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potatogratins · 10 months ago

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— sticker frenzy

꒰ summary ꒱ living together requires a lot of adjustments and a messy journaling addiction. yuki ishikawa does his best to help you sort out your stickers and pens because it helps him, too. but one day, he wants a change in routine.

꒰ genre ꒱ fluff ꒰ pairing ꒱ | ishikawa yuki/female-identifying reader ꒰ w.c. ꒱ 1,811 ꒰ published ꒱ september 8, 2024

To be neat was the optimal way of living, according to Yuki. On top of never-ending schedules, he wanted to be in control of everything; for example, his apartment, an abode of safety and security, had to be the neatest out of everything he could take hold of. Initially, he thought he could stick to this routine for a long time. When he meant a long time, he thought years, decades, the end of time even.

Then you came along like tornadoes in spring, with boxes full of journaling materials and whatnot, placing them in empty tables, dark corners, and unseen crevices.

“Do you need all of this? Can’t you just use one pen? And a single notebook for all your thoughts?” were the first lines of ammunition he shot towards you when the both of you were adjusting to living with each other. He was rather confrontational about the whole thing and it was no surprise—after all, inviting a woman to live with him was a considerable change in his routine, but the mess was less tolerable than he had hoped.

So, while Yuki was your lover, he also became your personal Marie Kondo. He would always show an item you owned, wave it around, and ask if you would keep it. You would throw it away or sell it, more often than not.

Then began months of civil negotiations. Do you need that many fountain pens? You sold some of them away. Do you need that much parchment paper? You placed them in a box, and all of them were sorted out by thickness. Can’t you paint somewhere else? You bought a large mat to put on top of the white table if you needed to journal your day. It became a biweekly routine of some sort, and funnily enough, to Yuki, he enjoyed it more than he had thought.

Still, one part of the social contract never moved, and it was starting to affect him.

Your stickers.

When you realized the whole decluttering situation Yuki was trying to pull, you had to make sure the stickers were the first to be stored away neatly. You kept them in IKEA plastic organizers or cheap white clear books. You stuck to sticker sheets, and its stickers stayed with their original sheet till their eventual use.

But you just had this horrible habit of placing your stickers everywhere.

A new cabinet? Let’s place some stickers on the side. A reused notebook? We can add some dinosaur stickers on the cover. You never figured out why you did it, but you’ve embraced such an itch since you were a child.

Yuki, however, was not too pleased.

After a day of having the sticker frenzy, he would scrape off the stickers. It often wasted his precious thirty minutes, and by the time he would finish, he would slump down the couch next to you. Then, he would scold you.

“I feel like I’m saying this over and over again. Can we stop putting stickers on everything, please?” he would say.

You would nod and tell him that you wouldn’t do it again.

Then, a few days would come, and you’d do it again.

Every time, Yuki would be exhausted on the couch, nails slightly chipped. He would tell you off again. You would nod.

As months would pass, the scolding would get lighter in severity while at the same time, the frequency of sticker scraping would get less. Eventually, he stopped. It stopped annoying him. In fact, he wished that you would do it every day.

So here you are, sitting at the dining table. Yuki, the bore that he is (your words, not anyone else’s), is brushing up on his English while you begin to prepare your journaling. Since high school, you’ve been using the Traveler’s Notebook— the blue one in the regular size in particular—to capture every special day that you have had since then. Last week, you attended the wedding of an old friend; Yuki was your plus-one.

You take out the tiny wedding invitation and shuffle it around the page, trying to figure out the best place for the invitation. But first, you decide to step it aside, putting out the stickers, tape, and paper that you’ll use for your journal. You place a ripped square of wrapping paper in the corner while adding small stickers in the middle of the page or the rest of the corners. Afterward, you stick the wedding invitation and then Fujifilm polaroids of you with the couple and then with Yuki. You begin to concentrate on the most crucial part: the details of the day.

This is the part when Yuki knows he should be leaving you unbothered, as you need to prepare your pea-sized brain to recall everything from that morning till evening.

As you finally finish writing your entry, then you add tiny stickers, hearts, and all that jazz. Holding both sides of the journal, you hold it up and marvel at your new creation. Yuki, curious to see what you’ve done, leans closer to see what you’ve made.

“Very… girly,” he comments.

You glare at him as you defend yourself, “Obviously, it had to be cheesy. It’s a wedding. I needed to add the doves, rings, the bride, and the groom.”

You begin to clean up your mess as Yuki continues to read his books. When you return to fetch the last set of materials, Yuki finally places his book down as the both of you prepare for bed. You lie on the right side of the bed while he is on the left. He brings himself closer to you, and suddenly, you can feel the heat of his entire body on you. His arm is tangled with yours, and his lips are near your ears.

He kisses it. Lightly.

“I could get used to this every day,” he tells you, “I know it. I’m sure of it.”

You bring one of his hands to your lips, but you don’t kiss it at all but warm it with your soft blows like a prayer. Then he kisses your nape, and the both of you feel like you’ve met for the first time again. Your sighs are deeper than the sea, and for the next few minutes, there are touches of love entangled in metaphors. Slowly, you and Yuki drift into reverie, a candle of manifestations and desires, an atonement to reality.

Then, when you wake up, you’re all alone.

You can hear plates clanging outside the room. Then, for a minute, your eyes shut, and the sound stops. But you begin to hear pans clanging and something frying. You get up from bed and walk out of the room to check out the commotion to find Yuki trying to make breakfast.

“You know I’m in charge of breakfast for a reason,” you say.

“Good morning,” he greets you.

You wave your hand, your groggy state dragging you to the restroom.

You lightly slap your cheeks, trying to find some more consciousness if your brain could allow you. You wash your hands slowly, letting the cool water run from the wrist to the tip of your fingers. You dry your hands, and when you look up—

There are stickers on your face.

In horror, you walk out and ask Yuki, “Did I leave this on all night?”

He shrugs and is startled by what’s in the pan. The eggs are burnt. How does one burn an egg? You shake and slap your head.

You head to the study table where your materials rest. You go through your collection and try to figure out where they came from.

Where did they come from?

You shuffle some parts of your table but return them to their original place. Then, you see your journal sitting on top of the table. You slide it slowly to find a note that reads:

Will you marry me?

Four words are enough to drive you crazy. You read it like a broken record, and you bring it to the level of your eyes. You’re astonished, drunken in some unknown joy. You put the note down, still holding it, and turn to the door.

Yuki stands right there, leaning by the door. He’s smirking, but you know he’s scared shitless.

“Did you buy these stickers for—”

“Yes. I bought it for this specifically.”

“I thought you didn’t like all this cheesy stuff.”

“Eh… well…”

He scratches the back of his head.

You hold his hand, and you’re both standing there in silence. You can feel his hands begin to sweat as you’re standing there contemplating a question still left unanswered. He looks at you intently; he wants to shake your body to know the answer out of nervousness, but he knows it takes time. There’s a part of him that’s grateful that you’re standing and thinking for a while, for making good life-altering decisions has always been your greatest trait.

“Yes, I will marry you.”

Suddenly, he turns away and throws his fist in the air like he’s stuck in one of his games. He picks you up. Then he pinches your cheeks before kissing you. He’s out of breath because you know he needs a kiss—and badly. There’s a quench in him he didn’t know he had. It’s an itch that’s scratched differently every time.

When the both of you finally break apart, you peek towards the breakfast and then look at him.

“Did you really burn those eggs?”

“Yes, I did. I was nervous, alright? You don’t know what you’ve done to me.”

You tease him by laughing and pointing at him. He’s all red, but he knows more than to turn away from embarrassment. He looks at your smile, and he savors it; he feels fuller than consuming the average meal. Immediately, you make him lean down on you as if to ask something about it.

He gives you those puppy eyes as if to wait for your next demand. Then you pat his cheek and bite it.

Silly girl.

He rolls his eyes and urges you to begin breakfast. He doesn’t eat before you take the first bite, and when a sound of delight comes out of your mouth, he is beyond relieved. He looks out the window and into the sky to give him a form of remembrance for one of the happiest days of his life. He turns to you, gobbling his cooking up, and he laughs to himself. You look up at him, and you’re both looking at each other, and there’s a growing feeling of anticipation. Both of you continue to eat without keeping an eye off each other, and that feeling is finally described: that feeling of excitement for something permanent, something that you feel you could get accustomed to until the world comes to a stop.

#mine #mine: ishikawa yuki x reader #ishikawa yuki #yuki ishikawa #ryujin nippon #rjn #kapag hindi nanaman gumana tags ko magdadabog ako

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celtrist · 5 months ago

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Hi I followed late and don’t really feel like scrolling for an explanation so can you real quick give me a rundown on the obsession au you have? Thanks! 😊

I don't blame you, haha

The Obsession AU can be summed up in one sentence pretty much: Everyone is obsessed over Alastor. Alternatively: Everyone is yandere for Alastor. Both more or less are the same (yandere is how I've originally described it and while still true, some characters like Pentious arguably don't fit the yandere bill, but you get the point.

In the AU, Alastor is afflicted with a curse that makes him desirable to everyone, with no exceptions via orientation or relation (like Vaggie's a lesbian but is still in love with Alastor, same with Alastor's mother). The obsession primarily comes in the form of romantic affection (and most of the time lust, but that one isn't always required). Either way, EVERYONE wants to be romantically involved with him in some way.

The AU was a bit of a play on how the fandom feels towards Alastor and the insane amount of shipping done with his character despite proooobably being the least interested in the show to be in any sort of relationship like that, romantic or QPR. In this AU, Alastor is both sex and romance-repulsed and classified as aroace. Both because that's how I like to see his character (maybe not the "repulsed" part, but certainly aroace) and for this au, that sort of gives him the "optimal suffering".

This month I'll be posting some of the possible endings Alastor could have in the AU. And hopefully, each ending can give you some insight into how I sorta see the characters in this au (again, I'm not the best at explaining things so the endings might not seem amazing or even confusing). I'm very open to people giving ideas for the AU or doing their own thing with it (I would appreciate given credit for the AU still, unless it's more or less completely different than my own of course). But, I don't really wanna throw people into boxes with my ideas only. A good example is the radioapple bad end. At this point, I would describe it as pretty boring and something I'm sure people could run home better with than myself. And if anyone DOES want to do an "Alastor actually loves this character romantically" sort of thing, I don't mind that either. The AU is all in good fun and I wouldn't want to stunt anyone's creativity with it!

Hopefully, that gave the general gist of it, but really the biggest thing to keep in mind is just that everyone wants to date Alastor. That's pretty much the bluntest way to describe this AU

#Anonymous #Hazbin Obsession AU #cel answers #hopefully that makes sense #Again not proud of my “explaining and describing” skills

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wolfertinger · 2 months ago

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(Keep anon) I know salem isn't looking at this blog for advice, anything we say is obviously gonna be taken in the worse manner possible- but god salem if you somehow see this log off. I don't mean that in a i hate you get offline kinda way, i mean that in a you would legitimately be happier if you disconnected from having public-facing 'popufur' type accounts. this isnt even about if you 'deserve' to be popular its about the fact that you are legitimately harming yourself because you don't know how safely navigate being a big artist, much less one with a controversial past. my advice to you is to scrub again, ideally find a discord of buddies you do trust and get used to posting only in isolation. figure out how you need things to go, properly. Remember your early furaffinity days? where you were uploading less, talking about yourself less- you were hiding but i fully believe that style of posting is more optimal for you. Be one of those artists that posts their art and doesn't really talk about yourself or this fluffy representation talk- just trim it down to the art and a few things here and there. i know talking about things is fun, being comforted is fun- but it puts you in a dangerous situation and youve always been very obviously sensitive to any missteps... which you cant rely on random people to NOT do. they dont know how to navigate you, and if they do, youre sharing way too much. to give you some credit i do actually believe you have been better about this in some ways, but wis clearly isn't letting you step away from things in a way that lets you actually destress, and to make matters worse she puts her foot in her mouth and says horrible shit out loud that you can not, in good faith, 'just ignore' without looking like a piece of shit yourself no matter how much you want to run from drama. log off, refresh yourself, and talk less (publically) dont do this popularity chasing shit. make art in your corner, label it the way it needs to be, and do your best to ignore people who overstep. and god, seriously- if you cant handle discourse stop talking about it. posting about how you love kinky queers and youre a queer furry freak isnt doing what you think it does. It puts MORE eyes on you. you will 100 get less push back if you just post what youre gonna post and dont humor the idea of whatever discourse would be around it. to be a bit mean- theres a reason your kiwifarms thread is so big and its because you constantly give them things to work with, to mock, to talk about- if it was just the fat furry art they would still talk, but it would be a lost less. they find that 'boring'. i know it sucks to be boring but sometimes its what we gotta be, for our own health.

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thecarnivorousmuffinmeta · 3 months ago

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I saw you giving your thoughts on A:TLA ships, etc. I liked your meta on Ty-Lee in particular. What are your thoughts on Mai/Ty-Lee?

The Meta on Ty-Lee

Thoughts on Ty-Lee, Mai, and Azula and How We Met Them

Caveat up front if you or anyone else likes Mai/Ty-Lee, go off, be merry, have fun. Avatar's one of those shows where if you grease the wheels enough you can get a lot of ships to work.

That said, in my personal opinion, I don't think it's likely given what we see in canon.

They're Too Close to the Fire

From a young age both Ty-Lee and Mai are put in the unenviable and very dangerous position of being Azula's close friends. Both seem to realize from a relatively young age that this is not the good fortune it seems. We have Ty-Lee's introduction in which she tries to say no to joining Azula's strike team and then is quickly convinced otherwise, and Mai's instant agreement for seemingly no particular reason "I'm bored" that also helpfully displays no vulnerability or weakness to Azula.

On the one hand, there's much they know about the other and their situation that no one else can understand. But on the other hand... there's a little too much there. They're too similar, in a way, they live the same life, and neither is an escape for one another in any way.

For Mai, Zuko is emotional, vulnerable, he's open with his feelings (relatively compared to herself and Azula) and he's constantly failing but never giving up either. He knows what Azula's like but he's never been the best friend.

Ty-Lee we see connect later to the Kyoshi Warriors.

Being with each other just reinforces the roles they had to play and also makes them much more vulnerable as it would be displaying the red flag of weakness in front of Azula (or worse, Azula becomes possessive and jealous of the pair of them being closer to each other than to her).

Even when Azula is placed away--I don't think that mentality would break. Both can grow and move on, but it will be easier and maybe better to do that with other people.

They Have Different Coping Mechanisms/Are Very Different People

We see that Mai likes Zuko who for all he sulks and broods is very genuine. When he's angry he shows he's angry, when he's hurt he shows he's hurt, he's rarely sly (or if he is it's... in a bit of a straight forward manner) and for all he hates being weak he isn't afraid to try either.

Ty-Lee is the polar opposite and even Mai for that matter are polar opposites.

Both have their own methods of handling Azula and it's to put on fronts. Ty-Lee does it with smiles, cheer, and forced optimism that makes it seem she's not quite sure what's going on. Mai does it with stoic boredom and dispassion. They are not genuine people, they can't afford to be.

Given we see a love interest for Mai that's the opposite of that, I'll go ahead and say she doesn't dig it, and as for Ty-Lee--less of an idea because we don't see an explicit canon love interest but I don't see her being into it either. Azula's the one she seems to gravitate to more often than not, and until the Boiling Rock when the pair make their split, it feels more like Mai is a person in her orbit. They hold the same position but Azula's the glue that keeps them together. Personally, I think it's the masks/deception that's part of what drives her off as well.

Perhaps the constant cheer and good nature is part of who Ty-Lee wants to be, who she'd aspire to be in the best case scenario, in which case Mai's stoicism is, well, not that.

Which shows in that post-canon Ty-Lee runs off to hang around with the Kyoshi Warriors, whom she became good friends with in prison, while Mai stays in the Fire Nation with Zuko to help support him as the new Fire Lord.

Conclusion

All of the above doesn't mean it's not possible or I can't be convinced, maybe in a very AU world, but anything close to the canon world--I'm just not seeing it.

#avatar the last airbender #mai #ty-lee #mai/ty-lee #avatar the last airbender meta #avatar the last airbender headcanon #avatar the last airbender shipping #meta #headcanon #shipping #opinion

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thetempleofthemasaigoddess · 1 year ago

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Your boyfriend Zoro being transformed into a girl would involve…

Roronoa Zoro x reader. NSFW!! (moodboard)

*****

💚 You and Zoro have been together for a while. He’s not the most affectionate of men, but he makes sure you’re aware how important you are to him, and you enjoy a solid relationship, built on love, trust and reciprocal support.

💚 One day, in the course of one of your adventures, the crew decides to split: Zoro, Luffy and Nami leave, while you remain on the Merry with Usopp and Sanji. You soundly kiss your boyfriend goodbye, vaguely melancholic at the thought of having to spend more than a few hours apart for the first time since you both joined the crew, and he whispers in your ear that he’ll miss you, but you are both otherwise unconcerned, reasonably sure you’ll see each other soon, safe and sound, him with a good story to tell and you with his favourite meal -that you asked Sanji to teach you to prepare- ready to celebrate his return. Zoro and the others will be gone for two or three days at the most, what can go wrong in so little time?

💚 You will later reflect that this is the sort of thing one should never even think, let alone say it out loud like you did, lest destiny find a way to punish your optimism with some terrible accident or misfortune. And this is exactly what happens to your boyfriend - or at least, that’s how he sees it.

💚 You, Usopp and Sanji have spent the last three days harboured at a peaceful little town, waiting for your friends to return; bored, but mostly relaxed and confident Zoro will be back soon, you leave the Sunny to go buy a few things your chef had forgotten when shopping for supplies. When you return, you’re immediately excited to see Luffy and Nami talking to the others on the deck, which means your boyfriend must be back as well! “Where is Zoro?” you ask happily after greeting your friends, and they exchange a look; no one answers, but a sudden tenseness envelops your little gathering. Nami and Luffy look particularly nervous, as if they had something unpleasant to tell you “What is wrong? Hasn’t he come back with you?” “Zoro is fine, (name).” Nami tells you in the end, which is much less reassuring than she probably intended - rather, it fills your heart with dread. “What do you mean? Why shouldn’t he be fine?” you ask, your words not making proper sense given how suddenly alarmed you are “Is he sick? Wounded? Where is he?!” You’re informed Zoro has locked himself up in his cabin as soon as he and the others returned; you’re welcome to go see him, even though he might not want to come out. “He is safe and sound, truly; just… he’s not exactly the m-the person you knew anymore.”

💚 You’re informed that on that very morning Luffy was attacked by a trio of bounty hunters who had recognised him from his bounty poster; Zoro immediately came to your captain’s rescue, and one of the opponents hit him, not with a weapon or a simple punch, but with a single finger pressed against your boyfriend’s forehead. “We… think that man had eaten a Devil Fruit, and that he just meant to distract Zoro and escape, because he wasn’t hurt; rather… he changed.” “What does it mean, changed? What happened to Zoro?” you ask anxiously, your mind already filled with catastrophic images in which your boyfriend has been transformed into an animal, or a monster, or aged to the point he could die any moment; whatever happened to him you know you will remain by his side, your feelings deep and steadfast enough not to change whatever modification his appearance might have been subjected to, but you’re scared he is now in some kind of danger, longing but unable to return to normal.

💚 Your friends seem unable to explain what happened, so they simply ask you to go talk to Zoro, to see it for yourself; you do, almost running below deck until you reach the door of your boyfriend’s cabin, that you know almost as well as you do yours. “Zoro, are you there? Please, open up!” you call him, knocking with increasing energy “Whatever happened to you it’s fine, we can deal with it together, I just want to make sure you’re alright!” You receive no answer for a while, until a slip of paper appears in front of your feet from under the door. I’m fine. Please leave me alone, the short message says, which not only is not reassuring in the slightest, but wounds you deeply: even though you and Zoro don’t talk often about your feelings you thought you would always support each other in times of need, making the other’s problems and fears your own. If Zoro prefers to deal with whatever misfortune happened to him alone, does it mean he wouldn’t help if something bad happened to you? Hurt, you still insist, demanding to see him or at least that he explains his situation to you; you even threaten to break the door down and enter, whether he wants it or not. At that point, finally, the door opens, and after three days you finally find yourself face to face with your boyfriend - because it’s still substantially him, just a version you never thought you would get to meet.

💚 You hadn’t stopped to wonder why Zoro had written you a message instead of talking to you through the door; if you had, the reason would have been immediately clear as you stare at each other, him tense and embarrassed and you who need a minute to realise what actually happened to him. He’s still human, the same age as before, but his body has somehow changed, shrinked a little bit. His arms are still muscled but slenderer, his hips narrower, his hair appear to have grown in a day as much as yours would do in five years, and his chest… his chest…

💚 For a whole minute neither speaks. “You’re a girl.” you observe in the end, and Zoro nods, clearly unhappy with his current predicament. “I look ridiculous, I know.” he complains, and you would beg to differ, since Zoro is an extremely attractive woman, like he was an uncommonly handsome man the last time the two of you saw each other, but you have more pressing matters to deal with. “Are you alright? Do you… I mean, does it hurt?” you inquire as you enter and close the door behind yourself, and after a moment of reflection Zoro admits he feels no pain, his gaze lowered to contemplate that body he doesn’t feel as his own. “Mainly it’s… strange; as if I were wearing clothes of the wrong shape and size for my body, or if I had to move with a different set of limbs. I mean, it’s not the end of the world, I can move and talk and fight, but this is… I don’t even know what to call it, but it’s wrong! Listen to my voice, look at me, this is not me, and I don’t want to be a girl! No offence, but I want my body back as soon as possible.”

💚 Zoro’s worst fear, since he didn’t get the chance to question his attacker -If I find that guy I’ll cut him into sashimi for what he did to me!- before the man escaped, is that the transformation the bounty hunter subjected him to is irreversible, or that only the man can return him to normal, since Zoro doesn’t even know his opponent’s name. Fortunately, on that at least you can help him, since you are the daughter of a scholar who has spent all his life studying and cataloguing Devil Fruits, and knows more on them than most people in the world; you quickly call him with your Den Den Mushi to ask for his help, and your father immediately recognises the fruit that caused Zoro’s transformation. The change, he tells you, lasts proportionately to the length of the physical contact between the user and the victim: since the bounty hunter only touched Zoro for a couple of seconds before taking advantage of his confusion to escape, your boyfriend should have his body back within a few weeks - a month at most. “Oh, thank goodness.” you comment relieved, while “A month?! Are you shitting me? I can’t remain a girl for a whole month!” Zoro cries out; when your father admits there is no way to hasten his return to normal, he sighs, thanks him for his help, and lets himself fall on the bed, his face in his hands.

💚 A moment later you’re by his side once more. “Don’t look at me, (name), I look horrible.” he asks you as he avoids your gaze, but you still circle his -now marginally less wide- shoulders with your arm to pull him close. “Horrible is the last word I would ever use; to be honest I might be jealous, because you must be one of the prettiest girls I have ever met.” you sincerely tell him “I know it’s weird and uncomfortable, but at least we know you’ll be back to yourself soon… -ish. That’s what you were worried about the most, right?” “Yeah, but…” “No buts, Zoro. I’m sorry if you are upset and ill at ease, but you scared me half to death! Did you plan on remaining in your cabin until your body returned to normal, without even knowing if it ever would? And why wouldn’t you tell me about it? I’m your girlfriend, didn’t you think I would want to help? Wouldn’t you help me if something was wrong and I didn’t know how to deal with it?”

💚 Zoro quickly, confidently nods, and you heave a sigh as you are confirmed you weren’t the problem, rather your boyfriend was simply embarrassed of what had happened to him and couldn’t bear to see your reaction. You kiss him on the cheek, and “I’m glad you came back; I missed you terribly.” you murmur, and Zoro smiles faintly. “You really don’t mind?” he asks, his voice now less deep but perfectly recognisable, the timbre and the cadence still those of the young man you spend as much time as you can with, and who understands you like no one has ever done. “Well, it is a bit odd to see you as a girl.” you admit “But I’m mainly happy to know you’re fine, and that you’ll return to normal in a short while. Luckily for you I have a long experience in being a girl, so I can help you with that and teach you everything you need to know.” Zoro grins, and then he hugs you tight, and you hug him, and everything is alright once more.

💚 Resigned to not spend the next month locked up in his cabin, Zoro follows you to the ship’s kitchen, where the others are gathered; both Usopp and Sanji -who had already been informed of what had transpired, but there’s a difference between knowing and seeing- stare at him, mouth hanging open, and your chef has the time to point out “You look lovely today darling, did something with your hair?” before Zoro stares at them with such ferocity neither of the two has the courage to utter another word. “A month, eh? Well, it could be worse.” Luffy comments with a shrug; clearly the fact that his first officer is a girl changes absolutely nothing for your captain, and, you reflect, why should it? “They’ll have to call you Pirate Huntress now. Hey, you guys want to eat? I’m starving!”

💚 After dinner, you and Zoro share a bottle of saké as you look at the stars on the deck; you hold hands, content with each other’s presence, a pillow behind your backs, until your boyfriend feels the call of nature. Realising this must be the first time he has to deal with the most intimate part of his new anatomy, you delicately ask him whether he wants you to -err- assist him, since the experience might be new for him, but your boyfriend mumbles that he doesn’t need to be potty-trained like a three-year-old and the mechanics of the feat shouldn’t be an issue despite his lack of experience. He leaves, returns ten minutes later, and silently sits back next to you. “It’s the second I have ever seen.” he mentions, and you turn to look at him. “And whose was the first?” you ask innocently; Zoro grins and throws the pillow in your face, making you both laugh.

💚 The next thing to do, you decide on the next morning, is to find some suitable clothes for Zoro’s new body, since neither your nor Nami’s things fit him. Your boyfriend insists there is no need to waste berry on it, since those very clothes would become useless in a month and he can easily make do binding his chest and tightening his belt, but you’ve finally found a way to convince him to come shopping with you, and so that very afternoon you drag him to a large shopping centre to play dress-up. Zoro is clearly ill at ease, or indifferent in the best of cases, as the two of you move among the various stores, and asks you to pick clothes he can train and fight comfortably in; you obey, but insist on also buying things that compliment his figure and look, as well as feel, good on him. You also help him choose new underwear, to try on which Zoro remains in the dressing room for a long time. “Is everything alright in there?” you ask from the outside, and you hear him utter a very unladylike grunt. “How do you fasten this damn thing?!” he mumbles, frustrated.

💚 Having received his permission, you join him in the dressing room; Zoro is only wearing a pair of panties, a bra in his hands, and this is the first time you get to actually observe his new body. You look at him, really look at him, and for a whole minute words completely fail you. You’ve always known he looked beautiful, ever since you found yourself shily stealing glances after he had discarded his shirt to train or unconcernedly changed his clothes in front of the others, long before you realised your feelings went way beyond simple physical admiration and the two of you got together. He still looks good, you quickly decide -toned abs and arms and shoulders, and then his chest soft and perky, his legs long and shapely, his buttocks round and firm- no, he looks amazing, and for some reason you find yourself blushing as you observe him, half wishing that elegant, athletic figure was yours and half…

💚 “So? Are you going to help me or not?” Zoro asks impatiently as he hands you the bra, which you quickly take and help him fasten; an hour later you’re back at the Sunny, both carrying bags with your purchases, and your boyfriend says this was a wasted afternoon, but then smiles at you, kisses you on the cheek, and thanks you for the help. Later, you’ll find out he took advantage of a moment you were distracted to also buy a shirt you had liked and chosen for him in your size, so that you can wear them together.

💚 On another occasion, you and your boyfriend go out for a date on your own, as you regularly do; you visit the town’s most picturesque neighbourhood, and then sit in a bar for a drink. It is then, as you chat pleasantly, that a man approaches your table from behind and “Hello, pretty thing; can I buy you a drink?” he asks. Zoro, who knows how uncomfortable that sort of approach makes you, immediately turns to shoo the man away… and remains completely flabbergasted as he realises that the person the man is leering at, unashamedly staring at their chest… is him. “I’m not interested.” he states in the end, but his admirer is not deterred. “Come on, darling, I can buy one for your friend as well…” “I’m not your darling; and she’s my girlfriend, not my friend; I’m on a date with her and we’re not looking for more company, so back off!”

💚 The situation quickly degenerates; Zoro tries to intimidate the man making sure he sees the three swords your boyfriend carries with him, but his assailant just laughs, and it takes a well-aimed fist to the face, as well as the intervention of the bar’s owner, to make him leave. “Is everything alright?” you ask a few minutes later, as Zoro stares at his drink, shoulders hunched and a dark expression on his handsome -beautiful?- face. He nods, and “I’m fine.” he reassures you, and then hesitatingly, as if unsure of how to express his thoughts “Is it always like this when it happens? So… unpleasant. I know being approached like this bothers you, but I felt… dirty. Like, I could imagine the sort of things that man was thinking about me, about my body; it felt horrible. And why the hell didn’t he back off when he realised I was armed? Usually it works.”

💚 “It was probably because you’re a girl now. That man couldn’t know you’re a formidable swordsman, but he probably felt less threatened by you now than the men you usually defend me from. I know, it’s humiliating.” you add gently noticing Zoro’s despondent, almost ashamed expression, as if the fact he can no longer intimidate other men made him feel guilty “There are so many powerful female pirates and fighters in the world, but many men still things women are delicate, innocuous creatures whose only place is in the kitchen and who have been created expressly to take care of men and indulge their every whim.” “I never thought that. Never.” “I know, Zoro; I wouldn’t be your girlfriend otherwise. Thank the Gods some men are different… and I fell for one of them.” You smile at him, and he smiles back, but your boyfriend is still unsure. “I have never made you feel like that, have I? I mean, I love the way you look, but there is so much more…” “Zoro, no; you’re my boyfriend, I like it that you find me pretty and flirt with me. I’m sorry if that man made you uncomfortable… and if it happens again, I promise I will intervene to defend you, like you do for me. Deal?” Your boyfriend finally smiles, and the two of you can return to your date.

💚 The next day, Zoro comes to you with his long hair tied in a ponytail and a large pair of scissors in his hand. “Can you cut it for me? I tried to do it by myself but I can’t reach it.” he explains, and you insist on doing things properly, washing his hair before cutting it. “I guess I should feel relieved you didn’t try using your sword to do it.” you mention as Zoro joins you in your cabin returning from the bathroom, rubbing his long, thick mane of hair with a towel. “No self-respecting swordsman would use their weapons as mere working tools, unless it’s a life-or-death situation.” he points out seriously “Cut it as short as you can, please, the way I wore it before.”

💚 You end up haggling about it for a while. You, envious of the lush, velvety hair your boyfriend has been blessed with after his transformation, beg him to leave it long, or at least to let you try to cut it in a way that valorises it and him; you could braid it, or arrange it high on his head, and you don’t know if he ever wondered how he would look with blonde or black hair, but you could buy a product to dye it! You bet he would look amazing, and in any case in a month he will have his short green hair back, what harm could it do to experiment a bit? Zoro is much less enthusiastic. Long hair would need to be groomed, which would only mean wasting time he would rather spend training -or with you- he has no interest in seeing how other colours would look on his head and most importantly, he doesn’t want his hair to get in the way as he fights. Don’t many women keep their hair short? Why shouldn’t it be the same for him?

💚 In the end you acquiesce, since after all it’s your boyfriend’s hair and not yours, and decide for a haircut similar to Nami’s, without bangs or a fringe that might bother him. Zoro sits perfectly still as you work, using a comb and a smaller pair of scissors, apparently not at all worried you could end up making a mess of it. “My sword teacher had all the girls’ mothers cut their hair short before they started training at the dojo.” he mentions after a while. “That sounds… wrong; couldn’t they tie it up or make sure it didn’t bother them in some other way?” you ask, not wanting to criticise a man you have never met but finding the order improper nonetheless. “He said it meant renouncing vanity and other feminine weaknesses to embrace the way of the sword with humility and abnegation.” Zoro explains “I did always think it was excessive… especially since the sensei himself had longer hair.”

💚 You feel quite a bit trepidant as, having used a towel to rub your boyfriend’s hair, take a mirror so that he can have a look. “I hope it doesn’t, err, look too terrible; if you don’t like it we can find a salon in the next town we dock at…” “I like it; I like it very much.” he assures you as he looks at his own reflection “It’s different from what I had before, but… yeah, it’s good. You did good, where did you learn to cut hair?” You admit it was your mother who taught you, first cutting your hair and then so that you could help her do the same to your -several- younger siblings. “Maybe one day, after we have found the One Piece, I could become a professional hairstylist and open a salon.” you joke, and Zoro grins before kissing your cheek. “Thank you.” he murmurs and you smile at him. “Don’t mention it; it was fun.”

💚 Speaking of kisses. It takes you a while -five days, to be exact- to realise you haven’t kissed Zoro since his transformation, if you don’t count the sweet but chaste, quick pecks on the cheek you often exchange when parting or greeting each other. You wouldn’t know how to explain it: your relationship has always been loving, even though neither of you enjoys public displays of affection, and while it’s still odd to have a boyfriend, a version of Zoro, who has to wear a bra and whose voice is suddenly much less deep than what you were used to, you wouldn’t say you are upset, let alone repulsed, by his new appearance, and physical contact between the two of you, be it as you cuddle in bed, walk with his arm around your waist or sit with you between Zoro’s open legs, still feels perfectly natural, without uneasiness or embarrassment. Still, he catches you a little off guard when he does kiss you properly for the first time since his return.

💚 You have just fought a brief but bloody battle against a band of enemies, who had boarded the Merry to chase you away and steal it from you; two members are sword users who immediately confront Zoro. Even outnumbered, you and your friends emerge victorious, and as the others spread on the ship to check it wasn’t damaged during the battle, you reach your boyfriend, noticing his arm is bleeding profusely. “You’re wounded!” you cry, alarmed, as you tear a piece of cloth from your skirt and use it to bandage the cut “We need to stop the bleeding, Gods, I hope it doesn’t…” Zoro interrupts you mid-sentence, not ordering you to shut up -he never would- but pressing his lips to yours in a kiss, intense and desperate and hungry, while his good arm holds you close by the waist; it lasts only for a few seconds, too short for you to have the time to reciprocate, but it’s enough to make your heart soar and a pleasant, well-known but still exciting warmth fill your belly, especially when you feel Zoro’s tongue slip past your lips to caress yours. When you’re finally about to return the kiss and circle Zoro’s shoulders with your arms, he suddenly steps away, using the hand of his good arm to cover his mouth as if to forbid himself to kiss you again. “I’m so sorry.” he murmurs, inexplicably ashamed “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to, I just…”

💚 You can’t begin to understand why he looks so upset and regretful -it was a lovely kiss, and he’s your boyfriend; why would he need to apologise?- but decide to wait before asking for an explanation, since Zoro’s arm is still bleeding on the Merry’s deck. You don’t have a ship doctor yet, but thank all the Gods the wound is not as severe as the one Zoro had received during his fight with Dracule Mihawk; you clean and bandage it, while your boyfriend sits quietly in front of you, almost not daring to meet your eyes. “You want to tell me why you felt the need to apologise after you kissed me?” you ask in the end, taking advantage of the privacy of the moment, since the others have preceded you in the ship’s kitchen for dinner “Did I ever give you the impression I disliked kissing you, since the first time?” Zoro remains silent for a while; in the end, he bites his lip and “I just thought… you could dislike it now.” he murmurs “You told me you’re not attracted to girls, and I know I just have the body of one and you know I’m still me, but… I don’t know, I thought it might make you uncomfortable now that I look different.”

💚 “Oh, Gods, Zoro…” you murmur, as shame fills your heart; how could you not realise your boyfriend was uncomfortable and felt insecure about your relationship? Still completely focused on the novelty of his transformation, you haven’t even realised this had been your first kiss in five days! “I am so sorry…” “It’s not your fault…” “Yes, it is! I can’t explain it, there is nothing I love more than kissing you, but I sort of… forgot we did that? It doesn’t make sense, but please believe me, this changes nothing between the two of us! I’ve never been attracted to a woman before, but I really enjoyed kissing you, no matter what body you’re in… and I’d really like to do it again. After all we have five days to make up for.” Zoro grins as he stands to close the distance between the two of you, and a moment later you’re locked in an embrace, kissing each other senselessly, and feeling a feminine body pressed against yours and under your caresses is still a little odd, but it’s still Zoro’s body, your beloved, headstrong and impulsive but generous and protective boyfriend, and you didn’t exaggerate when you said that kissing him is the best, most amazing thing in the world. It still is.

💚 When you finally part, several minutes later, you’re both out of breath, and smiling warmly to each other. “Good?” your boyfriend inquires, still a little insecure, and “More than good; it was amazing, as usual.” you immediately reassure him, as you still keep his hands in yours “And you can still kiss me every time you want.”

💚 One day, after the Merry has docked at a new island, you and your friends are visiting a town together when you hear your name called: it is an old family friend you haven’t seen for years. You’re about to introduce him to Zoro, but you can only say “And this is…” before stopping, not knowing how to continue, how to describe him and what name to use, and your boyfriend is quick to interject. “I am (name)’s girlfriend… Roronoa Kuina. Good to meet you.” he introduces himself shaking your friend’s hand, who clearly doesn’t suspect anything. You smile gratefully at your boyfriend, who grins and wink at you; from that day on, Kuina is the name you and the others use when having to call Zoro in public, mainly after he has wandered off in the opposite direction to the one he had to take.

💚 You know about Kuina, of course; Zoro told you all about her, how knowing, and losing, her has shaped him into the man he is today, and how one of the reasons he intends to become the world’s strongest swordsman is to honour her. You’re not surprised your boyfriend chose the name of his late friend as his own to use until the Devil Fruit’s effects disappear, but you hadn’t realised how Kuina’s memory is affecting Zoro now that he also has a woman’s body until one afternoon, as you keep him company while he trains, you see him stop, and swear, and abruptly leave his swords on a nearby crate, almost shaking with frustration. “I feel weak.” he exclaims helplessly when you ask him if he’s alright “Much weaker than before, and I hate this.”

💚 You easily understand the reason for his bitterness. No matter how deadly and capable as a warrior he still is, Zoro’s feminine body is smaller than before, his muscles less developed, his lunge shorter, all of which makes him a less formidable fighter; your boyfriend has also noticed that, as he trains his body with push-ups and other exercises, he tires earlier than usual. “It’s not your fault; after all, women are on average smaller than men, it is natural that your body can no longer perform as it once did.” you comfort him after bringing Zoro a towel and a water bottle “You at least don’t have to worry, since you’ll be back to yourself in a matter of a few weeks.” He sighs, admitting that he doesn’t have much to complain about, but… “It’s unfair.” You rest your cheek against his shoulder, and “You’re thinking about Kuina, are you not?”, and Zoro admits he is.

💚 “She was a great fighter, you know? She had beaten me two-thousand times, and many pupils of our dojo had never been able to best her. She could have become the strongest swordsman in the world, I’m sure of it - or at least I was; but maybe she was right, and her father, because no matter how determined and talented and devoted to their training one is, our bodies are built differently and men have a natural advantage. I used to think the tragedy of Kuina’s life was that no one had faith in her abilities and in what she could grow to become, but maybe she had been unlucky from the beginning, because she had been born in a body too small and feeble to match the strength of her spirit.”

💚 You both remain silent for a while, lulled by the gentle waves the Merry is confidently sailing over, the quiet murmuring of the sea surrounding you. “Listen, I’ve never met Kuina, so I can’t pretend to know what she felt.” you begin in the end “And yes, the fact that most women cannot hope to match men physically is unfair; what I’m sure of is that Kuina appreciated you having faith in her and in her strength, since apparently no one else did. And I’m sure that when you do finally become the world’s strongest swordsman, no one will be happier for you than her - and me, of course.” The smile your boyfriend gives you in response is faint but sincere; he doesn’t speak, but he holds you close by the waist, close enough you can rest your cheek against his shoulder and enjoy the warmth of his body.

💚 One day, after a peaceful night spent sharing your bed with Zoro like you often do, you wake up to the sound of your boyfriend swearing out loud. “What’s wrong?” you ask sitting up on the bed, and he looks at you: he is standing in the middle of the cabin, his back turned, the shorts he wears at night discarded on the floor “Zoro? Are you ok?” He nods silently, embarrassment having turned his cheeks pink. “It’s my time of the moon.” he mutters, and you blink, still only half-awake. “Your what?” “This is what the women of my village called it. The blood. Do you have something I can use?”

💚 Of all the perks of being a woman you wish Zoro could have experienced so that the two of you could talk about it, you would have gladly spared him this, you think regretfully as you open the drawer in which you keep your menstrual products. Your boyfriend refuses to even try to use a tampon, so you pass him a package of pads, and see him leave towards the bathroom, hoping no one sees him. He’s in a bad mood for the rest of the day, doesn’t train at all for the first time since you’ve met him and remains in bed for hours, alone until you bring him a few well-tested remedies against period pain, as passed down through the women of your family: a hot water bottle, chocolate -that you asked Sanji to keep in store for you, expressly for cases like this- and your hands, which your use to massage his lower abdomen and ease his cramps. “I know it’s bad.” you murmur soothingly as Zoro avoids looking at you, his face hidden it’s pillow “But it’ll pass, and soon you’ll feel better.”

💚 “I feel terrible.” Zoro admits “Fat and weak and useless; Mihawk would laugh if he saw me in this state. How do you deal with it, (name)? A few times I’ve known when you had your things, and you never looked… well, the way I feel.” You admit the side effects you experience because of your cycle are not as dramatic as those other women have to deal with; you regularly suffer from cramps, but it’s nothing a hot water bottle can’t help you soothe, and you sometimes feel more irritable than usual, or irrationally angry… “Really? I never noticed.” Zoro jokes, momentarily distracted from his plight, and you elbow him in the stomach, relieved to have improved his mood. You end up cuddling a bit, and sharing a chocolate bar, and in the end your boyfriend rests his cheek against your chest, allowing you to pet his hair - something you know he actually likes, even though he would never admit it. “I can’t believe all the women in the world deal with this every month, for decades of their life.” he mutters “I can barely stand myself now, and I’ll only have to experience this once!” “Well, there are various remedies, both home methods and drugs a doctor can prescribe, but menstruation does affect your quality of life; I don’t think any woman is ever happy to find out they got their period… unless they feared they were pregnant.” Zoro looks at you. “Did it ever…?” “Once, a long time ago.” you quickly answer; you want there to be no secrets between your boyfriend and you, but that is not a memory you enjoy discussing “Long before I met you. Thank the Gods my period was simply late, and that experience taught me to be more careful.” Your boyfriend doesn’t comment, but he shifts to face you and takes you in his arms, the hot water bottle pressed between your bodies. “If something were to happen… or if you feel bad and need to be comforted, you can tell me; because of your blood, or even just if something bad has happened or you feel sad for any reason.” he murmurs “I don’t want you to think you have to keep these things from me.” You assure him you never thought you had to, but appreciate him reassuring you; you and Zoro share a smile, and hold each other for a little while.

💚 “Zoro, it’s been two weeks; it’s time to wax your legs.” “And why should I? My legs were hairy before, I never heard you complaining.” “Don’t be such a child! Come here, it will only take a moment…” “What the f- ...aaaAAARRRRGGGGHHHH…!

💚 Intimacy has never represented a problem with you and Zoro. You have started sharing a bed to cuddle early in your relationship, and a few weeks later you had sex for the first time, a slightly awkward but nonetheless loving and passionate affair; you know your boyfriend had never had a partner before meeting you, but what he lacked in experience he made up for with enthusiasm and determination to learn and please, and since then you have both learned how to share your pleasure and to explore each other’s bodies. You have thought Zoro was attractive since the day you first met, long before you started developing feelings for him, and you know the love you share has made sex between you more amazing, passionate and intimate. Nothing of this must necessarily change now that your boyfriend has the body of a woman… but what if it does? You do enjoy kissing him, very much indeed, and never felt there was something weird in sharing your bed with him after the transformation, given how pleasant it still is to feel Zoro’s warm body spooning yours, one of his arms protectively curled around your waist, or to snuggle against him, listening to his breathing with your cheek against his chest. Sex, on the other hand, is a different matter, or at least you think it could be; you’ve never been interested in women sexually, and while your love for Zoro hasn’t faded or dwindled since his transformation, you fear dealing with his, err, lady parts could turn out to be difficult. You would only have to be patient for a few more days before things return to normal and the two of you are free to spend the whole night making love, but it’s been more than two weeks since he become a girl, longer than it’s ever been since the last time you did it, and you’re starting to feel frustrated to use an euphemism. You could propose Zoro to try, but you don’t want him to feel disappointed if you do get started and then you decide you’re not into it and want to stop; your boyfriend is smart enough to understand your reasons without doubting of your affection, but still, it would be the first time your desires don’t align, and that is an experience you’d like to postpone for as long as possible.

💚 What to do, what to do? Propose an activity that doesn’t require an intimate contact, so that you can both find your relief without you having to discover what Zoro looks like under the panties you bought for him? Resign yourself to remain chaste until your boyfriend is back in his own body and you can jump his bones? Neither of those options seem appropriate, nor satisfying. Zoro, on his part, has never asked you to spend your nights together doing something other than sleeping, but you’re sure he’s thinking about it, both because it’s never been so long since your previous time and because you can feel his gaze linger on you, on your body, when you wear your bikini on deck to sunbathe or take a swim, or when his pelvis presses against your buttocks as he spoons you in bed. The poor man deserves to be pampered given everything he’s been through, but you know without the need to ask that he wouldn’t want you to do something you’re not sure about or that makes you uncomfortable, and the last thing you want is for him to see you recoil from him or admit you’re not attracted to the body he’s in…

💚 You spend several days agonising over the problem, which then solves itself when you stop thinking too much and let your instincts, and your heart, decide for you. The crew has gathered in a club to celebrate Luffy’s birthday; a toast to your captain -and future King of the pirates!- becomes two and then three and four and in the end, more than a little inebriated, you take Zoro’s hand to pull him towards the dancefloor. Your boyfriend, who swears he was born with two left feet and only submits himself to that torture for love of you, this time doesn’t even complain, which suggests he is also at least a bit inebriated. A minute later the two of you are dancing, locked in an embrace, the sensual tune of the music making your hands daring as you naturally, instinctively begin touching each other - something you have always avoided doing in public, even though none of the other dancers pay attention to you. “You look beautiful tonight.” Zoro murmurs, and there is something in his eyes as his hands, until now resting on your hips, slip downwards to grab at your buttocks, that makes you tremble, a hunger and desperation only barely kept under control; it’s not the first time that he looks at you like that, quite the opposite in fact, but it’s one of those things that never fails to have an effect on you, no matter how many times you experience them. You sigh as, moving with a grace you never thought him capable of, Zoro gently circles your waist with his arm to keep you close; your pelvis presses against his, and then a moan escapes your lips, drowned by the deafening music but loud enough your boyfriend can still hear it. You blush. He smiles. You kiss him. He licks your lips with his tongue. You press your knee between his legs. He moans. You grin. He raises a hand to caress your breast through your shirt. “You wanna go back to the ship?” you ask. He takes your hand. A minute, and a hurried conversation with your friends, later the two of you leave the club together.

💚 You start kissing furiously while you’re still on the deck, laughing as you almost trip on your own feet in the rush of reaching the closest cabin. As you finally close the door behind you, already panting as Zoro’s hands finally slip under your skirt, he suddenly stops and looks you in the eyes. “I don’t want you to…” “Shut up and kiss me.” “Yes ma’am.” In the end, everything is vaguely awkward but easy; after all you are a woman, you know your body and what makes it tick, and so it feels surprisingly natural to gently, carefully do the same to Zoro. He is unexpectedly shy as he takes his clothes off, and “It looks normal, right?” he stammers “I mean, I had never… seen another naked woman, apart from you…” You reassure him that he looks beautiful, and he really does, he is amazing and attractive and precious, and you are grateful, once more, he has chosen to share this part of him with you, especially now that he doesn’t recognise his body as his own. “Let’s take it easy, alright? No pressure, no rush.” you suggest, and your boyfriend nods silently.

💚 You begin kissing each other again, and then caressing, and then stimulating, and things develop naturally from there; at the end of a few hours of slightly awkward but nonetheless passionate lovemaking, you fall asleep, peacefully holding each other. During the night Zoro spoons you from behind, and when you wake up on the next morning, the first light of the day coming through the tiny windows to fill the cabin, you remain still as you wake up, content as you enjoy the intimacy of your lover’s embrace, as you have done countless times already. That state of things is so natural and ordinary, in fact, that it takes you a while to realise something is not as it should be - at least, compared to what you had slowly started to consider normal in the last few weeks. “Zoro?” you ask, your eyes still closed, and “Mmmggh?” your boyfriend grumbles from behind you, still half-asleep. “Is that your cock I feel against my butt?” You feel him jump, and then the rustling of a sheet, and then a relieved, triumphant laugh. “I’m back to myself!” Zoro exclaims, and as you sit and turn on the bed you can see it with your own eyes: your boyfriend is back in his own body, gloriously naked and deliciously masculine, and half-hard as it is sometimes the case when he wakes up. He seems to have returned to the exact state he was in when the Devil Fruit user touched him: his hair in a masculine cut, his legs a little hairy - but not much: for a man your boyfriend is relatively glabrous. You smile at each other. “You feel alright?” “I feel great. Twenty-eight days; it took less than I thought. Now…” he adds as he slowly advances towards you, a wolfish smile on his handsome face “Not to say that last night wasn’t very pleasant, but you want to celebrate having your man back?”

💚 You do, and when you finally leave your cabin, two hours later, your friends are happy and relieved to see Zoro back to himself. Later, he makes a pile of all the clothes he no longer needs, and since they don’t fit you nor Nami, he decides to keep them aside until he finds a use for them. “What did it feel like? Now that it’s over, was it so terrible being a girl?” you ask him later, as you enjoy a moment of peace together, standing against the side of the ship; Zoro, his arms to his now flat chest, thinks about it for a while before answering. “It was weird, obviously, and… difficult. I mean, I never realised how hard it is to be a woman. It’s like… well, I can’t blame you if you sometimes feel as if the whole world were out to get you. Your very body makes things more difficult.” he then ponders thoughtfully “I’ve never considered women weak, but if I had this last month would have changed my mind.” He smiles at you, his fingers intertwined with yours “Thanks for being with me these past weeks; I don’t know what I would have done without you, what with the clothes and the period stuff. If you think about it… this made it a little easier for me to understand what you feel. So it was kinda useful.” You tell him you’re glad to hear him say that; you never had reason to think Zoro didn’t care for you and your feelings, but it is indeed a good thing if this experience made it easier for him to understand you a little better. It made you closer, which you can only be happy about.

💚 “Was sex good?” “Of course it was; I mean, it was a little strange, but when it’s the two of us it can only be good, right?” Zoro mentions, and smiles “Do you think you like girls too, now?” “I… don’t think so; as you said, last night was good because it was the two of us, I liked it because I was having sex with you, not because I was touching a girl.” you reflect, and then, thoughtfully: “Maybe we could find this person who transformed you, and ask him to turn me into a man for a short time. You know, so that I can experience both things as well… and then maybe we can have sex as two men. Would you like that?” “Err... ” “Maybe I can do to you what you did to me this morning.” you suggest, making your boyfriend blush. “Thank you, I think I’ll pass…” “Pity, I wouldn’t have minded…”

💚 You share a grin, and a laugh; Zoro’s arm circles your shoulders, and you rest your cheek against his chest. Man, woman or whatever else, his very presence and closeness comforts you, and you know in your heart Zoro is your life mate, the other part of you, your bond stronger and deeper than any other; the last month has been an experience that will not happen again, an accident that you overcame without too much of an hassle, but you know in your heart that if the transformation had been permanent, if Zoro were stuck in a woman’s body for the rest in his life, you would have kept loving him like you love him now, and he would have done the same if you had been turned into a man. You don’t need to ask him; you know for sure.

💚 Zoro sighs, holding you against him. “I’m glad I’m back.” he murmurs, and you smile as you return his hug. “You never left, darling.”

#One Piece #One Piece Live Action #OPLA #Roronoa Zoro #Zoro #Roronoa Zoro x reader #Zoro x reader #Mackenyu #Mackenyu Arata #Bellona's stuff #100 notes

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higharollakockamamie · 4 months ago

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One bad game I'm fascinated with is Twelve Minutes.

It's got a dynamite premise: you're at home with your wife, and after 12 minutes, a cop bursts in, ties you both up, and kills you. The goal of the timeloop is to figure out why and how to stop him. (It turns out the answer to both is stupid, but that's another story.)

Screenshot from EuroGamer's LP.

What's interesting to me is a certain feeling the death scenes evoke. The first one is shocking, but after that, the game successfully makes you feel bad, but also makes you resentful at it for making you feel that way. And that's actually a pretty rare feeling for fiction to evoke!

What's much easier to think of examples of is good tragedy.

From Chip and Ironicus's MGS3 LP

You know, the thing that's the satisfying culmination of an effective setup with believable inevitability, which evokes a negative emotion, maybe a powerful enough negative emotion that you sob in your dorm room and are extremely relieved your roommate isn't around that night, but you love and appreciate it because you care about the characters and it's well done.

Even things that can't be necessarily called "good" overall can have effective moments, where suddenly there's a moment of shock that works.

From Full Playthroughs' Haze LP

Even the failure state of shock and tragedy, when it's done badly, usually just falls on its face in a way that makes you laugh.

From Kai's FFXIV LP

So what makes Twelve Minutes uniquely unpleasant?

I think the key factor is boredom.

When you get to the point that the cop zipties you, the loop is essentially done. There's nothing more to discover, nothing new you can do. It's essentially a long game over. All you're doing is watching an unskippable cutscene until you die, it resets, and you can do stuff again. So the stuff where you watch a woman on the floor begging a man to go away and leave them alone isn't just stomach-turning, it's also inconsequential. The loop's just gonna start over, so it doesn't actually matter. You're not shocked anymore. You're just sitting and waiting for it to finish. So you're feeling bad because what's onscreen is unpleasant, but also bored, which ends up in making you feel more resentful towards the devs than sympathetic towards the characters.

But if you're doing a timeloop where failure ends in a character's death, is this queasiness unavoidable? Not necessarily!

A game that does something narratively very similar but, through a few smart choices, emotionally completely different is Ghost Trick.

From ShortOneGaming's Ghost Trick LP

One clever choice is to focus on the dog. Sure, a dead dog is sad, but he's not dead permanently, and we can talk to his ghost, which is full of doggish optimism and determination, which keeps your attention on your mission of saving the little girl.

Another extremely smart gameplay mechanic is, if you screw up the puzzle, all you have to do is press a couple buttons to immediately start over or go back to a checkpoint. This means you don't have to sit there and watch the clock run out on your failure, and is a feature that would have been a great thing for Twelve Minutes.

Would it have saved the game? No. You'd have to change the extremely dumb answer to the mystery for that. But it would have made it less of an annoying and unpleasant experience.

#games #meta #longpost

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cr4shdummy · 1 year ago

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here's my rundown of all the new 2027 tech regulations:

the most important news is the reduction in engine capacity. the pistons are going to be reduced from 1000cc to 800cc, meaning they generate less power with each stroke. the bore of the pistons is also going to be reduced, which is the width of the piston head. the wide bores that have been in use for some time deliver more power, so reducing bore size means less fuel and air will be used with each stroke. this makes the bike slower, but more fuel efficient.

fuel efficiency has also been taken into account with the new gas tank and fuel regulations. gas tanks are being reduced from 22 to 20 liters for full races and from 11 to 10 for the sprint. essentially, since dorna has reduced bike power, they've reduced fuel capacity as well, since less fuel is needed.

this is where the new sustainable fuel comes in: the new fuel will be a mix of biofuel and synthetic, both of which have a lower power storage by volume compared to gas fuel. this will also reduce power. are you seeing a pattern?

the last time 800cc bikes were used in MotoGP, they were absolutely hated by riders. from 2007 to 2012, engine capacity was reduced from 990cc to 800cc for similar reasons as today; concerns about safety and overtaking. but the bikes were considered some of the worst to ride, due to low torque and inconsistent power delivery, meaning the bike performed best a very narrow rpm and throttle range -- step on the gas for just a milisecond longer, and you'd get shot off the bike. that made highsides much more frequent. mat oxley explains here:

the title of the article is MotoGP 800s - Rot In Peace, which feels like a grim portent of the years to come.

attempts to mitigate the engine's problems with electronics also sacrificed power and overtaking.

sound familiar? right now, riders, stewards and engineers are all complaining about overdone electronics. this brings us to the next point revealed in the presentation, that holeshot and ride height devices will be banned.

these devices program the bike body to shift up and down under certain conditions, carrying momentum and reducing drag. holeshot devices specifically program the bike to start, resulting in the classic rocket-powered starts we see today. riders plant their feet, tuck their heads down, and let the bike do the rest. holeshot devices have their negatives, especially combined with heavy aero -- plenty of crashes occur in the first few corners of a race because the overpowered start combined with heavily engineered aero shoots a rider directly into another's rear tire. this is the sacrifice made for overtuning bikes so that they're perfectly optimized.

but notably, these changes don't mitigate crashes! despite claiming to prioritize safety, reducing power on its own does not reduce crashes. less torque = slower corner exit = riders prioritizing quicker roll speed and engineers seeking higher rpms. and less power = less braking = less overtakes.

none of this is to say that the original 800cc era was inexcusably terrible or that the new era will be as well. but i don't think liberty media or dorna understand what draws viewers to the sport. in the presentation, they justify most of these changes as making bikes more "road relevant", increasing mileage and sustainability. but world superbike already exists to fill that niche, making motogp obsolete in that sense. i'm all for safe and environmentally conscious racing, but as stated above, these new regulations don't make motogp more safe. they also don't make it more eco-friendly either; ethanol fuel is nice, but it's a drop in the ocean compared to the absurd emissions generated by transporting the entire traveling circus from racetrack to racetrack. if there's anything motogp can learn from wsbk, it's a reduced calendar. less travel means less emissions, and longer breaks gives riders time to recuperate from injuries.

in their attempts to make motogp a better entertainment product, liberty media are challenging the integrity of the sport. their unnecessary limitations ignore the true root of most problems -- overworked riders and teams and a bloated schedule -- and waste money in the process. constantly changing concessions and regulations forces manufacturers to spend more and more money developing new bikes; no wonder teams have been dropping out. these concessions don't help anyone but liberty, since they can claim they've "revolutionized" the sport and made it into a safe, sustainable overtake-fest. all they've really done is sanitize it.

#if i sound angry it's because i am. no one asked for this #like no one said oh you know what would be good? rolling back the engines to the REALLY SHITTY MODEL THAT NO ONE LIKED #motogp #tech talks

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raeynbowboi · 1 year ago

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HOW TO PLAY AS THE BELCHERS IN DND 5E

Today, we're going to explore how to build the Belchers as a DnD Party. Plus Teddy. We're not really going to touch on stats. Let's be honest, the Belchers aren't really great at anything. If we were building them accurately, they'd all be super low level and/or with terrible stats. But it's your character and your campaign, so you can make them more or less optimized as you see fit. They're also all basic Humans, so we're pretty much just focusing on their classes and subclasses.

BOB BELCHER

PALADIN OATH OF DEVOTION

Bob is largely defined by his principles and values. As Tina puts it, Bob is a good business owner, but a bad businessman. He cares more about providing a quality service and succeeding his way than making money. And in Little Hard Dad, he's shown to say "It's the principle of it" way too often. This to me reads as a Paladin. Given his belief in quality service and moral principles, I label him as an Oath of Devotion Paladin.

VARIANT BUILD

FIGHTER SAMURAI ARCHETYPE

Bob is pretty boring and straightforward, which makes Fighter really fitting for his personality. If he was going to model himself after anyone, he'd choose Shinji Kojima/Hawk. Thus, the Samurai archetype. However, if we're leaning purely into the boring practicality and straightforwardness of Bob, I might suggest Champion instead. It's the most Fighter-y Fighter you can build.

Regardless of his class, make sure to pick up proficiency with Cook's Utensils or the Chef Feat.

LINDA BELCHER

BARD COLLEGE OF DANCE

Telling Linda Belcher not to sing or dance is like telling Tina not to talk about horses or telling Bob not to cook. It's just not going to happen. She loves the theater, she sings all the time, and she was once in an amateur garage band. All the makings of a classic bard. Given her love of dancing, I went with the College of Dance.

TINA BELCHER

CLERIC LIFE DOMAIN

Tina is the family member who puts the most stock in things like fate, true love, karma, and damnation. She is also one of the characters that mentions religion more than anyone else. More specifically, she strikes me as a Cleric of Sune, the Faerunian Goddess of Love and Beauty. Sune's virtues include following your heart wherever it leads, championing love and romance at all costs, taking any risk in pursuit of love, being true to your heart and your passions without shame, and trying to make the world a more beautiful place. As such, Tina is the perfect candidate for a Cleric of Sune. Sune has two domains: Life and Light. Given that Tina has at least some interest in nursing, the Life Domain seems more in-line with Tina's values as a follower of Sune.

GENE BELCHER

SORCERER WILD MAGIC ORIGIN

I know, I know. It's a sin that he's not a Bard. But Gene and Linda are very similar characters, and both work as Bards. The best thing for a party is diversity. So, I looked at Gene's personality beyond just his music. And the core of Gene is whacky nonsense. Usually, when Gene tells stories, it's an excuse for weird imagery. The Banana-fullo, Fart School, radioactive pizza sauce. Thus, the Wild Magic origin for Sorcerers spoke to me. Gene loves whacky randomness, so he would be drawn to Wild Magic. Plus, he's not really a good bard. He hates practicing, he's unfamiliar with the concept of a workbook, and kind of just expects a music career to be handed to him. Hell, when he got cast in a play and had all of two lines, he didn't memorize them, and wanted to ad lib every take. Gene's a sorcerer with the Entertainer background, but he is NOT a bard. He doesn't take his craft seriously the way Linda does.

LOUISE BELCHER

ROGUE ASSASSIN ARCHETYPE

One of Louise's main skills is her ability to pick locks. Bob is literally afraid to go into her room as he expects boobie traps to hurt him. She's a clever tactician, masterminding several heists and revenge schemes. She's good at tricking people and lying to their faces to get what she wants. As for why she's an assassin, in the episode where Louise is uncertain of her future, one vignette paints as a John Wick style Wedgie-Sassin. She's also a fan of Francine, a Special Girl doll that spied on the Russians during the Cold War. She's not typically a fan of girly things, but she does like the one that's a spy. She's definitely the family member who would be the outlaw punk of the group.

RANGER GLOOMSTALKER CONCLAVE

In more recent seasons, we've seen a newfound interest in archery, with Louise even making a zombie movie centered around her blossoming hobby. The Gloomstalker/Assassin multiclass is also a very good multiclass in combat, which is why I felt it was the most fitting for Louise. She's also pretty accurate with other ranged combat like spitballs and throwing things at people.

TEDDY THE HANDYMAN

ARTIFICER BATTLE SMITH

This one pretty much goes without saying. He's a mechanic and handyman, he's used to moving and hauling heavy objects, plus he's burly, making him a great fit for the party's tank. The Battle Smith is an artificer built for the front line, and they get to be joined by a mechanical ally. Teddy would absolutely take a hit for any of the Belchers. The guy also fell off a roof and walked it off, so he's definitely got the highest Constitution score of the group.

I think this party turned out alright. Bob and Teddy are on the frontlines, Linda and Tina are the primary support, Gene is a ball of pure chaos and uncontrolled energy, and Louise is sniping people from the shadows. Everyone's doing what they should be doing to work as a unit, and also happen to be a fairly well-balanced party as well. This is an especially good party for low stakes and silly campaigns, but probably not the kind of party you want to bring to Barovia or Avernus.

#dungeons and dragons #dnd #dnd 5e #dungeons & dragons #dnd 5th edition #dnd fifth edition #wizards of the coast #wotc #bob's burgers #bob belcher #linda belcher #tina belcher #gene belcher #louise belcher #teddy the handyman

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moononmyfloor · 11 months ago

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Dashing Youth Ep 15-16: Master Li

So I have some thoughts about Master Li and need to compile them, please note that I have only seen BoY and all the available eps of Dashing Youth, but none of the donghuas or the novels. This commentary is purely based on the observations from the drama, I might change my thoughts in the future and those who know the canon, please don't spoil me on his character arc!

I actually "love" Master Li's character, as in I really appreciate seeing a properly done grey character. Actual morally ambiguous characters are quite hard to come by.

He's all fun and games and nice and kind, but only if he feels like it.

He explicitly stated he doesn't give a damn if the kids who are participating in the entrance exam for his school are in mortal danger, he doesn't really care if unauthorised people infiltrated the premises because such is the nature of martial arts world anyway.

Like, wow.

He couldn't care less when two students dissappeared right in front of his eyes, and the only reason he waited for Ye Dingzhi was because Dongjun wanted to wait, and he wanted Dongjun, because Dongjun was a student who wasn't grovelling at the feet of him in respect and that piqued his attention. (His older students have repeatedly commented on this before, that the Master only keeps intriguing disciples and not necessarily the most talented. And he especially seem to like kids who don't give him much importance, such as Xie Xuan, because it makes him go like: How? Why?)

Upon finding about Dingzhi's identity, I feel like he decided to help safely escort Dingzhi out of the city not because he really cared for the kid, but because he wanted to reassure Dongjun and keep him away from the trouble plus if Dingzhi was captured, the unrest from years ago might potentially repeat and that would be headache-inducing.

When he told Dingzhi that he should be stronger and return to save Wenjun, it WAS the truth, yes. But did he necessarily wanted the poor girl to be saved? I don't think so. He just wanted to convince Dingzhi to leave and Wenjun to let Dingzhi go. (And not to mention just how borderline creepy and unempathetic it was of him to circle around that imprisoned young girl and say "I can see why men thirst over you, if I was 100 yrs younger I'd be the same.")

When Dingzhi and Dongjun had their reunion and were spouting promises of youthful optimism and future heroisms, he stood by side shaking his head about the pointless sentimentality.

When Dongjun was asking Lei Mengsha why Shifu was always busy doing this and that and not teaching him, Lei Mengsha answered that you learn things on your own, by being your shifu he only bestowed you the privilege of being able to boast that you were his apprentice in the future, it was simply the cherry on the top to this character's design.

That last scene in ep 16 was

But you basically sealed the fate of martial artists with that hubris 🥲 It was badass but incredibly unwise. You angered the Emperor and now the future generation will have to deal with the repercussions.

He's not your quirky fun grandpa who will always have your back when you are in danger. He's a bored af immortal who's humanity and heart is slowly eroding away and will only help you not really out of kindness but because he thought you were amusing enough. Jeebus. And this actor plays him to a tee, unassuming sagely old man at first glance, apathetic and insufferable on closer inspection.

In fact, it was sad to see how these young martial artists, full of hopes for adventurous futures do not have any adult who actually care about their troubles (Dongjun does, but they are back at home. Changfeng's shifu is lovely but he's a recluse), except for those who find they are amusing/want to use them for their own agendas. The only people who care are some more kids who are only a little bit more older than them. 🫠

#Dashing Youth #my ramblings #Li Changsheng #Qiu Xinzhi #irl I'd just run far far away from him ok #Dashing Youth ep 15 spoilers #Dashing Youth ep 16 spoilers

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danganronpasurvivoraskblog · 7 months ago

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Dangancember 2024 - Danganronpa Top 24 Class Trials - Number 4: Danganronpa 2 Case 6

//Oh shit! OH SHIT! INCOMING HATERS! ABORT RANKING! ABORT RANKING-!

//GAH! GET OUT! AAAH! Fuck...! Gah...Okay...Okay fuck...Phew...Woah...Alright...

//Look...I fucking KNOW! Okay!?

//I'm not expecting to get RIDICULOUS levels of hate for this, but I am more aware than anyone that having ANY of the final trials THIS HIGH on the list. Especially since I have already said myself that they all have the same problems. And Danganronpa 2's final trial is FAR from exempt of these..

//This final trial often gets labeled as overrated by some fans, who argue it’s too flashy, too convoluted, or too dependent on high-stakes melodrama. It's still anime as fuck, its super long, it's super difficult so suddenly, and it's a massive plot dump. I will deny none of this.

//HOWEVER, I don't know what it is about this case specifically, but the more I look back on this trial, the more I LIKE it!

//We're in what I think is basically the S-Tier of this list. Even if this trial isn't S, it's still the top of A. And the defining factor that decides which of these cases gets this high up is "Which of these Class Trial do I like revisiting the most?" And this is definitely one of them, and I will gladly die on that hill.

//This case takes everything Danganronpa is known for; over-the-top twists, ridiculous logic battles, and moral dilemmas that make you question your own sanity; and cranks it up to eleven. Yes, you’re solving a murder while simultaneously wrestling with existential dread and facing down a genocidal AI.

//Yes, it’s bonkers, and yet for me, it works. Every wild revelation feels like it’s been carefully building from the beginning, paying off countless threads in ways that are surprising but satisfying.

//And that's it really. This is a SATISFYING CONCLUSION. Case 5 isn’t just a great finale; it perfectly captures what Danganronpa does best: mixing absurdity and sincerity into a neon-soaked cocktail of despair and hope.

//Unlike the first game’s ending, which leans heavily on Makoto Naegi’s generic optimism, or V3’s finale, which breaks the fourth wall so hard it practically demolishes the entire franchise, Danganronpa 2’s ending feels emotionally complete.

//And here's why:

//Let’s break down the key issues that this trial, and, let’s be honest, all Danganronpa final trials, tend to suffer from. First up, the obvious one: length.

//This trial is long, no doubt about it. But compared to some of its peers, it’s downright modest. V3’s final trial feels like a four-hour debate marathon, and Another 2’s third trial drags so much it feels like it got lost in a time loop. By comparison, Danganronpa 2’s finale uses its time well.

//Sure, it’s a commitment, but it’s packed with so many high-stakes moments and engaging revelations that I'm rarely looking at the clock. In fact, there are only four trials in the entire series that kept me glued to my seat from start to finish, and this one’s comfortably in that elite category, with the other three being the three trials above this one. Every topic of discussion felt purposeful, and I was never bored, which is more than I can say for some of its peers.

//Next is the dreaded plot dump problem.

//Let’s face it: of all the final trials, this one might be the guiltiest of shoving exposition down your throat. Junko Enoshima is less of an inquisitor here and more of an overly dramatic history professor, dumping lore at every opportunity like she’s trying to hit a word count on her evil dissertation. Unlike the first game’s finale, where she taunts you into piecing things together yourself, this trial often skips the mystery and goes straight to the lecture hall.

//But...at least that plot is GOOD.

//The revelations about the island, the survivors, and the Future Foundation are some of the most fascinating lore drops in the entire franchise. Sure, it’s a lot to take in, but it’s delivered with enough flair to keep me invested, and that’s a big part of why I’m still hooked on this series today.

//The next issue? The ridiculous difficulty spikes.

//This trial hits you with an "Improved" Hangman’s Gambit right out of the gate, which is ironic because the only thing it improves is your blood pressure.

//Let’s not sugarcoat it, "Improved" Hangman’s Gambit is a nightmare minigame in every trial it infects, and this one is no exception. But once you push through that, the rest of the challenges strike a much better balance.

//Take it away ProZD.

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//Sure, it’s tough, but unlike some trials where the difficulty feels like a punishment for daring to play, this one leans into "frustrating yet fair" territory. It’s challenging enough to keep you on your toes without making you want to chuck your controller out the window.

//And finally, the most meme-worthy complaint: the anime-esque absurdity of the villains’ defeat.

//Let’s not kid ourselves, this trial goes full Saturday morning cartoon by the end. Hajime literally turns into a golden-haired Super Saiyan and screams “FUTURE!” at Junko until she dies.

//It’s so over the top that it should derail the entire mood. And yet… it doesn’t. At least not for me.

//Instead, it feels triumphant, cathartic, and downright epic. Because even with it, the survivors still face an incredibly personal and difficult choice, confront their inner demons, and ultimately earn their victory. Sure, it’s a bit campy, but that doesn’t diminish the emotional weight of the ending. It’s goofy, it’s dramatic, it’s everything Danganronpa is, and honestly, I loved every second of it.

//These are still ultimately nitpicks that go against this trial and stop it from being one of my absolute favourites, even though it is a Top Tier spectacle for me. And I have one more big, pretty standout issue with this case, before I get into the stuff that I actually love about it.

//The Investigation segment...SUCKS!

//Unlike most of the final trials of the Danganronpa series, the actual "Daily Life" segment of this chapter is pretty long and full of detail and dialogue before the investigation starts. Which makes sense, considering what this trial comes off the back of.

//This chapter hits hard emotionally, coming fresh off the deaths of Chiaki and Nagito, arguably two of the most important and beloved characters in the game.

//Or at least, it should hit hard...if it weren’t so mind-bogglingly CONFUSING!

//At this point, the game fully commits to the twist that the island is actually a virtual reality simulation, and things spiral into absolute chaos. The world starts glitching like it’s running on a bootleg copy of Windows XP. Dead characters suddenly reappear, casually hanging around like nothing happened, and nobody seems to notice or care.

//I spent the first half of this chapter feeling like I’d walked into the wrong save file. It’s only when you enter the locked building that things start to click...or, rather, don’t click...because the weirdness keeps escalating.

//Monokuma, ever the fan of recycling his own shtick, drops a familiar ultimatum: "Solve all the mysteries and decide whether to leave or not." Then, boom, investigation time.

//Now, don’t get me wrong: unraveling the mysteries of the island and the Future Foundation is undeniably cool. But this investigation? Easily one of my least favorites in the series.

//Why? Because the glitches ramp up to such a dizzying degree that I felt like I was trapped in a bad fever dream.

//One moment I’m in the school, and the next I’m teleporting across random locations like that one scene in Guardians of the Galaxy 2 where they're jumping through several space time holes, and it feels EQUALLY AS PAINFUL as it looks!

//And don’t even get me started on the moment the entire world literally flips upside down. Yes, I get it, game, you’re driving home the point that we’re in a simulation. But do you have to give me vertigo while you’re at it!? It’s like they sat in a meeting and said, "What if we made the player understand the story by making them insanely fucking motion sick!"

//Well, mission accomplished, I guess!

//TLDR; This is NOT an investigation. It's an incredibly nauseatic FETCH QUEST.

//The clues themselves also aren't that interesting until you actually get in the trial, and it does open very well with the obvious twist, but we'll get to that. The only clue that stood out to me immediately, and that kind of interested me from the get go, was the fact that Hiyoko looks very different OUTSIDE the sim than she does INSIDE.

//And that's more of just a cool graphic, not necessarily anything that shocked me.

//But even though the investigation is a pile of dog shite, the character dynamics we see, and the way these dynamics carry on into the trial itself, is amazing. This trial not only has some of the best moments for the characters in this game, but vastly improves upon characters that we've already seen.

//Halfway through this trial, Hajime and his fellow survivors are joined by Makoto, Kyoko, and the real Byakuya. And even though their involvement here isn't THAT consequencial, it's still great to see them all back.

//Speaking of Hajime...

//I fucking LOVE Hajime!

//I mentioned earlier how heavily Shuichi is involved in the final conflict of Danganronpa V3, and I also briefly touched on how important Makoto is to the final showdown of the first game. However, I feel like I really missed the mark by not giving Hajime enough credit for how deeply he’s tied into the greater conflict of Danganronpa 2.

//This is, of course, entirely my personal opinion, but I believe Hajime plays a more central role in the story’s conflict than either Shuichi or Makoto. I just love the way Hajime reacts to the insane revelations during the final trial.

//The moment that stands out the most is when Junko casually drops the bombshell that Hajime is actually a fabricated personality of Izuru Kamukura. While the other characters are going to wake up and, you know, probably turn into supervillains, Hajime’s fate is way worse...he's going to be completely erased and vanish forever. As soon as this information hits him, he doesn’t just panic like you’d expect; he has a full-blown identity crisis.

//Hajime’s been struggling with his sense of self throughout the entire game, but this is the point where his existential meltdown reaches DEFCON 1. His anguished screams and his heartbreaking willingness to just give up and live in a world where everything repeats itself are gut-wrenching. Watching him go through this is honestly painful, and I find myself empathizing with him more than any of the other protagonists.

//This, I think, is the reason Hajime stands out to me. It’s not just about his struggle, it’s how human he is in his struggle. And holy shit if Johnny Yong Bosch's voice acting doesn't sell this:

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//These two moments in particular are the best parts of his traumatic breakdown ^^^

//But Hajime isn’t the only character who stands out here.

//Alongside the returning gang from DR1, there’s also Junko, who, surprise, surprise, is once again the villain.

//Now, I get it, some might find it a little tiresome that Junko is back as the mastermind, but I honestly think this is her best appearance in the whole series. I mentioned this when discussing the final case of the first game, but while Junko’s twist as the mastermind is certainly cool, her over-the-top, goofy persona kind of makes it hard to take her seriously as the main villain.

//In Danganronpa 2, however, when we encounter her as an AI counterpart, it’s a whole different story.

//Junko Enoshima’s role in Danganronpa 2 is one of the rare instances where a returning villain improves drastically in their execution, and it all comes down to how her presence is expanded and her actions take on a life of their own, literally and figuratively.

//She’s still got that signature cartoonish vibe, and she does still do the very sudden personality shifting, but now her tone is laced with a level of sadism and menace that feels downright chilling.

//It’s as if she’s crossed a line, and in this game, she’s not just the silly, chaotic villain we’ve seen before. She really feels like a true THREAT!

//Especially since her motivations, and what she actually hopes to achieve THIS TIME, are different from the stakes in DR1. Different in the sense that they feel SO much higher, and as a result, Junko feels like more of a monster.

//Junko is essentially trying to secure her posthumous victory by corrupting the Neo World Program and plunging the remaining members of the Future Foundation into despair, as well as take over the vegetable bodies of the people who died in DR2, and "Junko-fy" all of mankind, just as the tragedy is dying down.

//This makes her appear more threatening and influential compared to her more confined role as the mastermind of the Killing School Life in the first game.

//And there are more reasons than just this. Since Junko is already dead by the time Goodbye Despair begins, she becomes less of a direct antagonist and more of a haunting legacy, a force of despair that refuses to fade away. This shift gives her a mythic quality, as her influence looms over every event in the story, showcasing her obsession with cementing her place in history as an eternal agent of chaos. It’s no longer just about what she’s doing now, it’s about how far-reaching and inescapable her madness truly is.

//One of the reasons Junko shines brighter, or darker, rather, in Danganronpa 2 is the freedom her AI form grants her. Stripped of the limitations of her physical body, Junko fully leans into her larger-than-life persona, appearing in absurd and exaggerated digital forms.

//This form really advocates the idea that Junko is a living virus rather than a person. Her essence infects the virtual world, just as it infected the real world with Despair, in ways that make her feel omnipresent and almost godlike.

//This also allows her to interact with the cast in visually dynamic, surreal ways that simply weren’t possible in the more grounded setting of the first game. And as ridiculous as it is, the imagery of an absolutely HUGE AS FUCK Junko NEVER gets old.

//What really sets her apart in Danganronpa 2, though, is her personal connection to Class 77. These aren’t just random students she’s toying with; they’re the very people she manipulated, broke, and used as weapons during the Tragedy. She’s not merely taunting them, she’s forcing them to confront the darkest parts of themselves, the memories she erased, and the atrocities they committed under her influence.

//This makes her presence not only more menacing but deeply personal. The stakes feel higher because the conflict directly ties into the characters’ own identities and sense of guilt. Compared to the first game, where Junko’s relationship with Class 78 felt more detached and her villainy relied on spectacle rather than emotional stakes, her dynamic with Class 77 is far more engaging.

//What seals the deal is the eventual defiance of Class 77. When they choose to stand against Junko and reclaim their identities, it’s not just a victory over her philosophy, but it’s a victory over the very Despair she’s weaponized against them. This resolution gives her role in Goodbye Despair a sense of narrative closure that the first game didn’t quite achieve.

//She’s still the same chaotic, cartoony Junko, but here, her sadistic edge and personal ties to the cast create a version of her that feels more terrifying, more compelling, and, dare I say it, more entertaining than ever. It’s a much darker take on her character, and in this context, she’s far more convincing as the mastermind pulling the strings behind the scenes. It's a subtle shift that makes her presence feel less like a punchline and more like the horrifying force she was always meant to be.

//But I think that's mostly it for the outside context, and to cap this off, let's talk about the nitty-gritty details of the trial itself. I am sorry, but I will be repeating some of my previous points, just to cover them.

//But before diving into the labyrinthine twists and emotional sucker punches of Danganronpa 2's final trial, let’s start with one of the most hilariously sadistic Monokuma moments in the entire series. It's a subtle moment that doesn't last for very long, but it's a good sign right from the get go with the way that this trial treats it's most obvious plot twist right out of the gate in a way that is very entertaining.

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//Right at the beginning of the trial, Monokuma insists that everyone clarify one simple truth: the entire world they’ve been living in is a virtual reality. But instead of letting this revelation sink in gracefully, Monokuma drives it home with comedic precision.

//Every time someone tries to refute or question this revelation, he cuts them off with a deadpan repetition of "Because it’s a game!" over and over, reusing the same voice line for maximum effect. It’s like he’s saying, "This is the truth, and I am not debating this with you. Accept it, move on, or fucking die."

//It’s the kind of humor that is both maddening and brilliant, encapsulating Monokuma’s trademark blend of sadism and absurdity.

//Now let’s get to the meat of this trial: the twists. And oh, are there twists.

//First, as already established several times already, there’s the reveal that the world you’ve been inhabiting for the entire game isn’t even real. It’s a simulation.

//It's a very obvious twist if you'd bothered to pay ANY attention to the chapter, but that fact alone is a mind-blower. But the pièce de résistance is what comes next: the realization that the "World Ender," the ominous, evil-sounding organization you’ve been trained to despise and aim to destroy, are actually the good guys, and Chiaki and Monomi were working for them.

//The Future Foundation, the supposed villains of this story, are the heroes. And the bad guys? That would be…YOU! The very characters you’ve spent hours befriending and rooting for!

//I'm just gonna come straight out and say it: The Remnants of Despair are my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE PLOT TWIST in this ENTIRE SERIES.

//Only two twists rival it for me: The Tragedy in Game 1, and the Protag switch in Game 3.

//When I first played this, I entered the final chapters with the mindset of a righteous avenger, ready to bring down the dastardly Future Foundation. But as the truth unraveled, I distinctly remember thinking, "Wait, what? We’re the bad guys? The organization trying to save the world isn’t evil, and we were the problem all along? What the actual hell is happening here!?"

//I just love how it flips the narrative on its head and forces you to confront a deeply uncomfortable truth: the characters you’ve grown attached to were once Junko Enoshima’s most loyal disciples, the infamous Remnants of Despair.

//Before, obviously, Danganronpa 3 went and ruined any tension and emotion we could have with that twist.

//But ignoring it, it's still great!

//Danganronpa 2 explains that the cast of characters were brainwashed into becoming Junko’s pawns of destruction. The simulation you’ve been playing through was created by the Future Foundation, including Makoto, Kyoko, and Byakuya from the first game, to rehabilitate them by erasing their memories and allowing them to live in a paradise free of Despair.

//The twist becomes even more gut-wrenching when it’s revealed that the killing game wasn’t part of the plan. It happened because an AI version of Junko was uploaded into the simulation, hijacking the entire system. Because she planned to take over the Remnant's bodies, and turn every person in Japan/the world, like her. Into Despair.

//Classic Junko plot, sure, and I know that a lot of you might disagree with the notion that this is the best twist, because some could argue that it is presented as so violent, it creates plot holes.

//What I mean specifically is the part where the Remnants salvaged Junko's corpse after the end of Game 1, and replaced their body parts with hers...

//...Also Mikan fucked it?

//But the problem there is that it creates a plot hole because Junko's body was crushed at the end of the execution, so there'd be no body to salvage.

//But the reason why I excuse it personally is because this is a plot hole OF A PLOT HOLE. Junko's execution had her going through every death trap she'd created in Danganronpa 1, all of which had killed the characters on their own. I know Junko is OP, but there's no way she's any more durable than Mondo, or any of the other characters who died here. Any one of these could have killed her at any point, and it made no sense that she survived all of them.

//And even putting that aside, assuming this IS a plot hole, it's not enough to ruin my enjoyment of the trial. Let me break it down for everybody:

//At the beginning of Danganronpa 2, the characters are portrayed as hapless victims trapped in a sadistic killing game. This setup fosters sympathy and camaraderie, much like the cast of the first game. However, the final twist subverts this perception entirely, revealing that these characters were not innocent victims but villains responsible for unspeakable atrocities as members of Junko Enoshima's Remnants of Despair.

//The stark contrast between their apparent innocence and their horrific past actions under Junko’s influence is nothing short of awesome, in a terrifying way, leaving an indelible mark. But this reveal isn’t just shocking for its content; it also serves as a brutal demonstration of Junko’s unparalleled ability to manipulate people into despair.

//The twist ties back to the catastrophic events of Danganronpa 1, Junko’s masterstroke of spreading despair globally. Here, the game goes further, showcasing the devastating depth of her evil by illustrating how she corrupted even the brightest students of Hope’s Peak Academy.

//And Danganronpa 3 enforces this idea, with Class 77 being quite possibly the most integral class to the school at the time, especially with the bond they form with Chiaki and Chisa, and how ripping that away from them was enough to completely break them.

//It's still not great, but I understand the basic implications at least.

//It’s a chilling reminder that Despair is insidious, capable of twisting even the most virtuous intentions into darkness. Junko’s role as the ultimate antagonist is cemented, her terrifying legacy casting a long shadow over the entire series.

//The twist also recontextualizes everything we’ve seen about the characters up to that point. Suddenly, Gundham’s theatrical fascination with death, Fuyuhiko’s violent streak and harsh demeanor, Nagito’s unhinged obsession with hope, and, most importantly, Mikan’s terrifying breakdown in Chapter 3 take on new, darker meanings.

//What were once quirky personality traits or personal flaws are revealed as remnants of their time as Junko’s followers. This added layer of depth makes the twist even more effective, turning each character into a tragic figure grappling with the scars of their past.

//Nagito, in particular, stands out as a character whose behavior becomes infinitely more complex in light of the reveal, especially because he learns the truth right before the trial in Chapter 4. His obsessive pursuit of Hope and simultaneous disdain for Despair now reads as deeply self-aware.

//He knows they are the Remnants of Despair, and he hates himself and his peers for it, and the way that this duality kind of mirrors the player's own conflicting feelings about the cast post-reveal, adding emotional weight to an already loaded twist. It adds an element of method to Nagito's madness.

//Moreover, the twist reinforces Danganronpa's overarching themes of Hope and Despair in ways that, I would argue, the first game didn’t quite achieve.

//The fact that the Remnants of Despair were once Hope’s Peak Academy’s shining symbols of hope adds a layer of profound tragedy. And their journey to reclaim their humanity and hope serves as a microcosm of the broader struggle between these two forces that defines the series. This isn’t just about saving the world, it’s about saving themselves.

//This thematic resonance ties directly into what makes the twist so powerful: it doesn’t just set the stakes for the trial, it sets the stakes for the entire Danganronpa series. The twist paves the way for an emotional and poignant redemption arc for the cast. Despite their horrifying past actions, these characters are given the chance to prove they are more than their despair. This struggle resonates deeply, emphasizing themes of growth, forgiveness, and the ability to move past one’s darkest moments.

//It’s why it’s such a shame we never got a spin-off series exploring the Remnants’ lives after the events of Danganronpa 3. I would have much rather watched THAT anime.

//Seriously, Mod Freeze and Mod Poi, thank you for doing the fandom’s work on this front.

//The integration of the Neo World Program into this twist is another stroke of subtle brilliance. What initially seemed like little more than a sci-fi backdrop for the killing game gains profound significance.

//The program isn’t just a high-tech gimmick, it’s a lifeline, a tool designed to erase despair and offer these characters a second chance. The twist aligns seamlessly with the game’s science-fiction elements, grounding the shocking reveal in a way that feels both logical and emotionally resonant.

//But above all else, what truly elevates this twist, though, are two key aspects: The juxtaposition of innocence and guilt, and the reinforcement of hope as a deliberate choice.

//The game plays on the player’s affection for the cast, built over hours of shared experiences, only to reveal their horrifying pasts. It forces one to grapple with complex questions about identity, culpability, and redemption. Can we separate who they are now from who they were under Junko’s influence? Should they be forgiven, and, more importantly, can they forgive themselves?

//By the end of the game, the characters confront these questions head-on. Rather than succumbing to Despair or clinging to a hollow version of Hope imposed by others, they choose to forge their own path forward.

//Hajime’s declaration that only they can decide their futures is a defining moment, encapsulating the game’s core message: Hope isn’t something you’re born with or handed, it’s something you actively choose. And this decision is all the more powerful because of the twist. It reaffirms the series’ ultimate thesis: Hope, like Despair, is a choice, but one that requires courage and conviction.

//It's just...very powerful. In almost every regard.

//However...it does fall a LITTLE flat in one regard for me. Not nearly enough to ruin it, because I do still LOVE this part of the twist, but it's something that we've already talked about, and something that I feel I need to share my concerns over.

//It's how Hajime, who was revealed to be a Reserve Student, slots into this whole thing.

//This is by far the most horrifying aspect of this twist, and one that really works for it, but the reality is that even though Junko ran this whole Killing Game, the fact is due to her AI status, she could not have done it by herself. After all, someone had to actually get her INTO the Neo World for her to host the Killing Game in the first place.

//Naturally, the big question arises: who uploaded this digital Junko? Enter the grand crescendo of this twist—the person responsible for all of this chaos is none other than…Hajime himself.

//But, of course, it’s more complicated than that. Hajime wasn’t acting as himself...It's revealed in this trial that Hajime wasn't just a random Reserve Course student, and there's a reason why he turned out to be the only survivor. He was, in actuality, Izuru Kamukura, an emotionless superhuman created by Hope’s Peak Academy to embody "Ultimate hope."

//As we later see in DR3, Junko and Mukuro manipulated Izuru, flipping him to the side of despair and effectively kickstarting the apocalypse. The revelation that the character you’ve been playing as is not only part of the problem but the problem is one of the darkest and most compelling twists in the series.

//Now, for starters, I want to say that I really like how well this twist slots into the greater lore of Danganronpa, and Izuru is a well-deserved part of the franchise.

//The Hope Cultivation Plan, and what Hope's Peak's Steering Committee actually DID to Hajime, hits like a ton of bricks because it completely flips everything you think you know about this guy, the school that this entire franchise is BASED ON, and even the concept of "Hope" itself, as well as the idea of Hope itself.

//Hajime, the seemingly ordinary and relatable protagonist, turns out to have undergone a horrifying transformation to become Izuru Kamukura, a superhuman "Ultimate Hope" with every talent imaginable. It strips away the idea that Hajime was just a regular guy thrust into extraordinary circumstances, and instead, his backstory reveals that he was a victim of Hope's Peak's ruthless experiments, sacrificing his entire identity for a twisted ideal of perfection. It's tragic, unsettling, and is especially harsh in the way that this was Hajime's "Hope" for the world, and Hope's Peak EXPLOITED him for it, so what does that Hope really mean?

//This twist also pulls back the curtain on Hope's Peak Academy, exposing its darker side. Up until this point, Hope's Peak is painted as a prestigious school that nurtures the best and brightest, but the Izuru Kamukura Project shows that it’s anything but noble.

//The school literally erased Hajime’s personality, emotions, and memories to create a living symbol of hope; and didn't tell him they were going to do that. And it feels like a process that feels more like something out of a dystopian horror story than a prestigious institution.

//It reframes Hope's Peak as a place driven not by ideals of nurturing talent but by exploitation and control, highlighting the hypocrisy of its mission.

//What makes it greater is that Junko even has a sick as fuck line in this trial that perfectly summarizes this, and how Hope can be dangerous in the way that what people actually define AS Hope, can easily turn out to be another person's (in this case, every other person EVER'S) Despair, and it's this line:

"Do you reaaaaaally hafta sacrifice yourselves to protect the world in the first place? What if the world's hope is different from your hope? Even if the world is happy, it's meaningless if you aren't happy."

//And not only does Makoto not have an immediate response to this line, but Hajime's later actions prove her to be RIGHT. And I feel like not a lot of people realize that this is the very basis that the Kamukura Project was founded on.

//The ENTIRE REASON Hope's Peak was founded was to create Izuru. Because they thought that he would be the Hope of the world. But Junko turned him into the world's Despair instead, and it was very easy because of Hope's Peak's moral corruption.

//The thing they saw as "Hope" was not what the rest of the world saw.

//What makes this twist even more impactful is how it recontextualizes the entire "Hope vs Despair" conflict in the series. Izuru, as the "Ultimate Hope," is depicted as so indifferent and detached that he ultimately finds no value in either ideal.

//This shows that striving for absolute hope can be just as damaging and dehumanizing as falling into despair. It adds a layer of nuance to the series’ central theme, suggesting that extreme ideals, no matter how well-intentioned, can lead to monstrous outcomes.

//And this twist, while not the most standard way to end a character arc, is the perfect cherry on top of Hajime's identity crisis arc.

//He starts as someone insecure about his lack of talent, someone who envies the Ultimates around him, and really falls into depression upon learning that he never had one in the first place.

//But then learning that he was surgically altered into a talent-filled, emotionless being makes his journey to reclaim his identity and humanity all the more powerful. Because he GOT the talent that he sought; just at the cost of everything else.

//By choosing to reject Izuru’s detached worldview and embrace the messy, imperfect reality of being Hajime Hinata, he shows that true strength doesn’t come from talent or perfection but from accepting and valuing yourself as you are. It’s an almighty aspect of a twist that deepens the story’s themes and makes Hajime’s eventual triumph over despair even more meaningful.

//And it's also largely thanks to Chiaki that Hajime was able to overcome this. And if there's one thing that I can credit Danganronpa 3 on, it's what they actually did with the dynamic between Izuru and Chiaki, and how it laid the groundwork for this resolution...PERFECTLY.

//Chiaki Nanami wasn’t just the heart of Class 77. She was also the pivotal force that led to the group’s victory in Danganronpa 2. And I cannot understate that the only reason they managed to attain this victory is because she broke the barriers to speak to Hajime one last time.

//I'm one of very few people who think that as a character, Chiaki is...KIND OF overrated. But just because she's overrated, that doesn't mean she's a bad character. And she IS important to the game. It's just not easy to see how until a lot later into it.

//Even after her tragic death in the Neo World Program, Chiaki's impact lingered. As the AI created to guide her classmates toward hope, she became the catalyst for their redemption. Her steady support, unwavering kindness, and ability to see the best in others made her a beacon of hope in a situation engineered to breed Despair.

//It’s no exaggeration to say that without Chiaki’s influence, the Remnants of Despair might never have found the strength to reclaim their humanity.

//And that doubles for real Chiaki in her brief interaction with Izuru in DR3.

//Junko made Izuru see the power of how Despair affected him, despite his boredom, and how it went against his preconcieved notions. But it was Chiaki's determination, willingness to keep going, and the love and Hope she had for people, despite the fact that she was facing a cruel and absolutely miserable death, that made him rethink things. That made him see the benefits in both sides.

//Had this scene not happened, Izuru would not have been such a neutrally aligned character in the end. He would have been just a straight-up monster of a villain.

//Which, if you think about it, is basically what Utsuro is. Utsuro didn't have a Chiaki. He never saw the benefits or the power of Hope. He was in Despair his whole life, and even after it. But this meant something to Izuru. The tears that showed Hajime was still somewhere in there, meant something.

//Izuru in tandem, Chiaki’s relationship with Hajime is particularly critical, both to the story of Danganronpa 2 and the broader series. From the moment they met, Chiaki believed in Hajime, even when he struggled to believe in himself.

//It obviously did not end well, but that was no fault of Chiaki's own.

//This bond between these two wasn’t just one of mutual respect and understanding, it was a reminder of the power of genuine connection, something the Danganronpa series constantly emphasizes. Hajime’s eventual deevolution into Izuru, and then his reclamation of himself as Hajime, is deeply rooted in the strength he drew from his connection with Chiaki.

//Furthermore, Chiaki didn’t just push Hajime to become the leader the group needed. She showed all of Class 77 that they could rise above their Despair by supporting each other. Her presence as an AI was a guiding force during the trials, and her ultimate sacrifice demonstrated what it meant to choose hope, even in the face of overwhelming odds. When Hajime rallied the group in the final moments of the game, it was as much a tribute to Chiaki as it was a declaration of their collective strength.

//Chiaki and Hajime’s story ripples across the series in profound ways. In Danganronpa 3, her role as a real person solidifies her influence. As the one classmate who never gave in to Despair, Chiaki became a symbol of hope not just for Class 77 but for the audience as well.

//Her loss was devastating, yet it was her memory that ultimately pushed Hajime and the others to fight for a better future. Chiaki wasn’t just a character; she was the embodiment of what Danganronpa is all about. The idea that even in the darkest times, Hope can find a way to shine.

//So with all of this to say, why is this still my least favourite part of the twist?

//It's largely because of Izuru himself, not because of what Hajime goes through, or because of Chiaki's connection to both him and Hajime.

//Do you know how long it takes to beat Danganronpa 2 on average?

//It takes, on average, 32.5 hours.

//Do you know how much screentime and attention Izuru is given in this game?

//Not including the repeat of the scene on the boat with Nagito that we see first from Izuru's perspective, and then from Nagito's, he's ON SCREEN for a total of around 2.5 minutes.

//Doing the math, and putting that into perspective for all of you, that means that Izuru is in Danganronpa 2 for roughly 0.13% of its full runtime.

//And by the way. Izuru first becomes a CONCEPT in THIS CHAPTER! He's not brought up, or eluded to, at ANY OTHER POINT in the game, besides one photograph of the original headmaster that he's named after. Something that has NOTHING to do with Izuru himself.

//Which means that in the main series, this is ALL OF HIS SCREENTIME!

//Danganronpa finale's have a tendency to randomly introduce plot points that never happened before. V3-6 is bad with it as well, especially because it shows a cutscene from earlier in the game that straight up DIDN'T HAPPEN.

//However, as mind-bogglingly terrifying as the Hope Cultivation Plan is, it is by far the WORST OFFENDER of this idea.

//And what makes it even worse is that a screentime that is THAT LIMITED means that Izuru does not get a chance to be an actual character.

//Danganronpa 3, Talent Development Plan, and Summer Camp later try to reprimand this by making Izuru an actual central character...Emphasis on TRIED.

//Okay, to be fair, in the bonus games, I do love seeing Izuru try to establish his own identity by interacting with Chiaki and co. However, it feels very ironic to me that the character who's catchphrase is "How Boring..." ends up being...really boring.

//At least as a character. As a concept, he's BRILLIANT. But as a character, he's nothing, and that's the whole point.

//This is what I was saying when I was talking about Utsuro before. Even though they are equally as stoic, Utsuro has a pretty well-structured personality, and backstory that makes him sympathetic. But Izuru is so one-dimensional, being a being comprised entirely of talent and nothing else, that he's just a function in the grand scheme of things.

//Utsuro is also present for only one trial, but he is in it for FAR LONGER than Izuru is, and he was foreshadowed MUCH better. The hints are, granted, very subtle, but they are still THERE. If you play DRA a second time, you will NOTICE them.

//Not with Izuru and the Hope Cultivation Plan. There's absolutely NOTHING for them.

//Izuru is one of those characters who feels like he should be compelling, but in practice, he falls flat because he’s so detached and lifeless that it’s hard to care about him. The idea of a person who’s been stripped of their identity and turned into a superhuman is fascinating on paper, but Izuru’s execution leaves a lot to be desired.

//He spends most of his time standing around, delivering cryptic one-liners, or just looking bored. While his apathy is supposed to be a reflection of the emptiness of ultimate talent, it ends up making him feel more like a plot device than an actual character.

//One of the biggest problems with Izuru is that he lacks agency or personal stakes in the story. He exists primarily as a shadow of Hajime’s past and a foil to Junko's chaos, but he doesn’t have any strong desires or goals of his own.

//His indifference to both Hope and Despair, how he's experienced the power of both sides though Junko and Chiaki respectively, might be thematically relevant, but it robs him of any drive or personality that would make him engaging. Even his interactions with Junko in the anime, which could have been a clash of two intellectual giants, come off as underwhelming because he just doesn’t seem to care about anything.

//Put simply, it’s hard to invest in a character who doesn’t invest in themselves.

//Another issue is that Izuru’s overpowered nature makes him unrelatable. He’s described as having every talent imaginable, to the point that nothing challenges or excites him. Again, to reiterate, this makes him feel less like a person and more like a concept, and concepts don’t make for compelling characters on their own.

//Even when he does take action, like helping to orchestrate the Tragedy, it feels hollow because his motives are so abstract. There’s no emotional weight behind his actions, so it’s hard to feel anything for him as a character.

//Ultimately, Izuru ends up being more of a plot twist delivery system than a fully realized individual.

//Granted, he is a FANTASTIC plot delivery system, but he’s there to show the dark side of Hope’s Peak Academy and to highlight Hajime’s journey of self-acceptance, and doesn’t stand on his own. Without a personal arc, meaningful relationships, or even a shred of humanity to ground him, he feels more like a missed opportunity than a compelling addition to the cast.

//He is INSANELY COOL as a concept.

//But JUST as a concept.

//Still, as I said, this doesn't stop the Remnant twist from being fantastic. If anything, it serves to double down on how fucked the situation is for the characters. It's the perfect way to pull it off a second time, just as impactful, if not moreso, from the way the first game did it.

//I just love that the game pulls NO punches in showing just how far gone the Remnants of Despair were under Junko’s influence. They didn’t just spread chaos and destruction; they mutilated themselves, committed unspeakable atrocities, and yes, there’s even an implication that some of them…had sexual inclinations toward Junko’s corpse.

//I mean, that one was probably Mikan mostly, given what we know about her now, but it could have been more than just her...

//It’s grotesque, horrifying, and deeply unsettling. A STARK contrast to the lovable, quirky personalities you’ve come to know over the course of the game. So while some aspects of this backstory strain believability, the sheer audacity of these revelations makes them unforgettable, and insanely entertaining.

//So after all of this, let's end it by talking about how the trial ends.

//The solution to defeating Junko isn’t choosing hope or despair. It’s rejecting both and forging your own future. It’s a thematic mic drop for the game, aligning perfectly with its sub-theme of learning from past mistakes and embracing personal growth.

//However, the way this idea is portrayed is peak anime absurdity. Hajime, now back in control of his identity, goes full-on Super Saiyan, screaming the word “Future!” at the top of his lungs until everyone agrees with him and Junko is silenced.

//It’s over-the-top, it’s ridiculous, it's...honestly kind of dumb, and it’s hard to take seriously. But somehow, it still sort of works.

//The sheer silliness of the moment doesn’t detract from its emotional impact; if anything, it makes the victory sweeter by providing a cathartic, if laughable, resolution to a deeply harrowing story.

//And Junko's defeat here is a lot more satisfying than it is in Game 1. Unlike with then, you actually feel like you've beaten her once and for all, and this wasn't part of her grand master plan; especially because in order to beat Junko in a conflict that settles on Hope and Despair, finding a way out that doesn't necessarily aquait to either, is the perfect way to end it.

//So...yeah...This is my fourth favourite trial in the series, and absolutely my favourite ending.

//Despite its occasional reliance on exposition dumps and its plot holes , the final trial of Game 2 is a masterclass in storytelling twists and emotional payoff. It takes the series’ penchant for high-stakes drama and amps it up to eleven, delivering a finale that is equal parts disturbing, thought-provoking, and outrageously entertaining.

//The blend of personal stakes, thematic depth, and anime absurdity cements this trial as one of the franchise’s most memorable moments.

//God bless you Danganronpa 2.

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