#don’t get too excited akechi fans

[mjis0nfire]

Ooo, an interesting point! If a ghost was able to awaken to a Persona in life, then that would certainly make it easier for them to posses alive Persona users, as they themselves have (or had) the willpower necessary. As opposed to a non-user’s ghost who would very easily just get kicked out and have to resort to something else to possess an alive Persona user.

Although I think it would still depend on how in touch with humanity the ghost is for how powerful they would be against a Persona user. Like if they’re still mostly humanoid and have memories of their life, they would be able to more easily tap into that power yknow?

If they were a Wild Card, that opens up a whole other can of worms I think. Like for one, what would the ghost of a Wild Card even look like ghost powers wise? Would it essentially be like fusing the Personas with the user?

Maybe something to explore if I ever take Akechi out of Schrodinger's box…

I don't have plans to write my own crossover so I shall share this headcanon of mine to you. If you want to use it, feel free. If not, it's still okay. Anyway: I believe that Persona users cannot be possessed by a ghost. This is because their Personas are protecting consciousness. They can try but this would lead to the ghost being rejected and the Persona being furious for trying to steal their "self". It would be lucky if the ghost did not try this with a fully awakened user or, worst, a wild card.

Funnily enough, I've been thinking about this a lot!

Personas are literal spirits of willpower and, particularly in the case of the PTs, rebellion. So something else trying to supersede their will and control their body in such an invasive way? Yea, at best that ghost is getting thrown out like last weeks trash. At worst, they're getting that Persona's most powerful attack point-blank to the face. Which would almost definitely shred weaker ghosts.

And Ancients help you if you try that shit with a Wild Card like Ren - then you got that anywhere from 2 to 12 times worse! Talk about learning the hard way.

One small tweak that I'll be going with for my stuff; Persona users can be possessed, but not easily. And my thought process is it can happen one of three ways.

The first way is if the ghost's own will surpasses that of the Persona user's. Basically just try and push through and fight their way past the Persona to get in control. Not an easy thing to accomplish by any means - especially in the middle of a fight where the Persona is active. This method is also essentially impossible to pull on Wild Cards since the ghost would need to get past all of their Personas. And as stated before, they can have anywhere from 2 to 12 of those mfs. So unless the ghost is desperate or dumb or both, it's not a feasible option.

The second is to find a way to disable or null the Persona - like a spell or piece of technology. Which is hard to come by to say the least. Although, a good way to severely weaken a Persona is to shake the user's resolve - their reason to fight. Make them doubt themselves, their mission, their vows... and then take over from there. Only two ghosts come to mind who would be able to do such a thing (magically at least); Spectra and Desiree. Of course, given enough time and money, the technology to trap and/or disable a Persona could be made, but as of now nobody in Amity Park has something like that.

The final way is a lot more simple; get the Persona user's (and/or their Personas') consent. Obviously this is not happening in the middle of a fight - this is only really applicable if a Persona user and ghost are working together. For example, if there's a situation where a Persona user is unconscious and a friendly ghost wants to get them back to safety without getting shot down by a ghost hunter, they could attempt to posses their friend and negotiate with the Persona/s. With the understanding that, should the ghost step too far out of line, the Persona/s will retaliate accordingly.

Oh, and for added fun, Persona users would be aware of all attempts made to possess them - both successful and failed. So should, say, the local ghost hero try possessing his vigilante friend out of curiosity? Let's just say, it wouldn't go well for him.

[selenacosmic]

Hi Selena!

I really enjoy your Teen "Little sis" MC headcanon series. Here's an HC request for Teen MC....

Warlords when Teen MC tries to bake them a birthday cake - but messes up the recipe somewhere along the line, and ends up with something resembling cake soup (or some other obvious #fail).

Thanks in advance (no rush).

Hello! I am really happy that you like this little series! I love it too, so I will be more than happy to do this!

Teen!MC bakes them a cake… and fails.

Oda forces.

Nobunaga Oda.

He likes sweets, so as long as you add his favorite, Konpeito, there shouldn’t be any problem with pleasing him! Except that… he can be hard to please. Being a teenager who can barely cook can bring a lot of trouble, specially when you want to bake a whole cake for your adoptive big brother.

Nobunaga was curious about what you were preparing for him, which is why he was excited when you said it was ready. He wondered to himself if it was meant to look that… liquid. He does tries it and doesn’t hate the taste, he drank the whole bowl of the ‘water cake’.

Hideyoshi Toyotomi.

Now, hideyoshi isn’t a fan of sweets, actually. But because you wanted to do something nice for him, he decided that it wasn’t bad to try some of your cooking. He was even excited to see what you had planned.

Hideyoshi will be shocked by how… burned the cake looked, but he didn’t have the courage to call you out on it, you looked so expectant of his approval that he just swallowed the whole thing, even if it didn’t taste good.

Ieyasu Tokugawa.

Ieyasu is another one who doesn’t like sweets, which is why he didn’t have high expectations for liking the cake. But since you were his little sister, he would go easy on you and at least try it. But… you accidentally switched the sugar for hot sauce. How? Don’t even ask.

Your luck? Since Ieyasu doesn’t like sugar, he actually liked the cake, though he added a bit more hot sauce to make it spicier.

Mitsunari Ishida.

Mitsunari was definitely excited, but he doesn’t know what kind of cake you tried making. You were apprehensive about his opinion, specially since the cake was way too liquid. Surprisingly he thought you made some sort of sweet soup and enjoyed it.

Mitsuhide Akechi.

Honestly, he is a much more complicated case. He can’t taste food, which means making a cake would be difficult, if not by taste, would making it aesthetic pleasing be enough? Maybe not, giving his habit of mixing the food he eats.

Nevertheless, he didn’t seem to mind the strange shaped cake. If anything he seemed pleased and even praised you by patting your head, truly his little sister understands his taste.

Masamune Date.

This one will be even harder to impress, which… left you stressed. Masamune is a great cook, and he likely would be picky about what he eats (you would call him chief Ramsay, but that’s a reference he wouldn’t understand).

When Masamune heard his little sister was cooking something for him, he got curious… and also a bit concerned, which is rare coming from him. It probably has to do with the fact that, if he gets concerned about Mitsuhide and Mitsunari eating probably, he gets concerned about you cooking. Still, he will swallow whatever happens to the cake, even if it doesn’t taste good.

Keiji.

Keiji would feign excited when he heard you were baking him something, when in reality he knew you had no experience with cooking. First off, you were way too young to be able to cook well, and he never saw you actually cooking in the kitchen, you aren’t fooling him. He is the kind of big brother who is will be cruelly honest about the cake.

Which will lead into a sibling’s bickering.

Ranmaru Mori.

Ranmaru is naturally a nice person, he wouldn’t have the courage to be honest about the cake, he just can’t imagine his little sister being sad that he didn’t like her surprise. Which is why he had a plan.

In case your cake really was a disaster, he would pretend it was the best thing in the world, Ranmaru is a great actor. After eating, he would secretly eat at least ten peaches to feel better.

Uesugi-Takeda alliance.

Kenshin Uesugi.

Normally Kenshin would be brutally honest about the cake, but when it comes to his little sister… he just can’t be cruel. Now, you were wondering what flavor the cake should be, until you decided to make one of your worst and best decisions of your life.

You made him plum cake, which went surprisingly well! He liked it and was honest about it. The others around were disgusted, though.

Shingen takeda.

His adorable little sister is preparing something for him? He simply couldn’t wait! But then it will hit him… you are still too young and might not know how to cook properly, you will make something coming from your heart but it might be… a mess. He felt conflicted, if it’s bad he should be honest to let you learn from your mistakes, but what if he makes you cry?

He just couldn’t handle it… regardless of how it tasted, shingen would let you know how much he appreciates you. Even though… the cake was salty instead of sweet. He ate every last bite with a tear in his eye.

Yukimura Sanada.

Just like Keiji, he will be brutally honest about his opinion on the cake, and you know it. Which will make you too afraid to bake him a cake, but you will still try doing it. Yukimura will have his expectations low, but he also doesn’t want to make you upset.

The cake turns out to be too liquid, almost like a soup. He will make a weird face but will drink it, his opinion? “It’s not as liquid as it looks like, so… it’s not lower than what i expected.” He was smacked after that.

Sasuke.

Sasuke will feel happy that you want to bake him a cake, though he already predicted a possibility of failure (through his calculations, of course). He had one good thing about his lack of expression… it was easy to hide his dislike for the taste, but you would likely notice he didn’t like it.

He planned ahead and decided to tell you that he was allergic to cake… yeah, not the best excuse, but he tried to use it to not hurt your feelings.

Yoshimoto Imagawa.

It’s not that Yoshimoto is a cruel critic… he is just very honest and therefore is hard to please. He likes sweets, so he would love a cake, but he will judge whatever you make. But different from Keiji and Yukimura, he will have bevway better at comforting you.

Though… he will hide his face with his fan to hide the disgusted face he has while staring at the atrocity you call cake.

Kanetsugu.

He will be brutally honest as well, and it might come off as a bit mean. You just want to make him something special but he won’t hesitate to tell you it’s bad. But Kanetsugu wouldn’t want his little sister to cry, so he would hold back a lot while trying out your cake.

He will look very tortured but won’t tell you the truth.

Lone forces.

Kennyo.

Kennyo might look like the cruel type, but he would be very careful as to not hurt your feelings. He doesn’t like to admit it, but he pampers you a lot, so he doesn’t want to hurt you or make you sad. Kennyo will definitely try out your cake, and force a big smile.

You know he tends to sacrifice himself for others, even in this situation he wants to spare your feelings, so Kennyo will eat the whole thing. You will feel bad but will appreciate it.

Kichou.

Yeah… he will be harder to please. Kichou will already be straight with you and say that you won’t be able to bake a good cake. But in turn, he will help you, which will end up in disaster because he also won’t be able to bake a good cake.

The result? You two got a burned cake.

Motonari Mouri

He will be even harsher, as he is also a cook, though he isn’t like Masamune, he will criticize your cake. But… Motonari will appreciate the cake you bake him, it would be the first time a family member, even if it’s an adopted one, made him something nice.

[halcyon-writings]

Hi! Do u mind doing headcanons of akira/ren, ryuji and akechi from p5 with a rlly extroverted and clingy reader? Thank you 🥺💖💖💖

note(s): apologies for the late answer to these, i’m slowly but surely finishing off requests!!lowkey this request has me soft for these three as well so i’m just 🥺🥰

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all my links (masterlist, rules, etc.) can be found on my pinned post!!!

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slight warning for spoilers in these too!! the hcs are utc, bc long posts without one make me age prematurely

i’ve literally tried to fix ryuji’s and akechi’s banner things and idk why the quality is so different hjdhdhj but i have given up bye

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He may not look it, but he can be just as clingy. So he loves it. At every little thing, whether it’s you grabbing his hand or walking arm in arm at every place you both go, or just laying your head on his shoulder when you’re both just hanging out and chilling in his room.

I feel like Akira would have a much more physical kind of love language, just having you close by is a big reassurance to him and sometimes there are days where the rumors catch up to him and the way he’s still held at a distance affects him more than what he lets on. It helps him when he knows you aren’t going to think of him as a criminal or worse.

As soon as you show any sort of physical affection just know he’ll be quick to reciprocate. And if you get flustered? Then he’s gonna double down on it until you’re both just a pair of very flushed and very sappy goofballs. Sojiro has nearly kicked you both out of Leblanc but apparently the old ladies live for it so they come by a lot, so you can stay but you’re both on thin ice.

He really likes your extroverted personality! If we look at this game mechanic wise, he does one thing and just automatically goes to sleep (morgana leering menacingly in the bg-). So looking at this more like characteristics, maybe his social battery isn’t as full as yours. But he’s also there for you in case you need to step back and relax too.

If you want to see a very red faced Ryuji. then you’ve accomplished that mission very successfully by clinging onto him whenever you’re both hanging out. And for as much as he tries to hide it, the guy blushes all the way to the tips of his ears. You’ll know when you’ve got him all flushed and embarrassed.

He also likes your extroverted nature too, bc mans is also a pretty big extrovert. You both end up as that very excitable pair in high school. Very high energy and people are either jealous of the relationship or want to knock your heads together for being so loud and energetic, there is no in-between. 

Ryuji’s another who acts lowkey about all the shit people say about him. But don’t be fooled, after what Kamoshida did, apart from breaking up the track team and also giving him a debilitating knee injury, and how his reputation plummeted as a result, he bottles up a lot and keeps the negatives to himself. He’ll wait until he’s alone so that way he doesn’t drag you down, he says. But you prove him wrong and he’s all the more grateful for it.

Ryuji definitely brags about you. You’re probably the man’s homescreen/lockscreen. Returning to the first point, the moment you grab onto his hand or his arm when you both are walking to and from places whether it be to school or just on a date, he tries to play it off all cool. No one is fooled because they can see the flush on the back of his neck to the tips of his ears. 

Once again I’m gonna warn for spoilers in these, but especially for Goro.

I’m not going to lie, Akechi will either really like the clinginess or hate it depending on the different stages of your relationship. If it’s the beginning of the relationship, you might honestly have been a cover up for more of the less than savory activities under Shido’s command. However as time goes on he finds your personality and overrall demeanor to be very refreshing compared to the rest of the people he’s had to deal with. 

Not to be like, lowkey angsty, but, I have feeling that just as he’s starting to let himself become closer to you, that lingering doubt that you’re going to either disappear or end up using him in some way rears its head. Maybe it will maybe it won’t but please let this guy know that you’re in it for the long run (however long it may be). That feeling won’t just disappear in a day, so somedays are rougher than others but the fact that you’ll still cling to him like you have previously is a small reassurance. (shido send me your location i just wanna talk-)

But n e ways after you get past that, if you when the two of you are somewhere private, he is probably just as clingy. Think Koala type of clingy, I just know Akechi is touch starved as hell. And dealing with the public image that he’s created for himself and being bombarded with all this attention from both fans and critics alike can be overwhelming at times. So it’s a bit like a relief when it can be just the two of you, away from prying eyes that want to know all about the new Detective Prince and his s/o. 

He greatly admires the way you’re so extroverted. And maybe sometimes has you talk to people for him if the social battery he’s got is too drained, but only if you’re okay with it! That’s another thing that he’s come to respect is the boundaries. You may be extroverted and slightly clingy, but you don’t push him and instead go at his pace. But when the roles are reversed and you aren’t up for being the social butterfly, he’s more than happy to help you out too.

I think he needs a hug. A big hug.

[chuckling-chemist]

Lancer

(*dusts fantrolls off* These are my DIY blorbos you know. I used to write them all the time before Goro Akechi killed my lusus. Oh what a time...

Anyway enjoy 1600ish words of unedited rambling for 4/13. See you next year!)

When Dontoc first stepped into Sandyhorn, it was impossible not to hear the rumors.

Word carries fast. It’s something he knew all too well himself. And to end up traveling all this way on a whim of fate, finding himself sucked almost immediately into a festival where the only thinking loosening people’s tongues more than the alcohol flowing was the dreadful heat baring down on the whole city. Within minutes of stepping outside, he immediately caught word of the dreadful witch who lives on the outskirts of the city, where the road gives way to twisting paths leading to nowhere and gnarled trees older than the purplebloods who stalk the forest looking for easy culls.

And, unfortunately not for the first time in his life, his curiosity got the better of him. He had found himself dabbling in magic (if he could call the book he found in his ancestor’s library that allowed him to channel the Horrorterrors “magic” in the same sense a supposed witch would use the word) during his time in his self-imposed isolation, and the thought of someone who could understand what exactly he found drove his curiosity.

For the first time in his life, Dontoc found himself searching others out for answers.

They weren’t difficult. So long as the person was willing to talk – and admittedly, being a violetblood in a city filled with lowbloods, most were at least willing to hear him out before brushing him off, out of fear of his lanky frame attempting to retaliate – he could get a few questions in and attempt to piece together what they meant in their drunken haze.

(Did all landdwellers drink like this? He couldn’t remember a single event held down in Sindaria dominated by seadwellers where the alcohol was more plentiful than water. What were they even celebrating? There was no holiday today, as far as he knew. Most of them were at the end of the sweep, not firmly lodged in the stickiest and most unpleasant part of the summer.)

“They say she cursed her neighbor for taking up too much space,” one troll said. “Resulted in the other troll’s hive burnin’ to the ground in a night. Nothing left.”

“Can you imagine pissin’ off the heiress and living? As a teal?” another said. “That’s how you know she’s terrifying.”

“She’s got friends too,” a third troll said much later, one that Dontoc found fanning himself at a corner. He was a higher caste than many he ran into, an oliveblood dressed in practically nothing. “Can’t imagine a scary fucking hag like that having friends, but whaddya I know?”

“Course she’s got friends!” the oliveblood’s friend – a yellowblood hiding their eyes in a pair of dark sunglasses – said. “You never heard about that bruiser who keeps her safe?”

Dontoc cocked his head, fins fluttering in curiosity. “A bruiser?”

“Yeah!” The yellowblood hopped off the curb, clearly excited to share his news. “Look, lotta trolls don’t realize this cause the guy covers up everything about them, but I saw them take off their mask once and-”

“You didn’t see shit,” the oliveblood retorted. “You don’t go that way.”

“Yes I did. I wasn’t heading out that way, but we all know the creepy guy with the featherbeast mask works with her. Same as the crazy bitch in glasses and-”

“Vekuzz, they’re both crazy bitches in glasses-”

“-You know what I’m talking about!” Vekuzz exclaimed. “Anyway, I saw him take their mask off once, and I shit you not, the guy’s eyes were purple. I saw the guy take it off, wipe their face off, and put it back on like no one saw. But I did! Sent straight chills down my body and made me want to look the fuck away, but sure as night it was the deepest purple you ever saw in your life.”

“They were not.” The oliveblood stood up now, eye twitching in obvious irritation. “You think purplebloods would hang with someone like her?”

“It’d keep the other ones off her ass.” Vekuzz crossed his arms. “‘Sides, don’t the legislacerator types work with ‘em?”

“Yeah, but she’s not a legislacerator. She’s a-” the oliveblood groaned, gestering blankly into the sky. “She’s encroaching on their territory. That’s all.”

Dontoc blinked owlishly at the two of them. “Right,” he said quietly. “Thank you for the information.”

The more people he talked to, the more they spoke of the supposed bruiser. Almost more so than the witch. The witch, he learned, most people knew her face, knew to avoid her and her street. But this apparent bruiser, this hulking troll in a beak mask and no horns, who chose to cover their body from head to toe in draping black garb? Somehow, everything about them managed to evade the general population.

He exists. Except he doesn’t, some believe to be something created by her, as he only appears in the dead of winter when everything is dead, and he’s some kind of death omen she summoned. He’s a purpleblood, an blueblood, an alien, a supernatural entity she managed to bind to her. He’s as real as he is fake, an walking enigma with a deep voice who keeps intruders at bay and terrifies anyone somehow not terrified by the ancient hag in the woods.

Everyone had their own story about the witch and her rabid barkbeast kept on a chain, and Dontoc found himself drawn to every single one.

He’s not sure when he passed out from heat exhaustion. He’s not sure who found him and so effortlessly managed to carry him all the way down here – much less who’d be willing to drop him straight into the hive owned by the supposed witch.

And what a witch she was: her head coming up somewhere along his chest, her horns frequently being the only way to notice her the second anything tall blocked her form. She looked no older than him – maybe younger, with long hair and sharp teal eyes framed behind half moon glasses – and flitted about the plant-filled waiting room he had found himself in with the natural dexterity of someone who lived here their whole life.

She wasn’t, he learned, a witch at all. Pallia Alkali was a scientist in hiding from the very same purplebloods who stalked the forest just outside her home, calling her bubbling solutions and medicines potions and who actually stayed alive despite the dangers of her location thanks to catering to the pirate port not much further east from Sandyhorn.

Dontoc liked her. A lot. It made the decision to stay and study with her an easy one.

And, when the winter came around, he too got to meet the supposed bruiser, the lancer of the witch and her supposed second in command.

(If the rumors knew about Aisral, the pyromaniac tealblood already living with her who accidentally burned her hive to the ground testing a fabric, they wouldn’t be so quick to call this man her second in command. But they didn’t. So it defaulted to him instead.)

He walked upstairs into the living spaces with barely an acknowledgment toward Dontoc’s direction, only sighing in Pallia’s direction.

He looked exactly like the rumors. He was draped from head to toe in black, from the black coat to black pants, without a sign of any sort of symbol on his person. His black, wide brim hat showed no indication of holes for his horns, and as far as Dontoc could see, he had none, making the only color on his whole ensemble come from the bone white beak mask that covered his face and white gloves covering his hands. With his large frame looming managing to tower over Dontoc’s frame, he felt like a shadow hanging over the both of them, a foreboding omen of an unknown future.

“A fish?” he said. His voice was deep – surprisingly so considering how much Dontoc figured the mask would have muffled it – and so clearly toned with disappointment Dontoc felt his fins droop in embarrassment. “You know how I detest them. Especially ones like…” he paused, and Dontoc saw the beak point in his direction. He’s utterly certain the other troll was raking him up and down, searching for something “...like him.”

Pallia rolled her eyes. “Oh come off it. I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t extend the same invitation to him as I did for you.”

“No. That would only make you a fool once over. Not twice over. But if you insist.” He turned his whole body to Dontoc now. With careful precision, Dontoc watched as he took his mask off, only for the briefest moment, letting Dontoc catch exactly what the one oliveblood once saw by accident.

The telltale purple of a purpleblood, miles away from any Carnival in sight, casually existing inside the house of a scientist keeping herself away from them.

For a brief moment, he felt like barely a hatchling again. An unexpected wave of nausea and jitters hit him, making his legs quake hard enough he nearly toppled over, stopping only when the purpleblood put his mask back on. He didn’t have any time to wave of anxiety any more than the worry of Pallia associating with the very caste infamous for destroying what she was.

Dontoc did not have to see the sharp-toothed grin on his face to know the other troll was grinning at Dontoc’s obvious discomfort. “Call me Glacin,” he said. “I’m sure you’re pleased to be in the company of a fellow highblood, my Lord.”

Dontoc grimaced. “There’s no need to use such titles around me,” he said stiffly. “Just Dontoc’s fine.”

“Just Dontoc then.” He chuckled lowly. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

Dontoc wasn’t sure he wanted him to. He’d much rather stay far away from this odd troll, long before he realized exactly who Glacin’s ancestor was.

And when he did, he slowly realized how badly history would keep the two stuck together.

[reimu]

Your in-depth analysis of the sexyman cafeteria seating has completely undone me

Thanks for this ask because now  i get to talk about it more. my favorite activity is thinking about characters that are infamous for being well liked by teenage girls because it reminds me of when i was a teenage girl and got excited about characters.

Due to the seating arrangement of all these people together not really making any sense (from either a ‘the characters are similar’ or a ‘their fans are similar’ point of view) I have spent at least ten minutes thinking about why they would be sitting with each other at these specific cafeteria tables instead of with anyone else and here’s my thoughts on the matter thus far

- table seven is everyone who’s taking French. Zacharie is there because he’s a french transfer student and native speaker but technically hasn’t taken the class so the faculty couldn’t find a rules line that meant he couldn’t take it anyway. Goro Akechi is there because he’s stuck up and gay. Sonic movie dr robotnik is there because he takes a native french speaker being in class as a personal challenge and enrolled in highschool despite being a thirty-something year old man just so he can be better at it than Zacharie and gloat about he’s the best, which backfires since he’s this weird old guy and Zacharie spends the entire class finger painting on the desk and ignoring him

- Table one is two kids from the theater improv class reigen teaches for the class that happens before lunch period starts, and they dont have anyone to sit with except the teacher because 1) Junkrat gets too excited about gym first thing in the morning and has really bad body odor for the rest of the day, and only eats eggs during lunch, which makes him smell worse 2) Bill cipher is chronically lonely because he wants to be overexaggerated and fun but loses all his friends due to insulting them too often so no one hangs out with him 3) Reigen is a teacher. He’s trying to get people to audition for A Streetcar Named Desire but can’t manage to get a cast together because no one cares. He also teaches business and economics for a class Raymond is taking and somehow is failing the class despite being the teacher.

- Table two is also a teacher (The guy from Rick and Morty, which I dont actually know anything about him but am pretty sure he sucks) and two students (clock guy and Sidon from BOTW, who is objectively just a nice guy.) Rick does a terrible job of teaching chemistry but is also the only chemistry professor the entire school has so everyone has to take him anyway even if they hate it. The clock is sitting with him during lunch because he has to be supervised by an adult constantly or he starts throwing chairs around and screaming and punches holes in the wall for attention. Sidon is there because he wants to do well in class really really badly because his last ex broke up with him because they ‘didn’t have any chemistry together’ and he misinterpreted what that meant.

- Table five is two school security guards (benry and connor) and the principle (whoever the glowing guy is) who are both getting fired because Benry keeps planting weed on Connor and turning him in for it to get him fired, and Connor keeps finding that he has weed and turning himself in so he gets in trouble, and I don’t know who this glowing person is (A hat in time??) but they probably would prefer it if the school continued to be in complete shambles and would fire anyone for any reason at any time

These are my thoughts. Thanks

[shapeshifting-wildcard]

One of the downsides to having a semi-famous boyfriend was that his more diehard fans, the ones who hadn't completely given up on him after the hype died down, were more than happy to seek him out when he was simply trying to live his life.

On the other hand, Hanako's interest in the handsome detective gave Jou a perfect excuse to swing by the flower shop after school and say hi.

"Remember, keep it low key," Morgana murmured in his ear as the four teens made their way through Shibuya's underground mall. Jou nodded ever so slightly. He fully intended to not make a scene. Goro was at work, after all, and it would be rude to interrupt him.

"There he is!" Hanako exclaimed as the shop came into view. He followed her pointing and his heart skipped a beat as his beloved, wonderful, amazingly handsome detective boyfriend came into view. He recognized the smile he had; it was his patented "detective prince" smile, the emptily pleasant one he used to wear at all of his interviews. Of course a fan like Hanako would recognize it so easily.

"Ugh, I can't believe he's here," Chouko, the Phantom Thieves fan, grumbled. "Well, we've seen him, right? Let's just go already."

Jou was already halfway to the shop before Chouko could finish the first sentence. The other three trailed behind him, Hanako the most visibly excited to see her idol in the flesh. The woman running the shop spotted them before Goro did, and she brightened up a little upon seeing Jou.

"Oh, there you are, Inojita-kun. I never had a chance to introduce you to the new hire, did I?" She caught Goro's attention and gestured to Jou. "Here, Akechi-kun, this is the other part-timer I told you about."

"Oh, Jou," Goro said, his pleasant smile morphing ever so slightly into his more natural smirk. "I hadn't realized you also worked here."

"Inojita, you know the detective prince?" Hanako blurted out. Goro glanced towards her, the smirk vanishing from his face. Jou distractedly fiddled with his bangs as he struggled to come up with an answer that wouldn't give too much away.

"It's been a while since anyone called me that," Goro said. "I prefer to be called by my name these days. Akechi Goro."

"O-Oh, right, I'm sorry, Akechi-san," Hanako stammered.

"Can I interest any of you in some flowers, since you're here?"

"Nah, I'm good," Chouko said, somewhat dismissively.

"I-I'm fine," Hanako said, face slowly turning red as she looked away from the handsome detective.

"I'd like to buy a bouquet, actually," Jou said, much to the surprise of his companions. Goro raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement creeping into his smile.

"Alright, what would you like, then?" Goro said, moving to gather what he needed for a bouquet.

"Let's start with... red chrysanthemums and red tulips." Morgana shot Jou an unimpressed look that he could easily ignore thanks to the angle.

"Oh, are you planning on confessing to someone, Inojita-kun?" Hanako asked. It didn't surprise Jou too much that she'd catch on; he remembered her mentioning an interest in the language of flowers before.

"Something like that."

"Would you like to include some sunflowers?" Goro said. Jou stammered, face turning red. Ah. So close, and yet so far.

"No, thank you," Jou said. He briefly considered just saying the bouquet wasn't for Ryuji, but then he came up with a better idea. "Do you have any rocket flowers?"

Goro paused, eyes widening as a look of realization crossed his face. Hanako shot Jou a quizzical look.

"Rocket flowers...?" Hanako repeated.

"Do they actually look like rockets?" Ichiro interjected, sounding hopeful.

"Unfortunately not," Goro said. "And I'm afraid we don't carry those. Most people wouldn't want to include those in a bouquet, after all."

"Because most people don't get their rival flowers," Hanako muttered.

"Unfortunate," Jou said, trying to play it off. "How about some asters, then?" Jou could see Goro suppressing a scowl. The others didn't seem to notice, which was probably the point.

"Anything else?" Goro asked, any irritation conveniently hidden behind his customer service smile.

"Hm... no, I think that's good."

"You sure?" Goro said. "Not even a camellia?"

The blush returned to Jou's cheeks. Damn, Goro knew him well. Jou fiddled with his bangs, silently weighing the pros and cons. He wanted to throw something with a bit more symbolism in, but, well. His favorite flower certainly wouldn't be out of place for the message he wanted to send. "You know what? Sure, throw in a red camellia."

Goro chuckled softly as he added the red camellia and wrapped up the bouquet, handing it over and giving Jou the total. He gladly paid for the bouquet with a grin.

"So," Jou said, cradling the bouquet in one arm, "are you doing anything after your shift today?"

The soft gasps from his companions reminded him that he had an audience. Morgana made a disapproving sound as Jou froze. He forgot the others were there for a moment, and now he had just accidentally outed himself.

"Holy shit," Ichiro said and for a moment Jou's blood ran cold, "I can't believe you just went for it!"

"N-Not even asking for his number first?" Hanako murmured. Jou wasn't sure what was more awkward; the fact that he had just outed himself as gay or the fact that he was so close to outing his relationship with the detective prince.

"I'm afraid I've already made plans to visit a cafe with Ann this evening," Goro said. His pleasant smile took on a decidedly devious tone. "But I'm sure your lovingly handpicked bouquet can survive one night." He winked. "I'll be by to pick it up tomorrow evening."

Jou couldn't help but chuckle. "I'll be looking forward to seeing you then."

"Alright that's enough hitting on my employees, young man," the flower shop lady said, gently shooing Jou away. "Flirt when neither of you are on the clock."

Jou bowed politely before turning and leading the others away.

"I cannot believe you just asked out the freaking detective prince," Ichiro remarked.

"I can't believe he actually said yes," Chouko said.

"So much for remaining low key," Morgana grumbled.

"Hey, Hanako," Chouko said, "are you disappointed that he scored a date before you did?"

"N-No!" Hanako said, sounding a little defensive. "Still, that's the first time I've ever heard of him actually... taking someone up on a date."

"Maybe Inojita's just the first person to actually be his type," Ichiro said with a shrug. Jou was internally thankful that all of them were failing to make a big deal about the whole gay thing, but was maybe a little bit disappointed that they weren't even acknowledging it.

"I didn't think you were a fan of him in the first place, Inojita," Chouko commented. "I mean, I didn't expect you to dress up as the guy for Halloween. I thought you'd dress up as Joker or something."

Jou coughed and tried to act nonchalant. Oh if only she knew.

"Why did you want to add rocket flowers to your bouquet?" Hanako asked. "All your other choices were romantic in some way. But that one..."

"Wait, what do all the other flowers mean?" Ichiro piped up, glancing at the bouquet.

"Well, chrysanthemums and tulips are both declarations of love," Hanako said, pointing to them. "Camelias too, but in more of a... passionate sort of way, I guess?"

"I like camelias," Jou admitted a little sheepishly.

"You do?" the girls remarked.

"Is that why he suggested it...?" Chouko mused.

"Wait... how would he even know you like 'em?" Ichiro pointed out.

If they hadn't been standing in the middle of a busy crowd, the silence would have been deafening.

"Oh my god how long have you been dating the detective prince?" Chouko exclaimed.

"You're the leader of the Phantom Thieves?" Hanako said at the same time. Chouko did a double take.

"Wait, how do you..."

"Rocket flowers indicate a rival," Hanako said. "And I doubt the detective prince would date some random nobody. Or acknowledge them as a rival."

"I told you to be low key," Morgana grumbled. Jou held up the bouquet in an attempt to hide his face.

Okay, maybe their lack of explicit acknowledgement of the gay thing was preferable to them figuring out he's a Phantom Thief.

[fandom-collective-writers]

Reader x Mitsuhide {IkeSen} - Shibari with the Kitsune

Title: Shibari with the Kitsune Fandom: Ikemen Sengoku Character: Mitsuhide Akechi Genre: i only come back to write smut Warnings: kinky time  Kinks: dom!fem, silk bondage, face sitting (oral), riding, milkd dirty talk, etc Intended Gender Audience: Female Audience  Word Count: 1723 words POV: second person Requested by: @alerialumina (”You heard me. Take. It. Off.”)  Written by: @mythiica Other comments: i gave up with the title after about a minute  :D

When you had asked Mitsuhide if he was alright with the notion of allowing you, his little mouse, to take lead of the night’s adventures, he raised a white eyebrow. His golden eyes narrowed accordingly, like he was looking for your smile to waver out of embarrassment. When Mitsuhide cannot find it, he smiles, with teeth. “Alright then, you’ve gotten my attention. You wish to control me? I welcome it–” 

          Mitsuhide the Masochist, you like to call him (in the privates of your own mind, for if he knew that you named him that, he would tease you without end) because of his interesting fascination with bondage. Not only did tying a delicate rope or silken thread around your curves make him painfully excited, but it has nearly the same effect when inflicted on himself. You assume it has something to do with his part time occupation as the designated interrogator-torturer– would you ever learn? Likely not. 

         Regardless of this, you take to preparing everything with great care. Mitsuhide enjoys himself, indulging in the occasional sip of sake as you scramble around the room, trying to arrange everything. 

         “At this rate, I’ll have to cancel my meetings for tomorrow–” 

         Grumbling in response, you stick your tongue out at Mitsuhide and continue. The kitsune would not get inside your head, not this time. 

         And then, when you pull out a beautiful, royal purple silk rope, his eyes seem to light up. It might have been the flicker of the candle light reflecting in that piercing gaze of his, but you become far too distracted because Mitsuhide begins undressing himself. A viscous motion there, and then another, equally smooth slip of his shoulders– and suddenly he is sporting absolutely nothing. 

         “Where do you want me, little mouse?” 

         “Y’know, it doesn’t help that you still call me that–” 

         He pads forward, carrying no shame in the slightest, and pushes your hair back enough to kiss your pulse. “Pray tell, what should I call you? Mistress? My lady…?” 

         Your heart flutters at this– the fact that Mitsuhide is so willing to submit himself to your will. He’s versatile in nearly everything he does, and you curse him for it, because that is usually how he ends up on top by the end of every night. However, today will be different, you tell yourself, dragging your fingernails up his torso. Your touch is as light as possible, and it raises goosebumps to the surface of his skin before a shiver echoes down his arms. 

         “Hm?” 

         “My lady works well…” you reply with confidence, taking his wrists together to wrap them with one pass of the silk. “But I won’t call you pet.. or mouse, or anything like that.” 

         “Whyever not~?” he hums in response, lacing his fingers together for you. 

         You start to pace around Mitsuhide, bringing the rest of rope around his torso. Making sure his nipples stay exposed, you pull on it sharply, so that the fabric is taught against his skin. “Because I know you like the sound of your name on my lips–” 

         Mitsuhide groans at this. One of his few vices, and you’ve found it so easily. “Say it then.” 

         “Not yet!” 

         Heat radiates from his muscles, and you take pleasure in tracing the curve of his waist and then the dip down to his hips… You push Mitsuhide down so that his knees land on the plush futon. The last thing to do is restrain his legs. (And a good thing too, because you are nearly out of ribbon length. You didn’t realize how broad his chest is– you used most of it going around his breast and waist.) 

         Your present is perfectly wrapped and sits almost too obediently in front of you, awaiting orders. 

         He’s started to get hard, you can see the veins tensing every other moment until Mitsuhide clicks his tongue. “My lady… what shall you do to me… or have me do to you?” 

         Confidence bubbles in your lungs, and you untie your obi, letting it drop to the ground with a dull thud. Next comes the outermost layer of your kimono, but you leave the underslip and simply part it further along the leg slit. 

         Taking a handful of Mitsuhide’s hair, you pull his head back enough that you can sit yourself comfortably on his face. He knows what to do without having to be told– Mitsuhide’s tongue, usually sharp with words, delves into your core, swirling around without a moment’s hesitation. Taking a mouthful of your cunt, Mitsuhide relishes in the taste of your essence, sparing no expense to roll his hips and grind against the bindings, trying to find a sliver of relief himself. 

         “Nuh-uh–” you groan, tugging on his hair. Mitsuhide goes still, save for his lips that work your clit in every direction possible. He pulls all of his tricks and goes as far as to bite your outermost folds, trying to surprise you. 

         Pulling on his silvery locks would only urge him on more, you know this, so you instead step back. His chin, wet with slick, glistens in the light and makes you flush the slightest bit. Had you really gotten so wet from such little play? 

         “Behave or else–” 

         Mitsuhide licks his lips. “I do apologize, my lady. I got carried away. You taste divine…” If he were not restrained, Mitsuhide would have licked his fingers and wiped his chin. Instead, he tips his head upwards, as if asking for more. 

         This time, you rest your leg on his desk, opening yourself to him. Mitsuhide scoots forward, but not enough, so he has to lean forward and tense his abdominal muscles to reach you. He takes a single, languid lap every moment, torturing himself more than you. 

         You think you hear a whimper sound from his throat, and you push his face against you. While you hold him there, you grind against his wet tongue and moan. For a moment, you forget that he’s bound and nearly ask him to finger you. 

         However, Mitsuhide would be able to make you cum without needing for fingering. There’s a certain skill in his tongue that allows him to know exactly how to pleasure you. Indeed, before long, the knot builds up in your stomach and you are ready to explode. Mitsuhide reduces his motions though, however, you won’t let him get away with it– you push against his tongue, not letting him escape so quickly. He isn’t in control, and you want that to be clear. 

         “Hm… Mitsuhide– you’re behaving very well.” 

         He twitches at this, his whole body does, and you giggle because of it. His moans vibrate your clit enough to push you over the said edge. The warm rush bursts through you, drowning Mitsuhide. He doesn’t dare lean back though. 

         In fact, your lover continues to lap at you even through your orgasm. You have to step away from him and regain your bearings. “Mitsuhide…” 

         Smiling at you, he licks his lips. “Yes, my lady?” 

         Not replying right away, you guide Mitsuhide over to the futon once more. He sits on his knees, waiting patiently for you. By the look on his face, he seemingly expects you to take pleasure in his tongue once more, but instead, you sit on his lap. 

         Letting the fabric of your skirt fan out, you sit with your soaked pussy against his now throbbing cock. 

         “Hm… is it my turn to be rewarded?” 

         “If you want..” 

         “Oh, I do.” Mitsuhide presses his chest against yours, hard nipples grinding over your own. “Will you indulge me?” 

         There’s no need to fetch extra lubricant – the wetness from your folds and the precum from his cock are enough to allow him to simply slide inside. His tip rubs against your walls, reminding you of all the other wonderful times you shared with Mitsuhide. 

         You failed to tie the silk tight enough, and it starts to fall of his shoulders and loosen from his legs, allowing him enough movement to buck up into you. Mitsuhide lets his mouth hang open to moan for you, singing out his praises for your wonderful display of authority. 

         Riding him, he takes every liberty of showing off. Chest protruding, Mitsuhide laps at your neck and jaw, leaving small bites in his wake to mark you still– you do the same for him, knowing that the window of his kimono will be low enough to reveal the beautiful bruises. 

         Mitsuhide’s cock tenses against your walls. (You can’t really believe that he’s already this close to cumming. Usually he likes to show off that he can last ages without release just because he wants to focus on you. Now, it seems to be the opposite. 

         You have so much energy, and you pour it into bouncing up and down at a constant speed– enough to keep him drooling and moaning and utterly sinful. So wicked that you want to do this again and again. Being the one in control is so much fun, and you see why Mitsuhide likes it. 

         “I know what you’re thinking. This is a single treat for a single day!” 

         “Mitsuhide…” you mewl, tracing his face with a finger. “Then I’ll stop right here. And leave you bound.” 

         His eyes go wide at this, but then he smiles. “You’ve learned a thing or two from me, haven’t you?” 

         “Yes…” You throw your arms over his shoulders and kiss him everywhere, careful to keep your rhythm constant. “Now, don’t you want to cum?” Your smile grows ever devious, just like his when he edges you. 

         “Hm… I’ll give you the satisfaction you seek. Yes, I do~” 

         The ropes have fallen almost completely off at this point, and Mitsuhide nips your lips. 

         “Take. It Off.” 

         “My lady?” 

         “You heard me. Take it off– I know you can. You’ve been acting this entire time.” 

         Mitsuhide swallows hard and his gaze softens. “So I have.” With that, he shrugs his shoulders and the silk falls away, giving him his full range of motion back. His hands take their rightful place on your hips, and he pushes you all the way down. “But I’ll do what you ask me to do,” the kitsune adds with a whisper. 

         “Good… then I’ll ask you only one thing.” 

         “Do tell me, my lady.” 

         “Make me cum.”

[bobzora]

official persona 5 character review

i have only played up to the end of the third palace but i won’t be able to play for a few weeks because my sibling has ABANDONED ME (single tear) and we play together. and i’m bored. so HERES MY REVIEW of all the major characters so far. under read more because i do tend to ramble

- mc/joker (bob johnson)

why is my silent video game protagonist a catboy. it’s funny to me how much personality he manages to have despite being. yknow. a blank slate to project on. charisma! the dialogue options when you’re talking to shadows that are like “girl power!” live in my mind. joker is a girlboss to me. feminism win

- ryuji

he’s like one of those very excited big dogs where you’re like “oh good for you buddy! oh yeah buddy!” but you’re also just like man this is a bit much. on one hand he’s a very good guy but on the other hand sometimes i feel a very strong urge to insult him or just be mean to him in general, often for no particular reason. i like him i really do he just has that kind of personality. he’s a bro. his pirate thing is funny i know they’re named after like. historical figures/characters in literature(?) but captain kidd sounds so. it’s funny ok. it’s funny. he’d be a backyardagain. i like how he’s a mamas boy that’s cute. sorry about your leg buddy. he’s very. naive isn’t the right word but something like that. i still want to bully him. his grin looks dumb (endeared)

- morgana

i think it’s funny how big his head is when he’s in his metaverse mascot form he’s like a bobblehead i want him to fall over from the weight. the gags about his puppy crush on ann and his dislike of being called a cat are ANNOYING like sorry about your identity crisis but i really don’t care. he is cute sometimes though it’s not like i hate him but he’s a little annoying! you know! i’m not big on mascot characters in general haha

- ann

i adore ann she is cute and great and she deserves a lot better get this girl a better costume PLEASE. at the start of the game i was already rooting for her hardcore cause everyone was being terrible to her (very common occurrence that happens to like every character i have noticed. Society) and then she had that thing where she was like “let’s have him continue to live so he can suffer more” and i was like HELL YEAH ann is always saying the truth man. other thieves like “yah it wouldn’t be moral to kill them” (tho they’re cool with the mind control lol 🤔) but ann’s like “idc about that lol i just want him to suffer” SO TRUE. so true. i like her pigtails

- yusuke

ngl before i started playing i kind of already knew that i’d like this guy. i didn’t know much about him other than gay little artist but i knew. i was right. i am incredibly fond of this guy. partially because i too am a weirdo artist with parental issues (his persona awakening had me like *vibrates*) but mostly because he is just so funny. look at this guy! look at his stupid little tail! i lost my mind while doing his first confidant event thing he is GREAT. VERY cool. i just really like him. i could sit there and listen to his long impassioned speeches for a long time

- makoto

i was a big fairy tail fan in early middle school (unfortunate) and i play in dub so every time she opens her mouth i can only hear lucy/every other dub character her va has voiced cause there’s lots of them. ok first of all i’m not a big fan of her character archetype. yknow the straight laced student council president type. nothing personal just not my thing yknow! i do sympathize with her Issues of being useful and being used by the adults around her ofc but i’m not like INVESTED invested. tbf i haven’t known her too long. what’s his face mafia guy’s palace didn’t feel as personal as the last couple which probably contributes to that (underwhelming). on the other hand i really like that she has a motorcycle i was like ?! QUEEN and then THAT WAS HER CODENme??? very cool of her. i don’t care about her that much but i do think she is cool. if i were to encounter her irl i would be so intimidated

- akechi

he has not joined the team yet but he obviously will. i have not seen much of him yet but i do have many opinions. i did know he was this games komaeda archetype before playing because of the sheer amount of arguing i can vaguely remember scrolling past about him but even if i didn’t i would’ve instantly been able to tell. he’s fake as hell. i lose it every other sentence whenever he’s on screen WHO IS THIS GUY. “thesis antithesis *pretentious stuff*” “woowwwww you’re so interesting ^-^” “woahh look we happen to have met waiting for the train teehee” (whenever he pops up in those train scenes it feels like a jumpscare) there is a high percentage chance that i will like this guy a lot. there is a precedent for me really liking that sort of character and he is very entertaining. i hope he is just so unhinged. i mean there’s like a 99% chance he’s the ~mysterious guy causing all the accidents~ and also the “heh kid u were betrayed by one of your own” guy. so. he gives me the vibes of one of those really tiny cutesy dogs who are just incredibly aggressive. funny to me how ryuji hates him to an absurd degree like buddy chilll yeah he sucks but wowww. i LOVE that stupid doodle of him on the classroom chalkboard. the anime sparkles. his hair is ugly btw. we met on 6/9 which turns me into a 12 year old. i enjoyed our silly little tv debate

- futaba

i’m 99% sure that’s the name of the girl with the orange hair and glasses? i haven’t met her yet. she does the hackerman typing thing in the opening which is cute. i’m just mentioning her because i think she’s cute. she’s a techie with orange hair so i’ll probably like her

- fluffy brown hair girl

only character in the game art i haven’t mentioned so i kind of have to so it’s fair. she looks kind?? very fluffy. fluttershy is probably her favorite my little pony. she would eat bread

IN CONCLUSION everybody here needs therapy and also i’m mad that i got invested in a game with time / resource management / stealth mechanics :/ . the battle system is very cool. also the menus are the best character they’re SO sexy

[vgckwb]

P5R: Rebel Girl (A FeMC Story/P5R Rework) Chapter 50: Stirred

On Saturday, Makoto was called into Principal Kobayakawa’s office. “You wanted to see me sir?”

Kobayakawa was indignant. “I hear you’re asking about Kamoshida. Why is that?”

Makoto grew slightly indignant herself, but kept a level head. “Well, you wanted me to investigate the Phantom Thieves, right? I figured that since we didn’t know of their possible existence until they sent Kamoshida that calling card, then the Phantom Thieves, if they do go to this school, might have an ax to grind with him. Hence the interviews.”

Kobayakawa glared at her. “I guess that makes sense.”

“Is there an issue with my explanation?” Makoto asked. “Because if there is, it sounds like you don’t want people talking about Mr. Kamoshida.”

“Well, it’s just old news at this point,” Kobayakawa deflected. “I don’t want to stubbornly dwell on the past and all.”

“Yeah, but if you want to know who these thieves are, this has to be a part of it,” Makoto instructed. “So what do you want? Do you want to protect Mr. Kamoshida, or do you want to know who the Phantom Thieves are?”

Kobayakawa was about to burst. Begrudgingly, he said “I want to know who the Phantom Thieves are.”

“Very well then” Makoto said, leaving the office.

Once Makoto had left, Kobayakawa smirked. “You want information, Miss Niijima? You’re going to get it!”

During the day, Ren was being treated like a celebrity due to her interaction with Akechi, with both pros and cons. The students divided themselves up between pro-Phantom Thieves, and by extension, Pro-Ren, and Pro-Akechi factions. When it came time for lunch, it was almost too much for her to bear. “Ugh. I almost miss being isolated from everyone” Ren moaned.

“Hey, it’s not so bad,” Ann said, trying to cheer her up. “Besides, things move fast in the city. Who knows, by Monday, this interview thing will be old hat.”

Ren gave a goofy smile. “Thanks…”

Just then, someone burst into their class. It was a male student with shaggy orange hair and purple glasses. He looked around with his gaze coming to a halt on Ren. “Ah ha!” He walked over to her. “Miss Amamiya, the woman of the hour. I am here on behalf of the student council, and I would wish to speak to you.”

Ren was exhausted with the attention. “If it’s about the interview…”

“No, this is about something else,” he explained. “We’ve been conducting interviews at the request of the president. And personally, I’m on your side with that.”

“Oh, um, well, sure, I guess then” Ren said, confused, but figured that this might be better than the constant attention.

“Then let’s head up,” the student council member said. He started walking and Ren followed him. As they were walking, he said “By the way, my name’s Hiroki.”

Ren was perplexed. “No last name?”

“Meh” Hiroki cheeped. “It’s not my thing.”

“Well then, if it’s all the same to you, would you mind calling me Ren?” she asked.

“Of course,” Hiroki smiled. They made it to the student council room and sat down. “So, Ren,” Ren chuckled slightly at him emphasizing her name, “if it’s alright with you, I’d like to talk about Mr. Kamoshida.”

Ren was surprised. “Mr. Kamoshida?”

Hiroki nodded. “We’re investigating the incident to see how we can prevent such a thing from happening again.”

Ren was a tad suspicious, but decided to go for it. “Um, sure. I guess the starting point was my first day here. I’m a transfer student, so that was a little ways into the school year. Anyways, as I was heading over to a crosswalk, there was another girl standing there, Ann, although I didn’t know her at the time. Anyways, Mr. Kamoshida pulled up and invited her into his car. Soon after, he invited me as well. Ann looked hesitant, so I decided to hop in to make sure nothing happened.”

“Wait, you took a ride with a stranger to protect someone else?” Hiroki said, interrupting her. Ren nodded. “I gotta commend you on that. That’s pretty bold.” Ren slightly blushed. “Anyways, please continue.”

“Well, nothing really happened in the car,” Ren continued. “After that, Ann and I hung out all day, and we became fast friends. After school though, Ann had to leave for a bit, and Kamoshida called me to his office. It was there he tried to make a move on me.” Ren looked down. “I have a bit of baggage from my hometown, and Kamoshida was hoping to exploit it to get what he wanted.”

“Oh my” Hiroki said. “Did anything happen?”

Ren smiled and shook her head. “Before anything could happen, Ann and Shiho stopped him. Ann whisked me away and then apologized profusely and then told me about the kind of person Mr. Kamoshida was.”

“I see,” Hiroki noted. “Did anything else happen?”

“Well, I did save a different student from Kamoshida’s advances,” Ren said.

“Could you tell me their name?” Hiroki inquired.

“Sumire” Ren answered.

“I see” Hiroki wrote it down. “And that’s it?”

Ren nodded. “I think Ann and Shiho’s interruption was enough to dissuade Kamoshida, at least for a bit. Besides, I wasn’t here for long before the Phantom Thieves sent out that calling card.”

“Right,” Hiroki agreed. “Well, thanks for coming in. I know this couldn’t have been easy to talk about.”

“Oh, it’s fine,” Ren said. “If it’s to make sure a new Kamoshida doesn’t spring up, I’m all for it. Besides, Dr. Maruki has told me I should work on opening up more.”

“You’ve visited Dr. Maruki?” Hiroki asked. Ren nodded. “Huh. Maybe I should give it a try then.”

“By all means” Ren said.

She got up, but before she could leave, Hiroki shouted “Wait!” Ren was surprised. “Uh, I just have a personal question, if you don’t mind.” Ren tilted her head. “Not about you, just something I’d like to know for myself.”

“O...K…?” Ren said, still confused.

Hiroki sighed. “What do you get the girl who has everything? To, you know, show her your affection.”

Ren was still weirded out, but it did seem like he just wanted some dating advice. “Well, the one thing not to get the girl who has everything is a contract with a sea witch” she joked.

Hiroki laughed. “Yeah, I guess it was a bit unusual to spring that on you. Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Ren said. “And good luck with your girl problem.” Ren left.

Once she got back to class, Ann asked her “What was that about?”

“Kamoshida” Ren answered directly.

“Really?” Ann asked. Ren nodded. “Why?”

“I’m not sure,” Ren said. “But they say it’s to help them prevent another Kamoshida-like incident.”

Ann seemed distrustful. “I want to believe that, but…”

“Yeah…” Ren agreed. “Still, even if they are being honest, it is better not to tell the truth about the whole Phantom Thieves thing.”

“Right,” Ann agreed. Almost immediately afterwards, they got a message.

Yusuke: Can we meet up?

Jose: Yusuke…

Sumire: What for?

Yusuke: I’m just frustrated is all.

Yusuke: Dorm life isn’t turning out like I’d hope it would.

Ryuji: I get it. Ya need to blow off some steam.

Ann: Come to think of it, we haven’t had an initiation party for Yusuke yet.

Ann: Or really, Sumire and Jose.

Jose: We went to that diner.

Ryuji: Yeah, but that was more to hammer out the details of us going forward.

Ryuji: We need to really celebrate you joining the team.

Sumire: I see.

Ren: As much as I would love to, I’m afraid I’d get recognized wherever I go.

Yusuke: Ah, yes, I did see the interview.

Yuuke: You did wonderful, by the way.

Jose: Yeah, it’s all everyone talks about here at Kosei.

Ren: Ughhhhhhhhh.

Jose: Something the matter?

Ann: Ren-chan’s not a fan of the attention.

Ren: I’m not used to it.

Ryuji: Well, I mean, I guess it wouldn’t be much of a celebration, but how about we just head to your place?

Ren: That’s fine, I guess.

Ren: Come to think of it, I do have a hot pot in my room.

Yusuke: Hot pot, you say?

Yusuke: It’s settled then.

Ryuji: ...Someone’s excited.

Ann: We’ll meet up at Station Square after school, OK?

Sumire: OK!

Yusuke: Works for me!

Ryuji: Alright.

Jose: OK!

Ren: Very well then.

They put their phones away.

As they were heading out, Hiroki met up with Ren and Ann. “Hi, um, Ann.”

“...Hello?” Ann said, taken aback.

“If it’s alright with you, would you mind coming with me to the student council room?” Hiroki invited.

“Ummmm, OK?” Ann said, still confused.

Ren giggled slightly. “Don’t worry, Hiroki here doesn’t bite.”

“Of course,” Hiroki said, grinning like an idiot.

Ann laughed. “OK, OK.” The two left. Ren took out her phone.

Ren: It’s gonna be a bit.

Ryuji: Why’s that?

Ren: A student council member is interviewing her.

Ryuji: WHAT?!

Sumire: Oh yeah.

Sumire: I should have told you. They’re interviewing people about Kamoshida.

Ryuji: Why?

Ren: They say it’s to prevent another Kamoshida from happening.

Ryuji: And you believe that?!

Ren: Well, so long as we keep quiet about us being the Phantom Thieves, there’s no harm in humoring them, right?

Ryuji: I guess…?

Yusuke: I agree. If they are noble, then this is fine. And if they aren’t, you can push them toward nobility.

Sumire: Right. I guess.

Ren: It shouldn’t take too long.

Meanwhile, Hiroki and Ann entered the student council room, each taking a seat. “So, um, do you know why we’re here?”

Ann nodded. “Ren told me you’re asking people about Kamoshida.”

Hiroki smiled. “Very well. Do you feel comfortable talking about him?”

Ann fidgets. “I’m not sure, but I guess I’ll go for it, if this is to help you prevent another Kamoshida.” Hiroki nodded. Ann was still a little hesitant. “Ever since coming to this school, Kamoshida has been a shadow lurking at every turn. As head of track and volleyball, he had dominion over my two best friends. He manipulated them to get us to split up. He also approached me several times pretending to be innocent. But I’m a model, and I could tell what he wanted right away. I kept brushing him off, but he kept insisting. Eventually, he tried using my friends to get what he wanted from me.”

Hiroki sighed. “I've heard a lot of similar stories from people today, and yet it never fails to send chills down my spine.”

Ann was surprised. “Huh.”

“Anyways, continue,” Hiroki instructed.

Ann nodded. “I didn’t know what to do. I was perpetually stuck between a rock and hard place. I didn’t think the school was going to do anything about Kamoshida, so I kept trying to delay what I thought was inevitable.” Ann smiled. “But then one day, Kamoshida invited me into his car, and another girl came along with. I was frightened by this, but soon we became close friends. However, Kamoshida called her into his office, and I was at my wit's end.”

“So, what did you do?” Hiroki asked.

“I rushed over there,” Ann said. “Luckily, nothing had happened, but I was so scared that I had betrayed my new friend’s trust,” Ann started crying. “But she said it was alright. Later, she told me she came into his car to protect me. Isn’t that something?” Ann smiled. “Ever since Kamoshida entered the scene, things seemed bleak. I felt like I couldn’t do anything. My friends and I were in his grasp. But I wasn’t about to let someone else fall there too.”

“I see,” Hiroki said, jotting it down. “Did anything else happen?”

“Ummm, I’m not sure how to answer that,” Ann said. “I mean, I know the Phantom Thieves showed up sometime after that, but…”

Hiroki chuckled slightly. “I meant with you.”

“Oh, no,” Ann answered. “Not really. But after Kamoshida confessed, I felt freer than ever.”

“Hm,” Hiroki said. “Well, thank you for your time. I’m sure this wasn’t easy.”

“Yeah” Ann said. “But if it helps…”

“Right,” Hiroki said. “Speaking of, your friend Ren has some nice words about Dr. Maruki. If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, or if this opened any old wounds, I’d suggest paying him a visit.”

Ann smiled. “Yeah, she’s told me as such. And I’ve been thinking about it. I might go soon.”

“Well then, have a good rest of your day,” Hiroki said. Ann nodded and walked out.

Once she met up with Ren, Ren asked “Well, how’d it go.”

Ann was thinking about how to answer that. “About as well as you’d expect. I mean, I had been in Kamoshida’s sights for a while, so there was a lot to unpack.”

Ren frowned. “I’m sorry.” “Don’t be sorry” Ann insisted. “You’ve done so much for me. You’re basically my hero.”

Ren blushed immensely. “Thanks.”

“Anyways, we should get going,” Ann said. “We don’t want to keep them too long.”

“Right” Ren nodded. They both headed to Station Square.

Once there, they saw everyone else. “Yo” Ryuji greeted them. “How’d it go? You OK?”

Ann smiled. “Yeah. It is a lot, but I think I did OK.”

“Lady Ann…” Morgana said, popping out of Ren’s bag.

“I’m sorry” Sumire blurted. “I should have said something earlier.”

The three other Shujin students were taken aback. “It’s OK,” Ren said, trying to calm her.

“Yeah, Kamoshida’s A LOT, even with a proper warning” Ryuji stated.

“Yeah. Don’t beat yourself up over it” Ann said. “Really, it’s fine.”

Sumire smiled. “Oh. Right. Speaking of warnings, had I known Akechi was going to be the interviewee, or that you were going to the TV studio at all, I might have told you about him.”

Ren smiled. “That’s fine,” she said. “I like charging into things head first sometimes.”

Sumire smiled back. “I can see why Akechi found you so engaging.”

Ann also smiled. “But you know who else we met?”

Sumire became inquizitive. “Who?”

“Your dad,” Ann answered.

“That’s right,” Ryuji said. “He thanked us for being your friend, and wanted us to thank Jose and Yusuke as well.”

Sumire was embarrassed. “R-Really?!”

“He actually talked to me twice,” Ren said.

This surprised Ann and Ryuji. “When was the second time?” Ryuji asked.

“After the interview,” Ren replied. “When you two left, Akechi came up to me with an offer of friendship. He came up to us and we had a little chat.”

“And you said ‘no’, right?” Ryuji asked. “To being friends with Akechi.”

“I actually said ‘yes’” Ren informed him.

“WHAT?!” Ryuji reacted.

“Well, he seemed nice enough,” Ren said. “Besides, he’s not totally against us, just if we abuse our power, which we won’t.”

“I think that makes sense,” Jose said. “It’s more of a fear than an outrage.”

“Fear, huh” Ryuji reflected. He stared at the dirt.

“What’s wrong?” Yusuke asked.

Ryuji looked up. “N-Nuthin’.”

“It’s OK, we’re all friends here” Ren said, assuring him.

Ryuji looked at her. “Not here. We’re too public.”

“I see,” Ren said. “Well, shall we head over.”

“Of course!” Yusuke said. “I cannot wait for this hot pot!” The gang started walking over to Leblanc. “By the way Ann,” Yusuke began. Ann looked at him. “If I decide to leave the dorms, would it be OK to live with you?”

Ann, Ryuji, and Morgana panicked. Ann blushed. “Of course not!”

“Huh?” Yusuke said, surprised.

Ren seemed a tad confused. “I’m not sure he’s the type to do what you’re thinking.”

“Well, maybe, I guess…” Ann trailed off. “But it would be a bit awkward. I mean, there would be times when it would be just the two of us.”

“Yeah…” Ryuji added.

“Oh. I didn’t know” Yusuke said.

“It’s fine,” Ann said.

They reached Leblanc. Yusuke looked up. “This is where you live?”

“Yup” Ren said. She opened the door.

Sojiro turned around. “Huh. I wasn’t expecting you back so soon.”

“I’m just bringing some friends over,” Ren explained. “Is that OK?”

One by one, everyone started walking in. Yusuke stepped in and took a considerable look around. “Ah, you have a new guy with you,” Sojiro noted.

“Yup” Jose said. “He’s my senpai at Kosei. He’s been feeling a bit anxious, so we thought some time amongst friends would be helpful.”

“Ah. Where are my manners?” Yusuke said. “My name is Yusuke Kitagawa.”

“I see,” Sojiro said. He saw Yusuke looking around. “My name’s Sojiro but you can call me ‘Boss’ If you’d like. So, anything strike your fancy?”

“Huh?” Yusuke said. “Oh, sorry. I’m just perplexed is all. I’ve never met anyone who lives in a dining establishment.

“Heh, well, it takes all kinds,” Sojiro said.

“I’ll say,” Yusuke said. He looked over to see a set of stairs. “Do you live upstairs, or does she?”

“I do,” Ren said. “Sojiro lives in a house close by.”

“Ah, I see,” Yusuke said. “...Wait…”

“Before you ask, it’s complicated,” Sojiro said. “Moreso with me than with her.”

“Thanks boss,” Ren said. “So, if you don’t mind, I noticed a hot pot upstairs. Mind if we use it?”

“That old thing?” Sojiro responded. “Go ahead. I almost forgot it was there.”

“Sweet. Thanks” Ren said. “Well, you heard the man, let’s get this set up!” The gang headed upstairs. Ren and Ryuji got the hot pot down. “Alright then. I suppose ingredients are next. I’ll go see what we have, and what we need. Does anyone have any preferences?”

“Nah!” Ryuji said. “I’m sure whatever we make will be delicious!”

“Anyone else?” Ren asked.

“I’m with Ryuji-senpai,” Sumire said.

“Well, then I guess it’s settled,” Ren said. “I’ll be right back.” Ren went downstairs.

Ryuji looked around. “What’s up?” Jose asked

Ryuji was taken off guard. “Well, it’s just, we haven’t really been up here before…”

“Yeah…” Ann realized. She also looked around. “This place is...a bit different than I expected. But like...good different?”

Sumire looked around. “It’s not traditional, but I guess it works.”

“I’ll say,” Yusuke noted. “I wonder why she doesn’t live with her father.”

“Well, that’s more her place today” Ann said.

“But didn’t he say it was more on him?” Yuske inquired.

“Oh” Ann said. “No, Sojiro isn’t her father.”

“Huh,” Yusuke noted.

Ren came back up. “OK, I’m missing a few ingredients. Who wants to come with me to get some?”

“I’ll go,” Yusuke offered. “I’d like to know more about this place you call home.”

No one was expecting quite a dramatic take on it, but they settled into it quickly. “OK, sure” Ren said. “Anyone else?”

“Nah, we’ll hold down the fort here,” Ryuji said.

“Alright then Let’s go Yusuke,” Ren said. The two of them left to grab some ingredients for the hot pot.

While in the grocery store, Yusuke asked “So, why are you living there?”

Ren turned her attention to him. “Oh yeah. I guess you wouldn’t know, would you. It might be better to explain things when we get back, since I don’t think Jose knows either.”

“I see,” Yusuke responded. “Very well. Let’s continue.” Ren and Yusue picked out some more ingredients and headed back. Once upstairs, Yusuke declared “Alright! Let’s make some hot pot!”

The gang began making hot pot. Ren took charge since it was her room and Sojiro’s pot. She wanted to be careful, while listening to the group to get some good input. Once they finished, they began serving it.

“MMMMMMMM” Ann deighted. “This is SOOOO GOOOOD!”

“Indeed,” Yusuke said. This is DELICIOUS!”

“Boy, I’ll say,” Ryuji said. “Maybe you should become a professional.”

Ren swallowed her latest bit of hot pot. “That might be a bad idea. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be the only cook with a record.”

“R-Record?” Yusuk said, surprised.

“Oh right, Yusuke doesn’t know,” Ann said.

“Yeah” Ren said, “but I did promise to tell him.” Ren smiled. “So, basically, what happened was one night in my hometown, some guy was trying to force this woman into his car. I decided to try and stop it, but he fell down and had me arrested for assault.”

Yusuke was incensed. “Surely the woman would have said something.”

Ren shook her head. “The guy had immense sway. He even had the police leave his name out of the report. Once I got out on probation, my parents thought that with my already turbulent school life, things might become too much, and so they arranged for me to stay here.”

Yusuke was stunned. “Huh.”

“To be honest, we’re all kind of like that, at least a little,” Sumire noted. “I mean, you already know about my trauma, and we all know yours.”

“I suppose that’s true,” Yusuke said.

“Yeah” Ryuji said. “We’re all just a bunch of misfits here. I think that’s what makes us good thieves.” Ryuji looked at the floor.

“Ryuji?” Ann asked.

“Ah, right,” Ryuji said, refocusing. “I was just thinking about what Jose said earlier. About how that Akechi guy might be motivated by a fear of us. I’m just… My mom practically lived in fear of my dad until the day he left. She’s still kind of afraid of him. Not that she’d ever tell me. But I see it.” Ryuji looked at his hands. “I get why someone might be afraid of what we do, but I don’t want people to fear us. I don’t want to use what we have to scare people.”

Everyone went a little silent. Yusuke then spoke up. “As someone who also lived by fear, I can assure you, what we do is different. The people we are fighting are more about using fear to get what they want. When we reject their scare tactics, we are ripping off their mask to reveal the pathetic people they really are.”

Everyone was stunned. “Woah!” Ryuji said.

Ann smiled. “Well, so long as we’re talking about this sort of thing…”

“You too?” Yusuke said, surprised.

“Well, I don’t have anything quite so extreme,” Ann explained, “but… I dunno. I’ve always felt out of place. People only see me for my looks most of the time, so they think that’s who I really am.”

“Ah! I’m sorry” Yusuke said, bowing.

“...Uh, what for?” Ann asked.

“When I asked to paint you,” Yusuke said. “At the time, I didn’t know much about you, but I was taken in with your look and your energy. Forgive me.”

Ann smiled. “You’re fine. In fact, you’re a lot better than a lot of other people. A lot of the time, they don’t think to ask me what I feel, or care what I think like you did, they just want me as they see me, without any input from me.”

“Oh” Yusuke said. “That sounds difficult.”

“Yeah” Ann said. She smiled. “However, after finding people like you all, I finally feel better and more confident about what I want, and putting a voice to that confidence.”

“Way to go Ann” Jose said.

Yusuke looked at Jose. “So, what about you?”

Jose smiled. “Well, I don’t really have much.”

Morgana joined in. “Yeah, Jose and I are kind of in the same boat.”

“How come?” Yusuke asked.

“Well, Mr. Morgana and I aren’t originally from this world” Jose explained.

“Right…” Yusuke said. “I remember now. You did explain that.”

“I’m here as an assistant to Ren, and Jose was exploring Mementos until some shadows raided him” Morgana reiterated.

“So, we’re both looking at humanity from the outside in,” Jose continued. “I’ve been tasked with learning about humans, and the Phantom Thieves have been helping me.”

I see” Yusuke said. “Hm. Delightful.”

“Huh?” Ann asked.

‘Forgive me,” Yusuke continued. “I was being selfish. At the first sign of trouble with dorm life, I intended to turn tail and run. But hearing your stories made me change my mind. I felt so alone in my torment from Madarame that I forgot other people have hardships too. So, to follow your example, I need to face things head on, instead of running from them. Besides, I doubt the dorms will be as bad as Madarame.”

“Yusuke…” Ann said.

Ren smiled and clapped. Everyone who could clapped too. “Great job Yusuke.”

“Huh?” Yusuke said, confused.

“You’re taking your first step into the real world. I know it can be hard, but we’ll be with you every step of the way” Ren continued.

Yusuke was stunned, then smiled. “I see. Thank you.” The group continued eating.

Fool-The Phantom Thieves: Rank 4

They spent some more time together, but pretty much once the pot was empty, everyone started heading home.

As Ren was just getting ready for bed, Ann messaged her.

Ann: Hey.

Ann: I know I’m not the one who determines these things,

Ann: but I remember at our last celebration you told Ryuji, Morgana, and I that you were a lesbian.

Ann: Why not this time?

Ren smiled and blushed ever so slightly.

Ren: It’s not that I don’t want to.

Ren: There’s just another compilation.

Ann: Complication?

Ann: What do you mean?

Ren: ...Sumire…

There was a minute of no response.

Ann: Oh. OH. Huh.

Ann: Well, I hope you can tell her one day.

Ren: I hope so too.

Ren: I’m just...very afraid.

Ann: I don’t think she’d hate you or anything.

Ren: Right.

Ren: Still…

Ann: Yeah, I doubt any of this is easy.

Ann: But you know I’m always there for you.

Ren: Yeah. Thanks.

Ann: Any time.

Ren smiled, put her phone down, and fell asleep.

The next morning, she got up, and headed downstairs for breakfast when she noticed something new. The original “Sayuri”, the one they stole from Madarame’s palace, hanging up in Leblanc. “You like?” Sojiro said. “That Yusuke boy came by this morning and asked if he could hang it up here. I asked him if he really wanted to. He seemed dead set on the idea. Honestly, that kid marches to the beat of his own drum. But then again, look who I’m talking to.”

“I see,” Ren said. She smiled.

“He also gave me this message for you,” Sojiro said, handing her a piece of paper.

Ren took it and began reading. “Ren, Thank you for yesterday. It really helped me put things into perspective. I wish to continue serving the Phantom Thieves, and yesterday really gave me the chance to truly understand what that means. I will not run away or back down. I will face these challenges head on.

As for the painting, the legacy of the ‘Sayuri’ is pretty much tainted. However, it is such a beautiful and masterful piece of art on its own that I cannot let it go to waste. It then hit me: You and the ‘Sayuri’ are similar in this way. You’ve both lost your place to belong. So I decided to emulate you and place it here, so that it can gain a new home, and hopefully a new purpose. I hope you and the Boss take good care of it. -Yusuke”

As Ren read it, she wiped a tear forming in her eyes. “Thank you. I needed that perspective too.” Sojiro just looked on, smiled, and whipped her up a cup of coffee.

Meanwhile, Yusuke was looking at the picture he had taken of the “Sayuri” in Leblanc. He eventually decided to send it to Kosuke. When Kosuke got it, he smiled and said “Right where it belongs.”

[lokiarsene]

goro akechi having two (2) distinct rebel attires and two (2) “true” persona that awakened to an amalgamation third is accidentally symbolic of several defining traits of borderline personality disorder, namely:

a disturbed and disjointed sense of identity

distorted self-image

self-destructive behaviors

unstable and chaotic interpersonal relationships

the disturbed sense of identity and distorted self-image are shown in the dramatic contrast between the black mask garb and the robin hood garb. the robin hood attire is the hero he wanted to be as a child:

When I was a kid, I bought a toy gun just like this. Back then, I thought I wanted to be a hero. But now I think there’s many different ways to be a hero (lit., there are various stances [to take] even if I say “hero.”) For example, having a sense of justice that isn’t accepted or even understood by other people. But how I act and think are the sort of things required of me because I am a hero. (Source)

the “sense of justice that isn’t understood by others” is the kind of hero that his black mask self represents. it is the justice of someone seeking righteous revenge, the justice of someone who has suffered, who was wronged, and who is coming back for vengeance. but robin hood’s sense of justice is closer to akechi’s childhood ideal: the justice of someone who avenges the wronged, the mistreated; the justice of someone who speaks truth to power, takes away from that power, and gives it back to their victims.

do you see the difference? black mask!justice is revenge, an act that only benefits one person (the one getting vengeance). robin hood!justice is an act of revenge that benefits many people. both of these things are acts of justice, it’s just that one is more widely approved by others (hint hint, robin hood), and the other is seen as dangerous, illegal and even “immoral.” people will point at black mask!justice and say, “two wrongs don’t make a right,” but that glosses over the anger and the pain of the person who wants to avenge being wronged in the first place. not to mention that robin hood!justice can only happen if there is more than one person who will benefit from the revenge.

but what if you’re alone? what if you don’t have anyone to fight for, or with? what if you are isolated, shunned, unloved? to the point, what if you are goro akechi, a wild card persona wielder--the only type of persona wielder who is defined by bonds with others.

i think this gets accidentally glossed over by people, even akechi fans. wild card persona users need to have others around to bond with in order to understand themselves, get stronger as people, and then get stronger as persona wielders. akechi doesn’t have anyone. he has no one to fight for but himself--

--until ren comes along. ren, his equal, his rival; ren, the boy who will never back down from a challenge, who is glad to spend time with akechi no matter what the reason; ren, the boy who takes akechi at his word, no matter what akechi says, thus making akechi even more paranoid about what he lets slip out because of the double life he’s living; ren, the boy he confides in about his painful past, a past he hasn’t told anyone, a past he is certain will get him shunned even by those who pretend to love him; ren, the boy that akechi asks flat out to join him, side with him, casting aside his friends; ren, the only boy he invites to his “favorite place”; ren, the boy he gives his glove to as proof of a rematch, proof of meeting again, proof to always come back for one more round, one more duel, one more meeting.

and finally, akechi has someone else to fight for. finally, akechi has a way of making his childhood ideal of a hero--robin hood--come true.

and this is where the borderline traits of “chaotic interpersonal relationships” and “self-destructive behaviors” come in. because this person akechi can fight for? this one person who understands akechi, accepts him, wants him, cares about him? this boy who would damn all his friends to the lie of a dream world if it means he and akechi can spend more time together? that’s the same boy akechi is told to target. the same boy akechi is told to kill. the same boy akechi has to keep an eye on, not just as part of shido’s plot, but because akechi, y’know, is a detective. and fights crime.

the only person in akechi’s life who has made that life less lonely, who has made that life exciting and interesting--the one person who has made his life feel more like the life he wanted it to be--is the same person akechi cannot have or be with. the only way akechi can express any interest in staying with ren is by layering it in playfully aggressive banter, except for the times it slips out unawares and he always backpedals with an apology. seriously, read any of the conversations i’ve translated from his confidant and count how many times akechi will cut himself off and go, “oops, was that weird?” “oh, did i say too much?”

so when akechi awakens to hereward--at leblanc, by the by, which is further proof that leblanc is like home to him, since all the PT awaken to their third tier Persona either in their homes, or the place they feel at home--this is the unification of his fractured selves. it’s combining black mask!justice--revenge for yourself--with the robin hood!justice--fighting for someone, fighting to protect the weak or the innocent, fighting to steal power back from the tyrants in charge. the real hereward not only rebelled against his tyrannical father, but joined a rebel faction to fight against the normandy invasion of england. he fought for himself and for others.

and ren showed him he could do that. ren accepting him, loving him, choosing him again and again; ren keeping their promise to always fight for the truth, to refuse to give in to the demands of those in power, no matter how that power might tempt you. ren saw these two halves of akechi--the one that wanted revenge, the one what was desperate to fight for justice--and basically said, “you don’t have to choose one over the other. you can be both.”

all of ren’s decisions in the third semester are a lot like what the PT do when they infiltrate a palace. they are targeting a cognitive distortion, weakening it to allow it to “heal”/reform, and then sit back as the person’s brain does the rest of the work. only instead of weakening akechi--who is already in an incredibly precarious mental state--ren has steadily been getting to know bits and pieces of akechi’s distortions over a period of several months. he’s responding to them, embracing them, reaching out to them, and also opening himself up to akechi in turn. the culmination of that--the “final confrontation” that can allow akechi to fully heal and achieve a balance--is when ren tells akechi he will not back down from their deal, when ren tells akechi he knows they’re partners.

and you know what that is? that’s ren targeting the last known distortion in akechi’s heart: how desperately he wanted people to need him. how desperately he wanted people to want him. ren saying that he’ll fight maruki, no matter what maruki told him, is a relief to akechi--because it means that ren values their promise more than anything else.

for extra angsty goodness, if ren tries to protest that he’s afraid of what will happen to akechi, and akechi counters that his life is just a “little thing” and doesn’t matter, ren can flat out say “it’s not a little thing/it does matter.”

to which akechi responds: “That’s exactly what it is! Do you think I’d be happy with you feeling sorry for me? I don’t need your pity, and I don’t need that kind of hesitation!”

... which means he’s saying “do you think i want you to say yes to this world only because you’re afraid of what will happen to me?”

akechi wants ren to choose reality--to choose the truth, to choose to fight for what they believe in--no matter what the cost of that reality might be. akechi wants ren to value their promise in an uncertain world more than a safe lie in a false world.

by giving ren his glove as a promise for a rematch right before akechi betrays the PT and “kills” ren, akechi is basically saying he promises to both give ren a chance to find him and to find ren again, no matter what. when ren chooses to fight maruki, destroy the dream world, and return to their reality--a reality where akechi’s fate is still uncertain--he’s saying that he values their promise more than anything else, because that promise is stronger than his fear. that promise is their ray of hope. that promise is their light--our light. by holding onto that glove, and the promise, ren and akechi are absolutely destined and certain to meet again, because they kept their promise.

[it-will-not-last-the-night]

PQ2 - End

As I did expect; making sure I was able to comfortably beat the Velvet Rangers first did mean Enlil, though visually impressive, wasn’t a difficult fight. I simply equipped Ryuji with the Omnipotent Orb and had him All Guard every turn and this left Enlil unable to do anything whilst the Joker, Mitsuru, Chie and Ann wailed on them.

The ending was honestly good though, very emotional, heart-tugging, I honestly haven’t had this much fun finishing a game since J.J. Macfield and the Island of the Missing. 

PQ2 is honestly a gem I feel. Beyond fun mechanics that I found easy to get back into even after long gaps, it balances the character development of an enormous cast very successfully, with only some issues.

Even though I knew nothing of P3 or P4 the game conveys their characters in a way I found enjoyable and easy to sink into, and that is really no small feat considering that the cast is, honestly, just insanely large by the end. 

I enjoyed Enlil as an antagonist for the most part, though they could definitely have used a little more substance in the plot, but this game, overall, was less focused on it’s villain and more on it’s protagonist, and that’s fine.

To that end Hikari: the game is honestly the story of her character development and I loved her. It’s a pity we don’t see much of her in the fandom, because I honestly adore Hikari and find her enchanting and relatable in a number of ways.

Her farewell to the friends she made at the finale of the game was genuinely touching.

In general the farewells at the end are emotional, and I enjoyed them all, event he little nod to Akechi’s own mixed feelings, clearly dealing with something, as he is the most hesitant of the Phantom Thieves to finally exit the theatre after they have learned they will forget everything once they are outside. A nice touch!

Of course, because it is me, I do wish to gush briefly about Ryuji: OH MY GOSH I love his dynamic with Hikari? But, also, I just love him in this game? He comes across in PQ2 as if he has matured from his incarnation in the vanilla game. Not only is he the character, along with Futaba, who spends the most time supporting and speaking with Hikari, but even in the ending when most of the Thieves all express varying degrees of excitement or forced enthusiasm about returning home, Ryuji is the one who most noticeably feels sad about the whole affair, expressing how he suddenly misses everything they’d gone through.

On the note of Ryuji and Hikari’s bond: I had thought it mostly just an accidental outgrowth of Ryuji’s common role as an externalization of Joker’s words, but when I watch the ending perhaps it is more intentional than I thought. Noticeably Futaba and Ryuji deliver the closing lines to Hikari, Ryuji is the one who, as she tears up, tells her to remember to keep her promise to invite them to see her movies and in the post-credits scene Ryuji is the character who feels they NEED to see her movie when they find a flyer for it, going so far as to clutch at his head because he, without knowing why, just knows he HAS to go do this. Furthermore, the cutscene as Hikari says her final goodbye and leaves, is framed around a small group of characters: Ryuji, Futaba, P3FemPC, Yukari, Mitsuru and Morgana. Among those Ryuji, Futaba and P3FemPC are the characters with the largest interaction with Hikari throughout the game, and I honestly have adored those four together.

I honestly have no idea why I am typing this, the game is dated and I believe interest in it limited, but I’d recommend any fan of Persona who hasn’t given it a try to do so, if only because the story and characters are honestly well executed, better in many ways than Vanilla.

To be frank; whilst Vanilla has moments that legitimately make me depressed, the scene in Shinjuku and the scene after Shido’s Ship, even at it’s worst PQ2 never has it’s characters be that mean to each other. Even when they jibe or insult they never cross a line to abusing or accosting, and they never all single out one character to relentlessly, constantly, deride.

A breath of fresh air really!

Anyway; I loved the game, I had fun, now I guess I wait for Scramble to become available, and I hope we get to see more of the P5 cast still in future (ALSO ATLUS JUST LET ME HOOK THE PT’S UP WITH EACH OTHER OR DATE THE BOYS PLEASE I WANT TO GIVE THEM LOVE TOO THEY DESERVE IT).

For fun below the divide I’m just gonna mention the relationships, romantic or platonic I’m not going to bother much with a distinction, I really have come to like following this game even though, I am sure, they are all crack.

Enjoy:

Chie/Yukiko: Whether best friends or girlfriends no pair of characters in the P4 cast seemed to, from the outset, come across as obviously as if they are close. The two seem to complement each other well, know each other well and play off each other well and are always delightful and entertaining to watch.

Mitsuru/Junpei: I talked about this one before; I just honestly loved their Ticket and found it endearing how both, in their interactions with each other, were almost Tsundere-ish in admitting to private desires to get along, and take care of each other dearly, but struggling to break through the shell of the other to confess this. 

Ryuji/Hikari: Talked about this one at massive length already; suffice to say I honestly loved their interactions so much and, along with Ryuji’s interactions with Sophia I have seen now in Scramble, Ryuji radiates enormous, powerful, Big Brother/Father energy. Which I think is great? What better arc for Ryuji than, a person who’s life is overshadowed by his awful father, to turn out to be a wonderful father himself.

Yusuke/Yukiko: These two just get each other. Honestly they just click. They tune in to the same cosmic wavelength and leave everyone confused as they naturally just synch up. It is a pity as the game enters its later stages we see less of them, in the early game they are a treat.

Ken/Akechi: Ken and Akechi just are perfect, wonderful, foils to each other and it’s almost a pity the game can’t actually go the full way with it because Akechi’s secret can’t come out. This leaves it as a tease, the suggestion, of what could be, but that’s still plenty good. I also find it always interesting to see Ryuji and Akechi, two boys heavily formed by an abusive father, both in their own explicit words state outright they relate themselves to Ken in some way. With Akechi, because he is so good at wearing masks, I wonder how true it is when he relates himself to Ken, it’d be interesting to know if this is one of his lies to maintain his façade, or a bit of his true self creeping out as it often does. 

Joker/Junpei: I don’t know why I like these two? But Joker comes across as really fond and supportive of him with his consistent chances to shout out “Junpei! Master Detective!”

Yukari/Junpei: As I said in my head I go back-and-forth whether this would be endearing or a toxic hate-love relationship. There’s no denying, though, that these two interact more with each other than anyone else in the P3 cast, they’re the Yukiko/Chie in that sense, if Yukiko/Chie consisted of a lot of barbs and harsh words. We actually get a glimpse of what, I feel, is a healthier dynamic for the two in P3FemPC’s world in the epilogue, where Yukari is still barbed but rather than deflating Junpei ripostes back, this automatically makes it seem less mean-spirited heckling and more two people, comfortable with each other, bantering.

Futaba/Hikari: This one is the obvious choice since the game is obviously going out of it’s way to make this an important relationship. Futaba sees herself in Hikari and appoints herself like an older sister to help her. It is adorable and amazing character development as the socially reclusive and shy Futaba clearly forces herself out of her comfort zone to prove to Hikari that she can change and that she is not a lost cause. Along with Hikari it is, perhaps, Futaba who is the true MVP of this entire game. 

Futaba/P3FemPC: Futaba gets some lovely Sister-like sequences with the incredibly fun and social P3FemPC, who Futaba is clearly in awe of. It is a pity that these really only happen in the early game, I’d love for them to continue, but P3FemPC as the big, fun, sister figure of Futaba is fun.

Ryuji/Yukiko: This one is just because the ending of Haru and Yukiko’s ticket has one of the funniest bit ever when Haru and Yukiko decide they want to ‘play’ with Ryuji and Yosuke. Yukiko’s ‘Will you devote all of your being to the name of the Amagi Family?’ is wonderful and I can just imagine Ryuji’s reaction to such a frank proposition. 

Mitsuru/P3FemPC: This one was actually surprising to me but Mitsuru really has something of an almost maternal instinct for P3FemPC. She seeks to console her and let her know she is valued, even if Mitsuru is poor at expressions of affection, as seen in Junpei’s case as well. In many ways it strikes me as a more sympathetic Sae/Makoto. Mitsuru clearly cares for the P3FemPC and is aware of her disconsolate feelings, but struggles to find the words to comfort her, but doesn’t let that stop her trying. 

[i-demand-a-hug]

Some texting headcanons for Akechi:

-He’s the type to read a message and not respond unless he has something to say or it’s really important. But also he’s busy a lot, so for people who message him regularly it’s a constant guessing game of whether he didn’t respond because he’s working, or if he didn’t think it was worth his time.

-And yet, when Akechi’s the one messaging someone first he gets huffy if they take too long or don’t respond at all.

-His texts are concise and to the point, unless he has the opportunity to show off how smart he is. Then it’s a block of text with rapid-fire additions. You may even catch a rare typo or two if he was really excited.

-He saves emojis for his food blog or his instagram, but you don’t often see him use them for texting (the exception here is responding to fan mail, since he’s got that friendly image going on). However, he does use smiley face emojis in a passive aggressive manner when he’s annoyed with people, or when he’s sharing ‘fun’ morbid facts.

[recentanimenews]

INTERVIEW: Persona 5 Royal Dub Actors Laura Post & Billy Kametz Steal Our Hearts

  Ahead of Persona 5 Royal’s release in the West, SEGA/Atlus threw an impressive event to hype up the release of the game. While I was there, I had a chance to sit down with Laura Post, who plays Kasumi, and Billy Kametz, who plays Maruki. Fans of THE PROMISED NEVERLAND’s dub will likely recognize Laura Post as Mama, and The Rising of the Shield Hero fans likely recognize Billy as the voice of Naofumi! No need to worry about the game's spoilers; we focused on the start of their voice acting journey and which RPGs are their faves. Read on to get the details, and then afterwards, check out our brief interview with Ari Advincula from SEGA/Atlus!

    Hello, and thank you for taking the time to talk with me today! Could you introduce yourselves for our readers?

Laura: I am Laura post, and I am the voice of Kasumi in Persona 5 Royal.

Billy: And I’m Billy Kametz, and I’m voicing Maruki in Persona 5 Royal.

So, Persona 5 Royal is almost here!

(Everyone cheers and rejoices!)

Could you tell us a bit about the characters you both play in Persona 5 Royal?

Laura: Kasumi is a transfer student to Shujin Academy, just like the protagonist, and she comes in right around the same time as the protagonist. She aspires to be a world-class gymnast. She’s really kind, very polite and passionate, and driven!

Billy: Maruki is the new school counselor brought in after the events that took place in Chapter 1 of the game. He’s a big ‘ol lovable goofball! He’s trying to fit in, he doesn’t do the best job all the time, but he just wants to talk about your feelings! (laughs)

Were either of you fans of Persona, or RPGs before working on this game? Do you have any particular favorites?

Laura: I like RPGs in general; Final Fantasy VIII is my favorite RPG of all time! But Persona 5 is a game I started playing before I played the role of Kasumi;  it was the first Persona game I’ve played, so it’s by default my favorite. Though I do know a lot about Persona 4, I’ve never actually played it.

Bill: It’s the same for me; I was actually introduced to the Persona series when 5 came out, and I grew to be a fan of that, so it’s also my favorite Persona game. I was a big fan of JRPGs growing up; Final Fantasy X is probably my favorite, and also, I’m a HUGE fan of the Tales games, so Tales of Symphonia is up there for me. Really good stuff! Love me some JPRGs!

All of those games are excellent! Tales of Symphonia? My favorite one; that’s my jam!

Billy: I knew I liked you for a reason!

(laughs) Why, thank you!

Alright, so how did you two get your start in voice acting? What drew you to that profession?

Laura: I have been interested in voice over since I was a kid. I realized that the same actor played Raphael from the Ninja Turtles and Mighty Max! I was sold on that profession for life, but I was so little, so I didn’t pursue voice overs until I was a teenager and I went to my first anime convention; there were a bunch of panels on voice overs and I was like, “That’s what I wanted to do when I was a little kid! I’m gonna go to all the panels, I’m gonna take notes, and I’m gonna try this out!” And right now I’m still trying it out!

Billy: You’re doing a great job!

Laura: Thanks! I’m glad you think so!

Billy: We actually have very similar stories! I’ve been wanting to be a voice actor ever since I was a kid, too. When I was watching Invader Zim, that’s when I realized “OhmyGOD, that’s Daggett Beaver! This is a job?! People are doing this and I wanna do that!” But also, I was a kid living in Pennsylvania, so I was like “okay, I guess I’ll just do theatre, that’s acting; this is doable.” So I did theatre for years, but it wasn’t until I got a job that brought me up to California, and I was like “ohmygosh, I can try to do voice overs now!”, so I started inhaling classes as soon as I got out here. And I’ve gotten to do some pretty cool stuff after all of that!

Both of you have done anime and game roles. Do you find one to be easier than the other?

Billy: Yes!

Laura: Yes, although I think our answers are going to be different here! (laugh) I actually find video games to be easier than anime, because you don’t have to worry about matching lip flaps most of the time. But it’s not a matter of “easier," it’s just a matter of “different.” I can’t say, “Oh, I prefer doing games over anime because it’s easier,” because I also really love doing anime, it’s just about the different experiences. I mean, doing original animation for broadcast is a totally different experience than either games or anime, so all of it is fun!

Billy: Yeah, I find that anime is easier for me; again, neither of them are easier, but with anime, you can hear the music, you can see the picture, you can hear what the Japanese voice actor is doing, and it immediately puts you in character of “okay, this is what I’m gonna do!” You get to practice the line one time through it so you’re right on track. But with video games, it’s a lot more work on your end; you need to make up exactly what’s going on in the scene, and again, you’ll have the director and the clients are there to kinda help you along, but you gotta really do more work of getting pictures in your head of “This is how far away I am from the person,” and “This is the tone that’s going on right now.” So it’s a little bit harder, I think, but it’s super rewarding when you’re done, and you’re like, “Man, I really accomplished something today!”

To wrap this up, I gotta ask: do either of you have a dream character you’d love to lend your voice to?

Billy and Laura: Oooohhhh…!

Laura: I do!

Let’s hear it!

Laura: I would love to play Barbara Gordon, whether she’s Batgirl, Oracle, or just the commissioner’s daughter, I don’t care, I just really want to play her just once! I know Kasumi’s a redhead, but Barbara Gordon is also my favorite redhead. I love her! I wanna play her just once!

What about you, Billy?

Billy: ...Anyone who ends up in Super Smash Bros.! (laughs) I just want to be a playable Smash character! (laughs)

An admirable goal! Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me today! Do you have a message for our readers before we wrap up?

Billy: I’m super excited for everyone to check out Persona 5 Royal on March 31st, and I hope you all like the new characters. Really proud of this, and we hope you enjoy it.

Laura: Yes, I agree, I hope Kasumi is everybody’s new best girl! (laughs)

After finishing my chat with Laura and Billy, I got a chance to sit down with Ari Advincula, the communications manager for SEGA/Atlus. We were both pretty excited from trying out the playable demo of the game and all of the other activities going on at the event, so we focused on all the new goodies to come from Persona 5 Royal, and I even got to ask her the most challenging question ever right at the end!

  Could you detail a bit about what players can expect from Persona 5 Royal?

So Persona 5 Royal is a whole new Persona experience. It’s a whole new “heist”, as the Phantom Thieves would say! And I think what’s been really fun about working on this game and everyone else who’s been working on the game is how much everyone's like, “I love the original Persona 5, but I love Persona 5 Royal even MORE!” And for me, personally, when I went through Persona 5, Akechi was definitely one of my favorites, and to see that character be fleshed out to the point that I wanted to see as a fan in Persona 5 Royal. I mean, besides that, there’s so many situations that you’re gonna see all the original cast be in that gives you even more about their story and their journey as Phantom Thieves. I know there was one criticism that was like “there wasn’t enough screen time for some of the characters,” but now there’s even more content, and there’s even more time to spend with this awesome cast of characters. I mean, who doesn’t want to go back to the metaverse and conquer all those palaces again?! I just think it’s such a great window for people who are new to Persona 5 and for people who have already loved and played Persona 5 before, like the Sega team working on it!

Definitely! I’ve always found it interesting that ever since Persona 3, there’s been a Persona 3 FES, and then Persona 4 to Persona 4 Golden; I really like this concept of going back and revisiting the game’s world, but with way more added into it. 

Right! And Persona 3 also had P3P! What it is, especially for Hashino-san, the director behind Persona 5, this is the extended vision, the truly “golden vision” for Persona 5, as we like to say. It’s the perfect time to become a Phantom Thief and relive that world, and also get the full extent of that world, and there’s even MORE to come! I mean, there’s a GRAPPLING HOOK, that allows you to be more Phantom Thieve-y! If you’ve ever played any of the Sly Cooper games, you’ll be all “This is my jam! This is so awesome!” It really gives it that “thief” feeling to it. Along with that, there’s a new palace, there are new characters, Kasumi and Maruki, who fit right into the Persona world, almost like they were there to begin with, because they were introduced right from the start, it’s a very fluid character development that we got.

It sounds like everything a Persona 5 fan would love wrapped in a nice package for them to open! 

Yeah, for sure! It’s incredible for Persona fans all over.

SEGA/Atlus have really been knocking it out the park lately with Persona, Yakuza, the SEGA AGES releases, and several others. Many of these have strong fan support; do you think that plays into why they’ve been received so well lately?

I 150% think so! It’s all thanks to the fans all the time. That’s even the reason why we’re doing this event; for this media event we have fan sites and community members! The way I look at it, the small little Ari who was playing Persona 3 on a PS2, that same person is the person that is here today. I can say the same for people here today who have played Persona since the first game! So it’s always because of the community, and the developers and everyone who’s worked on the games feel that way. I can’t thank everyone enough; it’s been such a joy to work on this game just because of that, too, and compared to any other community that I’ve worked with, the Persona fans are the best!

They’re one of the most passionate fans, for sure! 

  Let’s finish up with a fun question: If you had a Persona, which one would it be?

Oh my gosh... (laughs) It’s really tough for me, because with each Persona game, I start to stick with one main Persona and use that one as I go on throughout the game. I have to be really corny and say Jack Frost, just because he’s super cute.

YES!! He’s adorable!!

He’s SO adorable! I remember at AX 2017 being the first one to line up at Atlus’ booth to buy the Jack Frost plushie because he’s so cute and that’s my jam! He’s Hee-Ho man! And only because it’s so iconic, I always make sure to fuse him in every Persona game, even in the Shin Megami Tensei games, if I can come across him.

The SEGA/Atlus team were a total blast to talk to; I really appreciated the time that Ari, Laura, and Billy gave me to talk about Persona 5 Royal and lots of other topics. If you’re curious about whether you should pick up Persona 5 Royal, check out Carlos’ review here, and prepare your heart to get stolen once again when the game releases later this month! 

What would YOUR Persona be? Have you ever considered becoming a voice actor? Let us know what you think in the comments! 

  ----

Nicole is a frequent wordsmith for Crunchyroll. Known for punching dudes in Yakuza games on her Twitch channel while professing her love for Majima. She also has a blog, Figuratively Speaking. Follow her on Twitter: @ellyberries

Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[ficklepilferer]

Persona 5 Royal Spoilers beneath the cut. You. have.been.warned. Also full of typos/grammar errors cause I’ve got to get dressed and be ready to go to work soon while being half-asleep.

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So, I have been at work during most of the prime streaming hours of Persona 5, with that in mind I’ve been consuming the spoilers on twitter and tumblr.

I kind of figured that the whole: everyone gets exactly what they want, ties into the sub story line of wish fulfillment/people wanting their wishes granted and that that is a ‘bad thing’. I even figured Akechi’s return would be tied into that.

However, I still hoped the narrative would not disappoint me by hammering the point home that you can’t save Goro Akechi.

I want to believe that this was done to subvert more fan comparisons between goro akechi and Tohru Adachi from the previous game. While Tohru Adachi did confess/turn himself in, I imagine that the legal system couldn’t keep him since they couldn’t prove a majority of the crimes he’s guilty of. Same with Akechi. He could repent, confess, turn himself in, but the justice system wouldn’t be able to legally punish him long term sense because most of what he did is tied to a world that 99.9% of the population doesn’t even know exists.

Now I’m most likely missing key points of the narrative, because I’ve only been able to consume this media in chunks and I don’t know a lick of Japanese. I’m dependent on translators, so I’m probably missing crucial pieces.

Saying that and acknowledging that this is gonna need revision at some point, I was excited for this game, but now I’m having second thoughts.

You see, I see my favorite media as not only a means of healthy escapism, but also a long term investment. I will always want to play Persona 4, Persona 3 PSP, the dancing games and Persona 5 if I’ve got the time to commit to it and need to be entertained. I know the story, the characters and so on, but playing through it all again still brings me comfort, it makes me happy and cry at exactly the same moments that the first time around did.

Catch me crying about these fictional people up in this club any time, any day.

With the main Persona games, unless it’s New Game Plus file; you are going to be committing  a lot of your time maxing out stats, interacting with the other characters as the MC, getting the right Personas and right combo to defeat those bosses.

You are not only giving ATLUS your money, but your time. And for content creators that 80 hours+ is doubled because you love the franchise and it’s characters/stories/concepts, etc to create fan art, gif, graphics, edits, videos, fan fiction, theories and yes, RP blogs.

Which is why being able to save Akechi, but ‘not really’, is such a pile of stinking, rotting bullshit.

Again, I get why there’s the subplot of: you can’t always get what you want, of complete and total wish fulfillment being ‘bad’. So bringing Akechi back for the finale only to destroy what’s keeping him alive, is bull shit.

While I like the new features, characters and additional time added, I love these things and still curious/excited about the game, I’m probably forever gonna be a salty little pissant consumer.

I’m a fan of ‘earn your happy ending’. And the Phantom Thieves have done that. Over. over and over again. Sacrifices are made throughout the game in order for them to pursue their ideals. Akechi does not have to be one those sacrificial lambs in order to make the narrative interesting or compelling.

Instead of striving for twists or subverting audience expectation, how about telling a uh....good story?

ATLUS has all the building blocks at their feet, built a pretty and complex and tower, off to a good start, but as with Akechi’s demise in the original P5, they botched it. Terribly. And this time they don’t have an excuse of not having enough time.

They made a whole new game just for these characters, features and to expand Goro Akechi’s storyline.

It’s the worst kind of pandering, giving your fans what they want, hyping them for it, only to pull the rug underneath them under the guise of advancing the narrative.

A part of me wants to be very bitter about this. Like this is how you’re gonna be ATLUS, I will gladly let Kasumi be my new Marie and keep the original and my keep my $60 dollars, by acknowledging that this game was never made.

Now, I get the end where Akechi lives and gets to stay is supposedly the bad end, it’s an ‘option’ you can keep.

And you know what, I’d be tempted to keep it exactly like that. New game canon: everyone works hard and gets to be alive and happy.

Now keep in mind this is me getting not even a fifth of the story and exhaustion as the result of many hours of work + lack of sleep, so I’m more than a little emotional.

I’m just tried of media handing me something intriguing, interesting and something I can connect to and engage with only to be like: you like this thing/character/storyline/etc? Well guess what, we can’t allow this to go on. It’s too good for this world. Must destroy it because it will hurt you, the audience; the most. It will devastate you and make the overall ending bittersweet cause this one thing happened.

Not saying Goro Akechi is ‘too good for this sinful world’, not that far gone I promise you. He’s such an interesting character though. And killing him off not once, but twice; is shameful and ATLUS needs to gets it’s head out of it’s ass.

[otome0heart]

Hi! ^^ I'm glad to find another Mitsuhide fan! Since you're open to requests, I'd like to ask for some fluff/romance with the prompt "poetry". I don't mind it being in the Sengoku Period or an AU, whatever you prefer. Thank you! ♡ And Happy Birthday!

Hello Anon! (灬ºωº灬) Thanks to you for requesting something! And for your good wishes!

As you asked, here’s some Mitsuhide and poetry. It’s set in a Modern AU (I told you I was dangerous regarding that XDDD). I sincerely hope that you like it *^^*

Title: The Poetry of Love

Characters: Mitsuhide/MC

Words: 3720 (no, I don’t know how to write short stories ^^U)

Notes: There’s actual poetry scattered in the story, three poems, to be precise.

1. Kobayashi Issa, 1763 - 1827

2. Ono no Komachi, 825 - 900

3. Kitahara Hakushu, 1885 - 1942

Also, there’s a modified quote from the film “Sense and Sensibility” (1996) marked with an *

Tagging @han-pan and @otonymous, great Mitsuhide fans, like me ✿

THE POETRY OF LOVE

As part of his every day routine, Akechi Mitsuhide walked along the tall bookcases that filled the little library he worked in, his fingers sometimes brushing the spine of one of his favourite books, his eyes warming when they fell on a title which brought back memories of childhood laughter or sleepless nights under the covers, devouring pages until the hero triumphed at the end, and his heartbeat calmed down as excitement gave way to a satisfactory feeling.

He stepped out of the prose fiction narrative side, crossed the room, passing by his desk, near the main entrance, and entered the poetry section. Despite being a fan of action and historical stories, filled with samurai devoted to their code of honour, what had truly enchanted his heart, and what had made him who he was in the present, was poetry. He had loved learning by heart the little poems his teachers had taught during his lessons in kindergarten and the first years of primary school, and he remembered himself reciting them once and again as he bounced up and down the stairs of his family house, or running around in her grandmother’s traditional garden. Those were about animals and plants, and a smile found its way across his lips as they recited one in a murmur.

Splish, splash (Neko arau)

The cat washes (Zabu zabu kawa ya)      

Spring rain (Haru no ame)

That had been one of the reasons why he had studied Japanese Literature at university and why he had decided to be a librarian. He hoped that somebody else could discover how fun literature could be.

However, when he had arrived at that library, located in a little town in the center of Japan, he had discovered that his work would not probably be as enjoyable as his young self had thought it would be. It was in an old building in need of many repairs, it was disorganised and only old people and young students in need visited it. With great effort, and applying for funds to the different governments, he had renewed the furniture, sorted out the books in sections and started having small events that little by little, had attracted more people, especially children.

He sat down on the floor in an almost hidden corner at the end of the corridor where the oldest books were. It was the place he loved the most in that old building. There, he had found his solace when sometimes his efforts had not been rewarded, especially at the beginning. In those times, after closing, he prepared himself some tea in the back room and brought a cup there, picking up a random book on his way, spending hours in silence until his body started to give in to the tiredness of the day, his soul at peace and ready to face the following day with new strength.

His fingertips brushed the back of the bookcase on his left and he extracted a volume from it. It was bound in the traditional way and, opposite to the rest, it belonged to him. Opening it, he leafed through it, glancing over the numerous notes he had written across the pages until he found an envelope between them. It was a bit discoloured and rumpled after all the times he had taken the letter out and read it, but it was the most treasured thing he possessed in this world. He opened it and his eyes fell on the words that he already knew by heart.

Thinking about you, (Omoi tsutsu)

I slept and saw you (Nu re baya hito no)

In the dream. (Mie zu ram)

If I had known it’d have been dream, (Yume to shiri seba)

I wouldn’t have woken up. (Same zara mashi wo)

He read it a second time and then, put the paper back in the envelope, and this, inside the book, not wanting to risk anybody knowing that he had given his heart a long time ago to someone he was not allowed to love. He had met her a few weeks after he had arrived in the town. She was an almost seventeen-year-old high school student who had arrived there in search of a book for a project and, he could not help a smile as he closed his eyes and leant back his head on the wall, he had never seen someone so lost before. It had been so obvious that it was the first time she had stepped in that place and he had helped her as much as he had been able to in her research. She was the oldest child of the owner of a traditional restaurant he had passed a few times on his way to and back from the library but with so much work ahead of him, he had not had time to go up to that moment. Days later, she had returned with a bento for him, filled with delicacies that he had discovered she had cooked herself, as a token of gratitude, and he had taken a break to enjoy a delicious meal for the first time since he had arrived.

However, contrary to this first impression, during their conversation at lunch she proved to be intelligent, curious and with a deep thirst for knowledge. From then on, they had enjoyed little conversations about literature, animals and many other topics over tea whenever she had free time and there were no people there and sometimes, she had helped him set some of the events.

He had been really surprised when months later, on Valentine’s Day, she had given him some chocolates and a love letter. Her cheeks had been red as roses in full bloom and her shy smile beautiful and enchanting. And it had been at that precise moment that he had realised how deep in love he was with her. However, not even opening the message, and as gently as he could, he had rejected her. She was still a child and there was a whole world of wonders and experiences waiting for her. He would not be the one to steal that from her and taint her innocence. She had just nodded, trying to contain her tears and had told him with a trembling voice to keep the chocolates, since she had made them only for him.

With a heavy heart but being convinced that he had done the correct thing, he had resigned himself to having lost a true friend and a kindred soul. However, he had been extremely surprised when, a few days later, she had visited the library again. Her eyes were slightly red and puffy, and her smile a bit hesitant, but as she had told him, he was very important to her and she wanted to have him in her life even if they could not become something more.

Mitsuhide smiled. She was a truly admirable woman and he was glad that they could continue enjoying each other’s company up to the present.

“I knew I’d find you here.”

Her voice reached his ears and he smiled softly as he opened his eyes and looked at her. Five years had already passed since that fateful Valentine’s Day, and he had seen her graduate, study to be a cook and start working in her parents’ traditional restaurant, which she would run next to her brother when they retired. He still loved her, dearly, deeply. Her smile brought sunshine to the deepest and darkest corners of his soul and every time her pupils shone with excitement or concern, or sadness, he felt those emotions echoing inside him too.

“You always know” he watched her walk to him. “How’s your stay in Tokyo been?”

“Really good. I learnt a lot these three weeks during the cooking course and also, I met very important chefs.”

“I’m glad.”

She sat down opposite him, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous spark.

“How about you? Already feeling depressed for being a year older?”

His smile broadened at her playful teasing and he lifted a brow.

“And who’s the one who prefers the company of this old sulking man?”

She giggled softly.

“Well, it’s not so bad to have birthdays… You get presents, secret pa-”

She interrupted herself, her hand flying to her mouth and Mitsuhide’s eyes opened with slight terror.

“Please, tell me that you didn’t…”

She shook her head, her hand still covering half of her face.

“I know how much you dislike big gatherings. It was Nobunaga’s idea and, even though we tried to persuade him, once he sets his mind on something, it’s impossible to make him change his mind.”

He sighed, nodding absently. He had met the entrepreneur when he had established himself there the year before. It was really strange for an important person to settle down in such a place, so he had been the talk of the town for quite a few weeks. But, as the man had told him later, he needed a change of scene and since he mostly worked from home, it did not matter where he was. They had become acquaintances and then, friends quickly. Since Nobunaga liked to meddle in other people’s affairs, as soon as he had known about the financial troubles the librarian was having, he had invested money, first to make some expensive repairs the old building needed and later, when the funds from the prefecture government he was expecting were denied. Every time, he had said that it was a good investment to pay less taxes, but Mitsuhide knew that, behind that cheeky arrogant character of his laid a generous heart and a true friend.

“But please, look surprised when you arrive at the restaurant tonight. He’ll have my head if he suspects I told you…”

“Don’t worry” he assured her with a small smile. “I’ll be speechless for sure. Who knows what he’s planning…”

She laughed and he marvelled, once again, at the sound, clear like bells ringing.

“And, what are you doing here? It’s really early…”

A barely imperceptible change in her features, something that for others would have passed unnoticed but not for someone who knew her so well as him, sparked his curiosity, but also his concern .

“Nothing, really. I just-” she put her hand in the pocket of the denim jacket she wore. “I just wanted to wish you a happy day and give you your present before anyone else.”

Mitsuhide rolled his eyes with a wry smile.

“Oh, gods, how many more plans do you know about?”

“I lost count” she looked at him with a smug smile but a moment later, she became serious. “You’re a very appreciated man here, Mitsuhide.”

“I just love my job and these old books” his fingers trailed down the side of the bookcase next to him, looking around fondly. “And I’d like everybody to enjoy them and feel the joy they can bring, even just a little.”

“And they love you for it” a soft smile had drawn across her mouth as a lovely blush coloured her face, and his heart skipped a beat.

However, she seemed to caught herself and she turned her head away from him, as if she were afraid of having revealed something, fidgeting for a moment with the things she had taken out of her pocket before putting them on the floor, in front of him.

“Happy birthday” she said putting her hands on her lap and bowing slightly.

A small box and an envelope. Mitsuhide felt his throat dry, remembering a similar day, five years before. She had given him other presents, big wooden boxes which contained tea cups, or rectangular parcels wrapped in colourful papers that hid books that he kept in a special shelf at home, but never again a letter and a small box.

She stood up.

“I’ll have a look at a couple of shelves down the corridor before going home” she hesitated for a moment. “Open them whenever you want and… I’d be grateful if you read it this time, please.”

She disappeared from his sight as she turned around one of the bookcases and his gaze fell on the gifts with a feeling of apprehension. It was as if fate was mocking him and he was condemned to repeat that moment again. He did not want to hurt her.

However, a voice whispered at the back of his mind, she was not a child anymore. She was now a fully grown woman who did not need anyone else to protect her anymore. He did not have to think of what was best for her because she was the one who made the decisions about her own life now.

He realised with a slight startle that his hand was reaching out for the box and he stopped himself. What would he do if it was what he thought? He had spent so much time loving her and at the same time, repressing his feelings that he was afraid of the chance of them being returned with no obstacles between them, of setting free the fire inside him and consume her because deep inside the kind, level-headed librarian, there was a shadow of possessiveness and passion that sometimes, he could barely control.

But also, it could be something else. Maybe it was just an innocent card wishing him Happy Birthday, or some Tokyo-related postcard that she had thought he might like.

Whatever it was, she had asked him to read it and, as her friend and a man true to his word, he would do it. Breathing deeply, he took the box and opened it.

Inside, there was a beautiful leather double-wrap bracelet with a silver bellflower, his favourite, on top. He admired the work for a moment and then, put it on his right wrist. It was perfect, simple, elegant and yet, modern.

Leaving the box aside, he picked up the envelope. It was made of thick blue paper and his name was on the front with small characters, slightly round and carefully written. Inhaling once more, he opened it and took a folded paper of the same colour from inside. Her calligraphy was delicate and clean, and immediately told him how much time she had spent on it.

‘Dear Mitsuhide,

I think I can imagine what you’re experiencing as you start reading this. It seems like we went back five years ago, on a rainy Valentines Day that has never faded from my memories. To tell you the truth, I feel really stupid doing this but I won’t be at peace with myself unless I try one more time. As you said, I was a child then and, such as one, I got impatient and I let my feelings for you overflow. I know I hurt you and that I risked our beautiful bond. After my confession and our conversation, I considered myself really fortunate because you overlooked that mistake and kept on behaving the same, without feeling uncomfortable or trying to put some distance between us. If you felt otherwise, you fooled me completely.

This time, I’m talking as the woman I’ve become. Looking back with the maturity these years gave me, I can say that I truly feel thankful because you rejected me that day. You gave me the best present I’ve ever received: the wings to fly, the space to grow and enjoy that world of wonders and experiences, as you called it, and the precious treasure of your company and friendship.

However, I need to say that my love not only did not fade away but grew stronger and that my heart was, is and always will be yours.* I don’t have any expectations but sometimes, there’s been something in your eyes, in the way you look and smile at me, that never let the tiny hope still left inside of me die.

So now you know, but I’m not going to pressure you for an answer. I can wait. I only ask of you to see me for who I am now and think about it carefully. And in the case that you reject me a second time, I won’t bring up the topic ever again. I don’t want to hurt you or our friendship anymore. I cherish your presence in my life more than anything in the world.

Your faithful friend.’

Mitsuhide swallowed hard, re-reading the last lines again, before scrambling to his feet and starting to look for her among the bookcases. He did not need to think of anything. He already knew the answer. That their feelings had not vanished in five years had to mean that, as foolish as it sounded, the red thread of destiny existed and his tied him to her inevitably. He loved her and for once, he was going to follow his heart and not his logic, to be selfish and grab the bliss that awaited him, to devote himself to her until his last breath and make her happy every single day of their lives.

The library had never seemed so big as that time, desperate as he was when he could not find her. Thinking that she might have already headed home, he turned on his heels to exit the back door to catch her before she reached her house and suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a glimpse of purple, the same colour of the skirt she was wearing.

He stopped in his tracks to drink in the sight of her. She had an open book in her hands, but her absent expression and that her eyes were a bit misty told him that her mind was far away from there, probably the reason why she had not noticed him standing there, a few meters from her.

He took the first step, his fingers gripping tightly the letter still in his hand and suddenly, she lifted her head, clearly shaken, his widened eyes falling on him. All colour drew from her face and her lips parted slightly. silently, he reached and took her into the circle of his arms, burying his face in her hair. She stiffened for a moment just before returning his embrace with as much strength as him, a strangled sob leaving her throat upon hearing his words in her ear, only for her.

A Hyacinth, (Hiyashinsu)

The pale purple colored (Usumurasaki ni)

Flower bloomed. (Saki ni keri)

It was the first day (Hajimete kokoro)

She shook my heart. (Furuisome shi hi)

“Shhh, don’t cry, my darling…” he cooed softly, cradling her head into the curve of his neck. “I’m so sorry for having made you wait for so long… I thought I was the mature one but it’s obvious that it was me who wasn’t ready…”

She shook her head.

“You’re always so warm-hearted to everybody… I believed I was mistaking your kindness for something else when I tried to read your feelings…” she took a ragged breath. “I was so afraid, I thought you’d be so disappointed with me after leaving the matter behind five years ago…”

“I was happy just seeing you smile… I was ready to give you up and support you when you chose a good man, since I refused to have any hopes after that day… You were so young, I thought that you’d forget about your affection as time passed by…” he made a pause, tightening his hold on her, enjoying her warmth. “And now, finally…”

She nodded and laughed, and he felt like he was soaring the sky.

“Don’t tell me I’ll have to cancel the party tonight.”

Both were startled by the brisk comment which came from the hall where the front desk was. There, a man wearing jeans, a grey shirt and a red jacket was looking at them with a slightly annoyed expression, though his pupils sparked with clear amusement. The couple let go of each other blushing profusely in clear embarrassment at having been caught.

“Now, don’t be such prudes” he said putting his hand in his waist. “I thought you were an item when I arrived here and met you both. It was so obvious to everybody except you two” he glanced at Mitsuhide. “I was tempted to give you a push, a big one, but I decided not to do your own damn job. Took you long enough.”

The librarian looked at him a bit confused for a moment, but them smiled.

“Thank you.”

Nobunaga seemed a bit uncomfortable for a moment.

“Well, since you’re busy and I have a meeting in an hour, let’s drop the matter of the new computers for another day. I’ll see you two tonight. Don’t be late or I’ll give you a truly unpleasant surprise you’ll never forget.”

They nodded, knowing very well that he would surely do it if they dared to disobey him. Nobunaga turned around and took a step, but then, he stopped, looked over his shoulder and smiled softly, something that they had rarely seen.

“Happy birthday, Mitsuhide. You deserve it.”

And then, he walked to the door with quick steps.

They smiled at each other, amused expressions on their faces.

“He’s like a whirlwind…”

“Yes” he agreed with a fond expression on his face.

Looking into her eyes, and forgetting about their interruption at once, he lifted his hand and caressed her face tenderly, brushing away any traces left of her tears. She bit her lip and half closed her eyes.

“Sorry I stained your shirt…”

“Don’t worry about that” his fingers stilled, cupping her cheek, and he searched her eyes for the slightest spark of doubt.

At that moment, a dull sound reached their ears and, though it was probably a book which had fallen from its upright position, he did not want to risk being caught again. He took her hand and brought her behind the bookcases. Taking her again in his arms, he leaned forward slowly, brushing his lips across her forehead, her temple and her cheek. Her lids fluttered closed immediately and, after making sure they were away from possible inopportune visits and prying eyes, he closed the distance between them. He did not want any witnesses of their first kiss.

THE END

[prodigaisons]

i genuinely don’t know how people can dislike akechi, like, did they not play through the entire game? on a lesser not idk how people don’t ship akechi and akira bc i thought even from a storytelling aspect that was very in your face obvious. but i seriously don’t get it and i don’t know the reasoning people can even have to dislike him?? i feel like i’m missing something like how can you play the game and still be like “yes, that teenager is the villain.”

I feel like a lot of it comes from people like, building up this hatred for an unidentified villain that the game reveals doesn’t really exist in the way the thieves assume?

like, we’re initially led to believe that the black mask is basically adachi 2.0 and killing for the fun of it. a lot of ppl mock how the Akechi twist was pulled off so badly, but I don’t think atlus meant for the twist to be it being Akechi, necessararily, but for it to be that he had an actual, legitimate motive that the thieves could empathize and relate to

but ofc, the problem is that _kechis writing turned out fucking awful since they cut his palace and confidant. they didn’t..... really know what to do with him in game and it ended up with people thinking that him around Shido is his “true self” when the whole point is not even Goro knew who he really was and was never given a chance to find out!

so u have all these ppl who probably weren’t too fond of Goro’s whole ‘pleasant boy’ shtick, then they get the lazy ‘actually he’s CRAZY’ twist, and then you get the ‘wait no he’s just very traumatized and got groomed by shido to do this shit’

and instead of like. admitting they were wrong about Goro actually being evil they’re trying to say atlus is just trying to profit off him or w/e and like. yeah, I’m sure his popularity (he consistently ranks higher than any other party member or even other game protags in Japan! he’s beloved!!) has influenced them to keep bringing him back, but it’s also kind of obvious they like..... initially intended for him to survive.

he has a mouse model, he has battle dialog specifically written for Loki along with an alt warn sign, we have data from his scrapped palace. his stuff probably got cut for time due to the hiatus and them already being incredibly late on the game. and then he ended up being the most popular character in the game and an overall persona fan favorite

like it’s....... it’s pretty clear Goro’s real characterization is closest to him in Sae’s palace. Still very faux polite, but also attention seeking, somewhat aggressive, cunning, excitable, unaware of social norms, and with a tendency towards cynicism. this is consistent in the anime, proof of justice, and pq2! but ppl still try to make him adachi 2 electric boogaloo

also yeah like........ it’s. it’s pretty obvious goro is supposed to have romantic feelings towards akiren like I’m not sure why this is considered debatable. I’m not entirely convinced Goro himself is even aware it’s romantic but like, sitting in ur acquaintance’s cafe/apartment until they get home and then smiling at them and word vomiting about ur trauma isn’t exactly cishet dude behavior

tldr: they decided they hated him before even knowing what his motives were and now can’t use their one braincell to admit they were wrong and stop victimblaming

also I write too fucking much about akechi WHOOPS