#yes i know he was an antagonist when he first appeared in the manga but he didn’t exactly stay that way

[zombiemollusk]

concept: what if yugioh but shadi/hasan turns out to be the big villain? or at least one major villain, on par with zork?

not that i know for sure what this guy’s deal was (i don’t think anyone really does??) but he sure does fucked up stuff in atem’s name that. doesn’t really seem to be addressed all that much in the end?

like maybe millenium world could have been about atem deciding “i am not your idealized pharaoh, and i am not your symbol of justice here to maintain an abusive system. i will fight against this paradigm even if it’s meant to benefit me because this power should not be worth the pain and suffering it has caused - including what i caused and perpetuated with it.

and i will be okay without it, because even without that power, i will still be me, and i will still have my friends.”

it’d still fit right into the whole finding-his-own-identity + power-of-friendship theme, but without seemingly justifying or brushing aside massacres or prison-slavery systems. and if set has the same realization and also fights this system (instead of continuing it as pharaoh), it’d really drive home the point that this message is about way more than just “ohhh look how woke atem is”.

and i think a villain with an onscreen history of treating people like concepts and tools with an overly idealized vision of the past would have been perfect for that.

[todomitoukei]

Honestly it’s a depressing ending for the villains. We get hardly any follow up for the remaining ones, Toga was the last one I expected to die and I was hoping it was a ruse at first. But since it’s official it’s heartbreaking. It’s lacklustre just throwing in a character to portray Tomura and what would happen if a civilian did reach a hand out, and throwing in another character for Deku to interact with. Honestly even the heroes were pointless, nothing has really changed in the system. Hawks never got a consequence for his actions, hell it could have been explored of a hero murdering a villain questioning the like of what makes a villain or hero. But he rises in ranks and has done nothing. I just feel it’s such a rushed ending, and I would have been ok with the same ending if it didn’t feel so messy and compiled together. There are so many loose ends and follow ups from characters, Shoto especially. It’s unfortunate, but honestly I’m glad it’s over. I lost passion after a while, but I appreciate the joy it’s gave me when I first started following the manga and getting into the anime, and experiencing the highs and lows of manga leaks. Dabi was my main one, and it’s one positive I gain from this ending for how open it is to his fate. It’s just sad that it ended this way.

Hori's biggest strength is for sure coming up with interesting ideas - like you said, exploring certain parts could've made for an incredibly interesting story. However, his biggest weakness is not following through with what he's starting, doing a 180 right at the end every time.

The cast has always been too big, yet he chooses to show us minor villains like Gentle and La Brava - who receive a happy ending - while the main antagonists endings aren't even being shown.

As much as the villains dying sucks (subjectively but also objectively since the story spent so much time telling us it's about reaching out and helping everyone no matter what), if they had been at least given a proper conclusion it could've been acceptable, yet after 400+ chapters, the author couldn't even bother to show all the main antagonists and their endings.

Where exactly is Spinner? We know he wrote and published a book, but is he in jail and if so, how did they allow him to publish this book?

Is Compress in jail forever? Is he still in a cell with Geten? He read Spinner's book, but how did he get hold of it? Was the prison kind enough to give him a copy?

What about Touya? Assuming he's dead, how much longer did he have? Did his family care when he died? How is the family coping? Are they getting along? Why did Horikoshi not show us Natsuo and Touya talk after spending so much time saying they used to be so close? Natsuo not saying anything and having mixed emotions after all of this was actually an interesting idea, but not when you don't do anything more with it - now people just think Natsuo is an asshole when in reality, he has every right to feel conflicted, but it sucks as a conclusion when we've all been looking forward to seeing him and Touya finally get to reunite and be happy.

What was the point of Shigaraki appearing as a ghost to Deku? Why wouldn't he at least appear in front of his friends? Why wouldn't we see him show up in front of Spinner, approving his book or something?

And yes, Shouto, too. Why is the main info we get in regards to his father? What about his hero costume, which we aren't even being shown? Did he ever change his hero name or is it going to be Shouto forever?

I wouldn't even say it's rushed as much as it's an unbalanced focus. The last few chapters could've been focusing on these subplots, but instead Hori tried to mimick the tone of the first season by showing the kids returning to school and whatnot, something that could've been shown in less time to also make space for elaborating on a bigger variety of characters and plot points.

I'm also glad it's over, I just wish these characters could've been in a better story.

[themattress]

The Evolution of Yu-Gi-Oh! Villainy

Thinking back on this post from @ultraericthered, It's interesting to note that Kazuki Takahashi developed in how he wrote villains as the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga progressed.

Let's look at how he initially wrote villains, shall we?

They're all the same type of one-dimensional, psychotic, horrible person. It gets old fast.

We then get a pair of two-parters with a slight step up.

Kaiba and Hirutani respectively are still one-dimensional, psychotic, horrible people, but they actually feel dangerous. Yami Yugi has been owning every other shmuck with relative ease; he honestly came off as more frightening than they did! Kaiba and Hirutani, meanwhile, show a more calculating and intelligent side to them that allows them to pose a genuine threat.

Then there's Takahashi's first attempt at a "Big Bad": Shadi.

And Takahashi himself has admitted that he sucked. He tried so hard to make him mysterious that he just ended up being confusing and bland, with no charisma or even an identifiable motive for antagonizing Yugi and his friends. Takahashi himself hadn't actually thought of any concrete plans for Shadi or the story's lore beyond vague details at this point, so much of how Shadi is presented here and the things he does end up feeling contradictory to how the narrative develops later. So after this failure, Takahashi went back to making one-note assholes before bringing back one of the best of them and elevating him to Big Bad status.

Now with the first name of Seto, Kaiba worked beautifully as a Big Bad since he had a clear motivation, established history with the protagonist, and we already knew he was a threat, with the new additions of just how rich and skilled at games he is plus a backstory explaining why he is the way he is cementing him as the series' best villain to date without question.

However, he was still lacking a key element: charisma.

"What?", you may be saying, "The Hell do you mean; Kaiba's super charismatic!"

Kaiba post-Mind Crush is super charismatic, yes. He's even charismatic in the 1998 Toei anime adaptation, where he has green hair and is more of a classy, scheming supervillain.

But originally?

He can pretend to be charismatic, particularly when he's playing for a crowd, but otherwise Kaiba is still the same charmless thug as before, and the actions he takes in this arc reach truly vile territory. Again, he's a wonderfully effective villain, but it's not because you love to hate him - you just hate him and want to see him brought down. You don't enjoy his villainy.

Once again, the arc is followed up by a few more one-off forgettable baddies, although at the end of that run we get Hirutani making a return appearance, now with a ratty sidekick named Nezumi who I feel like more could have been done with. And after that, he finally debuted.

Yami Bakura, while a step down from Kaiba in DEATH-T in terms of scale (feeling more akin to Kaiba in his debut two-parter instead), was when Takahashi finally managed to crack the charisma code. Yes, he's a psychotic asshole, but he carries himself with such conviction, schemes and plays games in such a meticulous way, and has such a sense of theatrical flamboyance and gallows humor that it's impossible not to be entertained by his twisted Dungeon Master antics. And unlike Shadi, he is mysterious the right way; you can tell there's a lot more to him that you don't know yet, but the arc foreshadows much of it impeccably, and as he goes on to be the main overarching antagonist of the whole series it's great to see him only become more dangerous until he successfully pays off all of his long-term planning.

And then...

Maximiilion J. Pegasus (Pegasus J. Crawford in the Japanese version) is the apotheosis of Takahashi learning to write villains. Like Shadi, he has crucial and mysterious ties to the overarching narrative, but like Yami Bakura it's done correctly. Like Kaiba, he's a large-scale corporate rich guy whom Yugi and his friends must fight through a dangerous game tournament to reach after he does something bad to Grandpa Moto, all while he monitors everything from his stronghold, and at the very end fully reveals a tragic backstory that explains but does not excuse him. Like Yami Bakura, he is insanely charismatic and you enjoy watching him even when he's doing the most dastardly things. And to take things a step further, he is directly connected to all of those prior Big Bads: he got his Millennium Eye from Shadi personally, he is colluding with Kaiba Corp which only became possible because Yami Yugi defeated and Mind Crushed Kaiba in DEATH-T, and he ends up killed by Yami Bakura!

I won't be talking about Mr. Clown, because ultimately he's just a decoy while Yami Bakura, under the guise of being an ally now, makes crucial progress in his big overarching evil plan.

Then we get the disappointment that is Marik Ishtar.

No, not that Marik Ishtar! He's actually great! A slight step down from Pegasus but a major step up from Mr. Clown, Marik is a different sort of villain: a distant, shadowy evil mastermind behind a criminal organization engaged in a conspiracy across Domino City. Marik is threatening, charismatic, and interesting: increasingly so as we learn his backstory, discover his blood ties to Ishizu, and see him enter a deliciously sinister alliance with Yami Bakura.

But then...

Not only does Yami Marik come out of nowhere, but his character can be summed up here:

Now, these kinds of crazy, evil-for-evil's-sake, "I wanna destroy everything" villains can be done well. But I'm sorry, I just don't think Takahashi knew how to do so. Yami Marik is boring. He's not remotely charming or engaging in his vile villainy, he is overpowered to an irritating degree, and he only serves to further complicate and elongate what was already a very complicated and elongated story arc. It feels like Takahashi was going to carry Marik all the way through but then gave him such a dark and sad backstory that he felt sorry for him and wanted to redeem him, but couldn't think of a viable way without inventing this even eviler alternate personality to serve as a scapegoat. So I am absolutely not a fan of Yami Marik....

...in the original manga.

Yes, for all that the Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters anime adaptation screws up, it can sometimes fluke into improving on the source material, and Yami Marik is one of the biggest examples. Animation and voice-acting single-handedly change him from a boring villain to a wonderfully entertaining one; devouring the scenery and coming off more feral monster than serial killer.

Finally, we have Zorc Necrophades and Akhenaden.

Zorc is the standard Final Boss villain who has been built up to for a long time, and he serves that role very well. But Akhenaden is where the real interest lies. He's essentially Takahashi writing a Shakespearean tragic villain: a complex man both loathsome and pitiable, whose understandable desires and conflicting emotions lead him down a dark path that ends with him losing his humanity and becoming a hollow vessel for Zorc's soul, fueled only by hatred. Additionally, he has deep connections to all prior Big Bads and to Yami Yugi himself. He is worthy of Ultimate Villain status (which the Duel Monsters anime sadly took away from him).

My ranking of the manga's Big Bads: Shadi < Mr. Clown < Yami Marik < Marik < Kaiba < Zorc/Akhenaden < Bakura < Pegasus (would've been Kaiba < Marik if not for Yami Marik).

[vraisetzen]

✨️ maki shinichi appreciation post

(because my boy doesn't get enough love from the SD fanbase)

i think by now i've made it plain and obvious that maki shinichi is my best boy out of all the best boys in slam dunk.

which is fairly surprising, because i started reading this manga expecting to like sendoh, based on the hype surrounding him, and the fact that he's shohei ohtani's favourite character.

and to be honest, it's difficult for me to articulate why i like him as a character — for all intents and purposes, maki was introduced in the manga as the quintessential player (before sawakita was introduced). he's physically well-rounded, he's a leader, he has a strong desire to win, and he's the king. he's supposed to represent the glass ceiling for all basketball players in kanagawa. when we're shown, prior to shohoku's match with sannoh, that kainan had difficulty playing against sannoh, that not even maki could go up against them, it serves as a representation of how strong sannoh is.

but all this — the titles, the comparisons — these are all impressions other characters have of him.

as the story unfolds after his first appearance (as a stuffy looking teenager who appearance suggests more of a 50 y/o divorcee than a high school basketball player), more details are revealed about him:

his coach credits his humility and his strong desire to win as part of the reason why he's the strongest; his teammates have complete trust and respect for his leadership and captaincy; kiyota, the petulant child, defends him after sakuragi makes a poorly-timed comment at maki's mature appearance.

and despite kainan's dominance, despite maki's undisputed reign as the best player, he sees the potential and the strength of other players — most notably when he invites sakuragi (along with a tagging kiyota) to watch aiwa gakuen's match against meihou; he also warns sendoh of shohoku's renewed strength, and flags up minami to rukawa's attention.

it's interesting, then, that the kanji in his name: 牧 (maki) means shepherd, while the 紳 in shinichi means gentlemen. he guides his players, like a shepherd with his flock, to victory, and with grace and humility.

maki's the king, yes, but he's also a teen who cares enough about his appearance to change it after being called out for it; he's forceful and domineering, but he has a strong respect for his opponents; he grumbles about kiyota tagging along for the trip to aichi and pretends to be distracted, but he really doesn't mind and lets sakuragi follow as well (while also checking in on akagi).

and i think, also, that we tend to overlook the immense pressure maki must have as the captain of the strongest team in kanegawa — who is not only responsible for the welfare of his players, but also for the honour of bringing the trophy home for the 17th year running.

all these things, ultimately, come together to create an unforgettable and notable character who was only ever meant to serve as an antagonist for our team of problematic children.

(and i mean, just look at how happy he is, winning the inter-high tournament 🥹 in most panels he's pouting like ben stiller in zoolander)

also, this is rather random, but for a character who isn't a fan-favourite, we know strangely quite a lot about maki:

he surfs

he drives a car

wears glasses

has friends outside of kainan (moroboshi)

wore the numbers 12 -> 8 -> 4

had a pompadour hairstyle as a freshman

it's these small tidbits that make him really endearing to me, personally.

maybe i just have a thing for really strong players with no perceivable flaws, who are subsequently revealed as actual absolute dorks (affectionate). or maybe it's just maki shinichi.

[plinko-mori]

+100 Reasons Why I Love Ougai Mori

There are more but I'm too lazy to share them all

Original idea from sigma.analysis on Instagram!

Spoilers from manga, some light novels... And more

Of course this will be full of my personal opinion

Warning: Long post

Now let's start with the reasons!

1) He shares last name with an actress of a telenovela I love so much (Rubí, Bárbara Mori)

2) His voice (Latin Spanish, English and Japanese)

3) His smirks

4) His hairstyles

5) He knows what he wants

6) His ability, it's great and raises so many questions:

How free is Elise really? Does Elise know where she comes from and the abilities in general? How did Mori discovered his ability? And etc–

7) He is so smart, sad that people sometimes forget it

8) He is SO grey and questionable as a character → his morals, his way of being...

9) His calm energy

10) He can fight and defend himself without Elise

11) He can be scary when he wants to (example: that scene with Lucy)

12) He is so rational and realistic

13) How he changes his mood in one second to the next

14) He's hot (for me)

15) He got me into reading the works from the in real life author

16) His character and ability are GREAT references of works from the in real life author and his life

17) Now Rintarou Mori is my favorite writer thanks to him (as I said in reason 15, the character got me to reading about Rintarou)

18) Ougai is aware of the things he has done

19) ↑ And has a such and acidic and cruel attitude about the barbarities he has done that I love and hate so much

20) His knowledge of medicine and anatomy is frightening and wonderful in a weird way

21) He's so tall compared to me, I love taller people than me sorry (I'm 148 cm tall)

22) He gave me the lesson that a good leader doesn't have to be necessary a good person, and a good person doesn't have to be necessary a good leader

23) He is so badass

24) How similar he is compared to Chuuya's biological dad

25) The "Absolutely no chance!" with Fukuzawa and the punch

26) One of my highest kinnies

27) The way he was introduced in the chapter with Lucy

28) His first appearance with Elise and candle

29) ↑ I still was surprised when Mori goes to a place aND BOOM PORT MAFIA MEMBERS–

30) His pose with the hands supremacy

31) Okay but his attitude with Taneda (poor Ango)

32) His panels drawn by Hoshikawa-sensei

33) His laugh

34) He made a motherfucking big plan which Oda ends up dying and everything fOR A TINY (important) ENVELOPE– He thinks in everything!

35) Amazing antagonist

No, I don't think he's a villain

Yes, I'm too lazy to explain it here

36) The fact that Mori makes Elise disobeys when he wants her to do it even if that makes me want to cry

37) He is so clingy and cloying that I love knowing I'm not the only person like that

38) He's not obsessed with children because he's a pedo and I love that

He stuck himself between wanting to mentor the younger generation to help them grow into their potential and throwing everyone's emotions and desires (including his own) out the window in favour of the """optimal solution"""

He's not a pedo... He just has a weird obsession-favoritism with 12 year old girls and younger

That I can explain it to you using: Works from Ougai, Genetics, Society, Comparing 4 cases with Mori interacting with people + Elise...

39) He is like Perry The Platypus

«Weird old man?

OUGAI MORI THE PORT MAFIA BOSS WEIRD OLD MAN!?»

40) Hard to believe or not, the character helped me a lot to understand myself, comprehend my attitude and accept myself (as a walking red flag) when I was going through a rough time

I was really like "OMG NO I'M NOT LIKE MORI STOP–" and now I'm "Yeah I'm tiny Mori" that's character development my bois

41) He got my attention and I want to know about Thomas Schelling, John Forbes Nash and Henry Kissinger

42) His beautiful messy dark hair

43) How different he is with people and how he is with Elise, I find it so cute (and sad)

44) "Tell me Dazai, why is it your wish to die?" That chat was amazing

45) How different he looks compared to the in real life author

46) How observant and analytical he is

47) He helped Atsushi when he could get out of Lucy's ability by himself!

48) His soft smile when Chuuya accepts his vision of leadership and pledges his loyalty to him

49) In Yosano's backstory and Dazai's backstory... Mori did the same error and didn't learn a shit, you are amazing old man (mockery)

50) Dude how can you project yourself on Dazai and teach him manipulation? You did bad but you taught him many things that ended up helping him– But how can you project yourself in him???

51) I have SO many theories about Mori that I loved doing: His past and reasons why he is like that, why he projected himself on Dazai, why Elise is a child, etc... And his relationship with Natsume

52) I make so many content about him exploring fanon and canon Mori! OCs that either have a good relationship with him or have traumas with him, there's no in between

Some headcanons, random scenarios, etc

53) He's a drama queen sometimes, that's amazing

54) Wan Mori is my mood and my friends are really like Wan Dazai damn [sob]

55) He looks so ugly sometimes I love him

56) He's a (sadistic) doctor but I'm sure he made more damage than healing (that's the thing a doctor does). I'm completely sure of (and love) that irony of the character

57) His friendship with Kouyou

58) His chat with Ozaki after the things with Kyouka was sad for me

He really thought "Hey, this girl has nothing to bind her to the mafia, she's sure to leave, she can do it" but Ozaki chose to stay, to help him. Mori was so honest, didn't hide his emotions and was truly happy to hear that she was going to stay, such an emotional and relatable moment for me

I will not go deep on the dialogue, just the emotions

In the manga it was first a shock scene, just shock... I would say even distrustful of her words

But then his smile was very soft, nodding, maybe proud of the fact that Ozaki feels comfortable in the mafia after he became the leader

In the anime it was the same but with a sad expression, there was more melancholy in his words, his facial expression...

And that's why I cry a lot with that scene

59) He loves the city, he wants to protect it so much even if that's really hard to see...

Aww cute thing of the old man

60) His organization means so much for him, the PM is more than "a group of people" to him, I love how he takes care of them, how he seeks, acts and does everything possible for their wellness

Also he's really like «My bois, my people, I want the best of you but please don't act like idiots when I'm not looking– Omg you're just doing it! Damn I will fix everything because this is a disaster, and I hate disasters»

61) Just the fact, only the fact, that he throws everyone's emotions and desires (including his own) out the window in favour of the """optimal solution"""

62) He is aware to the fact that Osamu is superior to him in some things (predict future actions and be many steps ahead compared to the rest) and he accepts it

Ougai (in my point of view) is just irritated that he doesn't have Dazai at his side to use him, but he leaves it that way, he sees his reality, and accepts it but hates it a lot

63) “But doesn't Mori want to have him back to his side?”

Yes, as I said, he is irritated, accepts but hate that fact. He doesn't like it when when things are TOO far out his control, he is stubborn, he is "human" despite being a bastard

64) I appreciate that he kept his promise to Chuuya, Ougai REALLY GAVE HIM THE DOCUMENTS after he became executive when he could easily hide them from Nakahara to the end

Mori did good there, he kept his promise

65) I support that he dislikes dirty things, raw food and mackerel in miso–

SAME MORI SAME

66) One thing that MUST be appreciated:

Even of the traumas, how "evil" Port Mafia is, how bad is Mori, etc– He gives people with no home a place they belong to and where they are accepted

He created a whole good atmosphere for his people you know??? Dude they look comfy there, they don't desperately want to leave the organization (at least most of them, I'm not counting Kyouka and Dazai at all) and they are able to consider themselves a family, see the PM as a home, that is incredible. How close Black Lizard are, Chuuya and Ozaki, Ozaki and Mori, etc

67) He treats people in SUCH different ways I love it

68) He doesn't treat people with the same level of empathy, that's great and so normal... The not-normal thing about his empathy is how he traumatizes people but I'm talking in a people-in-the-real-world context

69) This panel:

How he looks at Natsume

70) He reminds me of many songs from my favorite band! (Set It Off) Such as Duality, Peekaboo, Skeleton... And more

But specially Skeleton

71) Compared to other characters I love: Idc if people hate him, it's great! Mori is a bastard, I don't have problems if you hate him until you obligate me to also hate him

I don't mind if you insult him, when some friends do that I join them because OMG HE DESERVES THOSE WORDS. But go on, hate him, I will not obligate you to love him because it's good that you hate him, just don't obligate me to hate him

72) He's a bastard BUT I STILL LOVE HIM– That thing is really weird in me, right Hisoka from Hunter X Hunter and Adam from SK8? /jk

Okay but actually compared to the rest, I love more Ougai because he's better compared to them

73) He makes the Port Mafia being the less bad option in awful scenarios

74) He also makes HIMSELF the less bad option in awful scenarios

75) How he saw Yosano fall to pieces in front of him because of his own words

That wasn't manipulation, he was literally hurting her because he wanted to...

That's a very shock scene and his face of "I don't give a fuck" omg I love this but hate myself of me liking that

I personally think that he said those things to hurt her on purpose for her to act in a way and/or affect the rest of the ADA that was there

76) He has beautiful eyes (anime)

77) This weird feeling-theory of him wanting to die...

Like dude why do you focus on you dying because of Dazai? Why do you keep torturing Yosano, you know she will end up doing something to you right? You really want that? You want to get hurt that badly? To die?

78) He is REALLY happy in Beast, not fake emotions there

79) Okay in Beast he offered emotional support to a lost teenager by LITERALLY offering to be his dad (+ expressed his past will to save another lost teenager)

AAWWWW MORI I LOVE U

80) He took over a shitty orphanage and made it good in Beast...

Same character, the only differences is where he is + he's 2 years younger

81) His weird "monologues" (like that scene of chess about Aku)

82) Elise treating him like trash, that's amazing AND sad because she has something of him, she's HIS ability! Dude do you see yourself as a trash that hard?

83) He wanted to catch Atsushi to gain the money AND NOT TO KILL HIM, dude that's nice, he didn't want to kill him

84) He isn't afraid of taking innocent lives to increase the Port Mafia's own benefit

85) He has cooperated with ADA <3 (his "enemy")

86) He doesn't punish Ryonosuke even if he disobeys lot of orders. Mori values his skills and contributions to the organization even if he does something that has nothing to do with what he was ordered to do

87) His eyes in the manga are drawing in different (and beautiful) ways... There's the normal ones, the "just black" (like, really just black or similar to black) and darker but not black...

And many shades–

88) A survivor to a war, THE GREAT WAR

89) No matter how high is the risk, Ougai takes that risk and even goes far as to raise the stakes

90) How he made Dazai feel true shock with Q, I love that panel

91) Has the same blood type as me (O)

92) His parallels with Mikoto Souh and Reisi Munakata (leaders of OPPOSING organizations) from K Project

93) Okay but he in the ops–

94) He sees many things as a chess game and how compared to me, chess doesn't give him anxiety

95) He shares birthday with other of my favourite characters, Kajii Motojirou!

96) He's a really mysterious character, we only know a little part of his past... Which is why I do theories about him, yes

97) How we don't know if he knows about Ryonosuke's illness

98) He sucks in throwing darts

99) Literally wrote a message to enemies using CRAYONS

100) I like to understand at least most of the character's mind and mimic him easily!

101) ↑ I also love helping friends with that, it feels amazing

102) We have seen few of his real emotions because most of the time he hides them or fakes them

103) Bro what did he do to Kyouka so only his presence could make her panic?

And Kouyou knows that???? Hi??? I need answers

104) Thank you for sending Kajii and make him do chaos in a boat/yacht/whatever, that was an amazing idea

105) When Mori got sick being close to death, the Port Mafia knowing that killing Fukuzawa could save him, went for that alternative immediately without thinking any consequences...

They love their boss I'm gonna cry

106) He knows the ADA aren't terrorists

107) His weird old doctor clothes

108) His weird dracula leader of the Port Mafia clothes

109) His uniform at the military

110) No trembling, second thoughts or second-guessing and the moment to kill someone (like poor Tachihara's brother)

111) The way in which he uses and attacks with scalpels

112) His hair is easy to draw for me

113) I want to give a hug to this man, dude aren't you stressed at the mafia???

Aren't you tired of people and your ability treating you like trash??? About all of your responsibilities???? You need a rest old man

114) Even if I don't shipp them: The parallels of Kouyou and Mori with Chuuya's biological parents. "Oh, I didn't tell you I'm from the army?" omg they are so close

115) How he scared Tachihara, that hat scene was amazing HE ACTED SO NORMALLY–

116) He always knew about the spies in his organization and let them have close relationships with other members, Ango is a loyal person himself, while Tachihara is now the most loyal member to the mafia, more than Chuuya...

Mori why??? Stop, you are torturing them–

117) His shock in the manga about Francis knowing where the Port Mafia was

118) His chat with Hirotsu about the previous leader

119) Changing his mood from one second to the next

120) There are great AMVs about him in YouTube! (not the shipps ones)

121) When Mori manipulates, he doesn't lie

He gives SOME parts of the information, he strategizes very carefully when, how and where he will reveal information to people

122) He earns Kouyou's royalty by being a better boss than the old boss

123) He earns Chuuya's loyalty by being a better leader with advice to give

124) He almost gets what he wants in return

125) He wanted Fukuzawa to died instead of him (cannibalism arc) because of 2 reasons: Ougai new that his organization would be mad about AND do stupid (destroy) things because of that

He knows them so well–

126) After what Paul did to the mafia, killing some members (Flags), Mori still helped him, hides him from the government aND MADE HIM AN EXECUTIVE-

That's so nice Mori

127) He is IMPORTANT in BSD Beast, the story without his scene hits different you know?

128) The way he manipulates, the way he uses words, the actions he does, how he sees it like a chess game– And he's so calm about it the fuck

129) His different types of smiles I swear

130) He used Ace as a tool because of his money LMAOOOOO

131) LITERALLY has a 3D version

That cosplayer supremacy 🛐

132) He makes mistakes, he isn't perfect, ignoring how he did the same mistake with both Yosano and Dazai, for example: Mori, sweetie, you didn't have to leave Ace in charge of Fyodor, that was a TERRIBLE idea

133) The theory from @/videogamelover99 about Mori related to the Arahabaki project

Specially the real-life connections

134) How Homra Daikazoku fits him and the Port Mafia a lot not only because of the meaning of the song, also because of the context with Homra in K Project

135) I love his ease in sacrificing several of his "pieces" in order to double or triple the damage to his enemy

136) Dude please stop enjoying the fact of people around you fearing you a lot 'cause I'm starting to envy your self-esteem or questionable thoughts as to be SO comfortable with that

137) He takes really serious to keep the balance in Yokohama

138) Vita Sexualis requires strength and energy...

And he uses it MOST of the time wow– How does he do that????

139) I can't say anything of his obsessive AND possessive personality because I'm the same–

Feel ya old man but pls stop

140) His first designs omg

141) I hate dogs, I dislike them a lot but damn I would be his dog and be "WOOF WOOF BARK BARK"

I simp him that hard damn

142) He's one of the few characters that I actually have memorized his voice (without counting seiyuus), the other ones are Undertaker (Kuroshitsuji), Izumo Kusanagi (K Project) and Cherry Blossom (SK8)

143) You can see how times go by on his face, he's physically different from his past self and it shows, specially in his wrinkles

144) This theory in about abuse chain, Akutagawa-Dazai, Dazai-Mori AND (@/amethystroselily) Mori-Natsume

145) "It's necessary to hit the enemy's vital point in one strike"

146) Ougai gives me the same vibes as Vita Sexualis protagonist, daddy and mommy issues + similar personalities you know?

147) "The leader of an organization is at the pinnacle of that organization and, at the same time, he is its slave. The leader must be more than willing to commit any atrocity in order to ensure the organization's survival"

148) THE WAYS KAJII CALLS HIM: Grand Marshal of Outer Space, Outer-space Marshal, Grand Marchal of Space

149) He calls his members by "kun" EXCEPT for Hirotsu, I love that detail

150) Changing his mood from one second to the next

151) "I like this city, its dark, seedier parts included... But parasites like you nauseate me" [dies]

152) The way Elise calls him, I feel sorry for him and laugh at how she insults Mori so much

153) Thank you for giving Arthur a home

154) Thank you for doing exams on Arthur because of his cold because you were worried

155) Love how Ougai can't control Verlaine and take him out if the Port Mafia's basement

156) His "Sakunosuke Oda is risking his life to eliminate a troublesome, violeny group. It's a win-win situation. So why are you so angry?" 'cause he's as blind as me, not all the people don't have problems about ignoring our own emotions–

157) In Stormbringer he was in a place far far away really safe AND OMG THAT CALL WAS AMAZING specially the part like "Oh yes, I can see everything of what's happening" LMAOOOOOO

158) Similar to the author, I have a weird mix of feelings: When I read the author's works (Hanako, Kinka, The Dancing Girl, for giving some examples) I'm in shock, amazed, curious and THE SAME happens with Ougai Mori from BSD

159) He's my blorbo: My favorite character that I can't stop thinking about him, I can't shut up when talking about him and I can't explain how he makes me feel

160) I did many things thanks to the character:

Read the manga, based on that I continue reading things related to BSD, accounts of theories, analysis, I meet people, an ex friend, some close friends I really love a lot...

Because of my fanaticism for him, my life change for better, Ougai and BSD makes me happy, and that's the biggest reason of why I love him

[fellow-traveller]

What's your opinion on Hol's first appearance when he manipulated a girl and told J. Geil he was doing it so they would risk their lives to save him, compared to his later appearance when he got very upset about the implication that he would hurt a woman?

To make it short, it's good character growth, visually. Very rarely one gets to see a minor antagonist who was supposed to be forgettable having such in-depth and memorable development.

I'm not a good meta writer, but let's try to dissect this question anyway. As usual, disclaimer, I'm not an expert in the Major Arcana...yadayadayada okay, let's go!

(decided to put it under the cut because it ended up being a very long answer)

---

By the girl, I would assume you're referring to Nena, the wielder of the Stand Empress. The girl who rode the elephant with Hol Horse. The girl who proposed to Hol Horse for his hand in marriage but got rejected by the cowboy because (likely, he assumed) she was 16.

Before I say more, a brief note on this: I know a lot of new JoJo fans are throwing a fit over Hol "flirting" with a 16 year-old - although I wouldn't call it flirting as it sounded more like "sweet talking his way out of trouble" kinda thing - and my solid argument to that is the era. The 1980s and early 1990s were ladened with people getting into relationships and getting married young, not just in South Asia (where Nena might be from) but also in the West. It wasn't right, but it was the norm, especially in the poorer parts of the world with strong traditional and cultural practices, before the UN strongly advocated for the rights for children's education in these regions, and pedophilia crimes had taken the spotlight in the public eye.

Hol was, and probably still is, the Western rugged gentleman trope through and through. And part of the Spaghetti Western is the cheesy romance, so if Hol's character design was following it to a T, at least in his first appearance in SDC, he's bound to speak like the dialogues in a novel with Fabio Lanzoni on its covers.

Plus, we don't even know if Nena was really 16 years old. She was in disguise, remember?

It's not too far off to say that Hol still respects women as long as they did not interfere with his life as a mercenary. And being a mercenary, one does need a network of people to aid their journeys, even if it seemed like a blatant manipulation of emotions and resources.

Nevertheless, I wouldn't call it 100% manipulation on Hol's part, even though manipulative behaviour is a trait for a Reversed Emperor. Reversed tarot cards are what I assumed the Agents of Dio had traits of and followed through as the villains of the story.

I'm not sure if this is already told by Araki or if it was general consensus since the manga came out, but...it's a common belief that Nena was in love with Hol Horse, second to Dio, and she actually disguised herself into a beautiful young maiden to match Hol's dashing looks. She was genuinely in love with Hol, and based on that, she could be willingly giving up herself to Hol's vices without thinking about the consequences.

Her disguise is also part of her own manipulation of Hol Horse himself (and after that, to an extent, of Polnareff as well), so Hol and her are pretty much just two sides of the same coin. Which, again, is not too far off.

Reversed Empress is characterized as the loss of willpower, going overboard with loving someone, neglecting own needs, heavy reliance on others and being clingy...which is basically what Nena was, and how her Stand works. In the context of her sticking with Hol and helping him, yes, it could be Hol's own manipulative trait of a Reversed Emperor, but it's also Nena's whole Reversed Empress trait doing the works.

Hence, why it's not exactly 100% manipulation by Hol.

That said, we also don't really know if Hol knew that Nena was in disguise. He might have known she had the Empress Stand. Her backstory as a heiress to nobility might also be a ruse, just so she can get close to Hol. All of these? Manipulative behaviours. Though this sometimes made me wish she wouldn't be in disguise since I do believe when Hol said that he respects all women, pretty or ugly, young or old. He wouldn't care about her looks anyway, should she present her appearance as her real self. But that wouldn't be too bizarre, wouldn't it?

(part of me actually headcanon Nena being giddy about Hol Horse, while Midler supports her crushing and gushing over the cowboy...I wished this was real, somewhere behind the scenes)

---

Now what he confessed to J. Geil, about using women around the world for his own selfish benefit, could be true. As I mentioned, Hol's a mercenary, and with a Reversed Emperor, he's basically not following what a king should do - serve his subjects. Instead, they are serving him. Although I do believe it's not solely to risk their lives to save him, but, like Nena, these women most likely were in love with the cowboy that had the Western charm of John Wayne and Marlboro Man. And love can make people do stupid things.

Also, we're kinda forgetting that Hol Horse was a fucking cocky bastard. At least in his first arc in SDC.

So I'm not too surprised if he's trying to overcompensate when talking to other people, even to his work partners. And overcompensation can be an outright lie. Another possible reason for Hol to boast about his "girlfriends around the world" story might also lie in him being intimidated by the person he was talking to. J. Geil is, as far as the canon manga goes, a mysterious man to Hol and he only knew him as Enyaba's son who wielded the Stand Hanged Man. He most likely didn't even know J. Geil killed and raped Sherry, and why he pursued Polnareff first. All Hol knew at that point of time was J.Geil was assigned as his partner, and they were to work together to kill the Joestar group. But at the same time, he knew J. Geil was a dangerous man.

Also, with Polnareff, Hol Horse did his cocky stint as well, in the possibility that he didn't know much about what Polnareff can or cannot do with Silver Chariot, other than the intel that was given to him. Obviously his confidence (and arrogance) rose up a notch when he was a millisecond close to killing Polnareff before Avdol stepped in (irl context it's kinda bull since no one can dodge a bullet unless they have Star Platinum or King Crimson...or Hol Horse's supreme agility).

Hol's cockiness showed the most when he should feel intimidated. It's almost like a defense mechanism.

He's pretty much humbled since he had his head shot at, but in his interaction with Mariah in CDDH, he still has a tiny bit of cockiness left in him. Again, intimidation by Mariah because he did think he was touching her Stand Bastet a few minutes earlier.

---

So this long arse explanation is just to conclude this - Hol had always been a good person, despite the obvious flaws. He still respects women; it's part of his own principle, which he cannot go against as the Emperor. He gets upset (as all people should) if he had to hurt a woman for no reason. Even in the context of his conversation with Nena, even in his Reversed Emperor traits, the words he chose to tell her off were still rather gentle, and while she was saddened, she wasn't exactly hurt by the rejection. Twice, if I might add.

Keep in mind his Emperor card is only reversed when he's the major villain in his arc i.e. when going against the Crusaders in India. Otherwise, his card is always upright and I believe before he met Dio, he's a real deal hero.

Hence why it's more of a character growth for Hol visually, because we saw it happen. From The Emperor and The Hanged Man arc, to the latest Chapter 15 of CDDH. Visually, we saw him gradually changing his Emperor traits from reversed to upright. But upright was what Hol originally was. And so were most of the villain characters of the tarot card (which we barely could dissect because, unlike Hol, their appearances are pretty limited).

---

idk...I hope this answers it.

[nikoldragonne12]

The Alliance: history of creation (part 1)

Note: I will upload the current info about the characters as soon as I'll finish new artworks of them.

Also, I have to send it separately because it would be too long to read.

Thanks for understanding.

Alright, as I promised earlier, today I'd like to share some history of creating of The Alliance, my own apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic story I'm slowly working on - more specifically, we'll talk about the Himura family, a group of very important characters from the story.

Continue if you wanna read more.

History of creation:

Before I created The Alliance, my first characters used to be OCs from a Black Bullet AU I was planning to make. 

For those who don't know, Black Bullet is a discontinuing series that was originally written by Shiden Kanzaki, yet it also has a manga (covers only the 1st book) and a short anime adaptation (that covers only the first 4 books).

2018 - 2019:

Back to the Himura family, the first character I made was actually Natsumi (sometime between 2018 and 2019) but at that time, she was just a self-insert of mine: she was a teenager (then a young adult) with ginger hair and purplish blue eyes (very similar to my old avatar).

Also between 2018 and 2019, I only knew the anime.

2021 - 2023:

I left the series for some time, mainly because I was busy with school stuff and my thoughts were elsewhere but eventually I returned to Black Bullet between 2021 and 2023. Finally I also knew the original light novels (yes, Black Bullet isn't just an anime) and sadly, my thoughts weren't the same. I had several issues with all three versions, the books, manga and anime and even if I tried to include my OCs into it, I didn't feel comfortable. 

At that time, Natsumi was remade to be one of the canon characters’ sister and some of the HGHs already existed too (specifically Mirei, Whitney, Sora, Teenie and Tanya and when they were BB OCs, they were Cursed Children and all 10 years old) - because of my different feelings, I knew I have to take them from this universe.

Last goodbye to Black Bullet:

My last goodbye to Black Bullet was supposed to be a redesign series where I wanted to take the best known characters from the series, talk about some issues I had with them and most importantly, redraw them in my style…

However, while drawing Kagetane Hiruko (the major antagonist of the 1st book and a secondary character in the 4th book), I got the idea… the idea to make my own story that will be inspired by Black Bullet yet it’ll also have my own rules and lore, meaning I’ll be less limited in creating. 

Note: Here, you can compare Kagetane's canon anime appearance with my unfinished sketch.

And due to this specific redesign, Atsushi and Ren Himura came to life. I had these two in mind before the “redrawing goodbye” but I couldn't find the way to imagine these two, how to tie them into the story, y’know. 

I took some inspiration, not only from Kagetane's appearance, but also from his personality a little, as even if he's a really bad person, he's pretty well-written as a character, especially in the books and it's a shame we didn't see more of him. 

Also a “fun” fact: Atsushi and Ren were originally meant to be siblings but I eventually changed that and made Ren Natsumi's brother. 

By the way, only recently I finally started drawing Kaito, Yuuki, Atsushi and Ren - I only have sketches of them from this year.

Speaking of Kaito and Yuuki (Atsushi & Natsumi's sons), these two were also originally meant to be different: they were both adults, Yuuki was a more gentle brother and the one who only knew what his brother was doing, while Kaito was a more rude brother and an assassin. They also weren't related to Natsumi and other characters. 

I eventually changed that completely and made them Natsumi & Atsushi's sons, although I first made Kaito a university student before making him even younger and turning him into a high school student. And I did that because I wanted these two to be closer to the HGHs (a group of eight girls with animal-themed abilities).

Chibi Kaito and chibi Yuuki (2023 - 2024)

My last change is the change of the age:

It was probably something I was changing the most, so I don't remember all the variations, therefore I only present you their current ages:

Atsushi - 43 years old 

Natsumi - 41 years old 

Kaito - 15 years old 

Yuuki - 10 years old

Ren - 38 years old

The Himura family (pics from 2023 -2024):. See how I change their appearance even throughout the months?

[soul-dwelling]

Konro fighting his doppelganger is in my opinion already a retcon - because first time we see the infernal it looks nothing like him and nothing suggests that it is somehow connected to him And even when its revealed to be a dopplelganger ir doesnt look as simmilar as the later doppelgangers, leading me to believe that Ohkubo hadnt developed the concept fully when he first mentioned it in manga - even Benis father figure doppel looked more infernal then the doppelgangers in the end which basically looked one to one (but at that point he commited to making a meta point)

You're right, I got it wrong: I just quickly re-read the Asakusa Arc, and I can't find any place where Konro brings up the Infernal being his doppel--that was an addition added later to the series. So, yeah, possibly a retcon, or at best Ohkubo couldn't dump all of that lore all at once and used it as foreshadowing to reveal later.

Still, though, yes, I can't find anything in the Asakusa Arc where Konro specifically said it was his doppel.

As for the argument that "the doppel doesn't look as similar as the later doppels": that is its own problem, seeing as the doppel rules conflict with the eventual rules about how a pyrokinetic is form. It was my understanding that you become a pyrokinetic when you are bitten by the bug, and that bug bite causes your doppel from Adolla to merge with your body to give you fire powers. Okay...So how come even after people like Shinra, Joker, Benimaru, Konro, Iris, and so on develop pyrokinetic abilities, their doppels are also around at the same time? Can you have two doppels? How do Joker and Benimaru become pyrokinetics but also later fight their own doppels? How can Iris develop pyrokinetic abilities if she is a doppel of Amaterasu? And that's not even getting into how Mari can exist as a doppel of the Evangelist. And Mari hardly ever looked like the Evangelist to me, so, yeah, I don't get how the series acts like any doppels look like their sources.

Granted, Iris never looked like Amaterasu to me, but I blamed that mostly on Ohkubo having a same-y style to certain characters' faces. (Iris looked more like Patty Thompson to me--maybe a casting gag when getting Patty's English voice to play Amaterasu.)

As an aside: there is almost something clever to the idea that doppels are the embodiment of how the world views you...except it's also another soapbox moment for Ohkubo to get all righteously indignant that people didn't get what he was going for with Joker and Benimaru, so their doppels are exaggerated versions of the original character: "You thought Joker was a bad guy and Benimaru was battle-hungry, that you missed the nuances to the characters!" Or, those qualities are there to the characters, and now your doppels just exaggerated what was already there. I mean, jeez, I'm sorry that people initially thought Joker was probably a bad guy since, you know, he was an antagonist, he was blowing stuff up, it was hinted he was expediting some Infernal situations--I'm so sorry I didn't realize he was actually a Batman figure (intentionally ironic, given the name). You can't complain that you did too good a job tricking the audience and then blame the audience: you design a character to look like that (that's on me for judging by appearances), but you stage scenes to leave it to the readers based on that evidence to conclude this is the bad guy, offered little evidence for a persuasive counter-argument (because you wait until later to offer that evidence), and then act holier-than-thou when the audience reaches the conclusion you wanted them to reach before you staged your disappointing and poorly executed plot twist. (And I am back to glaring at the end of Bungo Stray Dogs Season 5 for doing that same damn annoying trick: "You thought the person doing bad things was the bad guy, but he's really a good guy!" ...No. The dude still did bad things--he is a bad guy, even if he's not "the" bad guy, Wreck-It Ralph.)

[ciel-phantomhives-world]

Agreed with everything you said 💯. Lizzie must have been a pushy or a comic relief character, at the beginning (or maybe that was Yana's initial intention as she wrote BL manga before and that category usually portrays women as comic reliefs or antagonists 😔😑). But, now she's a whole different character lol. She's acting like an actual complex 14/15 years old teenage girl.

I actually fell in love with her character when she ran away from her home, lol. That's cause, at that very moment, I sensed some rebellion coming from Elizabeth and I also loved the fact that she stood up for what she thought was right. She didn't let anybody tell her what to do. She did that all on her own. I bet that she wouldn't have even listen to Francis (had Francis tried to meddle in) and yes, maybe real Ciel did manipulate her (although we still don't have enough proof of that yet) but from what I saw, well, it was more than her being manipulated by a sickly bizarre doll Ciel.

First of all, she appears to be strong willed and I don't think she's the one to be handled or easily manipulated by someone (although Ciel can be an exception and maybe bravat sky (?), idk) and secondly, she's filled with guilt for being with Ciel's brother this whole time and finally, she knows that Ciel is not well and she doesn't want to lose him again. That's too much for a 14/15 year old to handle but I would say that she handled it in a very well manner. I felt bad for what Our Ciel went through after he got framed but that doesn't really mean that it's somehow Elizabeth's fault. We don't know who framed him yet, right? (Although Real Ciel seems like he's the one who pulled the strings). It's not Elizabeth's fault (as much as we know) for our Ciel being a fugitive. All she did at that moment was keeping her mouth shut and look at our Ciel with disappointment, sadness and anger. I really loved her facial expression from that moment. It was an expression that we have never seen before, from Lizzie, that is. I'm not saying that whatever she did was the right thing (helping Ciel get better although he's a bizarre doll and not speak up about the fact that our Ciel was innocent) but hey shit happens. Every actions have their own consequences and it was Our Ciel's turn to go through the consequences for stealing his bro's identity and tricking everybody. Lizzie's not perfect, none of the twins r perfect and no one is. That's what I like about these 3 characters. They don't try to be overly perfect like many annoying shojo characters (ugh 😩🙄). This whole thing was such a complicated mess that even I don't know (as a 20 year old) that what could have been the right thing for Elizabeth to do in that position. If she took our ciel's side then she would have appeared as a cheater and a traitor to real Ciel and that time Lizzie haters would be saying stuff like how much greedy she is for choosing the alive one's side even though the alive one isn't her real fiance. Haters r always going to find something to hate on. Nevermind them.

Elizabeth improved a lot indeed and she grew up a lot. I also would have really loved season 1 a bit more if they kept that chapter 14 after she regretted about the ring and if they didn't screw up the curry arc. But kudos to the anime for at least showing us that she did give a damn about that ring (even though the anime writers still didn't know that how much important that ring truly was 👏) and for making her quite a charming character (I loved that final S1 Lizzie moment where she made that flower ring and somehow it reached to Ciel).

Whatever and whoever Yana kills, I just hope that it isn't Lizzie (or the servants 😢) and that she gets to live a new life (maybe with a new identity).

“I… only wanted to see Ciel’s smile…I wanted him to be happy… forever.”

[sagurus]

Regarding a Common Misconception of Hakuba Saguru

Lately I've been doing some reflecting on Saguru & the various ways I've seen him portrayed, as well as the ways I've portrayed him in the past. And then I was rereading some MK manga, and had some realizations. I've been feeling like rambling about them! So here I go, rambling.

[Disclaimer: I'm not personally taking issue with anyone's interpretation or impression of Saguru - just sharing my own impressions! This is just for fun <3 ]

Misconception: Saguru is constantly accusing Kaito of being KID

It’s a generally accepted fact in a lot of fics I’ve read (and honestly, maybe some fics I’ve written -- I used to hold this belief too!) that Saguru just unendingly insinuates that Kaito is KID--alone, in front of other people, always.

I won’t cite any here, but I’ve seen nods in fanwork to Aoko feeling a little stressed/frustrated about the fact that Saguru thinks Kaito is KID and makes it known. I’ve also seen fanwork where Saguru explicitly calls Kaito KID, presses Kaito for information, or otherwise makes his beliefs clear, even when others are around.

There are only five scenes in the Magic Kaito manga where Saguru makes direct indication toward his knowledge of KID’s identity.

First, of course, we’ve got chapter 17 - the first chapter where Saguru puts together that Kaito is KID.

For a long time, when I’d consumed more fic than MK canon, I recall an image born in my head of Saguru singling Kaito out in class and making the claim that Kaito is KID in front of everybody. I don’t know if I ever read any such allusion in a fic, or if it’s just an assumption I drew based on portrayals I read, but imagine my surprise when he does nothing of the sort.

Now, to be fair, Saguru is A LOT in this chapter. MK is still heavily in gag manga territory, so his behavior is extra extra played up. But if we take away the visuals, the dialogue between Saguru and Kaito can be summed up thusly:

[First scene where Saguru makes direct indications as to KID’s identity]

Kaito: You look so tired. Haven’t gotten enough sleep after chasing KID for three nights In a row, huh?

Saguru: Hmph. Aren’t you tired as well?

And then, a few beats later in the conversation:

Saguru: I’d like to invite you to the Ochima Art Museum tonight, where KID’s declared his next target. Kaito: Eh? Saguru: Then, you’ll understand why I’m so tired. Or, do you have other plans tonight? Kaito: Okay, I accept your invitation. It’ll be great to see your work in action!

And that’s it, that’s the big class confrontation. Aoko is present for it, but she’s more interested in joining in on the fun, and while I do think Aoko pieces together that Kaito is KID, she prefers to live in willful ignorance of it until it becomes impossible for her to ignore. She’s bright enough to pick up what Saguru’s implying, but because he never brings it past implication, there’s no reason for her to look at it too hard. Anyway, I digress. That’s conjecture and headcanon talking. My point is that Saguru never makes any explicit claims, just invites Kaito along to the heist.

Another neat thing about this scene is that--while certainly not motivated by mercy in this case, Saguru does give Kaito an out: “Or, do you have an excuse not to go tonight?” Of course, if Kaito took it, it would be rather damning, but I do think it would have been enough confirmation for Saguru. I don’t think there would have been any arm-twisting to get Kaito to agree.

But Kaito and Saguru are competitive bastards, so here we are.

Let’s move on to the heist!

Once again, the manga certainly plays up the whole ordeal. Saguru is intense and waiting for his moment, and Kaito’s being, well, Kaito.

At the heist, there are a few points where Saguru has opportunities to make allusions to Kaito being KID in a way others would pick up on, or otherwise make his suspicions known, but he doesn’t.

First of all, is this exchange:

Nakamori: Why are you guys here? Aoko: Hakuba-kun invited us! Nakamori: What’s the meaning of this, Hakuba-kun? Saguru: I thought she might like to see if KID is arrested tonight. Nakamori: You’ll fail if you’re too cocky! Saguru: We’re well-prepared. Besides, who knows… KID may already be here.

Saguru does imply KID could be present, but he makes no indication that he means Kaito. His next opportunity to hint at Kaito being KID or otherwise make accusations is when Nakamori asks him to consult as a magician.

Nakamori: Kaito, since you’re here, do you want to use your magic against KID? Kaito: [laughing sheepishly] Saguru: Oh, I want to see that fight, too. If you really can do it.

Needling, yes. Saguru knows what he’s saying and so does Kaito. Accusations, no. This is well within the realm of something Saguru would have said even if he didn’t suspect Kaito, considering their dynamic up until this point.

And then, the most explicit Saguru ever gets in terms of literally calling Kaito out as being KID, beginning when Kaito excuses himself to go to the bathroom right before the heist:

[Second scene where Saguru makes direct indications as to KID’s identity]

Saguru: [handcuffs himself to Kaito] Kaito: Huh? Saguru: I won’t let you do that, Kuroba. Kaito: What do you think you’re doing?! Saguru: I got the report back from the lab. The hair I got from KID indicated that he’s a high school student. After I compared KID’s data with other high school students’ data in the database… Kuroba Kaito came up in the final list. Kaito: That’s a coincidence. Saguru: Really? We’ll see soon enough. Let’s wait until the time KID is stated to come. [Some heist hubbub occurs as officers get into position even though KID hasn’t arrived at the heist time] Aoko: What? KID’s not coming? Saguru: Ha! It looks like I win! You’d better confess who you really are.

And from there, of course, ‘KID’ (Akako in disguise) swoops in and takes care of the heist. That more or less wraps up chapter 17, the first chapter where Saguru understands that Kaito is KID. And I would argue this is the most aggressive Saguru ever is. In fact, rather than persist in trying to accuse/capture/implicate Kaito as KID, he straight up vanishes from the narrative for several chapters.

Saguru doesn’t show up again until the Chat Noir heist, in chapter 25, when he calls from France.

It’s also important to note that at this point, Magic Kaito’s narrative has experienced a slight tonal shift. At the very least, while still often comedic, it reads less like a gag manga. Between the last time we saw Saguru and now, we’ve learned the apparent motivation behind Toichi’s murder, we’ve met Snake (an albeit rather incompetent villain) and Kaito has faced down gunfire and the danger posed by Snake and his men.

The way Saguru is portrayed has also shifted to reflect the shift too. Instead of a hulking antagonist-like character in a Holmes cosplay, he’s dressed primly and presents more as a cheeky but polite character. He’s also more effectively emulating the charm that the story tried to imply he had early on (“Hakuba Saguru, at your service!”, the girls in class fawning over him, the newspaper calling him out as a famous detective making a long-awaited return to Japan).

The interaction is entirely less antagonistic, too. For reference, I’ll paste the exchange (sans Saguru’s massive info dump) below.

[Third scene where Saguru makes direct indications as to KID’s identity]

[At the heist for the golden eye] Kaito: [Hiding in a bathroom stall while putting on a disguise] [His phone starts ringing] Hello…? Saguru: Hi, it’s been a while. Are you still alive? Kaito: [Thinking] This sugary yet obnoxious tone of voice is... Hakuba?! Saguru: You’ve made quite the stir in Paris. They’re all talking about how France’s Chat Noir is going to go up against you in Japan. Kaito: Idiot! It’s not me. It’s Kaitou KID! Saguru: Ha… it doesn’t really matter. I’ll share some information that I gathered over here. [Info dump cut from dialogue] Well! That’s about all I have to say. Do your best. I don’t want to see you lose to anyone until I capture you myself. Kaito: Like I’ve been saying, I’m not KID! Saguru: Oops, it’s almost time for the Paris Fashion Week. See you! Kaito: H-hey…

The only part of this conversation that I could consider to fall into the territory of antagonistic is when Saguru says “I don’t want to see you lose to anyone until I capture you myself.” And more than anything, I think this is less reflective of a real desire to capture Kaito, and more reflective of his competitive nature. Not to mention, within the context of the conversation, it feels much more like teasing than anything.

Saguru’s motivation for making the call is clear: He doesn’t want Kaito to lose, and he wants to help ensure Kaito’s success.

And most interestingly (although I’d like to see the raw manga to confirm this, or otherwise a more literal translation) he never explicitly calls Kaito KID either. Outside of alluding to KID’s actions, Saguru doesn’t explicitly say Kaito is KID or mention KID at all. It’s Kaito who does that.

When Kaito points out that he is not, in fact, KID, Saguru doesn’t argue. He simply brushes off the denial and shares the information he’s collected.

So, to summarize what we’ve covered so far: after Saguru failed to arrest Kaito during chapter 17, he stopped troubling Kaito so thoroughly that the next time he features in the story isn’t until he’s calling from overseas to try to lend Kaito some helpful information. He’s not even playing a part in trying to capture this thief he allegedly wants to catch.

And then, Saguru dips back out of the narrative, although for a shorter period this time. The next arc he appears in is a few chapters later--the Nightmare Heist which he arrives in the middle of. But, there’s not any interaction between him and Kaito, nor any allusions made by Saguru about KID’s identity, so we’ll move on.

The fourth time Saguru makes any indication that Kaito is KID is during the Corbeau arc, when KID is being challenged by a clad-in-black KID lookalike.

Before jumping into that specific scene, though, there’s another interaction I’d like to call attention to--between Saguru and Nakamori. Not because of something Saguru says, but because of what he doesn’t say.

Nakamori: Hahaha! Looks like you let your guard down because you thought I was at home with a cold! Saguru: Our plan succeeded, it seems. Nakamori: But I only told Aoko I had a cold, so how does KID know…? Saguru: Hm...

If Saguru were wanting to make some kind of accusation, even a non-explicit one, he would have made some remark. Instead, he doesn’t say anything at all, which continues to speak to the fact that he isn’t really interested in implicating Kaito.

Anyway, the next time Saguru makes any sort of implication that Kaito is KID he is, once again, trying to help. Last time it was over the phone, so the conversation was private. This time, the conversation is in a classroom, although based on the panels, it seems like Saguru and Kaito are alone at the beginning--or at least, no attention is being paid to them.

[Fourth scene where Saguru makes direct indications as to KID’s identity]

Kaito: [Talking to himself] It must be the case, there’s no other way. There must have been some trick with the case.

Saguru: [Eavesdropping, apparently alone in the room with him] The case didn’t contain any hidden mechanisms. Kaito: Eh? Saguru: No hidden doors or things like that, as are often used in magic tricks. Kaito: W-what on earth are you talking about? Saguru: A new notice from Corbeau arrived this morning. ‘I’ll come and take the real Midnight Crow tonight.’ My name is Hakuba--so I don’t want a ‘white’ person to lose to some ominous black crow. [From here, Akako and then Aoko jump into the conversation.]

Surely a classroom is a risky place to have a conversation about KID, but the nice thing is that Saguru--once again--doesn’t bring up KID at all beyond saying that he doesn’t want the ‘white[-clad] person’ to lose to the black crow. From the outside looking in, all he’s doing is sharing information about the case with Kaito. It may also seem unwarranted from that perspective, but not at all implicating.

Also, another thing I’d like to call attention to is that when Akako joins the conversation (and seemingly blindsides Saguru, as if he wasn’t expecting anyone else to join), Saguru stops talking. He continues to be quiet when Aoko chimes in, and he doesn’t have any relevant dialogue for the rest of the scene.

Once again, Saguru’s clearly motivated to share information in the interest of helping Kaito. He has to share with Kaito’s civilian identity, since he can’t exactly arrange a conversation with KID, and this is likely the easiest way for him to do it. He makes no accusations, and this time he doesn’t even imply he wants KID caught.

So--Saguru is a part of the narrative again, but since rejoining the narrative he seems less interested in actually catching KID and far more interested in helping Kaito. And no accusations or incriminating allusions have been made since chapter 17, before Saguru’s first hiatus from the story.

The final time Saguru nods to Kaito being KID is from the Sun Halo arc. This is probably the interaction that’s closest to what fanon tends to depict when it comes to Saguru making subtle accusations that Kaito is KID. And even then, I tend to take this arc with a grain of salt if only because it felt less like Gosho was trying to add to the story and more like he was just trying to make a Magic Kaito addition that hit various fan expectations while still being wildly disappointing, lmao.

[Fifth scene where Saguru makes direct indications as to KID’s identity]

Saguru: [approaching and commenting on Kaito’s motorcycle] I see, a Suzuki GSX 250R. Akako: Ah, Hakuba-kun… Saguru: You’ve shown me something interesting. Perhaps this might help the police tonight. And could it be that you’ve forgotten… that the only motorised bikes we’re allowed to ride to school are scooters? Kaito: Eh?! For real?!

Once again, Saguru doesn’t explicitly mention KID at all--and segues from his mention of the police to pointing out that Kaito is breaking the rules right now, actually, which helps blend this teasing comment into the conversation.

Yes, later in the chapter Saguru does show up with a team of motorcycle experts. But that also means there’s more disguise opportunities for KID and more factors to account for, thus complicating things for, well, everyone--not just KID.

Also, I tend to dismiss that as Gosho throwing in some comedy, and as less to do with Saguru’s character. Call it cherrypicking if you like :P

To recount--there are five times where Saguru implies Kaito is KID.

The first two are in chapter 17, when Saguru first puts it together, and it is during this chapter that he gets the most explicit about calling Kaito out as KID, as well as the most aggressively he behaves about it. And he backs off so hard after that doesn’t work, that we don’t see him for several chapters.

The next two times he implies Kaito is KID are both in order to help him. No aggression or accusations, just the sharing of information. Even when teasing or suggesting he’s interested in catching KID, he’s good-natured about it, and when he realizes there are potentially people witnessing the conversation, he stops participating.

The final time he implies Kaito is KID is a tiny comment about finding something Kaito has shown him ‘interesting’ and ‘helpful for the police’ before smoothing into gently teasing Kaito for bringing an illegal vehicle to school.

In conclusion, Saguru may start off apparently aggressive in part thanks to early Magic Kaito’s overall tone, but rather than persevering in trying to catch Kaito after cornering him in chapter 17, he actually seems to back off. Once he’s playing a part in the narrative again, when he interacts with Kaito it’s almost exclusively to help him. Yes, he is on the task force and participating at heists, but where it matters, he’s less interested in catching the thief and far more interested in those the thief is opposing (excluding the police force).

[raamitsu]

HOLY MF SHIT-

Finally! I was able to successfully finished reading this theory. Fr it was sucha long ass one and I wasn't sure whether I could be able to finish it. Therefore, I'll try my best to shorten everything I wanted to say or maybe not

I actually loved the idea of someone tackling the smallest yet essential topic such as Nickname(s). It have always been obvious that it plays a major part in our life. We also tend to give ourselves one or a few. Just like a human with different sides + persona, nicknames function the same way. In fact, it is like a switch button to adjust our entire personality according to our surroundings, mostly probably the case.

I made a tweet that touched the same topic last July. To simplify, nickname is a "mask" that covers the real identity of ourselves, thus its existence itself is not real.

Manjiro is a real human while Mikey is a persona. He first created it because he overheard Shinichiro’s conversation with their grandpa and he talked about making Emma happy, so he decided to have a nickname just to make Emma feel comfortable. Since then, “Mikey” has become a safe place for her.

Skipped thru the amazing analysis towards Mikey and everything, however, just like any other TR fans who read the theory, I also unable to agree with the theorist regarding Shinichiro. Let me reassure you guys that Shinichiro is not a real person, therefore spamming OP with negativism and slanders thru DM/ask is an absolute childish and immature. If you wish to express disagreement, please do it with manners.

This could be a collective agreement that the only thing in the manga canon where we become so frustrated and impatient is the way we lack of Shin’s POVs. Similar to what OP mentioned in the theory, we only saw a glimpse of him and his little background story, but the fact that he even appeared in some of the character’s POVs proved that he was more than just a huge influence. There is no POV that were stated or shown in the manga depicted him as a bad guy. Not even once, and yes we all could collectively agree that he is not a perfect brother and he will never be. Why? Just like the question itself, “He’s a good guy but leading a gang?” Well, that’s nothing new. We have a whole dumb, pathetic but kindhearted dude named Takemichi as the ONLY parallel to Shinichiro, just like some of the characters claimed him to be. Takemichi even made it this far as Toman’s 2nd Gen President. Their characterization were explicitly made to be both weak at fight and love, but executing a strong aura of leadership and “never-give-up” attitude, so that should be enough evidences already. Let’s say Shin really was a bad guy, why he was in Mikey’s mind when he’s about to jump off the building? If he’s the type to make a character’s whole existence feels shitty or unimportant, that would have been obvious in the beginning but he didn’t. Wakui would have hinted any displeased expressions or reactions on any characters that have a close relationship with him, but he didn’t. Characters that mentioned his name always has a connotation of respect towards him and that’s because he’s a prominent delinquent and the most respected figure back in his days, until now he was still a very impactful character for some others, for example: Inupi.

Mikey, Draken, Baji, Emma, Inupi, even Izana, as one of the antagonists in the manga series, adored him dearly. Such theory are not sitting right with me but I still do respect OP’s efforts for other amazing analysis. I’d like to add some more regarding Shin; There are multiple official arts from Wakui himself that whenever he drew him, he often showed Shin’s soft side with his siblings. There is no single hidden hint towards anything creepy or mysterious at him. Wakui might be intending to save the best for last so let’s hope that we’ll get Mikey’s POVs. who knows we could see more of Shin in it?

There are another two POVs we’re looking forward; Haruchiyo and Hanma’s. Hopefully we’ll get them all since theirs are important too.

[thepriceofbeingaroseisloneliness]

               『朧』Commemorative release event  【Toshiya】  2021.7.25

                                           Translation&Notes  Part-1

Notes before reading: This is 1st part of the translation/notes of the Toshiya solo online event for the release of “Oboro” streamed on 25th July.  This part is aprox the first 18-20 min of the 45 min total of the talk. 

Feel free to correct me if you spot any mistakes or any confusing parts. Links or credits to this post when the content is reposted or captured in other SNS is appreciated ------

Part 1 

Higuchi Yasuyuki : Hello everyone, this is Toshiya’s Oboro Release Commemorative Event….thank you for watching us….I’m Higuchi Yasuyuki *to Toshiya* Thank you for being here….

Toshiya: Thank you for having me….

H: How is it going?

Toshiya: It’s hot, isn’t it?

H: It is….for real….I want to drink a beer….

Toshiya: That’s right…something very cold and light,right?….

H. says that comments are already appearing on the screen so, they are going to proceed with the talk little by little (he means  people are already watching, as they are already commenting)

H: I met you last year in person because of an article for a magazine *Toshiya nods* We took several pictures and so…. T: Yes, it was for [PHY], right? *Toshiya’s interview featured in PHY【ファイ】VOL.14, you can read it here* H: Yes, that’s it.  After that, unexpectedly, Corona happened and I have interviewed you several times remotely. T: That’s right. H: Are you doing well? T: Yes, I’m doing well…. H: Did something change about your physical condition/health? T: My physical condition…. somehow…. I’d say I lost some weight…. H: Did you lose weight? How? T: I did nothing at all, it was naturally… H: Naturally? Losing weight naturally…. I’m jealous…. T: Well…. somehow…. due to the state of emergency declaration…. I couldn’t go to the gym…. I guess I lost some weight because of that…. H: Because you are losing muscle mass…. T: Maybe I lost some…. Like, somehow, I became a mere shadow of myself *laughs* H: You are burning out…but usually if you don't go to the gym, you will naturally gain weight, right? T: Well, somehow because of the muscle mass loss, I lost weight…. H: I’m jealous of your physical constitution… T: If I don’t go to the gym, I will lose weight…. H: I’m still jealous though…. that’s it….so, this event  will be like a talk event, just like the one we had more or less a year ago… T: Yes, at that place…. H: At Minatomirai…. T: In Yokohama…. H:  The five of you were men in black*…. *This might be a reference to “ Detective Conan“, a Japanese manga series, in which  the primary antagonists of the series is a crime syndicate called the Black Organization. T: It was like   it was the first time that the five of us were in a situation like that... talking on the spot face to face…..*smiles* H: *sighs* It was hell…. T: *laughs* Wasn’t it? H: You were really nervous…. T: Dir en grey can’t talk when the five of us get together….

H: Since when does it feel that way? T: I wonder since when…. I don’t know that… H: But it wasn’t like that from the beginning…. T: But I don’t feel we were that talkative either…. more like…. it’s moments of “who is going to talk first”, “no one is talking now” going on…. H: It’s like you are probing each other…. like” you, talk!”, the atmosphere/mood is amazing…. *laughs* T: *Laughs* It’s like that…. H: Like you don’t answer anything unless you are addressed by your name…. T: It’s like that, it’s like that…. it’s true…. H: I wonder if these five people have meetings in the same way…. T: When it comes to who is going to talk or not, I’m just like “no” …..I feel like relying on others for that…. H: But it’s a band that has been around for a long time, still you all are like “who is going to talk first”…. T: That’s true…it’s like, if someone wants to talk, I’m sure they are going to talk if  they want to….those who want to talk, will talk….

H: Is there any occasion with the members in which you have talked face to face for a long time?  More or less recent…. T: I have no memory of that….*laughs* Higuchi burst into laugh. T: I have no memory of that…. H: That’s amazing… T: That’s right…. it’s amazing…. H: It would be troublesome if suddenly, you are forcibly in such a situation…. T: It would be….it would be troublesome…like…that’s impossible…. H: Impossible *laughs* T: That’s right….I can’t see it happening… H: You can’t…..someday, I would like to do something like that…. T: No way… H: *Laughs* It’s been a year since that event, it’s been already a year but, what kind of things you have been doing?  Do you remember? What were you doing? T: Now I’m solely making songs…I did preproduction stuff….what else?....when there was a live….or more like, when a live was scheduled we did rehearsals….the lives couldn’t be held but we did rehearsals for them… H: Then, it’s like you were preparing yourself for those activities….. T: It was like “let’s put my efforts into something” all the time…. H: It doesn’t seem like it was hard for you to keep being motivated…. T: Until we did the recording of the Rock-May-Kan GIG, nothing changed in me. I was so surprised/shocked because of that…. H: At the time of the Rock-May-Kan GIG…. T: At that time, I feel for the first time a sense of crisis…. that if it keeps going like this, I will not be able to express the things I wanted to. H: It was like a growth/revelation…. T: That’s it…. H: You got a different perspective… T: That’s it…for me….of course I was playing a live….it’s like the mental image of working in bringing together all the feelings into that environment but…. then, among that,  as there are also parts in which I’m rather a person that expresses themselves than a bassist, in my mind, I’m holding an instrument called “bass”, it’s a bass but I have to play without being trapped by it….

H: You mean not being limited by it…. T: I’m very conscious of that…. that’s right….Both of my hands are blocked/occupied but there (at a live), a way of expression is created by myself. I wonder myself if it is this way. For example, people who attended lives told me they had their eyes drawn towards something. I wonder if it is really like that. Like, an atmosphere that it’s created when I’m playing bass. I wonder if they can perceive that because I can express those things…. That kind of power of expression. Even if I did it (at  Rock-May-Kan GIG) as nothing changed, I didn’t feel that….somehow, it’s natural that it feels this way, I thought at the moment “this is bad/problematic) H: However, it was good that you could do a live (with audience) after that…. T: Of course, of course…that’s right, but isn’t being able to do lives something common/natural? Shouldn’t it be the norm? H: Last year around this time, it was the event at Minatomirai, you looked happy with the idea of staying at home…. T: Even now I’m comfortable with that idea…. *they both laugh* I’m pleased with being at home… H: Are you basically mostly at home? Do you like that? T: No, that’s not the case. Somehow, I wonder if I prefer to be at home and have a fun private life….I wonder if I like being at home to have that fun private life…. H: I’m not sure of what the fans think about this but for me, among the five members, the person whose private life is the most mysterious is yours. Things like “in what position does he watch television?” …. T: *Laughs* I see… H: Or “What kind of clothes does he wear when he goes to sleep?”….I can imagine that about the other members but I don’t feel that your daily life is the one I can’t imagine the most.... T: Well, it’s a normal one, just that…..if you all are interested…. H: I’m interested! T: Things I did or say are quite uninteresting but there are many….that are easy to be used to make conversation…. H: I want to make conversation…. T: It’s ok, I’m grateful *laughs* H: Then it’s not like you don’t go out so much…. T: Of course, I have a very normal daily life…. H: Especially now because of Corona…. T: But I go often want to go out for a walk…. H: *surprised* Eh? for a walk? Do you go for a walk like this?*points at him* T: *drinks water* Mmm, well I go for a walk…. H: Don’t you stand out? T: No, not much.  Like no one speaks to me… H: Relatively, you don’t have the feeling of that (of standing out) …. T: *Laughs* There is no sign of that…. H: What are you saying? *laughs* … You don’t feel like that at all….you go on a normal walk… T: I do….

H: Do you have any specific timing in which you feel like walking? T: When it’s still cold in the morning…. recently in the evening… ---- H: I see…. It seems that you spent a lot of time working in a room but with that feeling, I think we should talk about the release we are commemorating today.  This song was one of the many you were doing at that time, right? For you, this song looked as it was going to be selected as a single for sure, you said it yourself… T: That’s right. It's a bit ballad-like and I thought that kind of song hasn’t been released as a single recently. In that sense, it felt really nice to listen and after all, we got asked by the company to make a song that was easy to listen to….it seemed like even if it didn’t become single, it would be a song that would be included in the album… H: You were thinking about this song as a part of the next album…. T: When we decided to make a single of this song….of course I thought there was no problem at all with it being a single but, still saving it for the album would had been a nice “hook” for the album…. H: Maybe the direction of the next album would still be more unclear if this song were kept for it? T: Still, I think it would be ok to just change if we needed to. Nowadays we still don’t know about the direction of the next album though.

[gumy-shark]

ok off work so i can actually expand on this now. i tend to look at mp100 specifically as pseudo-allegorical, and all the conflicts are specifically part of that.

mobs philosophy (or really mob’s interpretation of reigen’s philosophy), as it starts out, is pretty black-and-white. Using your powers on other people is bad. Being a good person is good. What does “being a good person mean” to Mob? Mostly just being nice and not using his powers on others. The purpose of conflict in the story is ultimately to test and develop either this philosophy, or Mob as a character.

I’m going to go through every antagonist I remember and talk about how they challenge Mob and his beliefs, and some of the lessons he learns from those encounters.

SEASON 1:

In season 1, the questions presented to Mob are mostly focused on that first half of his philosophy: What does it mean to not use your powers on other people? There is especially a focus on self-defense in this season- at what point is it okay for Mob to use his powers to defend himself?

S1 Antagonists:

the roach spirit and the tunnel spirits: mostly setpieces to introduce the audience to the world, the characters, and the dynamic between mob and reigen

the peeping tom spirit: Very directly asks his question to Mob- “Are you living your life to the fullest?”, but also highlights ways Mob could be abusing his powers (Which is more of a season 2 theme, fitting this spirit’s placement in the manga) (this also counts as a question to me btw)

Dimple: In his first appearance, the encounter with Dimple is all about compromising oneself to achieve your goals. Mob could probably be more popular if he expressed his emotions more “normally,” but then he wouldn’t be Mob anymore- and more to the point, doing so compromises one of his most important principles of not letting others get hurt by his powers- which he risks every time he hits 100% (also note: Mezato saying that if she smiled to appease the LOL cult it wouldn’t be real; Mob moving the bystanders being one of the first-if not the first- time we see him use his powers on a human).

Teru: Mob’s first human opponent. Mob’s used his powers on others to move them out of harm’s way, but this fight with Teru tests Mob’s resolve to not use his powers against others- here is an enemy who is attacking him unprovoked, who does not respond to Mob’s attempts to defuse the situation, and who Mob desperately does not want to hurt. The question Teru asks is, “At what point does that stop? When is the danger to your own life great enough to purposely risk another’s?”- and while Mob’s answer is “Never,” the part of him that wants to not Fucking Die says “Right now.” (Other things to note: ???%’s rampage there, while understandable, was also overkill. Shaving Teru’s head was accidental, destroying his clothes may have been unintentional- but destroying his school and sending him naked into the stratosphere? Reigen was correct there- that’s not a justified response, powers or not.) (Additional lesson: the desire to survive may have also been something Mob was repressing along with his other emotions. jesus christ kid don’t do that please)

Ritsu: was Ritsu’s time as an antagonist brief? Yes. He still counts, I’m including him. The 5 seconds of Ritsu vs. Mob raise a lot of questions, but I think the most important one is, “What happens when every effort you’ve taken to avoid hurting others ends up hurting them too?” Mob’s repression of his emotions and powers is a direct result of his and Ritsu’s shared trauma, but it only served to (both directly and indirectly) worsen Ritsu’s spiral overall. (Additionally, if the fight had continued, I think it likely would’ve continued Teru’s line of questioning- is Mob prepared to defend himself against Ritsu? Is he ready for what might happen if he’s forced to use his powers here? We’ll never know for sure.)

Koyama: Ahh, the alleyway Koyama fight. Mob is extremely resistant to using his powers to protect himself, even against a psychic opponent, but when Koyama asks “Will you use your powers against others to protect someone you care about?” Mob’s answer is, perhaps for the first time, a very clear “Yes.” Protecting the people he cares about is a cornerstone of Mob’s developing philosophy, and is what drives him to consciously override his refusal to use his power against others. And also to Wreck Koyama’s Shit.

The 7th Division Scars: As the season finale arc, the Scars ask several questions that serve as a capstone/final test of Mob’s willingness to use his powers on others. Before the 7th Division arc, Mob was passive/reactive- he responded to threats as they came, and didn’t go beyond that. However, with Ritsu taken by Claw, that’s not an option anymore- he has to deliberately seek them out to fight them on purpose. That’s question one: Is it right, in this or any scenario, to go beyond self-defense and actively take the offensive? (and Mob’s answer is “Yes, to protect the ones I care about.”). In the compound, he once again moves on to self-defense, only fighting back after he’s been attacked- but his presence there is still offensive. This question comes to a head in the final confrontation with the Scars, when Mob is about to hit 100% Murderous Intent- he even says, “If I can protect the people I care about, I don’t care about the ones attacking me!”

This scene also serves as a transition between the ideas of Season 1 and Season 2, as Reigen steps in and reminds Mob of the other half of his guiding philosophy: he has to be a good person. Self-defense is an option, and a valid one, but Mob’s powers aren’t just for attacking- and the decision to willingly take another person’s life is not part of justified self-defense, powers or no. (Lesson learned: Death is not the only option- there is ALWAYS another way.)

By the end of S1, Mob is far more comfortable using his powers on and around people when necessary, and has gained a level of perspective in deciding where “necessary” is. Which is good because he’s gonna need that for Season 2.

SEASON 2:

If Season 1 was all about when it’s justified for Mob to use his powers on other people, and how far he should go, then Season 2 is all about the other half of that: being a good person. Now that Mob’s more comfortable with using his powers (and making his own decisions), a lot of questions shift towards asking how powers should be used, especially when it comes to spirit antagonists

S2 Antagonists:

Scarecrow Spirit: Setpiece so that Mob ends up with broccoli seeds and knowledge of chlorokinesis. This episode is more to show where he is at the start of s1, both in his work life and social life.

The Urban Legends: i’m gonna be honest I totally forgot about this episode. Mob doesn’t really develop much here, either- again, we’re mostly seeing just where he’s at.

That One Astral-Projecting Stalker, The High School Muggers, and The Asshole College Students: these three encounters all take place in the same episode, and all highlight a different part of Mob’s continued struggle with when he should use his powers. The astral projection stalker used his powers in a way that didn’t directly harm others, but still caused distress and was also creepy and gross. The high school muggers put Mob in a position where he basically had to defend himself against people who he knew couldn’t really fight back against him. And of course, the asshole college students tried to force Mob to use his powers against spirits- something he’s never had a moral problem with before- in a way that was distinctly immoral. Like other spirit-heavy episodes, the point is made clear in the episode itself: Mob is caught between the world of normal humans and that of spirits, and can no longer rely on others to make moral decisions for him.

Mogami (and Minori): Jesus christ man. Mogami arc. So, like most other spirit arcs, this arc has very clear takeaways. Mogami asks, “What if you do everything right and you are hurt anyways? What is the point of kindness in such a cruel world?” and Minori asks “When does a person stop deserving to be saved?” (and in the end, Mob’s answer to these questions is that kindness is necessary. That there is no world without kindness- and that deserving doesn’t matter. It matters what Minori’s done, and it matters that she wants to become better- but even without those things, even if she was totally unrepentant, she would still be a person in need of help, and that’s reason enough to try.)

Reigen: yeah i’m counting reigen as an antagonist for separation arc lol. He is nothing if not his own worst enemy. Being a Reigen-centric arc, Separation Arc has nothing to do with psychic powers, and everything to do with self-improvement and being a good person. However, that’s not really what this analysis is about, and Reigen kinda says it all out loud in this arc anyways, so… moving on!

TOICHIROU SUZUKI!!: this guy is my FAVORITE mp100 villain, specifically because his question is so interesting to me. Before the World Domination arc, there had always been a trump card against any villain standing in Mob’s way, and that was Mob’s sheer overwhelming brute force. The reason they were able to convince so many antagonists to change their ways is in the end because when push came to shove, they simply couldn’t beat Mob. He outclassed them to the point that they HAD to listen to him- or at least stop long enough to hear him out. And then, in walks Toichirou, saying with his presence alone, “What if you can’t force someone to change? What if you show them the consequences of their behavior (Mrs. Suzuki), how they’ve hurt you (Shou)- what if you try to empathize with them and fight them head-on and when all else fails you just try to kill them- and none of it works? What happens when, for the first time, Mob isn’t strong enough force someone to change?” And there never really is an answer to that. Even Mob choosing to stay behind with Toichirou, trying to contain the explosion and give everyone else more of a chance to escape, refusing to let him die alone- even that wasn’t really what changed Toichirou. He had to choose, on his own, to reflect on himself and admit to himself that he had regrets. That he wanted to make things right. And that chance that he was given is what saved Mob, saved Toichirou, saved everyone in the city- and it only could’ve happened because it built on all the lessons Mob had already learned and put into practice.

(I could go into Season 3 as well, but 1. s3 is meant to show Mob’s developed philosophy and character in action, 2. doesn’t really have Antagonists in the same way that s1 and s2 do, 3. the fights that do take place are for the completion of individual character arcs, and 4. ???% is an entire analysis post in and of himself).

wait fuck have i actually explained my view of mob psycho where i see every antagonistic character as representing/asking a question that directly challenges mob’s philosophy or growth in some way

[violetlunette]

Okay, I’m planning to do a LOT of BNHA posts once the manga is finished, so to get ready, I’m going to read through every chapter and post my thoughts. This is to refresh my memory and to create reference sheets I'll need in the future.

I’ll admit I’ve been putting this off because I hate recent chapters so much, (so, so much) but as soon as I started re-reading I remembered how much I actually liked the early chapters and why I was pulled into the story right away, so let’s get into that.

Trigger Warning;

*Bullying (Not very graphic) *Suicide Baiting

Okay, so basic summary for those who haven’t read this chapter in a long time;

Izuku Midoriya lives in a world where superpowers are the norm and “heroes” is now a career in which a person will use their special powers—or quirk—to fight against people who use their quirks to harm others or commit crimes. The heroes seem to do a good job in keeping the peace and are admired by the people. Everyone wants to be a hero, even young Izuku. The problem is that unlike literally everyone else in the world Izuku was born without a quirk and is literally powerless—or quirkless as people like him are deemed. Because of this Izuku is bullied by others, the most violent being his “childhood friend” Bakugou. After a terrible day of being ridiculed and bullied, Izuku is attacked and nearly killed by a villain. Fortunately, he is not only saved by a hero but by the Number 1 hero in Japan (and possibly the world) All Might. As All Might is leaving with the captured villain, however, Izuku grabs him. This results in not only the villain being lost, but Izuku learning one of All Might’s secrets. Apparently, All Might has a 3 hr time limit in his hero form, all of which he used up that day. Izuku asks All Might if a quirkless could be a hero, but All Might regretfully explains that he doesn’t think so. Heartbroken, Izuku starts to go home but sees that Bakugou has been captured by the same villain that nearly killed him earlier. Despite the abuse he endured over the years from the bully and being scared, Izuku rushes forward to try and save him. This action inspires All Might to overcome his timelimit and rescue them both. Later, as Izuku is walking away, All Might appears before him. He takes back what he said earlier tells Izuku that he believes the boy CAN become a hero.

Honestly, I pretty much like everything here. This is a great opening chapter. It establishes from page one what kind of person our main character is.

Izuku is someone who has a heroic spirit, and he’s willing to stand up for others even when he knows he’s outmatched. The thing is that despite his desire to save and defend, Izuku is literally powerless in a world where everyone has powers.

We see all this on the first few pages;

This is the first image we see of Izuku; he’s protecting someone who’s been hurt to the point of tears. He's terrified to the point of shaking as he knows Bakugou and company are gonna hurt him (and they do).

Speaking of which, let’s touch on Bakugou—I love him in this chapter. 

(BNHA Fans: LE GASP!)

Yeah, I said it. Yes, I love Bakugou at his worst. (Before the people who follow me for my Bakagou hot takes call me traitor, hear me out.)

I think Bakagou is a good antagonist and opposite to Izuku here. Unlike Izuku, Bakugou was blessed with power but uses it for his own benefit. Which makes sense; he’s a spoiled child who was never scolded for his actions. I also like how unapologetic he was as an asshole he was here. He makes it clear from the get-go that he is all about his ego

--and how he reacts to anyone who challenges it.

I was pulled in and wanted to see how he goes from an asshole to a "worthy rival" character later. (More on that later… sigh.) Most of all, his terrible actions are framed as being bad. Here, they are NOT excused, waved off, glorified, or used to woobify him. He’s not framed as a poor misunderstood soul who needs the power of friendship to save him, he’s framed as an antagonist, especially to Izuku. The way the scenes are drawn, Izuku's reactions--never underestimate the small stuff, they matter more than you think. But that's something I need to study more before I can properly explain.

Oh, and on to everyone's "favorite" part-- the suicide baiting scene. Everyone hates it--for good reason--but in the spirit of fairness, I can understand why it’s there. It also shows how utterly alone and powerless Izuku is in the world, especially against Bakugou. 

Just look at the scene;

Bakugou’s saying it casually but Izuku’s panel shows the effect of those words. Now look at his response;

Izuku is angry, he knows Bakugou went too far and is about to say something, but--

Bakugou threatens him into silence with his quirk, a quirk we’ve seen that’s hurt Izuku and scares him. Even though Izuku wants to say something he can't. He's scared of Bakugou and his quirk and knows he can't fight back. Worse, Bakugou knows that as well. Just look at this panel;

It’s a small panel but it shows something very important--Izuku is alone. No one is there to support him, no is there to protect him, there is no one there for him. He is alone and helpless, and that helplessness makes him frustrated to the point of near tears. But he can’t do anything about it, even when the other is wrong--and he knows it--he can’t. All he can do is grumble about it later as he fishes out his hero notebook.

(I can’t speak for others, but I understand that feeling very well. This scene is probably what caused me to click with Izuku.)

All this sets the overlaying conflict that Izuku wants to fight back and defend himself, but can't. Maybe the baiting it was a step too far, but despite mixed feelings about it, I think it works to make us sympathetic towards Izuku. (Possibly it works TOO well.) I also think it works to show how noble Izuku is when rescuing Bakugou later. Speaking of--

I’ve seen people say that anyone could have been captured by the Sludge villain, and the story would have progressed the same, but I disagree. This scene wouldn't have nearly been as strong if Bakugou wasn't the hostage.

First off, Bakugou getting caught feeds into his arc later. Second, it showed the audience Izuku's moral integrity. 

Bakugou has been beating Izuku up since the former got his quirk and belittled him before that. He is the main antagonist in Izuku’s life to this point. Hell, on that very day—just a few hours before—Bakugou destroyed Izuku’s notebook and told Izuku to kill himself.

Also, this is the same villain who nearly killed Izuku less than an hour before.

The boy is clearly scared as he recalls his pain and fear from the attack, not to mention his near death.

The wounds are still fresh from both events, and he thinks about both. But Izuku doesn’t care about any of that--

All he cares is that someone is scared and needs someone to help him.

This proves to the audience that Izuku has what it takes to be a hero as he’s willing to forego his personal grudges to do what’s right.

THAT is why it had to be Bakugou Izuku saved. Yes, he could have saved anyone else but it wouldn’t have been as meaningful.

I also like how the event really shakes Bakugou up. In any other manga he’d apologize and the two would become best buds from then on (like in Yugioh). But nope.

Here, he’s angry and furious, not just at Izuku, but himself. He hates that he was so weak that he had to not only saved by a quirkless, but by someone who had no obligation to save him. Its kind of an interesting take, especially since we now know how insecure Izuku’s noble spirit makes Bakugou feel. (I’ll tackle this in a later post.)

But enough about Bakugou, let’s move on to one of the best characters in the series, All Might.

I’ve talked about the scene where he tells Izuku that he doesn’t believe a quirkless could be a hero, but I want to say how much I love All Might when he shifts to “Yagi” for the first time. It’s a bit sad but he feels—for lack of a better word—genuine. He’s honest, forward, and kind. Yagi knows he’s hurting Izuku, but you can tell that he feels pain in doing so. It’s like telling a kid that someone they care about is dead, and won’t come back. It’s heartbreaking but it has to be done (from his perspective). All Might could have just said, “no because the villains vary in power, and you’ll get killed.” But instead, he shows Izuku his wound--

--demonstrating that even he—the #1 hero with all his power—met a foe that nearly killed him. Yagi even admits that the only reason he smiles all the time is to hide the overwhelming fear he has every day. All Might didn’t have to say any of that, but he felt that if he was going to destroy someone’s dream he needed to be honest. This was probably the first time in years he allowed himself to be so vulnerable to anyone, which he did to show Izuku that he wasn’t just trying to be cruel.

The introduction between these two was so strong, but it had to be to create the best dynamic in the story—In my opinion, at least.

I really liked how we get to see how Izuku inspires All Might. He was willing to stand back and nothing with the rest of the crowd--

--until Izuku rushed forward.

This inspired him into action and just brings a whole new life to his demeanor (more on that in chapter2). He’s laughing and smiling genuinely--before coughing blood--

—I just love it and him! X3

Chapter 1 also establishes the flaws of the hero system. One issue is that the job of a hero is a bit of a popularity contest and other heroes are looking to steal others’ “captures.”

Like in an RPG game where you spend all this effort to defeat a villain, and then at the final moment someone steals your kill and gets the exp and loot.

(This image has nothing to do with anything, I really like Mt. Lady’s design. I think she’s cute.)

This brings me to the next flaw; how criminals and villains are placed in the same category despite there being a few steps between them. I mean purse-snatching is bad, but not “evil incarnated level.”

(Seriously, Kamui Woods, how sheltered are you?)

But the biggest is its effects on the civilians. Everyone is clearly embedded with the idea of “just sit back and enjoy the show as the heroes handle it.”

Now, in theory, this is a good idea as you don’t want people tangling with villains as that inspires vigilantism and gang fights but it’s created a severe case of bystander syndrome.

Remember that scene where Bakugou makes Izuku’s desk explode--

--and then backs him against a wall?

Yeah, all that happened in front of a TEACHER. And he didn’t say one word, not even a “sit down Bakugou” or “that’s enough, Bakugou.”

(Asshole, stop throwing around important career forms and DO SOMETHING. Especially since YOU singled him out in the first place.)

This especially awfully, as later in the series we see that if he had said some Bakugou would have obeyed. Despite his bombastic personality, he does respect authority, if I remember correctly (don’t quote me just yet though).

Then later when Bakugou’s been captured by a villain, only the heroes care that a kid might die, the rest are just looking on in excitement as if watching a stage show.

Again, more on this later in the series.

Oh! Nearly forgot, but I kinda like that the world's first introduction to superpowers was a glowworm baby.

A little young to be flashing a nurse kid! Hee, hee, I regret nothing!

I dunno why, but I thought it was cute. There's also a metaphor about a "bright future" here, I'm sure.

All in all, I love this chapter. It introduced the main character, and the type of person he was, the "rivalry" dynamic between him and Bakugou, the world, and the meeting of All Might and Deku was just amazing.

But this is only the first step in the manga re-read! Feel free to share your thoughts as well. I'm curious what others think about it. Do you think this was a good intro to the world and story, or a bad one?

[mytragedyperson]

OK my brain just decided to think of the karasuno third years and I now have thoughts so I guess I'm gonna give opinions no one asked for

OK first of all who came up with the fanon versions of these characters? Sugamama and dadchi? Sugawara choosing favourites to be protective over and threatening anyone even his other teammates if they ruin his favourites' innocence or upset them? Deadchi? Asahi being Jesus? Fanon in general sometimes has a habit of honing in one one aspect of a character, not even necessarily a personality trait, which is a conversation for another day. And the thing is I wouldn't mind this but its so repetitive that it just gets boring. No hate if you like this version of yhe characters I just personally don't. Especially asahi being Jesus because I feel like it's literally based solely on his appearance and maybe one image in the manga. I'm not saying this is never enjoyable just that it gets boring and honestly annoying.

Now I'm gonna take this one by one and kiyoko isn't really gonna be included because I just don't have much to say about her, except that I love her being protective of yachi, simply because I don't really know much about her character outside of canon. Like the point is kinda that she's there to give quiet support and kinda produce funny moments by rejecting or ignoring nishinoya or tanaka as well as set terushima up as a temporary antagonist for flirting with her but I don't really have much to say about her and, while I understand why people don't like terushima because he made her uncomfortable and kept pushing her, I don't really hate him to the same level other people seem to.

Anyway let's start with daichi. Honestly I feel like daichi, like canon daichi, is underrated and his character is underutilised in fics, especially his weird friendly rivalry with kuroo. First of all, yes he tells his teammates off sometimes, usually when they're arguing during a match or doing something disruptive during practice, unless it's helpful bur that's because he's the captain not because he's their dad. Also he buys them meat buns to praise them for a job well done. But don't forget he's also very competitive, this is especially seen in his interactions with kuroo, and yet I genuinely would say they're some type of friends, like yhey get along well and stuff. Also he's not afraid to lightly bully people, mainly asahi, but he's also really supportive and genuinely cares about his teammates. So many people gocys just on his moments where he tells them off and is their captain and yes this is a big part of his character but so is his more playful side and his caring side and his supportive side. Also if they were a family he'd clearly be the protective older brother, not the dad. Also deadchi jokes were fine at first but that point was crossed long ago. Also chaotic captain squad is always fun to read when it's done right with daichi reluctantly joining them only to actually have fun and end up joining the chaos as he should because he is a teenager and shouldn't have to be responsible for his same age friends who aren't on his team. Like he's not responsible for Suga or Asahi, why would he be the responsible one of the captains. Also I feel like he does have habits from looking after younger siblings but only in the treat them to things occasionally and is protective over them way.

Now suga. Idk if I've made it obvious but I love the pretty setter squad. I just do. The most obvious thing about Suga is how supportive he is, he helps hinata and kageyama as much as he can and is always there to lend advice and is basically the senpai both of them always needed but never truly had. Like for himata he helps teach him the basics and encourages him and believes in him. For kageyama he yachts him how to communicate with his team and is willing to teach him things where oikawa wasn't. Also he's chaotic but it's more subtle than nishinoya and tanaka. Like he'll tease people and lightly bully asahi but it's always lighthearted. Also idk why but I kinda love the idea of the setters just getting together to like care for their nails and hands and just chill together and gossip while occasionally lightly bullying each other. We love suga here

And finally asahi. Asahi is honestly basically anxiety personified and needs to be loved and protected at all times. I always love characters who look a certain way but then act the exact opposite. He's a huge softy and I feel like he'd give the best hugs. If you cried in front of him he'd panic and he gets sad when people get scared of him. Also him and nishinoya are adorable

[lunaekalenda]

Hi hi hi!! Loving your recent post sis :DDD I’m kinda new to your blog but im loving it so far especially your theme<33

May I ask if the movie event is still open? If yes can I join please? ^^

Maybe 💖🏠🚗 (romance, neighbors and modern!au with Eren Jaeger<33) I got this idea from taylor swift’s song “You belong with me” (this time im gonna change it a little) l do adore this song sm since a year ago! I just find this heartwarming and gives me 🦋🦋🦋 whenever I imagine it:)) I’d imagine myself as a florist on this one instead of yk- a normal student just going to school.. rlly cliché,, I mean I want to be at least a little different. LIKE A STUDENT BUT AT THE SAME TIME SHE’S WORKING AS A FLORIST and then eren would be the neighbour😩 and then you decide how we would met:)) (idk if i said that right, but let me tell u im rlly bad at explaining stuff), for example my mom opened her flower shop and i’m somehow part of it since i’d be helping her arranging the flowers and stuffs! I know it’s a little confusing but im trying my best to explain it😅😅 I APOLOGIZE FOR MY EXPLAINING IDK HOW TO EXPLAIN WELL im bad at it :’) AND IDK IF THIS MADE SENSE BUT YEAH😭

Have a great day or night!! <33

of course! i really hope you like it and thanks for participating honey! <3

romance + neighbors + modern au feat Eren Jaeger

inspired by you belong with me by taylor swift.

It was so late at night. You sigh, leaving the keys of the flower shop in the entrance table. You walk towards your room, your shoes in the entrance, feeling the soft carpet of your room on your bare feet. You sit on your bed, your curtains open, letting you see the window in front of yours. That’s Eren’s room.

You’ve known Eren since the two of you are kids. He moved to the house next to yours, and his room’s window can be seen from your bedroom. Eren was shy at first, also capricious. You easily built a friendship with his sister, Mikasa, and they often invited you to have dinner. As you grew, he stopped to be a insupportable mum’s boy and started to be a sweet and warm-hearted guy, who always cared for you two as a big brother, but never been really close to you. You always wondered why.

Right now, he’s also on his bed, a manga between his hands. His messy bun is wet, so you suppose he has just came out of the shower. He looks through the window and finds your eyes. He takes his phone.

“what’s up weird neighbor that looks to my window?” a text can be read on your phone. You let out a little laugh. Taking your phone, you write a reply. His smile is illuminated by your text.

“i was wondering if my insufferable neighbor was home.” you see how he laughs before replying you.

“ding ding, today is your lucky day, i’m home and freshly showered just for you.”

Flirting jokes were a normal thing between you two. You smile and look at him, you can appreciate how he bites his lip. That's how close your windows are. If you open yours, he could enter your room without making a circus of it.

"let me doubt if you cleaned all your body or just wetted your hair." you say. When he was little and his mom told him to have a shower, it was a spectacle, because little Eren wanted to keep playing video games, so he just opened the water, wetted his hair and change his clothes, trying to make Carla believe he had a shower.

"oh. wanna see how clean i am?" he asks, following it a pervert emoji. You look at him again.

"you're an idiot. gonna block you." your message goes with an angry emoji this time. He laughs.

"then i'll appear in you room tonight." he points the window, remembering you how close it is to yours.

“you sounded like a horror movie antagonist.” you say.

“nah, not into horror.” he answers. Then, he leaves his phone and keeps reading. You enter the bathroom in your room, taking a towel and a pijama. You’re really tired, you have been in uni all morning and in the flower shop all afternoon. Your feet are screaming for a rest, and they deserve it. You enter your bathtub and let your feet relax on the hot water. You sigh.

Every time you talk with Eren, your heart shakes. It feels so good, but, at the same time, you know it would feel better if you two were closer. You can't force a relationship. You can't force someone to like you. But, well, sometimes things go well naturally. You sigh again. Also, your mom asked you to make some floral arrangements for a wedding, and you have to have them for tomorrow morning. It seems today will be a hard night.

You hate weddings. At least right now. 

Making a little corsage of white roses for the sizes of a kid wrist is difficult. But make 15 of those is literally like hell.

You have your light on, working on your desk, right in front of your window. It’s almost 2 A.M and you keep working on them. You have a big bouquet and all the bridesmaids’ corsages left to do. You want to cry.

That’s what happens when you procrastinate and leave all for the last day. That now you’re here.

But it isn’t time to get sad, you have to work. Petra, your client, deserves all of this. She always helped you on your homework when you were little. Also, she’s marring a guy who really loves her! You’re happy for them. You also want to share your day with someone who really loves you.

You sigh and kept working. you have to take out the flowers’ stem, then put a lot of little leaves and other green plants around, sew them quietly and adjust it to the band they’ll put around their wrist, making sure nothing will fall and everything is well placed. Your phone buzzes. A message.

“are you still awake?” Eren’s name shows on top of the message. You unlock your phone.

“yes, got some work left, and i need to finish it.” you look to the front. His room has, surprisingly, the curtains away. It’s totally dark except the faint light that enters from your room, and his phone. You delete the message.

“oh, sorry, i’m giving light to you. i’ll turn it off.”

“no. it’s not that.” he answers. You can see his half-naked body and his messy hair. He keeps writing.

“what are you doing awake so late?” he asks. you send a little message.

“working.” he frowns. His fingers are fast.

“working? what are you doing?” you answer quickly what you have left to do. He reads fast. “damn. that’s a lot of work, y/n”

“i know T.T” you see how him turns on his light. He gets up lazily and searches a sweater, that puts on. He leaves, going downstairs. “what are you doing, Eren?” you ask, but you see his phone on his bed. He comes back no long after, with a pack of chips and a couple juice packs. He opens his window, taking his phone.

“Eren?” you ask. He smiles. “What are you doing?” 

“Come and take this while I enter, please.” he asks you. You take the chips and the juices, and he enters using your window. 

“What the hell are you doing?” He takes a juice and gives it to you.

“I’m here to help. That’s an inhuman quantity of things. If we do it together, we’ll end really fast.”

You’re surprised. Has your neighbor just took juices and chips, crossed your window and talked as if it was the most normal thing ever? He sips juice from the straw quietly, looking at you. He smiles.

“Well, should we start then?”

You give him instructions on how to make it, and he gets it really fast. His hands move carefully between the flowers, and he sews with precision and softness. you’re looking how he does it, and he looks from the side how you look at him. You’re both sitting on your desk, working on flowers, looking to each other sneakily. It’s true that you two are faster now, so the little children corsages are done quick. You then start with the bridesmaids’ ones, they’re easier since you’re used to make them. Eren and you have a small talk while working, talking about trivial things. The six bridesmaids’ are finished really quick. There was just the big bouquet left.

“How are you planning on doing the bouquet?” Eren asks. He offers you chips and you take one.

“I don’t know.” your clock points 3 A.M. “Eren, it’s late, you should go to sleep...”

“I’m okay. I told you I was going to help you.” he winks. “Okay, take this.” he gives you a couple roses. “Also this.” now, some lilacs. “oh, and of course some lavenders.” He gives all to you. “Okay, get up and act as if it was your bouquet and you were the one getting married.” he tells. You get up.

Even in his wildest fantasies, he never thought an image of you taking a bridal bouquet would affect him so much. He’s trying his best to keep his mouth closed, but his eyes are shining. You look so beautiful, in your pijama, all bare-faced and your hair in a messy ponytail, taking a bouquet.

“What do you think, Eren?” you ask. He has been silent for a couple minutes, and you started to feel quite observed. Not the bouquet. You. Eren smiles.

“You look gorgeous.”

Damn.

What did he just say?

His cheeks start to blush and he thinks about repairing it saying just another silly thing, but he’s unable to speak. Because your surprised face makes it even more magical, as if he really gave you the bouquet. He likes you so much, and keeping it hidden for all that time was difficult.

“T-thanks, Eren. But, the bouquet...”

“It’s nice. Let’s do it.”

You work in an uncomfortable silence. He thinks if he should confess all or stay silent, and you try to calm your heart after hearing from him that you looked gorgeous. You want an explanation.

“See, when...” You both talk at the same time. You laugh. “Okay, you go first.” you say. Eren smiles.

“You looked really gorgeous.” he says, cutting the leaves for the bouquet. “You always look gorgeous but, damn, taking that bouquet in your arms and smiling to me... That was a critical hit.”

“Critical hit?” you asks. He nods, looking to the leftover white rose. He takes it and turns it around his fingers.

“Yes. You know, when you play a videogame...” You let out a little laugh.

“Eren, I know what a critical hit is. I was asking why.”

“Because you looked so beautiful with the flowers on your hands that I wouldn’t doubt to buy flowers for you everyday just to see you smile like that.” he says, all in one sentence. You look at him. He’s blushing. He’s so handsome like that, looking at the white rose. He puts it on your hand. “Yes, I... Well, liked you for a long time.”

You start to laugh, making him jump a little on his chair. He looks at you.

“Is it that bad?” he asks. You shake your head.

“Are you telling me that we both hide our feelings for nothing?” you ask. “You’re a dork, Eren Jaeger.” He looks at you, eyes wide open.

“Excuse me? You weren’t the one confessing, if I wasn’t here, we will be hiding all our lives.” he says back.

“You could have been faster, Jaeger.” you tease him, your body getting closer to his unconsciously.

“You could have been faster as well, y/s” he smiles. “Anyway, you take it? I have a long waiting list of people to go out with” he jokes, laughing after that. You laugh with him, his senses getting drunk with the sound. You look the white flower between your hands. A smile starts to take form on your lips.

“I definitely take it, Mr. Jaeger.” You get closer to him, maybe willing a kiss, but he points the clock.

“It’s late, let’s end this. We can’t lose more time, sinc...”

“Oh, shut up, Jaeger.” you take his hoodie and pull him closer to you, your lips covering his. You have waited so long to kiss him. His hands leave the flowers and find your cheeks. 

“If this is the way to shut me up, I will start talking about every single detail on all the Zelda games non-stop. And there are a lot.”

taglist: @lagrimasdeglitter <3