#and then this tsumugi one is the main screen

[aparticularbandit]

one of my current phone backgrounds, by the way

[ndrv3expert1]

The ending of Danganronpa V3: Not the cliché twist people think it is.

Probably the most controversial part about V3 is the ending. I love it. I love it so much I have a shirt of it. I can see why others don’t somewhat but at the same time I’m like why?

Many people say the fact the game is fiction makes it meaningless, but I strongly disagree. I understand that an 'it was all fake' or 'and then they woke up' ending is annoying and overused and, depending on what happens in the piece of media, just bad writing, but DRV3 isn't one of those endings.

And if you do believe the game was meaningless, then congrats you fell for Tsumugi's lies, hook line and sinker.

In the sixth trial, Shuichi talks about how even though the game was fiction, it still hurt him to see the people he cared about die.

Even though they are being told that everything they went through is meaningless, it is real to them; if they feel sadness and anger and love, it’s just as real; it’s just as meaningful as in the real world.

Another thing is the theme of the whole game is truth vs. lies, so wouldn’t it make sense for the final twist to be that what they thought was the truth is a lie?

In the first two games, the final trial ends with a battle of hope vs despair where hope always triumphs and despair is crushed, but in V3 it’s different.

Tsumugi wants them to continue the game. The fans want them to continue the game.

Choosing hope—sacrificing someone to go on to the next killing game—will just cause the cycle to repeat, but choosing despair is also bad; it causes people to give up and lose everything.

Shuichi doesn’t want Maki (and Kiibo) to have to go into another killing game, but they also don’t want to fall into despair. So he refuses to vote, and as much as Tsumugi begs and pleads, he stands his ground.

The viewers also refuse to vote, proving that fiction does have the power to change reality, a powerful message that is one of the main reasons this ending is so great.

Even though Shuichi Maki, and Himiko were fictional characters, they changed the outside world and stopped a whole franchise, a whole movement, and in real life, fiction can spread ideologies, beliefs, and concepts, and these things can spread to people like wildfire and bring people together in ways that normal methods, (like by mouth,) cannot.

That's why artists try to put messages in their art, musicians in their music, and directors in their movies and TV shows. They know that's the type of media that will have the most reach and spread the fastest.

Or even social media spreading information; it might not be the best source, but it still spreads rapidly.

Media has influenced our way of life for years, influencing our speech, thoughts, and cultures because of what it says; this is what V3 is trying to show.

Shuichi also talks about using his friends deaths and the lie of the killing game to change the world.

This is why it matters; this is the power of fiction.

Shuichi using his friends' deaths, which may have been seemingly useless anyway, to take down the show that has trapped them in a cycle of deceit and forced them to play their game.

It’s also great when you remember that Shuichi was afraid of finding the truth, and Kaede and Kaito helped him gain more confidence.

He vowed to Kaede he would end the killing game, and this man not only found the biggest truth ever, he not only ended the game, but ended the whole franchise.

If that's not character development, I don’t know what it is.

Another reason people hate the ending is the portrayal of the fans, the fans are portrayed as Danganronpa obsessed, and they are shunned by watching the senseless killing of people for entertainment.

It’s a world where everyone has become so desensitized to kids getting killed on TV that they gather around screens all over the world eager to watch the next installment; that’s why there are 53 seasons.

The fans in the ending are an exaggerated view of what Kodaka feared would happen.

It's not trying to bash the fans of today but the fans of the future if this continues and we don’t care about the deaths anymore, and we just want more because you can have too much of a good thing.

It also has good messaging about fans (and corporations) tearing a TV show or game series apart in compensation for more, deriving it from the original message.

For example, Squid Game a show about the flaws of capitalism and exploitation for entertainment, was remade into a reality show by Netflix, Mr. Beast, and Amazon Prime to capitalize on the success of Squid Game when it first came out, actively hurting real people in the process, just for the sake of making money.

The ending of V3 reminds us that the connections we make and the experiences we have give our lives meaning. And even if we only affect one person with our actions, it will be all worth it, and that's the greatest truth of them all.

It’s about freedom, the problems of beating a piece of media to death just to have more, using deceased loved ones' wishes to help move forward, and finding meaning in the things that seem meaningless.

The V3 ending is a roller coaster of emotions and a masterful experience. It serves as a great ending to a great series that keeps you on the edge of your seat, makes you feel sympathy for some fictional characters, and still holds up even eight years later.

I don't think this rant/analysis will fix the wedge in the fandom this ending has caused (we've argued about much more ignorant things in the past.) But I hope it at least resonated with you and re-kindled elements you remember loving about the ending for people who did enjoy it; and for those who didn't I hope this gives you some insight into why I and many others appreciate the ending.

So before your start to conclude that V3's ending was meaningless think to yourself-is that the truth or just the lie you were meant to believe.

[asordinaryppl]

A3! Backstage Story Translation - Tsumugi Tsukioka SR: My performance memories ~ Tsumugi ~ - Part 1

yearn for the angel is the winter troupe's 11th play! it's featured in part 4 of the main story! (translation here)

also proofread by myuntachis <3

Guy: Thank you for waiting.

Tsumugi: Thank you.

Guy: We’ve all got a drink on hand now.

Azuma: Shall we have a toast?

Winter Troupe: Cheers!

Azuma: That reminds me, Yearn for the Angel.’s screening party should be coming up soon.

Tsumugi: You’re right. I can’t wait to talk about the play to the audience.

Azuma: I brought this with me with that in mind.

Tasuku: Tarot cards?

Azuma: I had Tsumugi pick one before Sympathy for the Angel.’s screening party and thought it’d be fun if we did it again now.

Tsumugi: You were the one that brought them with you back then, too.

Tsumugi: I’m not so confident I’ll get Michael again though…

Hisoka: But I don’t think it’s impossible, knowing you.

Azuma: Fufu. Just try picking one without thinking too hard about it.

Azuma: Let me shuffle them first… Here you go.

Tsumugi: … Okay, I’ll go with this one.

Guy: This is…

Tasuku: Raphael?

Homare: That matches quite well with the script’s contents, I would say.

Hisoka: Tsumugi’s luck really is amazing.

Tsumugi: I guess that means Raphael will be watching over me this time, just like he does in the sequel.

Tasuku: Right.

-

Tsumugi: It’s been some time since you last wore those costumes, so be careful not to get your wings caught anywhere.

Tasuku: You’re the one who was struggling the most with your wings during our debut screening party.

Tsumugi: Ahaha… You might have a point…

Homare: Fear not, I have long gotten used to these wings! Feast your eyes upon my moves!

Homare: Watch– Oh my…!

Hisoka: Alice’s the dangerous one this time.

Tasuku: Stay put till we have to go on stage.

Homare: *Grumble*…

Tsumugi: But your wings really moved beautifully.

Homare: Did they not? Thank you, Tsumugi-kun.

Izumi: Please start getting ready, everyone!

Tsumugi: Okay!

-

Tsumugi: … Michael isn’t an angel this time, so I was a little sad that my costume didn’t have wings.

Tsumugi: Although I was happy about Michael starting a new life as a human, of course.

Hisoka: Didn’t you borrow Tasuku’s wings, Tsumugi?

Homare: Oh, I bore witness to that as well!

Tasuku: … I only lent them to him once.

Tasuku: I felt Tsumugi staring holes at me during our performance, and thought he wanted to wear the wings.

Tsumugi: I hesitated at first when he asked if I wanted to wear them for a bit, but gave in to my desires in the end…

Tsumugi: So then we asked Yuki-chan, and he said I could wear them backstage for a little while.

Tasuku: You started stumbling around as soon as you put them on, though.

Tsumugi: I hadn’t worn wings in quite some time, after all. Besides, I had you to support me, so I didn’t fall.

Homare: Hrnhm!?

Hisoka: … What, Alice?

Homare: When I was stumbling around at the mercy of my wings just now in our dressing room, Tasuku-kun did not lift a finger to try and help me.

Tasuku: I helped Tsumugi out of reflex since he was nearby, but you were nowhere near me earlier.

Hisoka: That aside, Tsumugi looked really good with those wings.

Tsumugi: Fufu, thanks. I’ll try to keep my balance If I get another chance to wear them.

part 1 | part 2

NOTES:

(1) the tarot cards is a reference to tsumugi's 3rd anniversary backstage story! you can read a translation of it on yaycupcake

[xitty]

Collection of cards that show locations around Seisoukan (Starmony Dorms). Sister post to the one about Ensemble Square locations. No 3*s because they just use the homescreen backgrounds. Cards under cut, enjoy!

Seisoukan courtyard. There are doors to building 2 on the top of those stairs.

In front of the main entrance to building 1 (the common room is in this building)

Windows of the building 2 (which has the dorm rooms). :D Behind you can see the main entrance to the courtyard and the "garden/park" area on top of building 1.

That one tall tree in the courtyard. :D

Common room

Common room, this is left to Kaoru in the above card. You can see this area in the background of Nagisa's Conquest unbloomed card, for example.

Kitchen

Kitchen, the tables

Library 🩷

Library. Arashi is sitting behind the low table you can see in the above card on the right.

Home theater room

Hallways (they are identical except for some plant placements). They have those big windows that give to the courtyard.

Ceiling in the hallway. Of course it's a Mayoi card. 🤭

Hallway. Rooms numbered as seen behind Hiyori based on floors. So far, this is the only confirmed room number. 303: Hiyori, Kanata and Rinne's room on the third floor.

Eichi, Rei and Aira's room on the third floor. Eichi on his own bed, behind the divider (😂) is Rei's and the green & white is Aira's. Lolol why are these cards like this?

Leo, Natsume and Nazuna's room on the third floor. Leo's bed in the corner.

Kuro, Mao, Shu and Izumi's room on third floor.

Tsukasa, Souma and Shinobu's room on the third floor. There are doors behind Tsukasa (lying on his bed). I assume the ones in the middle are closets (looks similar to Shu's Solving card where he angrily crochets in the closet) and door on the left leads to the bathroom (a Hiyori 3* card story mentions a bathroom).

Hinata, Niki and Hiiro's room on the second floor. Hinata's bed.

Keito, Hajime and Hokuto's room on the second floor. Can't see much... anyway, Keito's bed.

Yuta, Kaoru and Nagisa's room on the second floor.

Midori, Tsumugi, Ibara and Mitsuru's room on the second floor. Midori's plushie filled bed in the corner and Mitsuru's bread footstool and bed on the right.

Tori and Yuzuru's room on the first floor. You can see the entrance to the room in the back.

Mayoi and Tomoya's room on the first floor. The beds are behind the sofa. I assume the bed behind Wataru is Tomoya's because the other one (which you can see in the home screen bg) is much more Mayoi's style. (Hokuto-senpai <3 btw)

Ritsu and Mika's room on the first floor. Mika on his bed. Some rooms don't have pics at all and this and Eichi-Rei-Aira dorm have tons.

Tetora, Arashi and HiMERU's room on the first floor. Tetora's bed and I assume the white one is Arashi's.

Old dorm building's balcony

[1moreff-creator]

Happy Birthday, Veronika Grebenshchikova!

I have a confession to make. Despite my account being themed after Min and having made several posts analyzing her... I may like Veronika just as much, if not more than Min. Ever since her introduction, this Horror Fanatic has brought a smile to my face every time she comes on screen. Literally. Whenever I see her, my face immediately splits into the dumbest grin, I just adore her far too much. There's a lot we still haven't seen about her, but in honor of her birthday, I shall give a few of the reasons I love this freak to the death, and make a sort of birthday playlist as a gift.

+The main motivation for everything she does is boredom, as stated in her conversation with Teruko on Ch 2 Ep 7. Her profile states she took on her talent to seek thrills.

+This obsession with entertainment twists her personality quite a bit. “I don't care about morals. I don’t care whether people get hurt or whether they die. I just need to be entertained”. She’s honestly such a queen.

+Her twisted morals lead to her hanging out with people based on how entertaining they are instead of, like, normal standards for hanging out with people. Arturo is example number one.

"If you become more and more irredeemable, then I'll only love you more. I want to hear all about those horrible things you did with no justification".

She would be a standard Danganronpa fan, is what I get from this line.

+She has claimed she “used to be an outdoors person”, but apparently isn’t anymore. Whether she simply got bored of the outdoors, or there was something more traumatic at play, is still unclear.

+Her profile states she likes skateboarding. I adore this fact. Why there aren��t piles of fanart where she’s skateboarding, I don’t know. Get on it, people! /j. Unless?

(Also, I like to headcanon that she used to skateboard with Whit in their time at Hope’s Peak, but she was actually really bad at it. She constantly fell on her face, but always got back up laughing her ass off)

+The upper part of her dress is black and white, colors associated with the Tragedy and horror in the DRDT universe. This is stated by Veronika herself in Ch 2 Ep 2. However, this color scheme also kickstarts what I like to call:

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

Mastermind Bingo! Ft Veronika

>She wears black and white, like Monokuma and MonoTV.

>She gets bored easily, and it drives her actions, like Junko and especially Izuru.

>She constantly psychoanalizes people, again like Junko.

>She has childish tendencies (read: likes the playground), which can be connected back to the Warriors of Hope and Monaca.

>"If I wore contacts, a wig, and different clothes, would you recognize me?"

So, thinking a bit like Tsumugi there.

>"That's why I liked horror for such a long time. The genre seeks to elicit base, negative emotions out of you, like fear, disgust, or sadness... That's exciting"

She is one step removed from outright claiming she likes despair! What is this?!

Also, liked, horror? As in, past tense? Is that implying she doesn't feel satisfied with horror anymore?

>"But after a while, fiction is only fiction..."

You look me in the eyes and tell me that's not something Tsumugi would say. She has aspects of every main-line mastermind! I wouldn't be surprised if she starts taking notes from other fangans, I'm half expecting her to start talking about "the resurrection of Divine Luck" or something.

>And that's not even mentioning things like her quote for Mai; "A girl who didn't foresee the consequences". Right, because Veronika would be the one to get the most ominous quote after MonoTV's "It's all your fault".

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

To be clear, I don’t actually think Veronika’s the mastermind. I just find it funny how incredibly suspicious she is, to the point of not being suspicious in the slightest.

+CW for self-harm for this one. It is heavily theorized her secret is "You only took on your talent to distract from your incessant need to harm yourself for fun". After all, she is one of the only remaining characters who covers her wrists and most of her body, and doing something like that "for fun"... sort of only fits Veronika, as far as we know.

+Her secret quote is: "Once something is broken, it can never be pieced together in quite the same way again. The same goes for people." Whether she's talking about herself or someone else is unclear.

+The recent Q&A confirmed the following:

•Veronika is pansexual! Congrats on getting her, pansexual community! A true win for you.

•The earing she wears (a small green triangle) was given to her by her “dearest friend”. This friend's name is apparently Alyssa Belyaeva, taking the dubious honor of having a weirder last name than even Grebenshchikova.

•Her favorite color is white with other colors, since it makes the others stand out more, and her least favorite is white by itself, since it’s “soulless”. That’s… huh. Is that meant to mean anything? Could it be she sees herself as the color white; uninteresting and boring on her own, but helps other people seem more interesting by association? Am I reading too much into this? Probably, but that’s sort of my shtick at this point.

•Her favorite ice cream flavor is funfetti. Based.

•She smells strongly like women’s perfume. I guess, why not, right? Notably, Hu smells like women’s perfume as well, but it’s apparently fainter. Doubt it means anything, but it’s there.

+Veronika can do no wrong. This is an objective truth. Slay queen (but, wait to like, chapter five. I really, really hope you don’t die at three).

And finally, like I did with Min, here's a few songs which remind me of Veronika! And as you're gonna see, my music taste sort of really aligns with the kind of songs one would assign Veronika.

CW, some of these can include topics like murder and extremely disturbing imagery.

-The Chattering Lack of Common Sense, by Ghost & Pals

-End World Normophaty, by Ghost & Pals

-Hide And Seek (English cover by Lizz Robinet), original by Ho-Ong-i

-Corrosion, by Riproducer / RIP

-Chronic Wasting Disease, by Riproducer / RIP

-The Spider and the Kitsune-Like Lion, by MASA Works (CW for this one in particular, it's really fucked up. Cannibalism, torture, necrophilia, etc)

-Hi-fi Evolution Theory, by Keu Studio (probably her character playlist song)

-What Gave it Away, by Riproducer / RIP

-Matryoshka, by Hachi

-Honey I'm Home, by Ghost & Pals

-Entomologists, by Ghost & Pals

-The Experiment, by Steampianist

-The Boy who Went to Hell, by SHUDDER

-Secrets of Wysteria, by Steampianist (CW, this one is based on real events of violent crimes)

-The Dismemberment Song, by Blue Kid

-Mad Hatter, by Melanie Martinez

-Uncanny, by Ghost & Pals

-God-ish, by PinocchioP

-I Can't Fix You, by The Living Tombstone (Veronika loves FNAF, you can’t convince me otherwise)

-Always Wanted, by MiatriSs - SayMaxWell

-The Red Means I Love You, by Madds Buckley

-Already Dead, by KittenSneeze

Alright, I'll stop there. With the final song:

-Happy Birthday! (but, like, a creepy cover or something)

[blorboindulgence]

I really need to draw echo unicorn (shuichi saihara) from my au because there's so much material that's waiting to be shared to another soul one day. (it's like an udg au, not an mlp au)

I might share the bittersweet stuff first instead of the outright horror but everything feels like it needs several layers of explanation of how things got to be the way it is, especially with the multiple branching endings and the au of the au with the rest of the ultimates being essentially magical girls in a ghost realm once they die (it's complicated). I need a board to create a timeline just to explain it cause it's a little too long. To sum up the main plot, shuichi gets adopted by rebel kids during the tragedy. Nothing to do with the little ultimates though.

I'm making a fun facts for it now

Fun Facts

Shuichi cannot drive due to having one eye left, to his horror the kids drive when needed instead. He's usually given GPS duty.

Shuichi wears a glove(s) with metal claws at the ends to zap things.

Shuichi can zap things with electricity

Shuichi finds the remains of DICE (kokichi's small prankster group) and uncovers a memory book the members kept. Since the photos are technically evidence, it was kept secret from kokichi. Shuichi saves the book just in case.

One of rantaro's sisters is part of the wild kid clan that shuichi is in, he does not find this out until a reunion ending.

Shuichi has watched all televised killing games except v3 because it doesn't exist.

There is a huge culture of modding out monokuma helmets in rebel kid clans. Shuichi has a cat helmet with a screen on the front with a single yellow left eye displayed (his left, our right). All modded helmets can talk over public channels or private ones, record video and audio, store notes, and anything else the kids program. Even live midi programs.

Year 4 is when shuichi loses his left arm.

Shuichi does not get fun aesthetic clothing design like the ultimate uniforms did, he has to take what he can scavenge.

Shuichi is unable to sleep alone due to his own codependent trauma and the fact he always ends up dogpiled by the kids at night.

Shuichi misses his friends but is also terrified of seeing them again incase they ended up turning to despair.

The wild kid clan has put on plays for despair kids to earn favors/resources from them.

There's no universal term for shuichi from the kids, he's been called big brother, old man, big kid, detective, and uncle. He had to take a moment after the first time he was called uncle.

Shuichi didn't watch his uncle die but he was one wall away and asleep when it happened. Maybe if he had been awake...

Shuichi gets really good at singing because he kept getting asked to sing lullabies as the designated caretaker figure.

In the average reunion ending, the v3 cast experience 7 months while 7 years pass in real time. excluding shuichi and tsumugi.

Technically, shuichi never graduated from highschool.

My favorite reunion endings involve the time reversal, only in the magic au, which can take on many forms but essentially the entire solar system gets reversed to the state it was a year before the events of tragedy. Shuichi gains everything he lost but loses everything he gained, he mourns the loss of the kids who are likely doing better now than during the tragedy apocalypse and he feels guilty over it. Empty nester to the extreme and he has to act like his normal mostly untraumatized 16 year old self despite being 24 mentally, deeply traumatized, and missing his found family.

Shuichi has a long necklace with with individual beads made by kids who think of him as a friend or family. And since kids are pretty sociable, he has a lot of beads. He fidgets with it to calm down.

[airabuhan]

hi welcome to tumblr! i've been following you on twt for a while because i love your art! just wanted to ask if you had any kohaai reading recommendations (either enstars stories or fics), i'd love to continue learning more about them

AAAAHHH thank you for the warm welcome! i'm still figuring tumblr out slowly ahaha

i'll be completely honest, there isn't that many stories i can point to besides a couple since kohaai interactions are sort of spread out across a bunch of random stories hghgh. here's my main suggestions though:

main story 2 (it doesn't entirely focus on them, but it's pretty important to get an introduction at least and i think it's arguably the most important story to read)

newbies at friendship (aira's fs1 4* story... it's one chapter but it's extremely cute and iconic and also changed my life)

a dark night's passing (this isn't really kohaai focused, but i still consider it pretty important because it lays some groundwork for a lot of the potential nuance that kohaai can have if you're insane like me)

mayoi's sanrio gacha in engstars (this one is only on foreign versions of enstars, and aira doesn't even actually show up but it has a surprising amount of kohaai... it's mainly just kohaku being whipped for aira though so is that much of a surprise)

aira's bunny gacha (sorry i forgot the name of the actual story, but there's a chapter with kohaai... it's cute)

spreading love brings happiness (aira's fs2 story!!! i could go on and on about this story, it's just so sweet and heartwarming and very great... and it's ALL kohaai (plus anzu)) (also, i'd highly recommend reading newbies at friendship before this story... it really does feel like a continuation from that story to me)

there's a tag team mission story from 7th anni with kohaai (supporting each other through computer screens...)

besides those, there's crumbs spread out through birthday events and other small miscellaneous mentions. off the top of my head:

kohaai are on a parfait date in tsumugi's fs2 4* story

aira's 2021 birthday course has kohaku gifting idol merch to aira

kohaku's 2023 birthday course has aira gifting a towel set to kohaku

kohaku mentions aira helping him get ingredients to gift to ritsu for ritsu's 2022 birthday course

they go on a cake date in romantic? date. sort of . it's complicated. it's kind of for a dating sim route(??) but it's also literally one line mentioned um

i already mentioned the tag team mission story above but it's a really short story so i'm going to mention it again here

i might've forgotten some because i'm just going off the top of my head but yeah, most of their canon interactions are crumbs... crumbs that i'll happily eat up any day... i am a simple person (i hope this was somewhat helpful i'm kind of all over the place)

[thenewfuture]

I can totally understand the disagreement over whether Mikado is a good mastermind, but I think what makes him work for me is that we didn't have to wait until the very end of the game to actually get to know him AS a villain.

I think that might be why I couldn't really get into Junko as a villain because everything we know about her, we learn from secondhand sources and implications, but never actually see her accomplishing anything herself. Sure, a lot of those implications are compelling, but I find it kinda disappointing how nothing big that Junko does ever really happens on screen, if that makes sense?

Maybe this is a me thing, but I have a hard time getting into characters who show up at the very end of the story. Utsuro was one of the better ones, but even then, I feel like a lot of things had to be crammed into a single trial to work, and then we had that story segment at the very very end of DRA that explained his backstory for us.

I just found it nice to give one of the villains of this game the room to actually be a villain for once : P

Like I said before, a lot of Masterminds in DanganRonpa don’t really work because they either were…

A. Not apart of the main cast and simply watched everything the whole time(Junko)

B. Told everything about them secondhandedly(Izuru)

Or C. Have absolutely no substance, that when it comes time for them to be the twist reveal, I don’t feel anything(TSUMUGI!)

Mikado works so well, because he’s revealed right off the bat and his plan needed to be changed. He was full ready to go out, spread hope and boost morale to everyone until it was time for his big reveal, only for the Kisaragi Foundation to step in and doxx him on sight.

Now Mikado can’t hide anymore, so he may as well double down! He’s chock full of personality as well. One minute, he’s making breakfast for everyone with an honest to god smile on his face mask and just wants to be included. The next, he’s defending himself from Syobai with a sea of flames while flying in the air. Balance.

And he very clearly has no problem throwing his comrades under the bus to fulfill his desires. Mikado is a good love-to-hate villain. The best.

-Mod

[kelmugi]

hbd

“Aoba-kun!”

Tsumugi turned around to see Kel jogging up to him, confusion on his face.

“I have something important to talk to you about! Hurry, come with me.” Kel took his hand and speedily walked off. Tsumugi blushed and quickly followed along until they reached a random office space. As Kel opened the door and let him in, they closed the door behind him and seemingly waited for something. When the room stayed dark, they frowned. “No, this isn’t right… Did I get the room wrong?” they mumbled to themselves, fumbling with their phone. Tsumugi looked at their confused face and his thoughts travelled to a time a few months ago.

---

Kel had been working as Knights’ producer for a few months, and Tsumugi had met them a few times to discuss business here or there. They stuck in his mind ever since their first meeting, and Tsumugi couldn’t help but watch them out of the corner of his eye when they shared a space. Kel was discussing something with Arashi and Tsukasa, and it must have been something they really had to think about. Their lips scrunched to one side of their face as their eyes wandered, pondering the question. After a few moments they had their answer, and excitedly shared with their unitmates. The way their eyes lit up and their smile took over their face completely enraptured Tsumugi, and he had to look away.

He later relayed this to Natsume, after being pestered all day for acting ‘stranger than usual.’ “T-they’re so cute, it just makes me so…” Tsumugi trailed off, unsure how to describe how he was feeling.

“Damn senpai, you’re really down bAD.”

“H-huh?”

Natsume cleared his throat. “You really like thEM.”

Tsumugi blinked and frowned. Was it really that simple? And if it was, what disaster would await him? He was sure he would flub this in some way, sooner or later. He didn’t want to lose them, but he had no clue how to proceed.

---

Kel nervously looked up at him, not seeing another solution. “I-I think I messed something up. I hope Natsume doesn’t get mad…” They showed Tsumugi their phone, the screen displaying their texts between Natsume. Natsume told them to bring Tsumugi to a room, and Tsumugi immediately understood where things went wrong.

“Actually, I think Natsume meant to go to this room in the main office.” Tsumugi did not add that Natsume had been vague in his message, not sure if he did it on purpose or not.

“O-oh! Duh.” Kel sighed, having fully ruined the surprise. “Just pretend to be surprised when we walk in, okay? I feel so bad…”

“It’ll be alright, don’t worry.” Tsumugi smiled reassuringly at them. Kel nods, and they walk to the other building together.

---

The surprise party goes off without any more delays. Everyone mingles, and eventually Kel hesitantly walks over to Tsumugi with a hand-wrapped present. “I-I got you this, I hope you like it!” They’re nervous since their wrapping job is subpar at best, but Tsumugi seems excited. He unwraps it and sees a book he’s been interested in, which surprises him. He’s never mentioned this to them.

“This is so sweet of you, thanks so much!”

“I’m so glad! I read it in a class, so I was hoping you hadn’t read it yet…” Kel looked sheepishly at their hands, smiling softly. Tsumugi could swear they were trying to make his heart explode. “Anyway, I hope the rest of your birthday is good to you!” They waved a little goodbye and walked back over to where Ritsu was. Tsumugi hugged the book close to his chest for a moment, and then put it neatly with his things. Natsume smirked at him, making him puff his cheeks in annoyance.

---

MONTHS LATER…

“Aoba-kun!” Kel waved at Tsumugi, trying to urge him towards them. Tsumugi walked over confusedly, putting his papers neatly at his desk. They grabbed his hand gently, and softly said to him, “I have something important to talk to you about.”

Tsumugi smiled, “Is there another surprise party for me?” They both had already started walking off, but this made Kel pause for a moment.

“I guess I did use the same wording back then, huh… No, I actually have to talk to you, haha,” Kel started walking again, Tsumugi in tow. Both quietly walked to a far-off office room, away from prying eyes. As Kel closed the door behind both of them, they nervously looked at their hands. After a moment they seemed to gather strength and walked up to Tsumugi. “Um, this is really difficult for me to say, I haven’t felt like this in a long time…”

Tsumugi was growing more anxious by the second, but eventually Kel continued. “I, um. I really, really like you, Aoba-kun. I wasn’t going to say anything, but a lot of people really pushed me to go for it…”

As Kel rambled on about understanding the need for work boundaries and if their feelings aren’t reciprocated, Tsumugi stared at them starry-eyed. He had to pinch himself just to make sure this was real. Once he felt the sting on his wrist, he smiled excitedly. “I-I like you too!” With this he hugged them, holding them close. “I would never have thought you’d feel the same…” He felt tears reach his eyes, tears of joy.

Kel blinked in shock and hugged him back soon after. “Y-you do? I’m so happy!” They both stood there, smiling like fools. “I wouldn’t have ever realized how I felt, but I had a dream about us a month ago… I have never awoken so fulfilled before.” Kel blushed, and Tsumugi could feel the love in his heart growing even more than he thought possible.

“I’ve been in love with you since we first spoke,” Tsumugi admitted.

Kel was astounded, remembering as they, dripping sweat, tried to drag a sleeping Ritsu to practice. That had been when Tsumugi saw them for the first time, and they were a little mortified. After a small introduction both continued on their ways, but Tsumugi couldn’t get their voice out of his mind. They seemed so sweet and considerate, even in their short interaction.

Tsumugi remembered this and his past birthday fondly, recalling Kel’s nervousness about their gift.

“You know, just you holding my hand was enough of a birthday gift for me.”

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

(iii)

Ah, sorry!

...What did you find...?

*Keebo, still appearing incredibly nervous, plays the footage once everyone has a good view of the screen...And true to his word, what presents itself before the V3 gang is unfathomable.

——————————————————————

Īꞩ īⱦ ⱳꝋɍҟīꞥꞡ? Ʉꞡħ…Ⱦħīꞩ ꞩīꞡꞥⱥł īꞩ ⱦēɍɍīƀłē! Ⱥ ⱳꝋɍłđ-ȼłⱥꞩꞩ ħⱥȼҟīꞥꞡ ꝋɍꞡⱥꞥīƶⱥⱦīꝋꞥ ⱥꞥđ ɏꝋᵾ ꞡᵾɏꞩ ȼⱥꞥ'ⱦ ēꝟēꞥ ꞡēⱦ ⱥ ꞩīᵯꝑłē ȼⱥᵯēɍⱥ ⱦꝋ ӻꝋȼᵾꞩ?

Ʉꞡħ…Ⱳħⱥⱦēꝟēɍ. Ī'ᵯ ɉᵾꞩⱦ ꞡꝋꞥꞥⱥ ꞩⱦⱥɍⱦ ⱦⱥłҟīꞥꞡ, ⱥꞥđ ħꝋꝑēfully it'll clear up...

Hello. Hello to the participants of Danganronpa V3: I am ERR0RM3SS4GE's Agent Bluescreen.

*As Agent Bluescreen talks, the garbled footage slowly starts to clear up.

But...You all might know me better as...

...Tsumugi...Shirogane...

...

Yes...I know how this looks...And how you must be feeling right now...So before anything else, let me get the biggest, most important fact out of the way immediately...!

The Tsumugi Shirogane that you've been fighting! The one who commands Organization Zetsubou! Is! NOT! ME!

She is an IMPOSTER! And if she tries to convince you otherwise, don't listen to her! Her heart's a ball of pure evil!

If you don't believe me, I can clear your doubts and recollect what happened to me when I first arrived in this universe. At the end of the Danganronpa V3 Killing Game, I watched as Keebo destroyed the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juvenile's, and was crushed under a falling rock with Monokuma. When I awoke, I escaped from a cryogenic pod with Rantaro and Kaede. Just as the rest of you have surely done.

Rantaro and I were picked up by ERR0RM3SS4GE and the two of us were inducted thanks to his technological know-how, and my own digital skills. We were both there to erase Kaede's memories so that we could hide her from the other Shirogane. Since then, I've been trying to look into this other Shirogane's origin point.

Unfortunately, the multiple universe stuff goes right over my head, so I initially proposed that we open the idea to work with Izuru Kamukura's descendent, who is the one who brought us to this world. You know him as Uchui.

Well...Uchui doesn't know I exist, and has never met me. My identity is one of ERR0RM3SS4GE's top secrets, but I think it's high time the rest of you knew about it.

Most of his contacts have been through Rantaro. But I had Rantaro probe Uchui for information and came up with a few theories of my own. But the main one is that the Tsumugi that you've been fighting against may be a Tsumugi from a parallel universe.

By which I mean one where V3 still happened, but things didn't go exactly the same way. Uchui even confirmed that such a thing was possible.

For example, there may have been timelines where Chihiro Fujisaki became the Future Foundation's Ultimate Hope at the end of the first Killing Game. Or where Mahiru Koizumi became the Ultimate Hope instead of Hajime Hinata. Just a few examples.

Either way, I'm positive that something happened to that Tsumugi to make her more stir crazy than me. I'm not going to claim innocence, but I think we can all agree that she's done far more harm to this world than I or ERR0RM3SS4GE ever could have. And I had Rantaro do some upfront investigation while he was with you guys...

...

Speaking of which...Rantaro is having me record this message in the likelihood that he somehow becomes compromised during the mission. Whether he's indisposed an unable to talk to you or...something worse...

He wanted to leave a message in the Symmetra Matrix as a contingency to make sure that this information gets to you. Believe me when I tell you that these conspiracies, and this endless swirl of truth and lies runs deeper than you can imagine.

But...now is not the time to dive into them. I would much rather do it in person.

Listen to me. In a few months time, when all the heat from the end of the fighting has died down, I will send you a location. I want as many of you as you can to come and meet me, and when you do, I promise, I will explain everything.

*Tsumugi crosses her fingers and places them over her heart.

I know this all probably seems insane...And I know that as the Mastermind who watched you all during the V3 Killing Game, you don't have any reason to trust me. But I promise everything I've just told you is the truth. If you don't trust me, at least trust Rantaro!

We are ERR0RM3SS4GE. And regardless of what happens, we are your allies. I'll see you all soon.

And one more thing...Just a personal thing I need to mention...Kaede? Shuichi? You two are probably the one's suffering the most thanks to my copy's terrible misdeeds.

On behalf of her, even though I wish not to associate with her...I'm sorry for all you've been through. I promise, one of these days, no matter how long it takes me, I will make up for all the pain I've put you through...

*And just like that, the broadcast ends.

This is Our Reality [END OF ARC]

So...Nico Himuro really left...And she left the Symmetra Matrix behind?

She wanted you to keep it. I think it was just one final act of kindness on ERR0RM3SS4GE's part.

Yeah...Probably...

*After saying their goodbye's to Kuripa, Shuichi and Kaede return to Shuichi's office. Shuichi sits on his chair, head in his hands while Kaede sits on his desk next to him.

Are you feeling okay?

I definitely feel better now. Kokichi helped talk some sense into me.

I...I'd be lying if I said I didn't have any reservations...In fact, I don't think I'm gonna be able to get any sleep tonight...

You will when the exhaustion kicks in. Staying up and fighting for over 24 hours is gonna take a mental or physical toll on anyone.

I can sing you a lullaby if that helps.

Hehe...I'm not a little kid, but...that actually sounds nice.

Honestly, at this point, I think a vacation is called for...

Ahaha. Yeah, that sounds nice.

*Kaede shimmies along the desk until she's in front of Shuichi, and she starts to lift her legs and hug him with her thighs.

Are you thinking...A vacation for the team or...some kind of honeymoon...?

*Shuichi lets himself be pulled in until he wraps his arms around her.

Well, I could be persuaded to have some alone time...

*The two of them slowly start to kiss deeply and passionately.

In all seriousness, please let me know if there's anything I can do to help you Shuichi. You and I are a team, you know? We gotta be there for each other.

I know Kaede. And I do trust you more than words can express. It's just...I'm not really sure where we go from here.

Well...I guess we just take our time, huh? Nothing wrong with living in the moment and appreciating what you've still got.

You're right...

*They start to kiss again, but suddenly...!

*SLAM!*

SHUICHI! Haah! Haah! Are you here!?

GAAGH!?

H-Hey! Keebo! Kind of in the middle of something! Do you mind!?

A-Ah! Sorry! N-No! I really am sorry, but this is important!

*A little bit disappointed, but also heavily concerned from the look on the robot's face, Kaede pulls away from Shuichi as Keebo, panic-stricken, rushes over to his desk.

K-Keebo, calm down! Wh-What's the matter?

I'm sorry, I know that you really need to take a break, and I'm sorry for barging in on the two of you, but it's urgent!

I did as you asked and I started investigating Rantaro's Symmetra Matrix. And when I managed to look into it's database, I found something unbelievable!

Wh-What did you find?

Trust me...You won't believe me if I tell you! I NEED to show you! Right now!

And not just you! Everyone needs to see this! Please, help me gather everyone up, and meet me in the tech lab! You know where Kaito and Kokichi last were, right!?

Kokichi too? Just...what did you come across!?

——————————————————————

*While Keebo returns to the hospital to gather everyone up that remained with Himiko, Kaede and Shuichi go and find Kaito and Kokichi. After a short time, they reconvene in the tech lab.

Oh...Good...Everyone's here.

Keebo! You alright?

[ecargmura]

Buddy Daddies Episode 5 Review: Unofficial Uncle Kyutaro Spotlight!

You can read this post on my blog, which you can click here.

If you just want to read it here, continue below.

Another episode of family life and no action. I kind of miss the action. I hope it happens soon. I’ll be disappointed if the action happens towards the end of the anime. However, I do think this episode was good for all the Kyutaro spotlight we get here.

The beginning of the episode shows the consequences from all the careless spending the family did to get Miri into daycare last episode. They’re financially struggling, meaning no more games and no more pudding for Rei and Miri, possibly. Because of this they have to turn to Kyutaro who gives them a job with a one-week deadline. I do like how this is implemented as even if Rei is from a wealthy family, money isn’t infinite in this world.

I did not expect to get Kyutaro spotlight in this episode. He usually makes small appearances here and there, but this episode gives him a lot of screen time. He’s surprisingly good with kids as he handles Miri well. He makes strawberry juice for her and helps her with her homework by telling her what Kazuki and Rei’s “jobs” are by making stuff up; Kazuki’s a nameless comedian and Rei is an oil tycoon (the daycare moms are gonna have a field day with this one). He’s cemented himself as the unofficial uncle of Miri.

He’s also very perceptive. He already knew who Miri is and the three’s current living situation. He’s also very mysterious as his words towards the end of the episode felt ominous. Will something bad happen to the dads in the future?

Miri is also the other main focus of this episode. Her homework assignment is her main focus, but her little antics are also the highlight of the episode. She sneaks out of the house on her own, just like how Tsumugi from Sweetness and Lightning did; on the topic of this, while Miri going off on her own is a bit nerve-wracking, I do know that it’s mainly a cultural nuance about Miri’s independence, so I’m not going to nitpick on it. She tries to follow Kazuki around and gets distracted by her surroundings like imitating a pretty lady she sees and cuddling a dog. I think this shows how much of a normal kid she is. She’s curious, a ball of energy and easily distracted. I’m also surprised that Miri seems to know more than she lets on. Remember how Kyutaro asks if she was fine with living with strangers? Miri responded that she wanted to live with Kazuki and Rei forever and that she loves them (she didn’t use ‘Suki’ which is a general ‘like’ but she uses ‘daisuki’, which means ‘really like’ or the more informal version of ‘love’). She never once mentioned wanting to go back to her mom. Maybe there’s more to Miri’s situation that meets the eye.

Kazuki and Rei were mainly comedic relief in this episode, more of the former than the latter in that aspect. Kazuki’s lack of sleep gets him having crazy thoughts and a hyperactive demeanor about everything. While Kazuki does seem like an overprotective dad, remember that he lost his pregnant wife in an accident. Miri is like the redemption he never had until now. 

Rei, on the other hand, still sleeps in the bathtub. However, he is making progress as the other father as he does call Kazuki about the missing Miri and they both search for her as a result. The way he was holding her gently at the end of the episode really does show his progress. He’s still the lazy and aloof Rei, but he’s caring more about Kazuki and Miri each episode.

Now that the two are back working as assassins, where will this show go from here? What will they do about Ryo Ogino who briefly showed up in this episode? What will happen if Kazuki and Rei do decide to betray the organization? Will Kyutaro still be their ally when drastic changes happen? I feel like there’s going to be a lot of angst in the near future and I’m not ready. Nope. Not at all.

[enstarsmusic-en]

Admin-san i know u like sora but what do u think about his shisho?

Natsume's a silly guy! I like how goofy he is, especially in the anime when it shows him and Tsumugi meeting in the library/secret room. His voice is one of my favorites. I don't know a lot about him but I love seeing him on my screen. When I used to play basic, I was reading through the main story and got to the part where Natsume does his weird speaking/curse thing and I genuinely thought my phone broke. I started reloading my apps and restarted my phone. It didn't help.

[asordinaryppl]

A3! Backstage Story Translation - Tsumugi Tsukioka SR: My performance memories ~ Tsumugi ~ - Part 2

yearn for the angel is the winter troupe's 11th play! it's featured in part 4 of the main story! (translation here)

also proofread by myuntachis!

Izumi: Okay, let’s take a photo here to wrap up.

Tsumugi: I’ll do the heart pose Kazu-kun taught me…. Ummm, I think it was like this?

Tasuku: What is that shape… supposed to be?

Tsumugi: It’s wings.

Tasuku: Aren’t they kinda crooked?

Tsumugi: I don’t think so?

Hisoka: You should hurry and take the picture, Director.

Homare: They’ll go on for quite some time, otherwise.

Izumi: Y-You’re probably right! Tsumugi-san, I’ll take the picture now!

[Shutter clicking]

Izumi: What do you think? 

Tasuku: Well, it’s not bad.

Hisoka: The wings heart is cute.

Homare: Ohhh! It is quite wonderful!

Tsumugi: Fufu, I’m glad to hear that. I hope everyone will be happy with it.

-

Tsumugi: (… The screening party was fun. I hope we can do it again.)

Tasuku: I’m gonna turn off the lights now.

Tsumugi: Ah, okay. Good night.

Tasuku: Good night.

-

[Dream starts]

Tsumugi: …?

Tsumugi: (This café… Umm, this is… a dream, right?)

???: …

Tsumugi: (Huh? Is that… Michael sitting on the terrace?)

[Wind blowing]

Michael: Ah…

Tsumugi: (The wind blew his paper over here…)

[Paper rustling]

Tsumugi: (… I should give it back to him.)

Tsumugi: Here you go. This flew over to me.

Michael: I’m sorry, thank you so much. The material written here is very important, so I appreciate you picking it up for me.

Tsumugi: It’s no problem. I’m glad you didn’t lose it.

Tsumugi: (I wonder if it’s okay to talk to him a bit more…)

Tsumugi: … Um, do you have some time to talk?

Michael: …?

Tsumugi: Ah… I’m sorry for springing this on you so suddenly. I’m alone and have a bit too much time on my hands right now…

Tsumugi: I thought maybe some kind of fate blew your paper to me, so I’d like to talk to you for a bit…

Michael: … In that case, would you mind me treating you to a drink as thanks for picking up my paper?

Tsumugi: … Thank you. I’ll take you up on your offer.

-

Tsumugi: This coffee is delicious.

Michael: I’m glad you like it. This shop has a good reputation around here.

Tsumugi: (What a peaceful smile… Is this after he met Raphael?)

Tsumugi: By the way, did I interrupt you during your studies?

Michael: Huh?

Tsumugi: You had something like a handbook on the table just now…

Michael: Oh… Yes. I’m studying to become a doctor.

Tsumugi: (This expression…)

Tsumugi: (This is Michael after Derrick passed and he and Raphael were separated.)

Tsumugi: … I’m sure you’ll be a great doctor.

Michael: Thank you. I’ll do my best to achieve that.

Michael: I hope that one day I’ll be able to meet the doctor and the angel watching over me with my head held high–

[Dream ends]

Tasuku: … Hey, Tsumugi. Get up already.

Tsumugi: Urghhhh…

Tsumugi: … Tasuku…?

Tasuku: Didn’t you tell me to wake you up because you have a rehearsal for your guest appearance this morning?

Tsumugi: …! That’s right…!

Tsumugi: I’m sorry. Thanks for waking me up.

Tasuku: Get ready now so you won’t be late.

Tsumugi: Okay. … Hey, Tasuku? I met Michael in my dream.

Tasuku: Michael?

Tsumugi: He was studying hard to become a doctor.

Tsumugi: I know it was just a dream, but I was glad to know he’s facing forward in his life.

Tasuku: … That’s good. Raphael must also be watching over Michael from heaven, as he’s always done.

Tsumugi: … Yeah, you’re right.

part 1 | part 2

[the-himawari]

A3! Takato Tasuku - Translation [SSR] MANKAI Party (1/3)

Special thanks to @furuichis​ for sharing this backstage story with me! 💚🎂

*Please read disclaimer on blog; default name set as Izumi

---

Izumi: Great job with rehearsal today.

Hisoka: Good job.

Azuma: Great job.

Homare: Tasuku-kun, Tasuku-kun.

Tasuku: Hm?

Homare: It pertains to the VLOG that is planned to be screened at your birthday event. Pray tell, have you decided who is going to film it yet?

Tasuku: Ahh, I haven’t chosen or anything…

Homare: I shall do the filming for you in that case!

Tasuku: You, Arisugawa?

Homare: Precisely. I will capture a beautiful and artistic VLOG fitting for your birthday event.

Tasuku: *Sigh*… Well, I haven’t thought about who to ask. If you say so, then go for it.

Homare: Splendid! By all means, leave it to me.

-pause-

Tsumugi: By the way, Homare-san is going to film your VLOG, right?

Tasuku: Yeah. He himself said he would.

Tsumugi: Fufu. Homare-san wanted to film your VLOG very much, hm?

Tasuku: Like usual, I don’t really get him… but it honestly helped me out.

Tsumugi: Do you know what you’re going to do for your VLOG?

Tasuku: I’ve already decided. The theme of the VLOG this time is “a sight I want to show my fans”, isn’t it? The sight I’d like to show my fans—well, you might say you expected it—but it’s me when I’m acting. That’s why I’m thinking of having Arisugawa film me doing a street act.

Tsumugi: Hmm, I see…

Tasuku: Did you think I was going to do more something else?

Tsumugi: No, I think that’s fine. It’s very like you. But the one filming is Homare-san, so…

Tasuku: Good point… I can’t be sure whether he’ll just start blabbing. I’m starting to feel worried about the future when I think about that.

Tsumugi: Well, I’m sure it will be fine.

Tasuku: Geez, leaving the problem to me…

-pause-

Tasuku: …Alright, shall we head out now?

Homare: Now then, watch, everyone. This is the start of Winter troupe’s Takato Tasuku’s day.

Tasuku: Oi. You don’t have to start filming from this point.

Homare: It will be much too short if you only film your street act, will it not?

Tasuku: I’m not planning to make this VLOG that long.

Homare: I am sure all the fans would love to see your various expressions, Tasuku-kun.

Tasuku: Good grief. He won’t listen when I tell him, huh? Fine then…

-pause-

Tasuku: So you ended up filming the entire way here.

Homare: Simply taking a stroll and chatting… that sort of footage is also enjoyable once in a while, wouldn’t you say? Now then! It is finally time for Tasuku-kun to begin his street act. What kind of play will it be… I am truly looking forward to it!

Tasuku: This is pretty tough to do… hey, join me for a bit, Arisugawa.

Homare: Hm? But then there will be no one to film the VLOG. In any case, you are the main star of the show this time.

Tasuku: Then like before…

???: ‘Scuse me. How about I film for you, if you don’t mind?

---

| next

[ultimateplaylistmaker]

It only got worse. Rantaro slowly started hanging out with everyone else, having less time to hang out with Tsumugi and watch Danganronpa. Tsumugi wanted to know if it was something she did, but Rantaro shook his head.

Rantaro: Of course not. I guess...I just got over it? Like, I still like it, but it's not my whole life, y'know? I have other things I enjoy.

Tsumugi: ....Oh, okay.

"So in other words, he's outgrown it because some pretty blond girl who plays piano isn't into it!" She thought.

Rantaro: Anyway, I gotta head home. My family is gonna travel at the end of the week, and my sister's can't wait. See you later!

Tsumugi silently waved goodbye to him, feeling her heart sinking. Travel...so, moving away and coming back, right? People say one thing, but mean the complete opposite, right? Truths...lies...the whole world is comprised of them. Saying one thing and acting as if it's truth doesn't mean that it is!

Tsumugi headed home, and kept watching more Danganronpa. She fiddled with her own fanmade Monokuma's, called Monokubs. They were Ai, and pretty dim, but cute. Monodam was the exception. She sort of half-assed his design, so that would explain his clunky appearance.

Wrapped in her blanket, she stared at the screen, watching the episode of Danganronpa play out. Hope....and despair...two sides of a same coin. One cannot coexist without the other, and each time they do a beautiful swan dance until only one is left standing. But, what truly was hope and despair? Was this bitter feeling of loneliness despair? Was the fact this world wasn't great and filled with eccentric characters like Danganronpa despair? And Hope? Was watching Danganronpa every day hope? Was the sight of Junko, wanting to be like her...to be like all of those characters to take away this feeling of plain plainness Hope? To live in the Danganronpa world? ...that was probably it.

And as with every end of the episode, the entire Danganronpa cast came onto the screen and waved at the camera. And it always ended off with a word from the main lady herself, Junko Enoshima.

oh im on the edge of my seat and also how DARE you make Tsumugi this relatable

[hajimariwaquartet]

Hi hi hi!!💕 Oh my goodness your a3der swap was so much fun i really had to come here again and let you know!! Oh, have you thought about doing more swap of these? Not to put pressure or anything because there are A LOT of things to take into consideration but i do think you would do such a good job!!

In any case, i loved it. Thank you so much!! 💕

awww thank you!! im glad you enjoyed it!! i was actually planning to doodle a few more scenes (sakuya going "FIGHT ME" to chikage, kumon being blinded by banri's smile, summer troupe hug pile, and fuyugumi getting their own tv show after one of tsumugi's directors sees them and goes "can i get you guys for my new show pleaseplease" ) but im less inclined to draw these days, unfortunately. but i'm planning on writing a fic for this swap au since i have so many things i wanna explore!!

here's a list of stuff i wanna explore in this au!!

sakuya having beef with both chikage and sakyo from main story conflicts + masumi going "hell no" when sakuya approaches him in act 1 for mankai

itaru being the first victim of sakuya's freaky strength

sakuya has a bit of a sore spot for being called short and he raises hell when someone does call him any form of short (midget, kid) and sakyo unfortunately stepped on a landmine when he called him a middle-schooler for his looks and temper (since swap sakuya reminds him of azami so much)

chikage thought his infiltration plan was Good but he didn't think of sakuya being ridiculously perceptive with his true intentions. chikage gets irritated with how eager he is to pick fights with him in particular, and hisoka's like "hey doesn't he remind you of you when you were younger" "shut up."

tenma helping out the summer troupe in their schoolworks and being the introvert adopted into the group of friends

tenma being generally a lot less outspoken and prideful compared to canon, but he's still sharp with acting as ever

tenma going along with misumi's triangle hunts and he finds himself actually enjoying hunts bc misumi makes it so fun

tenma is friends with taichi in this au, since taichi felt bad that he passed the audition that broke the actor tenma sumeragi. taichi hesitates when reni asks him to infiltrate mankai, and tenma's one of the reasons why he can't just bring himself to destroy mankai

swap banri and sakuya contrast and comparison (since both of their first arcs seem to rely on motivation and how it affects someone)

banri being an absolute angel!! and freaking out the readers and audience as well during picaresque, since no one expects the Prince of Hana High to play a gangster and banri not being the fox-faced gangster we know and love

sakuya, masumi, and banri being a legendary trio since no one understands why the hell are they all hanging out (until they learn they're in the same troupe, at least)

banri being motivated by spite to start acting properly, then he actually finds his motivation to act!! thanks to juza getting tired with his "others think this is okay" thinking and telling him off for it

tsumugi being dramatic and an expert on the screen, but kinda clumsy off the camera. imagine him playing a lucimugi role one minute, then he trips over some exposed wires the next minute.

tsumugi being Prideful™️ and a bit of dick too since i think it's interesting to explore a tsumugi like that

fuyugumi saving tsumugi when he forgets his disguise (again) since he's not used to being an actual celebrity (bc veludo theatergoers aren't the rabid type). hisoka and guy pull off some secret agent stuff, azuma charms their way out of the crowd, and tasuku just carries him like a sack of potatoes and runs.

tsumugi maknae (?) sorry i realized that he sorta looked like a kpop idol and i was like 👁👁