#it's such a mess... because yes gokujo was the one who orchestrated the yoshimotos' downfall

[datastate]

@exmartialgod

hello hello! I am curious about your interpretation of Sei…

steeples my hands. oh, i have so much to say... i'm going to try to make this as clear & concise as possible, because there really aren't too many deviations, but if you have any further questions please let me know! i'd be more than happy to clarify :D

that said, let's get into it! i'll be using yakuza hierarchy terms.

sei yoshimoto, as an individual, hasn't changed very much. his background is thus: the sole heir of the yoshimoto family, and of the handful of survivors after they were slaughtered (by gokujo & allied groups) -- after which he was entrusted to the family's captain, rikuto minami.

i will not delve too much into minami's story, especially as he is a key character in deliver us from evil, but his role has essentially been sei's aide; sei was with him at the time of the slaughter, and it is a guilt they share.

to make matters worse: minami doesn't have the right to be the next patriarch, with a blood-heir still alive. but he is nonetheless a 'captain' who is expected to offer forth a sacrifice in the upcoming assassin's trial (meant to be preparation for the death game, as we know it, where the patriarchs will then offer their heirs). but without an heir of his own, nor any known/living relatives, the other patriarchs reason that sei is his only possible candidate.

sei is sent into the fray, and none of the old guard will step in to stop his impeding death.

there are many power plays happening behind the scene, but at this point... none of that really hits sei. he is just burdened with this feeling that he only has himself to rely on, as well as minami's training - because that's all it's become. his captain, his father's friend, has become so much colder now. harsh and insistent. detached and desperate. all at once. it's heartbreaking.

during the young assassins' training under captain minami, kai and sei are two of the agents that show the most potential. they're often pitted against one another and find the other quite frustrating to deal with. in this sense, the way in which they clash is similar to what we see in-game... and they slowly come around to one another once they realize they are simply. two people, two kids, who are fighting to survive for the one person who would stay at their side, no matter what. even once all of their affections faded, the trust is still there. but the two of them are lonely in ways they cannot, and couldn't dare, express. it is then, that they realize they at least have each other... they form a friendlier bond, though they're as competitive as ever. with each other to rely on, they improve quite quickly after this.

however, they are separated just before the assassin's trial begins.

minami has removed himself from being a general trainer for the candidates, and has instead focused in all his efforts on training sei alone. gashu takes the opportunity to have kai improve his weak physical constitution. it is very laborious for both of them, and moments to meet are few and far between, until it finally begins.

and of course... we know how it ends. kin reunited, and ruined.