#Kongo Unsui

[sabigawa]

Unsui waterbending! 🌊

companion piece to this from a year ago: link

All poses were referenced from Shiho Saito's Taiji (Tai Chi) routine here

[beansterpie]

Something that never really occurred to me about Agon and Unsui until I read the original Japanese version of the manga is the… implication that at least a partial reason that Agon is so aggressively gate keep-y about those he considers worthy enough to count among the top players of football is because of Unsui. As in-- it's not just one-sided from Unsui's end, where he's dedicated his time upholding Agon's exceptionalism in a misguided attempt to compensate for his own perceived failure (ie, his inability to match Agon's ability)-- but also that Agon is lowkey extra aggressive about Being Superior™ as a way to maintain the charade, almost as if he feels he owes it to Unsui.

Maybe this is totally obvious to everyone and I'm just polishing my typing here lol, but in ch. 185 Unsui has his flashback during the Deimon vs Shinryuuji match, and he has that encounter with Agon after he learns that the coordinators for the study abroad scholarship had mistaken Unsui for his brother.

During that convo, Unsui tells Agon not to look back on those without talent, that in a meritocracy no one is going to come save anyone, and then goes on to tell him to trample over average people and to only believe in his own, violently exceptional talent.

Unsui: By doing that, I'll feel rewarded (edit: whoops, totally misread that the first time)

I've always interpreted this as Unsui learning to deal with the fact that his identical twin brother is so much more exceptionally talented than himself, by borderline deifying Agon. If Agon is The Best, if no one else can even dream to reach his heights, then of course Unsui can't compete. Unsui is just an average person, whereas Agon is Agon™.

And then in ch.186, there's this panel, from Agon's pov right as he's aiming to crush Sena:

Agon: The world of perfect talent -- it's not the kind of place that some small-fry scum like you is allowed to just wander into...!

I think the fan-translated version that I'd been reading before I got the Japanese volumes had translated this bit as though it was from Unsui's pov? So I'd kind of just read it as Agon going on and doing his thing regardless of what Unsui thought, and Unsui was just having his own feelings about it on his end.

But the way this panel deliberately distinguishes Unsui from the rest of the team in the bg (and even Ikkyuu is notably not included in the shot) feels like Agon is definitely cognizant of his brother to some extent in this equation. Like, yes he's superior to his brother, Unsui doesn't get to join the Perfect Talent Club, but if his brother doesn't get to join then you bet your ass that you don't get to join either.

And that ^ panel feels like a callback to this v panel from ch.185, where Unsui is mentally urging his brother on when Agon finally fixates on Sena as a threat to crush, rather than an insignificant annoyance.

Unsui: That violently exceptional strength of yours... it will never be born from looking back at the average people lagging behind...!!

It's interesting to me that the vibes here indicate that even though Unsui has like, pinned his self-worth on Agon's success, he doesn't seem to realize that Agon is sort of reciprocating his end of this weird little dance they're doing. He lumps himself together with the rest of the team, and doesn't seem to think that he holds any real weight in Agon's mind-- and in fact is basically encouraging Agon to lump Unsui in with the 'average people' category.

Obviously, Agon is still a diabolical douchebag asshole, and this would just be a partial motivation to his general assholery, IF this is even the intended reading at all. But I definitely think that Unsui does weigh on Agon's mind, at least a little.

[sabigawa]

this is from like, early last year lmfao that I never got around to posting-- atla AU!

it's not really that fleshed out, I just know it would be set post atla but before lok, before republic city is the metropolis that it is in lok. So I put the original gaang to be around their 40's-50's?

the Kongo brothers are from a mixed family, with a firebending father and a non-bender, water tribe mother. Agon is a fire bender, and as in canon, a prodigy in everything he does (he even has blue flames because he sucks like that). because they grew up with a firebender as a parent, and because they lived in a predominantly fire-nation neighborhood, Agon ended up getting the most attention and praise for his bending accomplishments, and he proudly incorporates both fire-nation and water-tribe clothing styles into his day-to-day wear mainly because he likes standing out.

Unsui is a water bender. he's a hard worker and practices for hours every day, but he didn't have the guidance of a water-bender parent, and no matter how hard he worked he could never get close to Agon's skill. sometimes he looks at Agon firebending, and seeing his blue flames while he seamlessly incorporates water bending techniques into his firebending as though it's the easies thing in the world makes Unsui feel as though Agon isn't just the better bender, but the better water bender too. eventually Unsui gives up trying to compete with his twin. it gets to a point where he stops wearing water tribe colors at all as a way to stand out less as a water bender.

Hiruma is a non-bender. he seems to know every nook and cranny of every district in republic city, but no one know where he actually lives. he spends his time being a menace to society with his blackmail book, gambling, and inventing things (he doesn't patent any of his work-- he privately invented hair dye (or bleach, in this case) and uses it only for himself so that people are unnerved by his appearance. rumors that he has something to do with the spirit world follows him around, but he neither denies nor confirms). he and Agon meet one day in a shady alleyway on the rough side of town....

[splickedylit]

Eyeshield 21 doodling time will always devolve into Kongo brothers doodling time. Playing around with twins and twin-adjacent expression differences

[rdbrainz]

something something one piece crossover

[splickedylit]

*Relationships: Kongo Unsui/Hiruma Youichi/Anezaki Mamori *Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Bisexual Awakenings, Emotional Repression, Polyamory, Canon-Typical Quarterback (And Manager) Mindgames, Dysfunctional Family, College is for figuring out you're not straight OR emotionally okay: the fic, …..Unsui deserves to date two people Agon struck out with simultaneously: the fic, It's not exactly hurt/comfort but, Hurt/Validation, isn't a tag

Summary:

“Visiting your parents?” says Mrs Yamamoto.  “Such a good son! My youngest could stand to learn a thing or two!” “And I’m sure your grades are perfect, of course,” says Mrs Inoue, and reaches up to pat Unsui's cheek like he’s still eleven, beaming.  “As expected, with parents like yours, going to such a good school, you boys turned out just wonderfully.”

*Full list at link

(Occasional reminder that there's a shonen sports manga going on in the background of all my queer college drama lol )

[eyeshields]

Winter Gift Exchange '23 gift for @s0ciallyinapt! Here's Unsui and Hiruma having a (trash?) talk over some vending machine coffee for you. Happy holidays!

[splickedylit]

*Relationships: Kongo Unsui/Hiruma Youichi/Anezaki Mamori *Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Bisexual Awakenings, Emotional Repression, Polyamory, Canon-Typical Quarterback (And Manager) Mindgames, Dysfunctional Family, College is for figuring out you're not straight OR emotionally okay: the fic, …..Unsui deserves to date two people Agon struck out with simultaneously: the fic, It's not exactly hurt/comfort but, Hurt/Validation, isn't a tag

Summary:

Agon’s jaw works like he’s biting his tongue. “I didn’t hit you that hard,” he says, but Unsui knows his brother, deeply and painfully and inconveniently, and he knows the rare, uncomfortable edge of uncertainty in his voice. “Yes,” says Unsui, coldly. “You did.”

*Full list at link

Bonus: just some dudes having a very civil discussion :)

Agon should get scruffed like a puppy every so often when he gets punchy. it wouldn't fix him but it would make me very happy.

[splickedylit]

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Kongo Unsui/Hiruma Youichi/Anezaki Mamori, One-Sided Kongo Agon/Hiruma Youichi, Kongo Agon & Kongo Unsui Characters: Kongo Unsui, Hiruma Youichi, Anezaki Mamori, Kongo Agon, Lots of cameo Enma Fires and Saikyou Wizards throughout, …………………………and Musashi Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Bisexual Awakenings, Emotional Repression, Polyamory, Canon-Typical Quarterback (And Manager) Mindgames, these people can't be normal about shit to save their lives, Dysfunctional Family, Agon and Unsui's Convoluted Brother Emotions, And also. parent situation., College is for figuring out you're not straight OR emotionally okay: the fic, …..Unsui deserves to date two people Agon struck out with simultaneously: the fic, It's not exactly hurt/comfort but, Hurt/Validation, isn't a tag

Summary:

“What,” says Unsui, and is keenly, painfully aware that whatever stoic expression his face might have locked itself into in his shock, his cheeks are damningly warm. One part of his mind demands, do something, his plan is working, you’re losing! The other part says, your first kiss was a cackling bastard of a man, because he thought it would make you more likely to lose to him at football. -- Kongo Unsui gets kissed by a man. He's proud to say his performance as a quarterback doesn't suffer at all, in the…extensive aftermath. Hiruma Youichi makes a move, and then does what he does best, which is scramble like a motherfucker and improvise an offense from scratch. Anezaki Mamori analyzes the situation, and politely intervenes. Kongo Agon has a goddamn crisis.

[splickedylit]

*Relationships: Kongo Unsui/Hiruma Youichi/Anezaki Mamori *Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Bisexual Awakenings, Emotional Repression, Polyamory, Canon-Typical Quarterback (And Manager) Mindgames, Dysfunctional Family, College is for figuring out you're not straight OR emotionally okay: the fic, …..Unsui deserves to date two people Agon struck out with simultaneously: the fic, It's not exactly hurt/comfort but, Hurt/Validation, isn't a tag

Summary:

The date proceeds in a chill, peaceful way according to plan, with no further interruptions or interference, and everybody has a lovely uncomplicated time. :-)

*Full list at link

[cherrryperry]

My girlfriend asked me to draw all our ships from Eyeshield 21

Banba x Harao

Musashi x Hiruma

Unsui x Ikkyu

Agon x Hiruma

Kid x Riku

Gao x Marco x Kisaragi

Habashira x Kanagushi

Akaba x Kotaro

Full in my blusky - ‪@/cherrryperry.bsky.social‬

[splickedylit]

*Relationships: Kongo Unsui/Hiruma Youichi/Anezaki Mamori *Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Bisexual Awakenings, Emotional Repression, Polyamory, Canon-Typical Quarterback (And Manager) Mindgames, Dysfunctional Family, College is for figuring out you're not straight OR emotionally okay: the fic, …..Unsui deserves to date two people Agon struck out with simultaneously: the fic, It's not exactly hurt/comfort but, Hurt/Validation, isn't a tag

Summary:

“He seems to be threatening me,” says Unsui. “Oh, yes, definitely,” says Kurita, scratching at his spherical stomach with a soft, doughy-looking arm that could easily lift Unsui’s entire body. “It’s just the way he does things! Because he just likes football so much.” “Yes,” says Unsui. “I’ve noticed.”

*Full list at link

[splickedylit]

*Relationships: Kongo Unsui/Hiruma Youichi/Anezaki Mamori *Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Bisexual Awakenings, Emotional Repression, Polyamory, Canon-Typical Quarterback (And Manager) Mindgames, Dysfunctional Family, College is for figuring out you're not straight OR emotionally okay: the fic, …..Unsui deserves to date two people Agon struck out with simultaneously: the fic, It's not exactly hurt/comfort but, Hurt/Validation, isn't a tag

Summary:

“I’m performing a courtesy visit,” Unsui says coolly—instead of getting the fuck out, which is pretty clearly what Agon’s face is saying.  “I was invited in for tea.  It would have been rude of me to decline.” “Just a courtesy visit,” Youichi repeats, gleefully enjoying the way Agon looks at him with murder in his eyes.  “Between quarterbacks.  Since Enma took us out of the tournament last year, I thought we’d sit down and…talk.” Agon’s face transitions, at the reminder of their loss, from something rotten to I just bit down on a lemon.

*Full list at link

[splickedylit]

*Relationships: Kongo Unsui/Hiruma Youichi/Anezaki Mamori *Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Bisexual Awakenings, Emotional Repression, Polyamory, Canon-Typical Quarterback (And Manager) Mindgames, Dysfunctional Family, College is for figuring out you're not straight OR emotionally okay: the fic, …..Unsui deserves to date two people Agon struck out with simultaneously: the fic, It's not exactly hurt/comfort but, Hurt/Validation, isn't a tag

Summary:

They drink tea in silence for a few moments. Then Sanzo says, “...He kissed you because you’re a very handsome man. I know I said that already, but you’re apparently still not aware.” “Ah,” says Unsui. “You should dress a little sluttier sometimes.” “…Hm.”

*Full list at link

[splickedylit]

*Relationships: Kongo Unsui/Hiruma Youichi/Anezaki Mamori *Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Bisexual Awakenings, Emotional Repression, Polyamory, Canon-Typical Quarterback (And Manager) Mindgames, Dysfunctional Family, College is for figuring out you're not straight OR emotionally okay: the fic, …..Unsui deserves to date two people Agon struck out with simultaneously: the fic, It's not exactly hurt/comfort but, Hurt/Validation, isn't a tag

Summary:

"What the fuck are you trying to pull?” “I’m trying to have a nice date,” Mamori says brightly—and then, because she’s seen plenty of enamored women hanging on Agon’s arm, and heard exactly how he talks about them when they aren't there, she adds, vengefully sweet, “We’ll see where things go from there. The clean-cut look is very handsome, I’ve always thought.” Agon makes a noise Mamori can only compare to the sound Sena’s cat makes before it vomits on the carpet.

*Full list at link

(There’s a fumbling sound; the quality of the sound changes.  “There,” says his mother’s voice.  “Dear, can you hear both of us, now?” “...Yes, mother,” says Unsui, to his ceiling.)

[splickedylit]

*Relationships: Kongo Unsui/Hiruma Youichi/Anezaki Mamori *Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Bisexual Awakenings, Emotional Repression, Polyamory, Canon-Typical Quarterback (And Manager) Mindgames, Dysfunctional Family, College is for figuring out you're not straight OR emotionally okay: the fic, …..Unsui deserves to date two people Agon struck out with simultaneously: the fic, It's not exactly hurt/comfort but, Hurt/Validation, isn't a tag

Summar(ies):

“You’re my brother,” Agon says, like that explains everything. “Oh,” says Unsui, through lips that feel almost numb with rage.  “I’m aware.  Every day I’m grateful for my luck, sharing a family name with the blessed genius Kongo Agon.” Agon gives him a narrow-eyed look at that—like he knows there must be sarcasm in that sentence somewhere, but he can’t seem to find it among all the true statements Unsui just said. Unsui could throw the cup directly at his face.  It wouldn’t make contact, Agon’s reflexes are at the knife-edge of physical possibility, almost inhuman—but it would feel so damn good.

+

Mamori signs back, Limited field to your vision. Where should I look? She raises a hand, but doesn’t sign anything yet.  On the screen, Unsui pushes himself upright, looking after his brother as he stalks away, jaw set and shoulders square. Mamori signs, Keep looking, but opposition is watching you.  Trick play incoming?  All options risky. Youichi snorts, despite himself.  She’s not fucking wrong.  Ten-four.

*Full list at link