#like imagine that ryuji really said No Doubles and he meant that

[todayisafridaynight]

i’ve got a villain tier list but not in terms of how good they are or whatever but just in terms of how funny i think they are and mine and masato constantly fight for #1 in my brain

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Order #7: Two Togami’s for the Price of One.

Welcome to Canzanilla Cafe, can I take yer ooooorder~?

Welcome to Canzanilla Cafe, can I take yer ooooorder~?

Welcome to Canzanilla Cafe, can we take-

Can you stop?

EGH!

That chime is really annoying.

Well, that sounds like a you problem.

Yeah, you really just suck the fun out of things, you know that?

That’s not a very appropriate thing to say to your customers.

We treat our customers how we wish to be treated. If our customers don’t show US hospitality, we have no reason to return the favor.

Exactly.

That aside...Welcome to the café Byakuya.

Thank you. I’m looking forward to seeing what you can come up with.

And...who might your friend be?

Greetings Mr Kurafto. It was quite a pleasant surprise to hear that you had set up such an establishment. I couldn’t wait to try out the drinks.

...?

Don’t look at me, I don’t know this guy.

Oh, right...I suppose you wouldn’t know.

*He stands up straight.

Just imagine me...but I have blonde hair and glasses.

...

...

Wait...

The Ultimate Imposter!?

“Imposter?”

Bingo.

*He sits back down.

Sorry I didn’t recognize you! I’m just...so used to you looking like him.

Yes, well. I have recently forsaken Byakuya’s identity per his request.

Who are you impersonating now then?

No one. This is my real face and body. And I go by a name now - Ryuji.

Ok, can you all slow down a second, I’m gonna need some more context.

*sigh* Alright...Basically...

*Byakuya takes a moment to explain the context to Maya.

I see...so Ultimate Imposter is your Ultimate Talent, but it’s also the only thing you had to go by for a long time.

You don’t remember your real identity, so you lived by impersonating others. But now you’ve made your own identity and are using that?

Correct. And for the past however many years since the end of the Jabberwock Island Killing Game, Byakuya Togami here has allowed me to use his face and name in unofficial proceedings.

Guess you changed your mind at long last, huh?

Not quite. I just no longer felt content seeing Ryuji go on as anyone other than himself. Though our faces were the same, our personality and interests were different at our core.

No matter how hard he tried to replicate my personality, his own still shone through the façade.

Uh-huh...Well, clearly you get along well enough to want to come and get a drink together.

*sigh* Well, as he said already, this gentleman decided he wanted a break from the lively atmosphere of himself and his classmates at this time of year, so we ended up taking a look around

Turns out he wasn’t quite aware of the Canzanilla Café being set up here before now, so he was rather eager to sit down and put his feet up.

Oh come now, there’s no need to hurt my feelings. I thought it would be a good idea to stop by since I know how much YOU like your tea break.

Although, I suppose you have seen more of the world than any of us, so I doubt this comfy little café impresses him.

Don’t put words in my mouth. Canzanilla went through a lot of trouble trying to get the grant for this. The last thing I would do is openly besmirch her efforts.

That’s not the sort of person I am anymore.

Besides, don’t you remember? I said this one would be on me.

Aw shoot. I wish I was a customer now that I know Togami’s paying.

I think he meant for Ryuji only.

If you want someone to fit your bill, ask your own boss.

But he’d take it out of my pay.

Exactly.

Speaking of which, what can I get for you two gentlemen?

Both: Get me a Double Espresso and take it easy on the milk and sugar please.

...!?

...!?

Oookay...So that’s...two Double Espresso’s?

Both with little milk and sugar?

...Sure.

...Right.

...Ok!

*Maya and Kuripa brew the identical drinks together and bring them back to the table. Byakuya and Ryuji simultaneously take a sip.

...

...

...

...

W-Well? How is it?

Did you like it?

Pleasesaysomethingicantbearthesilence...!

...I apologize Byakuya.

Hm? What for?

You seemed...frustrated and annoyed earlier when I ordered the same drink as you.

Rest assured, I did not mean to copy you. I just wanted a drink that would suit my own tastes, and...they just happened to align with yours.

If I offended you, I apologize. It was not my intention.

I’m not offended. And I wasn’t annoyed earlier either.

When we ordered the same drinks, I was just surprised. Both of the coincidence, and the fact that you have good taste in tea.

Are you sure?

Yes. I’ve known you long enough to know that even though you’ve spent most of your life impersonating others, it’s never been something you’ve been proud to do.

And I must remind you, my request for you to stop impersonating me was for your own benefit, not mine.

...I see...I apologize for coming to such a conclusion.

Besides...Even if you were copying me, you would never be able to copy the feeling of nostalgia I get when I press this cup to my lips.

Nostalgia? What kind of nostalgia?

One that feels like going from rags to riches I assume?

Something like that.

What do you mean?

I told you about my family tournament for the right to be the heir, remember? Before I gained my title, I was actually in a pretty rough spot.

After I was officially taken in by my father Kijo Togami, even though I knew I had earned my spot, it still felt...uncomfortable at first.

Like when your old shoes don’t fit you anymore, and you buy a new pair. It takes some getting used to.

When I first became heir and started living in luxury, it was the first time I ever tried tea. For a long time, this was my favorite blend.

...

Well, whatever...the past is the past. Let’s leave it as it is.

Hahahahaha...

What? What’s so funny?

I’m starting to realize why it is I spent so long pretending to be you specifically. You and I have far more similarities between us than I initially thought.

But...and forgive me if this sounds insensitive...it’s quite funny to imagine the dignified scion, Byakuya Togami, was once a lonely boy on the street.

Are you trying to pick on me?

Of course not. How could I? I spent so long adopting your identity after all.

I do sometimes worry though. I have my own face...and I gave myself my own name...But I still need to find other parts of myself. It’s admirable that you have a life story of pulling yourself out of your unwealthy roots into what sits before me now.

There are many gaps in both my history and personality. I am...somewhat incomplete. To be honest, I’m envious.

Not necessarily...if you ask me...

Ryuji Mitarai is someone who can be given the utmost amount of trust in any situation. Even if it’s something that he has little to no experience in, he will always take charge and formulate a plan to make sure everyone gets out safely.

He is a truly kind and caring individual. He’s very serious about his work and his friends, and is stern in his actions, but when he smiles, he does so in a friendly manner, being protective and supportive to others. He’s also reliable and feels responsible for the safety of those around him. But it’s not like he’s completely set on himself. His biggest weakness is his lack of self-esteem. 

Due to his nature as an impersonator who previously had no identity to call their own, he feels very lonely, and sometimes like he doesn’t truly exist if he’s not adopting someone else’s personality or mannerisms. He constantly has to lie to people as a way to live a life, which he constantly feels guilty for. 

Before now you spent most of the time impersonating other people, so it’s not easy to see your real personality. However, you DO have one.

...

I...Wow...

Jeez Byakuya...That was...touching.

Yeah, I didn’t think you had it in you.

But I meant every word, and not a syllable less. 

And I’m getting rather tired of people thinking that I’m incapable being genuine and nice. Remember, I AM treating you today.

It’s not that I don’t think you’re not nice. It’s more that I know how fierce you can be with words and phrasing.

But if you’re sure about treating me, would it be alright if I had a refill?

Oh? Another drink for the kind gentleman?

You heard the customer Kurafto! We’re here to serve you!~

Hah! I like where this is going. I’ll have another round too.

*Maya and Kuripa bring Byakuya and Ryuji refills immediately. They down their delicious drinks far more quickly.

Hmhmhm...Canzanilla may have an abhorrent personality, but her drinks are hard to top. I find myself wishing I could enjoy some every day.

Aw, you’re too kind.

That...was kind of a backhanded compliment dude...

Do you ever think that if you decide to quit Future Foundation, you’ll start a tea and coffee enterprise and employ her to be part of it?

Hm...

Interesting proposition there...

Wait...really!?

I’m joking of course.

I do sometimes catch myself thinking that I could restore the Togami Family to it’s original stature, but my work for the Future Foundation is something I am dedicated to.

And even if I were to do such a thing, I wouldn’t base it off brewery. There’s already countless industries for imported brands and original blends. They don’t need me muscling my way into the business.

Even so...Thanks for the drinks today Canzanilla. If the café at home doesn’t work out and you ever find yourself needing a cushy job, I’d enjoy having you work here full-time at the Future Foundation cafeteria.

Or, if you’d like something a bit more ambitious...my personal teamaker.

*sigh* Once a smartass, always a smartass...

You’re also welcome on Jabberwock Island. You’d be able to relax on an island scenery and I’m sure everyone would love your drinks. I promise you’d have a blast.

My, my Ryuji, are you competing with me for talent? 

Huh? I was merely making Miss Maya here an offer to come feast and play with us.

You needn’t do so. You may simply stop by the Future Foundation whenever you want Canzanilla to mix you a drink.

...

*Maya pulls Kuripa.

Tipo! I’m so popular!

Can you both cut it out. Maya doesn’t work for either of you!

Ahem...

*Maya steps forward.

While I appreciate your offers, I’d just like to let you know two things.

Firstly, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but tea is not something I especially enjoy brewing. My real specialty is my coffee. Personally I have a dislike for tea, and the only reason I know how to make it is that it’s difficult to run a business if I don’t.

And secondly...your offers sound...great...but I value my own personal freedom and way of life. The way I work? It’s Maya way or the Highya way.

Besides...You two fully understand what it’s like to earn your place in society. Well, so do I.

It took a lot of elbow grease to get enough money to open my cosey little café back in the states. I’m not gonna be so quick to abandon it or let it go.

I see...Forgive me then.

Yes, our words were insensitive...

No, it’s ok! Even with all that said...

When I have a chance, I’ll come hang out with both of you. I promise!

[endwalkr]

this is an ask based thingy but im really in the mood to infodump so im just gonna answer them all under the cut !

Favorite video game?

starting off with the absolute hardest question huh? i can’t possibly name ONE favorite game of mine because i adore my favorites for many different reasons. my overall favorite video game is ffxv or botw. ffxv because it has brought me so much joy for such a long time, and because i have such a connection with the characters. botw because i was actually in the fandom when it first got announced in 2016 so i got to be there when the hype was at an all time high– and finally being able to play the game after waiting for so long was an unforgettable experience. i have more favorite games but ill talk more about them in the ‘’special place in ur heart’’ question.

First console you owned?

my first console wasn’t a console. my friend and i used to play on her nintendo dsi all the time and at one point tiny little me reeeally wanted one of my own so i saved up and got one in [redacted] when i was 7. my first actual console was a wii though, we got that around the same time.

A game that holds a special place in your heart?

ffxv and botw mean the absolute world to me, but super mario galaxy and skyward sword are very important to me too. skyward sword is the game that got me into zelda which got me into anime which got me into final fantasy etc etc etc.  super mario galaxy was the first non-mini game collection and more adventure story-ish game i played. i was so proud when i beat it for the first time and mario was my first ever ‘’fandom’’ :’) 

Favorite video game character?

bro. i cant pick just one so i’ll choose one per game : prompto, ryuji and link. they were all my comfort characters at some point and i projected like crazy onto them. this doesnt mean that i wouldnt absolutely die for noct or zelda. 

Least favorite video game character?

i dont think theres anyone i distinctly dislike? i always talk about hating ardyn but that’s because he’s just a salty bitch. as a character i think he’s a great villain and i rly love him. i honestly always end up liking everyone somehow, maybe there is someone i just forgot about but i cant remember at all. 

Favorite genre?

adventure games, or action rpgs. 

Video game character you’ve had a crush on?

every character ever, but i distinctly remember the moment i fell in love with prompto sjghfkshd i was watching a playthrough of xv in december 2016 because i didnt have a ps4, and the guy got to the scene in galdin quay where the bros learn insomnia fell. i had watched about 6 hours of the game by that time and wasn’t particularly interested in the characters but not uninterested enough to drop it. i hadnt even gotten a good look at the characters faces yet, so when the camera zoomed in on prompto when he said ‘’might not be save for us here!’’ i noticed he had freckles. oh god. oh fuck. oh my god hes fucking cute. oh my god better watch 30 hours of this game now

First video game you remember playing?

wayyy before i got my own gaming systems, my then-best friend had a gamecube in her attic. i was around 5 or 6 at the time. whenever i was over at her house and we didnt know what to do, she’d sometimes propose to play ‘’mario kart’’. important is that we are dutch, and i was a literal child. i thought mario KART meant it was a fucking card game, so i always declined whenever she asked. on one fateful day, i finally gave in and was pleasantly surprised it was in fact not a card game, but a viddy game. so we played mario kart double dash. (…i had never played a video game in my life besides browser flash games and was Very Very bad)

Age you started gaming?

so i played my first video game that i didnt own when i was about 5 or 6. then i got my first supply of games at age 7/8, but i dont really consider that time to be when i started ‘’gaming’’. i’d say that was when i started mario galaxy, so i’ve been playing video games for real (ie. story adventure games with boss battles) for about 6 years now.

Hardest video game you’ve played?

this is gonna sound stupid, but the witcher 3. there’s like 7 difficulties and i played on the EASIEST and still had a hard time, i just couldnt get used to the combat. i had the same problem with assassin’s creed syndicate, but after about 10 hours i actually knew what i was doing, and ive played the witcher longer than that and still am clueless. this is kind of an unpopular opinion but i dont particularly like that game

Video game you’ve spent the most time on?

i guess i am what you’d call a casual gamer; i really like video games but during a normal school week i only game for like 2-6 hours. most of the time i dont play for like 2 weeks if im busy. gaming has kind of taken over my life not because i play so much but because i get so emotionally invested lol i’m currently on summer break and even now im not playing a lot because of exhaustion and executive dysfunction. this derailed slightly but the game i’ve played the most despite my casual gamer status is …. … …. ffxv. surprise, right? the runner up is botw, but xv wins by a landslide. 630+ hours. botw is 350. my main save in ffxv is almost 200 hours i think. damn. i really managed to keep myself entertained with that game… (………i was thinking recently, since the loading screens in xv are so long, how much of this total amount was spent watching screens. i imagine it’s several hours, especially if you fast travel a lot.)

Most embarrassing gaming moment?

many moments in my gaming experience are embarrassing, but a more recent one: i was in xv’s postgame, beating some dungeons on my new save file. i had just finished daurell caverns and hadn’t saved in about 2 hours. (uh oh) i was driving around in the regalia type d and got to the big cliff near lestallum, and remembered someone made a gif of jumping in there so i wanted to try it too. i imagined the game would just put me back on the road, like it does when you crash into something. except it didnt. i got a game over. where was my last save? 2 hours back all the way in hammerhead. yippee.

Scariest video game you’ve played?

i never play horror games, cuz for me games are supposed to be relaxing experiences. no hate towards horror games of course, they just stress me out. the only time ive played horror is when friday the 13th was for free on ps+, and my friends really wanted to play it. (theyre kinda addicted to it now. huh) they had already gotten over the initial fear of having jason chase you, but i was still terrified. i can play the game without getting scared now tho. the horror sound effects just rly freaked me out at first jhsdkghsd

Most memorable gaming moment?

playing breath of the wild for the first time, or beating it for the first time. both experiences were filled to the brim with excitement and nostalgia. seeing botw as a blank slate, a world for you to explore, having no idea where you’re going… that was pretty incredible. now i know every nook and cranny of the map, so i wish i could play it for the first time again. i was so incredibly immersed. beating it was insane. i cried for 30 minutes and the end wasnt even sad, i was just so amazed at the fact that i was really here, playing breath of the wild, it was really real. the fucking main theme in the background (which i cannot for the life of me listen to without crying) didnt help with my emotions sgkdjh

Video game character you wish you could meet in real life?

…………..its prompto again. maybe 2017 me …. was .. kind of a kinnie

PC, Xbox, Playstation, or Nintendo?

i dont care about console wars at all, but i think hardware-wise, pc is the best, because if you have a good pc you can basically do anything. i however do not, so i just play on consoles. ive never particularly liked xbox, so i only play ps4 and nintendo. not the switch though. its kinda petty, but my best friend and i really dont like the switch djghks

Gaming company you’re most loyal to?

none. i used to call myself a nintendo nerd (oh my god…. i m. gonna die) in like 2015 but since the switch came out and since i got a ps4 they kinda lost me. i still like their game series of course, but as a company i don’t care for them. the only reason i see square enix as one of ‘’my’’ gaming companies is because ffxv took up like 70% of my gaming experience, but besides final fantasy i don’t really love them too much either.

If you could only play one video game for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

atm i’m really into ffxiv because theres just so much to do, but that’s just a new, possibly temporary interest. if i had to choose, i’d say botw. maybe i’d say ffxv, but i feel like running around doing nothing in that game isnt very fun, because the world is sorta empty after completing every quest and getting to level 120. in botw, just fucking around on your horse is still really relaxing and nice. 

Do you use strategy guides?

yup. in certain games i try to avoid them but i usually end up stuck or in need of advice. i couldn’t have gotten so many p5 trophies if not for the internet lol

How often do you use cheats?

never, simply because the games i play often do not have cheats. unless im playing the sims and are in need of a motherlode, i dont use them.

Competitive or single player?

single player. im bad at video games and like to do stuff at my own pace. online multiplayer can be fun every now and then in games like mario kart 8 or splatoon, and i also like teamwork stuff like ffxiv or comrades. but ultimately, i prefer playing on my own.

Video game character you want to/have cosplayed?

have never cosplayed, dont have plans to either, but it would be fun to cosplay link. omg. i just remembered i have that fucking chocomoogle shirt… sorry link im gonna slap on some sasuke hair, black jeans and ugly sneakers 

Ever go to a video game convention?

i have not, i have however gone to three (3) video game concerts which is basically the same thing. 

Hardest boss fight you’ve been in?

the hardest bosses for me are usually the ones with a gimmick. you have to use a certain item or tactic to beat them or something. other hard fights for me are when you fight someone with a similar skill set. (in ffxv, this happens twice, once with the iggy-noct sparring match and once against ardyn. somehow, the final boss was easier than getting the prince to eat vegetables.) i don’t know an actual example of THE hardest boss fight ive been in though. at the time, the first bowser battle in mario galaxy was the hardest thing in the universe and i got stuck for like a month. currently, i’m having trouble with the riku-ansem fight in kh1. 

Video game you wish you could burn from your memory?

the zelda cdi games? no, i dont really know. i dont hate a game so much that i’d want to forget about it altogether, but i dont exactly love ocarina of time that much. it hasnt aged well and playing it on the gamecube for the first time in 2015 wasnt a good idea. im sure it was revolutionary at the time, but i cant handle the outdated controls gsdgksjs 

Favorite gaming series?

see, i love ffxv itself more than the entirety of the zelda series, but i dont love ff as a SERIES more than the zelda games. so if were talking series, zelda for sure. i fucking love those games and they mean a lot to me. 

Do you skip tutorials, or find them useful?

i often skip them because i cant pay attention, but then find that i need them anyway. so i usually do skim through them. 

Best online gaming experience?

one really good one happened a few days ago in ffxiv, some guy and i exchanged emotes for like 30 minutes and it ended with us becoming friends on psn :’) ppl dont usually emote back at me in that game so this was really wholesome and nice gjshksdj 

Worst online gaming experience?

i dont really have a worst? theyre more annoying. think try harders in gta online killing you 15 times in a row because they want to show you how good they are or something. magically, online gaming hasnt been too hard on me (mainly because i dont game online that much)

Why do you game?

it brings me joy. it’s a fun way of relaxing, while being stimulated at the same time. games have meant a great deal to me the past 6 years and i wouldnt want to lose them for the world.

[kairiofknives]

Relationship Status: Complicated (Akechi and Akira)

Pairing: Goro Akechi & Akira Kurusu (ambiguous relationship), very slight background Futaba/Akira

Summary: Goro Akechi was a lot of things. He was a high schooler, playing at being the detective prince of Tokyo. He was a boy estranged from his father, without his mother, lonely in a world that didn't really care about him. He was smart, sociable, cruel, ruthless. He was a survivor, for better or for worse. He was interesting to Akira Kurusu in a way that almost no one else was.

A retelling of Akira's thoughts on Goro Akechi throughout Persona 5: the good, the bad, and the insurmountable in-between.

Read on AO3

The Good

It started with the way his thoughts seemed to have a razored edge to them.

It should have alarmed Akira. After all, this gentlemanly detective prince, beloved by the masses and envied by so many of his male classmates, did work with the police. Goro Akechi, with his level of fan fair, had the potential to shed enough light on the Phantom Thieves to make them famous, as well as make them a target for the cops. A double edged sword. Even more than that, this boy was smart. Maybe even slyer than Makoto, who was always at least one step ahead of the game. Not in the same way Futaba was smart, either. No, not Akechi, with his frighteningly disarming smile and cutting tongue. His type of smart was well polished. Implemented often and without hesitation. Maybe even ruthless. This boy was dangerous.

Akira had not had so much fun in ages.

It was something poetic to be certain. The detective and the thief. He was sure he'd read it in a book somewhere. It was a bit too interesting to turn away from. No matter how much Ryuji hissed and moaned about how much of a douche the boy was. No matter how obviously disapproving and potentially even aggressive his words about Akira's friends were. No matter how bad of an idea it was, if he came home to Akechi sipping coffee and happily flipping through the pages of some well loved novel, Akira would drop Morgana off at the stairs and join him at the bar. If only for a little while.

There was just something about him that struck all the right cords with Akira. Maybe that was part of the disguise he wore, just like his smiles, which Akira was starting to be able to distinguish between, bit by bit. (The sharper it looked, the faker it was.) But there was at least part of their relationship that couldn't have been planned out. Their intellectual debates tended to get heated enough that Sojiro would bring them each a second cup of coffee before Akechi blushed, remembering himself, and thinking up an excuse to trudge home. That was real. The detective's sullen laments about how no where felt quite like home the way LeBlanc did, a feeling Akira sympathized with so deeply it almost hurt sometimes. The way those chocolate brown eyes shined a bit with pride when Akira played along with his over enthusiastic explanations of his non-confidential cases.

The way he always looked content to be there and never looked happy to leave.

Even the way they battled against Shadows, one horridly stressful reveal later, seemed to scream that they had something between them that was irrevocably in sync. Akechi's raw power was startlingly effective, overcoming trivial inconveniences like type disadvantages easily. Robin Hood was balanced, if nothing else, with very few obvious weaknesses to cover. He fit so well into the vanguard of their team while in Sae's palace. It should have been so damn unsettling. But instead, Akira let himself imagine that somewhere in the mess that was unfolding around them, that he and Akechi were almost friends.

...almost wasn't good enough, as it turned out.

The Bad

It was most apparent in the way Akechi led them through group conversations. It was like he was playing chess the whole way through. He was just waiting for a predictable piece, Ryuji or Ann often enough, to settle into an argument he expected, then flipping it around on them to continue down the path he wanted it to. Akechi was plotting something. And perhaps it was just his regular dramatic flair or maybe he really couldn't stand to betray them all to their faces, but he was trying so damn hard to play the part of earnest detective it was almost sickening. He wanted them to have no idea it was coming. He wanted it to hurt, to burn, when it happened.

Makoto and Futaba had already long since shared their concerns. Morgana was already helping them devise a plan, revising it with every new bit of information they got while trekking through Sae's casino. Akira knew the ins and outs already. He was getting used to putting on a mask of his own, especially while they were in the Metaverse. It was easiest when he already had a mask physically on his face. It was harder at LeBlanc. Akechi almost never showed up outside of group meetings anymore, but every now and then, Sojiro could trick the poor boy into staying for coffee. He never argued when Akira joined him, making pleasant conversation, which felt so honest compared to his doctored cheer from just thirty minutes prior.

Akira wondered if Akechi ever realized that the smile on his face back then, deeply engrossed in what the elder was saying and just a little bit sad, was just his way of asking "Do you really plan to kill me?"

The betrayal itself was nothing fanciful. Akechi was unsurprisingly silent during the confusion of the police showing up. He mysteriously vanished once the danger arrived. Akira was chased, beaten, caught. All according to plan. His memories of the interrogation were hazy, at best. He somehow managed to convince Sae to work with him. What he could remember, clear as anything, was what it felt like just after she left the room. His pulse had been so loud in his ears, he expected to be almost deaf. Yet, every small sound sparked a bottomless fear through him. His nightmares for months after then would not include Shido, or the Holy Grail. No, just the door to his cell opening slowly, and Akechi waltzing in. It didn't matter what came after that. That would have been Game Over. If Akira was spared anything in that whole situation, aside from his life, it was that he never had to know what Akechi had meant to say to him before killing him. Never had to see the look on his face...never had to struggle to reconcile what he was looking at with the smiling face of the boy he played tic-tac-toe with over coffee at LeBlanc, before that boy put a bullet in his double's head.

That would have just been a little too much to bear.

As if feeling that cold stare on the back of his head in Shido's palace wasn't bad enough. As if watching Akechi's perfectly pressed and polished armor come chipping off piece by piece until nothing was left but a murderous monster wasn't punishment enough.

...and that wasn't even the worst of it.

The Insurmountable In-Between

It ended with a thought that never quite left Akira's head after that. "If only we had met a few years earlier," Akechi had said. If only, Akira had agreed to himself repeatedly, whenever the detective prince ever crossed his mind after that.

There was a moment, when he was wandering through the prison cells of the velvet room to find his beloved comrades, where Akira desperately wished he would find Akechi amongst the lines of bars and chains. Even if the older boy couldn't be convinced to stand with them against the Holy Grail, Akira just had so many things he needed to say, that felt so intensely private that he wouldn't even share them with Futaba. He knew what the others would say, should he ever voice any of those thoughts aloud. He could hear it in their voices.

Goro Akechi was a murderer, a scumbag.

He had spent weeks trying to gain their trust, fully intending to double cross them for his own benefit.

He had been personally responsible for the misery befalling both Futaba and Haru.

He had walked into Akira's interrogation room, killed what he believed to be a real guard and the real Akira without so much as a smidge of hesitation, and then gloated about his success to his psychopath father.

He would have waited a few weeks, just until the election was over, then come to murder every last one of the remaining Phantom Thieves, if he had succeeded.

Akira knew that. The saddest part was that he agreed with it. He had had the most distinguished pleasure of holding Futaba in his bruised, battered arms when Sae dragged him to LeBlanc from the police station. She had sobbed endlessly, while he was unable to feel a single thing due to the mix of drugs still heavy in his veins and lingering weight of his imminent doom. It was his dreams that replayed every single conversation they had had, searching fruitlessly for the dialogue choice that could have changed Akechi's mind. That could have saved him, could have saved them both.  No, Akira had not necessarily forgiven, and certainly not forgotten, what hell Goro Akechi had put him through. But he also knew what his friends didn't.

Goro Akechi was emotionally abused his whole life by adults, most of all his extremely manipulative son-of-a-bitch father.

He found peace in the quiet stillness of the coffee scented air in LeBlanc. It was a home he had never really had.

He had learned of his ability to change cognition with his persona without the guidance of someone like Morgana to tell him that killing a person's shadow meant killing them in real life.

He had been a pawn in a game aimed at turning him into a monster from the very beginning.

He had wished he and Akira could have become friends, instead of the toxic mess they had ended up becoming.

...he had sacrificed himself so that Akira could live, could end things the right way.

And Akira knew it was stupid, but his heart just couldn't let that part go, either. Goro Akechi was a goddamn tragedy. The strongest ally, the deadliest enemy, and the most tantalizing "what if" Akira would ever know. They were star-crossed... somethings. And not knowing what word to put there hurt just as much as not being able to ever change what word was put there. For all he bled, sweat and cried to change his fate and the fates of not only his friends, but the entire world, his biggest failure was that he couldn't save Akechi too.

But his life moved on after that. No matter what he wanted or felt about the subject. These thoughts he would always keep close to his chest. But every now and again, a customer would walk through LeBlanc's doors and mention something about "that old detective high schooler that just disappeared without a trace". Once or twice, they even asked Akira if he had known him, always so surprised and impressed when he said that he did. The next questions were usually either what that kid was like or whether or not he and Akira had been buddies. Regardless of the question, his answer was always the same.

"It's complicated."

[sutekiyomitsu]

2.5 Jigen Danshi: Sato Ryuji

[TRANSLATION] 50 Questions to 2.5D Boy: Sato Ryuji 2.5次元男子に50の質問：佐藤流司さん

Profile

Q1. Date of birth? 17 January 1995 Q2. Place of birth? Miyagi Prefecture Q3. One strength? Tolerance Q4. Favourite part of your face/body? My hair Q5. Special talent? Karate Q6. Blood type? B Q7. Nickname? Ryuji, Ryuji-kun Q8. One weakness? My reticence. Talking is tiring. Q9. A hobby? Playing the drums Q10. Favourite motto? Steady progress/Rapid advancement

My Instruction Manual

Q11. Favourite food? Unagi Q12. Favourite fashion? Onii-kei [1] Q13. Favourite music? Heavy rock Q14. Favourite colours? Black, White, Red Q15. Favourite sports? Most ball games Q16. When do you get upset? When food does not taste like I how it imagined it Q17. When are you happy? When I clear games Q18. What do you want others to do when you’re upset? Talk about things that can make me laugh Q19. What is the one thing you absolutely cannot condone? Stepping into someone’s house without arranging your shoes Q20. What is one thing that you cannot live without? Music

My Ideal Girl!?

Q21. What kind of personality is ideal (in a partner)? Someone who can listen to people. Q22. What kind of hairstyle is ideal? If it’s black! Q23. What is a line you wish to receive? 「I’m sorry for liking you」 I’d like it to be said with true feeling. I like timid girls. I would say to her, “It’s fine.” (laughs) Q24. What kind of gesture from a girl do you find attractive? Pretending to cry. Kind of like, while joking around, pretending to cry cutely (laughs) Q25. What kind of clothes do you like on a girl? Skinny jeans Q26. From Questions 21-25, draw your ideal girl.

Q27. What is a place you want to go to with your girlfriend on a date? New York. Well, I’ve never been there though. Q28. What is a meal you would like her to make? Hoikoro (twice-cooked pork) [2] Q29. If you fought with your girlfriend, how would you make it up to her? I would buy something that she likes when I go to meet her. Q30. Please propose to your beloved girlfriend! 「Please marry me」

Q31. Describe yourself in one kanji. 「堅」（かた）(T/N: strength, solidity, firmness) I’ve been called a “hard-liner” before, and I also think that I’m stubborn too. I am physically strong as well. Q32. What do you want to do right now? I want to sit in zazen (a cross-legged position). [3] I have not done it before though.

IF…

Q33. If you had not become a performer, what would you be? A lawyer. Lawyers can completely overturn a situation, right? I think that’s really cool. Q34. If you struck the lottery, what would you do? My hands would tremble. My lot in life would get better. Q35. If you woke up one day as a girl, what would you do? My hands will tremble. I’ll try on 15cm (6-inch) stilettos. Because I can’t wear them as a guy. On stage, I wear 2cm high pumps, so I wanted to try about 15cm ones. Q36. If you could time travel, which time period would you want to go to? Heian Period. I want to write up songs! It seemed like time passed slowly in that period, so I want to try going there. Q37. If the world was going to end, what is the last thing you would do? I would thank my parents and friends, and then sleep soundly.

Lifestyle ~My daily routine~

Q38. What is the first thing you do when you wake up? Check my face swelling. [4] Q39. What is the thing you do the most when you are on the move? Listen to music. Recently, I have been getting to music like OFFSPRING. Later, I’m also going to listen to MAN WITH A MISSION. Q40. When you are free from work, what do you do the most? Go for a walk. Q41. What is the first thing you do when you get back home? Change into my dressing gown. Q42. Do you cook? What’s your specialty? I cook about once every six months. No specialties. Q43. Do you use the bath? Or do you shower? In the morning, I shower, and at night, I soak in a bath. Q44. When you are bathing, where do you start washing first? My hair. Q45. What is your sleeping posture? I cross my legs. Q46. What do you wear when you sleep? Half trousers and a long T-shirt. Q47. What is the happiest time of your day? The time just before I sleep, when I watch videos in bed. Currently I’m into an anime called BLACK LAGOON. I also like American comics.

Q48. What is a dream you would like to achieve in ten years? To continue working in this industry Q49. What is your treasure? The people who give me support. (They are my source of energy!) Q50. Last comments! Everyone, please continue to take care of me, Sato Ryuji!

Translation Notes:

[1] Onii-kei, literally “older brother fashion”, is a Japanese fashion subculture that references rocker and military looks. This style tends to be geared towards high-end fashion but with the inclusion of rugged elements of street style, characterised by accessories like branded sunglasses, belts and watches.

[2] Hoikoro, or twice/double cooked pork is originally a Szechuan-style Chinese dish, called 回鍋肉 in Mandarin.

[3] Zazen is seated Zen meditation, usually in a cross-legged position.

[4] I was at first confused (incredibly concerned) by what he meant by face swelling but I think he meant the kind of swelling that is caused by water retention at night if you drink a lot of water before (although I’ve never gotten that before). (UPDATE: apparently it can be caused by dry air and not enough water? Ryuji, please take care of yourself XD)

More translations from 2.5 Jigen Danshi Photobook:

Torigoe Yuuki’s 50 Questions Ota Motohiro’s 50 Questions Matsushita Yuya’s 50 Questions Hirose Tomoki’s 50 Questions (translated by withchantomo)

Personal Note:

The 2.5 Jigen Boy photobook was released on 17 October 2015. It’s one of my favourite photobooks because it has 5 2.5D actors whom I like, namely Hirose Tomoki, Torigoe Yuuki, Ota Motohiro, Matsushita Yuya, and of course, Sato Ryuji. (It features bad schoolboy!Ryuji, how can I not love it?) Though I have managed to find some scans of the photos online, I’ve never seen a translation of the 50 Questions section at the back for most of the guys (except Hirose Tomoki), so I thought I’d try my hand at translating it. I might translate this section for the other 3 boys next! (If I have time… and energy… and willpower…)

I also scanned in the pages with the questions from the book itself because the images are really cute wwwww

This is my first time ever posting a translation, so I’m still kinda unsure about some of these lines, but well… I tried my best for Ryuji :P (If you have a better translation, just drop me a message here or DM me on twitter!)

これからもよろしくお願いします！

[stuffandsundry]

Lemme preface this with a big hello there! I didn’t actually expect anyone to reply to this post, and so comprehensively either, haha!

dynamojacks replied to your post: Alt. P5 Justice Confidant

Hrrrrrmm. Can’t say I agree with all of this. It’s not like ‘being foil to the protag’ is the flaw with the interaction - or characterisation, of all things - it’s mostly the way said interaction is framed. Also, he’s less of a direct foil to him and more an 'equal and opposite’. Goro isn’t supposed to relate to the protag entirely, that’s kind of the point. He envies him. But he’s on his level, so to speak. It’s that aspect that draws him to him.

I think we’re using foil in a two different ways here. I use it as shorthand for “we, as third parties to this story, are supposed to compare and contrast these characters”. So, yeah, he’s set up as an equal and opposite you are totally correct there, but Goro aint the one relating to the protag, we as the audience are the ones comparing them. And that’s when problems arise, because quite a bit about the protag is so open to interpretation.

He also kind of KNOWS he’s special because he’s.. seen him, and Morgana, in the Metaverse (see: pancakes ‘gaffe’). It’s not just a one-sided perception, he’s absolutely right and this is a big fuck-off hint that he’s a wildcard in hindsight.

yo what seriously? i thought that the pancakes thing happened in the hallway of the TV studio how the hell did i misremember that badly holy shit

I agree that this should have been dealt with better, and that we needed more interaction with the PT to build a collective bond. A WHOLE, WHOLE lot more. I live and breathe any writings that bring them all together, like really. But to narrow the issue down to the protag being foil just seems flimsy. They ARE fated rivals per se and for good reason, it’s just that this aspect was shafted to buggery when it got down to it.

It’s not protag being foil that’s the problem, it’s “protag is the foil, focused on almost exclusively to the detriment of any meaningful interaction with the rest of the cast.” like, yeah, it does work, to a point. but it also could be a lot better, by giving the others a chance to shine.

The ‘god’s game’ apparently meant nothing in the grand scheme of things. That was exceptionally bad writing. To build up shit like that, but for Goro’s role as wild card to mean next to zilch.

Oh yeah, that resolution was very much so missing, which is a massive pity. Like you said, the whole fated rivals chosen to duke it out by god is a pretty interesting concept. I’m interested to know more about why you think that Goro’s role as a Wild Card mean zilch, though. Personally, I’ve been looking at it as: “Goro did had the potential to choose many different paths that could shape the world around him, signified by the Wild Card, but he locked himself very quickly into one path where he was simply being used as a tool by Shido. This, in combination with him holding everyone at arms length, meant that he didn’t form any significant bonds either aside from the real fucked up one with Shido, and so he inadvertently crippled his own Wild Card ability from the beginning” Actually, on that note, maybe he couldn’t have formed confidants. Whenever you initiate a Confidant in-game, it’s Lavenza’s voice that you hear, not Caroline + Justine. Would Lavenza have reached out to Akechi? Hmmm...

Also regarding Goro and fame, he’s not as hung up on it as Ryuji is/was, not NEARLY as much. One, mistranslation (not ‘public image’ or 'celebrity’, but 'reputation with adults’ and 'charisma’), and two, he knows his fame is fickle and dangerous in itself, having lived it for long enough. Ryuji romanticises it, Goro does not. Goro resents that those people do not know him for who he is, Ryuji thinks that fame will make him beloved.

Yeah!!!! This right here!!! This is a great contrast to have, they’d be amazing foils!! Ryuji and Goro are practically complete opposites, but they also share a lot of similarities too despite that. I spent like 5 min on this section the first time, so these are just the things that instantly popped into my head, but you could also draw parallels btwn the fact that Ryuji’s dad being in his life made it worse, while Goro’s being absent made his worse, or they way that Ryuji always had his mother with him vs Goro who’s mother left him alone, or the way that Ryuji is very bluntly honest about everything vs Goro who tries to keep everything hidden behind a veneer of politeness, or public perception of ryuji as a no good thug even if he honestly just wants to do the right thing vs the perception of goro as the person who would uphold justice/stop the breakdowns even if he was the very same person who was causing them, but DESPITE ALL THIS CONTRAST, ryuji is one of the most empathetic members of the team and absolutely would have tried to help Goro if he’d only known sooner what kinda trouble he was in (re: first impressions of makoto as a prick vs jumping in front of a car in order to rescue her)

(Speaking of Makoto, she’s absolutely the person that has the most parallels to Goro, and she should have been his rival. Both joined the team through some form of blackmail, both have incredible pressure but on them by the adults in their lives, both very similar characters vis-à-vis approaches to life in general, actually wait one second i have a quote from a friend on this.... “But I think Makoto works really well in terms of how they’re narratively set up as opposites? idk, like Makoto’s approach to subterfuge is to orchestrate the people around her while Akechi’s approach to subterfuge is to manipulate the people around him, Makoto’s impulsivity means she can be prone to direct confrontation while Akechi is on guard until he’s literally right at the breaking point, I just think…. it would’ve been so much more interesting to explore more of this than putting the burden on protag to carry Akechi Interest”)

and oh god im babbling sorry I HAVE OPINIONS

As for Yusuke? Madarame’s exploiting of his talent to his own ends (check), Yusuke wanting to please him but also trapped and nigh desperate to leave (check), Madarame being essentially responsible for his mother’s death (check), Yusuke having to rely on him to survive, for roof over head (check), and would be ruined, and even die one way or another if he tried to escape (check, check, and double check).                                                                      A comment Yusuke makes in Okumura’s Palace is extremely telling- about how someone who is oppressed will ‘desire for it’ (paraphrase). What’s even more telling, is when Yusuke said about Goro, quote: 'had I not met you all, I would have turned out like him as well’.   Haru? They’re both puppets to their fathers. Both are manipulated for the sake of political goals. Both are actually sweet by nature- at least, not ruthless, and really have to be pushed to be (SIU Director’s comments about the plot to FRAME the PTs as being ‘too brutal’… imagine how much more actually KILLING would be..). And both started out with a naive(ish), idealistic core, if Robin Hood and his fixation on Featherman R is anything to go by.

Eyyyyyyyyy this is some pretty hella meta, kudos to you. Like yeah!!!! YEAH!!!!!!! GORO AND PHANTOM THIEVES INTERACTIONS.... THERES THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME REAL MEATY, REAL GOOD STUFF IN HERE....GIVE US MORE OF THAT PLEASE...

And part of the reason why opinion changed per se, was realising just how flimsy Goro’s own resolve was, and how vulnerable. He wasn’t hell bent on bringing disaster, he was clinging on to straws in desperation. Ryuji’s comment, urging him to realise that he was his own person, makes this much clear. Their ire was more focused on Shido at this point. Still, they did not really forgive Goro, and made this much VERY clear. In any event, the last point might have been down to cultural differences. I’m.. not sure, but to those who understood this scene, it didn’t come ‘out of nowhere’, so you can’t necessarily say that’s a writing flaw on it’s own.    

Mmmm, sorry if I was unclear, but the two times I used ‘out of nowhere in this post were in regards to how i dislike goro approaching protag with little prior warning? So.... im not quite sure what you’re trying to say here. Out of nowhere is too strong of a term to use for this scenario, so if its a thing I’ve said someplace else in regards to the last scene then sorry, I’ll clarify now. It’s not out of nowhere, however, it stands in stark contrast to the entire team’s opinions of Akechi up until this point. Not necessarily a terrible, awful choice, but it is certainly jarring in a way that is completely avoidable. Which, again, brings me back to “give Goro and the other PT a larger share of attention instead of focusing on Protag”. Sae’s Palace would have been a perfect place for Goro’s facade to slip a little bit, and give the rest of the team a little bit of an idea of how he’s like when he’s not constantly on guard. Instead, Sae’s Palace focuses on setting Goro up as smart which............. he’s a teen detective that works with the police. We know that he’s smart already. We should have gotten more characterization in there instead! Giving us some form of transition, like, “he’s an enemy of the Phantom Thieves” -> “hmm, there seem to be some circumstances that we can relate to that made him the way he is now” -> “we understand why you did the things you did. we still can’t agree with it, but we know now.” ...Granted, the reason that I think of it as an abrupt about face could have been due to the face that they never mention Goro again after his battle. A short scene after Shido’s Palace had been cleared to look back on the impact that Goro had had on the PT would have been a great help.

thank you for your thoughts! c: