#kiryu is not real and he can not hurt you. it’s okay

[24-hr-cinderella]

Okay so I finished Yakuza 0 on Monday, because I wanted finish that sucker before I went back to work after ten days of leave. Thoughts below, both about game things and storyline things, in no particular order~

I have too many feelings. This is not new, I have always had too many feelings, but now I have them about this series. Aaaaaargh.

For context, you should I played Kiwami first (I know that's technically the wrong order, but Kiwami was on Switch, and I only got access to a PS4 after I finished Kiwami). This meant I cried when I realised Reina was going to show up, and my heart hurt so much so often over Nishiki. But I am so so glad he got to be a good guy in 0. So glad. Even if it HURT.

I was shit at Fantasy Zone in 1991 on the Game Gear, and I'm still shit Fantasy Zone. This ties into something I really loved about the 1988 city settings - the arcade games you could play in this were the games I remember playing (or watching people play in the case of Space Harrier) in the arcades myself! In the same year, some of them!

Relatedly, The Miracle Johnson subquest made me do three things: 1) want to die of awkward, 2) cackle like a banshee because of that whole burying MJ working with Sega in the 90s thing where they tried to pretend it never happened and people went "bro this is Stranger in Moscow in your game bro BRO", 3) smile sadly, because it was also perfectly observed for what would have happened in 1988 with that particular star, and I remember when he WAS a star and we didn't know he was an absolute monster, and jesus, six year old me cried somewhere over that.

The whole game was just a trip for someone born in the early 80s, who was a pop culture nerd, who knows the history of Sega, who LIVED the history of Sega, and for that alone I fucking loved the game. Well. Most of it.

Media King can FUCK OFF. THAT FUCKING DANCING GAME. FUCK YOU YOU OLD BASTARD ALSO WHY ARE YOU TETSUYA NAITO, FUCK OUTTA HERE

I am vexed at how much more fun I had fighting as Majima than I did as Kiryu (up until I got Dragon style, which still rules). Fighting Breaker Majima in Kiwami annoyed the holy living piss out of me, so you bet I fought as much in that style as possible on the Majima side. I love you Kiryu but would it kill ya to learn a dancing fighting style? How bout some Capoeira?

I didn't ship it, but I teared up a bunch of times over Majima and Makoto and I loved that part of the story so much. Remember I've come from Kiwami; I've not experienced the Mad Dog of Shimano doing things like showing tenderness. I knew that he was restrained in this one, but I assumed he was emotionally shut down entirely, and... He kinda is, or he wants to be, but he can't help but want to look after this incredibly vulnerable person and aaaaaaaaaaargh aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH

On a similar note, I found restrained Majima *painfully*relatable. I am not saying I have anything in common with a guy who turned into an emotional shut in because he lost someone desperately important to him and was subsequently tortured for months on end but I do relate hard to becoming a ghost of yourself, and as I have only just come out of an extended period of exactly that... man. MAN. So many Feelings.

I am not okay about Nishitani.

I am not okay about Tachibana.

That post credit sequence was the most emotional whiplash I think I have ever experienced. Music boxes, musical lockets, shit like that, guaranteed to make me cry, just, like, in real life or whatever. They make me emotional okay I don't even know why. Makoto finding hers repaired and playing music: SOBBING. It cuts straight to THIS PAIR OF IDIOTS and the last thing said in the entire game is an absolutely joyous "KIRYU-CHAN!" and I CACKLED LIKE EVERY BANSHEE IN IRELAND. MY PARTNER ASKED IF I WAS OKAY. FOR FUCK'S SAKE. NO I AM NOT OKAY OH MY GOD.

I am now having a small break, in part not to burn myself out but in part because I really need to give P - my partner - back his PS4 for a bit. I begged him to let me use it for Yakuza because I loved Kiwami so so much, but there wasn't anything else on the Switch, and I'm normally a Switch gamer. And he agreed, and to be clear he's fine with me using it, but I am also aware that I can't monopolise his console. But. On Saturday, when he's at work, it's Kiwami 2 time. What am I letting myself in for...

[yakuzabrainrotlive]

Infinite wealth finale part 2! It's finally over... Feels unreal 🙃 I've actually reached this point.

SO. What's next? Well. I decided to hop on to the Pirate game after this and then I'll do the DLC content for this game. Why? Because I'm still 100% blind and have not seen a single spoiler about anything in the Majima game. And I don't know how long I'll be able to remain that way if I wait.

Some light commentary about the ending in terms of Kiryu at the end of the post!

Hoo boy, isn't this the area where the helicopter lads attacked us in Y6? Man, wouldn't it be really silly if it happened aga-

:(

Come on. I was joking!!

Nevermind! The BOYS are here!! And they're looking real sharp 👀❤️ Glad to see you back in leather pants, Majima!

I like Daigo's outfit, he looks neat!! But. It would have been VERY funny if he'd pulled up to this shitstorm in his stuffy chairman suit. Like, really funny. This is cool too, though!

...

for me? 👉🏻👈🏻🥺

Awww, game! You shouldn't have!!

Well... if you insist :)

Christmas came real early this year, eh? Thanks, RGG Studios! And also thanks to the random NPC who left this beautiful piece of equipment on the ground 🫶🏻

It was a cool fight! Overall Ichi vs Ebina felt more epic and cinematic, but this one had more emotional impact. So it all ended

Ohhhh, Ebina. Kiryu knows. Kiryu knows this too damn well. Has known for DECADES, now:

And I absolutely think the 'jimas know as well.

I can see where Ebina is coming from, though. The Yakuza ruined his life and now they want to go back into society and not even get punished?

This is a big issue that really doesn't have a solution that satisfies both parties. Yes, they are criminals and they have hurt and killed countless people, for... who knows how long. And now society at large is supposed to accept them back in? To the victims and their families it'd definitely feel like these people don't have to take any accountability for their actions.

But! Will the problem ever truly go away if the ex-yakuza keep being shunned? We already saw them going back into that life because they had no support network or a chance to even try to support themselves financially any other way. The yakuza will never cease to be a thing if the people trying to leave it don't have any other place to go.

Both sides have their points. There was no way to solve this issue without a big number of people being hurt in some way.

HELL YEAH!! Now we're talking!

You can't make amends in death!! You have to keep living and you gotta make that shit COUNT!

Thank you, Ichi and everyone else on the team!! You got through to him! You actually did it, you absolute madlads!

Gahhh;; if only Kiryu knew how proud Nishiki and Kashiwagi would be if they had seen this scene... 😭

Ichi, you are a saint. Bless your sweet heart. You are so much better than I am. Because I want JUSTICE FOR MY MANS HANAWA AND I WANT IT NOW. Yeah, yeah. He had his reasons and he's giving himself up to the cops. And props to him for that. But.

The problem here? I'm an angry, spiteful little woman. I hold on to grudges like Kiryu holds on to guilt; nonstop, intensely, and about too damn many things. Good on you for trying to change, Eiji. Genuinely. You're still on my shitlist, though. It's on SIGHT.

Okay, onto other things!

I hated the music they played until the credits. I don't care about the lyrics, the vibe just didn't match the scene for me. They were going for that hopeful tone, but it just felt JARRING when I was watching a half-dead Kiryu get dragged into that helicopter and then surgery at the same time. Muted the game, but it managed to ruin the mood for me.

I bet a lot of people liked the song choice and I respect that. For me... it was 100% a miss.

HIIII SWEETIES OMG 🥺😭🥺😭❤️😭🥺😭❤️😭 IT'S HER?? IT'S HIM?? THEY'RE HERE??? I'M NOT DREAMING?? I feel like Kiryu at the end of Y5, staring up at Haruka in wonder. I'm not even mad about not seeing the reunion, I'm just happy to see these two 😭❤️ Haruto has grown so much...

He lives!! AND he has a name!! YIPPEE! Good for you, Kiryu 🥺❤️

Some people might be shocked at the state he's in, but I truly am not. He's getting cancer treatments!! That shit WRECKS you physically and mentally! Just seen it happen recently with a friend. Those treatments are NO joke.

Kiryu was already in a rough shape and now he started cancer treatments this late into the process? I'd be more surprised if he looked even remotely okay. He's fighting on, and he's a KING for it. That's. My. BOY!!

Now. Time for the big guestion:

DO I THINK KIRYU IS DEAD?

I... no. No I don't. And I have a reason. Though, I will fully admit that I am constantly crushing pure and unfiltered copium into a fine powder and snorting it every hour. But still...

Yes, the death flags are too numerous to count. Yes, to the point that the game feels like a funeral march - a fun one, but a funeral march nonetheless. Yes, Kiryu does think he'll die and he started receiving treatment alarmingly late. All valid points that I see clearly.

BUT. What I don't see is RGG Studios, of all game studios, being so utterly DISRESPECTFUL as writers that they would kill KIRYU FUCKING KAZUMA off-screen. Kiryu?? WON TOU got an on-screen death! Terada got TWO hella dramatic ones!!! And they'd just kill KIRYU off screen?? I just... I don't see it. I feel like if they'd planned to have Kiryu die here, it would have been during the scene with the jarring song in it, before the credits.

Do I think we'll get to see Kiryu again? Maybe not!! He's definitely not gonna be a playable character ever again, I'm not THAT deep into my copium high. This was the conclusion of his arc as a main character. Hell, maybe we won't see him again! But I'd honestly prefer them leaving Kiryu alive and never seeing him again to just... letting this ambiguous thing play out and then getting a "lol yeah btw... he died after that" in the next game.

Some people might not see why it'd make a big difference. But it does, to me. And I do think killing Kiryu off like this would be an atrocious writing choice to make. But that's honestly just my very subjective and heavily biased perspective. If they did it, I will not like it one bit, but that's life. All art will always have people who appreciate it and people who hate it. If you like this as a way of writing Kiryu's death, that's cool.

As I said, I'm going into Majima's game 100% blind. My only wish for it? I want to know Kiryu's status. No, I don't need to see him, I just want to know what happened. I'd hate for this specific subject to be left this ambiguous.

[mind-me-n0t]

Like a Dragon: Yakuza - Episode 2

It doesn't hurt like I thought it would?

I don't know whether it was my own effort to temper expectations or the flurry of sucker punches in episode 1, but I'm now comfortable with enjoying this show on its own merits and not just hone in on every single deviation from the games. I rather enjoyed episode 2, as a matter of fact.

I still don't dig the story structure with the parallel time lines and I don't think they will move away from it until the every end, which sucks.

But all in all, I got a good feeling about it now. Or at least a better feeling. More detail and spoilers below.

The episode starts out answering one of my questions from the last epiode: How old are these people? In 1986 they were... 10-ish? I don't know children. But that fits with Kiryu being around 20 years in 1995, give or take. Quite a few years to shave off a character, especially since the series is middle-age-men-punch-each-other-simulator, but you can't have everything, I guess.

A lot of episode 1 felt like a "fuck you" to Yakuza fans - or at least to me personally - with how much fundamental stuff being changed to dramatically. Now in episode 2, I feel like the show is extending an olive branch. That, or maybe I'm just developing Stockholm syndrome. Kiryu is in his suit, hanging out with Date who's helping him find his footing again 10 years later. What I liked about the leaving prison scene in episode 1 is built upon here. And Kiryu making silly comment with that straight face of his, where you can't tell if he's joking or oblivious to what he is saying.

So Haruka's mom is in cahoots with a group of Satanists who runs around killing yakuza? Alrighty then? It is nice that Yumi and Mizuki Aiko are separate people, that plot line wasn't exactly the best part about Yakuza 1. I guess it's also nice that the women are given some agency, although it's never been a real must-have for me. The feminist within me leaves as soon as I find myself in Kamurocho. I'm just here for the crime boys, okay?

And then it's back to 1995. Let's do the time warp agaaaaaaain!

A good chunk of this episode is dedicated to the four of them - Kiryu Nishiki, Yumi and Miho - starting their new lives indebted to Doujima. Getting their living space set up, getting an aniki to mentor them and the girls getting started on hostessing. I kind of understand why they have lightened Kiryu's character so much, since his normal lone wolf shtick would fit rather poorly with this situation. And despite circumstances being pretty iffy, they are having a great time together. Perfect for a downfall later on... We all love found families around here.

And then enter THE EMPTY FUCKING LOT! Alongside American Tachibana and his sister with a pendant worth a million yen or whatever! I don't necessarily mind that the show is just playing the greatest hits of the series, but I fear that it's going to mash ALL of the games' plot lines together (I'm looking at you, Taiga-san. Better check them bullets before you go on your kamikaze mission!).

See, this is where the time jumping gets muddling again! Are we after the seal in 1995 or the Omi's 10 billion yen in 2005? We kind of know that someone finds the seal since Kiryu gets to stare at the Millennium Tower at the start of this episode. Probably Nishiki, since he's up in the ranks in the Tojo now. Can't we just have one mystery at the time, please. Especially since what is happening in mystery #2 spoils what happens in mystery #1.

But a lot can be forgiven because I am a sucker for what I already know and here comes Majima and his kyoudai!

(Did they change Saejima's family name to Taiga since it is a little silly to have them be the "-jimas"? Or is he just getting addressed informally? Rude!)

I wish their entrance had been a little more bombastic, but I guess Majima needs to have his breakdown somewhere in the time skip in order for the fun to get proper started. It's all good, my boys are finally getting to know each other.

And while I'm still riding on that high, who else enters the scene but the sunshine of my life. And now we have Kiryu in babysitter mode as he is destined to be! I love it... please don't drop the ball on this, episode 3!

[twilightmalachite]

Christmas Live - Dot to Dot 3

Author: Akira

Characters: Hinata, Tetora

Translation Team: Mika Enstars & 310mc

EN Proofer: ryuseipuka

"But don’t say things like “this twin” or “that twin”—I don’t really mind, but Yuuta-kun does."

[Read on my blog for the best viewing experience with Oi~ssu ♪]

Season: Winter

Location: Dojo

Hinata: ‘Scuse me~!

Ossu! ♪ This is Aoi Hinata, the reliable older brother of 2wink! You here, Kiryu-senpai~?

Umm, it’s about the outfit I asked you for! I thought maybe it’d be done about now, so I stopped by to pick it up!

You’re probably busy though, aren’t you, Kiryu-senpai~?

Theeen I’ll just call off my request for the outfit, so you don’t have to worry about… Oh?

Tetora: … …

Hinata: Hey, it’s Tetsu-kun! Hey-o~, what’re you up to?

Strange, only Tetsu-kun’s around? Is Kiryu-senpai not here? Hello~?

Tetora: … …

Hinata: Hi-yah~! ☆ [1]

Tetora: Owah~!? What’re you doing all’a sudden!? Are you an assassin out to get me!?

Hinata: Ahaha, no one’s tryna kill you, Tetsu-kun! Wow, what an amazing reaction time!

Even while meditating in a zen state, you were able to notice my jumping kick and dodge immediately, huh…♪

Impressive as always, Karate Club! It was just a test, Tetsu-kun, so don’t get mad, ‘kay~? Y’know, a little prank! ♪

Yup, here’s your certificate! From here on, you may call yourself lǎoshī, okay?

Tetora: Sorry, I’m findin’ it difficult to respond to a flurry of words thrown at me… You’re real energetic in this cold weather, aren’tcha, Aoi-kun…

Ermm, you’re the twin that’s Hinata-kun, right?

Hinata: Mhm. But don’t say things like “this twin” or “that twin”—I don’t really mind, but Yuuta-kun does.

I don’t blame you, though! Even I spot myself in the mirror and exclaim, “Yuuta-kun!” from time to time!

Hmm… Maybe I should wear a name tag with “Hinata” written on it to make it easier to tell us apart?

Tetora: More importantly, didja have somethin’ to do at the dojo? As you can see, the Karate Club’s got the day off from club activities today, so~?

Hinata: Well as I can see, it looks like you’re practicing meditating or something, Tetsu-kun! Doesn’t that count as practice—or perhaps, training?

Why zen meditation, actually? I guess there’s a big sign in the back with “self-control!” on it, but what exactly is the training for?

I don’t really get it, but it looks fun, so, I’m in! ♪

Tetora: Ooh… Wow, amazin’ as always. I mean, you need a flexible body for zen meditation…

But you got yourself into the right posture just fine. Meanwhile, my body’s so stiff that I almost felt like my bones were gonna crack.

I forced my body into this meditation position, so now I can’t get outta it on my own… I’d love some help unfolding my legs if that’s alright with ya…[2]

Although, I feel bad for making a guest do work…

Hinata: Okay~! ♪ Whoa, you’re seriously stiffened up! It’s like you locked your own joints up… You did it so clumsily that it’s practically a skill in itself!

Tetora: Owowow! Please be a li’l more gentle on me!

Hinata: Bear with it, okay~, you’ll hurt your muscles if you move! Alright, there we go! ♪

Tetora: Ahh, whew… You really saved me there, ossu. I’ll be absolutely sure to repay the favor—You have Nagumo Tetora’s word on it!

Hinata: Right. So, is Kiryu-senpai here? I need him for something real quick, so~…

Tetora: Ahh, Taisho’s been making outfits for a bunch’a units that’ve sent in a request.[3] He’s real close to finishing ‘em all up, so he’s confining himself to his home in order to try and stay focused.

I wanna help him out too, but I’d just get in his way when it comes to that stuff~… I’ve got the free time now ‘cuz I don’t have any idol work either, so I settled with doin’ some self-training.

I seem to have no self-restraint, or more like, I immediately act on the first decision I make… I wanna get a better handle of that part of myself, so that’s why I was doin’ zen meditation.

The “self-control!” hanging scroll is meant to embody my resolve~♪

Hinata: I see… I thought maybe you were suppressing somethin’ strange down…

My brother’s like that too, but you’ll reach a breaking point if you don’t get it out of your system in time, you know?

Tetora: Well, it’s just in my nature to do this. If I don’t learn to keep control of myself through zen meditation and stuff, I’ll just end up causing trouble by running ‘round without any thought, and that doesn’t help anyone~

I’ve had enough of bein’ that “klutzy kid” to everyone.

[ ☆ ]

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I wasn’t able to convey it clearly in English, but Hinata is mimicking Bruce Lee’s signature cry here, so it’s likely he’s doing a Bruce Lee jumping kick as well.

One of the zen meditation postures require you to sit in lotus position, as shown in Tetora’s CG.

Taisho (Taishou, 大将) is how Tetora calls Kuro. It means “chief”, “boss”, “general”.

[jewwyfeesh]

Sakura & Rose - Endeavours of the Heart 4

Writer: Mitsuki

Characters: Hasumi Keito, Kiryu Kuro, Kagehira Mika

Translated by: jewwyfeesh

Kuro: Kagehira said it’s a gift from Sakuma to him. Do ya wanna try? It’s really delicious.

Season: Spring

Location: Dojo

Kuro: Sigh~

Keito: Is something the matter, Kiryu? It’s rare to see you sighing in despair like that.

Not to mention, you’ve been in a daze since just now. What happened?

Kuro: Err… how do I put this… there’s somethin’ I’m to help with, but they’re still undecided ‘bout it, so my head kinda hurts ‘cause of that.

Keito: Eh? Are you able to tell me more about this? I might be able to lend a hand.

Kuro: The situation’s like this. Earlier on, I bumped into Kagehira on the roof, and then…

Keito: So that’s how it is. Though, wanting to sew an outfit for Itsuki’s Mademoiselle, it really is a task that has some degree of difficulty to it.

Kuro: That’s true. I had thought of makin’ it in accordance with Valkyrie’s style and what Itsuki likes, but somehow, it felt like it was lackin’ somethin’.

Keito: Hm… let me think. Could it be lacking some sort of new, creative twist?

Moreover, I feel that if you were to make it in Valkyrie’s style, it would be extremely difficult to surpass Itsuki, for he is someone familiar with making clothes of that particular style.

If you want to demonstrate awareness and sense of design, then I think it’ll be good to consider a different style.

Kuro: A different style? Lemme think… what are the styles Itsuki likes?

Keito: What about adding a little Japanese flair?

Kuro: Eh? Japanese-style?

Keito: That’s because we Akatsuki also use this particular style as our foundation. If you choose to go with it, you’ll be in your element. Who knows, it might impress Itsuki as well.

It should be easier for you to succeed if you were to create within your field of expertise.

Kuro: Oh! So that’s how it is. As expected of Hasumi. Valkyrie’s more of a Western-style, and us Japanese. If one were to make clothin’ that’s of middle ground between the Japanese and Western styles, it’ll be pretty unique.

If Kagehira decides ta make somethin’ for Mademoiselle, I’ll be sure to suggest this ta him. Thank you, Hasumi.

Keito: There’s no need for thanks. Though, what were you eating while you were in a daze earlier on? Are you really feeling alright?

Kuro: Ah, this is the treat[1] that Kagehira gave me just now. I was so distracted thinkin’ about stuff that I ate it subconsciously… hadn’t expected it to taste so frickin’ good, though.

Kagehira said it was Sakuma’s[2] gift to him. Do ya wanna try? It’s really delicious.

Keito: Please spare me, I won’t be able to stomach that.

During Archery Club club activities earlier on, Suou was nursing a headache for this very reason. He would look at the dessert in his hand, saying things like “Ah, what am I going to do about this, how should I deal with this, I really can’t eat any more!”

Even though I really do want to help, looking at the dessert’s[1] appearance… there’s no way I can eat that…

Kuro: Ya shouldn’t pay too much attention to its exterior. It’s real delicious.

Keito: Ah, please give me a moment, I think there’s someone trying to contact me.

Hello? Ah, it’s you, Isara.

Mhm, I understand. Okay, I’ll make my way over now.

Something happened over at the Student Council, so I’ll be making my way over there first. Do your best, Kiryu.

[Approximately ten minutes later]

Mika: Uh, Kiryu-senpai, I’m here ta look for ya!

Kuro: Please have a seat. How did it go? Did Itsuki agree to ya?

Mika: Mhm, when I returned to ta Handicrafts Club room, Oshi-san was holdin’ his head while shoutin’ real loudly, “non! That’s got no creativity! My fingers have stiffened!”

And then, I asked, “O-oshi-san, I wanna make an outfit for Mado-nee, but I don’t know if it’s okay…”

Oshi-san said, “whatever you wanna do, go ahead and do it, just don’t disturb me anymore!”

To be honest I’m ain’t sure if Oshi-san even heard what I said.

Kuro: Haha, this means he agreed. Then, let us start.

What did’ya come up with about the clothin’s style?

Mika: I hadn’t thought of anythin’ for now. Does Kiryu-senpai have any ideas?

Kuro: Earlier on, I had a li’l discussion with Hasumi, and we thought that usin’ the middle ground of Japanese and Western styles ain’t a bad idea. What do you think?

Mika: The… the middle ground of Japanese and Western? I ain’t quite understandin’ what yer talkin’ about, could ya explain it again, please?

Kuro: To put it simply, this style’s all about combinin’ Japanese-style and Western-style.

Mika: Although it’s a li’l hard to imagine that, it does sound real interestin’.

Kuro: Let’s go with this style, then.

Mm, I still have some materials we can use as reference.

Let’s create somethin’ that’ll surprise Itsuki!

Light refreshments, pastries, snacks, desserts… all of them can be used interchangeably here (head in hands). It's another of Ritsu's creations, let's leave it as that www

Again… No appellation available www… Kuro used 朔间 (Sakuma) to refer to Ritsu, so (wipes hands) Sakuma it is. For reference, Ritsu's full name is 朔间 凛月, and Rei's 朔间 零.

[snuggetfish]

Okay but imagine Majimas spouse being fed up with all that yakuza shit since it’s affecting majima negatively, so s/o suggests that they should fake their death and move to another country and live their best life?

Hmmm I think this would pose quite the dilemma for Majima, depending on which time in his life it happens.

In the years leading up to 2006, when he’s still making a name for himself in the yakuza, constantly under the looming shadow of his boss and mentally in a bad place... well, I think that’s actually the time he’s most likely to consider it. He’s living day by day powered only by inertia, obediently playing the pawn in Shimano’s “long game” of one day seizing power in the Tojo. But when will that day come? And will it even change things for Majima? He’ll still be a leashed dog...

But while I believe he'd fantasise about faking his death and escaping from it all, at this point there’s still too much guilt, mainly around Saejima. Majima worked his ass off to get back into the clan and powered through all the shit thrown his way in the hopes of one day facing Saejima with a strong family by his side... if he gave up now, his name would be struck from the record and he’d have to live with the disappointment of not fulfilling the goal he and his kyodai set when they were young: getting to the top.

It hurts like hell, to have to choose between your beloved and your life’s work that you’re more or less chained to... so maybe his partner should leave it as a suggestion, not an ultimatum. Because they’re not going to like Majima’s answer otherwise.

For sure there’s a bit of sunk cost fallacy at play here as well. The more years pass, the more Majima’s likely to think “I can’t leave now.” Still, around Y2 he  becomes disillusioned with Tojo leadership and even though his family grows bigger day by day, he starts to realize he doesn’t have to officially be yakuza to offer them a “home”. 

It would still take a while to convince him at this point, but with Shimano gone, Kiryu-chan settling down with his own quiet life and Daigo not yet in the picture, Majima finally starts taking the idea seriously.  In Nishida he’s got a dependable successor for the position of Majima Construction’s CEO and I’m certain he’s already got a will of sorts, with instructions on how to incorporate all the boys who still want to be yakuza into an eventual Saejima family. When... if it happens. There will always be some guilt, knowing that although he’s “died”, he still hasn’t properly atoned for his Ueno hit absence, but he keeps it at the back of his mind. One day he’ll return and get what’s coming to him, for sure...

Finally, if we’re talking about Majima from Y4 and beyond, Saejima becomes a much more real obstacle standing in the way of a “clean” escape. On the one hand, he of course doesn’t want to let go of his brother now that he’s back, but on the other hand he also gets exposed to Saejima philosophy: it’s never too late to start over. Faking his death and disappearing can be his way of “retiring” from yakuza life to begin a new chapter... but, you bet Majima would beg the big tiger to come with. Well, maybe beg is a strong word. He’d mope around trying to come up with arguments and scenarios where they could still work together even under new identities, but Saejima would be having none of that. He’s got a few more years in prison to get through first...

If Majima does decide to make this step, he’s gonna have to first come to terms with the fact that 25 years have turned both kyodais into very different people, whose life paths are maybe inevitably set to diverge... And it’ll be hard.

So I touched on a lot of stuff here but in short I guess the answer is: it’s a hell of a difficult decision. There will always be business left unfinished, people left behind... as impulsive as Majima normally is, this is a situation that he’s gonna have to spend a lot of time contemplating. 

And his partner? He’s touched by their concern and even surprised at the lengths they’re willing to go through for his sake, throwing away the life they’ve built for themselves for the promise of a happier one by his side. For sure he’s daydreamed about it too - lying in their garden, fanned by the gentle breeze and the smell of orange trees, watching their kids grow up happy and healthy, in a place far, far away from any yakuza dealings...

It’s worth thinking also about where Majima would like to go. Tropical places aren’t really his thing, the sun doesn’t play well with his pale complexion and especially not with his pride and joy: his tattoo. Although speaking of that, he’s both looking forward to people not judging him harshly for his ink any more and also a little miffed that they wouldn’t appreciate its symbolism as much either... 

Still, he’d probably move somewhere where the climate is as temperate as Japan’s, maybe to a smaller city that still retains a bit of the cosmopolitan feel he’s used to, but is a lot calmer than Kamurocho. 

What about a fully rural life? I think it might get a little too boring for Majima... but listen on one of my Discord servers people once discussed the likelihood he grew up on a farm, given he talks about horse riding with the Y0 hostesses as if he’s actually done it... 👀 So... maaaaybe he could get accustomed to it again, once he enters his twilight years.

Oof this ended up longer than expected, but I guess I had a lot to say! Hope this gives some food for thought! It definitely did for me 💙

[cryingcow]

Kiryu & Oda - Is Tachibana Real Estate a Good Company? [RGGO]

Starting April, RGG Online has looped back to Y0 events and cards. This 2-part scratchcard mini-event features Oda “April Fools” Jun and Kiryu “asks way too many questions” Kazuma, two real estate agents who may or may not be doing real estate stuff while they pose like runway models and eat delicious ramen together :D

Some of you may be wondering why I seem to randomly insert them screenshots in the text. Usually other than showing new characters, I put them in when there’s a change in the facial expression / tone. It’s harder to tell with these Dragon Engine avatars, but they do still make :0 or :) faces (like when Oda says Kiryu’s being cute lol)

.

PROLOGUE

.

|

One day in 1988. In Kamurocho, various speculations revolve around “The Empty Lot”. Meanwhile, Kiryu, who decided to join hands with Tachibana Real Estate, meets up with Oda to discuss the future . . .

|

Kiryu: “So? What should I do from here on out?”

Oda: “Your fingerprints were lifted from the corpse in the Empty Lot. The police are spinning it in various ways. So I think you should wait until the president gives instructions.”

Kiryu: “All right. But before I cooperate, there’s something I need to know. Does your company, Tachibana Real Estate, do anything other than landgrabbing?”

Oda: “Why do you care about that?”

Kiryu: “It’s not a big deal. But I still don’t know you very well.”

Oda: “It’s as if you don’t believe in us.”

Kiryu: “Whatever you’re doing, I don’t mind.”

Oda: “Hm. Then follow me.”

Kiryu: “?”

Oda: “I’ll show you what you want. The other work we do besides landgrabbing.”

----

Oda: “We’ve arrived.”

Kiryu: “. . . Isn’t this Hideya? This is a long-established ramen shop in Champion District.”

Oda: “You’re well informed. As expected of a yakuza of the Dojima Family with roots in Kamurocho.”

Kiryu: “‘Former’ yakuza.”

Oda: “How rude of me.”

Kiryu: “So? What’s wrong with Hideya?”

Oda: “Take a look inside.”

Kiryu: “. . . What’s this?”

Oda: “As you can see, Hideya’s been in a slump these days.”

Kiryu: “What happened? Did the taste quality drop while I wasn’t there?”

Oda: “Why don’t you check for yourself? I’ll treat you, so try eating it.”

Kiryu: “I’m not owing you a debt of gratitude for the treat.”

Oda: “Heh. That’s cute.”

----

Oda: “Sorry for the disturbance.”

Shop Manager: “Welcome! Ah, Oda-san. And also Kiryu-san.”

Kiryu: “Long time no see, shop manager.”

Oda: “Shop manager, some ramen. Is that all right with you?”

Kiryu: “Yeah.”

Shop Manager: “On it!”

Oda: “It’s not a pretty shop, but it’s a shop that stood the test of time, isn’t it?”

Kiryu: “The shop’s appearance doesn’t matter as long as you can have something to eat.”

Oda: “Hm. Is that so.”

Shop Manager: “Yes, the ramen you waited for!”

Oda: “Shall we eat now?”

Kiryu: “. . . Yeah.”

Kiryu: “. . . !!”

Oda: “How is it? Did the taste quality go down?”

Kiryu: “No . . . it’s good. It’s been a while since I ate it, but it tastes the same as before.”

Oda: “Right? As far as I know, Hideya’s ramen is so delicious that it’s worth three 3 fingers in Kamurocho.”

Kiryu: “But then why aren’t there many customers?”

Shop Manager: “Ahaha, you sure can say it frankly.”

Kiryu: “Ah . . . , no . . .”

Shop Manager: “It’s okay. Because it’s true.”

Kiryu: “. . . I’m sorry.”

Oda: “So shop manager, is it true you want to close the shop and sell the land here?”

Shop Manager: “With only these many customers coming in . . . The cost of the ingredients wasted everyday is not a trivial matter . . .”

Oda: “Is that really okay?”

Shop Manager: “Certainly it’s painful that the smiles of the customers who ate our ramen can’t be seen anymore.  . . . the time has come, I’m sure.”

Kiryu: “. . .”

Oda: “I understand . . . If you want to sell the land, please contact us. We will purchase it at a higher price than other companies.”

Shop Manager: “. . . Yeah. When that time comes, I will consult you.”

----

Kiryu: “Did we really go just to find out if you could buy Hideya’s land?”

Oda: “Who knows, Kiryu-kun. now listen up.”

Kiryu: “. . .”

Oda: “How about we start at the top? Did you know that the reason why customers don’t come to Hideya is not because of the taste?”

Kiryu: “Yeah. If it tastes like that, more customers should be coming in. There has to be other reasons why the customers don’t come.”

Oda: “Spot on.”

Kiryu: “What on earth is it? What is the real reason why Hideya doesn’t have customers?”

Oda: “Hideya has been receiving harassment. The Tojo Clan subsidiary, Moriguchi Family, wants to get their hands on the shop’s land.”

Kiryu: “What did you say?”

Oda: “To strengthen their claim, they have bad guys hanging out in front of the store . . . because of these guys, the regulars steer clear of Hideya. Still, the manager of Hideya manages to keep the shop open. Until that ramen shop, which is across the street . . .”

Kiryu: “Across the street? Is that the shop with a long line?”

Oda: “It’s a recently opened shop. That shop has been robbing Hideya of customers.”

Kiryu: “Is it really delicious?”

Oda: “Not at all. You can see at first glance that it’s of lesser quality. It’s not a taste that can compete with Hideya.”

Kiryu: “Then why do they get so many customers?”

Oda: “The ramen there is 100 yen per bowl.”

Kiryu: “100 yen?! Can they make it at such price?”

Oda: “That shop has no intention of making a profit from ramen.”

Kiryu: “. . . No way, is that ramen shop . . . ?”

Oda: “Yeah. No matter how much harassment they do, they won’t evict Hideya— so it’s a ramen shop run by the Moriguchi Family, started just to rob Hideya of customers. Attacking a small shop while backed up with abundant funds . . . it’s a dirty trick. But if you ask, they’ll just say the customers are satisfied with their low price. It’s a corporate effort. What they’re doing isn’t illegal or anything.”

Kiryu: “Cheaters.”

Oda: “I agree with you.”

Kiryu: “But is Tachibana Real Estate also aiming for that land? After all, you guys have the same goal.”

Oda: “Would you prefer being with those guys?”

Kiryu: “Is it any different?”

Oda: “Hasn’t it been mentioned before? It’s our president’s policy. Protecting the land of the Champion District.”

Kiryu: “I see . . . so how are you going to protect Hideya’s land?”

Oda: “First of all, we will hold a scratch event. Of course I’ll shoulder the full cost.”

Kiryu: “Scratch event?”

Oda: “Distribute scratchcard tickets to customers who order ramen. It’s an event where you might get a wonderful prize if you win. Customers will be enticed by the expensive prizes, and once they taste Hideya’s ramen, they’ll become regulars. If the regulars spread the word around, the customers will surely return to Hideya. That’s the aim.”

Kiryu: “I see. But I don’t understand.”

Oda: “Hm?”

Kiryu: “No matter Tachibana’s policy, does Tachibana Real Estate do things that aren’t profitable? Would it be profitable for the company to protect a crushed ramen shop?”

Oda: “The president says that blocking the interest of competitors is one of the good management strategies.”

Kiryu: “I don’t know how difficult that is, but okay. But there’s one more thing I don’t understand.”

Oda: “What?”

Kiryu: “You, Oda. Are you cooperating this time because you were told to by Tachibana?”

Oda: “Of course. I’m an employee of Tachibana Real Estate, aren’t I? That person’s words are absolute.”

Kiryu: “Then what about your true intentions? After all, you also want to grab Hideya’s land, right?”

Oda: “Well, if you shut down Hideya and turn it into a sex shop, you can expect quite the profit every month. But it’s a bit of a problem for me to not be able to eat Hideya’s ramen. After all, I’m a regular at that shop. I won’t be able to eat there twice a week and relax.”

Kiryu: “. . . Heh. That kind of reason is something I can trust. So when will you start the event?”

Oda: “Tomorrow. We should do it as soon as possible.”

Kiryu: “Got it. What should I do?”

Oda: “Take the scratchcard tickets from the office to Hideya. I’ll inform the shop manager about the campaign.”

----

Kiryu: “Shop manager. I brought the scratchcard tickets from Tachibana Real Estate office.”

Shop Manager: “Sorry, Kiryu-san. To do this for this place . . .”

Kiryu: “Don’t worry about it. Because I like this place too.”

Shop Manager: “. . .”

Kiryu: “What’s wrong? Your face looks gloomy.”

Shop Manager: “It’s my first time holding an event, I don’t know if it will work . . .”

Kiryu: “The event will just be a chance to get to know Hideya’s ramen. It’s like a bonus.”

Shop Manager: “. . . Yeah. I know that . . .”

Kiryu: “Have confidence. I’m sure everyone will accept Hideya’s ramen.”

Shop Manager: “. . . Understood. I’ll do my best!”

Kiryu: “Then I can take my leave?”

Shop Manager: “Yeah, leave it to me tomorrow!”

{The door closes behind Kiryu as he leaves.}

Shop Manager: “Alright, preparations are done. Do I have a little rest before tomorrow?”

{The door opens again.}

Moriguchi: “Oh, sorry for the disturbance.”

Shop Manager: “Y-You, Moriguchi-san?!”

Moriguchi: “Hideya-san, what kind of event are you doing? If it’s something to do with these scratchcards, you might as well give up, it’ll end all the same.”

Shop Manager: “I-It doesn’t matter to you.”

Moriguchi: “I want us to have a great relationship. It’s about time you rethink getting along with us.  . . . Oh, do it.”

Yakuza: “Yes sir!”

{The sound of furniture breaking is heard as the yakuza swings around his sledgehammer.}

Shop Manager: “Wh-What are you doing?! St-Stop it!”

Moriguchi: “Joining hands with Tachibana Real Estate . . . it’s natural to feel hurt when you make light of yakuza.”

Shop Manager: “U-Uugh . . .”

Yakuza: “Boss, what do we do with these?”

Moriguchi: “Ah? Scratchcard tickets . . . It won’t be needed for a shop that will be shut down soon. Would you like to use it for a sideshow entertainment? It’ll make for a good prize.”

Shop Manager: “I-If you take that, the event will . . . !”

Moriguchi: “Shut up, fool!”

{Moriguchi punches the shop manager, causing him to collapse.}

Shop Manager: “Guh!”

Moriguchi: “To really go through all that unnecessary effort . . . Alright, let’s go.”

Yakuza: “Yes sir.”

{The door closes as the two yakuza leave.}

Shop Manager: “Damn it . . . damn it . . . !”

----

|Next morning.|

Kiryu: (It’s about time for the shop manager to be preparing to open. Maybe I can help with something.)

Kiryu: “Hm . . . ? Th-This is?!”

Oda: “Kiryu, you arrived!”

Kiryu: “What on earth happened? Hideya has been messed up.”

Oda: “It’s the Moriguchi Family. It seems they broke into Hideya last night. The shop has been messed up, and the shop’s earnings and scratchcard tickets have been taken away.”

Kiryu: “What did you say?! What about the shop manager?”

Oda: “Being treated at the hospital right now. It’s not a major injury since he only received a few hits. However, his heart is hurt . . .”

Kiryu: “. . .”

Oda: “For now, let’s clean up the shop. It may be time for business, but the event is . . .”

Kiryu: “. . . The event can be held as long as the scratchcards come back.”

Oda: “Where are you going? The Moriguchi Family?”

Kiryu: “Yeah. I know the location of the Moriguchi Family.”

Oda: “I’ll go too. This time even I’m pissed off.”

----

Oda: “Hello.”

Moriguchi: “If I’m not mistaken, ain’t you the fellows from Tachibana Real Estate? What’s this about?”

Kiryu: “We came to get the scratchcards back.”

Moriguchi: “Haw, you mean these scratchcards? Even though the shop is about to be crushed, you still have the insolence to think about events . . . But without these crucial tickets, the event won’t unfold, ain’t that right?”

Kiryu: “Return the tickets quietly. That way, I won’t have to do much to you.”

Moriguchi: “How are you two going to deal with this many people? It makes me laugh! I’m beating the fear of the yakuza into your body!”

Kiryu: “It’s easy to boast. Bring it on.”

Moriguchi: “Fine! Oi, you guys! Don’t hesitate! Do in this impertinent fool!”

.

-END-

.

EPILOGUE

.

Moriguchi: “Wh-What are these guys. Mo-Monsters?!”

Oda: “Isn’t calling us monsters a bit much?”

Moriguchi: “Eh? So-Sorry . . . !”

Kiryu: “Oi.”

Moriguchi: “Ye-Yes?”

Kiryu: “You’re not meddling with Hideya again, are you?”

Oda: “You understand exactly what will happen if you start, right?”

Moriguchi: “O-Of course! I-I will never do it again!”

----

Customer A: “Ramen and one drink.”

Shop Manager: “Yes!”

Customer B: “A large serving of Chashu Ramen!”

Shop Manager: “Yes! Please wait a moment!”

{The door opens.}

Kiryu: “Shop manager, is your body okay?”

Shop Manager: “Yeah, Kiryu-san! Thanks to you I’m full of life!”

Kiryu: “Hm, I see. The event seems to be going well.”

Shop Manager: “When was the last time the shop has been this busy? I really thank you!”

Kiryu: “That’s great. But now things are just getting started. After all, the reputation of Hideya’s ramen will echo throughout Kamurocho. You’ll be really busy starting tomorrow.”

Shop Manager: “Yeah. That’s what I desire!”

----

Oda: “Yo. How was it? How’s the shop manager?”

Kiryu: “Working happily. He gives his best regards.”

Oda: “That’s good.”

Kiryu: “Apparently you’re not the money-grubbers you seem to be.”

Oda: “Ha? What’s that? This matter is also business. Helping out Hideya will reduce the power of rival organizations. It would be profitable for Tachibana Real Estate in the long run.”

Kiryu: “. . . Heh. I see.”

Oda: “What’s that. Anyway, the job is done. Let’s eat. But it’s not my treat.”

Kiryu: “Yeah, I’ll go with you.”

.

-END-

Masterlist

[ivushk]

HELLO. MAY I PLEASE HEAR MORE OF YOUR VAMPIRE AU…. 👉👈

OH MY GOD I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Okay, SO. BUCKLE THE FUCKLE UP 'CUZ here's what I've got so far:

Nishiki and Kiryu are still orphans at Sunflower. They come from a tiny village just a few kilometres west from the orphanage. It's a very close and closed-off community. The boys' parents died in a fire when they were very little (which is a common theme for the kids at Sunflower and isn't that a crazy coincidence? *smiles mysteriously*), however the Nishikiyama family house wasn't as badly damaged as Kiryu's so it's just sitting there, waiting for its former residents to reclaim ownership as soon as they're able to (I imagine Kazama would help them with that).

In the next years it becomes a home for Nishiki, Yuko and Kiryu (and Yumi, too, though she feels like a visitor for the most part) in everything but name. It's their hangout spot, their "base of operations", their not-so-secret meeting place. When Yuko's health deteriorates so much that she can't stay at Sunflower anymore, the siblings actually properly move in to make arranging the doctor's visits easier.

It's Nishiki's 17th birthday and all three of them are celebrating and playing games and eating cake and having a good time at the edge of the woods not far from the Nishikiyama residence. They're young and loud and stupid (and ignoring the fact that several people went missing over the course of the last few months) and if Nishiki's heart beats a little too hard in his chest when Kiryu gives him his gift - a beautiful, heavy silver pendant on a slightly-worn leather cord - he doesn't think about it too much (and if he notices that Kiryu stares at him just a bit longer than usual without saying a single word but his gaze is so, so, SO fond-- he doesn't think about it either). (he leaves these kinds of thoughts for restless nights because thinking about his best friend in that way during the day... it hurts. the hurt is good sometimes but it's overwhelming).

They're drunk on the cheap beer they've smuggled from Gen-san's fridge and high on happiness. Unaware that the very same night it would all go crashing down.

At some point they all quiet down and go a little further into the woods than they normally would but no one pays any mind to that. And when suddenly their trio turns into a duo with the sudden absence of the birthday boy himself no one immediately starts panicking. He's been gone for ten minutes, twenty, half an hour. Kiryu tells Yuko to go back to the village, to gather everyone, make them start a search party or something while he keeps looking for her brother (the only things he'll find are the pendant he's gifted to Nishiki with the leather cord torn and the broken shards of his own hope). They never find him.

A year goes by and they hold a funeral for Nishikiyama Akira. Even though there's no body for them to bury. Yuko doesn't cry (she doesn't believe he's really dead). Neither does Kiryu (he used all of his tears up that night, the guilt choking him, and the night after that, and the night after that, and the night-). Yumi does, however. And the nice old lady who gave both Nishiki and Kiryu money for helping her do chores around the house. And the man who gave Nishikiyama a part-time job at his shop (to put at least something towards the cost of his sister's treatment, he felt so indebted to Kazama, and that debt weighed down on him). And a few of the girls and boys from Sunflower too.

Another two years pass. Kiryu moves away to the big city at the behest of Kazama. "It's important for you to continue your education," he says. ("It's important for you to move on," he keeps these words to himself). Kiryu really tries his best. Even makes a few friends (although he's still on the fence about whether he can actually call Oda his friend). It goes as well as it could have considering his circumstances. They say that time heals but Kazuma Kiryu never finds out if there's any truth to those words because he recieves a very short letter - an invitation, actually. To another funeral. But this time it's Yuko they're burying. This time they actually have a body to bury.

Tachibana offers his condolences. Oda offers him a ride to the village and back. Kiryu accepts both.

He can't help but compare this funeral to the last one he's been to. There are fewer people. Fewer tears, too. More flowers. It's quieter and feels something like closure (in truth, it's anything but). Yuko also left behind a will (more like a bunch of wishes since it wasn't an official document but the community decided to honour them anyway). Almost all of her possessions went to the kids from Sunflower, except for the Nishikiyama family house (which on paper actually belonged to Shintaro Kazama) which she left to Kiryu. He can't quite believe it when he hears it and feels his heart break under the onslaught of childhood memories. Still, he goes there later that evening. He finds that little has changed in the time he spent away from the house, from the village, from... all of this, really. There are the same pictures on the walls collecting only slightly less dust. The same books on the shelves and under the broken legs of the old pieces of furniture. The same medicine bottles and equipment in the bedroom, though doubled in quantity. Kiryu's not as devastated as he thought he'd be when he walks around what he used to call his home.

He goes through all the rooms, taking notes of every single thing he finds and every single thing he doesn't. He probably misses a bunch of things (he's not as good at that sort of thing, Nishiki's always had a much better eye for details). Once back outside, he looks for the secret stash they made back when they were teenagers. It's like going through a time capsule. There's a pack of cigarettes he and Nishiki once stole from the teacher's bag, copybooks filled with ugly doodles, dreams for the future and dried flowers and leaves, caps from soda bottles, rocks they thought looked cool, photos and birthday cards damaged by time and weather... the pendant Kiryu gave to Nishiki the last time they saw each other. And a small notebook Kiryu's never seen before. A diary of sorts, a recounting of their days together and their days apart. The handwriting is unmistakingly Yuko's.

It fills him with nostalgia, tears welling up in his eyes, unshed. His heart sinks when he finally reaches the pages where Yuko recounts the last few weeks before she-

She writes about her brother, which is understandable. What's less understandable is the fact that she speaks of him as though he was there, with her. Physically present. Kiryu could chalk it up to the girl being delusional in her dying moments but it doesn't feel right to do so. It's stupid, it's absolutely impossible, he's confused, he's hopeful, why would Yuko hide her notebook there?

The last page. A message. For Kiryu. "Please, Kazuma-kun, help my brother".

Against his better judgement, Kiryu decides to spend the night in the house. Sleep doesn't come to him but that's fine. He sits in the living room, trying to make sense of everything. He sits there until it's way past midnight, until the distant barking of the dogs quiets down, until the rustling of leaves stops, until the very air around him grows still and silent and somehow charged with strange energy. And then he hears it. Three uncertain taps against the window. Kiryu turns his head. It's him.

"Kiryu... Let me in. Please."

He does, without thinking. (He could never very well say no to Nishiki. Even if it got them both in trouble. Even if he's not real.)

The quiet is deafening. It really is him. His best friend (whom he thought dead). His kyoudai. Before Nishiki could say anything, Kiryu wraps him in a tight hug. The only heartbeat between them is Kiryu's own, thundering against his ribs. Nishikiyama doesn't let the hug last, putting some distance between them. He looks guilty, tired; looks at Kiryu with sadness, with longing and something else that he can't quite decipher yet (and it makes him scared but why?). Nishiki also looks older than Kiryu remembers. Not a 17-year-old boy anymore, no. About the same age that Kiryu is now.

Has his gaze always been so sharp? Have his fangs always been this pronounced?

They talk until their throats are hoarse. Until Nishiki pulls out a bottle with some liquid that smells strongly of iron and drinks from it and in that moment Kiryu believes everything his friend has told him. It's crazy, but he does.

Nishiki was abducted that night. Taken from them. By vampires. They hurt him. Forced him to fight other humans (just like him then) for his survival. They fed on him.

It went on and on and on... Days turned into weeks, turned into months, turned into years. Only thoughts of Yuko, and Kiryu, and Yumi kept him going. He wanted to see them again. He hoped he would. That hope was crushed when Nishikiyama met his match in the arena. No, not his match. Someone far stronger. He lost and was tossed out to die. But another vampire saved him. It was a woman, whose face he saw often among the spectators of his fights. She stood out from the crowd, since she never cheered for any of the humans. Never put any bets. Only looked at all that madness with quiet horror. "Reina" she said her name was.

She gave Nishiki blood. Her own blood, and the blood of the vampires that were much stronger and more powerful than her (but not wiser), and human blood.

He turned and it was even worse than the years of anguish he had experienced. The pain and constant thirst almost drove him mad until he was taught to deal with them.

Nishiki was given a second chance. He escaped. And ever since that moment he's been trying his damndest to help other victims of those monsters. Both, the poor imprisoned souls and the villagers who might have shared his fate otherwise.

THAT CONCLUDES MY MAD RAMBLINGS BECAUSE I HAVEN'T THOUGHT OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT THAT WELL

also i don't remember the last time i wrote this much in one sitting and i'm tireeeeeed. i'm not cut out to be a writer and it shows nghghghhhhhh

but! but! but! i have a couple thoughts on where the story goes:

kiryu decides to stay in the village and help nishiki

they uncover the vampires evil plans and recruit a few other characters to fight on the side of JUSTICE (i.e. kazama, who up to that point has been kind of in cahoots with the vamps - hence trying to atone by means of creating the Sunflower orphanage; kashiwagi; yumi; reina; tachibana and oda; majima, and yeah he was actually the one that defeatead nishiki and unknowingly caused him to become a vampire, also majima himself turns into a vampire later in the story thanks to a certain mad simp nishitani)

yuko comes back as a vampire

at some point the scene from my fanart happens; something along the lines of kiryu and nishiki being found by the evil vamps and being attacked. then of course nishiki saves kiryu (who's still baffled that this shit is happening to them and vampires are REAL) and tells him to run which he doesn't but it works out fine in the end

the scene of nishiki drinking kiryu's blood is a MUST because i. love. that. shit. (it's also extremely horny dfjvhsdkfhiasdfhisd)

nishiki's personality is somewhere in between his ykz0 and ykz k*wami self (like, he's much colder now but he still cares about others and does things not just for the sake of his own ambition)

idk about the end but immortal boyfriends? sounds nice?

[zevzevarainai]

Kiryu and Majima teaching Haruka self-defense? (Whether they get distracted and fight each other or not up to you)

i did do this a little bit here, but it is very spoilery if you havent played all of kiryu’s mainline games and it was just majima teaching her so let’s do it again

--

She pulled her hair back out of her face in a high ponytail, then attempted to shake out her nerves. “Okay. I’m ready. Start attacking me.”

Kiryu laughed softly, which went unheard over Majima’s protests. “This ain’t the construction site where we taught ya to run away. This is beatin’ the shit outta people! ‘M not just gonna start attacking you.”

Haruka’s shoulders slumped. “What… do I do first, then?”

Kiryu moved through the sand to be behind her, fixing her stance. “The most important thing to remember is a person’s vulnerable spots,” he told her. Kiryu moved her arms to point at Majima. “Eyes.” He moved them with each body part. “Nose. Throat. Groin.”

“The boingloings,” Majima grinned. 

Kiryu only sighed. 

Majima took her from Kiryu and spun her around. “Don’t bother with the chest.” He moved Haruka’s arms to hit him. “Yer daddy’s got pecs of steel, but it’s not gonna work on most others either. Now tell me the weak spots again.”

“Eyes, nose, throat, boingloings,” Haruka repeated dutifully. 

Majima laughed and kissed her temple while Kiryu’s eyes were rolling into the back of his head. “Good job, scamp,” Majima said affectionately. “Ya gotta remember that, alright?”

Haruka was going to move to Sotenbori with Majima in a matter of days so she could take dance and voice lessons. Majima had promised Kiryu that he’d teach her how to fight to ease not just Kiryu’s mind, but Majima’s as well. Deciding it would be a good bonding activity, Majima insisted Kiryu help him with a first lesson on Okinawa’s shore. 

Majima stepped back. “Show me a stable stance, Haruka-chan.”

She steeled herself, attempting to look tough.

“Your arms are too close to you,” commented Kiryu. “Plant your feet on the ground.”

Haruka fixed her stance. 

Majima took the same stance next to her. “How can ya get the boingloings like this, scamp?”

“Uh, kick?”

“Yeah!” he praised. “Kick ‘em in the boingloings!”

“Majima no nii-san, please stop saying ‘boingloings,’” Kiryu groaned. 

“Kick ‘em in the dingleberries!”

“God. Go back to the first one. What is wrong with you.” 

Majima kicked the air fiercely, then looked to Haruka. She mirrored him. 

“More force,” said Kiryu. Haruka did, then stumbled back, falling onto the sand.

“Sorry,” she giggled.

“It’s okay,” Kiryu smiled, extending his hand. “If they are too close to you, use your knee, okay?”

She nodded enthusiastically, brushing sand off her pants. 

“Ooh! Another one!” Majima tugged on Kiryu. He pointed to his palm. Flexing his wrist, he pretended to jab Kiryu underneath his chin. He did it once more, this time aiming at Kiryu’s nostrils. 

Haruka rolled her wrists, then mimicked Majima’s pose, jabbing her hand upward.

“Good. Use Kiryu-chan as a test dummy.”

She lightly tapped his chin.

“You’ll do that harder if you are in danger, right?” said Kiryu. 

“I don’t want to hurt you!”

“I’d like to see you try,” commented Majima. “It’d be funny.” 

“If you do it hard, they should stumble back,” Kiryu continued. 

“What if they grab me?” Haruka said apprehensively. 

Kiryu looked to Majima and nodded. “Who are you comfortable with touching you?” asked Majima.

“Either of you.”

“Nii-san, you grab her,” Kiryu ordered. Majima hesitated, but hugged her stomach from behind. Haruka quickly squeezed his arms as if it were a real hug. Kiryu got close in front of her. “You want to focus on getting yourself low. You’re going to bend forward to stretch his arms out first. It’s harder to pick you up that way.”

Haruka nodded, doing as she was told. 

“Now you’d hit his face as hard as you can with your elbows. As many times as it takes for you to get free.”

“Like this?” She slowly turned and aligned her elbows to his jaw.

“Like that. You want to try to turn out of his grip.”

“Hit me, little lady; I can take it!” Majima encouraged. 

“No! I don’t want to hurt you either!” Haruka protested. 

“It’s part of your trainin’,” he insisted. “Hit me!”

“You can hit him,” shrugged Kiryu. “Just a little.”

She exhaled, then hit Majima square in the jaw twice, then turned out of his grip. 

“Good job, scamp!” He screeched gleefully. He picked her up by the waist, spinning her around as she squealed. “We’ll get ya to beat the shit outta me in no time!” 

“Majima-san,” snapped Kiryu. Both Haruka and Majima flinched. “Can you take this a little more seriously?! This is her safety we are dealing with!”

Majima placed her back down on the sand. “Kiryu-chan, I’m just trying to… to make it less scary.”

“It is scary,” he continued. “There’s no dancing around that. She’s going to be in Sotenbori and she is not going to be with you all the time. Yakuza are pigs, and if they know Haruka is connected to me…” 

“Hey,” Majima coaxed, rushing over to him. He placed his hands on Kiryu’s arms. “I’m sorry, Kiryu-chan. I know it’s daunting. You wanna back out? She can stay here. With you.”

He shook his head. “That’s not fair to her.” 

“You know she’s tough. You raised her. She’s smart, too.”

“I know you’ll protect her,” Kiryu murmured. “I just… worry. This is the first time she will be away from me in a long time.”

“I get it. You’ll still see her and get to talk to her. That’s what this is all about. Her not going with those teenage idol cash cows and gettin’ to be your daughter.” 

Haruka bounced to their sides. “Yeah, Uncle Kaz. You’ll hear from me and I’ll visit all the time with Uncle Goro.” 

“You’ll remember everything Majima teaches you, right?” said Kiryu.

She nodded. 

“You have to. I trust him with your life.”

Majima blinked. He’s said it before, but it still shocked him every time. Wrapping his arms around him, he squeezed Kiryu tight. After a moment he pulled Haruka in, hugging both of them at once. 

“I’ll be okay, Uncle Kaz,” Haruka assured. 

“I know,” he mumbled. “I’m just going to miss you so much. Both of you.”

“Syrupy Kiryu-chan,” Majima purred into his shirt. 

[itsybitsylemonsqueezy]

Please now I am desperate for a Baba breakdown from you. Favorite part of him? Least favorite? What would you change? What do you think is unchangeable? *pleading face*

Oh, I see I’ve sparked an interest ^^; Of course I’ll talk about the best little whore in all of Japan, Baba Shigeki xp 

I joke, but like... have you seen Y5? He’s not leaving much up to interpretation, tbh : | And I love that! Baba is a really fantastic and well-executed RGG character and it’s a shame so much of fandom is sleeping on him. (I know mostly it’s that it takes people awhile to get to Y5 ^^; )

Baba occupies a really important space in the Yakuza universe, the assassin. He’s an important reminder that not Everyone in this universe is a moralistic do-gooder. People like Majima and Kiryu are in fact in the minority. Most of the yakuza are thugs, people ready and willing to hurt others and even kill. And we’ve had assassins before in Kazama and Sera, but they’re mostly out of our hand. We don’t know them too well personally. and that makes sense, they’re the previous generation, their values and choices are reflective of a different time. Our time is largely shaped by Kiryu, he is the yakuza messiah. But just because he’s king god of the criminal underworld doesn’t mean that the underworld isn’t still... y’know, dark and harsh. Especially since Kiryu renounced his throne. 

And Baba is the stark reminder of that. I had been waiting for a long time for us to come into contact with a yakuza member who didn’t fall in line when we finally got to Baba. Because, as we all like to point out, Kiryu’s version of this job is pretty rose-colored and naive. HE might be able to only fight bad people and to use his power to help others, but so few of us are in that position. Kiryu is king god, there are no challenges for him, there’s nothing stopping him, literally. So he CAN just do whatever he wants, up to and including being a good person. Most of us aren’t that lucky, just look at Majima. But even Majima, after a time, gets to be a good person and amasses enough power that he can be nice without it being a death threat. But they’re gods, legends. Your average yakuza member is some punk kid who grew up to being a punk adult who has a shitty boss to answer to and dues to pay. Sometimes there isn’t a convenient bad person to pick on. Sometimes, to save your own neck, you gotta take money from people smaller than you. Sometimes you gotta intimidate and scare people. Sometimes you gotta do unpleasant things to please the boss, to make ends meet, to hold up your end. Not all of us have the luxury of making moral choices. 

And Baba is in a worse position than most. Baba isn’t big and tough. He doesn’t have the physical might to be a brawler, so he can’t be some street thug. His options in life likely weren’t great. Probably an orphan, probably had no one to look after him. So he grew teeth fast and figured out quick that ain’t nobody gonna take care of him, he was gonna have to take care of himself. With a body and face like his, he could easily enter sex work of some kind but that job is punishing for a whole other list of reasons. And Baba’s no dummy, he’s canny, he’s strategic. No, he’s smart enough to use his body to dupe others. He knows people trust his angel face. And there’s more money and more security to be had in a job of violence than selling himself to the highest bidder and forever being at someone else’s beck and call. My bet is Baba’s plan was to make enough money as an assassin that he could retire and live out his life in peace where no one would bother him. And his training as n assassin would keep people off his back. Baba decided a long time ago it is MUCH better to be feared than loved. Can’t rely on love, can’t trust it. But fear, people listen to fear. 

So I LOVE that we finally get the perspective of someone who didn’t get any breaks in life, who wasn’t blessed with divine strength, or lucked into a special position. Baba had to struggle for everything and it made him sharp and it made him paranoid. He doesn’t like killing people, it’s not fun, but he’s so scared of what will become of himself, he can’t bear to stop. He can’t afford to make moral choices. He has to survive, above all things, he has to survive. So another assignment in a prison? Sure, why not. Get close to a guy he has to take out later? Sure, he’s done it before. He’s a great spy, a great flirt. And it makes him feel better to sneer over people too stupid to see through him. They get what they deserve if they believe his honeyed lies. He doesn’t have to mourn his actions if they deserved it. Wash his hands, move on to the next mark. 

Saejima should have been no different. And for awhile, it’s easy. Saejima’s a big dumb hunk of meat. All Baba has to do is bat his pretty eyes and look like he needs help. Piece of cake. But Saejima... is different. Oh, he’s duped, sure enough, he’s gentle and sympathetic and protective, all the things Baba needs, but... One of the reasons Baba hated his past marks so much and felt no remorse killing them, is they all wanted something from him. Every last one of them thought they could get something from him, usually his body, but sometimes not. Every one of them was a selfish piece of shit who would have used him just as surely as Baba is using them right back. But Saejima... Saejima doesn’t want anything. He doesn’t try anything. Even when Baba flirts, even when Baba offers, Saejima acts like he doesn’t understand. The fuck??? It starts to anger Baba, the way Saejima just looks at him blankly and shrugs off invitations. Who does this guy think he is, think he’s better than him? Baba will make him understand, make him want him. Still Saejima is stunned and still he seems to only respond because Baba is asking him to, not because deep down Saejima was trying to use him to. 

Baba can’t... he can’t accept that. That can’t be real. If Saejima really was just helping him because... because he likes him or something, because he’s nice... no, that’s wrong. No one’s good and no one’s nice. Everyone’s out for themselves. No one goes out of their way for each other. Because if they did... then why did no one ever help Baba before? He wraps himself in sureness that Saejima’s just stupid and his selfish instincts are really in there, they’re just slow to appear. He’s just like all the others, he’d kick Baba to the curb the same as anyone else and then... Baba doesn’t have to feel bad about killing him. Then Baba can pull the trigger and all of this will be done. 

He’s sure, without a doubt in his mind, when he feels his hands slip off Saejima on that snowmobile and he’s sent flying, his last conscious thought is that he’ll die here. He’s almost happy. Because then he’d be right. Saejima will have left him and he’d be right. And, maybe just a little, he’s happy that he won’t have to kill Saejima either. Maybe this is best. 

It is the shock of his life when Baba wakes up. He wakes up and he’s warm and indoors and there’s a fire going and weak broth and Saejima hovering over him with a spoon going “You’re awake!" Baba starts crying and Saejima assumes it’s the shock and holds him, actually fucking holds him and... Baba doesn’t think he can do this anymore. How is he supposed to kill the one person who’s ever been nice to him? How is he supposed to look Saejima in the eye and shoot him? Oh god, Saejima should have left him there to die, he should have, he should have... why is Saejima so fucking stupid, why doesn’t Saejima suspect? 

The next couple of weeks are some of the worst Baba’s ever spent. Saejima’s nicer than ever, cuddly and affectionate and warm, and Baba feels sick with guilt. See, this is why he only kills stupid people. This is why he only killed people who deserved it. He can’t... bear this. Pointing the gun at Saejima is the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. But he has to, his whole life has been about this, his life above anyone else’s. If he can’t kill Saejima then... what was it all for? What had it all been about? He’s crying. He’s actually fucking crying like a little bitch and he can’t stop. It’s weak, it’s pathetic, but he just wants Saejima to take the gun out of his hand, to tell him it’s going to be okay, to take him home. Saejima screams at him and Baba falls apart. Saejima swoops in on him, holds him close, takes the gun and tells him it’s all going to be okay. It won’t... in the back of his mind, Baba knows even if he fails here, he still has half a job to do. But the fact that... everything out in the open, true colors showing, Saejima is still hugging him and refusing to let go... Baba sinks into that for a minute and believes that maybe there is something else he could do with his life. 

Oh... I have feelings about Baba Shigeki ^^; I love him to death I wouldn’t change a thing. The only thing I want is for Saejima to take Baba home and bring him into the Tojo and then we’re all a weird dysfunctional family together ^^; That’s my dream. Friends and family for Baba X3

[majimemegoro]

ohh I read your tags on that one nishiki meme post,, I felt like I was hit over the head with a bicycle broo

AUTHOR is that you??? Hello!

Waait you wrote Fugue? And all the other ones??

Also you hhh you run at least one meme blog on both jojo and yakuza??? Dude I don’t know how to tell you this but you’re literally everywhere. I appreciate you!

I might just review the Nishida one soon, although I just unlocked the construction thing in kiwami 2,, and that’s pretty much where he appears.

Anyway this would be embarrassing if I were wrong but I’m pretty much 90 percent sure according to the tags on the “made-up character” post;

I wanted to say hello to you at LEAST, most of the Nishiki simp posts were made by you and I can relate. (Although I probably shouldn’t follow you because spoilers, huh?)

In other news, I’m drawing a comic about why Tonight -restart from this night- is singable all the way to Yakuza 6 (apparently?) and Judgement’s only in 0. No WAY a place focused on karaoke would only have seven songs or so!

I think that the characters only sing songs that they want to sing, meaning that Judgement could very well be there. (Confirmed by inviting Majima, where he sings songs that aren’t on the list)

What would happen if Kiryu were to sing it again? Would he be able to?? (Would he hear Nishiki’s voice even though he’s not there like in 0?) By the radio station substory it’s confirmed that Judgement is Kiryu’s favorite song so it wouldn’t make any sense unless,,

“As always, Judgement’s my song!”

maybe he can’t bring himself to sing Judgement because yknow—

Maybe it wasn’t only—

Again, I can’t get Y1 Japanese Kiryu’s heartbroken voice out of my head and that’s part of the reason why the comic’s gonna be like three/four pages instead of three panels.

Will I finish it this week? No. Will I finish this month? Probably not. Last one page comic I did took three years but I wasn’t that motivated to do it.

ANOTHER THING (and I hope I’m not bothering you, guess all my comments are ultra long sorry) you ever notice that Kiryu avoids most fights except the heat action tutorial in Yakuza 0?

Yeah so that was because one of the drunkards hurt Nishiki a little bit. NO FOR REAL look at that scene it’s really quick, but the younger drunk pushes the older into his kyodai.

(Also probably why he threw a punch at Awano despite his rank;;)

Okay I’m gonna go now before this gets any longer buh bye

AND I APPRECIATE YOU !!! I’ve still been thinking about your comment, and I’m glad we found each other here!

As for following me, I try to be careful about tagging “yakuza spoilers” and also sometimes specifically per game. But if you want to avoid spoilers entirely you should def avoid “yakuza spoilers”. But also i will not harbor any hard feelings if you unfollow until youre fully caught up :)

I agree on the karaoke songs being the songs a character would choose to sing. And as for why kiryu won’t sing judgment after y0, I think you’re likely also correct that it’s because he won’t sing without -

it’s a duet, how could he sing it without -

ANYWAY! happy to find you and PLEASE PLEASE show me your comic whenever you are ready!! it sounds delightful and I’d love to see it

[yakuzabrainrotlive]

I have had NO time to play lately fr. And when I have played, I've been growing Ichiban's social network, picking stuff off the ground and taking pictures. AND killing hundreds of evil santas at the mall because their money yield levels are nuts and I want good gear.

But. I HAVE also made progress with the main plot too. And have had time to... process it a bit.

Yeah, I got to The Reveal :) I am Suffering :) Got to the beginning of chapter 5.

So. What witty lil' thing am I supposed to say here? Like... fuck. Just. Fuck. It shattered my heart to see him break the news with this smile I can't interpret. I mostly see a man who's accepted his fate and made his peace with it, which would be in-character considering... well... *gestures at this man's entire life and then the way he was in Gaiden*. I feel like I'm sadder and more bitter than Kiryu himself is about the whole situation. Or maybe he's just hiding his true feelings very well.

I hate the fact that Kiryu's disadvantaged position in society as an orphan keeps hurting him even this late in life. It feels so unfair, it hurts, it's... incredible writing.

....yeah. Not even remotely surprised. This is just Kiryu in a nutshell. Always looking for people in need of help, a job that needs to be done, a cog he can help turn. He's always looking for a purpose; something to keep him going. And while that's something most people want, I feel like Kiryu is always living to be able to benefit other people. Very noble, but not healthy.

The start of Y3 felt like the closest we'll ever get to him properly settling down and BREATHING for once. I can never go back to that game without breaking down, huh.

THANK YOUUUU ICHIBAN WE'LL BE DOING EXACTLY THAT ❤️ we'll drag that old man into the hospital kicking and screaming if we have to ❤️❤️

Ichiban's overall reaction to the reveal surprised me. I know he's VERY compassionate and caring, but he felt so genuinely distressed it was almost shocking to me. I know they had like... mutual respect and trust going on in LAD, but I didn't get the vibe that they were THIS close. Maybe I have to go back to their shared cutscenes from LAD again. Or maybe Ichiban just feels that strongly, especially after this brief... thing they've had here in Hawaii. Nothing wrong with that at all. We love and respect Ichiban in this house.

Ichiban and Tomizawa... hmu. I will give you soup and warm cinnamon rolls. No questions asked, no need to pay.

Kiryu... please, for the LOVE OF GOD, let them help you. Let someone help you. No, don't just let them help you help others, LEAN ON THEM.

Love to see how effectively Ichiban brings out the sass in Kiryu. This dynamic is peak. They're so silly together.

*banging on my apartment walls* LET ME OUT!! LET ME OUT OF HERE!! PLEASE!! HAVE MERCY 😭😭 I don't wanna see Kiryu like this!! I'm gonna throw up!!

We're in chapter 4 and I wanna crawl into a hole to cry. I am NOT going to survive this game.

:)

ANYWAY YAYYYY!! New party member ^_^ she's SOOO cool, she's STAYING.

Okay so I already kinda have a team I really like and everyone works well together?? How the hell am I supposed to pick 3 people when the old squad (besides Eri, RIP my MVP queen 😔) is definitely coming back as well? Tomizawa and Chitose have grown on me so I don't wanna bench 'em, and I will literally be 6 feet under before Kiryu even looks at the bench, so... I'm in trouble 😭

I'm gonna have to see if Tomizawa and Chitose can be built around Ichiban and Kiryu, or if others will fill roles better. If anything's gonna make me bench 'em, it's going to be my hyper-optimizing, excel-sheet making brain that loves to make my teams as BROKEN balanced as possible.

OKAY ALSO. That better not have been it for the Barracudas. Like, for real. They were portrayed as SOOO spooky and dangerous and they honestly felt like The Threat to me. Are they really folding this early? I hope not.

THE SQUAD HAS ASSEMBLED! So pleased to have a full team ^_^

[butterflyinthewell]

I’m going to tell you the story of why I love Godzilla.

When I say not to make fun of an autistic person’s special interests, I say it from a place of deep understanding and pain. For me, an autistic SpIn is like being in love, or (for the aro folks out there), it’s like being with your best friend ever and it just feels so comfortable and good.

Sooooo in January my dad mentions wanting to watch KOTM with me. Any excuse to watch KOTM is good, so of course I jumped on it. We watched Godzilla KOTM. It’s the movie I spent all of 2019 talking about from January to May. I got it for Christmas 2019 because mom knew I was going to want it as soon as the first roar hit the screen in the theater. (I took her to see it as a Mother’s Day gift, she liked it too.)

Lemme tell y’all something: when I was a young kid, my dad got me into Godzilla. Starting when I was around 5, he told me the stories of the movies he’d seen (the whole Showa era and Godzilla 1985). So I knew about Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, King Ghidorah, Minya, MechaGodzilla, Gigan, Hedorah, Megalon, etc long before I ever saw them.

My dad said “these are important characters.”

Then he started renting the movies when he felt I was old enough to not be scared by them (age 7 in 1987) and pointed out who was who.

And my first ‘real meeting’ with Godzilla was the same as the people in 1954, when he popped his head over that hill and roared that haunting sound I never forgot, and I was hooked forever.

I loved it. I loved all of it. Dad warned me about the ending of the ‘54 movie, so I wasn’t surprised by it, but I still cried! He got me over it by showing the the rest of them, as if to go “see, he’s okay!” Then dad warned me that Godzilla was ‘the bad guy’ again in Godzilla 1985, but didn’t tell me how it ended. I was reaaaaally upset when he fell into that volcano. I probably cried about it for three days. That scream still hits something in my soul.

My favorite childhood Godzilla movie is Godzilla’s Revenge. It’s the first Godzilla movie I ever owned. I loved Ichiro’s dreams of making friends with Minya, outsmarting his kidnappers and standing up to his bullies. I even tried to pick up Monster Island using a little portable am/fm radio I had as a kid. It didn’t work, all I got was static, but I sure tried! 😋

I wanted to be an island lady like Saeko from Son of Godzilla who could call monsters for help. I wanted to be a cyborg like Katsura, except I would use MechaGodzilla to make friends with Godzilla instead of trying to hurt him.

Anyway...

Dad’s interest in Godzilla stuff kinda dropped away as the 90s hit and my autistic traits began to make me deviate more and more noticeably from my peers. I had seen all the Showa era movies, so he stopped telling stories because there weren’t any more to tell.

My love for Godzilla carried on into the Heisei era and beyond. Dad acted like I should “leave that crap behind” when I kept buying movies and talking about them to him. He didn’t want to watch them with me or look at pictures in the Godzilla Compendium I picked up.

I didn’t stop my enthusiasm for Godzilla, I just stopped sharing it with dad. I kept at it through high school. I sobbed over Godzilla vs Destroyah because I thought that was the end of the franchise, and I can’t even mention what happened to Godzilla in that movie. If you’ve seen it, you know.

In the year 1998 the rumblings for the ‘98 movie started around New Years, so of course I made noise about going to see it. Because GODZILLA, y’all!

Well, dad surprised me and took me to see Godzilla ‘98 when it came out. I had been bugging about going to see it and he kept giving me a hard no, then had me convinced we were going to a baseball game that night instead. I did nothing to disguise my boredom or hurt in the car, and it broke when we pulled up to the theater. Okay, he pulled a fast one on me and he said I did an emotional 180 spin, but it was worth it. (I still like that movie, but I don’t call that creature Godzilla. I call him Zilla or GINO instead.)

Literally right after that my dad would get mad if I talked about Godzilla. He griped that I was “so obsessed with that stupid monster” and that I needed to grow up. I was almost 18, and I had, just not the way HE wanted, I guess...

Godzilla 2000 came out. Dad grudgingly took mom and me to see it, and I finally got to live my dream of seeing a legit Toho Godzilla movie in theaters. I was yelling and clapping (as were other people) and just had a huge blast. In the car, he told me to knock it off when I talked excitedly about what I liked in the movie. He slapped down all talk of Godzilla.

I still continued to be a fan. When more Millennium era movies came out, I grabbed them when I saw them on the shelves. I got everything from Godzilla vs Megaguirus to Godzilla: Final Wars in a little Japanese shop my dad found near where he worked at the time. I was in my early 20s then. I also got some figurines from that store: a Heisei era Mothra, a Heisei era King Ghidorah and a Millenium era (Final Wars) Godzilla. Dad rolled his eyes when I walked out with them in my arms.

And so began his weird pattern of indulging my interest, but getting upset at me if I talked about it. I was discovering the online fandom at this point, so I had another outlet, but still, it used to be our thing, and his behavior really stung.

I only discovered there were more movies in the Millenium era becuse I happened across GMK on HBO and realized I didn’t recognize that Godzilla suit or the setting.

Then I missed the ending because of a very badly timed phone call. But I was like “omg more Godzilla movies...hey dad, can we go to that shop?” (And then I was like a dragon with treasure when I came home....)

I grabbed the two Kiryu movies first because a certain fanfic author in the fandom had written some Mechagodzilla fanfics where Kiryu (Kiryuu in her stories) was sentient and sexy af. The idea of the original Godzilla being brought back as a robot was amazing and that author basically took the idea and ran it to another level. She’s the reason I headcanon the 54 Gojira as Heisei Godzilla’s dad.

ANYWAY, I got all caught up on the Godzilla movies and blew up to a boiling fan girl froth when the 2014 movie got advertised.

I took mom to see that becuse dad’s Parkinson’s had advanced so far that he couldn’t go out much anymore. Mom likes Godzilla movies and sci-fi in general. While she’s not as into it as me, she enjoys them for the entertainment. We both liked G2014, so I got it for Christmas.

We watched it with dad as a family, he said it was okay.

Through 2016 and 2017 I was rattling on about Shin Godzilla. Got that as a late 37th birthday gift because it came out on dvd a few days after my actual birthday. I watched it for the first time with dad, and he complained the whole time and kind of ruined the experience for me, which pissed me off. HE was the one who wanted to watch it with me, now I wish I watched it alone instead.

2019 came, KOTM happened. So that brings me to sitting down to watch it with dad. I was excited see his reaction to the monsters he introduced me to in childhood realized with modern cgi effects and all. I love seeing things that remind me of happy times in my childhood, and I thought those memories were fond for him, too. So I watched, waiting for him to recognize Mothra, Rodan and King Ghidorah.

He said nothing when they came onscreen. I got engrossed in the movie and sort of forgot about it, but when it was over I bounced up and asked, “Wasn’t it cool to see the guys you told me stories about when I was 5?”

I thought back while I waited for him to answer. I thought back on the stories, the fun and the movies.

I thought back on how my love for this character has grown, and how in KOTM it was physically realized in that painful moment when Ishiro Serizawa looks up at Godzilla with such reverence and lays his hand on his snout. I feel like that was Dougherty telling all the fans he sees their love for Godzilla and gives them that one singular, intimate audience with the big guy through Serizawa. Because who wouldn’t want to give him a pat on the nose and thank him?

The director of KOTM understands what Godzilla means to the fans. He understands how they feel and what they want. In my mind he gave it in spades.

But my dad...

My dad, the man who taught me enough to get me into Godzilla forever, looked at me in the eyes and said, “I don’t remember any of it. They’re not that important anyway.”

“These are important characters.” Much younger dad said to much younger me.

“They’re not that important anyway.” Older modern day dad said to older modern day me.

I thought my heart had stopped and my soul fled through the floor. This franchise, these characters he brought to me with such enthusiasm, something that grew into a lifelong love, meant nothing to him. It was as if he gave me a diamond and later told me it was worthless glass to him. Godzilla was and still is a huge part of my life and who I am, and dad acted like this “us” thing I thought we bonded over during my childhood didn’t matter to him.

It’s almost like he expected me to take passing interest and then move on, but because I’m autistic and because I relate to Godzilla so much, my interest turned into love and respect for the character, what he represents and the messages he has sent throughout the years.

Part of who I am is shaped, literally, by Godzilla, something that started because my dad told me he existed. And in a sentence my dad took that root from my childhood and ripped it out because he decided it was a worthless weed.

It’s not my love for Godzilla that was ripped out. It’s the love I thought my dad felt for me when he was telling me all those stories and showing me the movies. I’m sharing this because I love Godzilla, because I love what he represents and means to me, and I thought my dad shared it with me for the same reason. This is a very autistic thing...I’m sure autistic readers can feel my love for Godzilla just by reading this.

I thought my dad did, too, once.

But no. There was no love at all like I thought there was, so I was not pouring my love into an ocean that still existed, I was throwing it into a black hole.

Dad didn’t care to remember Rodan, or Mothra, or King Ghidorah. He didn’t care to remember what all that meant to me during my childhood because he doesn’t and never has cared about my feelings.

He doesn’t care about my feelings.

He wants me to shut up about Godzilla.

I will not.

I love Godzilla. I don’t need dad’s approval anymore. I will turn 40 this year (2020) and there is no stopping what began 35 years ago. The plant that grew around the root dad planted is shaped like me now, and like Biollante I will keep blooming because Godzilla was my first love fandom-wise and that admiration and love for him stands on its own.

Dad no longer has a say.

But, my God, my dad has this remarkable ability to tell me something is important when I’m young and then claim it isn’t so many years later. He’s done it for a lot of things, but hearing him say Godzilla isn’t important after instilling his importance into me at a young age just...gutted me...and it gutted me as much as the time he asked me what I did to make kids bully me when I was being bullied as a teen.

I got bullied because I’m autistic. I existed. He said it was my fault for being that way. I was a newly diagnosed teenager when he said that. It was 1995, ironically, the same year Godzilla vs Destroyah came out.

And I was an adult when he ripped at that root of Godzilla he planted in me.

Godzilla was the last part of my childhood that he hadn’t sunk his abuse into, but he finally did in January of 2020. Now there is no part of my life untouched by his emotionally abusive crap.

It shouldn’t hurt like this. I feel ridiculous to be hurt so deeply, but I can’t keep pretending that I’m not hurt by it anymore.

I will get over it. My absolute love and respect for Godzilla is something my dad can never destroy no matter how much he tries to shit talk about it. I’ve let him ruin so many things, but not Godzilla.

Godzilla will never be a trigger for me. He is an anti trigger. On this day of April 19, 2020, I’m realizing he is the protector my dad failed to be.

To all parents of autistic kids, be careful that you don’t belittle the things you said were important when they were young. Don’t introduce something that becomes a special interest, say it’s important and then belittle it when they grow up.

Even if you don’t think it’s important anymore now, even if you think it’s silly now, even if you didn’t know they were autistic at the time and would dive in like that, it may still be important to them.

It may become their safe place. It may become treasure.

Don’t try to destroy that safety. Don’t treat it like trash.

[bloodfcst-a]

“ it’s okay to be confused. nobody has all the answers. ”

MEME: hurt/comfort.

Was ‘ confused ’ really the word to apply in this setting? Perplexed doesn’t describe how she feels. Torn, really, is more accurate. It’s not that she resents all fathers… not even hers, really, not anymore. But there’s always been this aching, the type that longing or substituting didn’t fulfill. An envious, nearly jealous sort of feeling, the an anger that spouts at the possibility of ‘ what if. ’  What if she’d grown up with loving parents? She didn’t need two–one would have been enough. But no, she’d transfigured that emptiness into strength, enough to shield her heart and body enough to ward from any other thing that would dare to hurt her… for nothing could compare to what she felt, with the rejection she’d felt for so many years.

And here is Kiryu, who’s decided to be a better father than the adoptive one he had. It’s logical, it makes sense. To soothe the pain by ensuring you don’t repeat the same mistakes. But she doesn’t have that in her, doesn’t think she holds that much restraint. It’s easier to lash out, let loose, when there’s nothing tethering you to sanity. If she smothers out her own flame, so be it. Maybe then, she’ll find some real peace–none of this temporary, numb it down with knuckle punches and karaoke.

She’s not surprised, that Kiryu would take in this Haruka. He’s not a child, but it’s hard to say that when Yufi can still think of when he was still 19 and full of rage, blistering out with every successful pickup for the Dojima Family. That was the beginning, wasn’t it? And even after all that happened afterward, even if she knew the events that happened would make him change, he was still the same Kiryu to her.

But this? This is different. Big brother Kiryu? Dad Kiryu? Had they even figured out the logistics? It doesn’t matter, really. Still, Yufi’s glad to have met the scamp. Makes her think again of another ‘ what if. ’ Could Yufi be like her, if only Godo had been more kind, like Kiryu?

Drinking glass is dropped softly onto coaster, and Yufi lets out a little half smile.  ❝ Y’know… Sometimes there’s no answer at all. And I have to learn to be okay with that, too. ❞

[juvellita]

My top 5 voltage guys&reason

Top 1: Eisuke Ichinomiya, KBTBB

Ahhh top 1 was hard to pick because I like Kazuomi Shido more than eisuke at this point. However since Masquerade Kiss just came out, he cannot beat Eisuke YET in terms of relationship development.

His devotion to MC: I know a lot of people have mentioned this, but he really did change a lot after season 1. Contradicting to his cold attitude, he is over-the-heels with mc LOL. I feel like he is just about or more obsessed with MC than mc herself. He just doesnt express it. (And I like how he can say 'gtfo of my face' without flinching at all lololol) If you dont believe me, read his POV bcs they are SO PRECIOUS AHHHHHHHH

His overprotective behavior: He would do ANYTHING to keep mc safe. So far, I feel like there is NO other character who would go far as Eisuke, in order to keep mc safe ( telling her to not leave the penthouse, increasing security at his hotel, watching her 24/7 through security camera, flying to Japan within 48 hours to prevent Mc from dying, etc...). He would do anything to keep her smile.

His absolute loyalty: At this point, cheating is out of question for Eisuke. He will pretty much say "gtfo of my face" to any women who tries to cling onto him. He emotionally depends on MC, and MC is the only light source that Eisuke has. If someone were to hurt mc in anyway, ..say bye to life.

Jealousy: The way he shows his jealousy, is so adorably...hot? LOL. But I think it's just his excuse to give mc very... harsh 'punishment'...

Sexual appeal(?): ... Do I need to say more on this? LOL.

Top 2: Kazuomi Shido, MK

Yes, Kazuomi and Eisuke come in close tie. But since I don't really know Kazuomi that well, I couldn't place him in Top 1.

Perceptive: Regardless of his 'womanizing' mask he wears, Kazuomi is very perceptive. In fact, MC even mentions that Kazuomi was the first one who saw through her 'agent' mask (I know they are supposed to be love interest but not the point here). He even figured out MC's identity(or rather had a "hunch") earlier in his main story. (I know many people might say, mc wasn't a good spy, but let's just follow along the storyline for now ;-;) It was the 'real' mc he saw that made him fall in love with her, not the 'agent/Arisa' MC. He even figured out who MC's boss was by looking at him for 2 seconds.

His carefree personality: Even though he is third wealthiest person in the world, he certainly does not act like one. He doesn't mind walking around chaotic streets in his casual clothes, getting soaked by rain, and going to 'cheap' restaurant for some drink. He also isn't a 'tyrant' type boss who wants absolute obedience. He wants someone to speak out to him when needed; someone who sees and treats him as an equal. He also didn't mind 'begging' to mc when he wanted those ice cream ♡

Secretly loyal(?): No one has access to his apartment(above his office), except Kei, Yuzuru, and later on MC. MC is the first female who gains access to his apartment. HE IS ALSO PRECIOUS CINNAMON ROLL OKAY

Childish side: His sugar addict, and how he smiles whenever he sees the 'real' mc.

Appearance: yes... do I need to say more about this? 😏

I can't wait to see more of Kazuomi's character development! (I hope it doesn't disappoint me..)

Top 3: Shun Randoh, KoP

Devotion/Loyalty: He gains his "famous playboy" title after his first love broke his heart, when he showed his first movie to her. He reverts back to his old self when he meets mc. In his epilogue, it is clear that he has no intention of playing around with different women anymore. He clings to MC, as much as mc clings to him. He basically tells mc that he wouldn't mind if mc spammed him with texts/calls, and followed him to his work ♡. It is unthinkable for him to love anyone other than MC now.

Lovey-dovey/sweet: In his epilogue, when Shun returns from Okinawa, he kisses mc in front of other paradise guys and tells her that he missed mc SO much over 3 days. He even tells mc that he doesn't want to 'share' mc with others LOL.

How he tells off mc's bitoch jerk ass ex-husband: You. Tell. HIM.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 (AND SLAP HIS FACE MC 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏). slappingisn'tenoughsomeonepunchthatjerk

Top 4: Kiryu, EITM

Self-sacrificial : In his main story, sequel and Wedding arch, he let's himself get hurt (where he could have almost died) in order to protect mc from danger. Once they started loving each other, he doesn't blame on mc for getting in danger. He instead reassures that he will protect her.

Banter: He always banters with mc and other ayakashi. He messes with mc, bcs its part of his hobby, while he thinks other ayakashi are annoying af lol (often cockblocks mc and Kiryu's romantic mood). Whenever the story is about to get gloomy or too heavy, other ayakashi shows up and upsets Kiryu LOL (one of my favorite moments). Even if he thinks other ayakashi are annoying, he still thanks them for protecting MC when she is in trouble.

His lucky charm: Kiryu's lucky charm turns out to be his first fan letter, which is from MC. He have treasured that letter ever since he got it.

TOP 5: Aoi Shirafuji, BUM & Partheno, SCM

I couldn't choose one, so I grouped two together lol

I know Butler Until Midnight and Star Crossed Myth are discontinued.. which is really sad bcs those two used to be my favorite game, after kbtbb. I wished Butler Until Midnight would at least continue until their wedding route was released. But that didn't come true 😭😭😭.

Treating MC like a princess: Both Aoi and Partheno, treats mc like a princess, often by going with what she wants to do. Or acting as a prince, to make mc feel like she is a princess. In Partheno's sequel, partheno wakes mc up with a kiss, within the line of "princess cannot be awaken without a kiss from the prince". In several Aoi's substories, such as One year servitude and tropical, he has shown MC 'princely' side of his (saying stuff like mc is his private princess, calling mc adorable, etc).

Devotion: Aoi and Partheno both had an issue of not knowing the definition of 'trust'. Aoi, brainwashed by his family, only knew about reviving his family's amusement park. Partheno never experienced 'trust' because gods/goddesses knew he was 'different'. After meeting mc and falling in love with her, now that they experienced 'trust', they both would have NO problem doing anything for MC, as long as she doesn't lose her smile/happiness.

Not afraid to tell public that they are dating: In Aoi's Afternoon temptation, he introduces mc to his parents and his parents suggests that he should bring mc to future parties, as his date. At the party, he surprises his friends by telling them that MC is his girlfriend. He also had no trouble showing love to mc in public. This is similar with Partheno. He has no problem showing affection in public.

I think this wraps up my list... I probably have more reasons why I like those characters but I cant think any LOL.

Still sad about Butler Until Midnight 😭😭

[cryingcow]

Character Story - Daigo (2006) [RGGO]

I know I said I’d finish this March cuz I have exams the whole February, but at the time I didn’t think I’d be using this to cope with my exams sooo here we are XD (thanks to @arysthaeniru​, @blurred-voices​, and @konnanjanai​ for unanimously voting for Daigo!)

Story: The Jingweon Mafia planted 31 bombs in Kamurocho. Daigo takes this opportunity to demonstrate that even he can have cool adventures and beat people up while Kiryu’s off doing whatever. (Srsly tho, I forgot what Kiryu was doing while this was going on lol)

Daigo: “Are you hurt?!”

Guy bruised and bleeding: “My fingers were about to be chopped off!”

Daigo: “. . . Is that a yes or a no?”

Notes:

1. Text within \“  ”/ is spoken in Korean. (Presumably. It was still written in Japanese so . . .)

2. I translated 神さまの言うとおり as “As the Gods Will” specifically so it would be the same as the title of Takashi Miike’s film in wiki lol (same dude who filmed a certain 2007 Yakuza movie)

3. ど-ち-ら-に-し-よ-う-か-な or “do-chi-ra-ni-shi-yo-u-ka-na“, which is the Eenie-Meenie-Miney-Moe that Majima did :D

.

CHAPTER 1

.

|December 2006. The Omi Alliance under the direction of Goda Ryuji begins the invasion of Kamurocho. But due to Kiryu Kazuma’s success, the Tojo Clan managed to withstand it. However, it turns out that the Korean Jingweon Mafia had planted a large number of bombs in the city. To overcome this crisis, one takes command of 300 Tojo Clan members--- the young Dojima Daigo.|

Daigo: “. . . There’s no time. I will briefly explain the current situation. The Jingweon Mafia planted a total of 31 bombs in the city. With the cooperation of the city’s informant ‘The Florist of Sai’, the locations of the bombs have already been identified.”

Tojo Clan member A: “Ah! Then isn’t it an easy victory?”

Daigo: “No . . . There’s a problem. All the bombs have a set timer.”

Tojo Clan member A: “What . . . ?!”

Daigo: “The detonation time of the bombs aren’t synchronized, but . . . if they’re fast, we have less than an hour left.”

Tojo Clan member B: “Only one hour . . . ?!”

Daigo: “In other words, we have to hurry to find a way to disarm the bombs.”

?: “Please wait a moment.”

Daigo: “You’re Inagaki . . . right? What is it?”

Inagaki: “Heh, you remembered my name with this many people? Impressive of you. But hey, one thing . . . there’s one thing I want to clarify. Daigo-san, I’m following you now because the Fourth Chairman’s endorsement.”

Daigo: “. . .”

Inagaki: “You hear the rumors in the city? Daigo-san. It’s said you made a lot of careless mistakes since leaving prison. There are voices calling for you to be the face of the Head family, but . . . if you ask me, it’s not funny.”

Daigo: “. . . Inagaki, I understand what you mean. I’ll keep it in mind. However, we should be working together for the moment. Is that alright?”

Inagaki: “Of course. But how do you intend to disarm the bombs?”

Daigo: “That’s-”

{Daigo’s phone rings.}

Daigo: “. . . Yes, this is Daigo.”

Florist of Sai: “It’s me. I’ve found what you asked me to look for.”

Daigo: “Really?!”

Florist of Sai: “I just sent over the data. I’ll let you handle the rest.”

Daigo: “Understood, please leave it to me.”

{Phone call ends.}

Inagaki: “What’s the call about?”

Daigo: “An illustration, from the Florist. I asked him to investigate. The Jingweon Mafia that scattered the bombs . . . the location of their hideout.”

Inagaki: “For what . . . ?”

Daigo: “It’s almost impossible for those of us with no knowledge to disarm a bomb. But if you have the blueprint for the bombs, you can grasp the structure of the bombs.”

Inagaki: “I see. If we can grasp its internal structure, we can disarm it.”

Daigo: “Yeah. According to the Florist, there are a total of 5 Jingweon hideouts.”

Inagaki: “Hm. Is there even a blueprint for the bombs out there? What’s your basis?”

Daigo: “The basis is . . . none. But this is the only hand I can think of right now.”

Inagaki: “Ha! You’re betting 300 Tojo Clan members on your intuition?!”

Daigo: “. . .”

Inagaki: “Kuku. That’s alright. If you can find the blueprint, then fine. If you don’t find it . . . you’re taking responsibility for it.”

Daigo: “Yeah. I’m prepared for that.  . . . Okay everyone, split up and go to the locations!!”

----

Tojo Clan member: “Daigo-san . . . the hideout we’re in charge of raiding is here.”

Daigo: “Yeah. I don’t know how many Jingweon Mafia members are in there. Don’t let your guard down.”

{Daigo’s phone rings.}

Daigo: “Hello. This is Daigo.”

Inagaki: “. . . It’s Inagaki. I’ve arrived at the raid point. All the other raid teams are ready.”

Daigo: “All right. Then the Tojo Clan shall attack the 5 power station hideouts of the Jingweon Mafia all at once. That okay? The fate of Kamurocho depends on us! Brace yourselves! After taking control of the hideout, contact me as soon as you find the blueprint for the bombs!”

Inagaki: “Heh, understood.”

{Phone call ends.}

Daigo: “. . . Alright, let’s start too!!”

Tojo Clan members: “Yeah!”

----

Jingweon Mafia man A: \“. . . How much time until the bomb explodes?” /

Jingweon Mafia man B: \ “Less than an hour. This is the end of this city.” /

Jingweon Mafia man A: \ “Yeah. We prepared as many bombs as there were friends who were killed 26 years ago. The pain that our friends suffered. Let the people in this city taste it . . . !” /

Daigo: “All members, move in!!”

Jingweon Mafia man A: “Who-Who are you guys?!”

Daigo: “You’re Jingweon Mafia, right? We’re Tojo Clan. The blueprint for the bombs you set up . . . hand it over!”

Jingweon Mafia man B: “. . . Hmph. Bombs? Blueprint? What do you mean?”

Daigo: “I don’t expect you to just spit it out. Then we’ll make you talk!”

Jingweon Mafia man B: “Just try it . . . ! Die!!”

{Daigo and the Tojo Clan members defeat the Jingweon Mafia.}

Tojo Clan member: “Daigo-san. Gaining control of the hideout is complete!!”

Daigo: “Alright. Then let’s split up and search for the bombs’ blueprint!”

{They all search the hideout.}

Daigo: “Have you found it?!”

Tojo Clan member: “It’s hopeless. We can’t find it no matter where we look . . . !”

Daigo: (Damn . . . ! Is the bombs’ blueprint hidden in another hideout and not here?!)

{Daigo’s phone rings.}

Daigo: “Hello. This is Daigo.  . . . I see. Understood.”

{Phone call ends.}

Daigo: “The other hideouts are also a bust . . . it’s only Inagaki’s team that’s left.”

Tojo Clan member: “Ugh . . . !”

Daigo: (I’ll ask Inagaki . . . !)

{Daigo makes a phone call.}

Inagaki: “This is Inagaki. This hideout has been suppressed.”

Daigo: “Inagaki . . . !! How was it? Was there a blueprint for the bombs over there?!”

Inagaki: “No, I’ve searched every corner of this hideout . . . there’s no blueprint for the bombs.”

Daigo: “What . . . !”

Inagaki: “. . . But. I found something interesting instead.”

Daigo: “Something interesting . . . ?”

Inagaki: “It’s a map. A map of the true location of the Jingweon Mafia’s hideout. The hideouts we attacked are all dummies; the place on this map is the real hideout. Important things like the blueprint for the bombs . . . might be there.”

Daigo: “Understood. Where?”

Inagaki: “Hinomatsu Building on Taihei Boulevard.”

Daigo: “Got it! We’re heading there right now!”

Inagaki: “No, it’s not necessary. I’m heading to the hideout with my crew right now.”

Daigo: “What?! Wait, Inagaki! Let’s join forces!”

Inagaki: “. . . Why?”

Daigo: “Don’t you think it’s strange? There’s a map showing the location of the real hideout in the fake hideout. This is likely a trap. Let’s join up.”

Inagaki: “Shut up. If we don’t hurry, the bombs will explode. I’m not going to ask for your instructions every time, I’m protecting the Tojo Clan my own way.”

Daigo: “Inagaki?! Oi, Inagaki . . . shit!”

Tojo Clan member: “Daigo-san, this is dangerous! Enemy reinforcements have arrived!”

Daigo: “What?! Tch, at a time like this . . . !”

Tojo Clan member: “Daigo-san! I heard everything! Please leave this to us and go to Inagaki!”

Daigo: “You guys . . .”

Tojo Clan member: “Go quick and stop that Inagaki! Only you can hold his reins right now!”

Daigo: “Understood, I’ll leave it to you!”

{Daigo runs out.}

Tojo Clan member: “Your opponents are us! Bring it on, oraaa!!”

.

-END-

.

CHAPTER 2

.

|To continue, in 2006 . . .|

Inagaki: “. . . is it here? The location of the Jingweon Mafia’s hideout on the map?”

Tojo Clan member: “Inagaki-san. Are you rushing in without waiting for the other raid teams?”

Inagaki: “There’s no choice! If we don’t get the blueprints fast, Kamurocho will become a sea of fire! And if we don’t hurry, won’t the Jingweon Mafia notice our ambush and run away? If we’re striking, we’re striking now. Understood?!”

Tojo Clan member: “Y-Yes!”

Inagaki: (Watch, Dojima Daigo . . . While you were drinking, we’ve been trying to protect this city the entire time. I’ll show you we can protect Kamurocho even without the boy who drinks . . . !)

Inagaki: “Alright! Surround the building with your weapons out! Don’t let a single Jingweon member escape, okay?!”

Tojo Clan member: “Yeah!”

----

Tojo Clan member: “Inagaki-san, this looks like the entrance.”

Inagaki: “Alright, let’s do this by rushing into the hideout all at once. Let’s go!”

Tojo Clan member: “Yes sir!”

Inagaki: “Oraaa! None of you bastards move!”

Tojo Clan member: “Inagaki-san . . . there doesn’t seem to be anyone here?”

Inagaki: “What? Oi, did we get the Jingweon Mafia’s hideout location wrong?!”

Tojo Clan member: “No, the map says it’s definitely here . . . “

Inagaki: (What’s the meaning of this? Were they aware of our raid and escaped first . . . ? Unless . . . )

Inagaki: “What? Something flew by just now?!”

Tojo Clan member: Inagaki-san. Is the thing that flew by that item rolling on the floor?”

Inagaki: “Wha . . . ?! Everybody get down! It’s a flash grenade!”

{The grenade explodes with a loud bang.}

Tojo Clan members: “Gyaaaaa! M-My eyes~!!”

Inagaki: (Shit, I can’t see anything! At this rate . . . !)

Tojo Clan members: “Guh?! Gahaa . . . !!”

Inagaki: “Oi, what’s wrong with you guys?! What’s happening . . . Guhaa?!?”

Jingweon Mafia member A: \ “. . . Is it over?” /

Jingweon Mafia member B: \ “Yeah. They’re all on the floor, as you can see.” /

Jingweon Mafia member A: \ “Kukuku, idiots.” /

Inagaki: “Guh . . . What the hell happened . . . ?”

Tojo Clan member: “Uuugh . . .”

Inagaki: “Oi, you guys! Come on! Wake up!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “Looks like you noticed.”

Inagaki: “Tch?! Bastard . . . !”

Jingweon Mafia man: “We have you all tied up. We’re not letting you rampage anymore. But you guys are fools, coming in without knowing a thing.”

Inagaki: “What’s that?!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “That map is the bait to lure you in here. Split up your force with dummy hideouts and kill the ones who come here using the map, like you.”

Inagaki: “Kuh . . . then why don’t you kill us?!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “Of course, we’ll kill you after we make you suffer enough.”

Inagaki: “What?!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “As you already know, our purpose is revenge for 26 years ago. That’s why we’re going to carve into your bodies the pain our friends felt 26 years ago . . .”

Jingweon Mafia man: “First by cutting off all the fingers on both of your hands! Prepare yourself!”

Inagaki: “Kuh! Damn it . . . !”

Daigo: “Inagaki, are you safe?!”

Inagaki: “What . . . Daigo?!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “. . . What? Are you a friend of these guys?”

Daigo: “Yeah, that’s right. Are you Jingweon Mafia?”

Jingweon Mafia man: “That’s correct. But you’re an idiot. This is the largest hideout of the Jingweon Mafia. Coming in here all alone is reckless . . . Oi!”

 {A bunch of Jingweon men appear.}

Jingweon Mafia man: “Do you still want to fight?”

Daigo: “Of course. Come at me quickly.”

Jingweon Mafia man: “What? Fighting barehanded against this many people . . . Are you crazy?”

Daigo: “Are you guys playing around? Trying to mess up the city for your revenge . . . I’ll kill you!”

Inagaki: “Daigo . . .”

Jingweon Mafia man: “You’re the one who’s going to be killed. Have a taste of our friends’ pain 26 years ago and die!!”

Daigo: “Ora!!”

{Daigo defeats an entire building of Koreans.}

Jingweon Mafia man: “Guhooo!!”

Inagaki: (S-Strong . . . that Daigo really defeated everyone.)

Daigo: “Haa . . . haa . . . Inagaki, are you okay?”

Inagaki: “Sh-Shut up . . . ! Daigo, you . . . ! Why did you come into this hideout all alone?! Isn’t this the headquarters of the Jingweon Mafia?! You’re the one who said it was dangerous without a raid crew! Despite that, you unreasonably plunged in all alone . . . !”

Daigo: “Inagaki. You entered this hideout without listening to me . . . I can’t overlook you ignoring orders, but I took that action to protect Kamurocho. A man like you is needed for the current Tojo Clan. Are you made to die so easily?”

Inagaki: “Kuh . . . !”

Daigo: “Inagaki, we don’t have much time! Wake up your subordinates to search inside the hideout! If this is the enemy’s headquarters, it highly likely that the bombs’ blueprint is hidden here!”

Inagaki: “. . . Yeah, understood!”

{They all search the hideout.}

Tojo Clan member: “. . . There is! There is, Daigo-san!”

Daigo: “What! Show me!”

Daigo: “. . .”

Daigo: “There’s no doubt, this is the blueprint for the bombs. The placement of the trap wire that makes it explode when cut and the wire that stops the timer are all written here. Well done everyone! Now we can disarm the bombs planted in Kamurocho!”

Tojo Clan member: “Ooooooo!!!!”

Inagaki: “. . . . . . tch, damn it.”

.

-END-

.

CHAPTER 3

.

|To continue, in 2006 . . .|

Tojo Clan member A: “. . . I cut the red cord. The bomb’s timer stopped!”

Tojo Clan member B: “Alright, well done! With this, the bomb is disarmed! Yeah, it makes a big difference when you have a blueprint. Everything we can cut is written on this!”

Tojo Clan member A: “But we still can’t be relieved! There are still bombs left . . . !”

Tojo Clan member B: “Well, let’s report to Daigo-san anyway!!”

----

{Daigo’s phone rings.}

Daigo: “Hello . . . really, you were able to disarm it?! All right. You guys should head back to headquarters.”

{Phone call ends.}

Inagaki: “Daigo, the bomb on Taihei Boulevard has also been disarmed! How much progress have we made in disarming bombs?!”

Daigo: “Right now, I just received a report that the 29th bomb has been disarmed.”

Inagaki: “Then there are 2 more bombs left.”

Daigo: “Yeah, Majima-no-ojiki is heading for one to disarm it!”

Inagaki: “Majima . . . the Mad Dog of Shimano?!”

Daigo: “Yeah. I’ve given him a copy of the blueprint so there’s no worry about disarming the bomb.”

Inagaki: “is that so . . . then I’m going to disarm the bomb in the Champion District!”

Daigo: “Wait, Inagaki! You should rest! I’ll disarm the last bomb!!”

Inagaki: “What did you say?!”

Daigo: “You’ve been injured in the enemy hideout. Don’t overdo it anymore.”

Inagaki: “. . . I’m sorry, but I can’t listen to that order. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

{Inagaki runs off.}

Daigo: “Wait, Inagaki?!”

Inagaki: (I’m also being stubborn . . . but I can’t let it end without overturning the disgrace! While Daigo was drinking, we were the ones protecting Kamurocho from those guys from the West. I can’t leave it up to such a greenhorn . . . !)

----

Inagaki: “Here? The last bomb is set up in this empty room?”

Daigo: “Don’t take any unauthorized actions, Inagaki.”

Inagaki: “. . . Daigo? No matter where you look around inside, there’s no bomb, right?”

Daigo: “. . . No, take a closer look at the back of the room.”

Inagaki: “Hm . . . shit?! What’s this . . . !!”

Daigo: “The bomb. It’s bigger than any of the bombs we’ve disarmed so far . . .”

Inagaki: “Yeah, it’s as big as a large refrigerator!”

Daigo: “If something like this explodes, the whole area will be blown away . . . !”

Inagaki: “30 minutes to explode . . . let’s hurry up and disarm it!”

Daigo: “Hey wait, Inagaki!!”

Inagaki: “Gwa!”

Daigo: “Inagaki?!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “I won’t let anyone touch that bomb.”

Daigo: “Shit . . . are you Jingweon Mafia?”

Jingweon Mafia man: “It seems you guys have been disarming our bombs. But it is no longer possible to disarm this bomb.”

Daigo: “What . . . ? What do you mean?!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “You guys seem to have gotten the blueprint from our hideout to disarm the bombs. So I made improvements to the remaining 2 bombs and switched to a different structure than the one in your blueprint.”

Daigo: “What did you say?!”

Daigo: (Unfortunate . . . ! Then even if you have a blueprint for the bomb, it’s useless! Majima-no-ojiki won’t also be able to disarm the bomb around this time . . . !)

Jingweon Mafia man: “What will you do now? If you still want to disarm it, we will do our best to protect this bomb.”

Inagaki: “What did you say?! Don’t you understand . . . if you protect the bomb here, you’ll be blown up?!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “We’re fully aware of that. But it’s all for the steel trap . . . I will protect this bomb even if it costs me my life!”

Inagaki: “Shit . . . these guys are serious!! Oi, everyone! That bomb can’t be disarmed now! Everyone evacuate!”

Tojo Clan member: “Y-Yes!!”

Inagaki: “Daigo! We’re evacuating too! At this rate, we’ll get caught in the explosion!”

Daigo: “. . .”

Inagaki: “Daigo!!!!”

Daigo: “. . . Inagaki, you guys evacuate the passers-by outside.”

Inagaki: “Da-Daigo?!”

Daigo: “We have no idea if such an explosion in the city would kill hundreds of people. In that case, there’s no choice but to stop it here. Besides, I was entrusted with this city by Kiryu Kazuma. So no one is allowed to die . . . of course that means everyone in the city, including you guys.”

Inagaki: “Daigo, you . . . !”

Daigo: “Inagaki, hurry up and evacuate everyone!”

Inagaki: “Kuh . . .”

Daigo: “Go, Inagaki!!!!”

Inagaki: “. . . Damn it!!!!”

{Inagaki and the others evacuate.}

Jingweon Mafia man: “You have great courage. There was a man like you in this city . . . but you’re going to die here. I won’t let you lay a single finger on the bomb!”

Daigo: “You’re an obstacle . . . get out of my way!!”

{Daigo defeats all the bomb-lovers.}

Daigo: “Haa . . . haa . . . Did I get rid of everyone? But now there’s 17 minutes left until the explosion . . . how do I disarm this bomb?”

Inagaki: “Daigo!”

Daigo: “Inagaki! Why did you come back here?!”

Inagaki: “Hmph. If I let the future Sixth Chairman die, I won’t be able show my face to the Acting Chairman.”

Daigo: “!”

Inagaki: “I prepared a truck outside! I’ll load the bomb on the luggage carrier quickly! If we carry the bomb to a place with no people, the damage will be minimal even if it explodes!”

Daigo: “Why didn’t I think of that . . . ! But how do we carry the bomb to the truck? Such a big stupid bomb can’t be carried by just 2 people!”

Inagaki: “That’s no problem . . . Oi, you guys!”

{Tojo Clan members run back in.}

Tojo Clan members: “Daigo-san! Let us help you carry the bomb too!!”

Daigo: “What?! Did you all come back?!”

Inagaki: “Yeah. When they saw you heading back for the bomb alone, everyone said they wanted to help.”

Daigo: (All these guys . . . Coming back here to risk their lives!)

Daigo: “. . . Alright! Everyone hurry and carry out the bomb!!”

Tojo Clan members: “Oooooo!!!!”

----

Inagaki: “Ora ora! Lots of obstructions! Give way! Load it on the luggage carrier if you don’t want to be acquainted with it, fool!!”

Daigo: “Oi, Inagaki! There’s less than a minute before the explosion! If we don’t do anything, it’ll explode in the city!”

Inagaki: “I know that! But where is the least populated place in Kamurocho?!”

Daigo: “That’s it . . . ! Maybe we can go there! Inagaki, hurry up and turn right on that street!”

Inagaki: “What? Were you able to think of a good place somewhere?!”

Daigo: “Yeah! But we don’t have time, hurry up!!”

----

Daigo: “. . . We’ve arrived at the construction site of Kamurocho Hills!”

Inagaki: “I see! There are no buildings here at ground level, and no one is here right now! It’s perfect for an explosion! Let’s stop the truck immediately and throw away the bomb!”

Daigo: “No! We don’t have much time! If we don’t jump off the truck now, it’ll explode . . .”

{The bomb explodes.}

 Daigo: “. . . Phew, that was a close call. Are you injured?”

Inagaki: “No. If you hadn’t kicked me out of the vehicle, I would have blown up with the truck right about now . . .”

Daigo: “No, the bomb would have exploded in the city if you hadn’t prepared a truck. You’re the savior, Inagaki.”

Inagaki: “Don’t mention it.  . . .”

Inagaki: (While everyone ran away, only this Dojima Daigo risked his life and headed for the bomb . . . Taking that step . . . it’s not a step I can take even if I spend my whole life trying. Is this a man who can carry the Tojo Clan on his back?)

----

|Next day . . .|

{Daigo’s phone rings.}

Daigo: “Hello . . . really?! Yes . . . yes . . . Understood, thank you for your hard work.”

{Phone call ends.}

Inagaki: “Who called?”

Daigo: “It was Majima-no-ojiki. He seems to have succeeded in disarming the bomb.”

Inagaki: “Really?! But the blueprint didn’t help, right? How did he disarm it?”

Daigo: “That is . . . it seems he disarmed the bomb with the song ‘As the Gods Will’ . . .”

Inagaki: “Huh? Perhaps . . . ‘Which-One-Should-I-Choose?’, you mean?”

Daigo: “Yeah, that’s it . . . he used it to choose which cord of the bomb to cut.”

Inagaki: “A-Amazing . . . ! So the bomb was disarmed by an outrageous man, the Mad Dog of Shimano.”

Daigo: “Yeah. Him and Kiryu-san, they really are amazing men. With this, all the bombs planted in Kamurocho have been disarmed.”

Inagaki: “I see. Then once again . . . thank you for your hard work, Daigo-san!!”

Daigo: “! What is it, Inagaki? You’re bowing your head all of a sudden.”

Inagaki: “Heh, I’m taking responsibility. Don’t mind me. There’s a car waiting nearby. I’ll take you to the Tojo Clan Headquarters, Sixth Chairman.”

Daigo: “!”

Daigo: “. . . Heh, all right. If you say so, Inagaki.”

Inagaki: “Yes sir.”

.

-END-

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