#i love Yosuke help

[blue-is-missing-jes-s]

You and Yosuke walk after school under a bright blue sky.

"I'm free today," He smiles at you. "Do you wanna hang out a little bit before going home?".

---------

Funny that I was finishing it while was raining and really cloudy.

Everything hurts.

[daily-hanamura]

[thatbuggygirl]

Local crab monster plays music in a deserted park; more at 10:00.

[nyanfish]

Hello everynyan, can I request some Yosuke with Kanji? Such a rare pair, good to have a warrior like ya

anon you wont believe how happy I was to find this in my inbox. ilu. thank you for indulging me <3

[m0e-ru]

girls will literally say ohh the golden anime is soo bad you should never watch it or consider part of any sort of it canon and same girls will watch it themselves and cry

[savealsaidifamily]

Urgent appeal to those with kind and loving hearts 🙏🙏

Hello, I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy.🙏

My family live in tents which lack the minimum standard of living. My father is now very sick, he had a heart catheterization operation before the war. Doctors recommended him to have healthy diet and life style but because of living in a tent, wet with rainwater, full of insects, lacking hygiene, and because of drinking contaminated water, as well as due to the inability to buy healthy food, now my father is very sick. The doctor told him that he has food poisoning and he needs urgent medical care. Do you imagine yourself sick and there is no clean place around you, no bed to sleep on, no warm drink to give your body strength, no medicine to relieve your pain, and no comfortable mattress to give you warmth?

Furthermore, my mother and our innocent little children have caught cold and infectious viral disease😞

Please, we have lost hope in this life, but don't let us lose hope in your humanity.🙏🙏 we just want to live in safety, and peace.

Your help, no matter how small, will save my family from death and disease and give them the happiness they have lost for a whole year of war.

My family campaign has received only £ 1,413 as of 5/10.

An important note: tumblr recently restricted my previous account from sending messages, i did nothing except that I want to save the lives of my family from this nightmare . I made different accounts, but my family name will not change which is Alsaidi family.

Vetted by @bilal_salah0, info here

and also vetted by @moayesh , info here on Gaza evacuation funds

@bulletbilltime @liphia @cyber2000 @zingay @binglam @somedudeoutthere @rooksongbird @frogbrainedfool @the-ending-of-dramamine @mossdeep @redsavesquare @uninvited-eon @frogbrainedfool @glenbot @ultimateumbreon33 @disastersim @airsigh @cowboy-queer @lapastelr0sa @sharingresourcesforpalestine @rebel-girl-queen-of-my-world @kropotkindersurprise @cruzwalters @la7ma-mafrooma @rosyish @bookskittychad @streakoflavender @gabajoofs @miraclemaya @devilofthepit @gay-yosuke @cometcrystal @corvidkusnos @nb-marceline @cicadaland @manletwizard @2blushie @antiauteur @acnologia-is-best-dragon @bitchmael @penelopiaad @hashiramashonkers @laughtracklesbian@legallymean @b0nkcreat @crapscicle @uwu-pinata @syntheticspades @momxijinping @longlivepalestina @saberboi-1 @martinmynster @nako-funky @trans-leek-cookie @vaticinatrix @moomoobug @narwa @twilightobservationtower @estrellasrojas @knxfesck @lakeeffectbitch @fatbitchneedsfoodbadly @no-thats-absurd @humanmorph @sandiwchirlinreal @tcda @misspiggyforvogueitalia @gamb0fficial @vincentspork @gemstonedraws @frankendykes-monster @mizoguchi @kos-mos @ryoki-ph @blackwoolncrown @commissions4aid-international @deathlonging @mazzikah @mahoushojoe @deepspaceboytoy @ana-bananya @rhubarbspring @pcktknife @sawasawako @wellwaterhysteria @post-brahminism @junglejim4322 @kibumkim @neechees @irhabiya @mangocheesecakes @kyra45-helping-others @7bitter @tortiefrancis @killy @toiletpotato @fromjannah @omegaversereloaded @vague-humanoid @evillesbianvillain @aristotels @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @kahin @ot3 @amygdalae @ankle-beez @lonniemachin @dykesbat @watermotif @stuckinapril @2violent2revolution @mavigator @lacecap @socalgal @chilewithcarnage @ghelgheli @sayruq @northgazaupdates2 @readingsquotes @bellybuttonblue2 @moonrisemoonchild @bees-fart-too @andiv3r-reblogging @ambidextrousarcher @fresh-bed-old-sheets @starless-gaze @esperantokomencanto @thinking-about-giraffes @blogtruenorth @cripsycremecuckery @mercurysreal @caffeinated-reverie @blueberryblowfly @mione-g @monstermashpotato @noble-kale @theultracharmingladynoire @nibeul @bignightengineer @khudrang @m-an-u @rdx-dcm @sleepyhomosexual @hussyknee @27moremoons @marine-bi-ology @longlivepalestina @fanonical @plaidos @metamatar @the-eldritch-it-gay @sabertoothwalrus @nogender-onlystars @Lufago @c-u- c-koo-4-40k @bixlasagna

Sorry if i bothered you in the mention

[an-awkward-enby]

I need everyone to know I’m always thinking about them, I literally tried my hardest not to sob at this scene.

The love and emotion.

The way Yosuke says hugs are for girls in his SL but the moment yu is sad that means nothing to him

His only thought in this scene is, “my partner is sad. I need to help him, and be there to support him.”

And I have so many words about it

Like they just mean so much to me.

I want to put them in a terrarium and watch them.

But. Not the sad stuff.

This scene was so sad but Yosuke doing this in the scene means so much ti me.

[taldigi]

Love the Shadow art with Yui! Does that mean Yui has to face her Shadow and admit that she actually likes being a girl this time around, arguably more than she ever liked being a boy? Are the others there when she does and, if so, how do they take it?

Yu has always come off as a character who is fully confidant in himself and comfortable with his eccentricities. Its a trait that's reflected well by being the only one who didn't have a shadow to confront in order to unlock his persona.

So- I love NG+ stories. And what inspired me explicitly is how, when playing the game with the FemC mod on.. sometimes, things feel different. Things that are loaded when postured at a female character. Relationships that change heavily because socialization rules shift.

Yu does a lot of things, Yu is praised for a lot of things. Cooking, caring for his sister, being empathetic, loving cats... Yui isn't exemplary for these concepts, not like Yu was. Yui's reaction to this FASCINATES me!

The girls are going to pull her in their direction more. They're going to trust her more then they ever trusted Yu. Yui's going to be praised for bringing "a feminine touch" to the Dojima household- cooking and tending to Nanako are assumed defaults, not exceptions. Dojima not letting her leave at night because it's dangerous for young girls to be out late like that- Yosuke and Kanji are going to keep Yui at an arms length. Even Teddie would change his tune and include Yui in on his bullshit unless it was shot down faster and harder than anyone ever did- and at that point, how much more would change now that Yui is a recipient? She can't join the sports clubs- so is she even able to do her strength arcana link? Ai's relationship shifts from fake boyfriend to something else. Even Yukiko is going to be way more open out the gate and less apprehensive to talk to Yui- and how does that affect the Yuki-Chie dynamic?

Yosuke puts an arm around Yu? Friendly? But touching a girl like that and not being in a relationship.. with his reputation and behavior? the implications are wild. and I have so much fucking brainrot about that NG+ Femc/Yosuke relationship that it could be an essay in it's own right.

All of this is intrinsically fascinating and complex in a way that a normal NG+ or a FemC rewritten story isn't.

Anyway, swinging back:

I think Yu can swing into being Yui well. I think they even enjoy being being Yui more than being Yu... I'm sure it's very freeing for her specifically. But what Yui struggles with most is that Yui isn't Yu. Yui has a whole year of memories, of character development and growth- and now is allowed to be someone she couldn't ever be- and that is what spawns her shadow I think. More than the gender stuff, it's the lying, the hiding of the truth, and the difficuilty of making the call of how far she can rock the train before it derails and she can't save Nanako. How many things can she change or avert? What if saving Saki gets Yosuke killed instead?

Yui loves her friends so much, but how much of Yui is faked in order to make sure this story doesn't derail. How does it all unfold when her shadow lets Yosuke know that Yui knew Saki was going to die..? and how she coudn't say something because what if something worse happens because of it? How much she has to hold back because Kanji's social link suddenly requires much more expression and empathy then it did back then?

I mean, I think Yu/i sometimes lowballs how much the IT loves their leader in return. The truth hurts, but all of their truths hurt. No matter what, they're going to care about her and help her in whatever decision because the conclusion they're going to come to is: "She took time to help us, not once, but twice over. We know her well enough that she's going to do it again. Being anything less than supportive isn't even an option."

After all, the IT will canonically kill someone on Yu's behalf. Being complicit for murder is true friendship.

anyway, thats my thoughts on it.

[adachimoe]

Investigation Team stuff from the dev corner in Persona Club P4

This was originally worded as a QA but I simplified it down to just what the dev responses were

Protag:

In Chie's SLink, the protag offers to "Do an impression of another Takeshi". In English, this was translated as "tell a joke". The "other Takeshi" is referring to Beat Takeshi / Takeshi Kitano.

The protag keeps a porno mag stash "that thing" under his futon. "That thing" remains under his futon even when he sleeps on top of it. Perhaps that's why he has random dreams about a random Social Link sometimes...

The protag isn't used to cooking since he has lived with his parents until shortly before the game started, but he's fairly good at it. Motherly, if you will.

The protagonist's knitting ability didn't improve much even after the ending of Kanji's rank 10 where he teaches him how to make a (frilly) animal oven mitt. The devs assume Kanji would like to keep teaching him, but the protag probably isn't interested in it. (In one of the dungeon chats with Kanji and Yosuke, it's mentioned that Tatsumi-ya sells frilly potholders, and the devs parenthesis'd the frilly part here in their response, suggesting the one the protag made with Kanji was also frilly. Show us the frilly animal potholder that the protagonist made, Atlus.)

Yosuke:

One of the cut scenes from P4 was Yosuke riding his bike right into the Samegawa

When Chie bought clothes w/Yosuke's money, she dipped into his scooter funds, so Chie thinks she did him a solid b/c scooter = dangerous (Book was from before Golden)

Yosuke dislikes tofu cause he thinks it's bland. He dislikes konjac jelly for the same reason.

He listens to popular and/or catchy music

Jiraiya's luck stat being so low is because the man is unlucky / has shit timing.

Chie:

Cats, such as the one on the school roof, are attracted to Chie because she smells like meat and/or carries around meat-related snacks

Aside from meat, Chie loves junk food like the croquette from Souzai and sweets/snacks from Shiroku

Chie's "club" is her practicing her own style of kung fu which she calls the Kung Fu Research Club. But on rainy days, it instead turns into the Meat Research Club.

Chie likes kung fu because she grew up around boys and watched stuff made for boys

Yukiko:

Yukiko doesn't like standing out, but wears red because Chie told her it looks good (iirc Yukiko says this if you pick her to go skiing with in Golden, but this book is from like 4 years before Golden)

Yukiko is banned from going grocery shopping because she mixes up all of the ingredients (when you meet her in Portable, she offers to help Kasai go grocery shopping, and Kasai is like "uhhhhhhhh")

Originally her rank 10 romance slink was going to uhh get pretty suggestive when the protag invited her on to his futon

Kanji:

Kanji picked out his necklace because he thought it was cool and he had no idea that it was a locket until his mom told him. Instead of perhaps a photo of his dead father, Atlus believes he's the kind of guy who would keep a photo of cute cat as like a mental wellness thing.

Kanji doesn't want to join the arts and crafts club at school cause he knows that his presence would frighten/upset the members, but he ironically has no idea that him standing outside their club room and staring in all of the time also scares the shit out of them

Kanji still hasn't figured out the answer to the "homework" that Naoto gave him, nor has Naoto told him the answer yet. (I believe this is referring to one of their dungeon chats? In the JP game, Naoto asks if Kanji has finished his "quiz" yet.)

Rise:

Rise helps out at the tofu shop mostly in the morning so she is free after school hence why she sometimes can be seen hanging around outside the store after school / on other days

Rise has been an idol for a little under 2 years. She has 2 photobooks and one of her songs was used in a CM. She doesn't have many photobooks or CDs yet cause she didn't start selling well until more recently.

Rise likes spicy food and cooks based on color rather than taste. She has tried to make red tofu before, but her grandma makes her use traditional recipes at the store.

Naoto:

Naoto isn't gifted at baking, she just made the other girls use a cookbook. (This is brought up by Rise during the Golden skiing trip, but again this book is from like 2008 or 2009.)

Naoto's real name is Naoto (gender neutral). Her parents didn't name her that way because they wanted to raise her as a boy, but rather they wanted to avoid naming her something feminine because they thought she would become a detective.

Naoto's girl uniform has a longer skirt than normal because it was picked out by Yakushiji, her grandfather's secretary.

Teddie:

Atlus has no idea how Teddie can make glasses, how his bear outfit works, or how his human form fits inside the bear. They call of this "Teddie Power" and for the bear suit, compare it to Schrodinger's Cat lol. (In the Golden fan book, they later said that Teddie makes the glasses using materials from an eyeglasses store in the TV World version of Inaba.)

Teddie has a cell phone that Yosuke bought for him. Teddie decorated out himself. Yosuke also pays for all of Teddie's other expenses, like his phone bill and his food.

Teddie mentions that since he's lived in the TV for a long time, he has ways of making himself feel at home. The devs suggest he has some kind of like, Teddie Cave or hut somewhere in the TV World that he resides in. Since getting a human form, he started living in Yosuke's closet instead. (Book was pre-Arena, before they actually showed Teddie living there lol)

Regrettably, there's no Adachi dev q+a in Persona Club P4 lol

[hotcuppacocoa]

Man Rise’s dungeon is the most brutal so far. I think she’s the least stable Investigation Team member…

Yosuke: “This town is really boring and I feel guilty over seeing the murders as something to do because my dearest friend and crush is dead and I wish I could’ve saved her and I feel like my boredom devalues my care for her”

Chie: “I wish I didn’t like having this sense of power in my life and getting it from my best friend, it makes me worry I’m a bad friend and taking advantage of her despite how much I love her”

Yukiko: “As much as I love my family I wish they didn’t push the family business onto me without giving me a choice, makes me feel trapped, maybe someone can help me? Or am I trapping myself by not communicating?”

Kanji: “People are alienating me because I’m a guy who likes sewing and are weaponizing homophobia against me… I don’t know if I’m gay or straight or what, I just want to be able to be me in peace without others seeing me as lesser”

Rise: “I can’t drop the mask for a moment I can’t drop the mask for a moment they’ll turn on me if I don’t I have to be nothing but a toy for their entertainment I can’t drop the mask I can’t drop the mask I can’t drop the mask”

Good grief… Yosuke’s #2 in instability. Man…

[venussaidso]

The Japanese movie My Girlfriend Is A Serial Killer has another nodal pairing where one person doesn't know they're with the so-called wolf; this time the Rahu-Ketu dynamic being swapped. Usually, the Rahuvian is the wolf in disguise. But this time, it is the Ketuvian.

Magha Sun Haruka Fukuhara plays the serial killer who dates the main character portrayed by Ardra Moon Yosuke Sugino. Although, initially, he acts like a fucking creepy stalker because of his infatuation with her (how he finds out that she's a psychopathic killer; also, yet again another example of Magha natives attracting obsessive people).

Also, Claire Nakti made a serial killer analysis nakshatra video and Ashwini nakshatra was the highest of all nakshatras; and the nakshatra lord that was the highest altogether was Ketu, following Venus (fire signs are generally the most violent). So, it checks out that the girlfriend would be casted as a fire rashi native.

There's a scene in the movie where someone warns him that a wolf will always be a wolf (signifying her nature) and that a sheep is still a sheep. Even after finding out she's a murderer, he still loves her and doesn't want her to get caught.

But forgetting the true nature of their dynamic, as his guard remains down, she stabs him in the end. Even after all this time of keeping him alive, the wolf still can't help but bite the sheep.

fan edit link

Now, Magha Sun Haruka Fukuhara stars in the new Netflix series Invisible Us, where now she's linked to a serial killer.

Ketuvians' ability to solve mysteries, connect dots and see detailed patterns that others tend to overlook is honestly so typical at this point. I'd love a to make a rundown video of Ketu-ruled characters brainstorming, figuring things and people out on the spot! Ironically they have more of a keen eye than Rahuvians... which is not ironic anymore (like wtf am I saying lol) as Rahu tends to have excessive thoughts and anxiety which makes it hard to come to the truth or make clear decisions. While Ketu pierces through the truth with its speed and detachment. A clear, detached mind is associated with someone who has properly balanced their Ketu. While Rahuvians need to integrate a lot of meditative tools in their lifestyle.

[daily-hanamura]

[cyziel]

i'm thinking about yosuke again and it makes me so annoyed because of how hard atlus dropped the ball with him. it's very obvious that they made his character arc with the intention of him being a closeted high schooler in the year 2011 that struggles with internalized homophobia who learns to finally accept himself, but then randomly decided to cut out the payoff to all of the setup so it just makes him extremely homophobic. the whole game is about accepting the part of yourself that you hate, and yosuke coming to terms with his bisexuality throughout the course of the story fits into that theme perfectly.

it's small stuff like this and so many other moments that make much more sense with the context of him originally being planned on having a romance route. he projects his idea of "manliness" and what's "right" onto both others and himself to make up for the social stigma placed onto him by society; he's trying to convince himself that he's "normal" so he can fit in. him feeling ostracized because he's the manager of junes' son is a blatant parallel to this, and the two of them could've easily been intertwined.

"i like you" in japanese is "ore, omae ga suki da" 《俺、 お前 が 好き だ》 -> known as the most common form of a love confession in japan and is almost always used romantically, especially given the context

this is an obviously repressed queer kid who has been struggling to grasp his sexuality and growing feelings for yu; there is so much subtext throughout the game that has all culminated to this moment—or at least, should've culminated to this moment. but it didn't.

funnily enough, i don't think it was atlus projecting their bigotry onto him at first until p4g, but making a genuine attempt at a good character arc that, much like the rest of persona 4, misses the mark in the worst way possible despite being so close to saying something meaningful (cough kanji and naoto). it's like they chickened out at the last second, but "forgot" to take out the parts that just make him a homophobic asshole with the context removed—and then even doubled down on it in p4g lmao. the thing i'm confused about is that hoshino (the former director of the persona series who is extremely disgusting and bigoted) was... already in the company when the lines were recorded??? so i'm baffled as to why they were allowed to come up with it in the first place before deciding against it.

this could've been really great and realistic representation that could've helped other queer people who were going through the same thing yosuke was—especially in the year 2008—and i'm super disappointed that they decided to cut it. persona 4 is about confronting the problematic elements about yourself, and i cannot think of a greater example of this than yosuke and his internalized homophobia.

(bonus: the closet is made out of glass)

[woodsie]

Shadow Yosuke’s Symbolism

I recently got a friend to play Persona 4 and we were talking about the symbolism of each of the character’s shadow selves, when we came to the realisation that neither of us really knew what Yosuke’s was meant to represent.

Chie’s represented her relationship with Yukiko. Yukiko’s her desire for freedom but lack of action in taking it. Yosuke has… a ninja frog…?

So I’ve done some digging.

Official Statements

The first thing I did was look at the official concept art sheet for shadow Yosuke. This primarily detailed that as the first of the shadows, they wanted it to be very obvious that their shadow’s and persona’s were the same thing.

This is done quite well and tells players subtly that they are the same without being obvious.

Jiraiya does look a lot like shadow Yosuke. The main body’s colour is inverted from black (evil) to white (good), the frogs eyes are added to Jiraiya’s head and the frog’s mouth becomes a chest piece, with the frog’s skin pattern carried over to the cuffs of Jiraiya’s clothes.

Jiraiya is easily the most similar persona to shadow. Important for early game. This idea is also helped by Tomoe looking very similar to shadow Chie, and allows the idea of persona’s and shadow’s being the same to be cemented into the players minds before they meet shadow Yukiko who is visually very different to Konohana-Sakuya.

Jiraiya In Folklore

My next step was to look for any symbolism between Yosuke and the story of Jiraiya himself. Granted, as a white woman™️ my knowledge of Japanese folklore is limited but I will summarise my findings and compare them to Yosuke’s story directly.

[Sorry for the weird formatting, I’m working around the 10 image post limit]

Both stories open with a character from an influential background and moving to a new area.

Jiraiya’s stance as a robber could be in reference to the fact that Junes is taking business away from local businesses and their families.

Saki could be taking the place of the woman in the house. Regardless of if she actually likes him, she is kind to him when others are not. This is something Yosuke admires greatly but it still doesn’t prevent Junes from ruining the Konishi’s business.

His shadow self is then a reference to the old man/magic frog. It recognises him from who he is, and although the shadow is hostile its intention is to teach Yosuke about the parts of himself he is trying to hide so he can reconcile with those feelings. This is what allows him to gain his persona, or in other words “teaching him magic”

Gaining his persona is what helps set Yosuke’s resolve and desire to avenge Saki and the others who have suffered due to the killer. He shows a distinct intelligence and is often the one to piece together vital information. Without him insisting they investigate Saki’s murder, the Investigation Team might not have ever existed. In that sense you could consider him a hero.

A good portion of his social link is devoted to him coming to terms with his situation, both around the murders and his place within Inaba. He frequently talks about feelings of loneliness and a desire to be valued, and he finds comfort in having his persona and being able to do something about what’s going on, it gives him some control over his life which he lost by coming to Inaba in the first place. Overtime though he does come to love Inaba as a whole and recognises that it’s the people around you that really make a place special. He’s not alone anymore and he’s far happier for it.

Other Potential Inspirations

In my attempts at seeing what others online think about potential symbolism for Yosuke’s shadow, I found that most people also did not understand what his shadow was meant to represent. However, I did come across a few older threads of people sharing possible ideas.

One of which was of a Chinese story about a frog in a well. The story related to narrow mindedness and limited perspective as the frog is unaware of life beyond the well and is amazed by it when told what it has to offer. This could be a potential reference to his dismissal of country life and him growing to love the town.

[chocochococoffee]

p5r posting but also p5 posting

the overture to haru's dungeon is so bad. atlus really tried to "not force it" by giving morgana and ryuji stupid beef for the whole game till that moment and i call it stupid because it wasnt even comic relief it was just painful horseshit. i can believe ryuji basking too much in the sun of being popular, but its *clear* that morgana liked the spotlight too. so that whole "wow ryuji you are a glutton for attention" thing that led to him going away from the group felt like a "what the fuck". "what's gotten to you" was more or less what the mc said to him and oh boy i couldn't help but be like "yeah morgana what the fuck" but also a big fuck you to that fucking cat who causes stupid problems within the team - putting himself on the same level with an idiotic puberty boy PLUS being a simp for a girl who had ever looked at him - while calling himself the experienced one.

meanwhile, we got ryuji and his whole puberty boy shtick that people adored while hated (or tried to hate because his whole homophobic problem) on yosuke from persona 4. i am glad ann is such an accepting and easygoing girl by harus dungeon because when ryuji did the whole upwards lolly stick and grabby hands she laughed at him while i in her position woulrve beaten him which is probably what chie wouldve done. god the more i replay the game the less i like ryuji as a whole. but in harus dungeon! he tried - notice the tried because he saw how the rest was like *hmm this is not natural* and he was like "huh maybe???????? but i still like the fame???? hmmm" - to be fucking displeased at the whole sudden love for the PT and morgana berated him for it!? i cant even understand.

... as a whole, now that i think of it, harus dungeon feel even more stupid to me because the fucking PT decided to wnter the dungeon IN THE VERY ENTRY OF THE BUILDING!? and akechi was just passing there???? imagine that they did it outside of his scope, for a big building there's many places you can fucking enter. its a fucking big edification, i am sure that passing by in a nearby building would be enough! but also, imagine that other passerbys had gotten sucked? its the same shit they berated ryuji for in futabas dungeon yet everyone did here because they were too worried about fucking morgana

hawaii + harus dungeon clash too fucking badly with the game. shame haru and her waking up moment are so great in comparison.

[m0e-ru]

p4 pokemon au where all problems are because of some stupid zoroark cracked with action replay

maul me over as much as you want over poke partner choices because idgaf im going to start yapping under the cut (2.5k words are yuo joking ?)

um where can i start

i wanna make it clear im sure these characters would all have different pokemon teams if they were playing pokemon on the nintendo ds, like, souji could be a rest staller if he wanted to. but anyway, heres my idea of who these guys would partner up with because i think it’s fun. and none of this is final i could give namatame a goomy too AHAHA

oh another disclaimer while i proclaim ive played all the mainline games, is i havent actually played a pokemon game past XY also im a unova babygirl est 2014 . yippie

Souji feels like such a normal-type guy to me. Cheren black and white. Well, the gray did influence it, but also he’s a very flexible guy.

He caught a Lillipup as a kid, and it’s been with him through multiple moves. His parents didn’t care about a pokemon in the house as long as it didn’t make a fuss, and was kind of Souji’s only friend at the time. It evolved into a Herdier at some point before he gets to Inaba, and probably gets to be a Stoutland for the whole Izanagi-no-Okami equivalent.

Not that I think he’d cheese his way through battles with Work Up -> Return shtick, but I think it’s a funny thought lol

Yosuke got a Tadbulb following him around, which he found in the moving van when his family was unpacking. And the next few weeks, he almost ran over a Froakie going 60kph on his bike. Yosuke appreciates having the Tadbulb around when working around Junes, and the Froakie guides him through Inaba as a local I guess lol. It evolves into the Frogadier when they go investigate the serial murders with Souji. It probably knows Aerial Ace for all I know LMAO

Chie’s Glaceon’s actually Muku, the Eevee Yukiko tried to take care of, until it was put in Chie’s care when she wasn’t allowed to keep it. When they were middle school, after one vacation at Mt. Yasogami, the Eevee ended up evolving next to an Ice Rock of all things. The two wondered why it didn’t evolve from friendship, like an Espeon or an Umbreon, and they joke around that the Eevee loved neither of them and bonded with a chunk of ice instead. Chie makes it wear a muffler because she misses Eevee's fluffy coat, in a way.

Around the same time, Chie found a Mienfoo training with her at the flood plains, and it decided to stay with her. Sometimes, she’d offer Yukiko to have it help out at the inn.

Kanji’s mom actually kept a Cottonee around to gather the stray cotton it leaves around to spin into thread sometimes. She wondered where it went, until Kanji admitted it evolved into a Whimsicott after it touched a rock he found lying around on the way home, which was a Sun Stone. It still stays around to help, and even floats all the way to Yasogami just to deliver Kanji’s lunch he forgot at home.

Kanji caught a Blitzle himself, and it was also there when he was beating up all the bikers making a ruckus by the highway, which made him easy to profile during that one TV segment about him. It goes with Kanji while he’s biking, and he’d refuse its help even when he gets tired.

Nobody really knows how Teddie became a boy, nor where he got his Cubchoo. All he’s mentioned is that they “saw one another in each other’s eyes” and it starts sneezing into Yosuke’s face. Well, it’s not too bad because they’re both Junes’ new mascots, in a way. Maybe he IS the Cubchoo 🤔🤔🤔

Rise had the Ralts since middle school. Having it perform with her during her audition to be an idol almost basically made her in the cut. It evolved into a Kirlia which made her more popular as Risette. Although, fans and haters started throwing Dawn Stones at it after a statement where Rise didn’t want to reveal its gender even with so many people asking. Most of them were fake, just to give Rise a scare, and it was only super fans or super haters that would throw in the real deal at shows or even just handshake sessions.

Naoto’s grandfather helped him catch a Surskit before he left the estate and became the Detective Prince. He once accused a Sneasel to be a culprit of one case, but it ended up proving itself innocent, nagging Naoto to certain evidence when he just thought it was annoying him. Impressed by each other’s wit, they’ve become partners in solving crime. Naoto would pacify it with his Surskit’s sweet syrup. And when the Surskit evolved into a Masquerain, Naoto would have two partners by his side. Although, this lead to trusting his own instincts and pokemon more than other people.

Chisato owned a Rockruff, which even adored Dojima before they were even married. It evolved into a midday Lycanroc, which started to help Dojima with his own investigations. When Chisato passed, it was less bitter than Dojima, and would be sent home to stay with Nanako if he ever had to work overnight. When Nanako was comfortable enough with Souji and his Herdier, the Lycanroc would stay with Dojima, and Adachi would help prop him on its back when he gets himself drunk.

A bit after Chisato’s funeral in the middle of the mourning period, her mother came to her granddaughter, Nanako, and gave her a Cleffa, in which they would both learn to take care of each other. It would have fun being tossed around in the air by the Lycanroc and Herdier at home, while Souji would tell Nanako to make a wish on the star everytime it was in the air. Because it’s the Star Shape pokemon lol i think it’s cute

While Adachi was still in the big city, he’d see the skinniest Purrloin in an alley on the way home. He fed it once, and it wouldn’t stop pestering him since. He thought it was over when his apartment complex neighbors started feeding it, but it found delight in annoying Adachi specifically, taking his keys from his pockets, or nabbing a bit of his takeout when he was distracted.

It jumped into the boot of his car, genuinely curious of what was going on, until it found itself in an hours long trip which ended with it in Inaba. Dojima mentioned his Lycanroc smelled a feline scent on him, while Adachi just denies he owns a pokemon, much less that Purrloin that isn’t even native to the area. It’s caught the attention of the locals for a while, and it took it to its advantage to get more people to feed it, but still hangs around Adachi to go nick his new, rusty apartment keys.

There’s also like, this Shuppet that shows up at some point, and his landlady and neighbors keep telling him about it and giving him weird looks. But he doesnt believe in superstitions and doesnt have a pokedex to look at so who cares

Namatame's family has a Bunnelby helping around the business with little chores and such. His parents send it off to Namatame to work with him and keep him company while he tries to recover. Somewhere along the way, he finds an Absol following him on a rainy day, which he takes care of alongside the Bunnelby entrusted to him, or maybe it’s taking care of him? While Namatame becomes more manic each passing day as his messiah complex gets to him, he starts distancing himself from Bunnelby and spends more time with Absol. 

The MOEL gas station has a shiny Heliolisk, but a lot of people don't really know the concept of shiny pokemon, and they haven't seen Heliolisks or Helioptiles in the urban area, so they don't really think it's so special besides it being a different color. It's nothing more than a mascot of sorts, and does silly things with the attendant; like startling Adachi and that Purrloin that follows him around. It can sense when it's going to rain by feeling the static electricity around it. And what's rather peculiar is that it doesn't seem too averse to rain or cloudy skies. It does enjoy basking in the sun, and people would look up to see it hanging around on the station canopy with a spread out frill those days.

okay, so this is the part where I'm supposed to talk about plot. um. anyway

Way back when, there was a Zoroark that would walk among people, disguised as a human. People started rumors and suspected this woman really is a pokemon, but nobody seemed to shun her or really care, she was just a nice lady and took care of the people around her. People would say she came to them from a greater power to be a guardian to the land, similar to the legends in different regions, like Sinnoh and their Arceus.

However, the way she protects her people would be through illusions. She would keep external and malicious forces at bay by severely frightening them at the mountaintops, or the forests, if they ever got through, be it human or pokemon. If anyone were hurt or were about to die, unable to be treated to health, she would comfort them in a grand dream as they would fall asleep for the very last time. 

As time went on and technology developed, people were so entranced with the television broadcasts, wanting to know who was behind the screen, even if they were covered up in makeup and filters. 

The greater power sought to sate the people's desires, and saw the Zoroark it left in their care wasn't enough. So it split the pokemon into two, with one half so weak it was just a Zorua. The newly born Zoroark went off to accomplish its appointed duty, no matter the means. To better determine what the people wanted, however, it created a scheme which would involve stimulating the masses to come to an answer.

The Zoroark played a simple gas station attendant, which would stay close and observe the people. It would choose three pawns to watch over, manipulating the situation in tandem to their reactions. 

well so um basically there's still an isekai with TV portals. the iznmi Zoroark has enough power this time to create pocket dimensions straight from its illusion power. Every victim that ends up inside still gets haunted by their “truth” iznmi determines after scrutinizing them. The Midnight Channel broadcasts are also their illustrations. so basically, instead of things going on by itself from the collective unconscious reacting, it's a Zoroark piecing things together. it's kinda like pokepark 2. HAHAHA

Namatame's still kidnapping people he sees on the Midnight Channel. And when he gets Nanako, the Bunnelby stays behind and begs the IT to help. It helps them find Namatame, where they confront him and his Absol. Through illusions and legitimate power channeling, the Absol mega evolves. The IT defeat it and it returns to a normal Absol. They take both Nanako and Namatame to the hospital, the Bunnelby by Namatame's side the whole time.

When Adachi's suspected to be the killer, he escapes into the world inside the TV and makes a deal with the Zoroark. The Purrloin follows Adachi's scent and ends up in the TV, terrified of its unknown surroundings and hiding from the rest of the monstrous illusions that popped up. It got used to the world, however, and when the IT arrived, it helped them with Adachi's silly puzzles, to which he groans through a PA about how that pokemon’s still annoying him in another world. 

The IT confront Adachi, until a Mismagius appears to stop them. It sings Perish Song (because Magatsu-Izanagi is a Ghastly Wail kind of thing lmfao) but everyone stood their ground, blocking the song from their ears. Even under Adachi's (albeit in pain) command, the Mismagius falters, and the Zoroark takes things into its own hands, creating a bigger illusion to finally deal with these meddling kids for itself. 

But they defeat Ame-no-Sagiri, and its grand voice agrees to stop the grand illusions plaguing Inaba. The IT still have no idea who this conductor of schemes is, and Adachi can't give a clear answer either 

Marie's a Zorua with amnesia so bad she forgot she's a Zorua at all. She started her illusion as a human girl just to aimlessly wander around Inaba more easily and has been stuck in that form since. She was taken into the Velvet Room where they can clearly see that she isn't a human, but a pokemon. What's impressive is that she doesn't have a tail sticking out, which would mean her powers of illusion are rather potent. 

Souji’s made to chaperone her around Inaba to get her memories back, the whole shtick. While everyone stops prying into her nonexistent life, they're impressed with her ability to understand pokemon, as if she can actually understand them. Marie comes to the conclusion that she must have grown up around pokemon to be able to understand them that well. 

In the end, she finds out she is a pokemon, and iznmi Zoroark sends her to a grave that is physically in Inaba, instead of a pocket dimension. 

Margaret creates a conduit from that shed TV to that tomb somewhere in Inaba. Marie runs around as a Zorua and makes illusions to stop the IT from getting to her. But they manage to get to the heart of the tomb and get Zorua Marie from burying herself. 

They defeat another one of iznmi Zoroark’s avatars dwelling in Marie which was controlling her, then Marie comes back to the IT, accepting her identities as a pokemon and a human girl.

The IT thought that the illusions have stopped, and people are free to see what's really in front of their eyes. But Souji confronts the gas station at MOEL, where he reveals he's really a Zoroark with a duty, even startling the Heliolisk by its side. 

The IT enter the final world of illusions and desperately try to find the Zoroark to convince it to stop and let people truly live, that no one should hold their hands all the time, and quit living in a painless and meaningless utopia.

With everyone and their pokemon exhausted, Marie finds the strength to convince her other self. To let it see that she is living proof how people can live a life with the truth, and how they can stand on their own feet. 

After some time, the Zoroark agrees to dispel the illusions it has made, and appoint the rest of its power to Marie for her to be the guardian pokemon of the people of Inaba.