#puzzle rui

[takishi-burrgr]

Guess the latest obsession

[friendsinsolitude]

any time this game flashes a bunch of portraits in sequence to imply they’re all part of a crowd it’s a fun puzzle to try and figure out what these group arrangements actually are, unrestrained by the vn format only being able to show 3 portraits at a time. like right now, i’m watching our constellation of song, leo/need’s gratitude concert event, and the flashes of their friends in the crowd are grouped mainly by who means something to who.

relevant to saki: tsukasa, toya, akito, airi, haruka

relevant to shiho: minori, kohane, an, shizuku

relevant to honami: kanade, mizuki, ena, emu, rui

relevant to ichika: kanade, nene

no mafuyu lol. irrelevant! god that’s funny. anyway, kanade and mizuki, and ena and emu are explicitly said to be watching together as one group. each pair are together, plus rui, alone, in the relevant-to-honami group cameos. and then there’s also flashes of kanade and nene as relevant to ichika, but it’s unclear if they’re standing near each other or if it’s just metaphorical. like is or isn’t nene part of the kana-mizu-ena-emu group…? and also rui who may or may not be standing in the general vicinity of them? or like are they not actually clustered in groups necessarily and i’m to believe theres a fifteen wide human wall in the front row? but kanade is shown to be on stage-right in both the kana-mizu and kana-nene flashes, so it can’t be as simple as mizuki being on her left and nene being on her right unless the screen positioning is entirely meaningless… where the fuck is nene, spatially…… is she actually in a decently sized crowd containing like what, all three of her troupe members plus three people she at least sorta knows and she’s not particularly standing with any of them…? i’d say that it seems likely kanade and nene are standing near enough each other for ichika to see them both at a glance, but anything more, like if they’re actually together together, is inconclusive.

there is also another notable difference in positioning, in that mmj and vivids are established like below, but are split up above where leo/need are explicitly noticing their friends in the crowd. i’m inclined to believe that below is closer to an accurate representation of the grouping going on here, cause there’s just not much reason for mmj to be split up in a crowd like that, other than to highlight their narrative importance to saki and shiho. so the relationships of positioning on screen aren’t necessarily literal, there’s some fudging going on for the sake of the narrative, plus technical limitations of only being able to show 3 portraits at a time.

saki refers to her group as “tsukasa, toya… everyone” as she sees them in the crowd, so it seems likely that at very least tsukasa, toya, and akito are literally standing grouped as pictured, with airi et al somewhere in tow. you’d think it might make sense for rui to be actually standing with the guys since he’s usually associated with them and is alone in the hona-group cameos, and we’ve established that the cameos aren’t necessarily indicative of their literal spatial positioning, but if he was standing with the guys then the implication is saki just doesn’t care about him enough to notice him, which is hilarious.

[stormyfis]

So you remember this?

blend them

Rui (Puzzles) Kamishiro

give him the puzzlevison arc

[tired-stressed-trying-my-best]

AUs where characters in one story are put into another story (think "Beauty and the Beast except it's NaLu") can be quite good and I generally enjoy them a lot

but I will admit that it can be very funny sometimes to see who the author has put in each position because sometimes it is just WILD

[mizuribbons]

LMFAOOOO i love hwo rui was also not expecting this at all.

time machine (for ruikasatober day 30 : future)

[rottenzombrainz]

Tokyo Debunker; silly headcanons for each ghoul!

Just little silly traits for each ghoul. They're not meant to be good or bad, just silly!! :3

Frostheim

Jin Kamurai - Jin has a one-of-a-kind limited edition Hello Kitty lighter with a pink flame.

Tohma Ishibashi - Tohma's the type of guy to say "it's a quarter to one" "it's half past nine" "It's three eigths past six" etc.

Lucas Errant - Luca has absolutely no grasp on satire. Like, imagine Kaito showing him one of those "blink if you need help" videos and Luca is just like "Kaito?!? Why are you laughing?!? This person needs help!!"

Kaito Fuji - Kaito unironically likes "I'm 14 and this is deep" content.

Vagastorm

Alan Mido - Alan wears the same Halloween costume every year. Every single year. If it gets damaged or doesn't fit anymore, he just buys a new one that's the exact same.

Shohei Haizono - Sho would be really into collecting designer shoes. Bro probably has an entire wall of fancy basketball shoes.

Leo Kurosagi - Leo will just randomly say "*sucks teeth* Don't worry I'll edit it out in post" during normal conversation. You'll never know if he's actually recording or not

Jabberwock

Haru Sagara - This is already kinda canon, but Haru definitely falls for any and all scams. He probably buys things like dehydrated water and a treadmill even tho he's running around Jabberwock all fucking day.

Towa Otonashi - Towa loves gnarp gnarp alien cat videos. He loves them. immensely.

Ren Shiranami - I feel like Ren would have a really hard time pronouncing certain words like "anomalous" and "anemone" (just like me fr)

Sinostra

Taiga Hoshibami - Taiga would really easily fall down YouTube rabbit holes. Like he'd start off with watching a firearm review or something... and two hours later he's seventeen parts deep into SpongeBob conspiracy theories

Romeo Lucci - Romeo is deathly afraid of piss. human piss, animal piss, dirt ( he thinks it's all just worm poop...which it kinda is).

Ritsu Shinjo - Ritsu is one of those people who can't sleep if there is a single spec of light.

Hotarubi

Subaru Kagami - I feel like Subaru would have one mobile game on his phone that he's reached level 844 on or something. Something like a word puzzle or match three game.

Haku Kusanagi - Haku fucking loves cunty scene crunkcore music. S3R3L, Millionaires, 3OH!3. Inside, he's just a pretty rave girl.

Zenji Kotodama - Whenever he plays online games, Zenji would mistake NPCs for real people. I feel like he'd also say "thank you!!" to virtual assistants too.

Obscuary

Edward Hart - Ed would fucking love those Tiktok videos with the TV show clips and subway surfers gameplay at the bottom.

Rui Mizuki - Rui has an uncanny obsession with the Sims 4. He has all the dlcs, an entire hardrive of mods, hundreds of save files, and is a top creator on the Sims 4 Gallery

Lyca Colt - I think it'd be really funny if Lyca had a pollen allergy. Especially since Obscuary is full of plants.

Mortkranken

Yuri Isami - Yuri is incredibly bad at ice skating and roller skating. He always falls on his ass, bruises something, takes a bad fall, etc. Which is the real reason he hates going to Frostheim!!! /j

Jiro Kirisaki - I feel like Jiro has one thing that he just absolutely loves that isn't medicine. a special interest, one might say... And it's probably the most niche thing ever too. Like sea cucumbers. imagine - he just fucking loves sea cucumbers. You're getting your health checkup and you ask him "read any good books recently?" and he's like "Yeah, I read this book on sea cucumbers the other day" and then you just have to listen to him talk about sea cucumbers for the next 20 minutes.

[nian-7]

STREAMER PJSK BOYS HEADCANNONS

GAME ON!

Akito, Toya, Tsukasa, Rui as streamers

-> fluff -> tags: @stellas-starry-stories13, @akitosheart, @sillykana-13

please do not repost any of my work without my permission, thank you for reading.

-> Akito Shinonome

-Leans towards the PVP or action genre when it comes to games. Whether that's something as simple as Minecraft or an actual PVP game like Valorant, he usually doesn't mind playing those or anything in between.

-Usually chill streams and tries to keep his cool when he gets tilted but sometimes it's ineffective. He doesn't really have a preference between single and multi-player and probably plays with Toya a lot.

-Not a big money spender in general. He'll spend a little bit if needed but usually he stays ftp in most cases. Unless it's something he really wants then he might spend a little bit.

-> Toya Aoyagi

-Calm and chill streams 90% of the time. Usually he'll play some sort of indie game such as Stardew Valley or maybe Omori. He's a very casual player.

-Usually won't play multiplayer much and prefers single player. His fans aren't usually too crazy and I see him as a smaller streamer anyways.

-Very 'ftp" mindset. If he can achieve something just by playing the game, he won't buy anything. Only buys if it's an absolute necessity but usually stays ftp in any game, not just gacha games.

-> Tsukasa Tenma

-Super loud and popular streamer. His fans would convince him to play unsuspecting horror games and convince him that they're not horror related at all...

-Usually plays stuff that's on the popular side or stuff that Saki gets him into. He's not one to turn away a game just because it seems boring. He'll try and play absolutely anything anyone tells him to.

-Very loose streaming schedule that changes every week... He never has a definite schedule so it's a little hard to know when he'll stream but usually he posts something about it before he does.

-> Rui Kamishiro

-Puzzle games.. He'll always stream puzzle games. He probably also thinks it's entertaining to push the limits on games he plays and see how many bugs he can find in them.

-Has a set but not frequent streaming schedule. He streams less but he always streams for a long time since he usually is playing a puzzle game which could take hours.

-Not against playing horror puzzle games. If it's something he thinks might be entertaining, he'll give it a shot. Horror isn't something he'd usually go for but if it sounds fun, he'll try.

[youhavethewrong]

Yuiviews: The Too Kyo Games Library

After ending the Danganronpa series in what is basically rebellion against over-sequelization, writer Kazutaka Kodaka, artist Rui Komatsuzaki, and composer Masafumi Takada left the apparently horrible to work at company Spike Chunksoft to join the writer of the Zero Escape series Kotaro Uchikoshi and form their own small studio: Too Kyo Games. Throughout the years, they've kept a consistent output of creative and unique mystery and action games and stories. But in spite of how good they are, a lot of them have flown under the radar, as people in general aren't really aware of Too Kyo Games existing. So, to hopefully rectify that a little bit, I come to you with a list of the things they've made so you can see if any of them strike your fancy!

1. Master Detective Archives: Rain Code

Okay this one was still published under Spike Chunksoft, but the developers are still Too Kyo games so hear me out.

Amnesiac detective Yuma Kokohead is called to Kanai Ward, a city of neverending rain shrouded in mystery. In a place where the truth is hidden by a mega corporation, it is his duty to join a group of world-class detectives with special talents in solving the many murder cases that seem to be around every corner. He is accompanied in his journey by Shinigami, the god of death, who has the power to take him to the Mystery Labyrinths - bizarre construction where finding the exit equals reaching the truth.

The gameplay consists of 3d exploration in the city of Kanai Ward, along with action minigames and puzzles whose solutions lead to figuring out the whodunnit and howdunnit of each case!

A highlight of the game for me is the character of Shinigami, who adds a very macabre vibe to the murder mysteries by making inappropriate jokes and enjoying the whole thing a bit way too much. This game is like Detective Conan for insane people, and I loved it dearly, so I don't know if that's a good thing about myself.

(Probably not)

The game's available on Xbox, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. As of the time of this writing, the Steam version is on discount.

2. Akudama Drive

Not in the mood for games? No worries, here's an anime!

Taking place in a dystopian futuristic version of Kansai, Akudama Drive sees a society that labels particularly dangerous criminals as "Akudama", and heavily persecutes and punishes them for their transgressions. In this society, a regular girl is accidentally roped into a 6 Akudama master plan to perform an Ocean's 11-type heist by a mysterious mastermind.

(One of the characters in this image is the mastermind, and it's not the girl)

One big highlight of the show for me is the animation. Komatsuzaki's art and designs feel particularly difficult to bring to motion in 2d, but this show pulls it off really well with some clever lightning and other stylization techniques. Also, the show has a theme of how society deals with what it deems "undesirable", which resonates a lot with me.

(...for no reason in particular)

The show's available in Crunchyroll and perhaps some other sites too idk.

3. World's End Club

Not in the mood for a game or an anime? Well, how about something in between!

This game tells the story of the Go-Getters club, a club of kids who, during a field trip, experience the end of the world. There's very little I can say about this title's premise without giving most of it away, so instead I'll focus on the atmosphere it creates.

Since this game deals with young children rather than adults or even teenagers, the story is a loooot lighter than other Too Kyo Games projects. It is really lighthearted and even adorable at times. I'm particularly fond of this one scene where the main cast rides this ridiculous 12 person tandem bike while singing a little song.

However, don't let the lighter atmosphere and Take's cute designs fool you. There's still intrigue, heartache, and plot twists that will leave your mouth agape. After playing so many games by the same writers, I thought I was ready for anything that they could throw at me. This game proved me wrong.

(This and more philosophical debates await you in this title!)

Still, World's End Club is a much more relaxing time than the other games on this list. What I think most people would consider its biggest downside is how light it is in terms of gameplay. It's about 80% cutscenes, 20% gameplay. And the gameplay that is there is just extremely basic 2d puzzle sections. However, I don't think this is an objective negative. Me personally, I just see it as an extremely fun interactive story, rather than a game. When I sit down to play it, I think to myself "okay, time to see what happens next", rather than "time to push myself to overcome some difficult platforming challenges", this isn't Pizza Tower. So if you go into it knowing how light the gameplay is, I think it's an extremely delightful experience.

(I haven't beaten it yet, but it has already pulled like 5 plot twists on me, so I'm expecting about... 15 more)

World's End Club is available on Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Steam.

4. Tribe Nine (The Anime)

What's that? Youre in the mood for both a game and an anime? Weirdly specific request. And Tribe Nine is more than prepared to grant it to you!

Tribe Nine (the anime) takes place in an alternate world where (recently christened) Neo Tokyo has been broken into turfs, controlled by groups of people called "Tribes". Each tribe decides which turf is whose by way of Extreme Baseball, or XB - a version of baseball where the field is entire towns, and beating the crap out of each other is both allowed and encouraged.

(Only if you're holding the ball though, they're not monsters)

Although I know this is a recommendation, I gotta be honest and admit that the animation's not the best most of the time, and some character designs leave a lot to be desired. That being said, it is undoubtedly a unique, entertaining experience. The characters are fun, the story gets really intense when it means to, and it never gets to the point of being too self-aware. Yes, I'm counting that as a positive. I want to see some stories that take themselves seriously once in a while, dang it. Yes, that guy hit a baseball so hard it broke the Tokyo Tower's tip off. Yes, it's extremely stupid. But consider: who gives a shit, it's rad.

(There's also 4 identical-looking guys all voiced by the same VA. Call that a cost-cutting measure if you will, I'll call it hilarious)

The whole anime's for free on Youtube, with English Subtitles. So you don't even need a Crunchyroll account, you can watch it right now if you want! The playlist's not in order and it's got some weird edits to add ads for the music, but eh. Other options are available if need be.

5. Tribe Nine (The Game)

"Okay, so remember that anime that we made a couple years ago that very few people watched and had practically 0 cultural impact? I've got an idea: let's dial the extreme factor to 1,000, redesign all the characters, make new ones, and release its sequel as one of the best god damned free games people can play".

If that's not how Tribe Nine (The Game) came to be, I've no clue what the circumstances might've been.

Tribe Nine (The Game) may be a sequel to the anime, but it takes place in a world that's very different from what we see in Episode 12. A new threat, Zero, has emerged and taken control of the country. His extreme technological prowess and orbital lasers are as ridiculous as they are deadly, and he's in the perfect position to force the group of rebels that's risen to defeat him into a series of extreme games of strategy and deception.

XB still has its place of course: in the form of action debates that shift the balance of power in each territory.

(Okay I know what you're thinking: "Action Debates? Isn't that the Danganronpa thing?" Well, no. You see, this one's baseball.)

Tribe Nine's biggest downside is that it's a gacha game. And if that's something that deters you from it, I completely understand. However, if you're still willing to give it a chance, I cannot recommend it enough. The game is filled to the brim with content, the action RPG gameplay is extremely fun to master, and as of now can be played start to finish while completely ignoring the gacha aspect, as it just offers additional content, not necessary content. It might as well be a full AAA game that you get for free, because that's exactly what it feels like.

("Look I know every other apple in this basket is poison, but trust me, this one's juicy af and it tast- why are you looking at me like that")

Tribe Nine is available on Android, iOS, and Steam.

6. The Hundred Line - Last Defense Academy

Okay, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it: This game is just straight up better Danganronpa

(Put the gun down put thE GUN DOWN I CAN EXPLAIN!!)

THL-LDA takes place in a world where humanity lives in underground domes, and regular attacks from unknown entities are a daily thing. One day our protagonist, Takumi Sumino, is kidnapped by a weird little... egg guy called Sirei, and made to stay 100 days inside a fortified academy. He and other people around his age are then forced to defend "something important" inside the school from invaders, by becoming pseudo-soldiers that use Hemoanima, special weapons that give them Kill la Kill-style uniforms that transform with their blood to enhance their powers and allow them to fight back.

(If this game isn't at least partly inspired by Kill la Kill, I'll assume that using your blood to get a super-powered school uniform is a daily occurrence in Japan)

The gameplay itself is divided in the expected vn sections (complete with minigames and side activities!), and the "defense" sections, where it plays like a really good Tactics game.

I'm usually not one to get too deep into Tactics games (I've tried FF Tactics, Disgaea, and Fire Emblem and sucked at all of them), but this one really pulled me in with how much freedom of choice you get, and how seamlessly it blends story and gameplay. For example, instead of getting a couple moves per unit, you get a certain number of Action Points per turn that you can distribute however you want. You can either move all units once or one unit 6 times. Certain actions will give you more Action Points, so good strategy and thinking ahead can lead to long combos that really punish the enemy.

(Pictured above: Gameplay instructions)

With 100 different endings and 500+ CGs (holy fuck), this is the most ambitious game Too Kyo games have released yet by far. And as soon as you start, you can really tell how much care went into it. In a way, it really feels like the culmination of everything these developers have worked on up to this point.

The demo is extremely generous too. I personally got 7+ hours of gameplay from it, so you've got a lot of time to see if you like the game or not without committing to spending money on it. By the time I was done with it, I was already so hooked with the story and fond of the characters there was no doubt in my mind I'll buy the full version as soon as the May paycheck hits.

(No points for guessing who my favorite character is)

The full game is currently available on Nintendo Switch and Steam.

Extra - Death Come True

Okay I'll be honest, the only reason this one's an extra and not a proper entry is because I haven't played it yet, so I can't say anything about it other than how interesting it is that it's the only FMV entry in Too Kyo's repertoire. However, it's made by the same people who've already made 11 things I've really liked, soooo... like at some point you gotta start giving artists the benefit of the doubt. I think it's fair to assume this one probably rules too. I'm also buying it with the May paycheck I haven't gotten yet and already spent half of.

(I'm also gonna play it on a discord call with my friends, so we can pick the story together. That's not relevant, but isn't the ability to do that an undervalued feature of FMV games?)

Death Come True is available on Steam, Android, iOS, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and probably a Smart Fridge if we try hard enough.

Conclusion:

Too Kyo Games is one of my favorite development teams. They have not disappointed me yet, and have given me unique experience after unique experience. Their style of storytelling is unlike anything else I've seen, and every time I check out something made by them, I end up being moved in new ways.

However, they're also currently facing financial difficulty due to none of their projects being breakout hits, or even hits as big as Danganronpa was. I think creativity and effort like this deserves attention, so if any of the entries above peak your interest, make sure to check them out! Especially if you ever fell in love with Danganronpa, as I think that's proof that this team is capable of making things that resonate with you. And after all, the people behind it have kept improving their craft more and more over time, so wouldn't it be fun to give them a chance to give you even more stories that give you new feelings and experiences~? 💖

[lunchboxe]

Hey. Important question.

What the actual HELL

Is this Tokyo Debunker ad

Come to think of it, even the app store previews don't accurately depict the game???

I think we've found one of the reasons ppl don't try this game...

I pm guarantee that if they accurately depicted the game in the ads we would have quite a few more ppl playing it. But no. They gotta make it look like some pervy puzzle game.

Just show the actual story??? Just show, like, MC getting cursed! Show a few of the comic panels from the game! For Christ's sake, show the cards! This is why ur game is flopping!!!!

Show Rui flirting! Show Yuri blushing! Show the corpses, you have a ton to spare! Ffs

[istharoth]

ooohh for lyca what if like .. when he realizes he has a crush on [reader] & tries to figure out how to confess !!

Anon Imma be real with you, I had too much fun writing this. wc: 1k | They/Them pronouns used - Gender Neutral Reader. | NOT Proof-Read. if it's OOC FORGIVE ME, I can't write him well :((

Love is not on his radar, he's never felt it, nor is he familiar with it. The only love he feels is familial, it's only for Neros and Subaru. But when the Inspector came into his life, things were different. The first two weeks, he wasn't used to it. He wasn't used to someone walking him to class or someone waking him up or sending them messages throughout the day to ask how he was doing.

They were so…strange. Like a puzzle piece he couldn't figure out, they were only someone he liked drawing.

Most times he found himself doodling their face on the edges of his notebooks, other times he found himself staring at them as they served the customers in Rui's bar. That always led to Rui shrieking because he wasn't cleaning the glasses correctly. Never mind all the times he would barge into the room they once stayed in because he missed their scent. He knows one thing though, whatever he feels for the Inspector, he's never going to utter a word about it to the blond gigolo or the Casanova.

"It's love," Rui almost spits out his coffee while Lyca drops his spoon, mouth ajar but still filled with food. "W-Wait a moment, Ed!! You're telling me the doggo is in love?!" Rui slams his hands on the table, eyes wide at Edward's incredulous statement.

"Don't call me doggo!" Lyca grumbles, blaring at teeth at the reaper. Seriously, why wasn't the vampire asleep?! He was never awake in time for breakfast so why today?

After a few moments, Rui ultimately calms down though that doesn't stop him from worrying if it was one of his customers. His thoughts are haywire, was it Lyca's first crush? Did he know how to approach it?? Does the person like them back? What if they don't like him back and he locks himself up in his room?

"I don't like anyone," Lyca breaks down the wall of worries Edward had built up for Rui. Realizing nothing was wrong, Rui calmed down and let out a sigh of relief.

He doesn't like anyone so why did the Casanova call it love? Walking through the grounds of Darkwick, numerous scents hit his nose, some harsh, others too sweet, some too sweaty and finally only one different. He can recognize that scent anywhere, it's that of the Inspectors. Following the scent, he sees them with two Frostheim students, one smells like gummy bears, and the other smells like the deodorant Rui uses.

He wants to approach them but at the same time, he doesn't want their friends to dislike him. He doesn't want to cause problems for them. Just when he thinks of turning away, they call out his name, "Lyca!" They wave at him with a toothy grin, unlike all the condescending smiles he gets from his classmates, unlike the awkward smile he's getting from their friends.

He feels his heart race, faster than it ever has. Something erupts in his mind and he's sure his face and ears are red. This was bad. This was really bad.

He didn't want the vampire to be right but he also didn't want to not fall for the Inspector. It had to be them, the only one he could like.

"How do you confess…?" The best person to ask anything was Subaru, he was absolutely sure Subaru knew what to do but seeing Subaru's flushed cheeks and mumble that he did not know kind of crushed his spirits.

"This is true love! My how marvelous!" Zenji's voice boomed in the room, granted only Subaru and Haku could hear it. "It's true love, he says." Haku smiles at Lyca teasingly, slightly wondering who he has a crush on.

"Says who…?" Lyca glares at the air in the corner, something about it makes him feel all weird. "So, you want to confess to your crush? You could ask Rui-San," Haku shrugs but Lyca firmly says no, grumbling something about him being a playboy.

Subaru sweatdrops at the name-calling, he can't blame Lyca though. Rui is a flirt throughout, though the same could be said for Haku. As they say, birds of a feather flock together.

"Give them flowers and if you're too shy to say something, give them a letter." He recites the advice Haku gave him. He didn't know what flowers the Inspector liked…he had to ask someone.

"Flowers the Inspector likes? Hmm…" Rui hums thoughtfully, his hand under his chin as he thinks hard. Had the Inspector mentioned their favourite flower? "If they become a flower anomaly, will they like flowers?" Edward points while drinking water…? It looks suspiciously similar to water, but it's likely not that.

"Fair point!" Rui hits his fist on his palm and then turns to Lyca whose ears were drooped down in disappointment. Why would he suddenly ask for the Inspector's favourite flowers? "…Wait, wait, wait!!" The waits progressively get louder and the other students of Obscuary cover their ears at the noise.

"You have a crush on the Inspector!?" His world is coming crashing down. Lyca liked the Inspector and he couldn't even play matchmaker?!

"The ship is smooth sailing," Edward hums from beside, finally, one of them was taking initiative. He just hadn't expected it to be Lyca but as the werewolf's mentor, he has to be supportive.

"Don't say it like you knew about it before, Ed-San," Rui glares lightheartedly at the old man who simply chuckles, sipping on water.

…Okay, he likes them, he knows how to confess, so what now? He wanted to ask them to meet him in Obscuary but Rui told him it was a bad idea. He needed to confess somewhere more romantic? What is romance? What is romantic? He does not know, all he knows he likes the Inspector more than he did anyone before.

"Lyca!! Sorry it took a while, the line at Sho's food truck keeps increasing by the day." They chuckle, passing him his share of food. Usually they would eat with Subaru but the Hotarubi Captain told him it'll be a good idea to confess on the terrace. The air feels heavy, he can feel his tail wag from inside his pants. Their scent was much stronger than he'd previously noticed, it's not a bad scent, he doesn't hate it.

"I've been thinking but you're allergic to chocolate right?" They ask, pointing at the small box of chocolates between them, "Planning to give them to someone?" Their teasing grin, the softness of their voice, he can't take it anymore. He wants them to know. He wants them to know he likes them.

"It's for you…" He mumbles, pushing a drawing of them into their hands. He should run, he should really run. What if they reject him? What if they don't like him back?

He glances at them, they were already looking back at him, a huge smile on their face. "I like you too," Oh.

They liked him. They liked him. "Shut up," He grumbles, hiding his face in his hands. "I like you too…or something." He mumbles, putting his hand over theirs. They liked him back. They didn't make fun of him or his drawing, they liked it too. His heart races when they intertwine their hands, he thinks they can hear it too with how loud his chest was beating.

[kamidukki]

Tokyo Debunker: Towards the Annivesary

⚠️Warning: long read

⚠️Disclaimer:

1) Despite the seemingly endless stream of complaints at the beginning, venting is not my purpose in writing this. I intend this to be a personal reflection on playing Tokyo Debunker (TKDB) in general. Therefore, I'll try to be as civilised as possible, even when writing about aspects of the experience that I dislike the most.

2) This post also mentions other joseimuke games -> Twisted Wonderland (TWST), Akuneko (AKNK), Yumekuro (YMKR), etc.

3) I mostly watched the reactions of the JP fandom on X/Twitter, so if you find that some opinions don't match what you usually see in the international fandom, that's probably why.

I'll start by summarising TKDB's existing problems, things that mostly will stand out to a new player. Almost everything I'm going to say has already been said by someone else, and this video by RoseEmber on YouTube has succinctly pointed them all out, and people have mostly forgotten/forgiven it, thanks to the highly intriguing plot, it seems?

Still, I'd like to say them in my own words, so here they are.

1) Right off the bat is the use of artificially generated images as backgrounds. I have no way of being 100% sure that they're AI. In the unlikely event that they were drawn by actual human artists, this suspicion will turn out to be nothing more than slander. What started the suspicion for me was that the general atmosphere of the backgrounds reminded me of images created in Midjourney, which I have observed is often used/preferred by Japanese AI users as an image generation tool. What added to the suspicion was how the company handled calling out. What cemented my stance on the use of AI art to be abhorred in TKDB is a particular background: Rui's bar. I wouldn't have known its origin if it wasn't for RoseEmber's video. In my opinion, the company really shouldn't get away with this and should replace it with another completely original background.

There's no way they can afford to change just one background, I know. If they change Rui's bar, I am sure people will protest and demand that they change everything to human-drawn backgrounds. I have no objection to that, although I have little more to add. I'll come back to that later.

Anyway, the decision to use artificially generated images in Tokyo Debunker will always be the biggest setback and irony, considering it's one of the most localised joseimuke games (in several languages, no less). International fandom, from what I have observed so far, is far more merciless when it comes to this particular issue, so the effort that goes into localisation is wasted in the face of blatant act of cutting corners.

2) Next is something I find neither positive nor negative, but still a problem: the advertising. Now, the company behind TKDB is notorious for its aggressive, deceptive, flame marketing tactics. I find the ads hilarious myself, although I understand why people were so keen to get rid of them from their Twitter timeline. They're gory sometimes, and if you put headphones on, the music is disturbing. The comments I read often mentioned how persistent the ads were, despite having been flagged as uninteresting. I don't know how they got there, and I never got them on my TL, so I went out of my way to YouTube to see how annoying they were. In addition to the above, the fact that the ads DON'T REPRESENT the game at all is what gets me. Like... it's half funny, half upsetting. I mean, what the hell, dev? Your potential users are not looking your way because of this unnecessary circus. (Again, the RoseEmber video gave me some valuable insight into the ad issues).

3) Next: Character design. The said design includes their characterisation, not just what the eye can see. This particular issue puzzled me at first, but unlike my discomfort with Rui's bar BG, or the BG in general, I've come to the decision to let go and enjoy. Anyway, here are my two cents about the characters.

I don't even play A3, but the moment I saw Towa, Misumi's image immediately came to mind. Jin and Haru, if you're familiar with Hypnosis Mic, will remind you of the MCD duo. Tohma's personality shouldn't be as evocative as Twst's Jade, but, well.

Once a suspicion starts, it floods.

Kaito, the guy from Kimetsu no Yaiba (whose name I've forgotten as I don't follow the series too closely). Hyde, the guy from Jujutsu Kaisen. Moby, Koro-sensei from Ansatsu Kyoushitsu.

Having made it so far into case 61, I can say I look at them with zero negative feelings now, helped by the fact that I've found that they're not just cheap rip-offs. Their inspiration may be borderline imitation, but they're so damn well made that I can't get angry.

All but one: Haku.

He leaves me with mixed feelings, as I can't get over the fact that he's a borderline rip-off the way I can with other characters. Haku, as most players probably already know, is 'inspired' by Mikage of Yumekuro, a game which sadly ended its service in September 2024. I can imagine that people who see Haku before Mikage will find him a better version than Mikage. I don't blame them. Still... Mikage is a very distinctive character, and even though I am not a big fan of him myself, I still find him endearing because of those characteristics. His mannerisms, his character voice (he uses omae-san like Haku!) and his personality in general. They're designed to be laissez-faire characters who prefer to avoid trouble, quiet but mysterious in a way that draws players in emotionally, kind and competent in a way that no one else can be. As if that were not enough, Haku belongs to Hotarubi, a dormitory that evokes traditional Japan, while Mikage belongs to Tokohana, a guild with strong Japanese aesthetics and sensibilities. Since Yumekuro stopped its service, it feels like Mikage died and was somehow resurrected as Haku in TKDB...

Okay, enough sap, back on track.

4) Worldbuilding is next. OK, we can get straight to the point with this one. A game where the player has to live in a rundown building of a certain prestigious school on a tiny island with seven dorms where the fourth years have to go off campus or something... Hmm, sounds familiar. Yeah, no surprise, Twisted Wonderland. A game where the player has something to do with a mysterious ring and demon power with its shady contract system? Akuneko. I'm not as offended by this as I should have been (you know what they say, copying from a paper is plagiarism, but copying from so many to make it your own is research or something), but I won't blame TWST and Akuneko fans if they find this part problematic to the point where they refrain from continuing to play or even trying the game.

5) Finally, the gacha. Hmmm, I really can't say. I don't dislike the system in general, and I'd like to thank the people who spend more than I do, because it's thanks to you that the game, or any game with a similar system, can continue. Yes, yes, problematic, predatory practice, I'm aware of that. I'll come back to this later.

Okay, that's all for the less savoury aspects of Tokyo Debunker, I guess?

Despite all the problems, it turns out that Tokyo Debunker has raked in money in numbers that Romeo would approve of. It ranks fairly consistently high on the joseimuke games list.

It's obvious that one of the many reasons for this is its harsh, harsher than other games, gacha rates, which has probably encouraged players to keep pouring money in. Is it the biggest reason? Probably yes. Is it the only one? No, it can't be. I have some faith in humanity that the majority of people won't spend money just because a 2D character has a pretty face.

For me, and for a lot of people whose opinions I've spied on X/Twitter, the most important reason they're hooked on Tokyo Debunker is the highly intriguing plot, so let's start TKDB's good points with that one.

1) Again, highly intriguing plot points. Masterful execution. Engaging delivery. TKDB has no event or personal story (only chat) like other games, but its main episodes are done right on so many levels that I have nothing but praise for the writer(s) and the people in the production staff. I can only confirm that @/sakugintani (X/Twitter) is the writer of episode 13, but it looks like it's safe to say that they're all written by actual human writers...? At least I hope so. I think there's a problem with the music being used... I don't know the details, so I won't put it in the problems section above. Instead, I just want to point out how well the background music they chose for the scenes and events in the story fit together. I do find a small problem with the SFX, that the volume is not consistent, but it's too small a problem to pay attention to.

2) Interesting, wide range of characters. Despite what I said about the designs? Yes. An imitation of classical painting will still sell for a high price, as it turns out. They're written pretty decently, whether it's as individuals or their personal relationships with each other.

3) Localisation. Just wow. Really commendable that they employ actual translators of many languages and then allow players to switch languages with the simple press of a button. I mean, I love Twisted Wonderland, but it's really disappointing that they have separate apps/servers for separate languages... Something to do with the copyright thing or something? Akuneko, Mahoyaku and Bungou to Alchemist have no official English localisation, while Touken Ranbu's is finished. Anyway, this part in particular is the very opposite of a deal breaker for me.

(On a related note, I played TKDB because Minami (@/sakaimii on X/Twitter), who's part of the TKDB English loc team, posted about it. I don't know her personally, but I followed her because she used to work on the unofficial translation of Mahoyaku (mahoyakueng.wordpress). I find her (and her team's) work enriching and delightful. Glad to see the same for TKDB)

What else? Uh, I can only think of three... Well, that's just my personal opinion anyway. People may find other discouraging/encouraging aspects that I haven't listed here. There are some aspects I have deliberately left out, such as the UI, the raid system, etc., simply because I have no opinion on them at all.

The overall gameplay experience generates mixed reactions, ranging from boring / too idle, with the case impossible to solve without SSR cards, which becomes increasingly true as you progress through the levels. I have no problem with idle games, quite the opposite in fact. The reliance on SSR cards, on the other hand, is a hindrance to the enjoyment of the game.

Now, why am I writing all these things out, especially when most of them seem to have been left behind?

Because I want more people to get to know Tokyo Debunker. I want more content, I want to see it talked about, I want to read and interact with other people as it progresses, and I want to see the game itself flourish for a long time.

Sadly, that's going to be quite difficult if a lot of people are put off as soon as they start. I've already seen so many people driven away by the AI images (rightly so) and even before that by the adverts. I read one JP user commenting that no matter how much they liked TKDB, it wasn't something they could boast about or be as open about as other games because it made a lot of people feel uncomfortable.

At this point, I think there have been a few murmurs here and there along the lines of "the ads suck, but the game is actually great!" I can only hope that this will help people to try Tokyo Debunker and like it.

STILL.

It will leave us with a very undesirable situation if the player base grows but none of the problematic aspects change for the better. If a game with AI images and borderline rip-off elements does well, it will only encourage other companies, especially the smaller ones, to follow in the same footsteps. That's why I hope that the company is seriously considering a change, especially in terms of proper advertising and images of human artists (since nothing can be done about the rip-off aspect).

Am I asking for too much? Probably. Who knows. I don't have any insiders to ask about the company's financial situation and whether or not my request will put a dent in their wallets. My instinct is to say no, it can't be? Surely it must be in their budget by now to hire human artists to create backgrounds and real advertisements?

Then again, who knows. A game like this costs a lot. Potential users usually don't want a company to cut corners, especially if it's so sharp that it puts an end to someone's livelihood. From a business point of view, however, some corners have to be cut, because if they aren't, the other option is EOS, because it doesn't make enough profit, maybe not even enough to cover the cost of production. There are some Joseimuke games that had to end before they even reached their first anniversary. The obvious solution is to cut corners where it hurts as few people as possible, if possible none.

How?

I don't know 😭

One solution that immediately comes to mind is not to have the story fully-voiced, but even I can find myself protesting at the prospect of this ill-conceived solution.

Now about the gacha in TKDB. I mentioned how hard it is. Specifically, you need to pull 500x to get the pity/guaranteed SSR card featured in the banner. In TKDB, a single draw costs 200 gems, but 10-draw cost 1,980 gems. If you want to reach the 500 count, does that mean you have to do the 10-draw 50 times? I haven't had a chance to test this, but I think it's safe to assume that's the case (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong!).

50 pulls of 1,980 gems will cost you a total of 99,000 gems (100,000 if it is a single pull, but why would anyone do that). If you buy from the regular gem shop and choose the most expensive option, 5000 gems for 10,000 JPY, you will have to part with around 198,000 JPY. Convert that into your local currency and that's the estimated price of a single SSR card of your choice.

Okay, you don't have to spend that much, I know. TKDB regularly gives out a decent amount of free gems, and they have several back-up shops that, if you use them wisely, will give you more valuable gems for your money. (They are a little overwhelming, by the way).

I'd like to do a detailed comparison with TWST, Mahoyaku, Akuneko for the mercy system in each of these games, but let's save that for another article.

The fact that you need several SSR cards to solve the case and unlock more chapters seems to be a deal-breaker for some people. The more cases you solve, the more impossible it becomes to play without SSR cards. At the moment I'm playing on two servers, one where I pull once I've collected 1,980 gems and the other where I do the opposite. On the latter, I'm actually able to get to case 53 with just a single SR Darkwick Chic card and 8 R cards (the casual outfit ones). It's starting to get too hard, though. It's not a walk in the park when you're f2p in TKDB, unless you're very lucky.

(On another note, I have heard that TWST is just as tough for some people who struggle a lot to get through OB combat, especially book 6? I don't remember having too much trouble with it, so I can't really compare it myself)

As I said, I don't have any particular negative feelings about the gacha system, provided it's done properly. In theory, it's a good system that allows people to contribute according to their own financial situation. It allows all players to enjoy the content equally, while the company still makes a profit. However, it needs to be done in such a way that if a company gets carried away and consumed by too much greed, there will be nothing but resentment.

With the system that TKDB has in place now, I can only hope that existing players don't get tired before management can focus on and implement improvements to the overall system and UX, and the only way to do that is to keep the current level of excitement generated by the main storyline steady, even increasing, while applying a fix where it needs one.

Alright, I've said my piece. That's all I have to say, I think.

To close this long, somewhat anticlimactic writing off, I would like to wish TKDB a long and successful journey. I hope that all honour students will be able to see TKDB grow into something better as we walk with it ❤️

[littleakito]

hi ^^ cgs wxs and regressor Rui headcanons? Specifically when he slips in the middle of practice for a new show.. bc he’s been rlly stressed lately

🤖﹐LiTTLE! RUi﹕✦ CG! WxS

✩﹐🎶﹒

thank you so much for your request! I hope I did the little man justice✦!

✩﹐🎶﹒

1　 ﹒　Stress is a common fatigue for Rui, this can be said for anyone. Yet, there will always be moments where you just need an escape from it all. Will Rui ever willingly soothe himself and let himself escape from the pouring rain of stress? Haha..

2　 ﹒　Performing was always challenging for Rui, whether he was in a more adult-like mindset or not. It was meant to be, after-all, that’s the talent behind such a thing! Giving himself and the others challenging and extraordinary roles was just another part of being a director, you must push actors comfort zone for them to grow more familiar with much more distinct characters unlike them.

3　 ﹒　Greeting the others at evening practice was a little more difficult than Rui hoped for. Just this once, he stumbled over a few simple words, ones he had usually purred flawlessly. And, maybe he felt his heart drop in the slightest at the scrutinizing looks he received from Nene and Tsukasa in that moment, but so what?

4　 ﹒　Practice had started a little quicker than he had hoped, he had wanted to talk to the others a bit more without having to play pretend. He wanted to see Tsu’s big flashy smile and scrunched nose, Nene’s light sigh’s and small, encouraging looks; and Emu’s shaking hands from pure excitement, mixed with her tight hug that could knock a fully grown man over.

5　 ﹒　Beginning the scenes, Tsukasa had immediately jumped to light, followed by Nene, then… oh, it was his turn. He had missed it. Those looks were back, stronger than ever, might he add. Truly puzzling… it was as if they were suspecting him of something.

6　 ﹒　However, after a few mistakes, minor and major, Rui bit at his lip, and the others only grew more and more suspicious of him and his mannerisms. It certainly didn’t take long for one of them to ask, either.

7　 ﹒　Simple questions, filled with sweet words and a gentler tone than normal, ones asking about his messy, chopped hair. Others asking about his fidgety hands and lack of laughter and tease. One, having asked about his finger finding its way to his mouth, being bitten and sucked on.

8　 ﹒　A coo, and then a whisper, tugging away his hand, Tsukasa held it within his own, and Emu immediately jumped up, sparkles basically shimmering in her eyes as she suggested the SEKAI as a sweet retreat. Oh oh! And, we can’t forget an ACTUAL sweet TREAT, can we?!

9　 ﹒　Cuddled within the SEKAI, stuffed animals purring at his feet and giggling as he picked them up and held them close, the troupe members sat within each others arms, holding their little one the closest of them all.

It most certainly didn’t take long for practice to be called off.

✩﹐🎶﹒

For a few generic headcannons not quite following a story line…

1　 ﹒　Rui regresses from 2-5, more commonly leaning towards the younger ages. He can be rambunctious when he wants to be, but he prefers messing around with trinkets and cuddling his caregivers. Listening to stories are the best, especially when his caregivers act out the scenes with him, hehe.

2　 ﹒　He definitely hates being in public when little, no matter what. Even being slightly fuzzy can cause a panic attack from him.

3　 ﹒　It doesn’t take long before Rui’ll convince you to let him take apart the TV remote when little, he’s the best at puppy eyes, believe me!

✩﹐🎶﹒

thanks for your patience anon, I hope I meet your standards! I know very little about Rui besides his backstory being depressing and him being a silly little goober we all love<3 (this is a joke I know a fair amount about him haha.. silly guy!)

[friendsinsolitude]

God Mizuki WL2…. Dropping out of school because she had nothing to make the persecution bearable. No Kamifes rooftop friendship no “friends of her own to hang out with”, no friend in solitude now that Rui’s no longer lonely, no Cheer Squad no sports festival no afterparty no “youth she never thought she’d experience”, no Let’s Study Hard no Mizuki “having more fun than she used to” no An to say she wants to continue being friends even in next year, no Hello Good Day no Toya glad to be her classmate no Akito to have lunch with no Tsukasa to laugh at the loudness of no first years to think the way she customized her uniform is really cute, no Picture Perfect no working hard with her class on their dance, no Dream Stage no making costumes with everyone nobody willing to take into account that she might rather not wear something cool even just to check a costume’s fit as a small gesture of understanding, no Path of Thorns no being deeply involved in creating the puzzle room no Niigo to hang around with. Nothing. Nothing but pain. Nothing but people who whisper and stare and exclude her and slight her and give her the slightest shreds of hope before pulling it away in cruelty. She drops out because without Niigo to understand her, without finding that she really does want to be together with them and that it’s possible, without their support, it’s all too much. It’s just too much.

[babyniigo]

What little! WXS get as gifts for being good babies!

૮꒰ ྀི◜๑◝ ꒱ა

pt.1 niigo , pt.2 vbs , pt.3 mmj , pt.4 leoni

Emu ૮꒰ ྀི◜๑◝ ꒱ა

Soft bakery toys, plushies and a carousel! 🎠

Nene ૮꒰ྀི ᵔ ๑ ᵔ ꒱ა

Baby gameboy, mermaid plushie, and butterfly teether! 🦋

Rui ς꒰ ´‌ ତ ˋ‌ς ꒱ა

Baby robot, platypus plushie and puzzles! 🧩

Tsukasa ૮꒰ྀི∩´ ତ `∩꒱ྀིა

Star pacifiers, plushies, and comfort blankies! 🌟

[paquerettexx]

rui mizuki — another shot (one-shot)

reaper thinks he has another shot with you, his summer fling.

pairing: rui mizuki / reader (f/m)

words: 908

[cross posted from ao3]

all good things come to an end and your relationship with rui was never an exception. not the image of your hair blowing in the wind, nor your bare feet running on the sand as you chased waves. neither was your mellifluous laughter or the twinkle in your eye an exception.

rui can still remember your relationship with him like a bitter aftertaste on the back of his throat. he had always loved sparklers on summer nights, yet your light was like fireworks that went off too soon. you lit up his summer nights along with the calming crackle of fire by the beach and the lapping waves on the sand. the wind caressed him like a cool embrace while your adoring eyes warmed him and set his heart aflame.

yet even the tallest of trees have their leaves wither and fall just as the mightiest mountains crumble back into the sea. waves reach out only to ultimately crash back into the ocean, where it originally belonged. if this was the case, why can't rui go back to that time with you?

like that weekend where he drove out of town, his hand on your thigh and your hand over his. he remembers the way you held his hand to interlock your fingers with his, your hand holding his in a perfect fit like puzzle pieces. He held you, his hand in yours as the scenery changed from urban buildings to an expansive landscape of grass and trees, with only the moon as the witness to what you two shared. he held you until your eyes started to flutter close and your breathing evened into shallow breaths, your face content in a deep slumber while the whirring engine of the car enveloped the air.

that summer night— out of all the flings and girlfriends he had, you were the only one he was certain he got right. he was certain that you and that damned summer night was the only place he'd rather be at.

"rui..?" he stood frozen in his tracks despite the warmth your voice brought. he flinched and shuddered as he recognized the owner of that voice– you.

you who was more than he ever deserved, you who showered him with warmth and affection, and you who he thought he loved. he was certain that he did love you, but that love wasn't enough. you gave him all your love yet he only reciprocated your affection with nonchalance and flirty remarks. perhaps it wasn't clear- you wanted someone to love and he wanted a summer fling.

"oh, hey, haha... long time no see, right?" rui would awkwardly chuckle to try and hide the revolt in his stomach and the hammering in his chest.

the smell of your perfume- it was as soothing as it was before. it made him feel, and remember what it was like to be loved. it reminded him of the feeling of your embrace, the feeling of your hair in his hands as he brushed it behind your ear to place a kiss on your cheek. it reminds him of the time when he was still free from his curse.

"yeah." you'd agree with an awkward chuckle of your own, "how are you?" you'd ask him, the small talk you initiated feeling like nails on a chalkboard with how painfully estranged it was.

"i've been good!" rui would cheer, snapping back to his usual act of being the carefree and easygoing playboy, "haha~ don't tell me you've been thinking lots about me~" rui would add as a tease.

ironic of him to say when he's the one hung up on you, reminiscing of your time together on the daily. he didn't know if you had some kind of electric pull on him or if he's just hung up because you were the last fling he was in physical contact with- alas, he missed you all the same. whether it be actual love, or infatuation.

"i see you haven't changed." you'd answer with a shake of your head, a smile on your lips. rui would feel his heart jump, realizing that the smile you donned was because of him. he's the reason for your smile now.

"maybe i did?" rui suggests cheekily with a wink, "do you want to catch up and see for yourself?" he offers. though appearing confident, inside he was shaking and even praying for you to say yes.

surely, this time he'd be able to give back the love that you deserve. surely, this time he'd be able to love you.

"ah, sorry. i'm having lunch with my boyfriend. i only picked some stuff up here for our dog." you'd apologize to rui, declining his offer. he couldn't be mad at you, no, you were just being nice to him.

wait... did you just say boyfriend?

"you have a boyfriend?" rui asks, surprised when you nodded and told him you have.

"ah, i see, i'm sorry..." rui apologizes. "please don't let me keep you. have fun with your date!" he exclaims, acting like everything was fine.

even before you could bid him farewell, rui was off to leave, not even shooting another glance back at you. no, he must leave right at this instant or else you'll see him crumble. you'll see his crestfallen expression, you'll hear his heart break, and you'll feel him being torn into pieces.

did he really think he had another shot at you?

[kamizakaagencyrui]

Rui! How have you been? It feels like it's been ages since we've talked!

-@kamizaka-tsukasa

Oh hey Tsukasa! it has been a bit hasn't it... I just got this puzzle box, it seems to have been left as a clue so I'm trying to solve it... what have you been up to?

*rui tries to divert his eyes away from the safe where the Vessel of Wrath is kept. he doesn't need it at all, there's no use of it. The puzzle box is more important*