#well I already felt this way during the shibuya arc

[olasketches]

I like Sukuna and Yuuji for the same reason as you! But you can tell me to back off if you don't agree with what I'll say next lol

To me Sukuna being reduced to a petty child is so interesting to me because I used to think of what lead him to take his place as the King of Curse and how it pushed humanity farther than him, as he was already not treated humanely. The same way, he say he doesn't feel anything but Yuuji keep pushing his buttons, something he end up recognizing no matter how boring he call Yuuji. Petty until the end too

As for Yuuji... Despite what the jujutsu world tried to drill into him, he found his way back and found value in life again, and that none of them were worthless. Even Sukuna. Even if he hate him

Because Yuuji applied his reasoning to everyone, Sukuna included. We all knew how Sukuna would react but I still really loved to see Yuuji put his values over his personal feelings

We are all aware of the flaws ect ect... But at the end I am happy I discovered and followed Jujutsu Kaisen.

Do you plan to try phantom parade too? And what do you think about Sukuna admitting defeat and the possibility to take another part

Seem like he took Yuji's "you don't have to take the role of the villain" to heart to me

sukuna is such a petty brat and I wouldn't want him any other way. I think the reason he hated on yuuji so much is because he reminded him too much of himself while also being nothing like him. yuuji and sukuna are two sides of the same coin. yuuji even said so himself “sukuna… you are me” 

during the shinjiku arc the fandom has been pointing out how yuuji was slowly morphing into sukuna or how yuuji is going to become another king of curses. and this could have very well been the case… if only yuuji didn’t have his grandpa. during both shibuya and shinjiku arc this boy has been battling his own demons and darkest instincts. when pushed to his limits yuuji turns into a cold blooded demon and we can clearly see that during his final confrontation with mahito and then over the course of his fight with sukuna.

 I’d argue that if he was rejected the way sukuna was he would’ve turned into something far more demonic than sukuna ever was (and that's a personal opinion) cause despite sharing a lot of similarities and having the same level of potential, yuuji is the one who’s the feeler between the two. he feels deeply and has an immense capacity for love but the same is true for other emotions too. that’s why I don’t like when the fandom downplays yuuji’s kindness and compassion as his default traits and think of them as his weakness that can be broken, exploited or corrupted. there is a reason why sukuna couldn't break yuuji no matter how much he tried (and oh boy… he DID try lol), because his compassion and kindness for others don't come from naiveness or because he doesn’t know any better. yuuji is kind because he actively chooses to be kind and his final moment of empathy and compassion towards sukuna, despite sukuna putting him through hell and back, is the biggest prove of that. 

yuuji is strong in ways sukuna couldn’t be and I think sukuna always knew this but never wanted to admit it or face it. even uraume admitted that yuuji has potential equal to sukuna's and uraume is like… THE BIGGEST sukuna glazer so for uraume to admit something like that means that this has always been the case. I believe that sukuna always knew that yuuji could be his equal. and the reason he kept denying it is because yuuji is nothing like sukuna.

yuuji has never felt rejected or resented by anyone in his childhood. his grandfather loved him and cared for him like he would for his own son. he taught yuuji his core values that he still holds onto till this day. sukuna never had anyone like that. people resented and persecuted him, which pushed him to grow stronger and reach heights no one else could. he wanted revenge to punish and curse those who rejected him first, because he was afraid his own curse would burn him from inside out. so when he came across yuuji, a boy just as strong, with the same potential and the same hair colour lol and realised he is still nothing like him that the only curse he’s burden with is sukuna himself… I think something must have snapped in him. I think that little cursed wretch got jealous. I mean how come this brat, this “weakling” who definitely doesn’t have the same potential as him could ever reach his heights and become as strong as sukuna if not stronger. how come he can be his equal when he’s just so… disgustingly human? it’s like some part of sukuna realised that yuuji is both strong and loved despite carrying a curse inside him, a curse he later realised he was also born with. 

I think that must have stung… knowing that due to some twist of fate, a guy that might as well be another version of him since he was made from the same soul as his… just had it better. that he didn’t have to become the strongest, a deity, a calamity to earn respect and receive love… because he had it from the start. 

so to answer to your question after my long and probably unnecessary rant lol I think the moment yuuji defeated sukuna and THEN offered him to live with him and accepted him even if the rest of the world might not, and despite putting yuuji through hell and later turning into a literal blob, meant more to sukuna than sukuna would ever be willing to admit. In that moment yuuji gave sukuna something no one else ever did - love and acceptance. I think this alone is what allowed sukuna to find peace in death. he may have lost everything, but in the end he was finally able to regain his humanity. I believe that’s why he decided to head north and start again. he died as a curse, but now he can be reborn as human, because in the end he was still loved…

and to be loved is to be changed. 

also right now I'm only enjoying phantom parade through other means (new illustrations and people who actually play it lol) since I’m not a gamer myself… but I still might stick around for a bit longer we’ll see :] 

thank you for your ask and hope to see you around too!! 

[linkspooky]

what are your thoughts on yuji and where do you think he ends up as a character in/after the current arc? i really wish we get more focus on him and his rs with kenjaku after this fight is over cause yuji has felt very underwhelming ever since mahito left him

I think your frustration at the lack of focus on Yuji is understandable anon, but I think Yuji being out of focus is sort of the point. I've always seen Yuji as a "Decoy Protagonist", because he's what the audience would expect the protagonist to be due to all of his typical shonen protagonist traits. Whereas, the real protagonist of the story is Megumi. In the story itself Kenjaku says something along the same lines, that Yuji eating Sukuna's finger was the initiating event of the story, but he's no longer the center of Kenjakiu's schemes. He's more of a trigger than a driver of the plot.

To me this is part of the appeal of Yuji himself. He's a well-intentioned kid who may be a heart of the friend group he's a part of, but he's never given any special treatment by the story. He doesn't have protagonist privilegeTM so-to-speak.

Usually the main character of the story because they're the central focus are given a lot of leeway to make mistakes. It's their story, the story is focused around their growth and development so it makes sense the world and character sin the story are going to center around them to an extent. They have plot armor because of course they do, there's no story without the main character. If they're losing a fight they'll get a convenient power up in time. If they're cornered one of their allies will show up to save them.

By doing away with a lot of the convenience that happens to a lot of main characters in Shonen manga, Yuji becomes a very atypical main character.

The story does not treat Yuji any different from the rest of its characters. Especially during and after Shibuya where Jujutsu Kaisen shifts to more of an ensemble piece than just following Yuji's story and development into a sorcerer.

Mahito lampshades this very fact in Shibuya. That Yuji up until this point viewed himself as the protagonist of a typical shonen jump exorcism manga. He assumes that things will work out because he's the good guy, here fighting evil curses and good always triumphs over evil or whatever the line is. However, Mahito points out that they're just members of opposite factions fighting in the streets of Shibuya. Mahito wants to usher in an age of curses and Yuji wants to kill curses for the sake of humans. Considering curses don't really follow human morality and rules it's not a good vs. evil conflict, it's ust both of them fighting for which side is going to dominate.

"You came to Shibuya with half-assed determination, didn't ya!? How naive, you stupid brat! This is war! Not a battle to fix what's wrong! But a clash of truths you and your fragile justice! You are me, Yuji Itdaori! I kill without a second thought... just like how you save people without a second thought! The instincts of a curse... against the so called dignity obtained by human reason! It's a battle to determine who will be left standing in 100 years!"

One of the biggest mistakes Yuji makes in Shibuya, letting Sukuna take control of his body leading to the massacre of thousands of people is I think a great example of the way the story treats Yuji differently. There are a lot of protaognists who have demon sides that occasionally go berserk. Often giving them a mid-fight power up when their own skill isn't enough to beat the enemy.

Naruto has the nine-tailed fox. Ichigo has Zangetsu his inner hollow / zanpakuto who occasionally tries to usurp control of his body and fight for him. In both cases however, there usually isn't any real consequences for the protagonist losing control. The worst time Naruto rampaged with the nine tails against Pain the village was already destroyed. When Ichigo loses control in the fight against Ulquiorra, he stabs Uryu but the wound heals and no one holds it against him.

Compare this to Itadori who has the deaths of thousands of people on his conscience because of his inability to control Sukuna and is then made an enemy of Jujutsu Society.

Yuji never benefits from plot conveience, in fact assuming things are going to go his way because the world will follow storybook logic is exactly what leads Yuji to making some major mistakes. There's always hard hitting conesequences to Yuji's actions because he's not special, he's just one character among many who are all fighting to survive in this world.

The one thing that gave him a claim to be the main character, being Sukuna's vessel even gets taken away from him. The whole premise of the story is that Yuji is supposed to consume all twenty of sukuna's fingers and then be executed in order to permanently seal him away.

Only for us to learn that the one thing we thought made Yuji special wasn't unique to Yuji. Megumi also had the potential to be a vessel to Sukuna. Sukuna never planned on staying in Yuji's body from almost the start of the manga he was hatching a long scheme to leave Yuji's body and take Megumi's instead.

The quest given to him by Gojo and Megumi. The thing that only he was capable of doing is gone and Yuji is left with nothing.

So what is Yuji's role in the story then, if he's not a main character? A friend of mine pointed this out recently and it helped me understand a lot about Yuji's character: he's sort of a mirror. The story describes Mahito who's set up as Yuji's foil this way as well.

Yuji is for the most part a normal kid (except for the part where he's a science fair project made by Kenjaku) who doesn't have any strong idea motivating him. Which is why it's very easy for him to adopt the motivations of the people surrounding him instead. He starts out repeating his grandfather's words of helping people. The more he interacts with people, the more his motivations become like theirs as well.

He starts out with the vague goal of helping people. When he is given the role of eating Sukuna's fingers he jumps at the chance because it gives him something that he can only do. Even if he dies at the end of his quest he'll die satisfied and on his own terms because he went out helping people. He realizes how poorly thought out his motivation is when confronting Megumi and starts admiring Megumi instead.

When he fails to stop Junpei's death, which is really failing at his goal to save people from "unnatural deaths" as Junpei is twisted into a horrid form by Mahito, Yuji becomes obsessed with killing Mahito instead. In a way he's reflecting Mahito here because violent mahito with no regards for life at all brings out the killer in Yuji. He almost shifts again away from just helping save people from unnatural deaths to becoming someone strong enough to exterminate Mahito.

Towards the end of shibuya, Yuji finally seems to reflect on the emptiness of his own goal. As someone devoid of a purpose he instead just takes whatever purpose someone else around him offers him. Once again playing his role as a mirror, Yuji himself as a character offers nothing but he is someone who reflects and contrasts the people around him.

Yuji doesn't need a purpose for himself, but by being a cog he's still a part of the grander scheme of things. Yuji himself says that he's insignificant but honestly I think it's the same symptom of before Yuji wanting to have a place in the world and a task given to him, but not wanting to contemplate what his own motivations are or what he wants. He wants these things to be given to him instead because he's a mirror, he reflects other people he doesn't not reflect upon himself.

Even thinking of himself as a cog fails because the one role he was given to play, to eat the rest of the fingers and die as Sukuna is now given to someone else because he no longer contains Sukuna in his body. I think Yuji's arc will continue however when he chooses to act selfishly for the first time.

By that I mean he can adopt Megumi's philosophy of "choosing to save people selfishly." Yuji is right now the only person interested in actually saving Megumi from Sukuna's possession and finding some way to do so, while everyone else sees him as a target to be defeated. Which is understandable because by utilitarian logic "the needs of the many outweight the needs of the few, or the needs of the one."

The choice to deliberately try to save Megumi and prioritize his life over the lives of thousands of people that might be killed if they don't put down Sukuna permanently and pioritize that is a selfish one.

However, there's already foreshadowing for Yuji making that choice. There's also a circular storytelling sort of logic to it. The story begins by Megumi making the selfish choice to spare Yuji's life even though he's dangerous to others because of Sukuna inside of him. Therefore Yuji making the same choice to save Megumi even though the less risky thing to do is just kill both Megumi and Sukuna together is Megumi's choice from the beginning of the series coming full circle.

It's also an answer to the question Megumi posed to him in their first contronation. "What if the person you save goes on to kill someone else?" Yuji acknowledging that possibility and going on to save Megumi anyway has a lot of weight to it.

The covers of the key animation books released so far also seem to foreshadow the ending fights of the series. We're already in the middle of a Gojo and Megumi confrontation which is the cover of Key Animation Vol. 2.

Considering both Yuji's own nature as a mirror and the way the story itself started with Yuji eating Sukuna's finger I think it makes far more sense for Yuji's last battle to be against Sukuna. Especially since Sukuna now considers Yuji as someone far beneath him even abandoning him as a vessel. The best battle for a character to function as a mirror is to fight their mirror image, and he already did the same with Mahito which was Yuji's most significant fight so far.

As for Kenjaku, we may get some revelations about Yuji's creation but honestly I don't think there's going to be any confrontation between the two of them. There's far more setup for a final confrontation between Kenjaku and Yuta. Number one, Kenjaku is in Yuta's body and that's always been Yuta's rival.

When Kenaku appears and seals Gojo he states he's not worried about Yuta because he doesn't have the potential to surpass Gojo.

Yuta also states his direct goal is to kill Kenjaku by himself so Gojo won't have to kill his best friend a second time.

That's pretty direct foreshadowing in favor of Yuta, and also I think fits with the theme of Yuji not really being the main character of the piece. Kenjaku is pretty much the main villain and the orchestrator behind the plot so him being taken out by another character pushes Yuji away from the center of things. Kenjaku himself even says that he's washed his hands of Yuji, Yuji's no longer the center of his schemes he's moved onto other things.

[cosmichorrorsarestillnicerthanme]

Maki Zenin, Mai zenin and Nobara kugisaki with a Boyfriend who's pretty airhead and but he's incredibly strong, like he's either a Grade 1 or special grade Sorcerer but deslite his strength hes really affectionate towards his girlfriend.

Your Wish Is My Command! 

(My first JJK ask and my first one back after my break! Hope I haven’t gotten rusty! But this ask gave me a pretty fun Idea for a simple but powerful technique! I also added Miwa because I’m weak to her in the same way I’m weak to Kobeni)

Spoilers For Certain Events During The Shibuya Arc For Mai and Maki’s Parts

Maki Zenin

Maki got paired up with you at the last minute because Panda was already on a mission and Inumaki nearly blew his throat out, again, and now is on watch.

And well Gojo felt like committing a smidgen of trolling.

So.

Here the two of you are.

(Barbecue sauce on your tiddies)

In this spooky ass old carnival, during the off season, which means it’s the on season for jujutsu sorcerers.

Hunting a, drumroll please!

A SPECIAL GRADE ONE CURSE!!!

Y’know if Maki didn’t know better she would think that her family was trying to get rid of her!

But that would require acknowledging her as a threat which is highly unlikely.

Then there was you.

From the look of you she thinks, grade three.

maybe MAYBE Semi-Grade two.

Which leads to now where the two of you are starting to comb through the old carnival and her starting to try and figure out why you were sent out here with her.

Her prevailing (And only) theory was because you had less going on upstairs than Itadori (bless his soul), but much like Itadori it was in an endearing way, like an exceptionally stupid puppy.

Then the Giant ass clown centipede fucker decided to crawl out of it’s hole.

Where you promptly literally and figuratively folded that fucker into the size of a washing machine.

As the cube of meat fell and splattered to the ground before fading away Maki had several questions run through her mind.

The most important of those being.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!!!” Maki shouted in confusion.

You simply turned to her, gave her a thumbs up and said “That was my cursed technique! Fold!”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Afterwards she decided that she wanted to figure out who the hell you were.

So she decided to look you up that night in the Library with some junk food and soda she managed to smuggle in.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Let’s see, Date Of Birth, Boring, Name, I already know that, Favorite foods, yadda, yadda, yadda” Maki thought to herself as she scrolled through your profile and took a swig of her favorite soda.

Then Maki saw your Grade and promptly spit all of her drink out onto the computer screen with the words “SPECIAL GRADE JUJUTSU SORCERER” scrawled onto the bottom of your file.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The next time Maki saw you was because Gojo assigned the two of you to work together because of your “Teamwork” on the last assignment.

But the smug smile on his perfectly punchable face told Maki that he knew something or there was a betting pool that he was determined to win and she was somehow involved in.

And let me tell you now, Gojo is going to win that “Hypothetical” bet pretty soon.

I say this because as soon as the two of you got back Maki asked if you wanted to grab a bite before submitting the report because both of you were tired as fuck.

Things rapidly snowballed from there.

So now let’s get into the relationship headcanons.

Out of everyone here Maki is the one most eager to start a relationship.

She’s also the one who would take the longest time to move forward with anything in the relationship simply because of one reason.

She’s afraid.

Afraid something will happen.

Afraid that she’ll get attached.

Afraid that you’ll get attached.

Afraid she’ll lose you.

Afraid you’ll lose her.

With you around she is both the bravest and most afraid she’s ever felt and that carries over to when you fight together.

Maki is the brain and you're the cursed energy muscle.

Anything out of her spear or sword's reach is well within yours.

Now with all that said the moment she most clearly remembers as the point where her crush started to develop was when you asked Naoya to “spar” with you after she told you a few weeks earlier about how shitty the Zenin clan was.

Long story short, you beat the everloving crap out of him and proceeded to fold him into as many shapes as possible without killing him.

Naoya wasn’t even able to get a hit in but then again I do suppose folding someone’s legs into themselves has a really big effect on their mobility and concentration and slowly folding them back out even more so.

Following all that you turned to Maki with a smile and said, “I’m hungry, let’s go get some burgers!” like you hadn’t just committed several violations of the geneva conventions.

Half a week later the two of you were dating.

And half a week after the “Sparring Session” Maki was back to comparing you to a really stupid and energetic puppy.

You followed her around almost everywhere.

Almost had more manic energy than Yuji and Todo combined.

And somehow could pop out of anywhere whenever you wanted to like Goro Fucking Majima from the Yakuza games.

And she wouldn’t trade you for anything in the world no matter how much she wanted it.

The two of you just *Clicked* when you were together kind of like the last puzzle piece that was lost but now that you found it you can finally see the whole picture clearly.

Along with being her second best friend (Sorry, Nobara has held that position for a long ass time and she ain’t giving it up for nothin!) and the love of her life, you were here partner, her cheerleader, her biggest fan, and one of three or four people she would actually take criticism from to improve, you were her northstar that kept her from pushing to hard, that kept her from getting sick, that kept her from being reckless, that kept her from giving in whenever she wanted to most. 

Even after the entire shitshow that was Sibuya you were still there to temper her, to ground her into place.

It was also during this time that she noticed you looking her over more.

Well if she was being honest with herself it was ogling not looking.

When she confronted you about it all you did was something about her hair suiting her and her muscles but she wasn’t able to make it all out.

I’ll leave you to do with that what you will ; ).

Mai Zennin

Mai and you met entirely by accident.

And not in the fun “Hi new person I just ran into on accident and made a mess of” way, I mean in the “You looked at me wrong so I’m gonna cave your fucking skull in” way.

So, now the two of you are sitting in the nurse's office, looking like the two of you just got into a schoolyard brawl.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“You killed my gun,” Mai said irritably.

“You folded it into a cube, that would be impressive if it wasn’t for the fact that it was MY gun you killed” Mai said as she glared at you with an Icepack over one of her eyes.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The next day Mai walked into class where a box was on her desk alongside a bar of chocolate.

Mai asked Utahime who left this here.

Utahime proceeded to describe someone who looked exactly like you.

Inside the box sat a brand new revolver with a note that read “Sorry for killing your revolver, but at least you have a new paperweight now!”

All Mai had to say to this was a laugh and to call you a cheeky bastard while her chest started to feel a little weird, she should probably go and get that checked huh?

And for the rest of the month Todo was on his best behavior, almost like someone scared him into being as good as he could be.

Quite honestly it was pretty much as close to heaven as Mai could imagine.

And now she was interested to learn about you

So she swiped some food from a vending machine and went to search you up.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Let’s see, nope, nope, nope, nop- oh wait there you are!” Mai quietly exclaimed to herself as she took a bite out of her chocolate bar that was coincidentally the same brand of chocolate you got for her when you gave her her new revolver.

“I have started to buy a lot of that brand of chocolate recently now that I think about it” Mai thought to herself as she listlessly scrolled through your file.

“Yeah, I’m not going to read into that too much,” Mai told herself as an unfamiliar heat started to spread on her face and she reached the bottom of your file where she then proceeded to stare at the screen for several minutes before shouting so loud she could be heard in Tokyo “THAT DUMBASS IS A SPECIAL GRADE!!!”

Coincidentally during that day you sneezed far more than you should have for the time of year it was.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The next time you ran into Mai was when the two of you were in the same area on patrol.

After the two of you finished patrolling Mai asked you if you wanted to visit a local cafe which you accepted because food always tastes better when it’s not all on your dime.

But now that we have the set up out of the way let's get to the headcanons.

Out of everyone here Mai would take the longest to actually ask you out but the one who would want to move forward the quickest.

The two of you had one of those relationships where EVERYONE who saw the two of you together thought you were dating when you weren’t 

Oh and fair warning Mai is most definitely a Tsundere.

And I don’t mean Tsundere in the “It’s not like I like you” way 

I mean Tsundere in the “*Fucking Kills You Out Of Embarassment If The Two Of You Are Called Cute Together*” way.

The two of you quickly become a duo capable of taking just about anything down, A duo that fully trusts in the other no matter what, A duo that fights in a manner more akin to orchestrating a symphony and dancing to its destructive tune.

A duo that helps improve the other to make them even better than they used to be.

And

a duo who lives to be a massive headache for the other.

Which leads into people saying you argue like an old married couple.

Which leads to more of Mai being a tsundere.

That being said.

You are Mai’s carer.

You care so she doesn’t have to.

She loves your energetic nature but it can be a bit much for her at times.

She’s a kitten and you're a puppy, and as long as the two of you listen to the other everything will be fine!

Her favorite activity with you is just sitting with you watching TV in her happy clothes.

Her happy clothes are sweatpants and a hoodie.

Her second favorite activity is when you stroke her ego.

During the Shibuya Debacle you and Maki saved her life through sheer stubbornness, being loud as hell, and folding her wounds closed.

Mai was simultaneously greatly displeased and overjoyed by this.

Here she was being a complete badass and then bam the two of you wouldn’t shut up or stop making a racket while you beat her sperm donors face in, it was extremely inconsiderate!

But despite all of this bluster and cocky attitude Mai still “died” the two of you managed to bring her back but Mai was… off for a long time after this.

She probably never would have been the same if it wasn’t for you and your antics.

Be glad about that.

Because now the two of you are officially dating and have your entire lives ahead of you.

Kugisaki Nobara

Nobara and you met when her group affectionately and officially named by Principal Yaga “The Four Idiots Of The Apocalypse” which consisted of Gojo, Yuji, Nobara, and Fushiguro went to a pretty packed restaurant and the gremlin that is Gojo was able to spot you.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Heeeeeey there old buddy old pal~! You don’t mind if me and my friends sit with you right?” Gojo asked.

You opened your mouth to politely decline but he had already shoved Nobara next to you and thrown Fushiguro and Yuji into the booth you were sitting in as he stole a chair to sit down in.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

So now you were eating lunch with The Vessel Of Sukuna, The World's Strongest Living Sorcerer, The Son Of Toji Fushiguro, and one of Maki’s few friends (Which is a far more impressive feat than it probably should be)

And your day was about to get even more hectic when Yuji asked Gojo how he knew you.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Oh this little ball of chaos? I know 'em because we run in the same circles inside the sorcerer world~! He is a Special Grade after all~!” Gojo jubilantly exclaimed

All hell broke loose soon after as Nobara and Yuji scrambled into your face and exclaimed “YOU’RE A SPECIAL GRADE!!!”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

After that you started to run into Nobara more and more often who was usually confused about how she got somewhere when you found her.

(Gojo it was fucking Gojo playing matchmaker)

Because of this Nobara has gotten to know you pretty well.

She also got to see a firsthand demonstration of your technique when you stopped a bag of hers from falling to the ground by folding the space between you and the bag.

She thought it was pretty cool.

But unfortunately for you that means you have been marked as one of her bag carriers, god bless your soul.

But unlike Yuji she actually buys you some things when you guys are out shopping.

Now that the set up is out of the way let’s get to the headcanons.

She loves your energetic personality.

She also loves how you dote on her and Stroke Her Ego compliment her beauty.

Out of everyone here she moves at the most normal pace, not too fast or too slow.

You and her have made some pretty out of the box combos together, like folding the trajectory of her nails to throw curses off balance.

Her favorite activity with you is dancing and eating.

The two of you play off each other and with each other all the time.

Things like little pranks and cheering each other on all the time.

That said Gojo makes it his job to interfere in everything because fuck you I do what I want.

Yuji lives in fear of you two.

Kasumi Miwa 

Miwa knew of you professionally for a couple years and met you a few times while she was off duty at a hole in the wall restaurant popular with other sorcerers, she heard that you were a very competent sorcerer despite your… less than intelligent nature.

Despite that, she never realized your rank until Principal Gakuganji called her in to bring him some papers to him in a meeting between the principals and highest ranking Jujutsu Sorcerers.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Here are the papers you requested Principal Gakuganji'' Miwa stated professionally with a bow.

“Oh thank you Miwa, while I have you here I would like to introduce you to someone who has requested to meet you personally” Principal Gakuganji explained to Miwa.

Miwa’s stomach dropped as she thought in a panic “Who in the world would want to meet me! Oh no! DID I OFFEND SOMEONE!!!”

Principal Gakuganji then pointed at a pair of empty seats next to him and near Gojo and Principal Yaga before saying “The person who requested to meet you is currently doing a favor for all of us so if you would not mind please sit there until he returns.”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Miwa was sweating bullets.

She felt like she was about to throw up, cry, and explode all at once.

What made it worse was the fact that she was sitting with Gojo Satoru near to her and Principal Yaga right next to her.

She had both of their trading cards and she desperately wants them signed.

Luckily before she could die of a stress induced heart attack you kicked open the door and cried “LUNCH IS HERE!!!”

Food was then passed out among the sorcerers.

She was very surprised when you sat down right next to her and Principal Gakuganji and you gave him a couple of burgers rather than his regular tempura.

She was even more surprised when you set a bowl of her favorite type of stew infront of her.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Kasumi Miwa I assume?” You asked her with a smile.

“U-uh yes that’s me!” Miwa hastily exclaimed.

“Principal Gajuganji speaks highly of you, he greatly admires your work ethic and wishes that your peers had the same drive as you.” You started as you sat down before continuing by asking her “You use New Shadow Style correct?” 

“PRINCIPAL GAKUGANJI ADMIRES MY WORK ETHIC!!!” Miwa thought happily to herself before answering the question.

“Wonderful! After this meeting is over I would like to speak with you more about New Shadow Style, perhaps we can talk over dinner?” You asked Miwa.

Miwa, who was still in a haze about the compliment and the stress of being in this room, accepted, neither of you realizing how this exchange could be seen.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

With the set up out of the way let’s move on to the headcanons.

Miwa and you have a very naturally progressing relationship.

Until she introduced you to her siblings.

The little shits took a shine to you.

And every day she comes home it’s “So… Do we have a big bro yet Big Sis?”

The poor girl is flustered red everytime she sees you because of this, especially when the two of you are actually dating.

She is by far the easiest person to fluster on this list, also probably the horniest but That’s not a rabbit hole I’m going down yet.

Her favorite activity with you is eating all kinds of food.

She’s very surprised that your Fold technique is based on the core of shadow style.

This has led to quite a few off the walls Ideas in fights.

With the two of you in one room it's a battle of who’s more energetic about awesome things.

She has your trading card, you’ll never know this unless you ask her to show you and even then she’ll try and come up with an excuse of some sort.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Confession Time: I didn't Like Maki's new design at first but then I saw a colored version and my opinion quickly changed.

You know for my first ride back in the saddle I think I did good sure there are a few things I'd like to improve but I'm happy with this-Cosmic

[mprimn]

I hate POP MART figures.

My first impression to them is just slightly more expensive gachapons. Most of them aren't even that pretty. Especially the ones called LABUBU. They're somehow very overrated in my country despite those ugly teeth they all have.

So imagine my surprise when I followed my friend into a POP MART store in Shibuya, only for me to ended up buying one instead of them. We were browsing through the different designs (while trying to be as quiet as possible because there were so many customers from our country it's kind of embarrassing) when one set stood out to me. It got me staring into the glass container for quite a moment.

An Alice in Wonderland themed POP MART :

Like. Wow. The artist actually did their homework on this one.

We usually have a favorite to aim for when opening blind boxes or doing gachas, right? Which is why I usually look through sites like mercari first so that I wouldn't have to waste my money on hopeless gambling. But I don't hate a single design in this set at all. The in-store price wasn't so different from the resales on mercari either, so I grabbed one from the shelf, headed to the counter, and cracked the box open...

I have acquired The March Hare. He is now sitting on the top shelf along with the goods I bought and the doujins my friends asked me to buy for them. I should start thinking about when to deliver some of these back home because my single luggage cannot fit them all.

Other than my character development arc towards POP MART (I still hate LABUBU though), I have to mention how I almost got a heat stroke while riding a bicycle to the train station.

It wasn't even that hot in the evening. I checked the weather report and everything before heading out. Yet right after I parked my bicycle and went up to the ground floor, my eyes became blurry and I couldn't stand straight. I somehow managed to make my way (literally half crawling) to the nearest vending machine and was saved by a bottle of cold water.

Who would have thought that summer in Japan can be this hot? Even the exchange students from SEA complained about the heat. Some of them who already returned told me that they'd rather tolerate summer at home than whatever is going on here. Global warming is real and it's getting to us.

Summer isn't a good season to save money, but since I've never experienced snow in my whole life, my real challenge would be in winter. An electric fan is enough to help me through the summer. But the freeze I felt to my bones when I arrived in Narita Airport during spring?

I will need those money for my heater bills.

It has been stormy lately because of the passing typhoon, but that didn't stop me and my uni classmates from reuniting in Tokyo a couple weeks ago. We stayed together in an Airbnb and it was a very chaotic experience. I wasn't really close to any of them but watching them throw hands at each other (in a friendly way, I suppose) had been entertaining. Though, the Airbnb caretaker who lived upstairs probably hated us to the core because we were being loud almost every night.

Before heading to Tokyo, we were invited to watch an annual fireworks show in a reserved area thanks to a Japanese friend. I've only seen fireworks from afar during new year countdowns so I wouldn't lie when I was a bit frightened by how close the explosions? bangs? were to where we were sitting. Let me show you some photos I took.

Here is what the area looks like. I, of course, brought the plushie with me so I can pretend we were dating under the fireworks light.

And here are the fireworks! The show was about an hour long if I remember correctly.

The blue one was screenshoted from a video but I personally think it's the best photo.

There were smoke everywhere once the show is over. Everything smelled burnt. Like we were barbeque sticks on a grill or something. It became really crowded when everyone started heading home at the same time, but the Japanese friend's family was very kind and took care of us so well. Apparently, the father used to live in our country and is still a huge fan as he kept telling us he couldn't wait to visit the capital again in a few months. We wish him the best.

Now that I'm getting hungry (it's midnight) I shall end the post here. I will try to upload some smaller posts so that I can make up for the months I have missed.

The way I actually had a draft for this post days ago but ended up rewriting everything again just because. You will forever be in my heart, little draft.

[bloominstorm]

I can now confidently say Yuuji is my fave new gen MC.

[everafterkeiji]

Hi can i request a hcs for itadori,megumi and gojo react to their s/o death?.

Please Feel free to ignore this request if its triggering or u don't feel like writing it! Thank you<3

i love angst requests so it's really okay with me! thank you so much for requesting (ngl i did cry thinking abt yuji) and i hope u have a lovely day even if this was incredibly sad

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇

PAIRINGS: JJK BOYS x gn!reader

CHARACTERS: Itadori Yuji, Megumi Fushiguro, & Gojo Satoru

WORD COUNT: 2.7K

WARNINGS: heavy angst, character death, mentions of blood and panic attacks, as well wounds and bruises. mentions of Shibuya arc/implied location in Shibuya during that arc.

⟡ 𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐑��� eyes dared to erase the sight ahead of him, his body was frozen—every sense began to fail for its purpose and nothing else was responsive except for the shout of your name that echoes through the battle field, the level of immensity to his voice that covers his throat with pain as every pace towards you was a step leading to a waste of a second that terrifies him the more his being tugged away by his own fears.

Dropping to his knees, he was numb to the sensation of the ache overwhelming his legs while he craddles you in his arms as every part of him shook with uncertainty, his hands didn't have the courage to hold you with as much as strength as he should've.

"..Y/N?" He whispers, a croak to his voice as if it was barely alive with droplets created from his sorrow began to trail down your cheek whilst your blood paints his hand in a hue he never expected to come from you. His mind was in the midst of being empty to a havoc that wanted to deny every rage in his system so he could love you even if he could tell how your chest wasn't rising the way it was supposed to do.

"Love?" Yuji calls out one more time as your eyes flutter subtly, signalling him not even an assurance for your state. His hand falls to your cheek, not caring if he couldn't hold you weakly because what matters more is that you held onto him. He painfully leans his forehead on yours, a loud sob escaping him with a struggle to catch up with his breath.

"Don't let me go, don't ever leave me, I beg of you, God!" He shouts as the gods grow concerned of the boy whose heart was wrecked to every piece as the sky began to cry with him. "Save them— God— Please! Stop taking everyone that I love and let me come with them." He begs, as he pulls you more as if the distance could've helped him better because even when you were close to him, he knew you were already at the farthest place that he couldn't reach. All that could be heard from him were screams where he forfeited ever begging for your life when everyone around seems to follow in your path.

"I'm so sorry, my love." Itadori confesses, arms tight around your figure as every beat of his heart began to die with you when all the seconds that he seemed to waste without you by his side began to haunt him. If he had gotten there sooner, maybe then he could've reminded you one more time that you were the energy—the surviving light in his life for him to exist without being told of his faith.

"I love you—so much so please remember that even when you're away." He couldn't even explain how his words manage to fall in such a manner, he could've sworn a second ago he only wanted to let time freeze so he could deny the view of your lifeless body that he miserably failed to save from the hands of death.

"I promise you, in the end, I'll be with you soon, Y/N." Itadori places a delicate kiss to your forehead, having no courage to leave the contact of your skin to his as his eyes went with the rain that poured over the two of you. He intertwines one of his hands with yours, shivering at the temperature he faces but with the other hand, he rests it on his cheek. Maybe if you looked at him now, you'd want him to smile because if you were the source of his reason to exist, Yuji's smile was the one to let your hearts worries disappear but sadly, the source has been removed from him and nothing else in the world could ever bring the joy in his smile no more.

"All I've ever wanted to do was to love you, so I hope you're willing to wait because when I see you.. I'm gonna embrace you with everything I've got," He then kisses the hand intertwined to his before he achingly pull his hand away and the regret closing on him but he had no other choice.

"And love you again and again, Y/N. Always and.. forever—like what we promised." Yuji, as torturous it was to let you go, he sets your hand that was on his cheek to your chest just like he did with the other before he ends his goodbye with a lasting kiss to your cheek.

"Stop crying, Yuji! C'mon smile for me, will you? I didn't come here to see you all gloomy."

And with the remaining memories left for him, it began to be the weak strings for his heart to compose itself because if he knows one thing that you hated, it was the sight of him crying.

So he smiles, the everlasting wish of yours being granted even if his body was corrupting as the love of his life enters a new realm where forever was possible for the both of you.

"We'll meet again, my love."

As he stood up, he hesitates to turn his back on you but once he does, the sun never looked the same to him ever again.

⟡ 𝐌𝐄𝐆𝐔𝐌𝐈 encounters a feeling that he's been through before—a course of emotions that has his body in a tight hold but now, it seems the hold on him was deadlier than the first time. Your name had left his lips, draining him of his exhaustion to run to you before you could fall, every fiber in his body was holding on to his fear. He didn't need to feel the ache in his legs that were covered in wounds because his mission was for you to perfectly land in his arms even if he had to risk getting more injuries.

His heart began to pace in frantic pace when he catches you, there wasn't a split second of joy that entered him just because he made it in time. Instead, his eyes widen in trauma at the sight of your dull eyes that looked above to the heavens sky.

"Hey—hey!" He shouts, trembling hands feeling every bit of your skin and ends with it down to your cheek. "Talk to me—anything, please!" Megumi pleads as a drop of your blood that came from your forehead started to flow onto his skin. He gulps with his breathing unable to coordinate with him as his head frenetically looks up, any sign of help could've been the better reach but they were just in the mere corner of a building in Shibuya.

"Y/N? Please say something." He whispers, furiously wiping his tears while he despises the warmth of your blood that paints his hands. "C'mon please, let me hear your voice one last time." He sobs on your shoulder, embracing you with every corrupting piece of his heart, looking for a beat from your rather cold ones. His hands go to your hair, caressing it so lightly that he felt it resembled glass from how careful he was. Your head was buried in his neck, eyes barely awake for him to ever find that heartbeat.

"I love you, did you hear me?" Megumi says, gulping in the grief. "Say it back to me like you always did, please?" He doesn't know that begging would've been his lasting choice—maybe someone up above would take some time to listen to his pleads and eventually bring the life to his lovers body once again for you to say you love him back a thousand times more.

"Hug me one more time, will you? You told me you loved to do that." He desperately wishes your arms could just return to the place he loved, wrapped around his neck as his hands were to be on your waist or to your cheek with a smile to your lips. Unfortunately, your arms were covered in their own bruises—latched with dark purple hues and tints of red from the debris of buildings and cursed spirits.

"We have to go, Megumi!" One of the sorcerers shout, he didn't even have the time to decipher who it belonged to but he sniffles, reaching for his phone typing a quick message to the others to be able to take you out of this place with somewhere more deserving of a beauty that has passed.

"I'm not going to say goodbye because I know you'll always be with me, right Y/N?" He takes your hands, placing it on your chest on top of each other as his tear lands on your temple. He softly wipes it away before he kisses your forehead, closing his eyes shut at his misery.

"I wish I could've saved you. I really wish I did." He sobs, forehead in tact with yours but he seems to receive a sensation to his body at the wind that came his way.

"You've saved me the minute you met me, my love." You wish you could've whispered to him but he took it as the wind was the only embrace he'll ever get now.

"And you saved me too." Panda walks in to this horrid scene as he feels the sympathy rush to him. Megumi looks up at him with the liveliness dying along with you as your lover delicately holds your cheek one last time before kissing you on your temple muttering one more time,

"I love you always."

Standing up was the second hardest thing he had to do because turning his back to you came at first as his knees threatened to fall but alas, he has to do continue on because that's what you would've wanted right?

"I love you, Megumi. I'll be here waiting for you."

And the upcoming battles for him to face were laced with rage and the never ending bitterness that love seemed to haunt him with.

⟡ 𝐆𝐎𝐉𝐎's phone rang as while he stops to stare at the caller. It was odd for him to receive a phone call from Megumi at this hour but he supposed it was probably for some guidance since they were sent to a mission. Being aware of their location, he didn't hesitate to transport as fast as he could to get there but there's this calling to him how it wasn't bound to be what he expected.

Panting heavily, Megumi ran with life on the line as he carried you in his arms without the ability to pace your breathing the same as his.

"GOJO-SENSEI!" He shouts with every power in his lungs the second Gojo had appeared, who stood stunned at the boy who was approaching him with a familiar figure.

"Y/N?" Satoru says, uncertain of what he just saw but when Megumi reached him, out of his breath as Nobara and Itadori followed behind him. His student places you in your lovers arm as he kneels down with a hand to your chest, alarmed at how your heartbeat was nowhere near notice. Fushiguro could see the worry in the mans eyes as he bites his lip in sympathy before telling the two to spare a moment for the so called strongest sorcerer who was now on his knees for only one person.

"We saw them being followed by a cursed spirit but they led Y/N to a trap." Megumi briefly explains as Gojo could only spare him a nod as your eyes would flutter once a while as the three students let them be.

"I warned you, didn't I?" He says, a low whisper as your hand weakly reach for his blindfold while Gojo's own rhythm of a heartbeat began to ache. Once he felt how you raised it with a cough of blood spoiling his uniform as his expression grow more frantic with every second.

"Hey there, pretty. You mind staying with me for a little longer?" He asked as if your ears were as attentive as it were before when his eyes stared back at your dazed ones. You didn't respond which was troubling him, what more was that your hand immediately dropped to your chest when he finally looked at you. A shakey sigh leaves Gojo while he rose, ready to fly you anywhere as long as you promised to stay.

"A little more please, can you do that for me?" He begs of you but instead, your head fell unconsciously in his arms with the threat of your eyes to close before he could ever look at you again, not too mention the flow of blood that came from your stomach that didn't seem to stop. He hasn't had the confidence to look at your body before because the fear on Megumi's face made him certain of how the damage had been rough on you. Up this close, he can see two massive wounds to your lower body as well as scratches on your forearms with some bruises on your wrist, hinting how their grasp on you was too strong compared to someone who was powerless.

The hue of his eyes appear to be less saturated than before and for the first time in the life of the honored sorcerer, his heart was irreparable and no amount of technique can reverse the way love his love for you had been the fault for your end.

Unknown to his own senses, his tears fall to your cheek as he pulls you closer like an embrace that didn't bring him his usual amount of comfort.

"Satoru, stop messing around!" You said as he spun you around, tight arms around his neck as he flew in the air, not bothering to listen to your protests of putting you down.

"I won't let you go, how could I ever do that to you?" He assures you, with his own arms tied to your waist with a bright smile on his face.

"And if I fall?" You asked him, glancing at the heights below you but Gojo only tucks a piece of hair behind your ear as you looked at him with the sun in your eyes since two lovers were up in the sky to reach for the clouds.

"I'll be there to save you."

But where was he when you fell from the skyscrapers?

"You hate me, I'm sure." He says biting his lip in agony as he buries his head to your chest, silent sobs and unsteady breaths coming from the sorcerer.

"I love you so much." Satoru breathlessly said. The head that was once on your chest began to move away when he heard nothing more than the silence that came from your heart. They were out to get you, how stupid was he to let you out of his sight just for a second? Maybe then he could've danced with you one more time, up in the sky for the two of you to conquer the heights of being in love.

"I'm so sorry, darling." He then kisses the side of your lip as his feet met in contact with the floor as the rest of the Jujutsu tech as Shoko lets out a saddened sigh.

"Wait for me okay? I'm not done loving you yet." He whispers to you one last time while he hands you over to Shoko as Megumi spares him a glance to notice how wretched his mentor looked.

"I have some things to do." Gojo announces, withstanding the grief to plot revenge to the ones who took you away from him as the rest didn't bother to object knowing there was no possible way to stop a man who had lost the love of his life in revenging your death. He disappears in a split second as the rest of the students didn't notice the tears that kept flowing from the person they look up to.

How can he be the strongest when he failed to protect his only weakness?

Until then, Gojo Satoru could only look at the sky to remember you since his infinity that he swore was to be spent with you died in his arms along with his lover.

[mochikeiji]

Tranquility Before The Downfall

Request 1: "Congrats on 1k!! U deserve it! Can i req for Gojo? 85, 91, 97" + Request 2: "Hi! For the event can you do fluff with 85. "See this? This is my hand." "Why are you holding mine?" "It's MY hand" with Gojo? Thank you!"

85. "See this? This is my hand." "Why are you holding mine?" "It's MY hand"

91. "I'm gonna go have a long, warm bath" "There room for one more?"

97. "So poetic" "I know, I got it from google"

↠ Pairing: Gojou Satoru x F!Reader

↠ Warning: suggestive/playful themes, slight manga spoiler (before shibuya arc events), sprinkle of angst and a whole cake of fluff

↬ Word Count: 2.2k

↳ from Go! Go! Gogatsu Event

The temperature was numbing; the soles of your feet came in contrast with the tiled floor, grimacing of how unbearable the weather was becoming. For the past few days the sun has been at it's finest peek, hence in those days the weather was undeniably scorching, forcing you to wear your own summer uniform as a teacher to which Utahime had gifted you last winter. Must you say Gojo had the time of his life feasting his eyes on every revealed skin and prominent curves that the clothes hugged your body so well. It's not like you weren't doing the same when he pranced around only in a fitting tee than his uniform.

But as climate changes so drastically, even the amount of pillows and blankets that you have cocooned yourself into the past hours during the afternoon, the cold was still a hindrance thanks to the hefty storm outside. No amount of thick clothes your boyfriend owned wasn't much help. Hopefully Satoru brought an umbrella with him— never mind, he would've just activated his infinity for this occasion, promising to come home with some miso soup and a few(hopefully) dried sweets like donuts or even cookies. You didn't need a whole tub of ice cream when it's already winter wonderland.

Sighing as sleep was unable to cooperate with your body, you slid the lock screen of your phone open, checking to see the bombarded messages Gojo had sent you while being busy sulking.

"Haha look, I'm standing in the rain."

A picture of him drawing a peace sign was sent not a few minutes ago. If you squint your eyes you can clearly see a few civilians weirded out; clearly judging on why he was standing in the middle of a blustering weather like the fool he was.

"You're not even getting wet."

"You know who else is not wet?"

Rolling your body away for your phone, scoffing slightly at how shameless he still is, goosebumps began to crawl up on your skin from having to emerge from the confines of the sheets. Since Gojo seems to be out longer, it's best to end the day to do some pampering. "I'm gonna go have a long, warm bath." after stretching and yawning out the sloth in you, slipping on the fuzzy slippers that were too silly and childish for you to own thanks to Gojo's suggestion of having matching ones, you've ventured your way to the bathroom. Setting the temperature at the warmest, bearable heat and wait for it to run and fill in the tub. The patters of rain blocking out any sound from the room, it concerns you on how heavy it was pouring. Probably a few leaks will be seen later on.

Capturing the image of the bathtub without a care of how blurry it was since the picture was carelessly taken, you clicked send so that Gojo's spams of messages would stop. Almost immediately he calls you after seeing the image, you'd be wise enough not to leave him on miss call when he's already left seen. 

"Looks like this happy chicken's about to meet up with his wet kitten after leaving him on read."

"Is it because your hands look like a chicken's feet?"

"First of all, rude. Second, cuz a wet pussy never fails to make a cock happy."

"You're terrible as always." you muttered, rubbing away the bubbled laughter that he was trying to humor you— dipping a finger down to test the waters warmth as it's half way full.

"Hilarious, it's so poetic."

"I know, I got it from google."

"And that's why I have never felt so dry in my entire life."

"He—"

Turning off your phone with a small smile on your face, knowing at anytime you'll receive an earful of whines for when he comes home. Times like this it never fails to make you giggle at his charming humor as you stripped yourself off of all Satoru's clothes. Letting your foot soak in a bit— slowly sitting down at the other end, exhaling out a pleased moan when the water engulfs your now relaxed, and flushed body.

Nobara was right about how good it felt to pamper yourself once in a while. Though how does she manage to do this every single day? The hot springs may be a good vacation trip with the kids when every one's free, maybe a feast as well for a time to let loose from the world of rampage. "I'll keep that in mind." you sighed, sliding down to the point the water surfaces above your mouth, blowing softly as bubbles came out to be the only source of entertainment.

Baths was where majority would take the time longer in since it gives this some kind of mood that gets you deep into the deepest thoughts no one has even formed. Recalling about the reports on the last mission after the appearance of Mahito all alone, that fact didn't bother you most than what he said before escaping you and Nanami with slick movements, "Be prepared, jujutsu sorcerer, hopefully we both meet again as you claimed in our earliest battle. Especially you, lady." sinister intentions written all over his features still sent shivers to the bone. What terrified you the most, was how darkened of excitement he looked upon mentioning your boyfriend.

"Tell Gojo Satoru he'll be seeing us real soon."

"You look relaxed. There room for one more?"

In all his glory— drenched in his casual attire that was missing the infamous blindfold or glasses, grinning softly on how dewy you looked in the tub like a child, little doss he know of the conflict playing in your head, "I got cookies by the way~" dangling in his hand was the paper bag he swung. By the sound of it, he must've bought not only one pack.

"But we still haven't had dinner yet." shaking your head to his figure closing in. He knelt down at the side of the tub, flicking a tiny amount of water to the wall just for the fun of it before his fingers danced around your shoulder blade, up to the back of your head feeling his nails graze soothingly on the scalp.

"I know, honey." his voice lowered in a more intimate matter, placing a kiss on the dampened skin of your forehead. Eyes fluttering close, smugly smiling of the opportunity to witness the powerful man kneel before you, humming happily as more feathered kisses were smothered all over your face. Looks like dinner will be late and dessert will remain early as usual. "Mmm, get in here already. You'll catch a cold." tugging at the collar while fumbling with the slippery button.

"Eager today, aren't we, kitten?" a quick zip plays through, carelessly chucking down the article of lingering cologne mixed of rain scented clothing. Somehow his scent always leaves a mark wherever he is, not as strong as most men’s cologne is, not even the expensive kind of brand. Just that masculine smell only he possesses that you'd curl yourself up to just to get a whiff.

Never did his physique fail to impress you. As if the world was in slow motion, shamelessly ogling how his muscles would flex on the tugs of his fitted inner shirt. He looked lanky at first glance, but holy hell did you swallow back like now at the thump of his trousers down on the floor. Don't look down now, you thought. Gojo never does fail to impress you in many ways.

Snapping his fingers close to the bridge of your nose, "Eyes up here, baby. You'll get daddy later." an all too irritating yet charismatic boyish grin plastered on his face, washed away with a flick of your wrist and a volume of water spilling on the floor. "Either you get in, or you sit there and freeze your balls."

Even with your head turned with a huffed out pout, he laughs on the fact how you're still compliant just by watching the subtle shuffling you were doing to make space for him behind. He keeps his mouth shut at least, sighing in content when he settles like a puddle of goo at the risen warm water cleansing him as his arms rests on the sides of the tub, peeking an eye open to your figure laid on his chest looking blankly at the reflection on the water. "You're awfully quiet. What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?"

His jaw resting above your shoulder, dropping sneaky kisses his lips could reach as his arms slithers to your stomach to pull in closer. The rhythm of his breathing distracted your troubles— tranquil like the water that surrounds you, unlike the anxiety hammering in calls for the thunder like the storm outside to ruin your one time of peace. Now wasn't the moment of worrying when you're with the person you treasure more than anything, that's what he'd tell you.

Nimble fingers playing with longer ones, you shake your head with an assuring smile, "It's nothing. I just miss you, Toru." followed by a quick peck on the lips. "We'll talk about this later. I just want to relax with you."

Please.

He remains silent to your answer. Only feeling him nod against your shoulder and brings your hand up to the surface of the water, connecting his lips at the back of it. Two times for good measure. He always knew how to melt away your worries in such simple, unique ways. "See this? This is my hand." he claims as he draws random patterns on the palm with his thumb, looking oh so lovingly at the size difference and how you allow him to do so in showing you this side.

"Why are you holding mine?" humoring his own claim. Rolling his eyes, his free hand pokes deeply onto your side, earning him pained laughter until you pushed his arm away. "It's MY hand." he says as a matter of fact.

"Ask me why."

"Okay, why is it that my hand gives you such intriguing interest, my love?" he shoves you gently at the change of tone of your voice. Snorting at your horrible attempts in joking around with him when it's the same as he does most of the time with you.

"Because it's strong."

Firm and steady was how you'd describe his sentence. The change of atmosphere was so sudden, skipping a beat your heart flips.

"It's always been and will be strong. It always manages to hold the world together." upon mentioning world, he was already staring at you. As if he breached through some of the intrusive barriers of your thoughts. "I love holding this hand because it belongs to the person I would be willing to do anything for."

Behind those crystal, ocean eyes that stared back in wonder to yours was laced of his own concerns. There's never a day a person who shares the same experience as you two did would be stuck in their heads of the possible outcomes these days. Especially now that cases were getting uncanny it tore apart anyone from the inside.

Gojo could only wish you'd trust him more than you could ever. Even when he doesn't bring an umbrella out on a storm, the littlest things troubled you as it involves him.

You could only wish he knew that.

Or both of you knew what was coming.

"I love holding this hand because it belongs to the person I'd always go home to, no matter what the circumstances." 

No words left your mouth other than a quiet, "Thank you." unable to grasp the emotion fully, but it did crash all together forming a huge impact. His way of words never fails to shelter you away in protection. A melody ringing in your ears that'll never be stopped from replaying. "I'll feed you a cookie if you promise to tell me later what's going on."

Snickering underneath your breath, you pinched his cheeks hard to hear a whine escape. Chasing his lips for a chaste, but long kiss. A hand placed at your nape to deepen; when you thought you were the only one who felt desperate, you fail to realize how his actions meant to intention of letting you go. Pulling away, Gojo became stubborn. He doesn't know. He doesn't understand why he's also become desperate when a few minutes ago you were both in good shape. He guesses it's only a matter of time when realization hits hard.

What he does know that ahead of time, he will have to be alone. He'd want you far away from the lurking danger that kept him up on his guard. But he won't tell you that. He doesn't have the heart to cause more fear in you when all he needed right now was for you to have faith in him as you both enter the unknown.

For this moment, he wants to be greedy. He wants you to be as greedy as he is. Nothing mattered— only the closeness of your bodies, the needy kisses and whispers of i love you's and each other's names like a mantra.

And hands that held each other with strong, loving grip.

Until the next day, that grip loosened.

October 31, Gojo Satoru has been sealed.

© all content belongs to mochikeiji. Please do not repost or copy, ありがとうございました!! (=^･^=)

[mrskurono]

a/n: the second chapter! This was going to be longer but I decided to divide it up into two for ease of reading. Gege gives us no canon idea yet so who knows if any of this is right word count: 2k tags: post!Shibuya arc, takes place during this current arc in the manga, I can’t say manga spoilers bc we don’t know what’s going on, Culling Game content character(s): Noritoshi Kamo, fem!sorcerer reader pt l

No lie when you descended the mountain side from the empty temple. 

In fact you had never seen so many cots and sleeping arrangements in one place. Every piece of floor under Kamo name seemed to have a pair of feet on it. Most of them not even familiar with the grounds. Many of them found outside in this mess just like you had been. All of them proclaiming thanks to the young heir who'd shepherded them to this safe haven at least.

Displaced. And taken in without question. Noritoshi truthfully wasn't lying. At least about this.

Among those rescued were bunches of children. Someone knowing where their parents were. And some less fortunate. When a group of them who'd been seen without a parent or guardian since you came, were circled around a little girl who'd tripped. You found a moment of purpose to help when everything else was in disarray. 

Wiping clean your hands on the backs of your pants after helping get the smudge of dirt off the little girls knees. And assure the rest of the kids that there was no blood and no one was going to get them. They were put at ease and acting more like rowdy kids as they began to go their own way once again. You don't quite hear what the cluster of kids said when they run off in the opposite direction. Unaware of most things but what was right in front of them after you consoled them. 

Instead of what was right in front of you, your eyes drift up towards the same thing you had been staring at every day since descending down the hill.

"It got bigger."

More than just caught off guard. You whip around to the semi familiar voice behind you. Noritoshi, with his arms crossed under the sleeves of his robes as he leans into the side of the doorway the kids originally tripped through. He was looking exactly at what you were as well. Looming over most of the city and Kyoto countryside was an eye sore more than just a new building. 

A blotch along the skyline. 

Devoid of light and overshadowing everything else. Even at high noon it felt like days had become dimmer since that thing blossomed into existence. Just like the rank stench of a curse. Whatever that thing was left your nostrils burning and skin crawling.

Noritoshi pushed off the door frame and straightened back up, "Do you have a moment?"

"Seems that's all I have these last few days." You retort to your host. Gracious as he was. The past two days felt nothing short of cabin fever from feeling so useless amongst the uncertainty. Not as humorous about it as you seemed to be. You redact your comment and answer him, "Yeah what?"

Still facing up towards the nameless bubble that overtook much of Kyoto, Noritoshi came beside you to clear his throat and lower his voice, "I was wondering if you gave anymore thought to what I told you."

Your eyebrow arched up, "That I can kill you if you lied to me?" The Kamo family head was not amused again so you folded your arms and stiffened up a little, "That sounded like gibberish. How am I suppose to believe anything you said when communications are basically down."

"The heads of the family have always been in contact," Noritoshi drew his attention away from the looming threat and back onto you, "The clans existed before the elders even. Besides, we were allotted more direct information today."

"Ok?" 

"I'd like to that to show you."

This sounded like a favor being disguised as something else. You hold onto your breath unsure what was in the best interest of you or anyone at this point. All you really knew was everything stunk like a persistent curse and you wanted it to end.

"Why aren't the clans working together then?" You poise a real question any sane thinking human would come up with. While equipped to deal with curses you did not feel equipped to deal with the politics of it all. 

A grimace on his face unlike the one the day before, "Things are....less than ideal."

"Really?"

Noritoshi wasn't delighted with your tone.

You sigh and decide against anything to self serving at his expense, "Fine. If it means possibly keeping everyone safe then what is it?"

That caught him slightly off guard, "What about yourself?" Noritoshi asked frankly.

Of course you scowl that someone from one of the clans would ask that, "I didn't become a Jujutsu Sorcerer to keep myself safe."

Admirable. He had to nod to that. Turning away quickly when he beckoned you to follow him back towards the innards of the Kamo estate.

Unlike the last time you were invited into what could only be described as a mock situations room. That had been involving dirty stares from a handful of men you didn't know or even heard of. And your credentials as a sorcerer scrutinized even in a time of panic when you thought help would be welcomed with open arms. Apparently the clans firmly held onto the idea that those serving themselves was severing everyone around them. You objectiably had different ideas about sorcery. 

Thankfully unlike last time when you had to deal with a room full of stuffy mindsets. You were surprised but worried to find no one awaiting to tell you that you couldn't be in there. 

What was there happened to be a jumble of papers, or what could constitute as a jumble, and two chairs pulled away from the table. Something about the urgency of such a small meeting left your skin crawling seeing the mess. Unease not worn often on your exterior. You looked around at the papers on the table and no one going over them.

"What is this?" You pick up the first few on the top with what appeared to be Noritoshi's hand writing all over them. Most of it seemed like chicken scratch saved for one word you picked out of the bunch, "Culling? What? What is this?"

Somber look on his pale features left Noritoshi gathering his thoughts like he was doing to the papers strewn out, "The heads of the family received more information on what those things seem to be connected to."

"Why aren't you discussing this with your clan then?" 

A pause from the man next to you, "...it seems alliances are already being formed."

Your brows pinch together leaving you to search for more of the papers on the table for an explanation, "Alliances? Alliances of what? What does this have to do with the giant stink ball in Kyoto? Or the curses? What does this have to do with what you told me yesterday about the Shibuya incident report?"

Something unfamiliar on the Sorcerer's face. You hadn't seen it yet. Something accustomed to worry crept onto Noritoshi and he handed you one piece of paper yet to make it into your grasp, "You couldn't have any idea working independently. That's why I asked you to come look these over. I just...I need someone to tell me they're reading this like I am."

Swelling your chest with a deep breath. You snatch the paper from him with a skeptical look once over. Whatever could be conjured up to add worse news to the unleashed curses rampaging across Japan. You held your breath with your eyes scanning it over. Feeling the air in you slowly draw out. Just as you finished the last few sentences. Suddenly you understood what could have made this worse.

"...it wants us to die..." Hands clammy and grasping for another deep breath, you read over the part again about the nineteen day warning. 

No, it wasn't a warning. This was an outright threat.

You shake your head trying to count the days that had melded together in your mind since everything went haywire, "That means...well, one...two...four-"

"Every Jujutsu Sorcerer has two weeks," Noritoshi having already done the math tipped his head down to scan the table for something. He took the deep breath you just couldn't seem to get a hold of. He grabbed for a paper tucked under pens and you watch them roll and scatter away from him, "...As of yesterday I may have sent a small handful of Kamo members to check the site out."

"Before you go this information?"

Noritoshi nodded, "I got this only an hour ago." He focused on the paper in front of him, "There were five sorcerers sent....and none of them have contacted me since they left."

Rightfully so you didn't like where this was going.

"I need to go look for them...I can't leave people to die like this." Noritoshi, though most the time calm and without a crack to his facade, faced you with both his eyes open and a waiver to his tone, "Will you come with me? Please, if something is going to happen to other sorcerers I can't let them be a victim of my own faults."

Much like the confrontation when you both ran into each other in the abandoned temple. This request left you at odds with your choices. Like coming with him or staying up at the temple alone. You could go with him. Or you could tell him no.

No meant possibly saving your own hide. But thinking about what those papers said, well, saving yourself seemed to mean nothing with a countdown. Only slight extension of the inevitable.

"Who will stay here to watch the civilians then?" A real concern you saw with non sorcerers piled into one place. The buffet for a curse or two that might catch a whiff of the displaced humans.

"I have sorcerers stationed here. With a single grade two member and a handful of semi-grade two sorcerers." Noritoshi had planned straticigally even before knowing everything that came into light, "You're at least a semi-grade one I take it."

The assumption irked you as you hadn't divulged anything yet to him for the sake of keeping as many tokens stacked in your favor, "....something like that, I suppose."

"Then we should be ok for any curses if we're careful."

"And why ask me instead of one of your own?"

"Because...." Noritoshi dropped his gaze down to the mess in front of him, "...I can trust someone who has no ties to the clans." He stopped and looked at you, "You'll kill me if I'm lying, which means more people will be safe if in fact sorcerers are turning on people."

He was right. About killing him. Not once had the thought left since being on high alert during all of this. If everything you read on those notes were right then going alone was suicide. For either of you.

"...One promise," You firmly demand. Noritoshi remains silent but nods. Finally with a deep breath you find your calm, "...neither of us go in that thing until the eighteenth day. Even if your members already went into it."

He held out on your words for a moment. Either mulling them over or finding something to make you promise. Finally Noritoshi spoke up, "...what happens on the eighteenth day then?"

What would happen? You could see if this set of rules was a bluff or you could comply. Either outcome seemed grim with little control for anyone at all. Faux hope with what you said next.

"On the eighteenth day we both go in." You said somberly, "I'll go in with you and anyone else you deem trustworthy enough." 

For a second it looked like he was going to carry on about something. But there was one thing you had to remind him to see crystal clear about all this.

Stepping close to the sorcerer your voice lowers and you make him look at you, "...I will kill you if you're lying. That promise still stands. Either you're on my side or your not....culling game or not, I won't let someone rule over me. Got it?"

Maybe he was getting use to it. Or perhaps Noritoshi believed you both to be truthfully on the same side now. He gave a nod and didn't falter, "I expect nothing else from the angel of death I met on the mountain side."

[kareofbears]

persona 5 strikers thoughts and feelings

This is going to be a long post. Like, the type of post you’d only really have time to read when you’re trying to sleep but you’re not ready to be unconscious yet so you’re just looking for something to do to spend your time with minimal effort. 

So in 2018, a masterpiece was born into the world: Into the Spider-verse was released and it was amazing—it’s honestly the best spiderman movie we have without a doubt, and it’ll be very far into the future before Spider-verse is beaten as the best spiderman movie. Them’s the facts. Then in 2019, Spider-man: Far From Home was dropped. It’s a great movie! Great characters, great continuation of who these characters are and works fantastic as a continuation of a story. It’s really hard trying to take the torch of a previous movie (or in Marvel’s case, juggling twenty something movies) and come up with a new movie that both works on its own, as well as being the next step in this series of films. Thus, with that idea in mind, I think it’s kind of unfair to judge into the spiderverse and far from home, because these are two movies with two completely different objectives in mind. 

Okay, so this is still a persona 5 strikers post, I promise, but the idea is the same: Persona 5 could basically do whatever it wanted—new story, new characters, new everything, and it’s just plain old awesome. However, Persona 5 strikers did not have that sort of freedom. It was bound to the original game, and it had its own rules and stuff it had to keep intact, characters they had to work with, and on top of that, it had to justify its existence as a sequel (lets pretend money doesnt exist lmfao). 

SO, the big question is: did it do that? Did it justify its existence? 

And my answer: holy fuck did it ever do that

I came into this game knowing the extreme bare minimum. I knew there was someone named Sophia, and i knew there was roadtrip, and i knew there were Personas. That’s my knowledge of it before i played it on the Switch.  I should also clarify like, early on, that i was not expecting anything from this game. At all. I was the world’s biggest cynic of this game—if you scroll down my p5s tag far enough, youll just see me complaining about a game that hasn’t even come out yet. I was fully expecting to have this be a Waifu show, and any male character that isn’t Akira to just be shoved aside like some kind of nerd in a high school hallway, and i have never been more pleased to be wrong. In fact, i actually owe it an apology, because of how fucking rude i was for no reason!!! Because this game deserves everything to be honest. 

Persona 5 strikers is, frankly, insane. Insane in the sense that it got to pull shit off that just would never have existed in the original game, because the original game is scared. It had to be as impressive as possible and garner as much attention as possible. Strikers does not have that problem—every single person who bought that game does not need to be convinced that persona 5 is a good game. They already played it. That means Atlus can just fuck around and have a good time, and man did they have a good time. There’s still scenes that still shock me if i think about it too hard, because i’m used to atlus having to follow this sort of rule set when it comes to persona 5 (or any of the main games im assuming, but i havent played them.) And on top of that, there’s still shit that’s Atlus Trademarked Branded in a good way. The style of story of story telling, and revealing the mystery that is so integral to what p5 is, is still there. 

So, to make this even a little bit comprehensible, i will make a list! 

First of all, What is this game?

In short, this game is an OVA of an anime. It’s bonus side content that has one thing in mind: to showcase these lovable characters more by putting them in fun situations. That’s it, and it is just phenomenal. That was the main point of, i’d say, like forty hours of the game. It’s just fun times with fun characters. 

But to get deeper of what i think is happening, or what they were thinking during the development, is that this is a second opportunity. Persona 5 (as we all know) had a lot of problems, and we were not quiet about those problems. We yelled it all out, made posts, made complaints on every social media platform ever. And Atlus heard all of them, and Strikers is a way to mitigate those mistakes. Aside from being a fun OVA, Strikers also works to be a deeper exploration of these characters—more specifically, the characters that did not receive much in the original game. Creating this sequel is having the ability to redo what they felt (or to be more specific, we felt) in the original game while adding new ones. I will get to that in a second.  

The format of the game 

Absolutely brilliant to throw them on a road trip. P5V already forced us to experience Shibuya for 200+ hours, and im so glad that they didn’t do that again. Going from town to town, making us experience these new places alongside our favorite characters is so good, and it just makes sense. It’s fun, it’s lighthearted, and it’s actually shockingly good. But one thing i do want to talk about early on is the way the story unfolds and the villains that they use, and what they do with it because it’s very interesting. 

So as we explore japan and stuff, we encounter jails, and with those jails comes an antagonist. This antagonist works to be a parallel to one of our characters. That character will find it in their hearts to feel bad for the antagonist, because the antagonist could have been them had the original game not happen. At first I thought all of the thieves were gonna get an antagonist, and i was really hyped for the ryuji one. And then came to hour forty of the game where i realized “yeah that’s not gonna happen. There’s just not enough time.” And i was right, and the game ended. But i am not salty at all, honestly, because the people who got a direct antagonist were: Ann, Yusuke, and Haru. (we wont count zen and sophie). 

Is there a trend??? Yes. these are all characters in the original game that have received the worst treatment by atlus. The three of them are basically cast aside the minute they finished their original arc, and its horrible! BUT that’s why this is the path that atlus chose for them—to give them more depth, and screentime, and a way to show their inner self. That isn’t to say that the ones who aren’t those three (makoto, futaba, mona, akira, ryuji) didn’t get anything. Futaba still has her thing at the end with ichinose, and she was very prevalent and animated during the rest of the game. Mona and Akira have to be a focal points, that’s just the nature of the game. The other two though, I will talk about in depth in a second.  

Makoto

Y’all i poke fun at shumako fans sometimes cause its kind of easy and fun, but i honestly love makoto. In my very first playthrough of p5 (my first ever jrpg game, first persona game, i had no idea what i was doing), i had only maxed out two characters: ryuji and makoto. And i know she had a lot of screentime and love in the original game which is great, but i truly felt like she was dissed in this game. Her only roles were

A driver

Someone to tell them “we don’t have a choice. Let’s keep going and see where this takes us.” (seriously, if you replay this game, you will see how much she does this)

Idk, i just wish she had more to do, especially compared to how much love they gave the other characters. 

But let’s talk about some of the new characters! 

Zenkichi

Damn you atlus. Damn you and your insistence at bringing in cop characters. I was fully on board with hating zenkichi, i was fucking ready for it. I was convinced that there was nothing they could do convince to like zenkichi. I was immune to their copaganda. 

And then i ended up loving him, which makes me sad a little bit. I didn’t realize how desperate i was to have an adult who has a persona. Someone who wants the world to change just as much as they do, while still having that aspect of them that makes them adult. Like??? As someone who is technically an adult, its a breath of fresh air. An adult. Who fights. For justice. Using a persona. And god i love akane so much, and her obsession with the thieves (that scene is probably in my top ten fave scenes of the game). Also what i loved about zenkichi is that he fucking hates the cops!! He hates the system of the cops!! And thats why i actually really started to love him!! Because i thought it was atlus saying that the systematic problem of the police cannot be solved by one person, and zenkichi threw away his badge. I actually cried at that part!! 

But then he became a cop again, and i was just :/ but as a character, i really love him to bits and would love to do a study on him, or at least use him as an outside pov. But! i absolutely love his persona, since im a les miserables fan hehe

Sophia 

she’s probably my favorite new aspect of the game. I was ready to not like her—again, i just suck like that, lmfao—and when i saw her, i was scared that she was just another waifu. I mean, she was very cute after all. But then as the game went on, i thought she was a little too cute. And even further into the game, i finally slapped myself in the face and realized oh my god shes not a waifu. Shes a sister. 

That blew my mind, im ngl to you. A female character that isn’t supposed to be romanced? By jove, what a miracle! 

And she…is an amazing character. Im sorry, i just love her so much. I love her so much that she  probably ranks as my fifth or sixth favorite character which is surprising even to me. Everything about her is delightful and invigorating. She’s funny??? Her comedic timing is amazing, and she has such chemistry with the rest of the team. She’s actually useful to the plot, and while her character design is a little too on the nose for me in terms of cuteness (i mean, good god she’s wearing oversized sweater to show how cute and tiny she is, and her hair has literal hearts in it), she is absolutely lovable. 

But what i actually really wanna gush about for a second is sophia at the last stage of the game. You get the idea, i dont really like to get excited over things, so at this point i figured that there was nothing this game could do to shock me. 

And then sophia had a persona awakening. 

Like. holy fuck did i yell. I didnt realize what was happening until the music had already kicked in. and its just so fucking smart!!! Sophia??? The ai?? With no heart?? gOT A PERSONA???? AWAKENING??? BECAUSE SHE LEARNED WHAT THE HEART IS AND THE PASSION THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO GET A PERSONA??? I started crying honestly, because it was just so smart. And looking back on it now, its obvious!! Of course it would lead to this, it only made sense that the culmination of her character arc leads to her getting a persona, nothing else would have been as good. Also, her voice actor is just amazing?? When she was talking to ichinose at the end, i actually got incredibly emotional because of the line reads. Its just so spot on and it really captures the essence of sophia.

Muah. five stars Atlus. You got me. 

Ryuji <3!!!!

Oh man. Oh boy. Okay. so where do i start. 

Yall know i love him. Hes probably my favorite fictional male character of all time, and he is the one i was the absolute most cynical about in this game. I was expecting literally nothing. Nothing. Like. nothing. I thought he was just gonna keep being used as a joke, or a gag, and he’s gonna be super horny all the time for the other girls and it was gonna make me mad and there was gonna be some insane homophobic/queerphobic jokes in every other scene and i know i was being unfair, but i cant help it. 

And then i played the first two hours of the game, and i cried the entire time. Because ryuji has never been better than he is in this game. Its crazy. 

The ryuji in persona 5 strikers is who ryuji should have been/how he should have been treated this entire time. From the actual funny jokes (for example, the gold bar joke + his reaction to it in the beginning of the game), defending his female friends instead of being the one people need to defend from (natsume arc), and the fact that he was the one to be there with morgana and akira in the very beginning of the game. Its such a small thing that they didnt even need to do, but it was such an integral part of the original game for me, that i just was convinced that nothing like this was going to happen. But then it happened. Its just small stuff like that that could have been overlooked but it wasn’t because this game? Persona 5 strikers? Fucking loves ryuji. 

The actual respect they gave this boy is insane and i wasn't ready for it. Like, they gave the shujin trio lunch, they gave the little charm of the katana when they were in natsume’s jail, and, in my opinion this is the second-best thing that they could have given ryuji is sophia. Ryuji and sophia are the pinnacle of a brother & sister bonding relationship in the game that isn’t akira & futaba. And its really prevalent too?? Small stuff from the beginning of the game (pulling her out of a jail, calling her shorty), but then you have the iconic “shut the fuck up” scene, and that scene was so well characterized and written and voice acted, that somehow him saying “fuck” was the least exciting part of that scene to me. Ryuji is an older brother to her, like its undoubtable, and its only further cemented at the end of the game where Ryuji helps out ichinose because he knows how much sophia cares about her. This game. Love ryuji. And i love. This game. 

You know what else i love? Akiryu. 

Guys. i was fully prepared to starve in terms of akiryu. But theres just. So much of it. I wont get too deep into it, because i think this aspect of the game for me still needs marinate a little bit. Like, what was that last shot when EMMA died and Ryuji walked to approach Akira so they could relish in their victory together?? And the smile from both of them??? What the fuck. That was amazing. Also Joker being saved by Ryuji when he was about to fall from the cliff to save sophia??? WHAT. The LEADER AND HIS RIGHT HAND MAN? WHAT. anyway. If theres anything i want to keep for myself in my own brain, its the akiryu aspect of this game, so i wont talk too much about that part of things (instead, itll probably manifest in fic lmfaooo). 

Sure, there’s tidbits of stuff i dont like that they gave ryuji: sexualizing ann in that one cut scene and making him touch the jails even though it hurts, and i recognize those and frown at them, but for the most part, i am blown away with how they treated him.

Basically, Ryuji has never been better. From the opening of the game with him being the first text message and the one to sling his arm around akira, to the very last cut scene where it was ryuji wordlessly leaving because he’s so confident that they would never be separated for long, this game adores Ryuji and i am so so happy to say that.

The Royal aspect of things

Yeah, i had to talk about this, but itll be a short thing i just wanted to point out. Because the last part of this game...is persona 5 royal. Which is curious. Like taking reality and giving that power to someone else so you dont have to experience suffering anymore? And even like, the final section just looked a lot like the top half of maruki’s palace?? And whats even crazier is that we had a boss fight with sophia, just like how we had a boss fight with sumire? Royal and Strikers have like, the same thesis statement. It’s kind of uncanny.It’s interesting, it’s like atlus came up with these two ideas, and then just decided they liked both of them so much that they just did it twice. I don’t mind though—actually, in terms of how the last Palace/Jails go, i probably like them both about equally. 

Though i did love the final battle in this one more than i did in royal. Splitting into teams?? Thats cool as fuck, and really innovative and i didnt see it coming. It also kicked my ass. A lot. 

Now for the last stretch: the small stuff!

The music — bomb as fuck. In my heart, Daredevil is ranked the same as Rivers. Axe to grind is also amazing, but Daredevil owns me

Akechi — i really debated whether or not to talk about him, but i figured a bullet point should be enough. Im really shocked that he wasnt in this at all. Like not even a name drop. If this is an OVA, and the point of the game is to please the fans, and akechi is arguably the fan favorite character, i was really ready for something. But there was nothing, except for the pancake hallway if that even counts as a reference. Thats it. Thats all i wanted to say about him.

The humour — FUCKING HILARIOUS im convinced that in my fifty hour playtime, five of that is dedicated to me laughing and unable to continue the game 

Akira — so much personality! His lines of dialogue are crazy sometimes (like. Whats up with him saying Ryuji has ‘nice abs’ when they were in bath? Im crazy and even i dont know what the fuck that could mean) 

Battle system — oh my god i almost forgot to talk about this. I love it! I kind of miss the turn based aspect just because i found it very comforting for some reason, but this hack and slash style of gameplay is so invigorating because i do feel like it justifies shit like the baton pass and huge attacks.  This battle system fully encompases how the Phantom Thieves are supposed to fight, you know what i mean?

Anyway, thats my thoughts on strikers. Loved it. Amazing. 9.3/10, wouldve been higher but Konoe’s Jail almost bored me to death. Also im a monster and i didnt do any requests that isn’t a fun one, teehee. As if i play persona 5 for the persona aspect of things.

[soto-translates]

Zero-Sum Sept 2017 article: post anime info

I snagged the scans from @seiten-taisei, thank you! In lieu of a chapter, we got info about the Blu-ray and DVDs, comments from the cast, and news about more goods.

My translations are below the images, with my notes in [square brackets].  Anything in (parenthesis) or 【fancy brackets】is part of the text.

TV anime “Saiyuki Reload Blast” Blu-ray & DVD on sale in high demand!

Although the in-demand TV anime “Saiyuki Reload Blast” has ended, many developments await; including sale of the Blu-ray and goods, and the opening of events!  Check the official site for the latest information!!

Saiyuki Series 20 year anniversary Saiyuki Reload Blast

Volume 3 on sale 10/25 (Wed)!!

◆ DATA: Volume 3 Sale Date: 10/25/2017 (Wed) / Included Episodes: ep.7 - ep.9 / Price: Blu-ray ¥11,000+tax, DVD ¥10,000+tax Pre-order Extras: ① 2-sided sleeve illustration by Minekura Sensei　② Jacket with anime illustration　③ Acrylic key ring featuring illustration by Minekura Sensei　④ Set of 2 original can badges (with images from the sleeve case)　⑤ Drama CD　⑥ Priority application ticket for event (premier afternoon performance 2/4/2018 (Sun) ) Sales agency: Frontier Works corporation / Distributor: Kadokawa corporation

◎ Special acrylic key rings featuring illustration by Minekura Sensei!! ◎ Volume 3 comes with these!!

©Minekura Kazuya ・Ichijinsha / Saiyuki Reload Blast Project

◆ DATA: Regular Extras ① Special booklet (40p total)　② Original post card　③ Video extra (only vol.2 & vol.3) ※ Video extra contents: vol.2 = clean opening, vol.3 = clean ending

◆ DATA: Volume 1 Sale Date: Already on sale in high demand!! Included Episodes: ep.1 - ep.3 Price: Blu-ray ¥11,000+tax, DVD ¥10,000+tax Sales Agency: Frontier Works corporation Distributor: Kadokawa corporation

◆ DATA: Volume 2 Sale Date: Already on sale in high demand!! Included Episodes: ep.4 - ep.6 Price: Blu-ray ¥11,000+tax, DVD ¥10,000+tax Sales Agency: Frontier Works corporation Distributor: Kadokawa corporation

◆ DATA: Volume 4 Sale Date: 11/29/2017 (Wed) Included Episodes: ep.10 - ep.12 Price: Blu-ray ¥11,000+tax, DVD ¥10,000+tax Sales Agency: Frontier Works corporation Distributor: Kadokawa corporation

◇ Participating shops for extras ※ Please see official website for contents of extras 【MinekuraKazuya.net】【Animate】【Amazon.co.jp】【Bunkyoudou, Animega (※ excludes some shops)】【Tsutaya (online / Sumiya Fuji Chuuou / Sumiya Mishima / Sumiya Kannami / Umeda Douyama / Tsutaya Ebisubashi / Shibuya Tsutaya / Aeon Mall Hinode】【Neo・Wing】【Getchu.com (Getchu Shop)】【Seven Net Shopping】【Ami Ami】【Kyara-ani.com】【Ichijinsha Online Shop】

◇ Animate early reservation campaign Campaign Period: Vol.4 ... Open - 10/9 (begins Mon) Eligible Shops: All Animate stores (includes online shop) Reservation Extras: Reproduction image of pre-airing countdown by Minekura Kazuya Sensei     Vol.1 = Genjo Sanzo, vol.2 = Son Goku, vol.3 = Sha Gojyo, vol.4 = Cho Hakkai ※ During campaign period, customers who place reservations (totaling over ¥1,000) will receive a special receipt. ※ Campaigns for vol.1, vol.2, and vol.3 are closed. ※ Extras will be given at time of purchase. ※ Supplies are limited. ※ Please see participating shops for more details.

◆ Holding a TV anime “Saiyuki Reload Blast” special event!! ◆

◆ DATA: 【Shot 1】 Date: 12/17/2017 (Sun) Performance Times: Afternoon performance - doors open 1:45pm / performance begins 2:30pm     Night performance - doors open 5:45pm / performance begins 6:30pm Performers: Seki Toshihiko, Hoshi Souichirou, Hirata Hiroaki, Ishida Akira (planned) Place: Bellesalle Shinjuku Grand Ticket Price: ¥6,800 (includes tax) all seats reserved ◎ Blu-ray & DVD vol.1 comes with priority application ticket for “Afternoon Performance”, vol.2 for “Evening Performance”.

◆ DATA: 【Shot 2】 Date: 2/4/2018 (Sun) Performers: Seki Toshihiko, Hoshi Souichirou, Hirata Hiroaki, Ishida Akira, Katsuki Masako, Konishi Katsuyuki (planned) Place: Kantou Kinkou (planned) Ticket Price: ¥7,800 (includes tax) ◎ Blu-ray & DVD vol.3 comes with priority application ticket for “Afternoon Performance”, vol.4 for “Evening Performance”.

※ Details of the event will be posted at the official anime web site.　※ Performers may change without notice.

©Minekura Kazuya ・Ichijinsha / Saiyuki Reload Blast Project

Presenting screen caps from episodes 9 - 12!!

◆ Cast Comment ◆

Now that the final episode has been recorded, we receive comments from Genjo Sanzo’s voice Seki Toshihiko-san, Son Goku’s voice Hoshi Souichirou-san, Sha Gojyo’s voice Hirata Hiroaki-san, and Cho Hakkai’s voice Ishida Akira-san.

< Questions > ① Please tell us your impressions having finished recording the final episode. ② Looking back through all the episodes, is there a scene or a line that made a lasting impression on you? ③ Please give us a highlight from the final episode, and leave a message for the fans who support the TV anime “Saiyuki Reload Blast”.

◎ Seki Toshihiko-san, voice of Genjo Sanzo ① They were in a big pinch heading into the final episode!  The Sanzo Ikkou never retreat, even face to face with Nataku’s overwhelming abilities.  As expected, I feel like everyone’s zeal for acting has gone up.  The final episode definitely has a unique feel to it. ② Episode 8 “Kekkai” [Barrier].  Sanzo and Kougaiji’s head-on confrontation.  It would be easy with all four of the Ikkou, but could Sanzo stop Kougaiji on his own!?  That was exciting.  The line that made a lasting impression on me was “You plan on killing me while Goku and the others aren’t here, and getting your hands on two scriptures.  It’s a huge chance to kill two birds with one stone.  You sure are lucky, aren’t you Prince.” ③ I think you’ll see some scenes in the second half that weren’t in the original manga, put there in order to give an end to the story for the TV anime.  And we’re the same as you!  We’re wondering about the remaining mysteries as well.  I really hope you’ll watch over their journey until the very end.  Please support them!

◎ Hoshi Souichirou-san, voice of Son Goku ① I was seriously like “It’s already over!?”  It was the first TV anime adaptation in a while, so it was super sad when it ended.  But it was a very fulfilling and satisfying recording session.  I look forward to the day we get to do the continuation of this. ② Saiyuki is definitely a treasure trove of famous scenes and lines.  There’s everything from casual lines to cool one-liners so I can’t choose, but, for example, Goku’s answer to Tenjin in episode 3... or the scene where Kanzeon Bosatsu scolds Goku at the end of the Gaiden arc...  There’s lots of parts I like. ③ What’s going to happen to the “Saiyuki” journey...?  What path will the Sanzo Ikkou choose...?  Please look forward to the last of this TV series.  And look out for Saiyuki from now on too!

◎ Hirata Hiroaki-san, voice of Sha Gojyo ① It was over in a flash.  Even though there were 12 episodes in all, it felt far shorter than that.  It felt like we ran through it in an instant, so I’d have liked to do more. ② Sharak Sanzo entered in the second half, so it was really heart-pounding and fun.  As expected, out of all the series, the story of the Gaiden arc left a huge impression. ③ As for a highlight, I’d like it if the people who watch could feel it for themselves.  Since the second half of recording coincided with the start of the TV anime’s airing, we were able to record while taking into consideration the fans’ response; it felt like we were making it with all the fans.  Please watch to the very end.

◎ Ishida Akira-san, voice of Cho Hakkai ① It felt like the Sharak Sanzo arc finished in an instant.  Amid all of that we got to see important movements by the Kougaiji side and Heaven side, so I think there was important content. ② That would be the shocking remark caused by Taruchie’s foresight.  Overturning fate with brute force may be the Sanzo Ikkou’s way, but it’s uncertain how things will develop in the future. ③ I suppose the confrontation with Nataku is the highlight.  The Sanzo Ikkou will continue West no matter what happens, so I pray for another opportunity for us to see them in an anime.

TV anime official web site ▶︎ http://www.saiyuki-rb.jp/ TV anime official Twitter ▶︎ @saiyuki_rb

STAFF Original work: Minekura Kazuya, serialized in “Gekkan Comic Zero-Sum” (Ichijinsha) Director: Nakano Hideaki / Series Composition: Konuta Kenji / Character Design: Satou Youko / Sub Character Design: Kobayashi Toshimitsu / General Animation Directors: Kobayashi Toshimitsu, Satou Youko / Prop Design: Sugimura Tomokazu / Action Animation Director: Saiki Yasuhiro / Art Director: Mayuzumi Masaki / Color Setting: Yamagami Aiko / Director of Photography: Asakawa Shigeki / Editing: Kimura Kashiko / Music: Katou Tatsuya / Music Producer: Kawashima Mai / Music Production: Lantis / Sound Production: Jinnan Studio / Sound Director: Takakuwa Hajime / Animation Production: Platinum Vision

CAST Genjo Sanzo & Konzen Douji: Seki Toshihiko / Son Goku & Goku: Hoshi Souichirou / Sha Gojyo & General Kenren: Hirata Hiroaki / Cho Hakkai & Field Marshal Tenpou: Ishida Akira / Prince Nataku: Kouda Kaho / Kougaiji: Kusao Takeshi / Dokugakuji: Yamanoi Jin / Kanzeon Bosatsu: Igarashi Rei / Taruchie: Saito Chiwa / Saitaisai: Suwabe Junichi

◆ Original sound track on sale now!! ◆

◆ DATA: TV anime “Saiyuki Reload Blast” original sound track Sale Date: Already on sale in high demand / Price: ¥3,300+tax / Music: Katou Tatsuya Sales Agency: Lantis corporation / Distributor: Bandai Visual corporation Details: 2 CD set (background + TV size OP/ED themes) Jacket: Original anime illustration

◆ Anime version drama CD on sale now!! ◆

◆DATA: TV anime “Saiyuki Reload Blast” drama CD Sale Date: Vol.1 = already on sale in high demand / vol.2 = 11/29/2017 (Wed) Price: ¥2,000+tax / Stock Number: MFCZ-1084 through MFCZ-1086 Sales Agency: Frontier Works corporation / Distributor: Kadokawa corporation

◆ “Saiyui Series” booth display at AGF 2017!! ◆

“Saiyuki Series” booth will be on display at the “Animate Girls Festival 2017 (AGF 2017)” happening 11/3 (Fri) and 11/4 (Sat) in Ikebukuro, Tokyo!

◎ “Saiyuki Reload Blast” can badge collection shot 2 Price: 1 for ¥500 (event price)     1 box (8 pieces) for ¥4,000 (event price) Lineup: Genjo Sanzo, Son Goku, Sha Gojyo, Cho Hakkai     (2 types per character, total 8 types) Size: Approximately 57 mm x 57 mm Details: Blind choice / 1 box of 8     (※ Box may not contain all variations)

◎ “Saiyuki Reload Blast” Sanzo Ikkou bromide collection (also includes some shots from the warehouse!) In addition to the above, numerous goods using illustrations from the manga and anime are set to be released!  Check the official “Saiyuki Reload Blast” TV anime website for goods details!!

◆ DATA: AGF 2017 “Saiyuki Series” booth Period of Operation: 11/3/2017 (Fri) - 11/4 (Sat) Main Site: Ikebukuro Sunshine City    ※ Please see special website for details about entrance tickets, etc. Booth Number: Y-31 (【Yellow Area】Cultural building 2nd floor, hall D) Animate Girls Festival 2017 (AGF 2017) special website: https://www.animate.co.jp/ex/agf/

The latest information on the 20 year project is on the official “Saiyuki Series 20 year project” website!! http://www.ichijinsha.co/jp/special/saiyuki20th/

© Minekura Kazuya・Ichijinsha / Saiyuki Reload Blast Project

Information on the Saiyuki Reload Blast 2018 calendar

Now Printing Front cover features original illustration by Minekura Sensei!!

“Saiyuki Reload Blast” 2018 calendar ◆ Approximately 61 cm x 42 cm (A2 size) ◆7 sheets Price: ¥1,600+tax Set to go on sale in November!! The special extra with mail order from Movic is an original illustration sheet by Minekura Sensei! See the image after it arrives ♪

How to order via mail order: Access the website via the following URL or barcode, then enter the required information.

[QR code] ◀︎ Access here from your smart phone   ※ Customer is responsible for telephone charges etc.   ※ Those who cannot read the barcode, please access via the following URL.   ※ Not compatible with feature phones. Access from your PC ▶︎ http://www.movic.jp/shop/g/g00299-00200-00031/

○ Personal information obtained from customers will not be used without permission of the customer. Details on the above are here! . . . Movic HP ▶︎ http://www.movic.jp/

● Please see the website for payment methods. ● Price is item price (tax) + packing fee (¥300 per shipment) + various service charges (COD ¥250 / NP pay later ¥220) = total cost ● Unopened items may be returned within one week of delivery.  In this case, the customer is responsible for postage. ● There are a vast number of deliveries at the end and beginning of the year, so delivery around those times may be delayed. ● Supplies are limited.  We apologize if we sell out. ● Please only order via Internet (PC or smartphone).  (No post cards, phone calls, cash registered mail, stamps, or money order, etc.)

Mail order contact information Movic “Saiyuki Calancer” mail order TEL ... 03-5995-7204 Business hours ... 10:00am - 5:00pm (excluding Sat, Sun, holidays, 12/30-1/8) Email ... shopinfo@movic.jp

[thebaalpit-blog]

I like P5 a lot (Spoilers)

So I finished P5 and now that i’ve come out of playing it twice, both in separate languages, I have a lot of wild opinions to go about so here we go. It should go without seeing I’m gonna talk about the game freely, but here’s a warning in case.

I would have to say I like the story of the game a lot, but I’m accounting for the first, fourth, and everything after the fifth arc. Kamoshida is an incredibly strong antagonist who does a million things for setting up the game very well, Sae and Futaba are great ways of showing that Changes of Hearts can happen to people on their own so long as they’re willing to make the change, and Goro and Shido are great personal antagonists for the group and Joker respectively. I like the final storyline a lot too with Yaldabaoth, but it’s very cheesy social commentary in a lot of ways and Yaldy himself isn’t a compelling antagonist so much as the idea that the strict social order that controlled Japan so strongly gave birth to his existence. I’m a big fan of stories that have weird realms or things going on because of the desires of a person being so strong they manifest out of the blue due to human sin and it’s part of the reason why P3 and P4 disappoint me on that front, because they’re largely god plots with very little of that, while P5 is a god plot but it is a god plot created by humans and their sin. While Yaldy himself isn’t particularly impressive, the desire that the Citizens of Tokyo had towards not wanting any part of society to break even a little bit being so strong it creates a god to ensure that never comes about, is and it’s wonderful when Joker summons Satanael to blow his fucking brains out.

I am a big fan of things generally considered to be evil or negative are framed as heroic or things people use to grow. So I appreciate that Joker and Arsene while both very menacing and demonic looking are the heroes of the story and his persona. Arsene especially has such an amazing design that I love looking at him and honestly want to get some sort of figure of him if one gets made. Joker is a fantastic way to make a quiet protagonist that also has a lot of character to him. Between his own backstory, the grudge with Shido, Goro being his foil, and his generally menacing demeanor combined with very theatric and over the top motions he makes, he has a ton of personality in him. The game in general does, but I was not expecting to love the Protagonist more than most of the main cast. His ultimate persona being Satanael is also fucking cool, because not only is the entire moment just an amazing thing and the scope of the whole fight is absolutely beautiful, but Satanael in gnosticism is the dude who is supposed to keep Yaldabaoth in check. So it’s awesome they played to the Trickster theme, the “Blacks are whites” mentality P5 has towards the protagonists, and the lore of the mythological figures themselves. It’s such a cool moment and the music that plays during the summoning is a great arrangement on the boss them that played prior. I can talk forever about Joker and his persona, but I need to talk about other stuff.

The main cast is great. I love Ryuji, he’s easily the best bro character of the games excepting maybe Eikichi. You get to see him grow from a bitter teenager with a huge chip on his shoulder, to a young man with a strong sense of self respect and justice. He gets into silly situations and can be stupid, but he’s a genuinely cool dude and I love him. Ann’s alright and she enhances Ryuji a bit too since they’re both old friends, but they can mess around with one another and it feels organic. I don’t think highly of her tbh, but she’s alright for the most part. Makoto is awesome, being Joker’s contemporary in the group. She’s smart, she has a good head on her shoulders, she kicks ass, and has an amazing outfit. It’s really cool that when they thought of a girl they would try to push as the romantic interest for Joker they made her as much of a character in the group as him. Yusuke’s hilarious, but also is one of the more emotional parts of the team. His interactions with Futaba are great and shows how his weird perspective connects with others. Futaba herself is a ton of fun with her goofy ass personality and smart ass comments. Haru I don’t care for much, but she’s got cool animations so I warmed up a bit to her over time.

The antagonists are all kind of a mixed bag, but the great ones are great. I won’t talk about Yaldy because I already mentioned his deal before. Kamoshida’s an immaculate piece of shit. I cannot tell you how happy I am that he is never once hidden in that aspect. If they had tried to hide his shitty attitude when adults or whatever were around it would cheapen the whole thing, but nope he’s just as shitty to you regardless of whose presence he’s in. It helps that he has such a connection to the school that he effects literally everyone there even the people who don’t associate with him. The underlying character depth also of him being a gold medalist who probably got fucked up by the societal and personal pressure of having to keep being the best giving him a warped perspective on others owing him for this is also great. He’s just got a ton of fucking great things about himself and a super easily punchable face. 

For Goro and Shido, they’re both great. Goro is a fantastic foil to Joker, also being a user of the Wild Card and a pawn of Shido’s due to wanting to be recognized by his dad. His being sent from home to home as an unwanted child has fucked him up so much he desires to see the destruction of the same society that allowed this to happen. At the same time though Goro only has two Persona, Loki and Robin Hood. The underlying implication of course being Goro has only ever had himself and never actually made connections with others so he has two Persona compared to Joker’s several. Shido on the other hand is a good antagonist for how militant he is and how business like he is when handling others. He doesn’t actually recognize the people he steps over in his path to success. He barely recognizes Goro looking like his mother and doesn’t even know Joker is the same child he got locked off into Shibuya. It shows his megalomania off very well that he ultimately created his own enemy and him killing literally everyone tying back to him characterizes perfectly how militant and cold he truly is. 

As for the rest of them. Sae is a good antagonist for her purposes, but she’s not as strong as the other three. Madarame has moments where they characterize him later, but them insisting on his murdering of Yusuke’s mom and his moustache twirling villainy combined with that makes him a very confusing and lame character. Kaneshiro has a minute of characterization, but is a fucking joke villain. Okumura is boring and has a nice moment of depth with the space station kit, but unfortunately he’s being a nothing character every other minute in the worst storyline of the game so rip.

The music in the game is really fantastic. Beneath the Mask and Rivers in the Desert are hands down two of the best tracks in Shoji Meguro’s history of music. Blooming Villain is my favorite non-final boss track in Persona. Layer Cake is CATCHY AS FUCK. Price and When My Mother Was Around are amazing dungeon tracks with Whims of Fate being even better than those two. There’s a lot of other great tracks as well, but I cannot list every single one.

The gameplay mechanics overall improved for the better in a lot of ways and Confidants are really cool too. I do have to say though some of the non-party member ones fall into a really lame pattern of “Character is griefed by other outside character in some way, go to mementos and get rid of them.” But the storylines more than often make up for them. Hifumi, Munehisa, Sadayo, and Toranosuke are some of the more memorable ones. 

If I have complaints though it’s that Mementos is fucking lame. Some of the dungeons are really boring or have lame gimmicks or are LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNG (Kaneshiro and Okumura’s palaces most notably). The story feels like it’s going nowhere for a while. Bosses are boring for the most part with really lame ass mid battle gimmicks, the Sphinx is an absolutely garbage boss fight too. The best bosses are probably Shido and Shadow Okumura, the former because of it not being a lame gimmick driven fight and the latter because you can find fun ways to negate entire legions of the robots. Shadow Madarame and Kamoshida are okay too, but they’re not remarkable or particularly interesting either. The designs on a lot of them are pretty lame too. Also Morgana needs to shut the fuck up about telling me to go to sleep. I love the little bastard, but jesus christ.

But yeah, those are my thoughts on P5. It’s a really cool game that I love a lot that honestly has a decent number of faults, but I don’t care about them which is surprising because I haven’t felt that strongly about a game since like... Metal Gear Rising. Not that those two have a lot of crossover sans the incredibly buff final boss politician with lyrical music in the back.