#Ultimate Hall Monitor

[shymaru]

@yellowskinnedwackyman

It had become routine. He'd come back from school and then help in the office as much as possible before he'd return home late before beginning again. While there was still quite a bit he had to get used to it was reassuring knowing he was doing something to help out his father. Those people had been rather... forward lately. But hopefully with the next piece he was helping with they would be more willing to wait as his father could only manage so much. Which is why as he glanced around the museum he prepared himself for a long day ahead, fiddling with his sleeves as he kept near Mr. Ryder.

"E-eh... W-what eh... W-what part should I look into?"

[shymaru]

@cals-rp-zone

"Achoo!!"

How many times had he sneezed over the past hour? He wasn't entirely sure but he could already feel how sick he was getting. He'd been heading home after class and found himself falling into a pond not long after. Who exactly had pushed him in he wasn't sure but from the laughter as they ran away it was likely some classmates. Not that he was surprised with how little people cared for him but it didn't make it any easier how much work he'd have to make up. When he found where his messenger bag landed that is.

[shymaru]

@ethereallyloved | Continued from X

It took him a minute to notice what she had done but once he realized a small but still saddened smile came to his face. It still baffled him how much she wanted to comfort and help him but he appreciated it nonetheless. It... It was nice having someone like that to come home to with how difficult things could be. Especially with how frequent it had been that day.

"A-ah... T-that... T-thank you..."

[swampythesweetsketch]

i drew him too small on the canvas and i didn't fix proportions a lot and i gave him a weapon

[nerdyperday]

Day 2585 Crosstober 12: Shun Imai as Kiyotaka Ishimaru

[brainfilehasstoppedworking]

11 PM at the Ishimaru household

Kiyotaka: *walking in the house late*

Takaaki: *turns on lamp and turns to look at him* My, my, if it isn't Kiyotaka Ishimaru, The Ultimate Moral Compass. Getting home late. My, my. How low of you, Taka. *shakes head in disappointed*

Kiyotaka: I told Mondo that he needed to take me home early.

Takaaki: *sighs and continues to shake head* Mr. Ultimate Hall Monitor, a hypocrite. Goodnight, Taka. *gets up to go to bed*

Kiyotaka: Father!

Takaaki: *laughing mischievously*

Kiyondo while poking his head out of his bedroom door: Oooh, yer in trouble~~~

[shymaru]

@yellowskinnedwackyman

It had been a few weeks since the attack and while he'd been forced to do the schoolwork he'd missed and research for work at home due to his injuries, it was apparently there was more than that going on. Sleep only seemed to come to him in the daytime and he was having one such nap not long after confirming some facts for Mr. Ryder.

[chrissv4mp]

♱ loser!

previous work from this au

after the whole incident with billie in the gym and in the bathroom, you and her started to hang out around school more often. she'd always come up to you in the halls, brushing off her friends kindly just to walk you to class—even if her own class was halfway across the school.

you two grew closer, and as her season went on and the girls' varsity basketball team won game after game, you began showing up to them—and billie noticed almost immediately.

however, when she would bring it up during school hours, you'd always brush it off with some lame excuse like, "oh, just gotta keep an eye on student behavior."

but billie knew it was all lies.

well, until the highly anticipated game against the ridgewood panthers, aka your schools rival. your counselor had told you that you needed to be there to monitor students due to the fights that had broken out last year with the girls' jv team.

so, here you were, sitting in the first row of the bleachers as the buzzer indicating the end of the third quarter rang out in the gymnasium loudly.

the panthers have racked up foul after foul, especially the shooting guard of their team and the girl who was always known to be rough: mackenzie carter. she'd gained at least 3 fouls just in the first quarter alone but toned it down when her coach threatened to take her off.

screams of encouragement echoed in the gym from supporters of both teams, almost overpowering the chants of the westfield cheerleaders. you bite your lip, eyes darting to the scoreboard that currently flashed 45-43. the wildcats' were up by only two because of a free throw, and their coach was ballistic.

the first 7 minutes of game passes by in a flash. neither the wildcats or the panthers have made any new shots and the entire gym was on the edge of their seats. jordan, the panthers' point guard, was currently dribbling down the court, scanning at half court to see who was open.

billie was on mack, defending her maybe a bit too harsh. however, when jordan pump-faked to the left and nobody was on number 16, billie jumped to get the ball, only to be frustrated at herself when jordan passed it straight to mack.

mack was short on the catch, causing the ball to graze her fingers before ultimately bouncing out of bounds. "jordan, what the hell was that pass?!" she yelled, eyebrows furrowed as she wiped her chin with her jersey.

avery, shooting guard for the wildcats, quickly jogged out of bounds to inbound the ball. slapping the ball, the team scattered, billie being the first open player she spotted.

you were on the edge of your seat as the rest of the gym was, eyes flicking to the clock every now and then as you watched the blur of players running around and bumping into each other on one side of the court. though, your main focus was on billie.

she was sweaty, strands of hair falling from her tight ponytail and sticking to her forehead and neck as she scrambled around the court with a concentrated look on her face. she's obviously exhausted, but the passion for the game keeps her going, which ultimately has her barking for the ball.

nobody expects it, not even macks teammates.

the second the ball leaves avery's hands, mack rams into billie like a damn linebacker. billie falls hard, back hitting the court hard and knocking the wind out of her for a moment. the entire gym erupts in loud "ooh's" as the ref blows his whistle.

"personal foul! blue 13," the ref calls, fingers flashing with macks jersey number.

your eyes widen as the movement on the court stops for a moment, everybody processing what happened. billie's still on the floor, gasping for air as she furrows her brows and lays her head back against the floor.

then the crowd erupts into screams of both anger and confusion—the wildcats' bench is on their feet, screaming at mack, the panthers' coach is throwing his hands up like it's a bad call, and the home student section is absolutely losing their minds.

you bite your lip, exhaling through your nose as you wait for billie to get up and fix herself, to stay in control of the game. but that's the last thing she's thinking of doing right now, and you can see it even from afar.

instead, she reaches for the ball and hurls it straight at the side of mack's face.

a collective gasp ripples through the crowd once again as the ball connects with mack's cheek with a loud smack. the blond stumbles back against her teammate, grabbing her cheek that's quickly turning red. and then everyone's scrambling.

both referees blow their whistles one after the other, and the closest one grabs the ball from the court to stop anyone from grabbing it again, "technical foul! red 23," he calls.

your eyes widen and you quickly jump onto your feet along with many others from both home and away. nobody's listening to the referees anymore, even as they desperately blow their whistles to stop the players from acting.

"what the fuck is your problem, eilish?!" mack growls, lunging at billie as her teammate helps her onto her feet.

billie doesn't back down, her eyes glinting with something dangerous as she steps forward, "you've played dirty this whole game, carter, you seriously weren't expecting someone to put you in your place?" she scoffs.

the gym somehow gets even louder as everyone screams their concerns and complaints.

jordan steps between them, shoving billie's shoulder harshly, "yo, i suggest you back the fuck up."

billie shoves back harder, snarling, "get off me."

riley, the panthers' team captain is quick to jump in when jordan steps closer to billie, her expression worried, "hey, let's just calm down, alri—?"

the clock has been stopped for at least 2 minutes now, and the gym is only getting more riled up as time passes. coaches are screaming, refs are trying to de-escalate the situation along with riley, and billie and mack are still at each other's throats.

but, of course, the panthers' on the sidelines just have to say something. another well known guard, tia brooks is shouting at billie, a cocky grin on her face, "damn, billie, you pissed 'cause we're gonna win?"

she gestures to the close scoreboard of 47-46, but billie doesn't even spare a glance. her hands are balled into fists, breathing heavy as she stares down tia.

"clock's ticking, superstar. one more lay-up and the game's over." she grins, winking at billie before turning on her heel and walking back to the bench.

billie's jaw tightens, heart beating rapidly in her chest as she tries to keep her cool. she doesn't want to get thrown out of the game with another technical foul, so she steps back, and you mentally applaud her for being the bigger person.

the referee's are finally starting to get things under control, calming down players and reassuring coaches on the sidelines. but somebody just always has to have the last word.

"just accept it," mack murmurs, stepping closer and pressing her finger against billie's chest, "you're a fuckin' loser."

her eyes dart between the three of her opponents before she shoves past both jordan and mack roughly, letting riley off the hook as she storms toward the bench. the gym quiets for a moment in confusion, and the referee's just exhale in relief.

billie's face is flushed with barely contained anger, but it's a different kind now. she doesn't even look at her coach, just stares at mack as she turns her back to line up for the free throws.

"i'm done." billie states, tone leaving no room for argument as her eyes flick to her coach, "i don't wanna play anymore. it's over, it's—"

coach parker freezes for a moment before cutting billie off, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder, "billie, we need you on the floor. we're still up by one—"

"no," billie huffs, voice breaking and becoming quieter, "i can't play anymore. she's just gonna keep on targeting me like she has been this whole damn game. you saw it, didn't you? no matter what i do, she's gonna keep fouling me."

you watch from the first row bleachers, biting your lip and frowning in concern as you see billie hang her head low, shoulders tense and clearly done with the game. the gym buzzes with quiet chatter for a moment as the referee's talk with the coaches.

but then mack's voice breaks through, sharp and mocking, "look at that. billie eilish wants to quit," she grins, "guess you're just not cut out for the sport."

"shut the fuck up, bitch!" a student yells from the bleachers, causing heads to turn left and right in an effort to find them, "you've got four fouls, shut your ass up and play the game."

mack rolls her eyes, stepping away and placing her hands on her hips as she looks back at billie.

the panthers' are so close—one point away from ending the game and winning in the final seconds. the clock is ticking down, the wildcats leading by just one point. billie's on the bench, shouting at her teammates with every last bit of confidence she has in her.

but mack just forced a turnover and nobody has any energy left to catch up to her.

"get her!" billie screams, voice rough with frustration, "you guys are just gonna let her score that?!—guard her!"

the game has been an emotional nightmare, but it's all come down to this. the crowd is on their feet along with the players on the benches, but billie's focus is on the court, and only then does she regret telling coach to bench her.

her eyes flick to the clock. 20 seconds. mack is passing the three point line on the other side of the court, driving toward the basket without any struggle. the gym goes silent as mack goes for the lay-up.

the ball goes into the basket, sending the panthers into a frenzy. the supporting students from ridgewood high erupt into screams and cheers of excitement as mack jogs backward down the court with a sly grin on her face.

48-47. panthers are up.

celebrations are all billie hears, and she really can't take it anymore, standing up from the bench and ripping the hair tie from her hair, "fuck!"

billie runs a stressed hand through her hair, tugging at the ends, "who had mack?! somebody get on her!" billie screams.

her teammates are visibly exhausted, trying to keep their heads high, but the sting of the impending loss is sharp.

12 seconds.

avery gets the inbound pass, and she doesn't waste any time. she runs down the court, controlling her dribbles as she slid past the half court press and into the paint. just as she was about to get the shot, lily cooper, the panthers center, slaps the ball out of her hand and into tia's grip.

"good drive, just—fuck." billie murmurs as if avery can hear, head spinning as she hears the opposing team count down from 10.

avery forces a turnover as soon as tia gets past half court, dribbling the ball and passing to the small forward. tia jumps in, grabbing the ball just as the buzzer sounds. it's over.

panthers win.

billie slams her waterbottle onto the floor, her anger still simmering. her chest heaves as she watches the panthers come from off of the bleachers and the bench, cheering loudly.

you can see the disappointed look on billie's face even from across the court, her fists clenched as she stares down at the floor in defeat. you frown, watching as billie lines up with her team for post-game high-fives.

the cheerleaders are still chanting, trying to keep spirits high even as students leave the gym with unsatisfied looks on their faces. the panthers begin the walk for high-fives, muttering "good game" as they pass each of the wildcats.

mack and billie are the last in both lines, and the blond takes the opportunity to pull billie forward and whisper in her ear, "nice job, eilish. though, maybe next time you won't choke."

billie narrows her eyes, yanking her hand away from mack's grip. but she doesn't back down, not again. "next time meaning the championship? y'know, the one your lame ass team won't make it to?"

"you won by a single point. get over yourself, carter." billie scoffs, shaking her head.

"whatever." mack says, brushing it off with an eye roll before she walks over to celebrate with her team.

billie huffs out a laugh at her reaction, pulling her jersey over her head as she walks towards the bleachers where her bags were. she walks past you, not even noticing when you stand up and follow behind her on her way up to the top row.

the cheerleaders are beginning to pack up their things, filtering out along with the rest of the crowd. billie sits down next to her bags, leaning down to untie her shoelaces and slip into the old jordan 4's she was always seen wearing.

it's only when you sit next to her does she sense your presence. she doesn't look up right away, but her muscles relax a bit.

"hey, billie," you murmur, watching as she stuffs her basketball shoes and jersey into her duffel bag and grabs her hoodie from inside of it.

she exhales softly, pulling her hoodie over her head before replying, "what's up?"

her voice is still rough, a little softer, but you can tell she's still mad. then she finally looks at you, and you see the shortest glimpse of vulnerability in her pretty blue eyes.

"i'm sorry about the game," you speak quietly, "they're a rough team, that's been known—but... it's not your fault."

billie shakes her head, a dry, frustrated laugh escaping past her lips, "yeah, well that doesn't make it hurt any less." she shuts her eyes for a moment. "i can't—i don't even know what happened out there. carter was on me the whole game, there's no fucking way she only had three fouls."

you frown in sympathy, cautiously putting a hand on billie's shoulder. you feel her relax even more underneath your touch, "you did your best," you say, finally.

billie turns her head, staring at you for a long moment, her anger still high but starting to cool down a little.

"i don't know if i did, that's the thing." she looks down at her bags and shakes her head once again, "this loss makes us third in the state, and that's not good enough. not for coach, not for the team. not for me."

"i really wanted this one." she murmurs.

"i know," you say softly, rubbing her shoulder with your thumb, "i get it."

billie looks back at you, sighing deeply before standing up from the bleacher. she reaches down to sling her backpack over her shoulders, carrying her duffel bag in one hand.

"we'll get 'em next time, i guess," billie shrugs.

you nod, but then think of a way to lighten the mood with a joke, "if they even make it 'til 'next time,'"

billie laughs at that, glancing back at you with a genuine smile as she nods in your direction, "miss head of leadership making fun of students? damn, that'll cost you your title."

you roll your eyes at her, "i'm head of leadership for westbridge, not ridgewood."

billie shrugs in understanding before muttering that your point is fair. she glances back at you one more time before she leaves, deciding to go back up to you and pull you into an unexpected hug.

her head rests on your shoulder, inhaling the mixed scent of your shampoo and perfume, relaxing even more as she shuts her eyes like she's trying to engrave this moment into her mind forever. not the loss, just this. you.

"thanks for always showing up," she murmurs, voice quiet. vulnerable. "you don't have to, but you always do, and i know i don't always show it, but i'm really grateful that you do."

you weren't expecting this at all. the surprise washes over you, but you can't bring yourself to pull away. your arms wrap around her neck gently, holding her for a few seconds as you think of what to say. but billie continues before you can reply.

"i know i'm a mess out there sometimes, but it helps to know that you'll be there after to calm me down. even when i'm being a total idiot." she laughs, eliciting a chuckle of your own.

blush creeps onto your cheeks as billie pulls you tighter, and when you finally whisper back, billie's own cheeks flush, "i'll always be here, front and center. win or lose."

when billie pulls back, the loss of warmth hits you both at the same time. the way she looks at you in that moment has you questioning everything. but then her lips curl up into a teasing smile as she steps back.

"yeah, well... thanks for always showing up..." billie says, the smirk on her face indicating she has more to say, "even if you're just here to 'keep an eye in student behavior,'"

you chuckle at her words, watching as billie laughs to herself as she makes her way down the bleachers, eyes flicking back to you once more before she slips through the gym doors and out of sight.

2.9K WORDS

LETTERS. coming back with some jock!billie angst/fluff 🙏🙏 not my best, but i got a bit inspired after reading my first fic about jock!billie again!!! i'm trying to get back into the swing of things, so i apologize if there's any mistakes or plot holes 😭 hope this keeps u guys entertained :)

TAGS. @mseilishmwah @sophloveswomen @mxqdii @livvydunneness @vyntagess @lamourdemalvie @wiidfi0wer33 @loving1dsworld @tan1shere @fallingforfalll2 @cierraonline @dandelions4us @scarlittt @ifwdominicfike @slxtarchive @stonerfromlesbos @bilsdillldough @47lake @hopingforgoodblogs @karaeilishh @mybluebossanova @sturnsmia @moralesluvr @justtr @greenbttrflyy @billsbaby @natbelovasblog @lottiepierce @northlndnisred @asterisk-eyes @dragoneyelashart @xxangelfarrlzxx @ilomiloblohshh @fawninlove @slutforsturniolos @meliciousmel13

[up-side-in-side-out]

Did you hear the news? The ultimate biker gang leader has a soft spot for Hopes Peak’s hall monitor!

I’ve been playing Trigger Happy Havoc with my roommate and it’s reminding me of how much I love this game.

Kiyotaka Ishimaru you are the character ever

[lilacrylicnoko]

This is my Reverse!Harley AU! :]

Well its mostly called SCBD_AU Here's the lore/information about the AU:

Doctor Sawyer is head Scientist, however he was the one to come up with the successful BBI (Creating Poppy), and decided to not push the project forward, losing Playco money. Executives couldn't get rid of Sawyer, so Eddie comes up with the idea to make Sawyer into a machine, and encourage/push Dr. White into leading the project and getting them their doe as well as letting Dr. White give the order to turn Sawyer into an experiment since Playtime was mostly interested in Sawyer's intellect.

Cut to Sawyer being kidnapped and turned, He is always monitored and sometimes abused by Eddie, Eddie takes a liking to Sawyer's personality and decides to make him a dress-up doll for the next 2-3 years, keeping him chained down in specific locations to help with the project against his will. Leith and Stella aren't mean to Harley, but tolerates and pities him.

Before the hour of joy happens, Eddie locks Sawyer away in a metal box in the Prison underground with the chains around his wrists, never to be seen or heard from for the next 10 years until The Prototype releases Harley, makes a bargain with him for his service of being a pawn to spare his life. The Player comes down, and encounters Harley roaming the prison halls, and the he tasks them with helping him get the shock collar off as it still goes off in most specific locations or when Harley gets worked up (emotional), in which they find the remote and successfully do that, he then could return to the one of the rooms he wasn't aloud to go into.

For the rest of the game, it mostly goes the same with some changes here and there, and Poppy and Doey requests the Player must kill him to stop The Prototype, out of self defense, Harley tries to make it difficult for the player to get to the control room. Once they show up, He snaps and tries to kill the player, and ends up ultimately dying and claiming they are no angel and saved no one. Also I added some securityangel in the corner for the AU.

Random funfact: Harley despises wearing clothes

[cece693]

Velvet Ring Pt. 3 (Hannibal Lecter x M! Reader)

Sorry for the short hiatus, but life comes first :) I have read your comments and delivered part three of Velvet Ring. Many say this should be a full-length novel, so I'm considering going to Ao3 and posting it there. More info to come, but I hope you enjoy it!

link to part one and part two

The months that followed your departure were a slow descent into madness for Hannibal, a feverish chase that consumed him with a depth he hadn’t known was possible. He had no doubt you were alive—he would have felt it otherwise, sensed the hollow ache in his soul if you had truly been lost. Yet, no matter how many leads he pursued, no matter the lengths he went to, you remained elusive, slipping from his grasp like water.

He contacted private investigators, each more skilled than the last, paying them handsome sums for information that ultimately led nowhere. Hannibal monitored hospitals, social service records, border crossings, tracking every lead that might hint at your presence, yet all he found was emptiness. His health took a toll—his once sturdy frame became thin, his skin turning sickly pale due to the lack of sunlight as the man feverously searched through papers. But his nights were the worst of it.

Sleep, once a rare respite, became his most unforgiving tormentor, an unbidden invitation into his memory palace, where every hall and chamber held your presence. In every room, you were there, waiting with that quiet intensity he could never forget, your gaze piercing him with unspoken questions. He would step forward, his hands trembling as he reached out.

"Please," Hannibal whispered, his voice breaking in a way it never did in the waking world. "Please, come back to me." And each time he reached for you, tried to bridge the impossible chasm he had created, he would awaken, gasping and cold, his hand outstretched to empty air, the harsh reality a cruel slap in the face. He knew he would never find peace, not without you. His life, his plans, his ambition—all of it was hollow now, stripped of all meaning.

But then, after months of nothing but anguish and shadows, he heard a whisper—a sighting in a small, secluded town, someone matching your description. It was faint, the kind of rumor easily dismissed as coincidence by anyone else. But Hannibal clung to it with an iron grip, the flicker of hope it rekindled blazing into a fire within him. Without hesitation, he set out, leaving no time to rest, crossing miles with a singular determination to find you.

Hannibal arrived at dusk, the air heavy and cool, exhaustion tugging at his every step, but a fierce anticipation overriding all else. He scanned the cobblestone streets, his gaze sharp and hungry, studying every face. Just as his hope began to waver, there you were—across the street, holding a small bag, engaged in conversation.

Hannibal’s heart seized as his eyes locked onto you, his breath catching at the sight of you after so long. But then, his gaze drifted to the woman beside you, her hand resting lightly on your arm as she leaned in, laughing softly at something you said. Something primal stirred within him, a dark flame fanned by jealousy, possessiveness, and the betrayal he felt as he watched you sharing even a fragment of your life with another.

Without hesitation, he crossed the cobblestone street, his steps unyielding, his gaze fixed intently on you. As he approached, the woman looked up, startled, and her grip on you tightened as she registered the intensity in his eyes. His face remained composed, but there was an edge to his expression, a darkness that radiated in the tight line of his jaw, the way his gaze lingered just a moment too long on her hand resting on your arm.

"M/N,” he said softly, his voice carrying a quiet intensity that was both familiar and unsettling. The way he said it—both a question and an accusation—made you freeze, your eyes widening as they locked onto him. Hannibal took in sick delight at the way you removed the woman's hold on your arm, a unconscious sign that you did something wrong and knew it.

Turning to the woman, Hannibal smiled, cold and unyielding. “I don’t believe we’ve met,” he said, his tone dripping with a courtesy that felt more like a threat than an introduction. "I'm Hannibal Lecter, and who might you be?"

She cleared her throat, her unease evident. “I'm Anna. Pietro's friend." Her voice was unsteady, unsure of how to respond to the quiet menace in his gaze. Hannibal didn't care that you had created a fake identity, the moniker friend, being of more importance. There was ambiguity in it—a loose, undefined boundary that could mean anything or nothing at all. The lack of clarity fanned the flame of his resentment, and he relished the discomfort that flashed in Anna’s eyes as his stare intensified.

"A friend,” he repeated, his voice soft but edged with subtle derision. His gaze flicked over her with a dispassionate coldness before returning to you. “I wasn’t aware Pietro had developed such… casual acquaintances during his time away.” His tone held a faint sneer, and he continued, turning back to her with a faint smile. “Tell me, Anna, how long have you been acquainted with him?”

Anna’s gaze darted nervously between you and Hannibal, the weight of his intense scrutiny pressing down on her. “Just a few weeks,” she replied, voice faltering slightly under his sharp gaze.

"Wonderful,” Hannibal murmured, his smile tightening, “then I assume he’ll be quick to abandon you in favor of company more suited to his needs. Pietro has a habit of seeking company that doesn’t benefit him—shallow, fleeting connections, if you will.” His words were like barbed silk, each one crafted to cut deeper.

“Hannibal!” you interjected sharply, your tone stern, your eyes flashing with a mix of anger and frustration. You took a step forward, trying to draw his attention away from Anna, who looked close to tears.

Hannibal’s gaze shifted back to you, a faint glint of satisfaction in his eyes. “My apologies,” he said softly, his voice dangerously smooth, “I merely assumed that you’d be accustomed to my honesty by now.”

You clenched your jaw, leveling him with a glare. “Your honesty is cruelty, Hannibal,” you said firmly. “And I don’t appreciate you taking your issues out on someone who has nothing to do with this.” Hannibal seethed, watching as you turned your gaze back unto that pig leaning into her ear, whispering something unintelligible. His hands clenched at his sides, his entire posture radiating a barely restrained fury.

“Anna has nothing to do with this, Hannibal,” you said firmly, once the wretched pig had left. “I won’t stand here and let you humiliate her just because she's been kind during my stay here."

“Humiliate?” Hannibal repeated, his voice cold and dripping with disdain. “The only humiliation here is watching you pretend this… distraction somehow compensates for what you left behind. But if that’s the kind of company you now keep, perhaps I overestimated your standards as well.”

You narrowed your eyes, anger flaring. “That’s enough,” you warned, stepping forward. “I didn’t ask you to come here, and I certainly didn’t ask for your opinions on my choices.”

Hannibal scoffed, a bitter smile twisting his lips. “Your choices?” he echoed, his voice rising, each word dripping with venom. “They weren’t just your choices. They were ours. When you abandoned me without a word, as if what we had was disposable, your choice became mine.”

For a brief moment, his gaze softened, the fury and bitterness fading to reveal something raw, something painfully human. His face transformed, stripped of the cold, unshakable control he had always exuded—even as children, when he had towered over others with a quiet, invincible strength. It was as if a mask had fallen away, and you saw, perhaps for the first time, that beneath his formidable presence, Hannibal was vulnerable and, terrifyingly, capable of being hurt.

Hannibal’s voice softened, a glimmer of both sorrow and fierce determination in his eyes as he gently brushed his thumb along your cheek. “But I forgive you,” he murmured, his words filled with tenderness. “But tell me this: why didn’t you tell me Lady Murasaki and Robert treated you horribly? I would have put an end to their horrid behavior if I’d known.”

The weight of his forgiveness, his readiness to overlook the pain of your absence, only made the guilt settle deeper in your chest. You took a shaky breath, looking down as the words you’d hidden so carefully finally began to spill out. “I thought…I thought I was protecting you,” you said softly, your voice barely more than a whisper. “They’re your family, Hannibal. I didn’t want to be the reason you fought with them. And a part of me was scared. That if you spoke with them, you'll realize that they were right. That I was undeserving of you."

Hannibal’s face darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes as he took in your words, his jaw clenching. He felt a rush of anger swell within him, barely tempered by the knowledge that Robert and Lady Murasaki—those who had dared to make you feel so small, so undeserving—had already been dealt with. Even so, a bitter regret simmered beneath his composure, a twisted satisfaction tainted by the thought that he could have made their ends far more painful, a true testament to the suffering they had inflicted on you.

"That couldn’t be further from the truth, beloved." His hand moved to cup your face, his fingers warm against your skin as he tilted your chin, his gaze softening with an intensity that stole your breath. His voice, quiet yet filled with unwavering conviction, wrapped around you like a protective embrace.

“Don’t you see?” Hannibal continued, his thumb tracing gentle circles against your cheek. “Without you, my life would have been empty, hollow. They convinced you that you were an obstacle, something in the way of greatness, but they couldn’t have been more wrong. You are my anchor, the one who kept me grounded when everything else felt meaningless. My purpose.” His voice grew rough, carrying the weight of all he’d felt, all he’d kept buried.

Hannibal leaned closer, his forehead resting gently against yours, his voice softening. “They saw the depth of what we shared, and it frightened them. They knew I would choose you over anything they could offer, over any legacy or loyalty. And so, they made you believe you were unworthy, hoping to drive us apart.” He shook his head, the faintest hint of sorrow in his eyes. “But they were wrong. I am yours, and without you, I am nothing but a shadow.”

You felt the warmth of his words seeping into you, soothing the ache that their lies had left, dissolving the doubts that had plagued you for so long. His gaze held yours, his hand still cupping your face with a gentleness that belied his intensity. “Promise me,” he murmured, his voice almost pleading, “that you will never doubt your place beside me again. That you won't ever leave my side again.”

Your heart swelled, and with a trembling smile, you nodded, leaning into his touch. “I promise, Hannibal.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips, filled with both relief and the unspoken vow that no one would ever come between you again. “Then we begin anew,” he whispered, brushing his lips softly over your forehead. “Together, as it was always meant to be.”

[shymaru]

@yellowskinnedwackyman | Continued from X

While it wasn't something he would normally have he still appreciated the gesture, carefully eating the fries as he fidgeted. Though at the question he would frown and glance down at the schoolwork and the bits of job applications to the side. He'd still been searching for something to help his father but nothing had been working so far.

"I-I eh... N-no... T-thank you... W-well... I-I... D-do... D-do you eh... I-is there anyone... h-hiring?"

[feinyan]

DATING HEADCANON featuring. damon maitsu, kai monteago, wolfgang akire, desmond hall, mark berskii, jean delamer, jett dawson, eva tsunama, diana venicia, wenona, grace madison, cassidy amber and toshiko kayura. (platonic)

hi hi happy new years :] some of these characters i dont understand very well so please be patient with me … one dating / scenario for every character! (excluding three. i gave up. im sorry) toshiko is platonic!

# damon maitsu

infatuated with you. something damon had always struggled with was strong feelings. interest in people, the concept of love. things like those never crossed his mind, feeling like he had greater priorities. but that’d long since gone away, being replaced by such an overwhelming feeling of what he’d once lacked. at the thought of you, your gleaming smile and humming whenever you’re excited, he grows flustered. a strong, warm feeling in his chest. a feeling so overbearing that he feels like he’ll overheat at any moment. but he wants to explore this with you. slowly, but surely. he wants to open up with you, unwind. he wants to be able to understand the way he feels.

# kai monteago

the way he conveys himself around you is something that is shown to nobody. his facade taken off, a true him in which only you can uncover. a boy of so many emotions, his vulnerability, his happiness, his sorrow. everything. he trusts you with everything he has, the whole of him, as if you were fumbling his life within your fingers. he wouldn’t mind that. he knows you wouldn’t fuck it up.

# wolfgang akire

oh so careful with you. only daring to touch you in the most delicate way, his touch against your skin gentle, soft enough that it seems he’d think you’d break if he even applied a smaller amount of pressure. caring for you in such a warm way. dressing you in warm clothes when you’re sick. wrapping a scarf around your neck in the cold. sliding a blanket over your sleeping body. you’re something he couldn’t bare losing, and to him, that delicacy he holds toward you will always be worth it.

# desmond hall

morning walks, always. burying his fingers beneath your shirt, letting out a husky laugh as you mumble for more time sleeping. but eventually, you cave, and like always, you set out on a walk. beneath the sunrise where its quiet. when not many people are out, and you two are alone. basking in the fresh sunlight raining down on you, enjoying eachothers laughs, hands pressed together.

# mark berskii

needy. a boy who wants more and more from you, who feels himself drained by any contact other than your own. he treats you as if you were a charger, clinging to you awaiting your restoration to his social battery. hes not big on words, preferring to show his affection with actions. laying his head against your lap quietly, leaning against your shoulder, hugging you from behind. small yet romantic gestures in which he finds healing. a safe haven where he can unwind in a most vulnerable way.

# jean delamer

attentive in every way. it’s as if he had a third eye, constantly lingering over you. monitoring you. noticing your every action, if your eyes have faltered slightly, or your eye twitches at someone in dismay. he’s notice it, and taken note of it. his read on your body is incredible, the ability to aid you in escape from an uncomforting situation without even a word from you is a special little skill he claims to have learned from time spent with his crew.

# jett dawson

shows you off like you’re the biggest prize hes ever won. to him, you’re worth more than any trophy! the amount of times your name has slipped off his tongue without him noticing might break a record. his eagerness to ramble about you is endearing.

# eva tsunaka

a place where she belongs. somewhere she feels shes truly appreciated, truly cared for within someones presence. she’d struggled so much with being left out, mocked for what she thought was impressive. but to you? its different. the difference in your attitude toward her ultimate and identity allows her to display her upmost honest self with you. her nerdy comments, her attitude, her vulnerability. who allows herself to become lost within your presence, long enjoying the safety and sense of security you’ve given her. there couldn’t be anything she could ever thank you with.

# diana venicia

sweetest girl ever, though thats a given. worships your body with praise, kisses your everywhere. places you’re insecure about, places you think are odd, places you think are unique. she’ll kiss them until you love them the way she loves you. she appreciates every part of you, from the inside to the outside. if you’re insecure, she cheers you on. she helps you build a good view on yourself. if you’re confident, she feeds into it. she’s your number one supporter. nobody is perfect, yet to her, you’re the closest thing there is.

# wenona

spoils you. shes worked so hard, so why wouldn’t she? to her, any money put toward you is worth spending. expensive stuff, fancy dates. though she doesn’t enjoy throwing around cash for the sake of it, maybe you’re an exception. someone like you who indulges in her interests, who is willing to listen to her ramble about future business opportunities and handle her busy nature whilst still loving her all the same. your patience is rewarding, as long as everything is put to use.

# grace madison

confidently defends you. puts her word in for you no matter the discussion, because nobody talks to her partner like that. regardless of the situation; backhanded comments, obviously bitter words, straight insults. she can’t help it, it comes naturally. the willingness to argue with and fight anyone who dare make even a singular ill comment toward you comes with dating her. she isn’t scared of anyone when it comes to defending you.

# cassidy amber

despite her outgoing, overwhelming spunk, chill days have become a frequency with her. days where you two take time to indulge in each others presence, enjoy games and shows, simply being together. not that its any less chaotic, of course shes still energetic as ever, yet off camera within the walls of your home, it allows her to be a more clingy version of herself. one that allows herself to bury herself within her partners embrace, paying less attention to games, and more attention to the person in front of her.

# toshiko kayura

a darling who wants to learn from you, someone who represents the figure of an older sibling to her, someone who means so much to her. she clings to you. she takes after your actions, your thinking style, your way of speaking. taking words and forming them within her own speech, following you around like a curious puppy eager to learn the things you’ve been indulging in. she enjoys your time, and wants to be like you, wholeheartedly.

@ feinyan

[shymaru]

It would take him a few minutes before he would approach the door and unlock it, slipping inside and locking it behind him before collapsing on the couch. How did he continue to have to handle these sorts of things? While there was quite a bit that still puzzled him about Gotham the fact that he had run into such a strange creature was even more bewildering. At least now he could finish up before bed...

The shadow gave a friendly wave as it vanished into the night, at least this kid was safe and fed

[shsl-hubris-guy]

In-Depth Analysis On All The DR Characters Because What, Are You Gonna Try And Stop Me? Who Are You, My Mom? Yeah, I Didn't Think So- Part 1: Kiyotaka Ishimaru

Yes, I'm aware the title is ungodly long, it's called comedy. Behold, a series inspired by my overwhelming hubris! Despite my better judgement, I love this series and (almost) every single one of its characters, so I decided to do this little series of posts on the side, just cuz!

So part 1 of like, 88 I think?, going through the characters from THH, DR 0, SDR2, UDG, DR3, and DRV3 with as much objectivity as possible, analyzing their character using only canon material from the games/anime/novel/canon adaptation they're present in. So sit back and enjoy while I go feral! Or just scroll, if you aren't interested. Whatever works for you.

*Editing note, June 29, 2025: Reformatted things like headers & quotes for cleanup. No information or conclusions have been changed.

Part 1- Character Design

Kiyotaka Ishimaru is depicted as a very aggressive honors student, and is shown as such through his very expressive facial features and his choice of clothing. He has large eyebrows and big eyes, and is given a uniform meant to make him look more like a soldier, reflecting his rigid dedication to the rules and his ethics. This uniform also includes an armband meant to signify his authority within the class as Hall Monitor and as the unofficial class rep. His sprites are very animated, with big gestures using his arm(s) and his mouth often wide open, whether in a wide smile or while yelling. This makes him one of the more expressive characters in THH specifically, as most of those characters are pretty restrained on a day-to-day basis and only become more exaggerated when put under high levels of stress.

Something interesting about Taka is that his talent changes from the original Japanese to the English translation. His official talent is the SHSL Public Morals Committee Member, meaning his original talent was that of discipline and social order. This was translated to Ultimate Moral Compass in English, as most western schools don't have a Public Morals Committee. This change in translation unintentionally shifted the perception of his talent from discipline to morality. This change in distinction has had a bit of a negative impact on the Western perception of his character, as rather than appearing to impose order on the other students, it instead appears at the beginning as though we, the audience, are supposed to view him as a beacon of morality. We're not.

Part 2- Character Introduction

Taka is one of the first characters to actually speak to Makoto directly, berating him for being late on the first day of school, despite the fact that he and everyone else had experienced a strange warping of memory. He also goes on to interrupt your first conversation with Sayaka, stating that their time is being wasted by 'ridiculous back-and-forth'. Despite this, when it's his turn to introduce himself to Makoto, he goes off on a tangent about how cool Makoto's name is. He's described by Makoto as a 'flawless honors student' and is most publicly known for his work on his local Public Morals Committee. He believes in putting 'every ounce of effort' into living, and imposes this belief on those he interacts with, something Makoto finds irritating.

"This guy is... kind of annoying." -Makoto Naegi, prologue

So in short, Taka's first impression on the player is that he's a mildly obsessive honors kid, and a bit of a hypocrite that isn't fully aware of his own presence or the effect it has on the rest of the cast. The game goes on to use this lack of social awareness as a source of comedy, as he takes Monokuma's initial greeting as Headmaster fully at face value. He struggles to grasp the concept of the killing game at first, opening the discussion upon Monokuma's departure from the welcome ceremony with dialogue that sounds like it was pulled from a customer feedback survey.

"So guys, how would you define what we just experienced?" -Kiyotaka Ishimaru, prologue

He's not a malicious or hateful figure; he wants to work with the class but isn't quite sure how to.

Part 3- Early-Game Events

The game spends the early-game establishing Taka's more negative traits. He's shown to be inobservant and wrapped up in his own ideals and need to command authority to even notice Kyoko is missing and, upon being informed of her disappearance, cares more about her punctuality than her safety.

"Not only is [Kyoko] late, she didn't tell anyone she would be late! A most unbecoming personality trait..." -Kiyotaka Ishimaru, ch 1

He's also established as hypocritical once again, and a bit egotistical, as he has trouble fathoming the others' lack of discoveries but overinflates the importance of his own.

He then goes on to agree to Celeste's suggested nighttime rule for all the boys in the class, without letting them speak for themselves. While ultimately, no one has a problem with the rule, this is the first real instance of him doing something that, on paper, is beneficial to the group, but without considering how the others actually feel about it.

Taka doesn't show up in-story again until the day of the motive, when he goes around to the entire class demanding that they will now all have breakfast together every morning after the morning announcement. Although this is a good idea, allowing for everyone to bond and creating a morning headcount, he makes this decision for the entirety of the group. Leon and Makoto both complain about this if you speak to Leon outside the cafeteria, but ultimately go along with it because they don't want Taka to continue bugging them about it. So we can see that his efforts are perceived negatively by his classmates and go unappreciated.

Already we've seen Taka act overbearing and commanding over and over, inadvertently separating himself from the majority of his peers. He's direct and to the point, forming the breakfast meetings expressly to 'become friends and build trust' with the rest of the class. So we can see in no uncertain terms that he wants to befriend his classmates, but that his lack of social skills leads him to fail at every turn. He doesn't ask the class to join him for breakfast, he tells them. The strategy he employs doesn't leave room for choice, and ends up building resentment from his classmates.

It's not until the first body is discovered and the rules of the class trial are revealed that reality fully seems to set in for Taka. He, along with everyone else, are given the rules of a game they don't really want to play- that should they fail in the trial, all of them will be killed. And it sends Taka to a breakthrough- that some regulations can be harmful to those they're imposed upon.

There's now a shift in his actions- he's still trying to push for the class to follow the rules he's set, yes, but there's a newfound urgency to them. When Byakuya disappears in chapter 2, his concern has shifted from punctuality to his classmate's safety. He's the one to lead the search for Byakuya when he doesn't answer. Despite all his harshness, we can see that his strictness now comes from a place of genuine concern for the people around him, a direct parallel to earlier in the game when Kyoko went missing.

"I'd like to think so. But I'm worried something might have happened to him." -Kiyotaka Ishimaru, ch 2

This growth of character, though not focused on, is undoubtedly present. The dedication he has to his discipline and his ego are still fully intact, but now that dedication has moved beyond just order. It's an act of protection, for him and everyone else. The invisible threat of death has become all too visible with Sayaka's absence from their last breakfast meeting. If he can keep track of everyone, then he'll know they're still alive. He can prevent another murder. It imposes upon him the responsibility of the leadership he craves.

Part 4- Relationship(s)

Unincluding if the player actively seeks him out through FTEs, Taka only ever develops a real relationship with one character of the other fourteen in-game, though he does have some important dynamics with others. We'll continue moving in chronological order.

4.1- Ishimondo (these bitches gay?)

Throughout the game, whenever Taka is saying or doing something stupid, Mondo is typically the one to call him out on it or shut him down. While this doesn't start to take real shape until chapter 2, it is visible here and there in the early game.

But their connection doesn't really start to take focus until chapter 2, as Taka's failings as leader and Mondo's constant correcting him puts them at odds. Mondo's attitude is the antithesis of Taka's, living a life of complete risk and impulsiveness, yet has a matching level of energy, and despite being more intimidating on a surface level, he's able to actually befriend characters like Chihiro, Hina, and Sakura, while Taka's left on the out. One of the best examples of this is found not in the game, but in the stageplay adaptation, where both characters attempt to help Chihiro feel better about her weakness in the daily life segment.

When Byakuya starts mocking Chihiro for her fear, Mondo threatens him, and insists that Chihiro's weakness doesn't matter because she's a woman. But when this makes her upset and Sakuraoi call him out on it, he offers to help Chihiro train as an apology, acknowledging that his behavior was irrational. But when Taka tries to give her advice by telling her not to be weak anymore and is told to be reasonable, he can only insist that Mondo's words don't matter anyway.

In the game itself, Taka's barely present for this exchange, as it chooses instead to focus on Chimondo's relationship. Regardless, the animosity between Mondo and Taka is still made very clear in-game.

Mondo and Taka are both demonstrating the desire to protect their classmates here, but in different ways. Taka is the more logical of the two, focusing on keeping track of resources and devising a system of check for everyone to keep watch over each other in the breakfast promise. Mondo, meanwhile, wants to push the importance of actually getting everyone the fuck out of there. While their endgoal is the same, they disagree on how to go about it, and both their stubbornness drives them to butt heads as time continues to pass, leading to the sauna scene.

After being slowly built up in the background, Ishimondo's mutual anger finally comes to a head, with both not understanding the position that the other is in. Taka still believes Mondo's value to be what he provides to society, and as a biker gang leader, that's not much to a man that lives by lawful discipline. Meanwhile, Mondo can only see Taka as an egomaniac with a stick up his ass and doesn't know the background to why(and neither does the player without actively seeking out his FTEs). They each follow a different code of ethics, and view themself as the protector of the class, leading them to see each other as rivals. Yet, despite that, both of them still share their core value of total dedication, and so when finding a way to prove themself the better man, they end up with an endurance competition. For Taka, this reflects his belief that men connect by baring their souls, and do so by baring their bodies(something only learned in-game by approaching him for FTEs).

(This also leads to the implication that, while Mondo insisted on entering the sauna with all his clothes on, at some point, he was, in fact, naked while with Taka that night.)

The information as to what happened in that sauna is intentionally left unanswered, remaining fully private between both men in-game. The only thing either of them will say is that a brotherhood was formed between them, and that who won their initial contest no longer matters. Finally, Taka has found someone. Someone he can confide in and lean on, someone who'll support him and that he can support in turn.

"And if you can't do it alone, just find someone to support you, and you can support them back! That's how you can overcome any storm!" -Kiyotaka Ishimaru, ch 1

And then Chihiro's case happens.

At first, when the motives are introduced, Taka is one of the few to vocally insist no murder will take place. He has newfound confidence in the willpower of his classmates, and puts faith into everyone else for the first and only time. Even when presented with his own unknown secret, he finds it ridiculous that anyone would kill over the embarrassing memories and secrets. It's here that we truly see the highest high of this character- when he comes up with the idea to share secrets. When he presents this idea, he moves forward as usual, preparing to be the first one to reveal their secret and take the pressure off. But when his classmates insist they can't (Toko & Celeste) he doesn't keep chugging along, and he doesn't completely shut down, either. He looks around at his classmates, and he asks Chihiro. He actually steps back and asks for someone else's opinion.

And when she isn't yet comfortable, he backs off. He respect her wishes, and he stands with the class, ready to help them face their secrets the following day. Finding a friend in Mondo has softened his rigid exterior a little bit, enough to actually consider the opinions of the others. He's gotten comfortable. All that comes crashing down with the discovery of Chihiro's body the next morning. After finally taking a step back and letting his classmates- his friends- make their own choices, it directly leads to the murder of one of them.

"Dammit! I'm sorry, Chihiro... It's all because I wasn't strong enough!" -Kiyotaka Ishimaru, ch 2

Taka fully blames himself for allowing Chihiro to be murdered, and as the guilt of failure starts to set in on him, he looks to his ethics and order to solve it. Chihiro may be dead, but the murderer will be condemned through the class trial.

"Justice always prevails! Right, bro!?" -Kiyotaka Ishimaru, ch 2

A solution, a path forward, still exists for him. He still has Mondo by his side, and he and the rest of the class can surely prevent this from happening again, right?

The trial only validates him at first, revealing the existence of a serial killer among the group, someone so clearly immoral for her killing obsession. But it's not her. Why isn't it her?

"Could such a heinous villain really be innocent!?" -Kiyotaka Ishimaru, ch 2

But his confusion is quickly stamped out- of course, it's Byakuya, the guy that's been threatening everyone and refusing to cooperate, the guy that has no regard for the rest of their classmates.

"He kept calling this a game, right? So he'd totally be willing to do whatever it takes to 'win'!" -Kiyotaka Ishimaru, ch 2

But no, wrong again- he didn't know that the murder was in the boys' locker room, and was taken aback by Chihiro being AMAB. It should be him, someone so clearly antagonistic, that's how it's supposed to go, right?? But no, it's wrong! Why? And, who could kill someone like Chihiro at their most vulnerable?

He's failed. Taka's failed in every way conceivable. Mondo, the first person he's ever truly felt connected to, a murderer? Chihiro's murderer? That can't be it. Even long after Mondo's stopped arguing, Taka continues to push back against Makoto and Kyoko's accusations. It's a coincidence, that's not actually proof, anything to get them to stop, to save his brother, to save himself from the reality he's about to have to face. When sent into the BTB, it's Taka we fight in his despair, not Mondo. Until the very end, Taka won't acknowledge it. He can't. He can't bring himself to vote his Mondo a murderer, a killer. How could the man who gave him the chance no one else would, ever be so cruel?

"I- I refuse to believe it... There's no way... no way he would kill someone! Why!? Why why why why why!? WHYYY!? Why did you do it!?" -Kiyotaka Ishimaru, ch 2

He learns the truth of Mondo's story alongside the rest of the class, unable to process it all. It makes no sense. They were friends who trusted each other, who helped each other. And what about the man's promise? Doesn't that count for anything!? This doesn't sound right. This isn't Mondo, not his Mondo, not the man from the sauna. How could he have been so wrong about him?! It just can't be, but it is; the truth is but a slap to the face.

He was wrong. He stood by Chihiro's killer and defended him. He let his brother become the monster he saw himself as. He didn't stop it when he could have. He was blinded by his own beliefs, and as he watches Mondo's death, his spirit dies with him, the game cutting out all music as Taka screams, filling a deafening silence.

"As Taka's sad screams invaded our skulls, we were each forced to realize once again..." -Makoto Naegi, ch 2

4.2- Kiyondo Ishida

Taka enters chapter 3 as a hollowed out shell of himself. He's gone near comatose, staring at nothing and saying nothing. He won't eat, won't speak, won't sleep, and although there are a couple weak attempts to get him back in action from Hiro("It's times like this where the committee chairman needs to get things going with a BANG!"), he's mostly left to grieve by himself, as the rest of cast is more concerned with the expanded school than the bossy guy they didn't like that much.

Monokuma even goes out of his way to torture Taka, to punish him for his grief, lying about the existence of a time machine just to fuck with his head and give him false hope, sending him further into despair.

"Hmm... You sound disappointed. But actually, I was lying about the whole thing anyway. There's no such thing as time machines!" -Monokuma, ch 3

He's forced to become Monokuma's most successful project from the class, completely and utterly destroyed.

When he learns of Alter Ego, something in his head clicks. He can still talk to Chihiro. He can repent. He can apologize directly to him. So, with Makoto's help, he's brought to the laptop. His guilt finishes totally consuming him as he asks:

"Do you... hate Mondo? And since I couldn't stop him... do you hate me?" -Kiyotaka Ishimaru, ch 3

His own self-hatred stemming from his failure is projected onto Alter Ego in one last attempt to come to terms with what's happened. The response he receives, unfortunately, is the culmination of all the toxic and unhealthy ideas of manhood the other boys carried with them via an attempted simulation of Mondo.

"You're not letting yourself get crushed under the weight of that responsibility, are you!? A man's only worth as much as the load he can carry! You get it, right bro!? Hell, what am I saying? Of course ya do!" -Alter Ego, ch 3

"So you're just gonna stand there, huh? Just wait for things to get better? Just take your time and get all depressed... Take the time to indulge your regrets... You might even start walking again without realizing it. Sure, that kind of mediocre thing might work for some people." -Alter Ego, ch 3

This speech, while attempting to inspire Taka to keep living for Chihiro's and Mondo's sakes, encapsulates the desperate need to be perceived as strong and untouchable that Mondo himself carried, and that Chihiro admired so much. It sinks its way into Taka, convincing him that the way to respond to his guilt is simple- pretend it isn't there! Mondo has clearly returned to him, and he's never letting him go ever again. He fully deludes himself, and he's fused with this idealized version of his bro. He permanently ties himself to Mondo's memory, and goes from the SHSL Public Morals Committee Member to something else entirely- Kiyondo Ishida, the unholy mixture of both men.

This revelation also leads him to an obsession with Alter Ego, viewing it as the vessel in which his bro was returned to him. He views it as another chance to protect his bro from ever being hurt again, as some divine second-chance he's been granted. All desire to be around the rest of his class is gone, replaced with this obsession. He's put at odds with Hifumi, who's also connected with the AI, and separates himself from the group that much more. When Alter Ego disappears, he can't handle it. He panics. He won't let his bro die, not again. And so he dooms himself, refusing to let go of the shadows of the past enough to see his own death looming before him, and he's killed in the early hours of the morning, led by desperation to his demise. And even so, the class can only worry about the semantics of when he died, barely mourning him.

5- Isolation (What's the point of this guy, anyway?)

Rather than learning from the mistakes both Chihiro and Mondo made by subscribing to the societal expectations of what makes a man, Taka ends up doubling down, burning away the optimism and more reasonable logic Taka used to have. Taka's story is that of a doomed fate to become the symbol of manhood and its self-destructing nature, leeching off of his first and only friend's unhealthy behaviors and sending him spiraling. And it's allowed to happen because of his social isolation.

From the very beginning of the game, Taka is singled out as annoying to be around. He's put in a negative light and viewed as unpleasant to spend time with. Every attempt to befriend or connect with a classmate is written off as a nuisance, a hindrance. Taka doesn't know how to make friends. He doesn't know how to do anything besides follow the rules and regulations he's been taught. He sticks to his regimen, because it's comfortable, and doesn't understand why others can't conform in the way that he does. He's very thoroughly isolated mentally and emotionally from his classmates at every turn, to the point where even in the very first trial he's standing with no one but the dead by his side(as Sayaka and "Junko" were positioned on either side of his podium).

All this is done with the deliberate intention to showcase his solitude, and more importantly, the loneliness that comes from it. It's to the point that when he finally does make a friend, he thoroughly idealizes him in his subconscious, coming to view him as some perfect person who'd even support him. It's inherently contradictory from his established beliefs going into the game, that a delinquent could be kind, but he accepts it wholeheartedly. He gets to know Mondo on some deeper level while in that sauna, and it's enough to rapidly develop a massive codependency on him. So when Mondo self-destructs and dies, so too does Taka.

Taka's purpose as a character is to suffer. He wraps himself in his moral beliefs, remaining steadfast in what he views as right and wrong, making judgement calls he's 100% sure of, and when they're challenged/disproven, he's thrown wholly out of whack. He exists to serve a purpose- what would've happened if Makoto didn't accept the truth about Sayaka? What happens when you let your idealism blind you to the truth? What happens when you blind yourself to the reality of the people around you, of the darkness in the people you care about? You self-destruct. He's tossed aside, killed as an accessory to the plot of someone who does nothing but manipulate the truth. He dies, and that's just it. His story is cut short; he doesn't get to heal or grow or come to terms with the truth. Such is the fate of the failed.

Afterword

...I didn't even touch his FTEs for this. Holy shit.

I'm gonna be honest, as much as I love Taka, I never expected this post would become as long as it did, or that I'd uncover such a dark fucking reason for why he gets as totally fucked over as he does. Don't get me wrong, I still really wish he'd lived and gotten to grow after this, but maybe his death was more well-written than I used to think. Good god.

[shymaru]

He merely turned away after those words and took a deep breath to ground himself, fidgeting as he did his best to calm his panicked mind. While he still didn't understand how or why this was happening it was obvious that the other was just as baffled by it as he was. So as much as part of him was still wanting to bolt he owed it to him to at least listen to what he had to say.

Though once he did start explaining he could feel his heart sink and his blood run cold. That... Oh God... Being not only trapped in the school by a classmate that already made his nerves stand on end but also being forced to murder each other to get out... He... While he knew that it had likely happened elsewhere the fact that it had...

Although... The fact that this might be him was still hard to swallow. They looked alike but it was like the other said. They were completely different as well. This other him had on something he wouldn't have been able to wear as all his suits were hand downs and he had a confidence and energy he just didn't. How... How could they possibly be the same person? It was enough to make him rub at his temples.

"I-I... I-its alright... I-I just... I-It was a bit too much at once... A-ah... I-I... T-that... I-I... H-how... H-how horrible... I-I... I-I'm terribly s-sorry you had to endure that... E-eh...? I-I... I-I don't... G-goodness..."

All he wanted was to solve this mystery and be done with it. This line of questioning was getting him nowhere. The more he pushed, the more the other stammered and, from what he could see… It might be time to pause and reflect.

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you upset. It was dishonourable on my part! I should’ve been more… ‘Sensitive.” Kiyotaka frowned, his eyes diverting to the floor as his cheeks coloured. “I suppose I can only recount what I have experienced,” he added, shifting slightly. “I was supposed to be attending Hopes Peak with the other Ultimates and Makoto-san, of course!”

“Until… We were trapped there by Enoshima-san and forced to participate in the ‘Killing Games’. The only way a student could ‘graduate’ was to murder another classmate and survive the class trial.” He decided to leave out that their headmaster had been a robotic bear. The situation was already delicate and no need to stress the other him out even more.

As he recounted his cruel fate, he could feel a slight headache behind his eyes. Kiyotaka didn’t expect the other to believe him, it already sounded farfetched, but he had nothing left to offer.

“I guess it’s as Yamada-kun would say, a ‘paradox’. You… I mean me, we must be the same person! But… I don’t understand. You…we’re different too!”