#not saying mikoto’s reason cause I’m lazy

[officialesmilgram-reblog]

i don’t really like kazui or mikoto, but the reason is really dumb 😭

[ridiasfangirlings]

I've read your recent meta about Munakata, Fushimi, and Mikoto, but I'm still not convinced that Munakata is better King than Mikoto. Munakata is quite manipulative don't you think? Like on Fushimi's case, he's aware about the virus but he didn't tell directly to Fushimi nor he destroyed the phone but he deliberately made Fushimi lured Hisui out so Munakata can 'save' him. He also planned Kusuhara's death so Scepter 4 can develop (I felt so sick while reading that). Mikoto while he's maybe too lazy to remember every HOMRA member, he generously gave his power for people who need it like Eric, Anna, even Yata and Fushimi. He's also protective toward his clansmen.

Also I think that if only Fushimi didn't feel afraid toward Mikoto and he was willing to be more open with Yata, he should stay in Homra. The poor dude never have a family before, right? He came from a cold house, why does he join a cold clan, that even Jungle feels warmer than Scepter4? Like you said, Munakata only chose people who was 'useful' for him, isn't it unhealthy to see people by how much they're worth? I don't think Fushimi with his low self-esteem will be fine in environment like that. Homra's family dynamic can give Fushimi what was missing from him on his childhood. On Homra, everyone is equal and there's no talk about "useful" and "useless" member, for example Totsuka is the weakest, yet he was respected. Kusanagi and Totsuka also care about Fushimi so much, and of course he can be with Yata, the most (maybe only) important person in his life.

I'm sorry for long ask, I just love Sarumi and HOMRA so much so I hate Munakata for separating Sarumi on LSW and he acts like an ass toward Mikoto and HOMRA.

I'm gonna answer this one out of order because I have thoughts and want to answer it while the thoughts are still happening XD So firstly: I'm not sure where you're getting that Munakata 'planned' Kusuhara's death. Munakata clearly had plans for Kusuhara from the start but my impression was never that those plans meant for Kusuhara to die – on the contrary, I think Munakata was pretty clearly planning for Kusuhara to be his Zenjou, more of less, to be the one who uses his swift reflexes to cut off Munakata's head when the time comes. A failsafe, basically, because Munakata leaves nothing to chance. He brought Zenjou into the fold largely for that reason, the only one of Habari's Scepter 4 really offered a prominent position, and when Zenjou went to the Records department instead Munakata simply found himself someone who he felt might have the potential to do the job just as well. That Kusuhara's reflexes would cause him to jump in front of a bullet meant for Munakata – and which wouldn't have killed him, because Munakata's aura would have kicked in, but Kusuhara moved quicker than that consideration – was not part of Munakata's plan (in fact if we're talking responsibility for Kusuhara's death I would put that on Hisui's head. Side Blue the novel hints at it and 7Stories is even clearer in showing Douhan as the sniper who tries to take Munakata down later, that Hisui was testing whether or not he could take Munakata out via a third party). In DOB Munakata mentions that Scepter 4 is more 'complete' for Kusuhara's loss but again, I don't take that as Munakata admitting he plotted this – it's Munakata considering after the fact, making the loss into a positive for the clan and considering that perhaps it was a thing that had to happen to make 'his Scepter 4' complete but that is not at all the same as saying 'he planned Kusuhara's death.' (The rest is under the cut because for some reason Tumblr kept eating my first few paragraphs otherwise.)

As for the idea of who's a 'better' King, there's a difference in my mind between which Kings are objectively better than the others and which are better for a specific person. Both Munakata's and Mikoto's approaches have their own merits. Mikoto offers power to anyone brave enough to take his hand so yes, he does offer power to weak people or people who need it like Eric and Anna. Mikoto values free will, and so if someone has the will to take his hand he will offer it to them, give them the option to risk death if they so choose for power. On the other end, this leads to guys who act outside of Homra and can cause trouble (like the guy in R:B, for example). It also means that Mikoto might have actually killed people who didn't fit the Red power, which is no less a tragedy even if it was a risk they were willing to take.

Munakata by contrast only offers his sword to people that he knows are worthy. As Fushimi puts it in LSW: “Taking precaution to make sure he’s only granting power to those who will succeed. That’s quite Munakata’s course of action.” That said though, Munakata's idea of who is 'worthy' isn't necessarily just a specific obviously useful type, S4 isn't filled with just serious characters like Awashima, Akiyama and Benzai. Munakata saw fit to give power to those who thought they wouldn't belong in such a place, like sushi chef Kamo, or those who thought they might just live a 'normal' life, like Hidaka. Munakata's clan contains the heir of a dojo (Doumyouji) and a former NEET (Gotou), and someone who thought a job was just something to pay for your hobbies (Enomoto). It contains people who may have thought “surely, I'm not someone who would belong in such a place.” But Munakata saw potential and pursued it, and I don't think that's objectively any less 'generous' than Mikoto giving out his Red to anyone brave enough to reach for it, it's just going about Kingship in a different way.

And as for the idea of 'useful' vs 'useless,' keep in mind when I discuss that in regards to Fushimi's position at Scepter 4 in particular I really do mean that as Fushimi's perspective. Now, Munakata does choose people based on how he feels they would fit in his Scepter 4 – their use – but that's not just a simple thing either. Like you mention Totsuka being weak yet still equal to everyone else in Homra, however despite Totsuka's physical weakness he does very much have a use in Homra: he's Mikoto's 'stopper,' he's the mood maker of the clan, he's the one who often deals with troublesome people. That's a use, despite his weakness. Munakata's way of creating a clan is different from Mikoto's but I don't think that makes it worse, or less of a tight knit clan. Munakata does have his manipulative side of course, and may do and say things that could draw out dissatisfaction within the ranks of his own clan, but at the end of the day everyone in Scepter 4 is able to feel that they have been chosen by their King for a reason and that he believes in their abilities, from third in command Fushimi to even members of the rank and file like Yayoi. (And from a simple practical perspective too, Homra's a loose knit gang while Scepter 4 is an actual government agency with duties and expectations placed upon them. Munakata will make a place for those he feels worthy, but he needs people who have abilities because otherwise someone could easily feel like they don't fit in this place or have no worth in the clan, because this workplace is not for them. But because Munakata picks only who he believes will fit in his Scepter 4 no one has to feel that way, because they wouldn't have been chosen if they had no talent.)

Now, as to the matter of Fushimi. Like you mentioned, Fushimi grew up without a family so surely Homra's family atmosphere should be good for him, right? But it isn't. I think it's best expressed this way: trying to run before you can crawl. Basically, at the point Fushimi joins Homra, he is not in the headspace to accept the idea of 'family.' This is where the disconnect between him and Yata happens too, because Yata always wanted a huge family where he belongs. Yata has his biological family, of course, and they love him, but he still feels like an outsider. However precisely because he has a loving family he knows what that feels like, he knows how he felt like when it was just him and his mom he belonged, how he belonged when he was with Fushimi. Homra is an extension of that, the big family where everyone is together and the days are easy and he belongs. But then there's Fushimi, who says it himself in LSW: “Solve everyone’s misunderstanding, you say? Who ever said that I don’t want to be misunderstood? Why do you want me to be understood by everyone when you yourself don’t? … If YOU understand me, I would be content.”

Fushimi's a kid who was always rejected, even by his own family. He clings to Yata as the only one to ever care for him but at the same time, look at how Fushimi vocalizes his understanding of their relationship. “Looking at me with eyes shining and saying 'amazing.'” Fushimi is quantifying Yata's affection, that Yata cares for him because Fushimi is amazing, because Fushimi is wounded enough that he can't trust in Yata's sincere affection. So when they join Homra this is a blow to Fushimi, who has hung so much self esteem on Yata's 'amazing,' because now Mikoto is amazing and Fushimi is just Fushimi, and why should that be enough to get Yata to stay? Just being 'Fushimi' has never been enough for anyone to remain by his side.

Homra would have happily accepted Fushimi into their family and given him what he lacked, but Fushimi isn't in a mental state to accept it because Fushimi is the one who quantifies emotions for his own safety. The neglected and unloved kid still can't believe that family won't reject him, that he can actually have a family, and so Homra's atmosphere suffocates him even beyond Mikoto's presence. Fushimi doesn't want to be equal to everyone else because if he has nothing to offer, why would anyone want him around? Just being himself has never been enough before, why should it be enough now? Especially when he sees how Yata fits in and how much he doesn't, where he's afraid of Mikoto and can't wholeheartedly call this person his King, where he doesn't really talk to anyone and often irritates people when he does. When Kusanagi tells Fushimi he wants Fushimi to stay in Homra and be his successor Fushimi doesn't see this as a compliment, he sees this as 'you wouldn't have to say this to Yata because there would be no question about his loyalty, so clearly you question mine.'

Then enter Munakata, and Scepter 4. Where Homra wanted Fushimi to run, Munakata's letting him learn to crawl first. On the one hand yes, Munakata wanted Fushimi for his own reasons, because he believed Fushimi's talents were being wasted in Homra and that he would do well in Scepter 4. But Munakata also saw in Fushimi that there was so much potential not being realized, someone who was in a way like himself. Case Files: “still, the way the two of them felt out of place and alienated by those around them due to how outstandingly capable they were was very similar.” Munakata sees in Fushimi someone who is dissatisfied with the world and offers him a chance to change that world to his liking instead, rather than miserably clinging to a place where he feels he doesn't belong. In Scepter 4 Fushimi has a job and a use and sure, it may not be on paper as warm and inviting as 'family' but it's also what Fushimi needs – he doesn't have to deal with worries and doubts about his place, or feel like he doesn't belong.

Fushimi can focus on his work and let himself really reach his potential, he can be challenged and use his mind, and at the same time if he ends up interacting with the other members and softening towards them, and making friends, more the better. In Homra they may be a family but it's easy for Fushimi to remain on the fringes, wandering off by himself at amusement parks, but in Scepter 4 he has to interact with others in order to do his job. And we do see some of that softening in canon – the little 'thanks' to Hidaka in DOB 1, the way he talks with Akiyama, his interactions with Awashima and Munakata are all clearly 'easier' than he was with pretty much anyone outside of Yata and maybe Kusanagi in Homra. Yata himself says it in ROK: “The Blue King was your King all along.” For Fushimi, Scepter 4 and Munakata were what he needed in order to develop beyond that lonely kid still clinging to the idea that he doesn't belong anywhere (and yes it separated him from Yata but at the end of the day that was more Fushimi's issues talking than anything, because Awashima and Kusanagi pretty much show that yes, someone from Homra and someone from S4 can be friends. It was Fushimi himself who chose to break things, not because Munakata made him but because at the time Fushimi believed that his precious thing was going to break anyway and as I said before Fushimi can't bring himself to believe in Yata's sincere affection).

(Also I couldn't figure out where to put this in, but regarding Munakata not telling Fushimi about Hisui's illusions, that to me shows once again that Munakata does actually understand Fushimi pretty well, because if he told Fushimi then Fushimi loses. Look at that moment versus Mikoto saving Sarumi during the jungle surprise party: Fushimi is miserable walking home, because 'I failed.' His plan didn't work, he had to be saved by someone else, and then he gets to see Misaki crowing over how cool the person who saved him is. By contrast, if Munakata simply told Fushimi 'Hisui Nagare is controlling your PDA and making you see illusions' and then destroyed the PDA, Fushimi would not see that as a good deed. Fushimi would see that as him being too stupid to figure this out on his own and needing to be saved by someone 'above' him, another one of his failures. By only giving him a hint Munakata allows Fushimi to make the connection on his own, play the game against Aya and win. While Munakata steps in to confront Hisui, because there's no way Fushimi can go toe to toe with a King and anyway Munakata called dibs first, Fushimi is the one who ultimately claimed the victory. He figured out the trick, he played against Aya, he won the game stacked against him. Munakata may be testing Fushimi in his own way too, sure, but he's doing it in a way that he knows will actually be better for Fushimi's self esteem. While, say, Mikoto finding out and destroying the PDA right away may seem like the more 'correct' move, saving his clansman from pain, all that would make Fushimi think is that he wasn't good enough to figure it out on his own and he had to be saved again like a useless person. Munakata though understands how Fushimi thinks and realizes that for Fushimi, not being told is better because it allows him to win on his own terms with his own intelligence rather than having to rely on someone else.)

[ofhoneyandrosepetals]

Bright as Red

Pairing: Yata Misaki x reader

Description: Reader is left on the streets in a severe situation, being found by Totsuka Tatara, who gets to himself the responsability to help and heal the girl in HOMRA's headquarters. When she wakes up, she's led by the wanting to seek for revenge, going after who's hurt her.

Warnings: only a couple of swears.

Word count: 1,868.

A/N: yeah, I did something 🙈 I’ve been going through a nostalgic time and so this idea came to me.

Totsuka Tatara had found her in the streets, tossed in an alley like a ragged doll, her school uniform a bloody mess. She had hair by her shoulders that covered her face while Totsuka brought her inside HOMRA’s headquarters in his arms, her arms and legs hanging freely.

“What is this?” Asked Kusanagi Izumo, the second in command, horrified at the sight.

“I found her like this in an alley nearby. She’s unconscious,” answered Totsuka.

“And you had to bring her here?” Said Kusanagi in annoyance.

“What was I supposed to do?”

“I don’t know, maybe get her to the damn hospital?”

“She’s hurt, Izumo. I… I couldn’t leave her. Look at her. She looks so helpless.”

Yata Misaki saw everything from the couch, eyes wide open in curiosity. Kusanagi took a deep breath.

“We’re not a charity.”

“Please…” Totsuka pleaded, stopped by the hearing of someone’s footsteps. His eyes laid upon his King, who watched silently the scene before him. His amber eyes said enough.

“Tatara…” Kusanagi begin saying, but Suoh Mikoto cut him off.

“I know. Come,” said the King to Totsuka, who followed him. “You can put her in your room,” his deep voice said without any emotion. “Mind to explain yourself?”

Totsuka repeated the story he told Kusanagi while Mikoto sat at the edge of the bed, observing the young and injured girl.

“Give me one reason to accept this situation,” Mikoto said.

Totsuka said without even stopping to think:

“It’s the right thing to do. You helped me, now I want to help her. Who’s the monster who’d hurt a girl in such ways?”

Mikoto took a deep and lazy breath and got up from the bed, tapping Totsuka’s shoulder before saying:

“She’s your responsibility. I don't want her around for too much time. She’s not one of us.”

Totsuka shook his head one time in acceptance and sat by the girl’s side after Mikoto left.

“Don’t worry, girl. I’ll take care of you, and soon enough you’ll be all patched up and new.”

***

Yata avoided the girl’s room - well, actually Totsuka’s room - all he could. Even though she couldn’t see him or as far as he knew, hear him, she still made him nervous. He only saw her three times, when Totsuka had asked him to help with her recovery.

The situation was pretty bad, he imagined. She was there for five days already and hadn’t moved since. Everyone thought that maybe she was close to death when found by Totsuka, but what did they know, right?

Yata helped Totsuka while he patched up her wounds and ran away when Totsuka motioned to change her dirty, bloody clothes with clean ones. They were Yata’s clothes, since him and the girl were close in height. He didn’t mind giving his clothes to her, although this idea made all his blood go up to his cheeks.

Kushina Anna would often be by the girl’s side, only watching her as her chest went up and down as she breathed.

“She’s a little red,” Yata heard the little girl say to Kusanagi, who just slipped her a glass of juice through the balcony.

“Oh yeah?”

“Do you think Mikoto will let her stay with us?” She sounded hopeful.

“I don’t know, Anna.”

“Totsuka-san had been telling her about us. Do you think she can hear?” Yata said, a little bothered.

“Maybe. Who knows. Want a soda, Yata-chan?” Kusanagi asked.

“Yeah, alright,” Yata slid on the barstool next to Anna. “What do you think of her?” He asked while sipping.

“I like her,” was all the little girl said. Yata wondered whether Anna had read the girl’s thoughts or not, or if even she had any thoughts while being unconscious.

“Yata-chan, would you go check on the girl? Tatara left to buy some more things that he needs.”

“Me? Why…?”

Yata was cut off by a tough look of Kusanagi and immediately went to Totsuka’s room.

He took a look at her bandages, but they all seemed alright. Since he felt the room very much silent, he leaned over her, trying to see if she was breathing. With his index finger placed under her nostrils he felt the weak air.

For some external forces he kept there, watching her face as she breathed silently. She was young, but seemed to be his age. Wondering what had happened to her, Yata gently poked the dark bruise on her temple, apparently causing her to open her eyes in a shot.

She screamed when she saw the boy figure so close to her, touching her temple. Yata screamed in response, scared with her scream. So fast that he couldn’t imagine how she did it, she got the metal tray that contained clean bandages and pointed at him. Yata fell on the floor on his ass and started pushing himself backwards until his back reached the wall.

“Who are you? Where am I?” She started asking desperately.

“Kusanagi-san!” Yata called for the second in command.

“What is this place? Who the fuck are you?” She asked more desperately.

“Kusanagi-san!” Yata screamed louder.

The door flew wide open and Kusanagi entered in a storm, only to stop calmly when he saw the girl.

“Oh, so you’re finally awake.”

“Where am I? Who are you?” She asked again, still pointing the metal tray to Yata.

“Why are you still pointing this to me?” The boy asked, getting up.

“My name is Kusanagi Izumo. I’m the second in command of HOMRA. And you are?” He was calm, standing a hand to the girl in an offer.

“Why am I here?”

“My friend saved you. He found you in an alley, almost dead. Do you remember any of that?”

The girl dropped the metal tray on the floor, causing an annoyed sound. She touched her injured temple, frowning.

“Unfortunately,” she finally said, hate consuming her eyes.

“The red,” said a small voice.

Anna was hidden behind Kusanagi, only peaking at the girl.

“What red? I don’t see anything…” Yata complained, scratching his head.

“How are you feeling?” Kusanagi asked.

“Where’s your friend?”

“He left, but he should be back at any time. How are you feeling?”

The girl’s eyes went straight to Yata, examining him and therefore embarrassing him.

“I’m okay. A bit tired.”

“Any pain?”

She nodded negatively.

“Wanna eat anything?”

As in response, her stomach growled. She turned her head, cheeks red.

“No need to be shy. Come, eat something,” Kusanagi pointed his head towards the door.

The girl hesitated, but Anna went straight to her, grabbing her hand and pushing her gently. Yata was the one to leave for last, sitting on the couch and giving some looks at the girl while she ate.

Totsuka Tatara finally arrived, making the room to be all noisy with his excited voice.

“You’re awake! Hi! I’m Totsuka Tatara, and you are?”

He left all his bags to fall on the floor to sit next to her, who seemed to be a little scared by all the sudden attention.

“Calm down, Tatara, you’re scaring her,” Kusanagi said.

Totsuka had the brightest and biggest smile on his face when he apologized. The girl took a moment to finally say:

“I’m Y/N Y/L/N. I was told you’re the one who helped me. Thank you,” her voice was weak, and before Yata could tell, she was crying, her shoulders trembling. “Thank you,” she repeated. “Thank you thank you thank you.”

Everyone in the bar didn’t know what to do, except for Totsuka, who gently grabbed Y/N’s hand.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he also had a gentle smile on his lips. The girl grabbed his shirt and leaned over it, soaking the cloth with her tears. Totsuka hugged her, tapping her shoulder blades. “There, there. It’s over now. You’re okay.”

“No,” she screamed in desperation. No one seemed to notice that Mikoto had gotten to the place. “It’s not over. It’s not over until he’s alive. He won’t give up until I’m dead too.”

“Who?” Totsuka asked carefully.

“He’s disgusting. I hate him. I hate him I hate him I hate him,” Y/N had her hands closed in a tight fist, causing her nails to open her palms and blood drip on the wooden floor.

“Hey, stop it!” Yata exclaimed. When the girl looked at him, he stuttered. “You’re hurting yourself.”

Y/N suddenly took notice of Suoh Mikoto, the Red King. She knew who he was, not because Kusanagi told her while she was eating, but because she heard around. Everyone knew who the red-haired man before her was. And she pretty damn well knew what he did.

She ran towards him, falling on her knees, bowing.

“Thank you. Thank you for allowing me to be healed here. Thank you, Red King.”

Mikoto kept eyeing the girl at his feet, not saying a word. It was impossible to even imagine what was passing through his mind.

“I ask only one thing, if you allow me,” Y/N said.

“What is it?” His deep voice said in return, serious.

“I have nothing. I have no one but myself. I have no purpose but to seek my revenge. Please, let me serve you as a payment for all you did. I’ll do so willingly, Red King.”

Everyone stood in shock at their places as they watched the scene. Yata’s heart was racing.

“Mikoto…” Kusanagi said before red flames engulfed Suoh Mikoto.

His eyes shone.

“Do you really intend it, little girl?”

“Yes. Yes, I do,” Y/N’s voice didn’t tremble as she looked up to Mikoto. “I meant every word I said. I’ll follow you loyally, anywhere you need me.”

“Is that so…?” Mikoto had a half smile, offering his hand to her, flames still engulfing him.

She’s gonna shake his hand, Yata thought.

Y/N stared at the flames, curiously, no fear in her eyes. She grabbed Mikoto’s hand, shaking once.

His red flames engulfed her as well, all of her body. This is so hot, she thought. A specific part of her body burned the most, but it wasn’t a hurtful burn; it was a good burn. She bit her lips to prevent the smile.

Once the flames were over, she felt it. Lifting the shirt that she had on - not before Yata turned his head, cheeks burning red -, she stared at the red mark on her left ribs, touching it with the tip of her fingers, amazed.

She looked up to Mikoto, placing a hand on her heart as she bowed a little, saying:

“My king.”

He shook his head once and went to the bar, being served by Kusanagi.

“This demands a celebration!” The bartender said, giving her a rootbeer float. “Here, finish your food. You need to recover your strength.”

But before sitting on the barstool, Y/N went to Totsuka Tatara.

“Thank you, Totsuka-san. I’ll be forever grateful that you saved my life.”

“I’m glad I did so,” he answered.

Y/N also shot a small smile at Yata, who had his cheeks immediately burning in red, looking away from her.

Y/N sat beside her King and started eating, gaining all the strength she needed to pursue her revenge.

[kaibutsushidousha]

DanganRonpa Re:Birth Summary - Chapter 1, part 1

Original script

Chapter starts with Fujimori in his room reading the school rules. His doorbell rings and it’s Maiko. She’s been going to all of the girls’ rooms to tell them everyone is meeting at dining hall after the morning announcement to discuss the situation. This was Yodogawa’s idea and he was going to tell everyone, but Maiko doesn’t want “that lech” near the girls, so she took that half of the jobs while he is telling the boys. Maiko warns him not to fall Yodogawa’s flirts. Fujimori is like “Thanks, Kagura-san”, but Maiko reminds him of she said in her introduction, that she likes “Maiko-chan” better. From this point on, Fujimori starts calling Maiko “Maiko-chan” when talking to her and still keeps Kagura-san in the inner monologue at first, but is gradually start to use Maiko-chan there as well. Maiko notices how empty Fujimori’s room is and comments that the other girls’ room are more tailor-suited to their talents. Maiko has some training equipment and what on hers.

Soon after, the nighttime announcement happens and we get a Monodora Theater thanking you for your first day of class in Kaihou and talking about how the school’s motto “faith, emancipation and justice” (shingi, kaihou and seigi) reminds him of doubt, ruin and sacrifice respectively (gishin, houkai and gisei).

The next morning, Fujimori goes to the cafeteria and everyone else is already there. Surprinsingly, even Itsuki came. Tsuchiya is dropped on the floor complaining about how sunlight hurts and he is only there because Aisaka had to practically drag him out of his room. The subject of the conversation was obviously a way to escape. Everybody went around wherever they wanted in the prologue, but it turns out none of them had actually explored the gym. Yodogawa volunteers to search there with Fujimori while everyone else rechecks the rest of the school, but Maiko is not letting the two of them be alone together. We already knew Yodogawa wouldn’t be able to murder Fujimori but I would have never guessed that the reason why was because Maiko would be tagging along with them the entire time. 

Everyone eats before leaving and the food is excellent. Fujimori asks who did it and it was Oosone. Fujimori is surprised she can cook.

Narumi Oosone: Huh-? What, rude!? You thought gourmands were people just said “Amazing, delicious” with beams of light coming out of their mouths!?

Ayumu Fujimori: N-no. Not at all.

Ayumu Fujimori (thinking): I did actually.

Narumi Oosone: I’m always striving for the ultimate most delicious foods, you know! I trust my cooking skills to be on the necessary level.

Aisaka says that cooking for everyone is too much work for her alone and she was taught a lot by her parents, so she can help her in the kitchen. Mizuta says she will help too. They invite Izumo too but she is not interested in food made for the living.

After everyone is done eating, Fujimori, Yogogawa and Maiko go to the gym. The only point of interest there is the locker room in the back. Maiko fails to see the doorplates and tries to use her e-Handbook on the boys’ room card reader, causing an alarm to ring. Monodora appears, explains the obvious and adds a new rule saying students are not allowed to enter the wrong locker room. The trio complains a bit about how he can just make new rules whenever he feels like it.

Yodogawa leaves first to explore the boys’ locker room, leaving the girls’ room to Maiko and Fujimori. Maiko tries to pull Fujimori inside, but he forcefully lets go of her. She asks what’s wrong and he tells his secret we already know, with some more details, like his long hair being a wig and that he is wearing a padded bra. He also explains his sister forces him to do that because she always wanted a sister for herself, but instead she only got 3 male brothers, so she decided to make the youngest of them into a sister. From this point on, Maiko starts calling Fujimori “Ayumu-kun” when they are alone together, but she still keeps as “Ayumu-chan” in public because she promised to keep his secret. Fujimori is surprised she is taking it so well, because he felt like she didn’t trust men that much. Maiko corrects him, explaining that it’s not like she doesn’t trust men, she just doesn’t trust Yodogawa specifically. She thinks he is not the upstanding man he presents himself as (great instincts there, Maiko). 

Maiko asks why he did introduce himself to everyone as a boy and he answers it was just his bad luck. As you remember from the prologue (or maybe you don’t, it’s been 5 months), Fujimori woke up already dressed as girl and in the same room as Yodogawa, so he couldn’t just get himself change just there. Then Yodogawa took him to introduce themselves to everyone, so he had to do it as girl. Maiko comments about he doesn’t know how to say “no” and they discuss about how he can’t go to the locker room in front of anyone. Maiko supports him saying the if this is ever necessary, Ayumu can just say he needs to go the infirmary and she will back him up with that. 

Anyways, Fujimori can’t explore the girls’ room, so Maiko has to go there alone and they need an excuse to make Yodogawa not suspect anything. Fujimori says he got interested in the podium where Monodora came from in his first appearance, so he is going to check that. He finds nothing there, not even an entrance for Monodora, which really makes no sense. He tries to think about, but Maiko is already done with her investigation and goes talk to him. The locker room only had some training equipped and a cleaning pushcar with a dusty mop. She is worried a dumbbell from there might become a murder weapon. 

Yodogawa appears after that and talks about the boys’ room. It didn’t have anything special but he was quite impressed on how wide it was. 15 beds wide in his rather unusual description. He is worried a dumbbell from there might become a murder weapon. The middle locker, the one directly in from of the door, can’t open because the door doesn’t quite fit its frame, but all other lockers are usable. As the 3 are all done with their investigations, Maiko suggests going back to the cafeteria, as she is hungry already. They just had breakfast, but Maiko’s metabolism is fast, so she gets hungry easy.

Back at the cafeteria, the trio joins Rokudou, Aisaka, Sakuma and Tsuchiya, who are also done with their respective investigations.

Ayumu Fujimori: Rokudou-san, where have you went?

Saiji Rokudou: Where have went?… No, you’re mistaken. My soul still resides in the world of the living.

Fujimori rewords the question to make it more clear and Rokudou apologizes, saying that’s a question he recieves a lot from his family due to their profession, so he answered it like that out of habit. Anyways, Rokudou investigated the library. It was quite varied, with a collection of manga, novels, encyclopedias, dictionaries,etc. But Rokudou didn’t search much of that because he found an altar photoalbum and was completely sidetracked by it.

Aisaka investigate the casino room because, by her logic, the impure place is where you find the impure stuff. That said, she found nothing. But she’s worried the darts there can become a murder weapon. Or a billiard ball if thrown with enough strenght.

Tsuchiya was a lazy ass and searched nothing.

Sakuma went to the indoors sports court. During his investigation, he found the best accustic spot there and he now thinks that the perfect place to play his music to everyone.

Then everyone except Itsuki arrives and, guess what, they were all unproductive. Fujimori wonder is she investigating, but Izumo says she doesn’t care, as Itsuki has been completely uncooperative from the start. Izumo considers Itsuki the most likely to kill someone. Fujimori strongly disagrees and thinks she is trying to stop the killing game her own way. Maiko suggests they should talk more about themselves to improve the group’s unity.

Ayumu Fujimori: But, shouldn’t we wait to do this when Itsuki-san is…

Mikoto Itsuki: …I’m right here.

Ayumu Fujimori: Waaah-!? I-Itsuki-san!? Since when were you here!?

Mikoto Itsuki: Since when that girl said I’m the most likely to kill someone.

Everyone makes their extended introductions of screen and we only get to see the last one: Itsuki. She just says the stuff we already know from her profile and that she has no brothers, no younger sisters and only 1 older sister. Kagura asks about she talents and she answers it’s none of their business and she doesn’t need to say it. She then changes the subject to Aisaka’s spiritualism, asking if she can’t use it to check what’s going on outside. Aisaka says she is right and her spiritualism is not only about lending her body to the spirit of the dead, she can also lend it to spirit of the living, so if she can get someone outside to possess her, the group can talk to them and after the possession is over, they can move things outside to free them. It’s worth giving it a try.

Aisaka sits in seiza on the middle of the room and everyone makes the silence she needs but it still doesn’t work. 

After some silly discussion about whether or not spiritualism signals can be jammed, the overall mood of the room gets really bad. Or rainy in Mizuta’s words. Mizuta does this kind of puns with “rainy mood” “you’re looking sunny” etc quite a lot. Anyways, Maiko decides to dance a bit to cheer everyone up and Sakuma, as he doesn’t have his equipment here, provides the rhythm only with beatboxing. It was apparently a quite impressive performance and it shows that Maiko practices a lot.

Ayumu Fujimori: Effort is also a talent on it’s own way… as they say. I really don’t think Sakuma-kun was able to beatbox like this on his first try. And didn’t Oosone-san explicitly that she could only improve her cooking skill because of much she strived for the best food?

Keigo Sakuma: Yup. No matter how talented, you’re not going anywhere with don’t work to improve it.

Ayumu Fujimori: My talent is not an improvable one, so… I’m a little bit jealous.

Maiko Kagura: …Geez! I don’t like this side of you, Ayumu-chan! I have what you lack so I can’t fill in for you where need it, and the same goes for me. I’m sure you have lots of things I lack! And if you want something both lack, you have my full support and we’ll work for it together!

Great speech there, reminds me of Saihara talking about Momota. I’m really liking Maiko a lot. 

Anyways the meaningful character moment is interrupted by Maiko’s stomach growling. Oosone, Aisaka and Mizuta go make the meal as promised and Maiko thanks, saying she loves girls who can cook. Maiko can’t because she dedicated all of her free time to dancing and her meals were almost always in hotels due to her performance travels. Oosone is like “What, did you just say if you don’t know something you can just work to learn it? Come learn to cook with us.” and she accepts. The cooking team leaves and Fujimori gets to talk a bit with the other kids who stayed there. The main talk out of those is with Rokudou.

Rokudou talks about how he has no friends because all the kids his age were creeped out by him. Due to his job, he is really desensitized to death. Death scenes in movies get no reaction from him. Even when his own grandfather died, he didn’t react. Hearing that, Fujimori proposes to become his friend, as Rokudou is relatively normal and easy to talk to. From this point on, he calls him Saiji-kun instead of Rokudou-san. Yodogawa butts in in the conversation saying he wants to as he also easy to talk to, but Fujimori jokingly answers he is not really. Maiko’s influence is starting to get visible. I’m guessing Yodogawa will kill Maiko in maybe chapter 5 or somewhere else late game.

Team Cooking comes back, everyone eats and Monodora shows up when they’re done saying he as present to everyone, but he will only deliver it at nighttime because still needs to finish editing it. After that, everyone disperses and it’s Free Time time. The Free Time Events are not included in the scripts, so we got no canon versions. I remember @morally-ambiguous-llama​ wrote 2 of them for Yodogawa, but I’m not sure if he is continuing this series. Speaking of Yodogawa, I really don’t like the way he talks. He has this thing he does a lot where he makes a full sentence, then adds a negative to it afterwards, like for example:

Maiko Kagura: Did you find anything in the boys’ room? The girls’ room got nothing really out of the ordinary.

Seishi Yodogawa: Well, guns, knives, wooden swords…  were nowhere to be found there.

Seishi Yodogawa: See, in games, all the events usually fall into place so that everything makes sense in the end. Which is completely be what will happens in out case.

Seishi Yodogawa: Sounds like a good idea. Except not all.

Anyways, back to the story. After Free Time we get the nighttime announcement and Monodora’s present. As you may have guessed by the word “editing”, it’s our good old Motive Videos. All Motive Videos are about the people who enrolled them in the Talent Removal Project. It’s relatively harmless to the people who enrolled themselves on their own volition. Yodogawa and Itsuki instead got videos of that reminded them of their duties. Fujimori’s video was various scenes of him being bullied by his sister.

After Fujimori watches it with almost indiference, Monodora shows up and says the present was not only the video and Fujimori now got a knife, a hammer, a rope and and a little bottle of poison. He locks everything on his closet and goes to sleep. The Monodora Theater is all about questioning why is study necessary for the future and about how people are constantly sacrificing the present for the sake of the future. Quite insightful if you know Tsuchiya is the mastermind. In glad they are doing all the Monodora Theaters vaguely about him just like almost all Monokuma Theaters in DR1 were vaguely about Junko.

Fujimori wakes up before the morning announcement and goes to the breakfast meeting early. Only him, Yodogawa and Mizuta are there and they talk about their videos. Yodogawa says his  was “him talking to a politician about his job” (technically not lying) and Mizuta’s was an office meeting informing her of the next day’s weather. The morning announced is played and Aisaka is there soon after. 

When everyone is there, Todoroki asks what was up with those medical diagnosis video and the other people say theirs had nothing to with medics. Fujimori suggests everyone watched everyone’s videos, but Itsuki is the first to refuse, followed by Tsuchiya. Everyone confirms they also got the second part of the present, but no one specifies what weapons they got, so I’m suspect everyone got different sets.

After everyone eats, Maiko invites Fujimori to exercise with her. He refuses due to his bad luck’s history of causing disasters when he moves around, but Maiko talks about how the indoors sports court is so wide and empty, so aside from the ceiling dropping, there’s no risks for them. 

When the two reach the court, Rokudou is there, as Tsuchiya ordered him to bring a towel for him. Maiko complains about how he (and Fujimori) can’t say “no” and Fujimori adds he feels like Tsuchiya is aware and takes advantage of it. The two invite Rokudou to join their work out.

Maiko is impressed by Rokudou’s strenght and his that it’s because of his job (he has to lift and drop coffins I think?). Rokudou talks more about his job and says he doesn’t have many skills he can use in the current situation, but in the “off-chance” someone dies, he can performed the advanced autopsy like Kirigiri, Tsumiki and Harukawa did in the real games. Maiko is surprised Fujimori also calls Rokudou "Saiji-kun” and she tells about their promise to become friends the previous day, inspired by Maiko’s own friendliness. Maiko doesn’t want to stay behind on the friendship competition, so she keeps playing badminton with Rokudou. Fujimori sits out of the game now because he is exhausted already. He also can’t exercise too much like this because he is always worried his wigs and fake boobs might fall off. 

After the match is over they get to talk again, complimenting Maiko’s reflexes and Rokudou’s trick shots. Maiko says again that she likes being called “Maiko-chan” better, but Rokudou just can’t do that and the reach a middle ground with “Maiko-san” (and Ayumu-san for Fujimori). Rokudou doesn’t really know what friends do. Maiko ponders for a bit and says friends help each other with their troubles and tells him to say if there’s anything he wants to do and they’ll do it together. Rokudou says see he’ll spend the night thinking and Maiko is like “Nooo, you have to sleep properly every night”. Rokudou answer tells her not to worry, he is used to sleepless nights because of his job. Maiko claims that’s the problem. She was talking to normal boy Saiji Rokudou, not the undertaker, so he should let other people worry about him like normal people do. Rokudou agrees to take his time. The trio leaves and Rokudou goes bring Tsuchiya his towel, as he kept him waiting this entire time. Not that any of them cares much, no one there really likes Tsuchiya.

Immediately after the trio disperses, we have more Free Time and Fujimori goes to sleep think about his new friendships with Maiko and Rokudou.  The Monodora Theater is about the true meaning of freedom. Watch Evangelion episode 25 to get the gist of the monologue. 

Fujimori wakes up the next morning with his doorbell ringing and knocking on his door. He yells “Wait a second!” a few times and starts hurriedly getting himself dressed, doing a Tsumiki-style super trip in the process (no CG for that). Fujimori gets the door and it’s Yodogawa. He asks Fujimori why is his knee bleeding and Fujimori was surprised Yodogawa didn’t hear him trip. Yodogawa apologizes for hurrying him, saying he was just worried because Fujimori was not responding. Fujimori finds it weird because he was responding a lot. The two do a little test and confirm the bedrooms are soundproofed.

Yodagawa explains that he was there because Fujimori, Maiko and Rokudou slept over the morning announced and everyone is worried they didn’t show up for breakfast. The two go meet everyone in the dining hall. Fujimori just overslept, but Maiko and Rokudou apparently were not in their rooms. Izumo is the first one to suspect they are dead. The group splits up to search. Samejima and Aisaka manage to quickly find Maiko in the infirmary. She got hurt practicing in her room and has been there ever since. 

Fujimori and Maiko go to the gym, where Yodogawa, Samejima and Aisaka found Rokudou in the boys’ locker room.

I found this scene really weird because Yodogawa, Samejima and Aisaka are three people, so the Body Discovery Announcement was supposed have played already before Fujimori and Maiko got there. And even now the two saw it, the announcement still didn’t play. Maybe it played when everyone was sleeping, but I’m not sure how that would make sense. Anyways, I’ll wait until I read the investigation and the trial before I judge this. That’s all for this part.

[undeadimpulsereviews]

Shinigami-sama ni Saigo no Onegai wo

So This review is another long overdue review; I kept writing this review out to a point. Everytime I reached said point I thought I could do better; at the moment all my attempts just felt like me ranting unprofessionally. I don’t want this to be the case; I want my reviews to feel more professional. They won’t be perfect, but I want to try an take my time with them and refine them a little more. So I’ll be releasing this along side the review for Onechanbara. Now as for the manga, we’ll be referring to the manga as Shinigami-sama; the title is long in both English and Japanese, so to save time we’ll do this. Lastly I’ll be going in depth into the manga; due to the length and other factors, spoilers can’t be avoided. You have been warned, so read at your own risk.

Do you know what a Shinigami is? They’re not an uncommon trend in the manga business that’s for sure. Even some of the most popular of stories feature these beings. To put in simply, a Shinigami is a god of death; if you’ve read manga like Death Note, or Bleach then you’ve experiences the Shinigami before. Yet this tale we are about to embark on is a lot more obscure, and quite frankly needs some work to be counted among those more well known names.

Shinigami-sama ni Saigo no Onegai wo, a shounen mystery manga from mangaka Yamaguchi Mikoto, is a story of two siblings trying to figure out the mystery of who murdered their family. The manga was first published a few years back, 2009 to be exact; it was part of Gangan Joker Magazine, and it ran for a little over a year. The manga only lasted for a solid eighteen chapters; I don’t know for what reasons it was stopped, if I had to guess I’d say it was cancelled due to certain circumstances. From what I can see online, people tend to like the manga; they don’t find it amazing, but it’s generally given an average of sevens among readers. I probably never would have read this manga under normal circumstances; though a friend of mine recommended it to me, thinking I’d enjoy it. After reading the manga I left not with a sense of enjoyment, but disgust and anger. I’d say that this manga was one of the first really terrible stories I had the misfortune to read. I don’t see the appeal that others see from this manga; it’s story is rushed and riddled with plot holes, and the characters are heavily forced extremes that change personalities on a dime for no honest reason. The only thing I can give this manga is that it’s visuals aren’t terrible; at least not all the time. There are moments where the visuals take a drastic turn for no reason, just like the characters, but other than that it’s alright. Though I didn’t want decent visuals with a terrible story; I wanted a worthwhile mystery manga with an enjoyable beginning, middle, and end. Though I’m getting nowhere just ranting along, so allow me to explain.

Shinigami-sama follows the story of a brother and sister after losing their family; the brother, Aida Shizuka, is blamed with the murder of their parents and his sister. The sister, Aida Hibiki, is reborn as a shinigami and is tasked with giving her brother his last request before he dies. Though all she wants is for him to go straight to hell for his crimes. However, something isn’t right; the evidence just doesn’t add up. So it’s up to the two siblings to overcome their differences and solve the case. Though something ominous waits in the shadows, and even those closest to them may not be as trustworthy as they once seemed.

On paper Shinigami-sama seems like an interesting read; a murder mystery that transcends life and death. Yet after all is said and done, the story is far from interesting. Instead it comes off more aggravating to read; this is due to the manga’s poor pacing and clear plot holes. Now the manga is short, as I stated before it only runs a total of eighteen chapters. This doesn’t give a lot of time to develop a story, and this is one of the clues that point at the manga being cancelled. The other clue comes from the manga’s ending; this is also where one of the biggest problems arise, but we’ll get to that later. Due to a possible cancellation, the manga suffers a lot. The overall structure of the manga changes drastically over the eighteen chapters. At first it’s Shizuka in jail, as Hibiki comes to lead him to hell. Before all this though Hibiki must undertake another job to fulfill a request for a dying girl. This last request is to give her the a healthy body for one day. This girl goes on to kill seven people, Shizuka included. Then the next chapters play out like this; Shizuka and Hibiki spend a day together before their trial comes; with this day they plan to force the death of random people so they can get their last request. They back out of this plan entirely and end up at their trial. At the trial Shizuka manages to overturn their sentence and now must work alongside the shinigami. Then a bunch of chapters happen where they do shinigami work; all this leading up to the last chapter. At no point does Hibiki or Shizuka go out and actually investigate what happened to them; yet at the last chapter they have all this evidence that they say is important, and also decide to introduce the idea of another story integral character. This character doesn’t get any screen time before the manga ends and it’s left hanging entirely.Now let’s break this down a bit more; in the first chapter it’s clear that Hibiki has the knowledge of how last requests work. The rules state that a shinigami must not give a last request to someone who caused a grievous crime. So Shizuka, having murdered his family, would be sent straight to hell. Instead of doing this out right, she decides to take him out of prison for some reason and visits the girl in question. Keep all this in mind, we’ll be coming back to it. Now another rule is that a shinigami can not grant requests that entail murdering another, or something like revival or reincarnation. Now the girl asks for a healthy body; due to her weak heart she’s always been stuck in a wheel chair. I see nothing wrong with this last request. Though of course she wants to utilize her new body to kill random people. Though what motive would she have for this? Well because due to her body she found herself playing a lot of games, and one of which was hunting games. Just once in her life she wanted to try hunting, and what better target than a human? I’m not making this up, she literally decides that humans would be the best target because, and I quote, “who would care if six or so just up and disappeared? there are millions in the world.” For what reason did playing games and being handicapped fuel a motive to commit murder? Though Hibiki didn’t know that she would use this request for evil intent. So keep that in mind as well. Now one of the people the girl killed was Shizuka; at that point he wasn’t dead, but an escaped convict due to Hibiki, smart right? So what does Hibiki do? She decides to throw away her PDA, a tool which can be used to force a shinigami to go back to headquarters, and she takes the body of Shizuka and breaks the rule of revival. Now that the recap is out of the way there are a few clear problems that arise from just this FIRST CHAPTER! At the beginning Hibiki is well aware that murderers don’t get a last request, so why does she revive Shizuka in chapter two? If you plan to argue that it was out of familial love then you can just stop there. Hibiki clearly says that she doesn’t think of him as a “beloved brother”. She did it because it’s the shinigami’s job to grant a last request for those who die; as Hibiki states there should be no problem then. Though there is a clear problem because as was made clear in chapter one, murders don’t get a last request. Just because Shizuka dies by different means doesn’t excuse the charges placed on him; plus at this point it’s still unclear that he didn’t commit the murder. Hibiki doesn’t fully believe that his brother commited the crime, but there is no valid proof he didn’t. Next a couple chapters later Hibiki is put on trial alongside Shizuka for the events that took place; I can understand that she would be in trouble for the reviving someone after death, but she is also blamed for the death of the seven people the girl killed due to her granting the last request. Though how was Hibiki supposed to know the girl would use it to murder someone? There is no rule saying that the request of this girl to have a healthy body for a day can’t be granted, and the girl doesn’t flat out say I want to kill people so I need a healthy body. So why is Hibiki essentially being blamed for the murder of seven people. Then comes the sequence before the trial; Hibiki decides that the only way to save them from going to hell forever is to have the last request from another be used on them. To do this they go to a suicide meet up; this event is where individuals with a troubled past get together to perform suicide. Though there are many problems with this scene. One being the fact that something this cult like exists in reality, but let’s leave that be. The biggest problem comes in the form that those who commit suicide can get a last request, so Hibiki decides to have someone murder one of the two girls and force them to give a fake request to benefit them. Yet later in the manga it’s revealed that fate is a huge thing among the shinigami; someones death is preordained, and how they die as well. So technically speaking the seven murders were forseen, yet they didn’t stop Hibiki. The plan that Shizuka and Hibiki planned to undertake was not stopped, and this whole sequence is never brought to light ever again. If fate exists, and if life is following a set path for the shinigami, then why is Hibiki not answering for the attempted murder of two individuals. Is it because she wasn’t the one who was getting her hands dirty, because that’s lazy. Instead of them murdering someone they have the organizer do it. The person behind the event is a man who is masquerading as a women; he holds this event so he can have his way with the people he fools. Of course this holds no repercussions for him because after raping them they just kill themselves. It’s taking every fiber of my being not to throw up. So how does the event end? The man doesn’t kill or rape the two girls, instead of runs scared, the two girls are then told that one will go free if they kill the other. Yet these two are best friends, and could never kill each other. Scratch that, they hate each other now and are fully ready to kill the other for stupid reasons. Though Shizuka grows a conscious at the last second, albeit a psychotic one, and stops them from killing each other. Making the entire scene, and the two chapters it took to tell it all, completely useless. This is literally just the first four chapters; so much happens in the manga up to this point and none of it good. We’re supposed to be uncovering a mystery behind the murder of an entire family and instead we get half-assed forced tension that has no business being in the manga. Half if the manga is filled with scenes that don’t need to be in the manga. The part after the trial, where Shizuka starts to work for the shinigami as a sort of probation, is not needed. It’s just a bunch of chapters of them either granting a last request or taking care of a evil spirit. There is no investigation into the murder, or really any progress made at all. Which ultimately leads to the end of the manga.

After coming across a bunch of information that wasn’t in the manga, save for maybe a couple random bits that were hard to pick up, Shizuka decides to finally look deeper into the murders and comes to a realization as to who it might be. At this point he confronts a random character that was never introduced in the manga. This person knocks Shizuka out and carries him away, and all that’s left is this note written to Hibiki. There is no closure, but instead a lot of questions and this terrible ending dialogue aksing Hibiki to follow to clues so that the manga can reach it’s conclusion. There is nothing past this; we never find out the identity of the true culprit. A lot of people think this is because the mangaka wanted to leave it to the reader to figure out on their own. Though with the last line of text I can’t see any other argument other than a cancellation. For a manga that’s only eighteen chapters long it surely feels a lot longer, though while it feels drawn out, there was little progress made. After looking back on everything I still stand by my first impressions of this manga; it’s not good and the story is one of the main reasons. Though it’s characters are another such factor that can’t be overlooked.

Shinigami-sama has a pretty large cast of characters; most are just supporting, while Hibiki and Shizuka are the main two however. Though honestly speaking, you could take A lot of these supporting characters out of the manga. The two random girls in chapters three and four are useless to the story, same with the man that attempted to rape them. Half of the shinigami are not needed and only serve as minor characters that the main two can consider “friends”. In actuality the only people that really matter in this story are Hibiki and Shizuka, another shinigami named Saaya, and the mysterious person at the end of the manga. The other shinigami during the trial don’t honestly matter, because they hold no weight towards the end game. Same goes for the girl in the first chapter; sure she serves as a means to push the trial in motions, but given that the reasoning is stupid and it brings nothing to light she’s also not needed. Though again they are mostly supporting characters; the true test of the manga comes from the main two. Do they develop well over the course of the manga? Not really, instead of uncovering the mystery behind the first murder, Hibiki goes from hating her brother to almost loving him. This is due to the fact that she takes a lot of random conjuncture from someone at face value. There are no clues to go on, but one person tells her that it’s impossible for Shizuka to have murdered his family because he’s just not that type of person. Putting the fact that that is a stupid argument; It takes no time at all for Hibiki to develop a complex for her brother. While it’s not said out right, it’s clear that Hibiki has growing feelings for Shizuka, and none on a familial level. Why though? Shizuka has shown no great qualities; in fact I’d say he’s done the exact opposite. 

The page above comes from chapter four, after you find out that the two random girls actually hate each other and their about to kill one another, Shizuka steps in to the situation and says this to them. He goes full psycho and threatens to kill two people regardless of his situation. Of course this is a bluff to scare them, but given the events leading up to this frame and the information we’ve already established, Shizuka should not be acting in this matter. Also if you think this happens only once, for Shizuka or anyone else, you are sadly mistaken. Random characters start to distort their face in gross psychotic episodes for no reason. Just a couple pages before the one pictured above, one of the girls also goes full psycho as she proclaims her hate for the other. These aren’t interesting characters; I don’t want to root for them, and I don’t find them enjoyable. There is nothing human about any of these people; they change emotions on a dime and their motives are all over the place. Even the backstories of characters are half-assed; Shizuka was working on a novel about a boy murdering his family. What a coincidence right? Except that’s the basis for why he couldn’t have killed his family. Due to him having to research murder through constant reading; there’s no way someone like him could have executed such a task. Absolutely no way he can kill his sickly and blind mother, younger sister, and father. That’s a poor excuse for a back story, and alibi. The problems mostly arise from the characters and their personalities, or in this case lack thereof. Though some problems arise from how the characters are portrayed visually. We went into it a little, but lets look a little closer.

While Yamaguchi Mikoto struggles to make a compelling story with interesting and enjoyable characters; Mikoto’s visual style is not all bad. There are plenty of moments through out Shinigami-sama that, while nothing amazing, are nice breaks in between all the bad.

It’s not heavily detailed, and the designs don’t go above and beyond, but that’s alright. I don’t mind seeing pages like this throughout the manga. Yet most of these pages are overshadowed by two different instances of terrible illustrations. I’ve already shown the moments where a characters emotions just skyrocket out of control, but I’ll show another example from another random instance.

This is Shizuka during the trial in chapter five; for whatever reason as the trial progresses he starts to get crazier and crazier in his responses to the shinigami leader. There is no reason for this and honestly just takes away from the experience. Shizuka is usually seen as very calm; his eyes are always closed, much like Brock from Pokemon. Though when these scenes pop up his eyes shoot open and look as they do above. It’s like all of his proportions just grown to fill his face; sure if there was a reason for this, maybe I’d be more accepting of it, but there is no reason. He’s just crazy to add suspense where suspense isn’t needed. The next instance comes from the female characters; after the trial we are introduced to a few other shinigami. These shinigami were first seen in chapter two, but we get more of them later. For some reason all the shinigami are female in this manga, and randomly during chapter two they decide to have random ecchi scenes that do nothing for the manga.

The scene above is meant to recap the previous chapter to Shizuka, but couldn’t we have done this in a normal setting. Did someone really ask to see a random guy bathing a small women, (Her backstory is that she started really tall for her age, and then as she grew up she is now the smallest person among the shinigami) I know their is a demographic for this stuff, but there are plenty of possibly better manga out there for people to get their fix. It’s not just the girl above though, each girl shinigami other than the commander has a scene like this; they just don’t all feature shizuka. The visuals could be something more, but instead Yamaguchi springs for a visuals style with more gross imagery to it. So in the end while the visuals have their moments, it’s just not enough for me.

Overall I give Shinigami-sama ni Saigo no Onegai wo a 1 out of 10; it’s one of the worst reads I’ve read in some time. The only saving features of the manga are that it’s short, and it has those occasional visual moments. Though again if I want occasionally good visuals I could think of better methods than reading this excuse for a manga. Plus while it was short, that doesn’t make it any less painful to read. The story is poorly paced and just down right bad; while the characters are developed terribly, and are some of the most aggravating characters to follow. I don’t recommend this manga; I wouldn’t give it to my enemies if I had them. You want a better mystery experience, then I’ve got a few recommendation. Go play the Layton or Phoenix Wright series; not a gamer? Then read Case Closed. This isn’t worth your time, or mine.

The review for Onechanbara will release today along side this review, if you want to read that one then check it out; however, that will end this month of reviews. Sorry again for the delay, I’ve been trying to make this more of a professional thing and that’s hard on my current school schedule. Until next time, have a good day and I’ll see you soon.

[catbrainswriting]

[mikomisa] cut your losses

ship/fandom: suoh mikoto/yata misaki (k project)

chapter: 1/?

word count: 1.7k

summary:  mikoto suoh has a lot of enemies. usually, after they try to face him, they run home with their tail between their legs - but every so often, some will come crawling back with the urge for revenge. and what better target than the one the king holds dearest? (or, alternatively, misaki is kidnapped by a rival gang formerly defeated by mikoto, and the king is given an ultimatum.)

notes: not beta read so sorry for any stupid mistakes.  i started this aaaages ago and never got around to finishing it until @shy-canadian-snowflake popped up and magically motivated me like an angel - so a huge big thank you to them!! this is also the first post on this shiny new writing blog, and there’s no initiation quite like one of my oldest rare-pairs.  enjoy!! (and pls let me know if you did so i’ll know to continue!)

Mikoto is wandering alone down one of the less crowded streets of Shizume, heading back towards HOMRA with several new packets of cigarettes held in a bag in his right hand, when his phone vibrating in his back pocket interrupts his lazy train of thought.  

It is mid-January, early evening, and the snow on the streets has yet to melt so the slicing cold air hangs with it.  Mikoto had left the bar early on a mission to track down a smaller gang stirring up trouble on the other side of the city, but his body temperature (heightened considerably by his aura) continues to attempt to oppose the winter.  Cringing as the hand that had previously been seeking refuge in his jacket pocket is exposed to the air, he draws his phone clumsily from his jeans. The blue light of the phone screen is harsh in the dusk and it takes several long moments for his eyes to adjust so he can check the caller ID.  Izumo.  Mikoto stares at the screen for a moment, before its incessant vibrating reminds him that Kusanagi is actually waiting for him to answer.

He swipes to answer the call and holds the phone to his ear, trying not to think about the fact that the last time Izumo called him, Totsuka was dead.

“Hey, Mikoto?”

Kusanagi’s voice over the phone is as even as ever, casual lilt carrying the words in a way that in any other situation would be relaxing.  But Mikoto has known the man for years, since they were teenagers, and they've been through too much together for him to not immediately notice an underlying sense of anxiety.  His mind, as ever, goes to the worst scenario first.

“What is it?”

Kusanagi barks out a laugh after hearing his tone, but it sounds inappropriate and somewhat forced.  “No one’s dying, I promise.”

Mikoto quirks an eyebrow.  The joke is in poor taste, though he doubts the man intended it as such.  “Then why’d you call?”

“I was gonna ask if you knew where Yata was.”

“Yata?”

“He hasn’t come in today.  I wouldn’t be worried - well, I’m not, really - but he’s not answering his phone.  Kamamoto offered to check his apartment, but I figured I should call you first.  Make sure I’m not interrupting some steamy date.”

Mikoto considers informing Kusanagi that the closest he and Yata have gotten to a date has been a make-out session in HOMRA’s rec room while some action movie played in the background (that’s basically a cinema date, right?), but he bites his tongue.

“I haven’t heard from him.”

That statement brings Izumo’s laughter to a nervous standstill.  There is a long beat of silence.

“Since when?”

“Last night at the bar.  I last saw him the same time you did, unless you’ve talked to him since.”

Mikoto hears a slight ruffle, and assumes that Izumo is shaking his head.  “No...no.  He said goodnight and then he left on his own.  It was late.”

Mikoto’s slow pace down the street draws to a stop.

“What are you implying?”

Izumo pauses, the only sound through the phone his deep breathing.

“I can’t stop thinking about Totsuka.”

Mikoto feels something like anger rising in his throat, but he knows it’s closer to anxiety.  “What are you implying?”

Izumo sighs deeply.  “I’m not--I’m not saying anything.  But, fuck, Yata’s just a kid.  And, yeah, he can look after himself and I get that but I can’t help worrying.  I feel like, with Totsuka, I didn’t worry enough.  And look where that got us.”

Mikoto lets the silence hang, watches his breath dance in the cold January air like the smoke of a cigarette.  He finds himself craving one suddenly, but he doesn’t have a free hand to draw his open pack out of his jacket pocket.

“I’ll go check his apartment.”

His tone makes it sound like an offer, like something he’s willing to do to calm Izumo’s nerves, but they both know that there is now the beginning of panic coursing through Mikoto’s own veins.  Misaki has always had such an effect on him, and more often than not he finds himself cursing the teenager’s innate ability to cause him such grief.

Izumo makes a noise of affirmation, another rustle to indicate a nod.  “Call me as soon as you find him,” he says, with an air of confidence that disappears like smoke in the wind the moment he continues, “And call me if you don’t.”

Mikoto hangs up the phone and breathes deeply, deciding after a moment’s hesitation that Yata is more important than his body’s craving for nicotine.  He sets off again at a significantly brisker pace, turning off a few streets away from the bar and heading instead to Yata’s apartment, tucked far into the worse side of the city.  He hasn't been there many times, since Yata basically lives at the bar, but he’s also aware that Yata’s financial situation is a bit of a sore spot.  God knows how many part-time jobs the kid’s working to try and keep up with the rent, for no real reason other than a desperation to provide for himself, rather than rely on other people.  Yata had been taught the rather harsh (and false) lesson in his life that relying on others always got you hurt, and Mikoto is always trying to encourage him to loosen his grip on that belief, but his efforts are largely in vain.  Yata’s mistrust of people on any level deeper than the surface was ingrained in him, through pain and loss and regret, and no amount of encouraging was going to get him to let go of it.  Especially not with the still-raw grief of Totsuka’s death in his heart.

It seems to get colder the further away from the shopping district Mikoto gets, as the buildings thin out and the streets grow broader - intended for vehicles, rather than slow-paced shoppers - but with a sense of purpose burning in his mind, he doesn't notice it as much as he had before Izumo’s call.  He walks through alleyways and under footbridges, keeps his distance from the guys lingering under them with their hands shoved deep in their pockets, no doubt gripping switchblades.  He doesn't have the time to get into a fight, especially not one that he can't end with an effortless wave of his aura.  He can feel it itching under his skin, burning in a way that it hasn't since the evening of December 7th, and he knows it well enough now to know that it means ‘danger’.  Anxiously, he chalks it up to his surroundings, to the guys holding nail-embedded baseball bats eyeing him from the alcoves of shuttered store fronts, but deep down he knows better.  His aura is unsettled with the need to protect, to shield...and the knowledge that it is helpless.  Something is happening.  Someone is going to be hurt.  And, as he pauses at the bottom of the metal stairs leading to Yata’s second-storey apartment, he can only selfishly hope that it is anyone else.

He begins to scale the stairs slowly, steadily, but his anxiety gets the better of him and soon he is taking them three at a time, leaping over the bannister as it angles around to save him a few precious seconds, and then he is stood at Misaki’s front door and time seems to freeze around him, like he's been plunged sixty feet into freezing water.  The lock is broken, and there is a dull trail of blood dragging from underneath it.

No.

No.

No. No. No.

Mikoto is bursting through the door in a moment, but there is nothing he can do.  He is hours too late already.  

Misaki’s apartment is only one room - two if you count the semi-divided kitchenette, three if you count the bathroom - and it is in chaos.  Shelves formerly housing photo frames and books and DVDs are overturned, the small old-fashioned television smashed from some apparent impact with wires dangling it precariously from its previous perch atop a chest of drawers.  The drawers are all opened, too, sorted through and their contents dumped on the ground, but Mikoto doesn't notice any of it, not really.  Because the old mattress on the floor, including its single unwashed white sheet, is covered in blood, and there is a message spray-painted in purple on the wall above it.

“CUT YOUR LOSSES, KING”

What the fuck? Mikoto is lost too suddenly to immediately feel the rage that he knows is coming, and instead stares dazedly into the ransacked apartment.  Is this revenge? Revenge.  For something that he has done.  Misaki is paying the price for something that Mikoto has done.  The thought makes him feel sick to his stomach, but before he can do anything he notices the note on the table.  It looks so out-of-place amidst the chaos that Mikoto is shocked he didn't notice it before, but he approaches the table cautiously nonetheless.  He snatches up the paper and begins to read.

“Red King.  Or, rather, Suoh Mikoto.  Did you really think you would get away with fucking with us?

You tore us down.  Thought you’d defeated us once and for all.  Taught us a lesson good and proper, yeah?

We don't play no fucking games like that.  

We remember.  Bide our time.  Act with more strategy that you HOMRA fuckers do.  

Bet you feel pretty fucking stupid right now.  Don't worry; the grief’ll kick in soon.

And then you can really feel like shit.

But that's not really what we’re after.  We’re after suffering in the broader sense.  More shame-filled.  More regret.

We did consider that little princess of yours, but even we have standards.  Besides, the other type of love is always more fun.

Depending on how long it takes your stupid ass to realise what's happened, your boy here probably won't be dead.  Maybe. Depends how loud the fucker is.

All we’re asking, Mr. Suoh, is for you to cut your losses.

Let us win and we’ll spare the rest of your boys.  And the girl.

But if you come chasing after us, you’ll find pretty boy here with his throat slit and a hundred men off to do the same to the rest.

Now, I want you to think long and hard.

What are you willing to lose?”

[ridiasfangirlings]

Have you done a Fruits Basket AU? I'm trying to imagine what zodiac animals the Scepter 4 boys would turn into while we leave Awashima as Tohru?

I think Fushimi would have to be the cat, his dad probably taunted him constantly about what an awful monster he is and how he would need to imprisoned for the rest of his life once he reaches a certain age. Say Awashima’s an elegant and composed high school girl whose family has gone out of the country for a bit, in order to keep from troubling her relatives she sets up a camp out in the woods where she intends to live off the land (and off the year’s supply of red bean paste she brought along with her). One evening though there’s a landslide and her nicely maintained tent is destroyed, while trying to clean up she’s spotted by Munakata, the young head of a family who happens to be living in the house whose land she’s been living on. Awashima sincerely apologizes for her intrusion but Munakata is highly intrigued by her survival skills and ingenuity and suggests she come stay with him for the time being. Awashima feels Munakata is being too kind to her and Munakata assures her that he believes she is a person of great talent. Awashima agrees to go to Munakata’s house, except when she gets there she accidentally trips over a skateboard left in front of the doorway and ends up hugging Munakata, who poofs into a cute sparkly rat. Munakata expects Awashima to start screaming at the sight of him but Awashima is more confused than anything and Munakata explains that he is the bearer of a family curse which causes certain members to turn into animals of the zodiac when hugged by a member of the opposite sex, Awashima is now prepared to be part of a very long and dramatic soap opera of feelings.

Living with Munakata are two other members of the family, Fushimi is the outcast cat who Munakata finds to be a very interesting person. The other member is the dog, Yata, who turns into a small yappy chihuahua and who is constantly fighting with Fushimi, Munakata assures Awashima that they are really best friends. As her stay goes on Awashima meets many other members of the family and gets to see who turns into what cute fluffy animal. I’m thinking Totsuka would be the rabbit, he’s always cheerful but also weak and jokes that he needs to stick close to the bigger animals in order to keep from being eaten. Since there’s no lion maybe Mikoto is the ox, he’s big and lazy and can be a fierce enemy if you anger him (he’s also constantly accused of dyeing his hair), Yata thinks it’s amazing that Mikoto-san can become such a big strong animal. Then Anna can be the tiger and Sukuna the sheep, Sukuna’s totally annoyed that he’s not some cooler animal but Anna loves lambs and so he doesn’t complain about it in front of her. Also part of the Homra group are Kusanagi the horse and Kamamoto who turns into a big strong boar, imagine him being constantly bullied by tiny yappy chihuahua Yata. Meanwhile Kuroh is the dragon and very proud of that fact, monkey Shiro likes to tease him about how he turns into an adorable little seahorse (and as Shiro’s wife Kuroh can one day carry their children~). Yukari is the snake, which he finds to be the most beautiful of all animals, while Hisui is technically the rooster except for some strange reason he turns into a parrot instead. The god of the story can be Slate-kun from Circle Vision, who lives alone in the main house watching everyone and making cryptic comments about everything.

[ridiasfangirlings]

Witch Munakata & familiar Fushimi au?

I’m imagining Munakata as like the head of a coven with Fushimi ashis lazy bad-tempered familiar who is some kind of cat shapeshifter.Like say Munakata is this extremely powerful witch who has like icepowers or something, his strength is enough that only a few otherwitches can match him (and he’s constantly butting heads with one ofthem, the powerful fire witch Mikoto). He leads a coven made up ofAwashima and the alphabet squad, they all look to him for guidanceand can lend him power on occasions when he is doing particularlydifficult spells. I feel like Munakata would be really good withherbs and potions and such too, imagine he lives in this neatold-style cottage with like a spiraling chimney and a huge gardenfilled with plants in his backyard. It’s there that he finds Fushimione day, not all the plants in Munakata’s garden are safe and one dayhe’s out harvesting some seeds and leaves from various plants when hehears a noise nearby. He finds this small black cat with blue eyeshiding underneath a bush, there’s a burn mark on it’s chest and it’slimping a little. It seems to have been caught by Munakata’s bloomingnightvine, which is carnivorous and likes to poison small animalsbefore eating them. Munakata carefully extracts the little cat fromits clutches and takes him home, binding his wounds and giving himsome herbs for the pain before leaving him in a little box to rest.

Some time later Munakata goes in to check on the cat and he finds ayoung man perched on a chair staring at him with wary eyes. Munakatais totally unruffled as he notes that perhaps he should bringsomething besides milk for his guest to drink, Fushimi snorts andsays he isn’t a guest and he doesn’t plan to stay here. Munakatadoesn’t even bat an eye as he says that Fushimi’s wounds are stillquite bad even now that he’s in human form and he will not get veryfar if he leaves, the wiser course of action would be to wait untilhe’s back to full strength before wandering off. Fushimi is stillwary, watching as Munakata transforms the saucer of milk he’s holdinginto a cup of tea and places it on the table between them. Munakataconjures up his own tea as he wonders idly what brings one of Suoh’smen here and Fushimi hisses as he says he doesn’t belong to that man,not anymore. Munakata asks if Mikoto was the one who gave Fushimithat burn and Fushimi laughs, wondering what Munakata would do if hesaid yes, would Munakata declare war on the fire coven. Munakata saysit would be something very out of character for Suoh and he wouldhave to investigate, Fushimi hunches his shoulders and says that hemade the scar all on his own and he doesn’t regret it.

So then for the next few weeks Fushimi ends up staying at Munakata’swhile he recovers, transitioning between cat and human form as hefeels like it. Maybe Fushimi was like forcefully turned into ashapeshifter, like he’s the son of a rogue spellcaster named Niki whodecided to practice his spells out on his own son. One such spellcaused Fushimi’s soul to be bound with that of a cat demon and nowFushimi’s entire body is like made of magic. Because of his conditionFushimi was cast out of every human town he went to until he met ayoung fire witch named Yata. Fushimi and Yata stayed together untilthey joined Mikoto’s coven, where Fushimi felt stifled and restlessall the time. His body is such that he’s unable to use fire magic andso he was like an outsider in Homra and seeing how Yata worshipedMikoto made him feel like he couldn’t stay in that place anymore.Munakata notes that Homra were clearly blind if they did not seeFushimi’s worth, Fushimi thinks Munakata is just trying to flatterhim but Munakata says that it isn’t a matter of Fushimi doing magichimself, his body is in essence made of magic and so it makeshim the perfect familiar – one who can channel and use the spellsof his master and strengthen them. In this way Munakata thinks it infact makes Fushimi a very rare thing indeed and far more useful thanany mere normal witch could be.

Fushimi assumes this means Munakata just wants to use him as afamiliar but Munakata never brings it up again, only asking Fushimito come help him in his garden. Slowly Fushimi starts becoming partof Munakata’s coven – he keeps saying that he’s going to leave buthe finds this strange attraction to Munakata, to wanting to showMunakata how useful he is and how competent and to be praised more bythis man. Fushimi’s magic resonates well with the type of magicMunakata’s coven practices and his presence is enough to make alltheir spells stronger. One day Fushimi asks Munakata about itplainly, if this is the only reason Munakata keeps him around –fully expecting that the answer will be yes, that he’s only a tooland nothing more, but Munakata says instead that while he appreciatesFushimi’s usefulness it is Fushimi himself who has become mostimportant to him. He holds out a hand to Fushimi and Fushimi takesit, quietly muttering that if Munakata cares so much Fushimi will behis familiar, and stay with him from now on.