#susato in japan and ryunosuke in london

[kazumasdiary]

so in case 2-1, menimemo has this line:

“ Nobody here in Japan knows anything about it! They don't know that the guy never made it to England! That he died on that steamship! And that he'll never- “

and then in case 2-3, susato says this:

“Our government tried to cover the fact up, it seems. They erected a grave on the cliffs by our home town...”

so, if there’s a grave, but no one else knows about kazuma’s death . . . were susato and mikotoba the only ones at kazuma’s funeral? did he even get a funeral at all?

and- what must that have done to susato? with one friend dead, and the only other person who knows an ocean away, alone and surrounded by secrets that everyone knows but no one will explain

did they tell her to keep quiet? presumably she would have at least mentioned it to rei, and from there it probably would have spread to the rest of the university. did they tell her that she couldn’t? that she couldn’t say anything about kazuma’s death?

when susato comes back, she says she’s done keeping secrets, and it’s not a stretch to say that’s probably because of the things that have been kept from her. but maybe it’s also, just a little bit, because she’s spent the last four months lying about her friend’s death, and she won’t do it anymore.

[mintleafsillyz]

Comic about that picture you can find of herlock crossdressing and everyone's really supportive of him.

[inbarfink]

The ‘Escapades‘ in TGAA1 are already such a top-tier idea. I mean, I really wish we could’ve had those in any of the other games somehow.... Overall they’re an incredibly delightful addition to the game, and taking them individually, the least good ones are still like ‘well, that was a fun little vignette for these characters, I’m just not sure if it 100% gels with the main events of the game’.

And I think my favorite one right now has to be the first one, ‘In the Defendant Antechamber’. It just does… so much great stuff to the Asoryuu dynamic, recontextualizes everything that comes after in a way that makes it even better and just feels like such an Essential Viewing for really understanding these two. 

It’s just… you can go through the entire game with Ryunosuke constantly calling Kazuma his ‘best friend’, the ‘person I trusts more than anyone else’ and you might just casually assume that these two go a long way back. Maybe not as much as Kazuma and Susato since Ryunosuke doesn’t have all the details about his childhood, but seeing how much they mean for each other, they must’ve known each other for a while, right?

NOPE

THEY MET IN COLLEGE

ABOUT A YEAR AGO

They’ve known each other for a year, just a pretty ordinary year of school, and they’re already got that Unbreakable Homoerotic Bond of Trust, and Ryunosuke is fully willing to lay down his life for the sake of Kazuma’s dream of going to London. And Kazuma is fully willing to abandon his literal Life Mission of clearing his dead father’s name and avenging him in the shame of failing to defend Ryunosuke. And he drags Ryunosuke with him to London because he knows that he’s the only one who can keep him from straying from his path. And then Ryunosuke decides to dedicate his entire life in the memory of Kazuma. His college buddy. 

But they’re not just college buddies. Because in that one year, they did forge such powerful emotional bonds that all of these actions make sense for them. Because they’re just that kind of Ridiculous Human Beings and I LOVE IT!!

And the story of how they met is just… perfection. Like, if you look at the pre-‘death’ Asoryuu dynamic, it’s very ‘Japan’s most amazing promising young lawyer-samurai is absolutely enamored with an Anxiety-Ridden Human Disaster’. Kazuma Asogi is the Proudest Moronsexual and Ryunosuke Naruhodo is dating way beyond his league.

But also….the thing that drew Kazuma to Ryunosuke in the first place is the fact that he bested him at something. Kazuma is this rising star at Yumei University, he’s got the brains and the brawn, it seems like he is poised for success and glory for the rest of his days - and then this anxious innocuous little goofball beats him… humiliates him even. Ryunosuke beat the star student of Yumei University without any ambition or ill-intention, he was just being himself, he is just this silly little linguistic dork who likes tongue-twisters. 

And Kazuma feels no real resentment or spite about this defeat. He was beaten at his own game by such a silly little guy and all he feels is respect and affection and appreciation. A desire for friendship. Maybe even love. 

And meanwhile, Ryunosuke has just kinda forgotten that this is how they met. I mean, it's not like he totally forgotten it, but... it doesn't seem to register as particularly Notable in his own memories. It's just not that important to him. That was probably a life-changing unforgettable event for Kazuma, but when Ryunosuke thinks about their friendship he just thinks about hanging out after class and eating Yakisoba together. Because that’s just the kinda guy Ryunosuke is, and I think Kazuma appreciates that just as much as his tongue-twister skills.

Also, it kinda connects to an idea I brought up in a previous post, that Kazuma Asogi is less of a direct counterpart to Miles Edgeworth and more of a… mirror image, an inversion.

Phoenix and Miles’ friendship started with Miles saving Phoenix…

A moment which was a world-changing story for Phoenix that literally defined his entire life, but Miles, although he always kept his memories of Phoenix close to his heart, can barely remember it. 

Ryunosuke and Kazuma’s friendship started with Ryunosuke beating Kazuma. A moment that is… certainly not the most important thing in Kazuma’s life, but one that has certainly made his mark on him, and one that he is not going to forget. But Ryunosuke just... doesn't really think about it unless it's directly brought up.

And it’s just… such a good piece of characterization for both of them on every thematic level, I just love it so much!!

[celestialastronmy]

Susato Mikotoba is a unique and refreshing addition to the Ace Attorney series, as she is not a typical legal assistant who mainly provides comic relief or emotional support. Instead, she is a competent and confident young woman who has a keen interest in law and literature and who actively contributes to the defense's arguments and investigations. She is also one of the few female characters in the series who has the opportunity to act as a defense attorney herself, albeit under a male disguise.

Susato's skills and intelligence are evident from her first appearance in the series, where she helps Ryunosuke Naruhodo prepare for his trial and teaches him the basics of cross-examination. She also demonstrates her knowledge of foreign cultures and languages, as she is fluent in English and familiar with British customs and laws. She is able to adapt to the different legal system and courtroom etiquette in London, and often corrects Ryunosuke's mistakes or misunderstandings. She is also well-read and cultured, as she enjoys reading novels and poetry, and has a fondness for tea and sweets.

Susato's deductions are also impressive and often crucial to the defense's case. She is able to notice details and contradictions that others might miss, and she is not afraid to challenge the prosecution or the witnesses with her logic and evidence. She is also able to deduce the true identity and motives of some of the culprits, such as Jezail Brett, Benjamin Dobinbough, and Enoch Drebber. She is also skilled at using the Dance of Deduction, a technique that allows her to make rapid and accurate inferences based on observation and reasoning. She learned this technique from her father, Yujin Mikotoba, who is a renowned forensic scientist and a friend of the great detective Herlock Sholmes.

Susato's involvement in the investigations and trials is much more active and significant than that of most legal assistants in the series. She is not just a sidekick or a cheerleader but a partner and a collaborator who works alongside Ryunosuke and shares his passion for justice. She is also willing to take risks and make sacrifices for the sake of her clients and friends, such as disguising herself as Ryutaro Naruhodo to defend Rei Membami, or leaving Ryunosuke behind to return to Japan and take care of Kazuma Asogi's affairs.

In conclusion, Susato Mikotoba is a remarkable character who deserves more recognition and appreciation from the fans of the Ace Attorney series. She is not only a smart and capable judicial assistant but also a loyal and compassionate friend, a brave and determined lawyer, and a charming and elegant lady. She is a new bloom in the new world and a shining star in the Ace Attorney universe.

[frickingnerd]

poly relationship with ryunosuke & susato

pairing: ryunosuke naruhodo x gn!reader x susato mikotoba

tags: polyamorous relationship, mutual crushes, physical affection (kisses & hugs), supportive girlfriend!susato, wholesome fluff

there had been feelings between susato, ryunosuke and you ever since you the three of you went to london!

though for a long time, nobody acted on their feelings or dared to mention them, until susato had to return home to japan

in the time she was gone, ryunosuke and you finally confessed your feelings to each other, as well as that you both had feelings for susato as well

so when susato returned to london a few months later, the two of you finally gathered the courage to confess to her and the three of you began to date!

both susato and ryunosuke enjoy cliche romantic things, such as dinner dates, ferris wheel rides or getting flowers! though susato is the one who's the most into romantic gestures!

ryunosuke and susato are both very gentle people, who love to give affection, yet get flustered no matter if they give or receive it!

whether it's a kiss or a hug, when the two of them pull away from you again, you can almost bet that there's at least a soft blush on their cheeks!

both insist on only kissing you when nobody else is around! while your closest friends know about your relationship, they feel embarrassed kissing in front of them!

though when you are out for a walk together, the two of them will still hold your hand! it might fluster them a bit, but hand holding isn't as scandalous as kissing in public!

susato and you always support ryunosuke with his cases, often helping him sort through the files or searching for hints alongside him! oftentimes, one of you stays behind at the office with the paperwork, while the other joins ryunosuke on his investigation!

and whenever he wins a case, the two of you insist on a little celebration! those usually include cooking his favorite meals and having a nice and calm date night together!

both ryunosuke and susato are sometimes overcome by their strong feelings for you, so when you are in public together and they can't hold you close, like they'd want to, they whisper sweet words in your ear, as a reminder of how much they love you!

[buttclench-ryugazaki]

i'm not really huge on roleswap tgaa AUs because i rarely find them more compelling than what we got in canon (but if you enjoy them don't let me, a faceless rando and a complete stranger, stop you from making or enjoying them). that being said, susato could have traded places with ryunosuke and the game's main plot would be the same

kazuma's memory remains the emotional core and the driving force if susato is the perspective character, because she idolizes and idealizes kazuma as much as ryunosuke does. she has a personal connection to the professor case through her father, but she's just as in the dark about it as ryunosuke so we don't lose the "unwittingly dragged into this 10-year-long conspiracy oh my god this is WAY more than i bargained for" angle. and to reiterate what every single tgaa player has observed, that she was already studying law to be kazuma's assistant makes her the better qualified choice to do the study tour in kazuma's stead. of course her personal journey would look different from ryunosuke's (think about susato, say, expanding her knowledge and mastery of the law knowing she can't effectively use it back in japan when she returns one day, at least not as herself) but it's kind of perfect that it would begin the same way as his: she would be doing it for kazuma. and then eventually, for herself and the truth

(ignore the implausibility of a sixteen year old japanese girl practicing law in victorian london because 1) the canon events are also completely absurd 2) it's ace attorney 3) although women were not allowed to practice law in the uk until 1919 tgaa takes so many historical liberties already 4) i don't imagine women were allowed to be judicial assistants standing at the defense bench either? 5) it's ace attorney 6) if susato being a woman is a barrier we know she can convincingly crossdress, and it's not like londoners would be able to tell 7) it's fucking ace attorney)

[science-lings]

Dialogue from TGAA that tickles my brain in the context of my Actual Phoenix!Naruhodo's AU

Not-very-local man is totally normal about fire:

It's just stated too many times to be normal, I don't have a screenshot but I remember Susato warning Ryunosuke against getting too close to the fireplace so he doesn't set himself on fire and I like to think she said that bc he does hang out way too close to the flames with Wagahai, let the little guys get warm...

Discussions of the reoccurring mentions of humanity and bird symbolism under the cut

'Only Human' but is he? (and other discussions about mortality)

This would just be so funny for Kazuma to think if Ryunosuke wasn't quite human

Ryunosuke is less skeptical when it comes to things like ghosts and curses, so I could see him believing in the reaper's curse in the context that Barok has something otherworldly going on bc Ryunosuke knows exactly what it's like to have something going on, maybe he was looking for some form of comradery but unfortunately, he didn't get it. Turns out it's just a myth he uses to batman his way through London. Use other's fear of him against them and all that.

Even if each discussion of humanity isn't targeted at Ryunosuke specifically, he's still included in the 'like everyone else' and I find that funny with the Phoenix AU in mind. It keeps being brought up and he has to be like 'haha... yeah... i get that...' while he's sitting on the knowledge that he isn't human, he isn't normal, no matter how much he's trying to be 'just some guy' he's fated to be drawn towards situations where he's actually so important. Every time the phrase 'we're only human' comes up he's reminded that that's exactly what he isn't but no one else can know.

bird guy talks about bird without being suspicious

Also on what Ryunosuke could've meant by this I found some info on the symbolism of sparrows:

In Japanese culture, sparrows hold special symbolism. They are seen as messengers of joy and happiness, bringing good fortune to those who encounter them. Sparrows also represent resilience and adaptability, as they can thrive in different environments and overcome challenges. In Japan, sparrows are often associated with the arrival of spring, symbolizing new beginnings and hope for the future. Their cheerful presence is believed to bring harmony into people’s lives and foster a sense of community.

and I interpret that into Ryunosuke seeing Kazuma as this resilient idealistic figure and as the hope to make a difference (his goal to make japans legal system better), but also he is the person that brings Ryunosuke the most joy.

also...

spotting a sparrow on your windowsill was considered the presence of a deceased loved one watching over you.

Which tracks as Ryunosuke copes by believing that Kazuma resides within Karuma and is 'with' him throughout his whole journey. He takes comfort in the idea that some part of Kazuma is watching over him and regularly addresses him as such.

anyway bird tangent over, He's also got the thing when you realize that it's a miracle that he is even alive (ie. swallowing all his pills at once, making an enemy of the british government, like they really just let him reveal government secrets and only put him in a time-out, like those were Stronghart's secrets and he was still like 'I guess you can just go to detention idc')

this was actually mostly just for me to compilate relevant screenshots, but if anyone else finds this interesting that's pretty cool too ig.

[the-great-detective]

How often do Ryunosuke and Susato come back to visit? And have you ever visited them in Japan?

Ah, I've not seen either of them in a great deal of time! I have never gone to Japan myself to visit them, though I have sent my fair share of letters. On the subject of visiting, I do belive Mr. Naruhodo is making plans to return to London soon! And if he happens to see this, I do wish for him to know that my attic is always available for him to take up lodgings.

[kobitoshiningneedle]

For the ship bingo, RyuuSusa! :D

The first ask and the first bingo~

Actually, my history with the ship is somewhat interesting. I remember starting TGAA with some expectations that I set for myself - one of them is "this cute kimono girl" that in future will the the MC's wife and another Phoenix's ancestor (I don't really remember what made me think that aymore though)... So I guess I was biased towards the ship since the day one

However, I wasn't always so obsessed with them. I remember reacting 'normally' to the "bolt of lightning" line, but then the plot bubbled out and the arc of Susato getting used to her new companion in London/sort-of-pupil began, which combined with teo of them going through usual protagonist-assistant shenanigans. Also, I wasn't really a fan of how often Susato was tossing Ryu (and even now I honestly think that gag was a bit overdone). BUT! One of the ship's appeal is gradual development of their dynamic, this was something I would realize a tad later

And indeed - literally in Adventures's finale, when Susie has to go back to Japan, the way they grew attached to each other became so apparent..... But I actually started paying attention to the signs, these throwaway lines, the way Ryunosuke was fawning over his judical assistant almost explicitly were slowly gathered in my memory like golden particles extracted from sand. It all culminated in the epilogue in which they make a concious and very logical considering their personal and emotional journey decision to stay working together.

"...the path you're going to follow from now on… I wonder…if I might follow it at your side..."

I somehow doubt they were talking only about Ryu's career path. you know

Like, I can't read that last Susato-Kazuma conversation, hear about Yujin being so forthright with Ryunosuke, hear these voiced lines and not see that these kids are down bad for each other and everyone around acknowledge it. I know, Ryususa is a controversial pairing fandom-wide and I even understand why people may feel uncomfortable about it - but everytime the controversy sucks me in I assure myself that somewhere in the middle of the vast-vast ocean two young people drift among the waves, reminisce about their turbulent adventures and prepare to spend their lives together. I know they do.

[alynnl]

hmm...001 for Yuujin x Herlock, and 002 for our girl Susato

001 for HomuMiko (Sholmes x Mikotoba)

When I started shipping it if I did: That final case. When they did the dance of deduction together I was absolutely sold! They were in perfect sync with their movements and their thoughts. A phenomenal moment!

My thoughts: I loved the twist that Mikotoba was Sholmes’s partner in crime solving. It just makes him all that more important to the story. And these two can be both fun and serious when the situation calls for it! Also because they trusted one another with a very important secret, Iris Wilson is alive and well and seems to have a relatively happy life as Sholmes’s adopted daughter. I’m sure these two saved more lives with their deductions too.

What makes me happy about them: They are the Great Ace Attorney’s version of JohnLock! What’s not to love? They really bring out the best in each other when they put their minds together. The fondness is there too and it’s just so warm!

What makes me sad about them: I’ll state the obvious in that they’re separated by geography. Mikotoba lives in Japan, and Sholmes lives in England. And if we go by ACD Holmes canon, that means they’ll both have to live through WW I. But since the original Holmes and Watson survive The Great War in the short story “His Last Bow” then it’s very likely that Sholmes and Mikotoba will too.

Things done in fanfic that annoys me: I’ll be honest and say I don’t have the time or energy to read much fanfic, TGAA fic included. But it would annoy me if either of them got killed off for obviously cheap drama. Because they both avoided the Mentor Occupational Hazard and deserve to live into old age!

Things I look for in fanfic: If I were to go looking for fanfic, I’d probably want more of them solving mysteries. I’d also want soft domesticity, and maybe even family time with their daughters. A family portrait with Yujin, Sholmes, Susato and Iris needs to happen!

Who I’d be comfortable with them ending up with, if not each other: For Sholmes, I could either see him with Ryunosuke because of how well they deduced together or Barok van Zieks partially for how they would argue like an old married couple, and also for their shared interest of co-parenting/helping raise Iris.

For Yujin it’s harder to say. Maybe if Jigoku hadn’t made his canon mistakes I could see them together. But we all know he’d rather have Ayame still be alive. :(

My Happily Ever After for them: When they get old, they retire from crime solving. After Iris is grown and married, Sholmes retires to the countryside having grown weary from city life in London. He and Yujin exchange letters at first, and then Yujin comes for an unexpected visit out of the blue. He’s been doing a lot of traveling since leaving his job at the university, and wonders if Sholmes will go with him to see the world.

Sholmes happily accepts and they go on to see many interesting places, meeting interesting people, and sometimes finding one of a kind souvenirs to send to their family and friends. When the years go by they eventually end up staying in Sholmes’s countryside home, where they write pages and pages about their adventures that will be remembered long after they’re gone.

Who is the big spoon/little spoon: Sholmes is the big spoon. He’s the more cuddly of the two of them.

What is their favorite non-sexual activity: Solving mysteries, anywhere and everywhere. It could be as trivial as one of Iris’s missing teacups or as important as the case of The Naval Treaty. If there are clues to be followed, they’ll find out what they mean!

002 for Susato Mikotoba

How I feel about this character: She’s the greatest judicial assistant in the world! Seriously, she’s awesome. I like her book smarts and her attention to detail. She’s tough and will throw anyone with a Susato Takedown, but she also has her soft, empathetic side that I like to see. She’s the definition of “silk hiding steel” and will stand up to anyone when she has to.

All the people I ship romantically with this character: I’ll be honest and say I don’t really romantically ship her? I just didn’t see any romantic chemistry between her and anyone else. I know that GinaSusa, SusaRei and RyuSusa are all ships I’ve seen. Whatever floats your boat I guess, but to me Susato seems to have other priorities than romance at the moment.

My non-romantic OTP for this character: With Ryunosuke. They are legal partners and slowly become good friends! Their bond is natural and withstands a lot of adversity that they each face, both separately and together. They can count on one another. That’s exactly what friends are for!

My unpopular opinion about this character: Susato doesn’t necessarily need to become a lawyer. She went on the study trip to become a judicial assistant, and I could picture her staying on that path. In the Ace Attorney franchise, the legal assistants are just as important as the lawyers and their contributions are invaluable.

One thing I wish would happen/had happened with the character in canon: I would have liked to know more about her home life and the grandmother she lived with. Was her grandmother strict, or was she kind, possibly a mixture of both? Does Susato write poetry or do calligraphy? Let me know about her hobbies! (Maybe some of this was covered and I overlooked it through.)

My OTP: Not really with a person. But Susato x Literature is definitely canon though

My crossover ship: Not any I can think of at the moment.

A headcanon fact: The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is split into chapters because Susato wrote a book about those events in her life. The book was a best-seller, and a treasured family heirloom that was passed down to her descendants in the modern days of the first Phoenix Wright trilogy.

[whistlefrost]

Okay okay. More MAJOR TGAA2 / DGS2 case 4 spoilers incoming! Also, random MAJOR Dual Destinies and Rise From the Ashes spoilers as well.

I'm gonna just list some theories I have halfway through case 4 of DGS2 because they have been playing on my mind for a while.

Please don't confirm or deny anything! I'm just putting my thoughts out here :)

Starting to get the feeling that Susato's dad is. Definitely more deeply involved in the professor thing then he is currently thought to be in the case. I mean, of all 3 people studying abroad, Mikotaba is the only one of them who literally IS a professor.

Mikotaba has been subtly orchestrating people's movements throughout the duology, like Ryunosuke going to london, Susato coming back to Japan, and subsequently returning to London. And the most suspicious thing...

Mikotaba directly caused Dr. Wilson's death. He himself said, he was the one to ask Wilson to come to london. He even was in somewhat of an authority position over Jezaille Brett, who then murdered Wilson.

Regardless I think Mikotaba does have somewhat good intentions. Tbh I think whoever the professor is has to either have good intentions, or be evil, but just controlling a bunch of people with good intentions. I don't buy that gregson is actually evil. I think he is probably just trying his best to pursue justice in a corrupt system.

I'm also not buying that Genshin Asogi was the real professor. Based on Kazuma's actions and Van Ziek's accounts of who the guy was, I genuinely believe he must've been framed. Kazuma probably knows this and is trying to uncover the truth behind it which is his whole 'mission' here.

I think whoever the professor is, is also a major player in the reaper stuff. I mean, they have literally the same goal of eliminating all of the corrupt rich / noble people. Also unrelated but Klint is definitely suspicious for this reason. Even his design screams 'secretly evil'. But they might just be wanting me to think that.

The circumstances around Iris's birth are really strange. She must've been born right when the professor shit was going down since she's 10 years old. I'm guessing her mom may have been one of the professor's victims since she's not around and I seem to remember Iris mentioning she was dead??? Not sure though I've been playing this game over the past few months and details are slipping. Maybe both her parents were and thats why Dr. Wilson moved to Japan. But little did he know his friend who he thought had his best interests at heart was setting him up??? Idk.

I think Herlock knows a lot, but perhaps not everything. I truly don't think he is super involved in the plot, but he's maybe been trying to solve it himself? Idk. I just trust him too much. they wouldn't make another really goofy ace attorney detective with the main colour of highly saturated brown evil??? right??? right???

Mael Stronghart is soooo suspicious, but I can't decide on whether thats a red herring or not. He looks A LOT like damon gant, to the point I almost think it's intentional? And I can't decide whether that makes his more or less likely to be a villain.

The characters I genuinely trust are Herlock, Iris, Gina, Susato, Barok Van Zieks, and probably Kazuma (I think the game wants me to be suspicious of him though). Anyone else I think could very easily be in on the plot tbh.

I'm just like Gina fr. Can't trust most of the adults but the kids are chill.

Anyways sorry for my insane ramblings. Can't wait to play 2 more minutes of this case and find out all of these are wrong and the professor is actually time travelling Aristotle Means

[kazumasdiary]

that 2-3 cutscene, part ii: ryunosuke

so! ryunosuke! your friend's back! 

. . . bit of a double edged sword there, huh.

when kazuma comes back, ryunosuke looks so happy. that’s the first thing that hit me, with this scene- when he says “i knew you wouldn't die so easily,” he’s just so genuinely glad to have his friend back, but i think he’s also a little bit relieved.

because all of this started when kazuma died on the ss burya. everything before that, ryunosuke could arguably have come back from: after the first case he could have just gone back to being an english major, and even after crossing the ocean to get to great britain, theoretically he could have still been a english major and gone back to japan when kazuma did. but changing his entire career path, being a lawyer, getting involved in an entire legal system’s worth of issues that he was not part of before- all that happened because kazuma died on that ship, and someone had to carry his dream forward.

and we know ryunosuke has made a place for himself. he’s found his footing and become a lawyer in his own right. he's now on this path and intends to stay on it. but the fact still remains that kazuma died, and it turned ryunosuke’s whole life upside down.

but now kazuma is back. and i can't help but think that ryunosuke sees the thing that upended his life, now undone, and thinks for a second that, maybe, finally, the world can stop shifting under his feet.

the whole time ryunosuke has been in london, he's been trying to do what kazuma would have done, to be what kazuma would have been, because kazuma would have done this right. he took kazuma’s place, and the armband that marks him a lawyer still has kazuma’s name: he doesn't move to give that back, even when kazuma regains his memories, and at this point it is more his than kazuma’s but that, too, is another thing he’s taken. 

when kazuma’s first talking to susato, right after the line “it was an honour”, ryunosuke isn’t looking at them, and he doesn’t look up until both kazuma and susato look over to him. he doesn't seem afraid- he steps over with a smile as soon as he realizes they���re both looking towards him- and this is, to be fair, a lot to make of one line-of-sight detail. but maybe on some level, some part of ryunosuke does think, “i have intruded enough on what was yours. this is not my place.”

because it was always supposed to be kazuma. but kazuma is here, now. he’s back where he should have been- surely that means everything will be okay.

and then, of course, it's not, because kazuma takes his sword, cuts a wax statue in half, and then just leaves. and i think ryunosuke in this moment, more than anyone else, is just lost- susato has been left before and barok had enough context to at least see something like this coming, but ryunosuke has neither and so he's just left trying to understand why. he’s grasping at straws- he’s the one who picks up kazuma’s mask, afterwards, and the conversation he and susato have about it at the beginning of the next case is devastating:

Ryunosuke: But he has his memory back now, doesn't he? And I can't help feeling he might turn around and tell me coldly to wear it myself...

Susato: But...isn't he your best friend?

he got his friend back, finally- and then it turns out that he doesn’t know his friend at all, and he certainly doesn’t know how to interact with him anymore. susato says, “isn't he your best friend” and ryunosuke doesn't know how to answer, because, well, he was, but now? ryunosuke doesn’t know what kazuma wants from him, or if kazuma even wants to see him anymore, and kazuma certainly isn’t around to explain. things make, if anything, less sense than they did after kazuma died- except now kazuma is back, and the reason things don't make sense isn't because the universe is unfair, it's because the person you thought was your friend won't tell you anything.

ryunosuke saw kazuma returned in that courtroom, and i can't help but think that for a moment, he saw his friend's face and thought that things just might be alright, for once. and then just like that, kazuma was gone again, and that little bit of hope turns out to have been another lie.

(note: credit to @ifidogaysomyself for a lot of the basis of these thoughts.)

| susato | barok | kazuma |

[thelocalmuffin]

8 or 24 with asoryuu for the prompt meme?

Sorry this is so late, Ela. I bring you a fic!

DGS 2 Spoilers. The prompt was giving a hug to someone who really needs it.

Quick note: this is based on a headcanon I have that Kazuma had to end his exchange earlier than expected.

***

As Ryunosuke scrubs the dishes they used for dinner clean, his mind wanders away from the present day. He’s not sure if it’s commonplace, but it’s been happening a lot more lately. Yet, one thought persists in the mists of his clouded thoughts.

Ryunosuke’s efforts are for nothing.

Fighting against Japan’s legal system has been nothing short of a nightmare. He fights and crawls for the truth in exchange for small accomplishments.

His victories should be a sense of pride, but each one feels hollow. Even with promising leads, nothing changes. Just more cases for him and Susato-san to sort out. When he should be celebrating, nothing but his lingering doubts creeps to the front of his mind.

He once did more.

He’s not the same man he was in London. He isn’t a promising student anymore. He’s just yet another cog in the machine to enforce the brutal laws of what the government demands, lest he lose his badge.

He does what he can and will always pursue the truth...but he has to be somewhat reasonable. If he loses his badge, it'll be all for nothing.

He hadn’t even remotely made a dent in the legal system as he promised his friends back in London.

Most days, he’s just defending people from the brutality of the legal system. Something he, of course does not mind, but something is missing.

He could lie and say he pursued law for the sake of justice, but the truth is far more self-centered than he’d like to admit. He may as well now. He loves the thrill of a lead he can chase, the clues falling into place like a puzzle, the fact the courtroom once made him feel alive.

No more.

It hasn’t been that way for months now. It's just another part of his empty life. Work, go home, maybe rest, work, go home, maybe rest...

He exhales, trying to focus on his cozy, domestic life. The parts that actually are nice in his day to day slog. He owns a consultancy, is doing his best to help shape the judicial system to make it somewhat fair, and Kazuma is home.

Everything is as it should be.

Yet, he’s still so empty. He’s not entirely sure what’s wrong, but he’s felt this way for a while now. He came home one day and suddenly, he was empty.

Like now...

He finishes washing up the last dish as he forces himself to do another chore of wiping down the counters. He’s trying to get better at that lately.

Ever since Kazuma moved in, he hadn’t realised how messy his home was. Kazuma got frustrated and spent an entire weekend cleaning up the place with such intensity, he was almost terrified. When he asked to help, Kazuma shoo’ed him out, saying this was his way of repaying Ryunosuke for letting him stay there until he got a place of his own.

His end of his trip had been untimely and he had come home early. Though Ryunosuke is glad to have him back home, it's a shame Kazuma understands the lack of accomplishment in a way no one else could.

Regardless of the reason why it had to end so soon, Kazuma has done a lot more than he should to compensate for what he’s calling his failings.

He’s a tornado, giving himself back to back tasks to bury his guilt of lacking his own dreams.

At least they have something to bond over again…

Ryunosuke was supposed to improve the system while Kazuma was gone. Yet…

Nothing has changed. Nothing for the better, anyway.

“Hey, you’ve been in here for a bit.” Kazuma pokes his head in, interrupting his thoughts. He’s in a red hakama with a deep pout on his face. “And the counter’s clean. Why do you keep scrubbing it?”

Ryunosuke jolts his motion with an abrupt halt as he glares down at the rag. The boiling anger of his failures consumes him and he scrubs the counter harder. At least he’ll be good for something. He’ll make himself so.

A gentle, calloused hand grabs his shoulder. Ryunosuke exhales, looking over to see Kazuma’s frown only deepen. “I am glad you’re figuring out to clean and all, but you worked all day too. You need to at least rest. Your fire will burn out if you don’t.”

His fire…

Ryunosuke shuts his eyes closed as he exhales. “It’s already out.”

It's too silent as Ryunosuke admits that.

It's out.

It's been a pattern ever since he was a kid that there wasn't really one there, but the minute it sparked, it now hurts that it's out once more.

“I had a bad feeling.” Kazuma exhales, “I noticed it since I moved in.”

“…That was almost four months ago. Has it really been that noticeable?”

“No, but since I’ve lost mine…I saw the same patterns as I fell into.” Kazuma shakes his head as he continues. “Your apartment was awful so I put it back together. I thought it would help, but as I listened to you complain about work…I could tell your drive had dwindled. Now this. It's clear you're burnt out.”

“I wish it didn’t.” Ryunosuke groans, trying to hold back tears. The frustration is starting to fester into tears. He doesn’t cry often, but it’s always such a pain when he does. He especially hates crying in front of others.

Eventually, the tears fall.

The stress of having to be one of the only lawyers that isn’t scared of the government’s retaliation and fighting for a better future, for it to go nowhere…

It collapses all at once and he’s a sobbing wreck. His knees wobble and a pair of arms wrap around him to keep him afloat. It’s a tight embrace, holding him up as Kazuma rubs his back in a circular motion, trying to calm him down.

Ryunosuke isn’t really much for physical contact, but…

This hug means the world to him.

When he’s able to catch his breath, his own arms wrap around Kazuma’s waist, trying to hold him as close, but his hands are far too shaky to do so.

Kazuma says nothing. He just carries him for a moment longer as Ryunosuke pulls away. “…I better stop wallowing and figure out a solution.”

“Not tonight.” Kazuma instructs with a deep frown.

“Huh?”

Kazuma crosses his arms. “Not tonight. Tonight, we play shogi. Tomorrow will come, and we can figure out a solution then.”

Ryunosuke reluctantly nods. He knows deep down there’s nothing he can do about his situation so late in the evening. Plus, it would be nice just to take his mind off things, even if it’s just for a few hours.

Following Kazuma to the living room, he grabs the board and through a couple cups of tea, the solemn mood lightens up as the two begin to laugh about the small memories they once shared and his small, cramped apartment finally feels like a home.

For a moment, a little spark bustles in his heart once more and Ryunosuke can only hope that's a sign of good things to come.

[unluckedtj]

Question about Ticket Swap- I'm presuming Barok is the defense for most of, if not all of the AU? Also what cases, if any, from the original game remain?

was not expecting a question on this au but i am pleasantly surprised!!!! thank you for the ask!!!!

but ouhhh! good question! barok is not quite the defense, i kind of wanted a mix since we don’t necessarily have to follow a game format for it. i wanted to cycle between herlock and barok if that makes sense

more below the break!

something that i kind of use as a foundation: in the jp dlcs (london side), while we do have herlock acting as the defense, we are still mostly playing from ryunosuke’s point of view (with herlock’s pov being in the descriptions of the profiles and evidence)

i kinda want to have something like that, so we get to keep the whole thing of not truly knowing what’s in his head, switching to barok’s pov when sholmes has something figured out.

other than that, i feel like barok would still think like a prosecutor, even on the defense bench. but also because i really wanted to have some scenes where he fanboys over kazuma, who is a prosecutor in this au too (similar to susato and sholmes i imagine).

barok being forced into being on the defense bench is something i find interesting to collide with his will to be a prosecutor as well as his will for justice. i also imagined him wanting to mentor under kazuma because of this (which… i find kinda funny, actually. maybe i’ll write more on this later, but i like to think that sholmes and barok wouldn’t actually see each other very much but fate keeps putting them together. like, barok mentoring under kazuma, herlock working with ryunosuke, completely separate paths with only iris really connecting them both, but every case they keep ending up with each other because they have to work together to get through it)

for the cases itself… i’m not quite sure, since a lot of important things are jumbled around (like timing, and uhh.. klint being alive). since tgaa is so interconnected in its storyline, it’s hard to pick the cases apart to put in an au without delving into another one. but also, i don’t think it has to rely on the original tgaa cases since: tsau takes place in japan! most of it, really.

i think at most, i can maybe try to see how i can input the tgaa1-1, tgaa1-4, and tgaa2-1 cases, especially because i like the thought of soseki natsume being involved and prosecuted by klint (albeit, still get not guilty… by who? idk, divine intervention until i figure it out 😭)

[minionsuncle]

i just finished tgaa2 and honestly as good as it was the ending was a little disappointing

Like obviously i get the parallel to nick and edgeworth and i thought the last scene was very sweet but … so much missed potential in a way? Especially for susato, like she just stays an assistant. I thought ryutaro was going to come back somehow and she was going to reveal her own passion for studying law and maybe her own desire to become a defense attorney but i guess not 😞 Like why would they introduce ryutaro and mention all that stuff about women not being allowed to do certain things and what a shame it is and have no resolution??? I get the time period it was set it but if iris has an actual medical degree at ten i dont think the idea that susato might want to try and break japans gender norms and act as the first ever female lawyer would be that crazy.. I honestly wouldve loved for susato to tell ryunosuke he could stay in london and she would go back in his place to be lawyer their country needs.

Speaking of which! Pissed me off naruhodo decided to leave! I fully understand why he would but AGAIN such wasted potential! His drive to want to get to the bottom of things in any given situation and his desire to strive for the truth… i feel like the hints at him wanting to take up a role similar to sholmes’s were all there! he has such fondness for sholmes, sometimes even genuinely impressed by his reasoning, obviously cares a lot about what he thinks and like, yes his “wanting to expose the truth” desire was mostly just as a lawyer in court but would it not be fitting of a great detective as well? How many times has sholmes given them a piece of evidence to be used further into the trial to uncover the truth that was hidden??

I feel like it would’ve worked wonderfully for his final resolution too. Him feeling useless now that kazumas back and theres no need for a “replacement” anymore. Him wanting to choose for himself now that he doesn’t feel the need to keep kazumas legacy going. He became a lawyer only for kazuma, what if he didn’t enjoy being a lawyer but rather just being able to get to the truth, whether in court or outside of it?? what if the game had ended with him asking mr sholmes to take him in as an apprentice … to in a way take mikotobas place as sholmes new partner and have more adventures togetehr … the way he gets so excited during the logic and reasoning spectacular in 2-4 that he kinda even takes on sholmes’s persona it right there !!! I’m not crazy am i, i cant be the only one thinking this (i have not looked into the fandom at all i literally just finished the games)

These are mostly just rambling its almost 1 am and i have barely slept today but i just cant stop thinking about it … prosecutor kazuma, defence attorney susato and great detective ryunosuke… it just makes sen se …..

Like … look at them … it makes sens e …..

[frickingnerd]

gina lestrade dating a japanese exchange student

pairing: gina lestrade x gn!reader

tags: wholesome fluff, established relationship, japanese!reader

when gina first met you, she immediately assumed that you must know ryunosuke and susato, since you're from japan as well, but that wasn't quite the case

though as you begin to get closer to gina and eventually start dating her, she introduces you to her friends and you get to meet the two of them!

gina struggles a bit with calling them her friends, just like she struggles to call you her significant other, as she worries too much about you not reciprocating her romantic feelings, despite the two of you already dating

gina might not look like it, but she worries quite a lot! most of her worries concern your relationship, as she knows you'll eventually return to japan and finish your studies there

gina dreads the day that she'll have to say goodbye to you. but after dating you for a while and seeing that you take this relationship seriously, gina decides she'll follow you to japan!

while you finish your studies in london, she'll save up some money and study as well, so that she can eventually move to japan with you, so she can continue to stay by your side…