#i also still hate to see it when people call his sequined leathered self part of a mask

[malaierba]

It kills me as in I find it really funny when fics call it "a mask" when Karamatsu tries to act more confident than he feels, or even when he's upset but doesn't let it show

Its.... emotional self-control. He may not be using the skills that a psychologist would love to see for processes of emotional self-regulation (at least not obviously+it's a gag anime) but it's not unhealthy and it's not exactly masking? It's quite literally developing skills to remain functional regardless of feelings

Compare 18!Krmts to adult Karamatsu. It's obvious which of them has a higher degree of agency, self-sufficiency. They are both stressed out by the events of the movie, but where baby Karamatsu flounders, adult Karamatsu manages to act even as he has moments where he introspects. He's able to use the responsible, rational braincell when he's with Osomatsu, and when he eventually speaks up about the regrets plot he explains the situation effectively.

Shout out to both of them for having so many scenes where they simply observe the situation and think about what to do. 18Karamatsu with visible apprehension, while Karamatsu looks cooler — During the movie is likely because he already knows what'll happen but during the sick dad arch he's more detached. You can quite literally see him meditate and process his feelings on the inside.

What's going on in that head of yours, blue man?