#kiibouma is losing right now so if you don't care strongly please vote them for me hehe

[cry-stars]

Sharing my Kiibouma propaganda here!!

While Kokichi teases Kiibo all the time and Kiibo reacts negatively, it's shown as being in a comedic way, something like a bokke/tsukkomi pairing. Kiibo has agency, and if he was very bothered by Kokichi's teasing, he wouldn't spend so much time with him. This is also shown when Himiko makes a "robophobic" comment towards Kiibo in one of the later trials, and Kiibo responds, "I don't think we're close enough to be cracking those kinds of jokes with each other," implying that he doesn't mind so much if it's someone he's friends with.

I understand if people dislike the teasing, it can get pretty harsh, but even if Kiibo gets upset, he never stays upset, and continues to spend time with Kokichi. It's not an abusive ship. Any ship involving Kokichi is going to be Interesting, and Kiibo definitely takes his quirks in stride.

Another interesting point regarding the teasing is that it nearly always happens after Kiibo says something related to him being either human or a robot, and Ouma viciously points out how he's a robot and different from a human. At the end of the game, Kiibo acknowledges that he was trying to be human, but realizes that he wants to use his power as a robot to save everyone. As Ultimate Supreme Leader, Ouma shows a lot of mastery over reading people and situations. It could be that Ouma was able to understand Kiibo's true feelings about being a robot, and was, in his own prickly way, trying to push Kiibo towards the conclusion that he would eventually come to in his own heart: learning to accept himself for who he is and fully appreciating his talents as a robot.

While Shuichi and Kaede are the player characters of v3, Kiibo was the "audience surrogate," and has many similarities to Makoto Naegi in both design and in his beliefs about hope. Because of this, you could see Kokichi as being the rival to Kiibo's protagonist. They are frequently seen together, have contrasting colour palettes to make them look visually interesting together, and most importantly, interact frequently.

The thing that makes them the most like a protagonist/rival ship, and what maes them very compelling to me, is when I compare them to Komahina from SDR2, which is much more textually supported. Komaeda does many bewildering and upsetting things, but even when Hinata is angry and upset by them, he never gives up on trying to understand Komaeda's point of view. Kiibo treats Kokichi the same way. While others, including Shuichi, give up on trying to understand Ouma after chapter four, Kiibo is the only one to try to talk to Ouma after he's holed himself up in the hangar. He also believes that Ouma's dying words could be trusted.

Most of all, in worlds without killing games, Kiibo genuinely considers Kokichi to be his friend, according to Ultimate Talent Development Plan. He decides to "re-examine his view of" Kokichi, stating, "Though I can't trust your words, I do trust the three years we spent together as classmates. So the truth I choose to remember is that we are--and always shall be--friends." By doing this, Kiibo shows more understanding of Kokichi than most other characters in the games. Kokichi's words can't be trusted, but his actions can be.

I ship Kiibouma because their interactions make me laugh, and because I love how they work to understand each other! In happier worlds without killing games, they are friends who argue in a friendly way. I love their comedy but also the deeper ideas that lie beneath the surface. They're an underrated ship that is often maligned as being abusive, but if you are able to accept the teasing as comedy, it's such a fun ship.

Danganronpa Shipping Battle - Round 1

Kiibo & Kokichi: C’mon guys Kokichi and Kiibo interact so much in the game they’re literally found in the same room at the beginning Kiibo is the ONLY ONE who tried to reach out to Kokichi in chapter 5 to talk things out they’re in love your honor