to this and "saves" Hayasaka yet again.

Following this Keiji remarks that Gin seems to be fond of him, they have a conversation about how Gin may be associating him with Mishima, and that being the reason he tries to him.

This comes as a shock to Hayasaka, why would Gin care about a doll? Someone he barely even knows? Earlier Hayasaka makes it clear that he doesn't see his doll self as "real" but here Gin shows that doesn't matter. Yes Hayasaka isn't the Hayasaka from the victim video, but he IS still himself and he isn't any less than he would be otherwise, and this realisation is what starts Hayasaka's growth.

And it's here where we can see the start of Hayasaka dealing with his contradictory feelings that I mentioned at the beginning and through that the start of his growth, we can see this in scenes like the one after Keiji's fight with Midori when he says

or after Ranmaru's speech when he says

We can see that Hayasaka DOES want to work with the survivors but at the same time he isn't so optimistic about it. Even so he ends up helping when he decides to help out with the coffin security system, (so long as Sou isn't present to do it himself,) which earns him slight judgement from Kurumada in the moment, however he continues on despite that, and he helps again when he mentions there possibly being a first aid kit to help Q-taro in his office. it all plays into those "contradictory feelings" that make him human

Other examples that are present if Anzu died earlier to the first obstructor (showing that he is at least more hesitant then her but still willing to speak up in the end) are when he tells Hinako

after Hinako claims there is no way for the dummies to survive without killing the survivors. And when Kurumada attempts to deny using the charger as it could be used to lengthen the lives of the other dummies, Hayasaka will instead step up and tell Kurumada

Both these scenes show that Hayasaka is VERY different from the one we see in the victim video, both in the way he can't hate the survivors when he had no problems cursing Sara from hell and in the selflessness he shows Kurumada being essentially the opposite to the self-preserving nature be shows in his victim video. It all plays into that whole contradiction between the human and doll Hayasaka and yet again just how drives home the point of how different they really are. Whether he realises it or not Hayasaka is growing as a person and is starting to value his allies, especially Gin.

When Gin tries to go back to Q-taro after he stays behind to stop Maple's rampage Hayasaka takes it upon himself to pick him up and stop him from doing so. Earlier Hayasaka was hesitant to carry Gin, even when Keiji actively asked him to do so, but here he is protecting him on his own volition, and in the very same room Gin tried to protect him earlier no less. Again he shows how he isn't the selfish person from the victim video but someone who genuinely starts to care for his allies including Gin.

During the Pre-Banquet in the Kanna route Hayasaka expresses gratitude to Sara

saying that if he does make it back, he wishes to live reflecting on what he's done and hopes the day can come where she can forgive him too.

different from his "I want to live in peace" remark from his video, now actually attempting to atone for what he has done. He also claims that

but we can clearly see he isn't a coward multiple times throughout the chapter, for example during the Pre-Banquet in the Logic route. Here Hayasaka is shocked by what Ranmaru has done and he states clearly that if Ranmaru were to something before the Banquet he would be willing to throw himself in the way to stop him if he must.

Here we can clearly see him be willing to directly put himself in danger for others, even though Hayasaka claims that it was his cowardice that stopped him from harming Gin we can see that's not the whole story, perhaps Hayasaka didn't harm Gin because he was scared, but Hayasaka isn't a coward, at least not anymore, and this moment proves it. He doesn't give himself the credit for the times he does actively attempt to save Gin, but we can see that it isn't his cowardice that saved Gin but rather his courage, and he shows this yet again during the banquet and the lead up to it. As Hayasaka enters a coffin in order to start the banquet he says,

the wording can be slightly different depending on who is alive but the general point stays the same. Hayasaka makes it clear that he no longer wants to be protected or "burden" anyone anymore.

All of this just goes to show that the Hayasaka we have gotten to know, the one who was actually given the chance to connect and grow is a far cry from the resentful and hateful Hayasaka who also didn't give Sara the chance before cursing her from hell out of spite. Being given a second chance at life Hayasaka decides to live it by making up for the mistakes he made at first and he does that by getting to actually know Sara and the others, and also with how he learns to protects others even at the risk of his own life, people like Gin, the one who gave him that chance in the first place.

When Sara is forced to pick a red glowing coffin in an attempt to beat Midori and he says Sara is likely to hit anyone other than Anzu or Ranmaru, saying she will surely pick an ally, Sara thinks that since Midori isn't scared, that maybe her logic isn't correct, and starts to doubt herself. In this moment Mai tells Sara with conviction to do it, and if his coffin wasn't picked Hayasaka will join in, claiming that

showing his conviction as well, but if Mai died earlier Hayasaka will instead take them helm of telling Sara to do it, giving his own speech instead.

It's the culmination of everything Hayasaka's character has been building up to and his growth throughout the chapter, here he shows that even as a doll, he isn't going to hide behind that anymore, where beforehand Hayasaka would have claimed that he wasn't really alive, here he confronts that fact claiming his body is still precious and seeing value in himself even as a doll, and while he is still afraid of dying, he works through his self-preserving nature and his cowardice to show his courage. Through it all Hayasaka is dealing with his contradictory feelings he WANTS to live but he also wants to protect Gin, unlike the other doll's speeches Hayasaka doesn't specify "the human" when he talks about Gin

he wants to protect Gin, himself, not just because he is human but because of the bond him and Gin share, he genuinely has found something he wants to protect more than himself and he shows that. And that's how Hayasaka proves his humanity, by facing those contradictory feelings and struggling on, and despite what the physical truth of who he is says, or what Hayasaka himself thinks, he IS truly human, and no red light or drill can take that away. All of the personal growth that led to this moment was due to Gin giving him the chance, without judging him based on his first impression. Interestingly to me the way Sara treats Hayasaka parallels the major problem that stopped Sara and Sou from being true allies, Sou's distrust on Sara, not even seeing her for who she truly is, and Sara's distrust of Sou, judging him based on incomplete information, and Gin trusting him anyways parallels how Kanna can see through both Sara and Sou and is willing to trust them both anyways. It's why Kanna and Gin ARE valuable people to the group, their ability to trust others and see them for who they truly are is something that is so important in a situation like this, and maybe if and when Sara and Sou finally do give each other the chance to change, whether that be in 2nd main game or in the final chapter on the logic route, they could finally be true allies, just like Hayasaka and Gin were able to do here. Hayasaka to me represents humanity through the fundamental contradictions in humans, not only in our feelings but in the ways we interact with each other and the ways we can even contradict ourselves. whether it be from expecting trust from someone even when you yourself can't trust them like Sou and Sara, or if it's in the ways we contradict ourselves as we grow in better people like Nao going from someone who couldn't accept Mishima's death to someone who could help her allies face death themselves, or even in the fundamental contradiction of the truth of humanity having nothing to do with physically being a human that is present with all the dummies and 3-1.

Hayasaka is so much more than he seems both to the characters in game but also to the players playing the game itself, Hayasaka isn't this boring character with nothing much going on, he is a full person like anyone else and I personally think that's amazing that someone who seems so boring on the surface can mean so much to the game and its themes, and it just speaks to the brilliant character writing present in this game.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

new post yippee, yes I will be doing one on all the dummies if it wasn't obvious already I edited this because I didn't like some of it before but I do not know how to write so uhhhh, I hope its at least better now. Also if you saw the old post, nuh uh, no you didn't, shhhhhhh. There was so much I wanted to talk about that I just didn't get to fit in anywhere so maybe in the future I'll make a post with that stuff alongside other stuff from the dummies but who knows. I'll keep this short because the post itself is already so long (sorry). so for now, Thanks for reading!!!

[ikeromantic]

Entwined, Ch 12

Part 12 of a multipart series. Mai has been reborn in the modern age after a full life in the Sengoku. The warlords as spirit animals find her again after 500 years of searching for her soul. Approx. 3300 words.

Chapter List

Mai struggled not to fall asleep. Exhaustion had her in its grip, but she wanted - needed - to see Mitsuhide before she let herself give in to it. The cold, sterile hospital air kept her alert as she sat waiting. The rabbit watched her with a disapproving gaze, its mismatched eyes flicked between her and the pillow on the other end of the bed. 

“You can stop looking at me like that. I’ll rest after I talk to Mitsuhide,” she told the rabbit. Somehow, it didn’t feel silly talking to him. 

The rabbit huffed and rubbed its face with a paw. Then it hopped over and snuggled onto her lap, placing its paws on top of her uninjured hand. It looked up at her with a serious expression, its nose twitching. 

“If I didn’t know better, I would think you’re worried about me.” Mai stroked the bunny’s long, soft ears. “I guess that’s why you’re a good therapy rabbit, huh?”

“He probably is. I know I am.” 

The unexpected voice made Mai do a little hop on the bed. She looked up to see a gorgeous, pink haired guy standing in the doorway. He held a bouquet of pink roses that nearly matched the color of his hair. “Ranmaru?”

He smiled brightly. “You remembered me! I am so glad!” The roses went onto the small table by the door as he stepped closer.

“Umm, of course. But . . .”

“What am I doing here?” He gave a slight shrug. “Well. I heard you were hurt. See, Kennyo - my agent - is old friends with Shingen and, anyway, it’s not important. What matters is, are you ok?” His gaze traveled over her, brows drawing together with worry. 

Mai paused, not sure how to politely ask why a guy she’d met once on the train was in her hospital room. The question felt both completely unnecessary and pretty damn important. There was part of her that felt like, of course Ranmaru was here! And another that found it bizarre. 

“I’m doing ok,” she said after a pause. “But, Ranmaru . . . who are you? Really?”

He smiled with wide, innocent eyes. It was the kind of expression that might completely derail someone’s thoughts with just how adorable he was. “I am so happy you’re alright. When we heard what danger that - that kitsune put you in -”

“Wait, we?”

Ranmaru blushed, and took a breath. “Mm. My manager and I. Anyway, look! I brought you a treat!” He pulled out a candy box in a colorful furoshiki. He handed it to Mai. 

She took it but didn’t open it. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“I told you who I am on the train. And you remembered me. My last name is Mori, but don’t tell anyone, ‘kay?”

She frowned. “That’s not what I mean. I mean . . . who are you to me? How do you know me?”

Ranmaru’s mouth opened, then closed again. “Umm. Is it ok if I can’t really talk to you about that just yet? Because I could never lie to you, Mai. But some things you have to be ready to hear.”

“I’m ready right now.” Mai crossed her arms and tried to hold onto her frown and her glare. It was hard because the sweet-faced Ranmaru looked as if he might start crying. 

After a long, awkward pause, his shoulders fell. “Alright. I’ll tell you what I can. But you have to promise not to let Mitsuhi- ah!” 

The man appeared behind Ranmaru as if summoned by his name. Mitsuhide’s slender fingers curled around Ranmaru’s shoulder. There was an audible pop and suddenly, Ranmaru was gone. Mitsuhide held a struggling white stoat in his hand.

“It seems you’ve been plagued by visitors without a chance to rest, little mouse.” 

Mai was so shocked she couldn’t speak. 

Mitsuhide’s golden gaze settled on the rabbit in her lap beside the sweets Ranmaru brought. “You should go. She is in my care now.”

The rabbit thumped its foot against the mattress, fur bristling. 

“We can discuss your accusations later, Uesugi.” Mitsuhide’s expression was cold and his tone one of icy disdain. 

After a huff, the bunny leapt down from the bed and loped out of the room. 

Mitsuhide set the stoat down after it and closed the door. “There. Much better.” He smiled and sat down at the edge of Mai’s bed. 

“D-did Ranmaru turn into a weasel? I saw him just - just -” She tried to make sense of it, but the only thing that came to mind were folktales. Stories that clearly weren’t true. Except what she’d just seen could have come from one of them. 

“Is that what happened, little mouse? I think you may be more tired than you realize.” He set a warm hand on her leg, squeezing her calf gently. 

Mai felt a knot of tension she hadn’t even realized she was carrying release at his touch. “I-I am, but he - you -”

Mitsuhide smiled, though the expression looked strained. “And you are on something for the pain as well. Perhaps things are not quite as they seem.”

“No. I want you to tell me now. What - what is going on? How do I know you? And - and the others? Shingen and Sasuke and Ranmaru and -” The stress and horror of her day fell on her all at once. She felt the most absurd urge to fling herself into Mitsuhide’s arms and burrow her face against his chest to cry until the tightness in her released. A tear rolled free from the corner of her eye and slid down her cheek.

He took her in his arms, careful of her injuries. His scent enfolded her as she pressed her face against his shoulder and let herself relax into his touch. Mitsuhide’s hand stroked her back, slow calming motions to ease her tired heart and mind. 

“I want to - to be mad at you,” she confessed. “You never answer my questions. And something IS happening. Something I - I don’t understand but you,” she leaned back to look him in the eyes. “You are right in the middle of it.”

Mitsuhide’s expression was unreadable. His eyes glinted with hidden secrets and stories, and his lips were pressed to a thin line. “You’ve been through enough for tonight, little one. Why are you looking for more trouble?”

She took a shaky breath. “Is that what you are?”

“Trouble?” He chuckled. “I have been called worse.” He brushed her hair back from her face, his fingertips trailing along the edge of her ear. “I suppose I am.”

Mai took his hand in hers. “I want to know, Mitsuhide. Everything.”

He sighed and stroked a finger along the back of her hand. The sensation was like a candle flame that raced up the nerves of her arm and set her heart on fire. “Everything? I wouldn’t know where to start. And this is not the time for what questions you have.”

“But -”

“You will need to be focused when you speak to the police. They want your report of tonight’s events. I don’t want you to worry about . . . other things.” His thumb was a warm, comforting pressure at her wrist. “Trust me.”

“I do. I don’t know why but I do.” Mai didn’t want to think too long on that statement. It was irrational, mad really. She knew very little about Mitsuhide. And though he’d saved her, he also put her in danger. “Just please, next time you set up a clever plot, can you just . . . I dunno. Warn me?”

Mitsuhide stroked his finger along the line of her jaw, stopping at her chin. “I will. I promise.”

She studied his face, hoping for some sign of his thoughts. After a moment, Mai gave up the effort. “Alright. I’ll take that, I guess.” 

“Good. Now, little mouse, you need to sleep.” His crescent moon smile returned as he brushed his thumb over her brows. “Your eyes are puffy.”

“You are so -” Mai felt at a loss for words. But his teasing really did make her feel better. “Just grrrr.”

“Mmm. Just?” 

A laugh escaped her still-parted lips. “Yeah. Pretty much.” 

Mitsuhide ruffled her hair. “I shall endeavor to be more. I’d hate to be relegated to a mere sound of frustration in your mind.” 

“I wouldn’t say mere. Sometimes you’re practically a symphony.” 

“Of more than frustration, I hope?” His golden gaze was impossible to look away from. The playful glint, the soft vulnerability in them intoxicated her. 

Mai swallowed. “A - a lot more.”

“Then I will be satisfied for now.” He moved to stand, relinquishing his hold on her.

“Wait!”

Mitsuhide paused, an eyebrow raised.

“I - I don’t want to be alone right now. I won’t sleep if - if you leave.” It was a bit of emotional blackmail, she knew. But it was true as well. She didn’t want to be alone, and more than that, she wanted the company of one particular, infuriating man.

His thin smile stretched wide, a soft, resigned exhalation. “I have places to be, but there is a little time between. I will stay, just until you fall asleep. Is that acceptable?”

She nodded, feeling a little guilty. 

Mitsuhide sat down again on the edge of the bed. “Lie down. All the way.” He gently took hold of her shoulder and supported her as she laid back. Then he tugged the blanket up to her chin and made sure her arms were under it. 

“I’m not a little kid,” Mai pouted, feeling exactly like a child. 

“No. You aren’t.” He drew a hand over her face, his fingertips brushed lightly over her. The light touch caused her eyes to flutter shut. 

Mai found it hard to open them again. The thin hospital blanket felt warm with Mitsuhide sitting so close. Her body gave in to the need to sleep. The world drifted away, all her questions, all her worries, sliding away into a comforting darkness. “Thank you,” she murmured, “for staying.”

The last words she heard before sleep took her, “I have never been able to deny you, little one.”

***

A hawk sat on a bare branch of an ancient cedar tree, staring down imperiously at the other animals gathered there. A one eyed tiger striped cat sat on a lower branch, cleaning its fur while a white rabbit chewed furiously at a clover blossom below it. A squirrel perched, half hidden in the foliage, while a pig snuffled around the roots, ridden by a small, grey hamster. There were other even stranger animals - a kangaroo, and a white weasel, a peacock, and a wolf. In the center, at the base of the vast trunk, sat a single white fox with golden eyes.

“She could have died. Again. The kitsune’s worse at this than I am.” The kangaroo spoke, his voice loud enough to carry through the odd gathering. 

The fox sniffed. “I wouldn’t have let that happen.”

“No? Because if this is your protection, the angel might be better off without your interference,” the bear rumbled.

“A true tactician would have considered the possibility of her arrival, and planned for it,” piped the small, grey hamster with violet eyes. His fur bristled as he glared at the fox.

Several other voices rose then, a cacophony of worry and anger. The hawk cut it short with a harsh cry. “Enough!” His piercing, garnet gaze pinned each of the animals to where they stood, sat, or perched. “Let the kitsune speak.”

The fox swished its tail once, a grin spreading over his face, but with fangs bared it was anything but friendly. “Thank you all for your . . . insights. The little mouse would be overwhelmed by your concern.” His red tongue lolled between his jaws as he turned his head to regard each animal with a hard, cold golden eye. “She may not be so pleased that you all think her cowardly or incapable.”

“Hey! We never said that,” growled a wolf, hackles raised. The bear beside him put a paw on the wolf’s back, smoothing the grey-brown fur. 

“Oh? Is it not implied?” The white fox widened one eye as if to arch his brow.

The gathering exploded again in a mix of voices and bestial growls. Surprisingly, it was the rabbit that brought them to order this time. The white bunny thumped its foot hard against a tree root until the rest of the beasts fell quiet. “Make your point, kitsune. I am bored of talking.”

“My point? Hmmm.” The fox smiled again. “Only that you have all discounted how very capable my little mouse is. I could not keep her out of harm’s way before, and I cannot now. None of you can, because she is not a bauble to be locked away. She is brave, assertive. Independent. And I am proud of her, even as I regret the pain she suffered.”

A low murmur spread out from the tree then, a mix of approval and consternation. 

“This was still your fault, Akechi,” the pig said, his voice laced with a sharp bitterness that seemed in opposition to his cheery demeanor.

“I do not deny that. I should have moved to secure Keiki more quickly.” The fox bowed his head. 

Several animals spoke up then, all saying they could have protected her, kept her from harm. The hawk spoke over them in a tone that brooked no dissent. “Uesugi, Kennyo, Takeda and I will speak privately on this. Until then, none shall interfere with our little fireball.”

“None? What does that mean?” A small monkey poked its head from the leafy branch near the hawk, gentle brown eyes wide and unhappy.

“Leave her alone for now. She will need rest anyway, and that is best accomplished without company.” The hawk’s gimlet-eyed gaze touched every one of the host gathered there. They began to disperse, each to their own place. Some took man-shape as they left, while others stayed on four legs or kept their wings. Only the white fox stayed, head still bowed.

“Alone, hm,” the fox murmured. “As if, after 500 long years, I could turn away from her, even for a moment.” 

***

Mai spent a few hours answering questions for the police the next day. They nodded and took notes, and left their cards for her questions. Once they were gone, the hospital discharged her. Asami and Kaiya came to take her home. 

“I can’t believe that guy! What was he even thinking,” Kaiya shook her head. 

“Probably something stupid, like hey! Why stop at embezzlement when I could add assault to my crimes,” Asami chimed in. 

Kaiya sighed. “I’m just glad you’re ok. Who knew costuming could be so dangerous?”

“Right?” Mai gave her friends a tired smile. 

“I guess this means you didn’t get to hook up with Mister Sexy from your past life, huh?” Asami’s smile was sly, though her gentle gaze told Mai she was still worried about her.

“Nope, but he rescued me so I guess that counts for something.” Mai shrugged, then regretted the motion. Her arm ached in the sling, and she wondered how long it would take to heal.

Kaiya gave them both an incredulous look. “What are you talking about? Past life?”

Mai and Asami filled their friend in on the way back to Mai’s flat. By the time they got there, Kaiya was shaking her head. “That is so weird. All of it.” She frowned at Mai. “Maybe it would be a good idea to see a - a therapist or something. And stay away from this guy until you get your head sorted.”

“Kaiya!” Asami looked surprised. “You don’t think it’s romantic? I mean think about it! They could have been lovers before, and now their souls are reaching for each other and -”

“Stuff like that only happens in rom coms and romance novels.” Kaiya took a deep breath. “I’m just saying, it all sounds pretty wild. But what we know is that you got really hurt yesterday, and this guy you’re crushing on - Mitsuhide? He was definitely involved, even if he didn’t hurt you. You might want to take a step back, just to make sure you’re ready for this, whatever it is.”

Mai didn’t like the advice very much, but it did sound pretty sensible. “I’ll think about it anyway,” she said after a moment. “It’s not like there’s any rush.”

“Right?” Kaiya agreed, just as Asami said, “You’re joking!”

The three of them looked at each other, and realized all at once how crazy their argument sounded. They burst into laughter.

Asami helped Mai upstairs, while Kaiya went to grab them lunch. It made Mai feel strange to be the center of so much concern, even with her close friends. Telling her family would be even worse. 

“So did our past-life love bring you the candy and flowers?” Asami asked as she helped Mai sit on her bed.

“No. I got them from -”

“Don’t tell me it’s the one you broke up with? Hideyoshi?” 

Mai shook her head.

“The hot chef guy?” Asami tried again.

“Nope.”

“Oh. My. God. You have another secret admirer?” Asami laughed incredulously. 

“I mean, I don’t think so? It was kind of weird.” Mai told her about the hospital visits, though she left out the peacock and the way she’d thought she saw Ranmaru turn into a white weasel. She wasn’t ready for Asami to think she was that crazy. 

Kaiya showed up about half-way through, so Mai had to start again while the three of them shared sandwiches and the box of chocolates from Ranmaru. Her two friends looked as confused as she felt.

“So, let me get this straight. The chocolates are from some guy you ran into on the train. And a guy you met once while on a date with Hideyoshi came in, with friends, including someone who’s invested in the theater program? And they brought you a support animal?” Kaiya sounded the most incredulous.

Mai nodded. “Yeah. It was weird. But they were all so nice! It kind of, I dunno. Felt like I knew them? Like it sounds weird but it seemed natural while they were there?”

“I think you must have got a concussion,” Asami winked to take the sting from her teasing.

Kaiya laughed. “Honestly, I can’t decide if you’re lucky or not. I’d freak out if a bunch of cute guys I barely know showed up and I was in a hospital bed.”

“Trust me, I was freaking out.” Mai grinned. 

“This just makes me more sure you need to follow up with my hypnotherapist. I asked for you, and he’s got some openings this week.” Asami took out her phone and pulled up a text. “What are you doing Wednesday?”

“Hey, hold on. Are you serious?” Kaiya gave Asami a sidelong glance. “Hypnosis? That’s not even real!”

“How would you know? Did you ever try it?” Asami shot back.

Mai cleared her throat. “Umm. Hey, it might be worth trying. And anyway, Kaiya, I have a favor to ask you.” She fiddled with the hem of her shirt. She hated, absolutely hated asking for favors. “Would you be willing to help me finish out my current orders? I just don’t know - with my arm - how fast I can get them out? And I don’t want to disappoint anyone. I can pay you too!”

Kaiya held up her hand. “Mai. Of course I’ll help. It’s not a big deal. I was actually going to ask you if you needed me. I wasn’t sure how much work you’ve got going on right now.”

“You are my hero.” Mai gave her friend a one-armed hug.

“Mmm. I thought that was the Mitsuhide guy. Didn’t he save you from Mr. Theater-Stabbity-Stab?” Asami glanced up from her phone.

Mai giggled. “He did! But I don’t see him here offering to help stitch beads and finish seams.”

Asami grinned back. “Yeah yeah. I see how it is. Anyway, I booked you for Wednesday afternoon. I’ll come get you.”

“Thanks.” Mai tried to sound certain, though she felt anything but. 

“And, I’ll come over and help with the sewing too. I can’t do much, but I can run deliveries or something, right?” Asami put the phone away and picked up her drink.

“You guys really are the best.” Mai finally relaxed and let herself imagine this wasn’t the disaster it felt like.