#yet I think something about tsumugi really just goes hard

[multishipper-baby]

I still don't like the ending, but the more I think about it, the more I like Tsumugi's characterization. Girlie really just went from being the least interesting character for me to being one of the very best (and I already liked a lot of DRV3 characters).

[sucantslay]

Aoba Tsumugi analysis ( from the 3D animation )

Most sources will be taken from the Reminiscences Selection ELEMENT ( animation? Anime? Idk, I'm not good at this )

As I promised, we'll be talking about Aoba today~

So, there is A LOT TO TALK ABOUT after episode 5. Like, when Aoba was asking: "This contract says that along with Nagisa and Hiyori, I will also quit fine after today's Live. It is a mistake?" And what happened after that! LIKE, the whole thing, the- the- I don't know how to make you understand, but that point just HIT. Every other episode, make this moment come to life. What Tsumugi wants, what he wishes for, it breaks, I can hear as the crack start to take form.

Alright, that is my thought on the last episode, but let's get into the real part, shall we?

I want you to know that this is MY PERSONAL way of viewing Tsumugi, so if you don't enjoy it, feel free to think differently.

Also...this is a deep dive, it gonna get dark and some suicidal thoughts will be mention, so consider it before going into this.

Firstly: Tsumugi IS in a state of depression and it is not the "He looks just like a happy guy so everyone thought he was just fine."

Is a really heavy case, hard to depict but once you take a real close look at it, you'll find that this is nothing but deep and doom.

Like, is not a thing that can be stopped just by some cheer and joy, this is something already deep within him, and this "depression" is not even recognized as a (mental form of) sickness anymore. The owner of the body takes it in and lets the daunting bloom, so much so that it has become a forest in his heart, a forest that grows so strong and can't be easily cut down.

The ways he talks, the ways he treats himself just said it all. Like, the heart had already consumed it and made it a part of him.

And no, it isn't because of the last episode, it was there from the very beginning, and never did it fade away.

Tsumugi doesn't like himself, but it is not the hateful ways, is a way of absolute denial. Treats himself like a stranger, living not for him but for someone else purpose.

And that the way he keeps himself from dying. Away from all that suicide.

When Eichi gave him a purpose, he took it. He sacrificed everything because he had nothing to lose.

He wasn't even there for himself. He just...a soulless body. Because Tsumugi thinks he was nothing but, a body, a hollow living being that needs to be useful to this world.

If not, was it even matter to keep living?

Tsumugi was blindly following Eichi, but that doesn't make him a puppet. It also serves Tsumugi's purpose in one way or not.

Because Tsumugi is desperate for something, that if he keep living and breathing like this, he need a purpose. Better or worse, Tsumugi was not yet to end himself all thanks to that contract of Eichi.

It tide Tsumugi to something, pulling him away from the thought of death. And he was, for a moment, feeling the happiness of having friends again.

That why he looks so blindly when following Eichi. He doesn't look for the reason, he doesn't care to think about the matter of why Eichi would befriend him.

All his cares is this body starved of joy and purpose to live on had finally been filled up.

Secondly: all the above also explains why he was so happy all the time.

It actually really messes up...but, I really, really want to talk about it so-

The reason for his ways of happiness isn't because Eichi gave him a reason to live. That was one thing, but other? Well...

That because he just accepts it. He accepts this dark and hateful side of himself and just goes: "Oh well, I guess I just wasn't that matter after all."

As I already told you about, Tsumugi accepted it, he didn't show any sign of fighting back in any of the episodes at all. This means that it already happened before the episode 1 event.

Tsumugi just...accept that he's the pain in everyone a*s, even for himself.

My art teacher once told me that: "If the owner, who made this art doesn't even love it, how do you expect everyone to?"

It relates to Tsumugi so much. That if, he didn't even love himself, who will...

He can't no longer be saved, that why he smiles, that why he always look so cheerful. Because sad or not, who would care?

If not even matter to him, then everything else just seen like a lost cost.

If everything falls, it simply is. Life will keep on moving, with or without him.

So, that is it. That why he was so cheerful all the time.

Even if he got hurt, got a cut, fell down from somewhere, and broke his bone, he'll keep on smiling. Because...tomorrow will come...it doesn't matter if he dead or alive. Things will keep happening, so why be sad?

Thirdly: You can get mad at Tsumugi for all you want at the library when Natsume and Tsumugi was having a fight ( Episode 4 )

Tsumugi wasn't evil. Yes, he is, to Natsume. But not to himself nor to me...

The ways he depicts it just...tell:

This fight is like a fish and a bird having fight, because the two are aiming for something different. This was not the same, so both did not understand each other word. Tsumugi happily let it pass, but Natsume don't.

While Natsume care for the 5 Eccentric. Tsumugi was doing his duties. His new purpose was to make the school a better place.

It was Eichi's fault, but it was also Tsumugi who decided to follow him on his own wishes for a purpose. It was never a one side thing.

That why, in this moment when he said:

He was never...being...mean. Nor was it the effect of Eichi's manipulation to make him become this evil. He just really buy into that plan of Eichi and follows it nicely.

He was never a kind being in the first place, his hands were filled with blood after the war, and he understand the action he had made.

He's his own living, who had a reason for following Eichi. I hope you did not take my word for fun and understand how well-written Tsumugi is. Alright?

Lastly: The "This contract says that along with Nagisa and Hiyori, I will also quit fine after today's Live. It is a mistake?" really broke me from the inside...

Because being together with Eichi was very happy for Tsumugi, and he wish this could continue forever...yet Eichi had other plans.

Decided to send Tsumugi away from his after the war ended.

To Eichi, Tsumugi was just like Nagisa and Hiyori. Got tied in by the contract, and after fine had done its work, Eichi wanted to set everyone free.

But to Tsumugi, it...not. He wasn't being held as this suffering hosted at all, he wished he could stay, as fine, as Eichi's friend and continue to fight aside him.

That's why it hurt. It hurt me so badly that both of them wanted the best for the other but couldn't understand what that person was in need of.

Bringing not just Eichi but also Tsumugi to suffer in silence. All on their own. Eichi wants to push Tsumugi away because he thinks that good for him, not to be stuck with this sick person who is a moment from going back to the hospital. Tsumugi wants to stay, because of all that time, they're now friend, this connection that can't be destroyed by the end of a contract, but to Eichi, it can.

To Eichi, the: "Who would want to befriend me if they don't want something from me."

And Tsumugi the: "I want to be useful to everyone."

It...a pain to see that moment, when it breaks.

It was a good friendship, but they couldn't understand it at that time. And when it already ends, Eichi regrets it.

Tsumugi, who is hurt, still stays with him. Eichi just ended it on his own. All along.

AllllllRUFHTTTTTT. That it for today! Thank you for reading this ~

I hope all TsumugiP have a happy night! ( It 22:00 here- help- I got a deadline to run for- But since I promise y'all so...)

Good night~ Good morning ~ Good day!

[jujumin-translates]

Event | Sanrio characters x A3! | Chapter 9

Tsumugi: Ah, Sakuya-kun, just the person I was looking for. Look, look.

Sakuya: What is it?

Tsumugi: Look, right here.

Sakuya: Waah, are those strawberries?

Tsumugi: Yeah. I thought it was almost time for them since the flowers were blooming just the other day.

Tsumugi: I’ll just rinse it off and… Here, Sakuya-kun.

Sakuya: Thank you so much. It looks really good.

Sakuya: …It’s so tasty!

Tsumugi: I’ll try one too. …Mm.

Tsumugi: It really is good. And sweet too.

Tsumugi: Don’t tell anyone that we ate them because those were the only two.

Sakuya: Fufu, got it.

Sakuya: …Um, Tsumugi-san.

Tsumugi: Hm?

Sakuya: I was wondering if I could talk to you about the upcoming performance…

Tsumugi: Of course.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Sakuya: …So what can we do to help the children leave with a happy feeling and a smile on their faces?

Tsumugi: Do you also want to leave with a smile on your face, Sakuya-kun?

Sakuya: …Yeah.

Tsumugi: I see… That’s a tough one.

Sakuya: I know, right…

Tsumugi: It’s hard to have fun until the sad feelings are shut out.

Tsumugi: We’re able to move the audience’s hearts, but we can’t control them.

Tsumugi: Of course, I think it’s important to perform with somewhat of a feeling of control.

Sakuya: Is that so…

Tsumugi: But I don’t think feeling sad is a bad thing.

Sakuya: Eh?

Tsumugi: It’s like, we have lonely feelings because of the existence of happy feelings. We feel sadness because we have kindness to empathize and understand each other.

Tsumugi: It’s the same with anger, fighting hurts because of the desire to protect.

Tsumugi: All of those feelings are two sides of the same coin.

Tsumugi: I think that negative feelings are born and exist because of positive feelings.

Tsumugi: The same goes for you, myself, and of course, children. As long as we’re alive, those feelings will be born.

Tsumugi: So I think it’s okay to affirm the loneliness of kids.

Sakuya: …!

Sakuya: (I see… I feel like I’m on the verge of figuring out some answers.)

Sakuya: (But… I don’t know if I can do that just yet.)

Tsumugi: It’ll be okay. Let’s ask everyone about what you want to do, Sakuya-kun.

Tsumugi: We’ve been through bigger challenges together in the past. This is nothing compared to those.

Sakuya: Tsumugi-san… Thank you so much!

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Izumi: Alright then, let’s start practice.

Sakuya: Um! Sorry, but can I have a bit of time before practice? I have something I want to tell everyone.

Hisoka: Something you want to tell us…?

Izumi: Got it. Sakuya-kun, take it away.

Sakuya: Okay.

Sakuya: …I want to make some changes to the script.

Sakuya: Before the collab was decided on, I couldn’t forget about the show we all saw here together.

Sakuya: Both the kids and adults were smiling and looked so excited and happy.

Sakuya: But in reality, behind every happy feeling, there’s a sad one.

Sakuya: I’m sure it’s hard for kids to leave such a paradise-like place like Puroland.

Muku: Yeah…

Misumi: They might get sad and cry.

Sakuya: But then I thought of something like “looking forward to seeing you again”…

Sakuya: Something that lets you bring home a sad feeling, but also a happy one. That’s the kind of story I want to tell.

Sakuya: …What do you think…?

Izumi: Sakuya-kun…!

Tenma: Looks like you found it.

Banri: Never thought you’d figure it out so fast.

Tsumugi: Yeah, I think it’s a great idea.

Izumi: I also think it’s a great idea!

Tasuku: It’s a very Sakuma-like idea.

Homare: I’d like to convey that to all the children and adults.

Sakuya: What do you think, Tsuzuru-kun…?

Tsuzuru: You’re finally depending on us. …Well, if it’s your thoughts, Sakuya, kinda got no choice but to respond to them.

Sakuya: Guys… Thank you so much!

Sakuya: Kitty-chan and the rest of you… What do you think?

Kitty: Your feelings are very wonderful, Sakuya-kun. I’m sure that you’re the right person to convey this.

Sakuya: Eh… Me?

Purin: I agree~♪ I can’t wait to see what kinda story it’ll be.

Sakuya: Are you… Really sure?

Kuromi: What are you talking about!? It’s better not to lock up the things you wanna do and say.

Kuromi: So do e~verything you wanna do!

Cinnamon: We all wanna support your feelings too, Sakuya-kun ♪

Cogimyun: Cogimyun still isn’t very good at acting, but Cogimyun will try her best myun…!

Daniel: Don’t worry about it. Everyone is getting really fired up! Let’s make this the best story ever.

Sakuya: Everyone, thank you so much…!

Banri: Aight, now that that’s settled, let’s get to work on figurin’ out what we wanna change.

Tsuzuru: Yeah. Director and Sakuya, do you have a minute?

Sakuya: Yeah!

Chikage: Well then, we’ll just keep practice going to the best of our abilities.

Izumi: Perfect!

Kumon: I’m all ready to move~! Let’s all gather up~!

Kuromi: We’re all ready to give it our all too!

Cinnamon: Hip, hip, hooray!

Sakuya: (I’m sure it’ll be great. It’ll be the kind of performance that will make everyone smile and have a better tomorrow.)

[ ⇠ Previous Part ] • [ Next Part ⇢ ]

[fishyishy]

A3! Event Translation - The Twelve Heavenly Generals of the Dawn (5/11)

━━━━━━━━━

Itaru: I were thinking about which place to go to, but in the end we chose Journey.

Homare: It's fine isn't it. A familiar place is most definetely relaxing.

Homare: Plus, Guy-san was kind enough to let us have the place for ourselves so there wouldn't be any other customers. We can now talk about things without hesitation.

Tsumugi: Sorry for inviting you on such short notice. Because Suzaku, Seiryuu, and the Onmyouji have such a deep relationship, I felt like talking with the 3 of you would.....

Itaru: I thought you would invite us over for something like that.

Homare: Umu, as did I.

Tsumugi: When I contacted you, you guys were together somewhere right?

Homare: Ahh, we were just about to talk about advertising.

Itaru: Thenn, can I ask you to finish what you were saying earlier first, Homare-san?

Homare: The truth is I'm struggling with the topic for my next web column.

Homare: It was around that time the offer for the Twelve Heavenly Generals stage came to me.

Homare: I was thinking that maybe it would make a good theme, and then the idea of advertising the game show game up.

Homare: Therefore, rather than simply using the Twelve Heavenly Generals as a theme, I thought it would be a good idea to make "The Twelve Heavenly Generals of the Dawn" as the theme instead.

Tsumugi: Do you mean the game itself?

Homare: Indeed. That way it can advertise as well, right?

Homare: I thought it could help reach a rare demographic of people who usually aren't interested in games.

Itaru: It's certainly true that it would be nice if people who have no interest could gain one, even just a little.

Homare: However, my own knowledge is still shallow, so I do not know how much interest I will be able to help gain.

Tsumugi: I see...

Tsumugi: If that's the case, how about a collaborative column between Homare-san and Itaru-kun?

Itaru: Collaborative column?

Tsumugi: That's right, when it comes to games Itaru-kun has the most knowledge, and it's always interesting to hear him talk about games and anime.

Homare: Oooh, that is truly interesting! As expected of Tsumugi-kun, a great idea! How about it, Itaru-kun?

Itaru: How about it huh....a collaborative column?

Homare: Every once in a while different stimuli are always needed. We can call this a special edition.

Itaru: (Homare-san seems pretty enthusiastic. But I have to admit it does seem interesting, and could be good advertising)

Itaru: Well then, let's give it a try.

Homare: Aha! I'm really looking forward to it. I'll look forward to working with you.

Itaru: Same goes for you, let's work hard together.

Tsumugi: Fufu, I'm looking forward to this too.

Itaru: Well now, I also have something that could be used for advertising, but I think it would be better used to reach an audience full of game lovers.

Tsumugi: SNS is the easiest way to get the word out after all, right......?

Itaru: That's right. I'm just not sure how to use it yet.

Itaru: I thought about filming the play, but I feel like that wouldn't be enough on its own.

Homare: Fuuu......you have a point.

Itaru: It's fine, we can talk to everyone about this during our next practice.

Tsumugi: That's true. It might be a good idea to ask someone other than the members gathered here right now.

Homare: Well then, let's talk about the collaborative column now.

Itaru: Of course, that's fine and all, but please be careful not to drink too much, Homare-san.

Tsumugi: Ahaha, make sure to have some water in between.

--------------------------------

previous I next

[izumi-fanclub]

A3! Event Story Translation “SSR Family” [ Chapter 1 ]

Everyone talks about what they plan to do next.

*flashback*

Itaru

Is my voice on stream?

Let’s see, today I’ll be playing “KniRoun”

(0 viewers...... well, alright. I’ll do a dry run for today)

——.

(The views increased to 1...... this means someone is watching, right?)

(A-anyway, let’s get started)

Nomin

“GG on streaming~”

Itaru

“GG...... what’s that?”

Nomin

“You must be a noob. It means ‘Good job on broadcasting.’”

Itaru

Ah, got it. Thanks......

(Seems like some scary guy’s here.)

*flashback over*

Izumi

Akashi-kun, Rento-san,

Thank you as always!

Thanks to the two of you, our sound and lighting drastically improved and was well received by the audience.

Banri

It really broadened the scope of our production, it’s been an eye opener for me in a lotta ways.

Akashi

I should be the thankful one... This troupe is full of colorful people... s’been a lot of fun.

Taichi

Our music were bangers too!

Omi

It feels good that everything’s in place as they should be.

Kumon

Yeah yeah. The timing and all’s perfect!

Rento

The actors in this troupe already know what they want to do. I just match up the energy with how they feel and put the magic right in.

Masumi

I liked the BGM for the space police.

Rento

Yeah, ya musta loved that part!

Masumi

Mhm.

Matsukawa

The BGM guitar for ANIMS was also cool~

Rento

Hh, a word from the lord...... I'm seriously shaking right now.

Kumon

Rento-san's dynamic with the manager is amusing.

Kazunari

He really respects you, Sukechi~

Juza

The lighting changed for each group, it was great.

Akashi

Hhh, I, ah, I’m sorry!

Rento

Apologizing and for what. You’re too scared!

Izumi

He’s still not used to Juza-kun.

Juza

Something wrong......

Akashi

I-I'm sorry......

Tsumugi

Akashi-kun's lighting sure is impressive.

Tasuku

It’s effective for the more sober scenes.

Homare

I feel your great attention to detail from deep within.

Akashi

T-thank you so much......

Tsumugi

You’ll continue working with us, right?

Rento

Yup, that’s the plan.

Akashi

I-I look forward to working with you.

Rento You’ve got the Special Fleur Award and gained public traction now, what’s your next move?

Izumi

Now that we’re in the spotlight, we plan to put out performances by each troupe to show the unique charm of MANKAI Company.

Tsuzuru

It’s hard to keep performing with a full cast all the time.

Sakyo

The most distinctive feature MANKAI Company holds is the spring, summer, autumn and winter performances of each troupe. It’d be best for us to go back to our roots.

Izumi

So, we’ll do the usual thing and put out the 8th Spring performance.

Sakyo

Also steadily set on paying off the theater repair debt.

Matsukawa

Aah~ We’re living in the laps of debt again~…...

Rento

Spring troupe. Have you guys decided on a lead yet?

Sakuya

In terms of order, we were wondering if it should be Itaru-san or Tsuzuru-kun...

Itaru

I decided to give it a go.

Yuki

Aren’t you usually the unmotivated one?

Itaru

Actually, the long-awaited KniRoun X is gonna be released soon.

I’m gonna use a lot of my paid leave for play streams, so I won’t be able to attend rehearsals for a while, so I thought it’d be better to play the lead while I still can.

Yuki

So you weren’t even motivated in the first place.

Tsuzuru

The motive screams Itaru-san alright.

Chikage

Come to think of it, did you tell the others about it?

Itaru

Aah, right.

Izumi

?

Itaru

I’m gonna do some long-endurance streaming soon, room 103’s gonna be off-limits by then.

I’m about to celebrate the 7th anniversary, every year I do a long-endurance streaming sesh to commemorate it.

Tsuzuru

How long will it take?

Itaru

I’m planning on skipping a bunch of sub-events and stuff, but it’s gonna be pretty hard this time. I’m planning to speedrun it, so it might take up 20 hours more or less normally.

Taichi

20 hours!? You’re gonna play it for 20 hours straight!?

Izumi

What are you gonna do in the meantime, Chikage-san?

Itaru

I’m planning to adjust it to senpai’s business trip schedule.

Tenma

Who goes through all that trouble......

Itaru

I’m also celebrating the soon-to-be release of KniRoun X, I’m really hyped for it.

Sakuya

Which version of KniRoun will you play?

Itaru

I haven’t decided yet, it’s the 7th anniversary, so it’s either KniRoun VII or the most recent one, KniRoun IX......

Izumi

A lot of fans are gonna look forward to the stream of «Taruchi»

Akashi

Eh!?

T-Taruchi....... You mean the game streamer Taruchi......?

I-Itaru-san is Taruchi......? Well, now that you mention it, his voice is......

Izumi

You know him?

Akashi

Oh, um, I enjoy watching vids from the internet, I often watch video game livestreams......

I’ve been following V-tubers* recently, and Taruchi is famous for his KniRoun speedruns......

No way...... I never thought I’d see the real thing in such a place.......

Tsuzuru

Sounds like worship.

Sakuya

By the way, what’s a V-tuber?

Citron

A V-tuber is a streamer who uses a virtual avatar to perform a variety of activities on streaming sites!

There are many popular V-tubers who play games, sing, and even appear on TV nowadays!

Sakuya

Heh, really?

Tsuzuru

Citron-san sure knows his stuff.

Akashi

The latest technology is so amazing and advanced that it can track musical instrument performances in real time and linking it to images in virtual space......

With the avatar projected on the actual live venue, they can also do augmented reality lives......

Rento

Heh! Sounds interesting. I wanna watch it.

Akashi

I’ll dm you the URL of the video on LIME later.

Rento

As you should.

Izumi

(At first, I was worried if Akashi-kun and Rento-san would clash personality-wise...... but I’m glad to see they’re getting along just fine.)

Citron

My favorite V-tuber these days is Mochi Otoko!

Akashi

Oh, I like them too. I also like YO-KAN.

Itaru

Oh, they’re good. Their game commentary is interesting.

Citron

I also want to make my debut as a V-tuber! I can sing and dance just fine!

Itaru

Citron you’re already funny talking normally, so you’ll be popular in no time.

Izumi

(V-tubers huh. There’re so many different worlds now.)

*bell rings*

Guy

Welcome.

Yukio

Sorry I’m late

Izumi

D-dad!

Itaru

Did you just arrive?

Yukio

Yup, I came straight from the airport.

Masumi

Would you like a drink?

Yukio

Hmm, I think I’ll have a beer, then.

Sakuya

How long are you going to stay this time around?

Yukio

My work over there’s already taken care of, so I’ll be here for a while.

Masumi

Here’s a hand towel.

Tsuzuru

He’s been moving briskly for a while now.

Citron

Masumi, you are crying too hard!

Chikage

Trying?

Yukio

Ahaha, thanks.

Masumi

No, can I call you father-in-law?

Sakyo

Too soon!

Rento

Yukio-san, from the first gen MANKAI Company?

Akashi

Oh, um...... I’m grateful to you for having grandpa under your care.

Yukio

I’ve been indebted to Serizawa-san for a long time. I loved his delicate work.

How is Serizawa-san?

Akashi

He retired from actively working...... he still likes the stage and often goes to see performances.

Yukio

I see. I’ll go say hi to him next time.

Sakyo

That’s right, Serizawa-san's lighting was a sight to see.

Yukio

Oh, Sakyo-kun, what’re you drinking?

Sakyo

It’s sake.

Yukio

You sure are an adult now.

Sakyo

You’re calling someone over 30 an adult...... I’m already a legit old man here.

Yukio

Eh, Sakyo-kun so you’re an old man now?

But not long ago you were so small, and now we can drink together like this, it’s kind of emotional.

Sakyo

Well, I’m also glad that Yukio-san was able to come over like this.

Izumi

He’ll be going back and forth between America for a while.

Yukio

That’s right. I’ll definitely go see the performances of the newborn MANKAI Company in the future. Have you made a decision on what to do next?

Sakuya

We’ll be doing a performance for Spring troupe!

Yukio

Is that so. I’m looking forward to it.

Izumi

(I’ve been through a lot up to this point, but I’m glad I can see dad casually like this now.)

Itaru

Hmm...... it’s the 7th anniversary, I wanna do something different than usual for this one.

*phone rings*

Itaru Hm?

(Incoming call: Great Demon King)

Itaru

…... Ugh.

---------- T/Ns:

I chose to use ‘V-tuber’ instead of the direct translation ‘V-talent’ for a more localized feel

----------

[ Next Chap. ]

[osakaso5]

Yamato Nikaido RabbiTube Rabbit TV Part 1: Spending Time With Yamato

Part 2 | Part 3

Staff: …Now, on to the RabbiTube project.

Staff: Our plan is to introduce the videos by featuring clips on NEXT Re:vale!

Staff: We’d really appreciate it if you could show a side of yourselves that people don’t usually get to see on TV. It’s a pleasure to be working with you!

Momo: We’ve got high hopes for you guys!

Yuki: Feel free to fully expose yourselves to the public.

Mitsuki Izumi: Ahaha, please be gentle with us! Looks like I’m gonna have to do a RabbiTube study marathon..!

Gaku Yaotome: By the way, Tenn, I saw you watching RabbiTube videos the other day. Do you know any good ones?

Tenn Kujo: …I was just watching cat videos.

Gaku Yaotome: Cats, huh. That’s not gonna help us learn anything.

Ryunosuke Tsunashi: …I think they might help! You could learn ways to entertain and soothe people…

Gaku Yaotome: Ryu, not all of us are gonna be able to do that…

Yuki: …I’m liking the idea of Kitty Gaku.

Tenn Kujo: …Pfft…

Gaku Yaotome: Tenn, why’re you laughing!?

Riku Nanase: Kitties..! So could it be like a video of Iori going into a cat café?

Iori Izumi: Why do I have to go to a cat café!?

Yamato Nikaido: I’m not too excited about making videos like that, either…

Tamaki Yotsuba: I wanna do a pudding tasting!

Sogo Osaka: …Personally, I’d like to rank my top 100 spices from all around the world…

Nagi Rokuya: And I shall hold a Cocona watch party!

Mitsuki Izumi: You guys aren’t bringing anything new to the table!

Iori Izumi: …Actually, I suppose animal videos do have their appeal, despite how banal they are…

Riku Nanase: Did you say something, Iori?

Iori Izumi: No, nothing.

Momo: Ahaha! Great, you’re already brainstorming ideas!

Momo: You’ve all got the right idea! We wanna see you act natural for your RabbiTubes!

Yuki: Let’s have a fun year doing this.

IDOLiSH7 & TRIGGER: Yessir!

- - - -

Riku Nanase: We’re going to be RabbiTubers for our birthday project this year..!

Sogo Osaka: All the group chats up until now were fun, so it’s kind of a shame that we won’t be doing one this year.

Mitsuki Izumi: …Fair enough. It’ll be awesome to make videos for our fans, but I wish we could have our own celebrations too!

Yamato Nikaido: It’s become kind of a tradition by now.

Nagi Rokuya: …We do not work together as much as we used to. Though I understand that it is difficult to match all our schedules…

Tamaki Yotsuba: Do we not get to eat Mikki’s cakes this year?

Mitsuki Izumi: The cakes are the one thing we’re gonna make for sure! Right, Iori!?

Iori Izumi: Yes. I’ll help, too.

Riku Nanase: Hmm… Celebrations…

Riku Nanase: Ah! Why don’t we all go somewhere together for our birthdays?

Riku Nanase: I guess we probably can’t all go… But we can get our manager to arrange it so at least some of us can hang out!

Mitsuki Izumi: Going out, huh… That does sound like a nice change of pace from all the group RabbitChats!

Yamato Nikaido: It’s a shame that we won’t all be able to go, but getting to choose a spot does make it feel more special. …You should take me to a beer brewery, by the way.

Mitsuki Izumi: Sounds like you’ve already got one in mind!

Tamaki Yotsuba: Let’s take lots of pics and videos for the guys who can’t go. We can send them over RabbitChat.

Nagi Rokuya: OH! A wonderful idea. It will make us all feel as if we are there.

Iori Izumi: I’m sure uploading them to Rabitter would make many people happy, as well.

Sogo Osaka: That sounds fun..! Let’s ask our manager about it tomorrow.

Riku Nanase: Yep! …Looks like we’re going to have pretty fun birthdays again!

- - - -

Nagi Rokuya: Yamato, Sogo! This is my first time doing pottery!

Nagi Rokuya: Though I have witnessed a posture similar to that of someone doing pottery in interviews and such...

Sogo Osaka: Politicians and commentators often pose like that for articles about them.

Sogo Osaka: Sometimes, it's almost like they really were told to mimic sitting at a pottery wheel.

Nagi Rokuya: Indeed. Many anime producers also pose like that for interviews.

Sogo Osaka: Interesting... I didn't know that technique had spread to the anime industry, as well...

Yamato Nikaido: ...Uh... Do I get to participate in this conversation yet?

Nagi Rokuya: But of course, Yamato! We are here for pottery!

Sogo Osaka: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to babble like that.

Yamato Nikaido: ...I thought our work here in Kyoto was done, so why are we at a pottery studio, exactly..?

Tsumugi Takanashi: This was the only day before your birthday that was open in all of your schedules!

Tsumugi Takanashi: We've got plenty of time before our train home leaves, and Sogo-san and Nagi-san wanted to sculpt tea cups for all of IDOLiSH7!

Nagi Rokuya: Ceramics are the essence of Japan. Show me your national spirit!

Yamato Nikaido: My national spirit...

Sogo Osaka: I thought it'd be nice if we could eat and drink from cups some of us made ourselves, even when we can't all be gathered around the same table.

Yamato Nikaido: ...I guess you've got a point there. Let's do this, then.

Yamato Nikaido: We'll save the brewery visit I'd been hoping for for some other day.

Nagi Rokuya: OH, there you go again...

Sogo Osaka: Yamato-san, you'll make four cups and bowls, while Nagi-kun and I will make three and bowls cups each.

Yamato Nikaido: Oh, okay then. Roger that.

Tsumugi Takanashi: Wait... Isn't that three sets too many?

Yamato Nikaido: You didn't think we'd forget you, our president, or Banri-san, did you? We'll make some for you guys, too.

Tsumugi Takanashi: Huh..?

Nagi Rokuya: YES! That way, we can all have yet another celebration.

Sogo Osaka: I hope you'll come visit us often.

Tsumugi Takanashi: ...T-thank you..! I didn't mean to make you work so hard for your own birthday, Yamato-san...

Yamato Nikaido: It's fine. All I need in return is that you use the cup I made, and maybe also cook me a something special in return.

Nagi Rokuya: Yamato, you are spoiling the mood.

Yamato Nikaido: Hey, even I need a reward sometimes.

Sogo Osaka: Ahaha...

Tsumugi Takanashi: I-I'll just be over here with the camera! Well then... let's begin!

Nagi, Yamato, & Sogo: Yeah..! 

- - - -

Yamato Nikaido: This is actually pretty difficult...

Sogo Osaka: It's hard to get the thickness right. I feel like the strength of my fingers is off somehow...

Nagi Rokuya: Look, Yamato and Sogo! Gaze upon these gentle curves!

Yamato Nikaido: Wait, you're making Cocona, not a tea cup!

Sogo Osaka: Y-you're incredible, Nagi-kun! How did you make those hearts..?

Nagi Rokuya: OH, this is a very basic sculpting technique. Allow me to show you.

Yamato Nikaido: I thought you'd be better at this sort of thing since you're so into DIY, Sou.

Sogo Osaka: I think I'll do better if someone shows me how it's done...

Nagi Rokuya: Sogo, you do it like this.

Sogo Osaka: Whoa... It's taking shape so quickly...

Yamato Nikaido: ...That's King Pudding, not a cup.

Nagi Rokuya: I shall leave the finishing touches to you.

Tsumugi Takanashi: They're a far cry from anything you could drink out of, but still very impressive..!

Nagi Rokuya: Feel free to take pictures, Tsumugi.

Tsumugi Takanashi: I am!

Sogo Osaka: I need to do this properly. It's important!

Yamato Nikaido: Just don't show any pictures of Sou's work to Tama.  

Tsumugi Takanashi: I already sent one to him..!

Yamato Nikaido: Damn, I was too late... My bad, Tama.

Yamato Nikaido: ...So why am I the only one taking this seriously, again?

Nagi Rokuya: I will put my Cocona in the kiln with the cups!

Sogo Osaka: And I'll put in my King Pudding...

Yamato Nikaido: Ugh... Hurry it up, then.

Tsumugi Takanashi: ...Ah, Yamato-san, are you starting to get the hang of it? Your cups are all nice and even, with just the right thickness and depth..!

Yamato Nikaido: Haha. Thanks. I've always had kind of a knack for this stuff.

Yamato Nikaido: How long do we have to keep these in the kiln for?

Tsumugi Takanashi: After they're done in the kiln, they still need to air dry... Which should take about a month or so, all in all! They'll mail the finished cups to us once they're done.

Yamato Nikaido: Well, at least we won't have to come back for them.

Sogo Osaka: We should think of what we'll have from these when they arrive.

Nagi Rokuya: Let us discuss it in our group chat afterwards.

Yamato Nikaido: I'd go with ochazuke, it seems like a safe enough choice.

Sogo Osaka: I thought you might suggest that. Great idea.

Nagi Rokuya: OH! I would like to have a bowl of sushi rice!

Yamato Nikaido: Ah, that one does sound nice, too... I'm starting to get hungry.

Sogo Osaka: Ahaha, same here! Let's buy some quick souvenirs for the guys and go straight home after that.

Nagi Rokuya: I look forward to selecting my lunch box at the train station.

Yamato Nikaido: You sure do take your time with that stuff.

Nagi Rokuya: Eating on the train was not a part of my country's culture, so I was very excited to find out about Japan's train lunches!

Yamato Nikaido: Yeah, I can see why. A can of beer goes well with those.

Sogo Osaka: And it's fun to see which sorts of lunches are sold in different regions.

Yamato Nikaido: Sure is.

- - - -

Yamato Nikaido: ...Time flies by when you're talking about food.

Nagi Rokuya: Sogo and I have made three sets each!

Sogo Osaka: How did you like doing pottery, Yamato-san?

Yamato Nikaido: Haha... In all honesty, it was a ton of fun. You picked this place because you knew I'm not into big and fancy stuff, right? Thanks.

Yamato Nikaido: We should bring the rest of the guys here sometime.

Sogo Osaka: We should!

Nagi Rokuya: YES!

Tsumugi Takanashi: Thank you all for showing me your pottery skills..! Let me just take one more picture of you!

Tsumugi Takanashi: Say cheese..!

End of Part 1.

Translator’s notes..? 

Rabbit TVs courtesy of @rabbit-library​

[allykakamatsu]

Danganronpa V3 Smash Bros Tournament!

•Monokuma decides a good way to get everyone to kill each other is a Smash Bros Tournament, I mean, with all the salt someone’s bound to snap.

•No one kills each other, aside from Maki attempting to kill Kokichi, but it does become a weekly tradition despite the rage.

Kaede Akamatsu

• Get’s into a heated debate over who gets to main Rosalina with Kaito, but after a bit she caved and agreed to pick someone else.

•She end’s up picking Peach after Tsumugi makes a comment that they kinda look alike.

•Little did anyone know that Kaede is actually kinda a monster with Peach and frequently does really well in the tournaments.

•Favourite stage is New Donk city, and every time she gets to play on it she sings Jump up Superstar the entire match.

•Nobody is sure if they love or hate it.

•When not singing, she’ll make the stage music anything that has a dominant Piano.

•Favourite item is the Star Rod

Shuichi Saihara

• Acts like he’s never played before and decides to main Chrom due to him seeing easy enough to play and liking his personality.

•In actuality has played on and off for years and is a proud Dedede main but is too embarrassed to admit it.

•Also plays Pikachu but cause it’s Miu’s main he doesn’t usually use the electric mouse.

•Usually middle of the road in the tournaments.

•Prefers to fight on Battlefield but so long as the stage doesn’t move he can live with anything.

•Likes to keep items off.

Rantaro Amami:

•Good with all three Link forms, but has a bias for Toon Link.

•Can’t remember when he started playing, but given how he’s the only one who doesn’t panic by tripping they assume it’s Brawl.

•They also assume this because whenever someone picks Meta Knight he gets visibly distressed.

•Tournament wise he Can either do really well or really s**t depending on the day.

•Doesn’t have a favourite stage but tends to pick the Zelda stages cause he likes them the best.

•The only one who’s happy when a warp star shows up.

Ryoma Hoshi:

•At first played Incineroar cause its the only cat.

•After realising how bad his recovery was though, he kinda just tried anything to see what would work.

•Found a few semi-mains, namely Snake, Link and Villager

•Usually doesn‘t try to hard in tournaments so comes in last, or will even sit out, but when he wants to win, he will.

•Moral of the story, if he picks Villager, panic.

•No stage or item preference, but when it’s his turn to pick he tends to go with Shadow Moses island cause he likes the look.

Kirumi Tojo

•Mains everyone and is good with all of them.

•Like, can beat Mario with Little Mac good.

•Does have a slight preference towards Shiek though due to her admiring the ninja’s loyalty.

•Due to her skills, she tends to sit out with Ryoma to give everyone a chance.

•When she does play though, well, try not to loose too fast.

•Also usually the one who has to stop Maki killing Kokichi if he beats her.

•Always goes random when stage picking time comes, but also puts all the stages in battlefield mode in case it lands on something BS.

•For similar reasons tries to ignore items

Angie Yonaga

•Everyone expected her to pick Palutena, and while she does have her as a sub main, Angie usually plays Sephiroth. •Why? Angel (kinda), kick ass theme, and loves watching the others panic when they see him. Plus, Atua told her to pick someone unexpected.

•Also tried Pit and Dark Pit, and while she likes their personalities she isn’t big on their gameplay.

•To this day the only one who’s beat Kirumi in a match, and outside of that time she’s still good in tournaments.

•Atua told Angie to pick Big Blue one day, and ever since everyone dreads her turn on stage select.

Tenko Chabishira

• Always plays as a girl no matter what.

•Plays Min Min more often than not, but occasionally surprises everyone by whipping out villager.

•Why? “She’s Himiko cute!!”

•Pretty good at the game, but super competitive. Unless you’re Himiko, be prepared to get yelled at at least once if she looses.

•One day while everyone was playing random, she got Ken and kinda hated that she likes it so she occasionally plays him in private. •Shuichi caught her doing this while he was playing Dedede, and they both promised to never tell a soul.

•Punch Out stage or bust!

•Doesn’t have an opinion on items, but when she plays villager she hopes for the bunny hood cause she thinks it’s adorable.

Korekiyo Shinguji

•Lucario or bust (he likes the aura theme) though he’s also kinda a monster with Lucina

•Strangely though, whenever he uses Lucina he acts... different? (the class is convinced he’s possessed when this happens.)

•Outside of that though, tends to be one of the worse players.

•Second to none at recovery though.

•Hyrule castle has been his favourite stage since day one And that’s never gonna change.

•Always has items on, he likes the surprise factor (he and Shuichi are never allowed have a one on one fight)

Miu Iruma

•Has probably been playing the longest aside from Kirumi.

•Has played all the games, and cause Of this is decent with all of the OG 8, but will always pick Pikachu.

•Will only ever pick someone else if it’s a random match or someone makes her give Shuichi a turn, and in that case she picks Pichu as a backup.

•Despite her boasting, is usually in the lower end of the group.

•Doesn’t stop her from rubbing it in when she wins though.

•Tends to go for Wily’s castle for her stage, if for no other reason than she’s the only one who can handle the yellow devil.

•Super Hammer or bust!

Gonta Gokuhara

•Likes Donkey Kong the best, but also tries to learn how to play Joker from Kokichi cause he looks like a gentleman.

•Also likes all the Pokémon even if he isn’t the best with them.

•Honestly, aside from Olimar he likes everyone, and he only really dislikes Olimar cause he’s bullying the bugs!

•Everyone agrees to never touch the pikmin rep when he’s in the room.

•Tends to come in last with the only one he can beat kinda consistently is Ryoma without villager, but he still has a lot of fun.

•Tends to pick whatever stage everyone likes best, and has no clue how to use items.

Kokichi Ouma

•Always plays Joker because who else is a phantom thief going to pick.

•Actually he plays Villager in his spare time but Kaito is the only that knows and that was a mistake so shh.....

•Begrudgingly teaches Gonta how to play, if only from the horror on someone’s face when they get cocky only to loose to the guy who didn’t even know what a Smash Bros was a few weeks ago.

•Peak troll. Camps with gun, let’s people *cough* Kaito and Miu *cough* Hit fake smash balls, always picks the auto scrolling stages, he just loves making everyone groan.

•Only thing that makes him visibly salty is Miu on stage select cause f**k yellow devil.

Kaito Momota

•A proud Rosalina main. A badass space princess that protects the stars, what’s not to love?

•First time they all play, they all expect him to suck..... so you can imagine their surprise he‘a one of the best players in the class, especially at edge guard

•Despite that, is the most susceptible to stage hazards and bad items, especially fake smash balls. He has gotten better at recovering from them though.

•Never asks anyone to turn them off though, cause it’s worth it for the black hole and the assist trophies.

•Whenever Kiyo plays Lucina, he makes sure to sit at the other end of the couch.

•Always tries to give people pointers, though since he really only plays one character he’s not the best at it.

•Will ALWAYS pick either the Mario Galaxy stage or the Star Fox stages

Tsumugi Shirogane

•Tends to pick Kirby for A, the cute hats, and B, it gives her an excuse to rant about the lore. You know those Kirby fans who obnoxiously push how the series is super deep? That’s Tsumugi.

•Rants the whole match, leading to people preferring Kokichi obnoxiously joining in on Kaede’s singing to it. •Knowing they’re not safe when she’s not playing either, they all agree that unless it’s random’s to never pick a Kirby stage or character (another reason for Shuichi to hide being a Dedede main)

•She’ll occasionally rant about other series too, but Kirby is the biggest example.

•Despite this, she’s actually a pretty good player, even if she can be a bit to sadistic with down special sometimes.

Kiibo

•Refuses to touch ROB or MegaMan to avoid falling into the stereotype of the robot playing the robots.

•Instead picks Pyra and Mythra cause they’re great characters with a bit of computer theme that only Tsumugi knows about mercifully hasn’t ranted on yet.

•Plays very predictably, but just because you know a Lightning Buster- Prominence Revolt is coming doesn't mean blocking it is easier.

•As such is usually in the middle of the pack tournament wise. •Refuses to use side B as Pyra because one time he did and Kokichi did a stupid combo which took him from 30% to death so he’s not taking any chances again.

•Tends to put The stage on random, which he occasionally regrets if he rolls a side scroller.

Himiko Yumeno:

•Mains ALL the magic users. •Robin, Zelda, Hero, Sephiroth, so long as they have a big focus on magic she’s all in.

•Tends to use Hero the most, specifically Eight, because she likes the MP gauge.

•Despite seemingly never practicing and only doing okay with most moves, is the fastest thing in the freaking world at picking the right spell. If she gets magic burst or Kamikaze, prepare to die.

•Everyone assumes she’s probably played Dragon Quest cause of this, but she hasn’t confirmed and just chalks her skill up to magic.

•The only one who can make Tenko stop raging.

•Keeping with the theme, will usually pick the World Tree stage.

Maki Harukawa

•Messed around with everyone a bit but was only super good as Zero Suit Samus.

•Even then she’s mostly middle of the pack, but she doesn’t mind too much.

•Unless she looses to Kokichi, then it’s a struggle for Kaito and Kirumi to stop her from killing him.

•Tends to handle snacks cause Kirumi has to be in the room to keep order and she usually gets knocked out early. •The most frequent subject of Kaito’s tips, which range from helpful to ”Kaito I don’t have a f**king Luma”

•Tends to pick Shadow Moses island cause she likes the look, and though she won’t tell anyone she loves the music

[kaweeella]

The Torment Doll

A fic series where the other members of Mankai experience the torment doll! If you have a suggestion for the next one, please let me know!!!

Warning for some mentions of blood (not anything all that serious)

~~~

“Watch it, Hack!”

“I’m trying but your stuff takes up so much space!”

“Next play you’re wearing a trash bag!”

“Hey!”

The rest of the Summer Troupe watch as the two fight. Muku is cowering with Kumon comforting him. Kazunari and Misumi just watch. They tried to intervene to no avail. Their argument is more heated than any others they had. It’s understandable, they’re stressed. 

Yuki’s designing some costumes for one of Tenma’s productions. They were scouted specifically. The director had seen and loved their previous works. It’s not surprising, they’re talented.

But now?

“Stop doing that, damnit!”

Now they’ve been at each other's throats worse than ever.

“Hey guys…” Kazunari starts in another attempt to defuse the situation. Another futile attempt.

“I have your measurements already so go bother someone else.”

“Fine! I didn’t wanna be here anyway.” He turns to leave.

“Tenma!” Muku tries to get his attention. He doesn’t and so Tenma trips on a spool and falls. Like just about any person who’s falling, he reaches out to grab something. That something is one of Yuki’s dresses. The dress does not help.

Everyone can almost feel the pit in their stomachs as they hear the tear in the fabric.

Yuki stands there blankly as Tenma gets back up, seeing what he did.

“Yuki I’m-”

“Get out.”

“I really didn’t-”

“I said get out!”

Tenma hurries out the door. The rest of the Summer Troupe watch. Muku hides behind Kumon, who’s still trying to help. Misumi shrinks back a little.

Yuki’s gaze snaps over to them, giving their cue to leave the practice-turned-design room as well.

Tenma sighs as he enters the living room, everyone looking at him.

“What?”

“Dude, we could hear the screaming from in here.” Banri says. “What happened?”

“He’s just being dramatic.” Guilt runs over Tenma. He knows that’s not true. Yuki works so hard on his outfits and to see one ruined… Tenma feels bad. But Yuki kicked him out before he could explain himself or even apologize, and this all is as important to Tenma as it is to him.

“So we should just ignore the loud threats of violence?” Itaru says.

“It’s not good to bitter like that.” Citron says, looking concerned.

“Bicker,” Tasuku corrects. “And he’s right. The Winter Troupe couldn’t perform at our best until we were all on the same page.”

“But we’re not the Winter Troupe, we’ve always fought and we’ve done just fine.”

“Maybe you’ve managed in the past, but it’s clearly gotten worse.”

“Whatever.” Tenma leaves and heads to his room. He’s going to have to deal with Yuki eventually. Even if they weren’t roommates, hell, even if they weren’t in the same troupe. They have to interact at some point.

Tenma thinks about that as he ascends the stairs, not seeing the little blue plushie on one of the steps. He steps on it, loses balance, falls, and hits his nose.

“Woah Tenten, are you alright?” Kazunari asks, going up to look him over. His nose is bruised, bent and bleeding.

“Ow.” He groans as he readjusts himself to a sitting position. “What is this?” He picks up what stepped on. A little blue plush doll.

“I don’t know, but I think Sumi might like it ‘cause it looks like a cat.” Kazunari pauses, thinking. “Or maybe Yukki.”

Tenma sighs when he hears his name. “I just wish… I just wish I could talk to him. It’s so difficult though.” After he says that, there’s a flash of light. “What was that?”

“I dunno, but let’s get your nose looked at.”

“I’m no doctor,” Omi starts, inspecting him, “But I’ve seen a couple of broken noses, and it looks pretty broken.”

“Great.” Tenma sighs. “Just another problem on the pile.”

“Here, I might be able to help, but it’s going to hurt.”

“It already hurts. Whatever it is has to be better than this.”

“If you're sure.” Omi grabs it and jerks it back into place. Tenma doubles over in pain. “Yeah that happens. It should start getting better in a few days.”

Great.

Tenma trudges up to his room. He sees the doll, still on the stairs. A few steps above it are stained with his blood. He only just found this thing and it’s already caused him so much trouble. And it’s gonna cause him so much more. But he doesn’t know that yet. He tosses it over the banister and goes up to his room.

It takes a while to get to sleep, with all the stress and pain. He does eventually but the entire time Yuki never comes back to the room.

~~~

After Yuki kicks them all out, he quickly goes to mend the dress. He can feel tears forming in his eyes, though he quickly wipes them away. Crying won’t help anything right now.

After some time Omi knocks and enters.

“Hey, you should get something to eat.”

“Not right now. Busy.”

“Is everything alright?” He gets a little closer.

“Peachy.”

“Well it’s just that we heard some commotion earlier, so we were worried.”

“Oh everything's just perfect.” Sarcasm heavy, he grits his teeth. “Just working my ass off for that stupid hack and his fucking movie and he goes and fucks it all up. I’m doing just fucking fine. I don’t know why anyone would think otherwise.”

“Yuki…”

“In fact I’m doing even better now that I don’t have an annoying asshole bitching constantly. No, I’m great.”

“You should really take a break.”

“I’m not doing anything until this shit is fixed.”

“Right, but you really should eat.”

“Later.”

“Okay.” Omi sighs before he leaves.

Yuki ends up not getting dinner. He ends up not leaving the room. He ends up not being able to fix it before his body gives out on him. He falls asleep kneeling by the mannequin.

But when he wakes up, he’s back in his room, on his bed, in his pajamas.

Tenma expects to wake up with the same pain he went to bed with, but that’s not the case. There isn’t any pain at all.

He sits up and rubs his nose. Not only is there no pain, there’s no swelling bruising or blood.

“What…” Yuki mumbles.

“When did you get here?”

“That’s what I’m wondering.” He hops down and sees something on the floor. “What’s this?” He holds up a blue plush doll.

“What?!” Tenma quickly jumps down and grabs it. “I thought I threw this thing away.”

“Well you clearly didn’t.”

“Yeah but I never brought it into the room.”

“Really? Then what’s it doing here?”

“I don’t know!”

They’re interrupted by a knock on the door. It’s the rest of the Summer Troupe.

“What are you guys doing here?” Tenma asks.

“Did you forget?” Kumon says. “We’re here to help out with your movie stuff!”

They’d done this yesterday. They went through intervals of helping Tenma rehearse to assisting Yuki.

“Come on guys!” Kazunari says.

Yuki sighs. He kicked them out, but thinking about it rationally he really could use their help. “Alright. Let’s go.”

Entering the practice room, three of them pause. It didn’t look like this yesterday. The dress isn’t ripped, but there’s… less of it. Yuki knows they made more progress yesterday.

“What happened?” Misumi is the first one to speak up.

“What do you mean?” Muku asks.

Yuki inspects the dress. “The rip’s gone, but so’s all the progress we made.”

“What are you talking about?” Kazunari goes to look at it too.

“How could you forget something like that?” Tenma says. “It just happened yesterday.”

Kumon thinks for a moment. “No, they look just like how we left them.”

“Hey, what did you two do yesterday after we left?” Misumi asks Yuki and Tenma.

“I spent all night fixing the dress.”

“Well I went up to be, but I tripped on this doll on the steps. It messed up my nose.”

“Really?” Kazunari asks. “But your nose looks fine.”

“I guess but- hey you were there for that!”

“I was?”

“What does the doll look like?”

“Uh, it’s blue and plush and looks a little bit like a cat, according to Kazunari.”

“The torment doll!”

“The what?” Kazunari has never been more confused.

“If you two don’t make up, you’ll be stuck in a time loop!”

“Wait if it’s just the two of us then how do you know?” Tenma has been more confused. Not by a lot but still.

“I just don’t question the Trianglien anymore.”

“So the days will continue to repeat until they make up?” Muku asks.

“Yeah. Tsumugi and Tasuku went through the same thing when they first got here, though I noticed right away because that day I went triangle hunting and I noticed them disappear.”

“But since you didn’t get to go triangle hunting you only noticed when we came in?” Yuki will never understand that man, though he supposes there are some things not meant to be understood.

“Right!”

“Well I hope you’re not expecting this to end soon. I’m not forgiving that hack for fucking up the dress. I spent all day and still couldn’t get it fixed.”

It’s true. Time and time again they burst out of their room in an argument, Misumi the only other one who understands.

One day they enter the living room whilst fighting.

“You guys! Bittering solves nothing!”

“Yeah, and your bickering is distracting… damnit.” Itaru swears at his handheld.

“Hell yeah.” Banri gloats, hardly paying them any mind.

“Why are you arguing so early anyway?” Tasuku enters behind them.

“The hack keeps messing everything up!”

“Cry me a river.”

“Oh my god, how about you just break your nose again!”

“You broke your nose?” Banri looks up.

“There was this doll on the stairs, that’s not important right now.”

Suddenly everyone’s phones buzz.

“The girls are fighting.” Itaru sent in the group chat.

“Dude.” Banri looks at him. “Poor timing.”

“Whoops.”

Misumi drops from who knows where.

“Guuuys… you need to stop fighting! This’ll never stop ‘til you make up!”

Tasuku pauses for a moment. “Have you guys got the torment doll?”

“Yeah, and the name doesn’t lie. This has been hell.” Yuki crosses his arms and pouts.

“Oh yeah, Misumi mentioned you and Tsumugi went through this too.”

“The what?” Itaru asks for those in the room out of the loop.

“He’s right,” Tasuku ignores them. “We couldn’t perform at our best until we got on the same page.”

“But we’re not you!” Out of all the repeated days, this one gives Tenma the most deja vu. “We’ve always argued and things still worked out.”

“Maybe it’s worked before, but it’s clearly caught up to you.”

Tenma groans. “I know, I know! I just don’t know how-”

“You can make up for all the lost progress by fixing the dress yourself!”

“I don’t know how to sew!”

They go on like this all day. The next day, Tenma has an idea.

“What if we just avoid each other all day?”

“Are you stupid? It’ll only stop when we make up.”

“I know, but just talking hasn’t helped anything. In fact I think it’s just made it worse. If we take some time apart to cool off we can talk with level heads.”

“That… is a pretty good idea.”

“Right. You work on the costumes in the practice room and I’ll rehearse in here.”

Yuki grabs what he needs and heads downstairs. Before the practice room, he goes to room 105.

“Taichi.” He enters the room, almost taking the door off the hinges. “You’re helping.”

Taichi didn’t waste any time getting up and following Yuki to the practice room. He knows the consequences of doing that on a normal occasion, and he knows this is a big deal.

The two sew in relative silence for a while, Yuki occasionally swearing when he pricks his finger.

“Is everything okay?” Taichi asks after a while.

“Peachy.”

“Oh, well, it’s just that…” He thinks over his words. “You seem really upset.”

“What gave you that idea?”

“The way you barged into my room, your tone, and you’re making quite a few mistakes.”

“I was being sarcastic, dumbass.” Yuki sighs. “But yeah. I’m in a bad mood. Get the kid a prize.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Tenma and I have been fighting and before you say it I know we fight a lot but this one… this one got more intense.” Yuki’s sewing quickens and grows more intense. “We were already on edge and then he fucked up one of the costumes.”

“Yuki-”

“And maybe I was overreacting, but this shit’s a big deal and he knew how important this all is.”

“You-”

“Son of a bitch didn’t even help in the first place. He just kept getting in the way.”

“Um-”

“And he has the gall to try and say it’s my fault- shit!” His sewing kept growing more and more sporadic, not only stabbing himself hard but messing up the stitches.

“Are you okay?!”

He’s not focused on his finger. He’s focused on the costume, now spotted with blood and bunching up a little.

~~~

Tenma goes over his lines for a while in his room. It’s not good. He can hardly focus. He keeps stumbling over his words.

After some time, he hears a knock on the door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Tasuku.”

“Come in.” He sighs and drops his script.

“Are you okay? You haven’t left your room all day.”

“Yeah, just practicing.”

“I thought the rest of the Summer Troupe were helping you and Yuki in the practice room?”

“There’s been a change of plans.”

“What happened?”

“Me and Yuki got into a fight and I accidentally messed up one of the costumes and he got angry at me. I tried to say sorry but he just wouldn’t listen.”

He thinks for a moment. “I understand this can be frustrating, but just think about what Yuki went through in that moment. Something he worked so hard on, something that he loves doing so much and is the opportunity of a lifetime, ruined just like” He snaps. “That. From what you’ve said he’s definitely still partially at fault but can you really blame him for being upset?”

“No.” He sighs.

“You really should make up. You can’t-”

“I know, I know. We can’t perform at our best until we’re on the same page.”

“Precisely.”

“I’m trying. Trust me I’m trying.”

“Right. Well, I’ll be leaving now then. Good luck.”

“Thanks.”

Tenma’s left to think for a while. He can’t blame Yuki for being upset. Hell, he didn’t really entirely blame him when all of this started.

Yuki enters the room quickly.

“Yuki I-” He holds up a bandaged finger.

“We will not be discussing anything until tomorrow.”

And so they didn't; they didn’t talk about it until the next day, which technically is the same day.

“Alright.” Yuki hops down. “Now let’s talk.”

“Why couldn’t we talk yesterday?”

“I messed up one of the costumes and it would take too long to start over.” Yuki rubs his previously bandaged finger.

“Right, well.” Here goes nothing. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t take into account how big of a deal this is for you and how much time, care, and effort go into your costumes. I understand now why you were so upset.”

“Thanks, Hack.”

“You can’t even drop the insult for this?!”

“No.” He takes a deep breath. “But I’m sorry too. You were trying to apologize and I still freaked. I was upset and you’re right, it’s a big deal and I’ve been on edge the whole time, but that doesn’t mean I should have taken that out on you. And thank you for the apology. I accept it.”

“I accept yours too.” Tenma slimes. “Well, let’s get to it.”

The two of them knock on room 203. Inside the rest of the Summer Troupe are playing cards.

“Did you guys make up?”

“They were fighting?” Kumon asks.

“Yeah.” Yuki says, before putting his hand on his hips. “Now are you guys gonna help or what?”

“Misumi said there was a change of plans.” Kazunari sets down his cards.

“Well not anymore.”

The six of them head down to the practice room. They move around some of Yuki’s stuff to give Tenma more room and Tenma makes sure to not bump into Yuki’s things.

They’ll still have arguments. That’s just how things go. But now they understand each other a little better.

[ariluisi]

Hanakotoba (花言葉)

- Tsumugi Tsukioka × Yume Character

— the Japanese form of "language of flowers".

— Episode 1 starts after the cut.

— Not proofread. Therefore, I apologize for the typographical errors and wrong grammars.

Shion or Aster Tatarius in Japanese flower language, it means "remembrance" or "I won't forget". (Wikipedia)

The sun, the gentle breeze, and the cicadas along with the field of flowers. Tsumugi watched her with loving eyes as she took a closer look at the purple flowers.

"These flowers are so beautiful." She whispered sofly as she gazed at the purple flowers.

"Those are called Shion and in flower language they mean 'I won't forget." The male said as if he already knew that the women would ask.

"Then this flowers symbolizes my feelings and my memories of you." She looked at Tsumugi with a sweet and gentle smile.

"Of me?" Tsumugi asked confused.

"Yes, because I don't want to forget everthing about you and I won't let myself forget. You are the best thing that happened to me." She smiled with a lonely yet content smile.

The male felt his cheeks flush and looked away and muttered, "You're always so sly. But, I'm the same, I don't want to forget."

——————————

Tsumugi's eyes fluttered as he heard the sound of his alarm as well as the sound of his roomate getting ready. Ah, was he dreaming of something before he woke up? He can't remember but he feels warm and sense longingness.

"Oi Tsumugi, wake up. It's time for morning practice." Tasuku Takato, a member of Winter troupe in Mankai Company as well as Tsumugi's childhood friend, said as he noticed Tsumugi waking up.

"Good Morning, Taachan..." Tsumugi Tsukioka, the leader of Winter troupe greets Tasuku still half asleep.

"I already told you to stop calling me that. Anyway, I'm going ahead." Tasuku said and left Tsumugi alone to get ready.

As Tsumugi starts getting ready he bumps in his desk and a book fell off. He picked it up, placed it back to it's usual place but something fell without him noticing. It was a bookmark with Shion pressed flowers in it.

——————————

The day passed for Tsumugi, there is nothing unusual. The dorm is just as lively and noisy as usual, but somehow he feels lonely it was as if he's yearning and finding something that used to be there but not anymore. He can't find out what is it though, no matter how hard he tries to think and remember, he just can't. Some of the members notice the small change in Tsumugi's behavior, and some thought that it's just him being the acting idiot like he usually is.

"Good afternoon Tsukioka." A voice suprised Tsumugi as he stares at the Shion flowers that just bloomed in the dorms garden.

"Guy-san, good afternoon." The male greets the newly arrived male.

"Is there something wrong?" Guy ask the male as he too looked at the newly bloomed flowers.

"There is nothing wrong, I'm just thinking about something. I just can't figure it out though." Tsumugi answered honestly not wanting to make the other worry more.

"I don't know what it is but, we are here to listen. Takato is also worried." Guy said

"Sorry for making you all worry but I'm really fine. And thank you Guy-san." Tsumugi thanked Guy and they continue sitting comfortably in silence as the suns light disappears.

—At the same time in different location.

She once again hear the sounds of the cicadas, she looked outside the window and saw the moon is already out, providing light in the darkness of the night. She stood up and put her book down.

"The Shion are in bloom once more, so is the loneliness in my heart and yearns for your love." She whispered in the thin air.

She stared at the book she just putted down, eyes filled with loneliness and yearning. Oh how she wish to see him once more. She doesn't want to be in the way of his growth and resolve, so she stepped away. 3 years ago, they both ended their relationship and not once they have spoken in those years. And every once in a while, she stares up at the moon and remember the happy days they have. What a lovely memory, she just want to bask in those memories forever if she can. Even if years already went by, she still sounds like a young girl inlove whose lover left her alone and broken, but she knew she can't act amd feel like, because that's not what happened. They both went seperate ways in peace. Also, Tsumugi isn't the only one who made a resolve and chased his dreams, she have to work hard too.

"Ame, are you done packing your things?" A man knocked in her door.

"I'm almost finish. I'm just taking a small break, Dad." The man who she addressed as her father nodded and left her alone to pack, "Veludo Way, never thought that Dad will personally suggest we move there. But that's not really important now is it? I better finish this now or else Dad might leave me behind tomorrow." she said as she picked up the book from earlier and placed it inside one of the boxes.

Masterlist || Next Episode.

Author's Note:

The first episode of Hanakotoba (花言葉) Act 1 is here!! I actually found this quite hard to write maybe it's because I want the characters to stay as they are in their original set-up for a more realistic feels (in my opinion). And I also want this to be kind of a long chapter that reveals what it needs to show but still keeping the female lead, Ame , mysterious and the flow interesting. And I still have alot of twist and turns that will be soon revealed as the story goes on, and I hope that I can reach all of your expectations. As well as provide a story that isn't boring and exagerated in any way. Also, I will *try* to update every 2-3 days but sometimes it might take longer because I want to provide quality and keep things original. Thank you so much for reading!!

With much love, Al.

[the-currian]

Ok, so I feel like Kazunari and Tenma also have a crush on Izumi. Are there any boys other than Masumi and Sakyo that like her? A lot of things are hinted

Anon, let me tell you, this game is a freaking reverse harem; therefore the only acceptable answer is that everyone is attracted to Izumi to some extent sksksksk

I can’t say about the rookies bc I don’t follow the JP server that closely, but this is my personal opinion on how each troupe views Izumi. Feel free to disagree! Also I’d like to clarify that this does not reflect who I ship Izumi with.

Mankai’s Relationships with Izumi:

Spring Troupe:

Sakuya Sakuma: Admires Izumi for her tenacity and passion for theater. Deeply grateful for the opportunity she created for him by keeping the Mankai company alive. Verdict: Views Izumi platonically

Masumi Usui: Does this boy even need an explanation. Infatuated with the director; probably sees something in Izumi that draws him to her, might have something to do with his family issues. Still an immature bb tho and probably doesn’t have a good grip on how romantic relationships are supposed to work. Nonetheless, the attraction is real. Verdict: Views Izumi romantically

Tsuzuru Minagi: More or less same as Sakuya. Although there have been some instances where Tsuzuru has made some comments about Izumi, they can be interpreted loosely - I personally view it as friendly flirting. Verdict: Views Izumi platonically

Itaru Chigasaki: I’m kinda iffy on this one. I think that the potential is there, but I don’t think that Itaru is ready to fully commit to a serious relationship. He’s appreciative of how Izumi understands the real him, and since their ages aren’t that far apart, he's comfortable around her. As such, he teasingly flirts with her because it’s in his personality. I realllyyyy want to say he views her romantically, but ultimately, I think a serious romance is far off from Itaru’s thoughts. Verdict: Views Izumi platonically

Citron: More or less same as Itaru. But he has the factor of being a foreigner. Like Itaru, I think the potential is there, but Citron is also has other things on his mind and isn’t looking for a serious relationship. The attraction is there, though! Verdict: Views Izumi platonically

Summer Troupe:

Tenma Sumeragi: Yep, I agree! It’s strongly hinted that he has a crush on Izumi. This probably stems from the fact that she was the one who supported him when he was vulnerable, and helped him overcome his weaknesses. I don’t approve though bc age disparity. Verdict: Views Izumi romantically

Yuki Rurikawa: I can’t recall any shippy moments between them? I view their relationship as a platonic, sibling-like one. Verdict: Views Izumi platonically

Muku Sakisaka: He’s admitted that he thinks that Izumi is attractive but I think it’s more of a fact to him than an opinion, if you get what I mean? He like acknowledges that she is an attractive woman, but he himself is not romantically attracted to her. Heck, he ships her with other members. Verdict: Views Izumi platonically

Misumi Ikaruga: Also iffy for me. In general, Misumi is a very affectionate person. He definitely likes Izumi, so she is also subject to his affections. Are they romantic affections, though? I’m not so sure. Verdict: Views Izumi platonically

Kazunari Miyoshi: I definitely think he’s attracted to her. Not sure how deep it goes, but there have been multiple instances that hint that he likes Izumi. Izumi often shoots him down, but I do believe that his intentions are genuine - it’s just that his personality makes it seem like he isn’t, and he isn’t the type to let it affect him too much. Verdict: Views Izumi romantically

Autumn Troupe:

Banri Settsu: Yep! It’s also been strongly hinted that Banri is attracted to Izumi. In various backstage stories he’s been shown to be jealous of other members when they interact with Izumi, and he tries to show off in front of her. Verdict: Views Izumi romantically

Juza Hyodo: Mmmmm kinda iffy? Like some other members, he definitely holds a deep admiration and appreciation for Izumi due to the opportunity she gave them. But there are also some moments that make me think that he could possibly have a crush on her, but he hasn’t realized it yet. But ultimately, I don’t think so. Verdict: Views Izumi platonically

Taichi Nanao: More or less same as Tenma. Is more upfront about it though, similar to Kazunari. The age disparity, though, hmmmmm. Verdict: Views Izumi romantically

Omi Fushimi: Whether he realizes it or not, I think he is attracted to Izumi. Many of his backstories show him opening up to Izumi, being protective of her, complimenting her, etc. He’s also quite flirty with her, too. But idk, there’s this vibe that I get from him that makes it seem like he’s holding himself back? Anyway... Verdict: Views Izumi romantically

Sakyo Furuichi: The biggest simp of them all. ngl kinda hard to elaborate on this bc it’s so painfully obvious and it just makes sense. Definitely. Yes. Their history? Their interactions? *chef’s kiss* Verdict: Views Izumi romantically

Winter Troupe:

Tsumugi Tsukioka: My gut tells me yes! There are some backstories that hint at it - he becomes quite bashful and blushy around the director. There’s this one that I can’t quite remember clearly, but it had something to do with flower language and my heart was just - uwu. Verdict: Views Izumi romantically

Tasuku Takato: Too much of a theater junkie to focus on romantic relationships. I don’t even mean this in a joking manner - I vaguely remember Tasuku saying something about him being completely focused on his acting. That being said, he does like to playfully tease Izumi - it probably comes with being around the same age and living in close quarters - but yeah, nothing serious. Verdict: Views Izumi platonically

Hisoka Mikage: More or less like Citron, I think. The potential is there, but Hisoka has more pressing matters to focus on besides romance. He’s too deep in his own issues to actively pursue a romantic relationship. Verdict: Views Izumi platonically

Homare Arisugawa: Now, this may seem a bit controversial, but I personally believe that Homare is one of the least invested members in the company. For him, it’s another way to express his artistry. Yes, he does have meaningful relationships with the members of the company, but I feel like he’s one of the members that is least in it for the sake of passion for theater. Their relationship is more of a working/colleagues/friends one - I really don’t see the two in a romantic light. Verdict: Views Izumi platonically

Azuma Yukishiro: More or less same as Itaru, but with more angst. I think he’s attracted to Izumi. There is potential. But I feel like Azuma tends to distance himself from more serious relationships? He has personal issues that he needs to overcome first. But he does enjoy playfully teasing Izumi - the whole company, really - he just has a flirtatious nature in general. Verdict: Views Izumi platonically.

--

And those are my opinions! Feel free to share your thoughts!

Thanks for the ask, anon! This was really fun to think about and analyze. I think that this is kinda telling about how I go about writing my fics ahahaha so I hope you enjoyed the glimpse of my thought process.

- Jen

[abode-of-hope-and-despair]

So, while waiting for requests I decided to post some of my old works. Hope you enjoy!

You petting them/they petting you. V3 cast.

Shuichi

• When you first attempted to pet his hair, it didn't work out well

• You, being your sneaky self, snatched his hat right from his head. The boy gasped, clearly not expecting such move. You were talking peacefully just a moment ago. Tho, he should have noticed this mischievious glint in your eyes

• Shuichi wasn't happy with what you've done. He actually yelled at you and asked you not to do this again

• Needless to say your plan failed

• After Kaedes death, when he was shoked and pained you decided to try and pet him to comfort

• It was much better time for such a thing, the boy needed something like that. That's why he let you pet him

• He couldn't hold it when you did and cried hard on your shoulder

• Shuichi's more willing to accept head pets after this, although he's shy about it and won't ask for pets himself

• He blushes and stutters when you move your hand to his head, but doesn't try to stop you. He becomes expecially embarassed if someone else is around tho, and if you try to pet him he'll decline

• When Shuichi grows comfortable with pets, he'll be craving it

• Still, he's rather passive about it. He'd play with his hair strand unconsciously or just look at you with silent question

• After some time he gets enough courage to touch your hand lightly and ask for some pets. He's a bit awkward about it, but slowly becomes more bold over time

• Your head pets is very nice to him. After he overcomes being overwhelmed each time you hand touches his head, it's very calming as well

• Shuichi goes to you everytime someone dies or he just feels sad and you make him feel better

• He'll pet you as well, if you ask him

Kaede

• You petted her after the escape failure

• She seemed sad after what Kokichi said to her, so you thought some head pets and reassuring words would make her feel better

• It did. She seemed happy that you didn't blame her for anything and she gladly accepted your pets

• You two become close since then

• Kaede is very sweet and affectionate person if you let her be. Of course, she does have her moments of shyness, but overall she's pretty forward

• With that said, it's more likely that she'll be the one petting, not you

• If she sees you're nervous or scared, she uses her hands to soothe you

• She likes to see you smile, so she makes sure you keep doing it

• While Kaede prefers petting you, you petting her make her feel... safe. She's more prone to caring about others and making sure everything alright where she currently is. She wants to make others feel better, inspire and unite them. Unfortunaly, nothing she do helps anyone here and it saddens her. It stresses her. She's human too and needs some support

• Kaede really appreciates your pets. Such simple yet wholesome sign of affection makes her smile

Kaito

• You wanted to touch his hair. That's all, no hidden intentions or anything. You saw it - you obliged to pet it

• When you asked him about it, Kaito was both surprised and flattered by your request. Sadly, he refused so as not to ruin his crazy hairdo

• He petted you tho, 'coz he thought you were cute

• He likes to pet you or ruffle your hair, and does that in any opportunity

• Once you let him, he's not gonna stop

• Now it's his way to greet you, to show his attention/affection, to comfort you and to say "bye"

• His hair is still off limits, unless you persuade him to let you pet it

Rantaro

• As long as you ask politely he'll let you

• Has no problem with you petting his hair. I mean, it's already messy. Plus, Rantaro is a chill-guy

• He also used to have twelve sisters, so there's a big chance his hair was messed with in the past and he won't mind you messing with it too

• The first time you asked him to touch his hair using silly excuse, you most likely reminded him his sisters. Nostalgia made his heart soften and you got to pet this guy

• While Rantaro does accept it, he, just like Kaede, prefers to show affection

• The moment he grows really fond of you, you receive all head pets in the world

• There's something really comforting for him in petting you. Maybe it's big brother thing, who knows. But his hands are really nice

• Be careful or he'll adopt you as his 13th sister

Kirumi

• Well, you won't have much problem with petting Kirumi

• I think

• When you asked her the first time she was surprised, but saw nothing bad in it. I mean, where's harm in letting somebody touch your hair a bit? Or perhaps, she was in a good mood. The point is - you petted the pretty maid yay

• Will be confused if you ask to pet her again. May become concerned, thinking you're touch-starved. Or that you're getting other kind of pleasure from it. Don't let her thing that way or you'll get banished from pets

• If you just suffer from lack of attention and NOT thirsty for maids, Kirumi'll start giving you head pets

• I'm not sure about the other way around. She may let you have it, if it helps you ease your stress from being in the killing game

• She just treats it as another part of her duty as a maid

• May take liking to you tho. You just need to spent more time with her

Maki

• Do you wanna die or what?

• Even if she let you be affectionate, although it'd need lots of time and dedication from you, head pets would still be a no

• It's just... doesn't sit well with her

• She's not a dog

Kokichi

• Dear god, good luck with that

• Kokichi won't let you touch him at all for quite some time. Mainly, because he's adamant about playing his role and staying aside from everyone. He's an ultimate supreme leader after all. Add to this trust issues and touch-starvation and you'll get Kokichi

• Actually, he'll be more quick to pet you or ruffle your hair for some reason. It doesn't mean he's comfortable with you. He may be far from it. Well, not that far, but you get it

• It can get irritating, but you just have to keep proving yourself to him

• You'll get to hold his hand or hug him sooner that you'll get to pet him

• It's just the hardest shit for him. The sight of your hand moving to his head just makes Kokichi automatically alarmed. It's just do

• The first time you attempted it and he wasn't ready he barked at you "fuck off" and immediately laughed it off. He was keeping a distance for awhile after that

• When it's time, he'll come to you himself and just lay his head on your shoulder. If you don't pick up on it or, for some damn reason, decide to tease him, he'll get irritated. The boy is nervous as hell, spare him

• He closes his eyes and flinch a bit, when he feels your hand on his head. He can't relax first, but then he does and gets all over you

• Grows to like pets. Still flinches if he doesn't expect one and complains to you about it

Himiko

• Choked on her "nyeh" when you did it the first time

• Acted irritated, but deep inside kinda liked it

• When you get close, she becomes really touchy. She just sprawles on your lap and demends your pets

• She loves it

• Himiko prefers being petted, she will pet you if you ask about it

• If she's in a good mood

Gonta

• Ahhh, unless he's sitting you can't just pet him. You have to ask him to bend

• Was confused when you asked him the first time. Wasn't sure if it's fine or not for him to be petted by a lady. You had to persuade him it is, before you got what you wanted

• His hair is soft, but very messy and a bit tangled. Be careful not to get your hand stuck in it

• Thinks it's relaxing

• Always returns the favour

• Always

Angie

• If you're nice, she won't mind, really

• She's very open and friendly and will definitely pet you back

• She will

• One of easiest person to pet/get pets from overall. You don't even need to persuade her

Tenko

• Shoked the first time you asked her

• Might hesitate, but a bit of gentle persuading will get her to agree

• Thinks you're a bit weird, but in a cute way

• More comfortable in giving you head pets, then receiving it herself

• Receiving it awkward. Then again that smile of yours tho

• If she really likes you, Tenko won't give a damn about awkwardness at all

• Prepare to sneak pet-attacks

• Will tell you how great and adorable you are while she's petting you

• Compares you to a cute small animal

Kiibo

• Confused as hell

• Doesn't really want you to pet him at first, 'coz it's weird and inappropriate

• Wants you both to become close enough before you do

• When you are, he's shy and very adorable about it

• You need to be careful with antenna tho. Don't knock it over

• When he first pets you, he asks if he's doing it right and if you're comfortable

• Worries that his pets not nearly as good as yours are

Miu

• Got owerwhelmed, screeched, and then run away

• What did you expect, the girl's not used to affection. You, petting her hair was so wild to her, she hurried to get away from this all

• She can't help but be shy around you. Miu tries to keep her facade, but she keeps slipping remembering the touch

• If you try again, she will cling to you after

• There's no escape from her after that. She's touch-starved and you showed her affection. Expect to see her at your door everytime you have free time

• Gets excited when you pet her. In the same time she's very hesitant to pet you back. May ruffle your hair if you're acting too cute tho

Ryoma

• No

• Not even when you're close

• Well maybe, but it'd be hard as heck

Tsumugi

• Politely asked you not to do this again, once you did. Told you it's embarassing and she doesn't like it

• She really doesn't

• And she probably doesn't want to accidentally get attached to you either

Korekiyo

• Oh boy, another hard one to crack

• Korekiyo likes to observe, to watch other people, keeping himself distanced from them. He's not against human interactions tho. He likes to listen and to tell. He'll even seek your company once you show geniune interest in him and/or anthropology. He just isn't comfortable with you touching him

• He may pat you on the head if he feels pleased with you and you're close enough. However, if you want to pet him you need to overcome one big obstacle

• His sister

• Yep, the only way to get him to be touchy with you is to be his loved one, no exeptions

[a-student-out-of-time]

Rambling about V3 Again

Today I saw a really interesting quote from author Brandon Sanderson and it honestly got me thinking. He talked about what he considers the single worst thing you can do with critique in writing, and that’s if a critic “tries to make your story into one they would write, rather a better version of one you want to write.”

That got me thinking about V3.

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that V3 is a very polarizing game, and I’ve seen many people talk about how they would’ve preferred to see the story play out, from character arcs to deaths to story conclusions. And while I do honestly enjoy seeing alternative perspectives and takes and AU’s, I feel like a lot about the game, what it’s trying to say and be, is skewed by those ideals.

I’m not saying that the critiques about the game are invalid, because there are a fair share of flaws with the game. What I am saying is that we end up talking so much about what we wish V3 could’ve been that what V3 was trying to be often ends up lost in that, and I want to talk about it.

It wasn’t until I really saw this quote that I was able to articulate all my likes and dislikes about the game and the reactions to it into a cohesive whole, which is what I’d like to do here.

So let’s ask this: what was V3 really trying to be?

Let’s start from the game’s theme: the relationship between truth and lies. This is best exemplified by the fact that you have the option to lie during trials, that you can use deception to find the truth. That’s a very different take from the previous games, where hope was associated with finding and confronting the truth.

Kokichi is another example, as he’s a self-admitted liar who claims to lead a criminal organization and it’s hard to tell exactly what he’s thinking or saying. Yet Kokichi actually helps bring the group to several truths: he helps find the culprit in trials, he reveals Maki’s identity as the Ultimate Assassin, tells the truth about Gonta murdering Miu and it’s thanks to his actions that the group later discovers the reality of their situation.

Throughout their journey, the group is confronted by numerous truths they don’t want to acknowledge, even refusing to do so and attacking people who continue to push them through. And with every revelation, there’s always those lingering details that don’t really make a lot of sense.

Let’s look at the game’s main narrative. At the start of the game, Kaede remembers she was kidnapped in broad daylight, thrown into a van, and brought to some abandoned school with a bunch of other people. She doesn’t act like a particularly nice person and is dressed differently, at least until the Monokubs arrive and give everyone their new clothes and memories. From that point, the narrative shifts considerably.

Kaede is suddenly an outgoing, optimistic leader and Shuichi is a sullen, withdrawn detective who serves as her deuteragonist for Chapter 1. She’s resolved to escape the Killing Game and tries to rally the group together. However, when her methods don’t prove successful and they start drifting away from her, she considers saving them by any means necessary and goes so far as to attempt murder against the mastermind. When that happens, she’s found guilty and executed, leaving Shuichi to take up her role as protagonist.

As you go through the game, using devices called flashback lights that apparently reawaken lost memories, you learn more and more about the reason that the group was brought here: the Gofer Project. When meteors began raining down on earth, all seemed lost until they established this project to send a group of survivors into space to colonize a new planet. A group of Ultimates.

They had established early on that Ultimates have even greater rights in this world: they’re the only ones allowed to vote and hold office. As the meteors came down and the news of this project got out, some people formed a cult that believed it was divine judgement and that mankind should be destroyed. That’s when they began the Ultimate Hunt, pursuing the candidates for the Gofer Project across the world. The Ultimates, with no other way out, decided to erase their memories of talent and live their last days as normal people.

To protect them, the people in charge spread a false story that the Ultimates had died, even holding a fake funeral for them and sent them into space secretly. However, while everyone was in cold sleep, one member of the cult- Kokichi- had sneaked aboard and piloted the ship back to the ruined and now inhospitable earth. They have no way back and no way to survive outside, and thanks to Kokichi’s claims to be the mastermind, they’ve been killing each for nothing. The group ultimately loses hope.

However, they’re resolved to continue on in their fight against the mastermind when they find a flashback light that reveals they weren’t just any ultimates: they were the next generation of ultimates from Hope’s Peak Academy. It wasn’t really the meteorites that got everyone, it was an alien virus that pushed mankind to the brink of extinction. That the cult that rose in the wake of this was Ultimate Despair.

That seems like a definitive way to link this game with its predecessors...until you really begin to stop and pick it apart. If this was about saving mankind, why did nobody have their memories right away? Why would you only bring 16 people? Why students who don’t make them suited to colonization? Why people like a death row inmate, a serial killer, a self-proclaimed liar and criminal, and an assassin?

Furthermore, going through many Fte’s highlights how much of the characters’ backstories seem very out there. Gonta wasn’t raised by wolves but a race of dinosaur people living in the woods, Kirumi is so hyper-competent that she became prime minister during the meteor crisis, Korekiyo’s killed almost 100 women and yet has never been caught, Maki can attend high school despite Japanese orphanages being too underfunded for kids to usually attend, Tenko’s neo-aikido breaks all the rules of traditional aikido and she's impulsive, has low pain tolerance, and disregards fair rules, none of which are very befitting of a martial artist.

And to conclude, even I thought that the reveal of their connection to Hope’s Peak felt very fanficy and out there, especially when the game had made no references or implications of it beforehand. But the reason for all of this is simple and effective:

None of this is real. It’s all staged.

Chapter 6 reveals that everything from their identities to the outside world they thought they knew was all just a fabrication. In truth, Tsumugi shows herself as the mastermind and that they’re actually in the 53rd season of an in-universe show called Danganronpa. Something alluded to even in the beginning of the game with the Team Danganronpa logo. This moment was very make or break for a lot of people, but let’s treat it fairly.

According to Tsumugi, the outside world has become a peaceful, boring place and Danganronpa is the only source of real entertainment the people have. A place where people literally come to have their identities replaced with those of Ultimates and then made to kill each other. This, as it turns out, was an outgrowth of the actual series we’d played before. A game that’s gone over 53 times.

This revelation is devastating for the characters. The lives and memories they’d known were all fabrications, which Tsumugi claims to have intentionally written. The Flashback lights were designed to implant fake memories to manipulate them, which is why that Hope’s Peak connection was set up after everyone gave up following the reveal of the outside world. A truth that could lead the world to despair, a lie that could lead the world to hope.

She even goes so far as to show everyone’s audition tapes, claiming that Kaede, Kaito, and Shuichi himself were willing to participate in the killings out of sheer misanthropy, popularity, and morbid excitement 

Kiibo is also revealed to be the audience’s means of interacting with the game, able to carry out their wishes and can even be hijacked and used as a way to fight against the characters’ decisions.

In the end, Tsumugi claims that the ongoing battle of hope vs despair needs to continue in perpetuity and that the survivors need to sacrifice someone, since only two people can survive Danganronpa. Shuichi, however, convinces Maki and Himiko not to vote for anyone and actually convinces the in-universe audience to give up on the series. Kiibo then blows the set to hell and allows Shuichi, Maki, and Himiko the chance to escape and see the world outside and what sort of influence they could have.

Now, let’s this break this down piece by piece here, because I feel like this part of the game is often conflated. Often I’ve seen people say that Chapter 6 is a giant middle finger to fans of the series, that nothing about the series really mattered, or that the flaws of the game can simply be attributed to bad writing on the creator’s part.

I honestly used to be in that camp myself, but the more I’ve thought about it, the more I feel those statements don’t hold up to scrutiny. We often conflate writing and narrative decisions we don’t like with bad writing. However, if the creator deliberately wants the narrative to move in that direction and has made intentional foreshadowing, references, and motivations that match it, we can’t simply equate that with it being “badly written.”

It’s not bad simply because we would’ve preferred they do something different. There’s a lot of very acclaimed books out there that I’ll admit I don’t care for because of their narrative decisions, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say they’re badly-written.

Furthermore, if something intentionally doesn’t make sense in-story, that is not bad writing. That is purposeful on the part of the creator, not a plot hole. The Gofer Project is not supposed to be a logical narrative, it’s meant to serve V3′s role: deconstruction of the nature of the series. It does this in many different ways:

Sequelization: 53 is a ridiculous amount of entries in a franchise and as I’m sure we’re all aware, as the number of entries goes up, the writing quality tends to go down. The Gofer Project story was purposefully meant to be nonsensical because it’s a story in an in-universe franchise that jumped the shark long ago.

A lot of people found it confusing or ridiculous that Shuichi and Kaede would have a romantic connection despite knowing each other barely a few days. That’s also the point; quick romances are a convenient narrative device to establish a means for character growth, followed by fridging her, a bad narrative trope designed to propel Shuichi toward development. Tsumugi even said as much during Chapter 6.

Similarly, Maki’s role in the story and her feelings for Kaito were reminiscent of that as well, with him helping her come out of her shell. 

When you go back, you can see Danganronpa is loaded with references to other series. Tsumugi is an obsessive otaku and went so far as to fill the entire story with deliberate references and callbacks to things she enjoys.

The Monokubs are deliberate references to executive decisions to add more marketable and merchandisable characters as the series drags on.

The fact that there are (supposedly) people willing to sign up for a killing game deconstructs the idea that some in the fandom may have had. That is, actually being in a killing game would not be fun or exciting, but horrific and traumatizing. Most of us wouldn’t be badass detectives or heroes, we’d be scared out of our minds, afraid, and want to find a way out.

Furthermore, Shuichi being repeatedly told that he’s just a fictional character and that his role is to be the protagonist, to go through hardships and come out stronger for the audience’s entertainment pisses him off so much that he wants no part of it. 

The climax is ultimately a deconstruction of what the series is famous for: the battle of hope vs. despair. In-universe, this has been reduced down to a simple narrative where the audience wants the same thing again and again: to see hope win in the end. Because hope keeps winning, the audience keeps wanting more. It’s become so formulaic that the audience doesn’t want to break out of its shell and just wants to see it over and over.

The final PTA against Kiibo is not meant to be an insult to the audience, but a representation of fighting against toxicity and entitlement in the fanbase, especially the ones that don’t want change. It’s not saying “you’re stupid for liking this series,” it’s saying “don’t be like these people.”

And how does the game? An unsatisfying ending that’s so bad that it drives the audience to give up on the show, finally allowing the killing to stop. Tsumugi decides she can’t live in a world without her favorite show and decides to die.

And that brings me to what I think is the ultimate thing that people conflate about the ending: that it’s all fiction, so nothing about it matters. That the entire franchise was fake, so it’s not worth your time.

That’s exactly the opposite of what V3 is trying to say.

First, Tsumugi is a completely unreliable narrator. The kind of person who let fiction consume her entire life, yet she believes it can’t change reality. She’s a liar and a hypocrite, and there’s no way of knowing if anything she says about the outside world is even true. It could be like she says or it might not be.

The fact that they have technology that can remove memories and add fake ones adds an entire dimension of ambiguity to everything she says, especially when you consider how the beginning of the game does not match up with what she says. We have no idea what the kids were really like before the killing game, so why should we believe anything she says?

And how can we be certain of her claims that she just wrote everything as planned? Kokichi and Kaito managed to put together a plan that completely threw her and Monokuma for a loop

Shuichi, Maki, and Himiko ultimately choosing to take the words of Kaede, Kaito, and Tenko to heart, even if they were part of a fictional narrative, is proof that they still had an influence on the trio. They choose to take something meaningful from their experiences regardless of the reality of their situation. And that’s something we all do.

The media we consume has an influence over who we are as people, and it’s part of why so many of us have such strong attachments to works we love. They were often influential in help shape who we are as people now, for good and for ill, and it’s important to take that into account.

V3′s message is that yes, that is important, and that you should read and enjoy stories and fiction, just as long as you don’t let it consume your life. They can influence you and even the world at large, and so it’s our responsibility as writers, artists, and creators to use that influence positively, to use the medium as a way to change the world for the better. That the only way for stale franchises that we’re tired of seeing over and over is to demand change, even if that means walking out on them. That the only way for things to change is for us to take action and demand change.

And by the end, we may not see immediate results, but we can at least work hard at trying to bring them about. V3 ends with Shuichi, Maki, and Himiko facing an uncertain future in a world they really know nothing about, but hopeful that their actions can and will change the world for the better. Real life doesn’t have solid, satisfying conclusions and it always doesn’t play out like a story, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on ever finding something satisfying or hopeful out there.

This, by no means, is me saying that V3 is a flawless story. I can point to numerous critiques that I still think hold water. However, Sanderson’s point is that we shouldn’t criticize a work based on what we wish it was rather than how it is and what it was trying to do.

I know there’s a lot about the story that bothers people, I know there’s a lot that wasn’t polished and a lot that feels uncomfortable and hard to swallow. Like Shuichi, coming out feeling confused, lost, unsure of what to do, but choosing to see merit and things to take to heart even in a story that turned out to be full of lies and uncomfortable truths.

If you didn’t enjoy V3, I wouldn’t force you to enjoy it. If you did love it, then you should love it. These are all just my thoughts on a story that, as time goes on, honestly feels more and more relevant to me.

[uwua3]

a3! as seventeen songs + lyrics

🌸🌻🍁❄️ all troupes

author’s note: i love svt so much! they deserve all the success in the world, i promise they’re all a group of such talented and creative individuals ♡ they produce their own music, choreograph their own dances, and work together as a family! please check out seventeen :D

(this is an apology to all the non–kpop stans who still read these~ i love you! please go through their discography like i did today because i fell in love all over again TT) (yes, tsumugi and tasuku’s are meant for each other, once again)

🌸 SPRING 💗

1. SAKUMA SAKUYA

♡ SMILE FLOWER — going seventeen

“I can smile because we’re together / I can cry because it’s you / So, what can’t I do? / Whenever, wherever / Even if we’re not together, just like always / Our smile flowers bloom / I’ll be the spring to your smile”

2. USUI MASUMI

♡ THINKIN ABOUT YOU — director’s cut

“I want to give you my heart / Deep in our memories / We were so young, those days were so pretty / Each flower petal, each memory of ours / I haven’t forgotten any of them”

3. MINAGI TSUZURU

♡ THANKS — you made my dawn

“These typical words / I’m only saying them now / But, I hope these typical words will reach you / Thank you, thank you, that’s all I can say / Because they’re such common words / I was worried it wouldn’t sound sincere / I was looking for something better than just thank you / So, I couldn’t tell you thank you”

4. CHIGASAKI ITARU

♡ STILL LONELY — love&letter

“As time goes by, I’m feeling indifferent to everything / I’m sick of meaningless hangouts and conversations / It’s like living for other people’s expectations / And all of it piles up / All the numbers I don’t call / This cursed popularity. Why won’t it leave me alone? / But, why am I getting lonelier?”

5. CITRON

♡ LUCKY — an ode

“I don’t know everyday, I only think about tomorrow / Just have fun today, enjoy life / So, relax first / It’s easier than you thought it would be, just eat and have fun”

🌻 SUMMER 💛

6. SUMERAGI TENMA

♡ CRAZY IN LOVE — AI1

“What I thought only happened in moves or TV shows / Something like that is happening to me, too / It started as one strand and it sprouted into emotional fireworks / There’s a line in this movie that says love comes around / I didn’t understand before but, I understand now”

7. RURIKAWA YUKI

♡ SIMPLE — love&letter (repackaged)

“In this big world, I know I’m like a particle of dust / Nothing is easy in this exit–less, maze–like world / Happiness is only a word / It’s just a dream that everyone wants / But, that doesn’t make sense / I don’t even want to believe that / Yeah, I just want it simple”

8. MIYOSHI KAZUNARI

♡ OH MY! — you make my day

“You’re like the summer without the overbearing heat / You’re the boiling point to my loneliness / I can’t sleep because of you and it’s morning already / What do I do? / I like you more each day / I’m a bit careless and clumsy / Let’s hum together / Let’s share earphones / On the sketchbook of my brain, I draw you out everyday”

9. SAKISAKA MUKU

♡ WHEN I GROW UP — boys be

“I know, I’m still a child now / I can’t catch up to you yet / Only a little while more / As more time passes, when I grow up / I’ll understand you more”

10. IKARUGA MISUMI

♡ OUR DAWN IS HOTTER THAN DAY — you make my day

“Our night is countless / Between the stars and the sand / On the sound of a fireball that shoots firecrackers / Our laughing smile / When I am spreading from me to you / My tears are gone”

🍁 AUTUMN 🧡

11. SETTSU BANRI

♡ SHHH — you made my dawn

“I want to fight and worry, that’s all I want to do / I don’t think it’s all my own illusion / It’s not a lie inspired by the moment / I can’t desire anyone, my heart is burning / Because, I will never change / We are never gonna make it / It’s you and me who’s hurt by lies”

12. HYODO JUZA

♡ TRAUMA — teen, age

“I’m barely breathing / Like I forgot how / It’s too hard for me / To be lenient with myself / Feels like debt / All the light on me / The stage is getting bigger / But, the place in my heart is so small”

13. FUSHIMI OMI

♡ SNAP SHOOT — an ode

“Snap shoot! I want to capture this smile / Your image, this way / Click the shutter, rewind the film again / You try to show off your coolness in the picture / But, your smile in just one photo / My whole life is shot like that”

14. NANAO TAICHI

♡ SPACE — love&letter (repackaged)

“I ask myself again and again / If I can endure through these things / Then, as if it’s nothing, I say, ‘Why can’t I?’ / Actually, it’s been really hard / The fact there’s not a single person / Who will listen to my secrets that / I’ve been keeping makes me sad / This reality makes me cry”

15. FURUICHI SAKYO

♡ CALL! CALL! CALL! — we make you

“Even if the world turns against you / Until the very end, we’ll be together / I will protect you no matter what / Despite what anyone says, I’ll be right here / If it’s another bothersome request my way, I don’t want to be hasty or impatient anymore / I won’t be like that anymore / Even if I’m problematic, I’m always on your side”

❄️ WINTER 💙

16. TSUKIOKA TSUMUGI

♡ MY I — AI1

“When I meet you after time passes / I’ll know (you were my future) / I’ll know (I was your yesterday) / When I meet you after time passes / I’ll know (you protected me) / I’ll know (I desired you)”

17. TAKOTO TASUKU

♡ DON’T WANNA CRY — AI1

“I’m okay (I’m not okay) / I don’t want to see you (I really want to see you) / I have to say, say / These lies that / Don’t even come from my heart / Because my heart won’t listen to these words as I thought / Come back, come back, come back / When half of me is gone / How can I live as one?”

18. YUKISHIRO AZUMA

♡ MOONWALKER — you make my day

“Night dancing for you / Let’s call you in the moonlight / A little bit like that / I feel loved for the first time / The fragance and value of the first blooming flower / I want you more”

19. ARISUGAWA HOMARE

♡ LOVE LETTER — love&letter

“I awkwardly take out a pen & paper / And write down the words I had deeply swallowed / My handwriting isn’t pretty / Please, don’t be disappointed / Please let it go if I suck / Worrying all night about my bad handwriting / Which is about as bad as how I express my feelings / I try to sincerly express myself but I can’t get it out”

20. MIKAGE HISOKA

♡ RUN TO YOU — director’s cut

“Holding back my tears, hiding my fear / I will go to you, I was about to sleep / But, I woke up from thinking of you and went outside / I was walking, but I started running like my heart / Even though I don’t know where you are / I’m following the compass of my heart / Slowly looking through the map of my heart / Then, I can find you, who cares if it’s a bit far? I’ll follow the line that connects us two”

[muffinrecord]

Here a cool prompt: if you had to come up with a character that goes well with a capped girl (like what Tsumugi’s gourmet is to Manaka‘ chef), what character would suit who? Factoring in personalities is encouraged.

Oh man, this is hard. Also I hope my answer is the correct interpretation to your question-- I’m answering this as like, making up a character to go with someone and not using an existing character.

You know what? Konomi. Konomi has some of the most unique and adorable live 2-d animations in the game and she has one of the best designs but she’s also stupidly dry and kind of boring because her only trait is largely “FLOWER.”

Let’s make a character who fleshes Konomi out. One missed opportunity of Konomi’s MSS is that she begins it thinking that flowers are the solutions to all problems and ends it thinking that flowers are the solutions to all problems. I’ve mentioned before that Konomi has a slightly selfish/self-centered streak that isn’t really expanded on by the story, and I think that is a missed opportunity. Let’s embrace that.

Let’s say that the event is about Konomi who comes across this person who doesn’t like flowers. Konomi hates this and decides to try and make this character to like them. It goes terribly, but Konomi doesn’t want to accept it. Flowers are wonderful. Why doesn’t this person see that?

Stuff happens, and we see that Konomi views flowers as an extension of herself. If a person doesn’t like them then she feels like that person doesn’t like her. So to Konomi, this new character is rejecting her. Additionally, maybe flowers are her safety blanket. She loves them, she can list everything about them, and she can relate people to them, but if she doesn’t have them then she feels like she is worthless. 

I’m not saying that Konomi can’t be interested in flowers, but that she just needs some extra material. Make her that awkward kid who only ever wants to talk about one subject. You can have an arc where people learn to accept that about her and find it charming, and also an arc where Konomi learns to talk about other things. 

Maybe this new character helps Konomi branch out. This new character doesn’t like flowers but she still likes Konomi? This character is happy that someone would want to reach out to them so badly-- even if they don’t like flowers, they like some other aspect of Konomi’s personality. They give Konomi a chance to be a person separate from her interests. Maybe Konomi hides behind flowers because she feels worthless and empty without them, but this person makes her realize that she has intrinsic worth.

As for the character, let’s make them Konomi’s foil. They’re shy and they keep quiet about their interests. They’re afraid to talk about what they like. They admire Konomi’s boldness and wish they could be like that. She thinks that if she tried to do the same thing, she’d just be abandoned and mocked.

We could make it kind of tragic. Maybe this character really wants to be friends with Konomi, and makes a wish to Kyubey-- “I want to like flowers as much as Konomi does.” Now we have some tragedy, as this wish is what damned her soul, and Konomi might feel guilt over her obsession bringing another girl into the mahou shoujo mix.

What this unit really wants is to be unafraid to be herself, but all her wish did was make her like someone else.

Perhaps the event ends with the character and Konomi becoming friends, but over something that is completely not about flowers. The new unit still likes flowers due to her wish, but that love is tainted by regret and bitterness too. Yet, the two girls are still friends. Konomi helps bring out the hidden traits in the unit, and the unit help brings out the balance in Konomi.

As for everything else, uhhhhh, Konomi is a healer (sort of like Manaka actually). Konomi has poison and fog chance... Hmmm.

New unit is aqua and unlimited. Despite being aqua, her theme is about the status ailment burn-- burning, scalding water. Steam, maybe. She has all the emotions she bottles up inside and when they come out, they explode. 

I think this is where I’ll stop for now haha. Thanks for the question, it was fun!

[marai-posts]

Do you have survivor predictions? Who? How many?

You wanna know? You wanna hear my ramblings driven by psychology, character studies and paying WAY too much attention to game decisions made by the devs?

Well since you asked >:3

Alright let's get into my character survival predictions for the remaining Ultimates!!

Also I know this is the last Dangan game for a while so I'm actually assuming there will be less survivors then usual ( plus the rules suggests as much ) so a lot of these 'predictions' are me just understanding that most of these people are gonna be killed.

But let's start the theories, shall we?

Obviously Shuichi lives, so he takes up a slot.

I'll begin with Kokichi and Miu since they're my faves. I'll be blunt here:

These two are gonna die.

Miu for sure, I can't imagine a final trial with Miu popping off at the mouth every five seconds so she's def gonna kick the bucket

RIP Miu Iruma 100% gonna die sorry you are a hot mess and I love you but you gotta go

Kokichi is the 'rival' character so he has a coin flip chance whether he'll live or die. They 'killed' ( ? ) Nagito but they left Byakuya alive so idk if they'll spare Kokichi but they probably won't cause they like to hurt me

So Kokichi has a 60% chance he'll die but he better die for a reason or I'm gonna be pissed

Next, Korekiyo,,, okay look. I love him, I love his design and I wish he would survive but you know what? He's not gonna.

Everyone knows he's gonna kill someone. Even the game looked at this dude and was like oh yeah he'll kill someone. I'm sure it'll be heart tugging and the execution will be beautiful but I'm just saying if he becomes the focus during any point in the next chapters during that class trial I'm gonna have him pegged as the killer sorry

So yeah 100% gonna be executed

Keebo...is too cute. I want him to live so bad. But he's really sweet so he probs won't??

Like, I'd enjoy him being a survivor and there's a small chance and stuff, but tbh I'm not gonna get my hopes up cause I actually like him a whole lot and if I let myself believe he'll survive it's gonna hurt more if he doesn't

I'm leaving him 50/50 for the sake of hope

Let's do Kaito too, cause I'm pretty fond of this man right now. So it's clear Kaito is not gonna be a survivor for one reason. Him and Shuichi are really close. Like, really close. So close you have to wonder if they're setting up a more impactful death...

My guy deserves better but 98% gonna die

Next is...

Gonta. Gonta Gonta Gonta.

On one hand it's hard to imagine anyone killing him, and I'd be really surprised if he kills someone else, but I also can't imagine him as a survivor? So for this one I really dont know. We all thought Mechamaru couldn't be killed but he got murked so

70% chance he'll die, but I hope I'm wrong

Okay these next two are important:

Tenko is gonna die. She def deserves better but I'm gonna be straight up; she'll die.

I actually wanna talk about this first because it leads into my Himiko prediction.

So she's being built around her love of Himiko and while the kid doesn't even appreciate her right now, if they get closer I imagine she'll be used for development. Tenko is kinda being disrespected by the game and I'd love for her to grow outside of Himiko, but,,

100% killed for Himiko development

On that note, Himiko. I'm gonna be honest, right now I don't like her very much. I'm sure she'll grow on me but at this point in the story she's lowkey rude to Tenko and it bothers me. But that being said, every single game there's a character I think absolutely nothing of and they end up surviving. I usually like them by the end of the game but still. It never fails. I thought nothing of Hagakure the entire 1st game and guess what? He lived. I didn't care for Kazuichi all that much (even thought I love him now) and he also lived. My gut is usually right so I'm gonna throw my neck out there and say she's a survivor babey!! Even though there's definitely better characters that they could keep alive but I probably just need to see where she goes as a person. Rn she's just,, irritating :/ but they're setting her up for some heavy character development so idk

Or I could be totally wrong?

Either way Himiko 95% sure she's a survivor

The other 5% is because she could become an easy target if Tenko/Angie dies in an impactful enough way to make her lose her spirit and just mope around waiting to be murdered tbh she's short maybe Gonta accidentally steps on her or smthn

ANYWAY

Moving on to Angie! I have no idea! :D

She's cute and funny and has a lot of energy but if they keep Himiko alive then she'll probably end up sleeping with Atua.

Sorry Angie depending on where Himiko goes you're either a survivor or a victim. So I'll also place her 50/50 with Keebo

Okay next is Maki, and I'm also gonna say she has Great Potential to survive.

She's Special, and the game likes her so I wouldn't be surprised. I could see her in a final trial setting, plus she reminds me of Toko in the sense that everyone expects her to kill but she won't bother, and no one could kill HER so she just ends up surviving the whole game because she just does her own fuckass thing until the games over lmao

She definitely is Important and I'm pretty sure she's gonna play a part in the final trial. Plus I like her so: 100% she's a survivor.

Okay.............

Alright......

Listen...

I saved Tsumugi for last because ever since I MET her I've been side eyeing the fuck out of her and since then I've been keeping a really REALLY close eye on her....and I'm about to drop either a TOTAL crackhead theory or I ruined the last trials reveal for myself AGAIN WHY DO I DO THIS

And NO ONE is to confirm this in any way okay, I don't wanna know if I'm right yet

But that being said;;;

Tsumugi is the Mastermind.

HEAR ME OUT

Every single character we've met so far actually had a solid act, I understood each of their roles in Danganronpa's favorite trope game but Tsumugi...is just weird.

She has no presence, and only talks to say something odd, and she's immediately glossed over at all times. I've looked over the characters trying to imagine each of them as the Mastermind and she's the only one who like,, feels like there's way more too her then just 'strange' and I've called the mastermind Every Single Game so I'm pretty sure,, I just fucked myself over,, my bad guys,,

Anyway putting her aside, the final results:

100% Survivors: Shuichi and Maki

Possible Survivors: Himiko or Angie

I want them to live so bad but they probably won't and I'm crying: Kokichi and Keebo

I'm sad about it but they're still gonna die: Miu, Korekiyo, Kaito, Gonta and Tenko

Sus: TSUMUGI

Alright now that I've revealed my thoughts on this I'd appreciate if everyone complied and didnt confirm anything I've said

These are just my personal thoughts and whether I'm right on the money or completely and utterly incorrect, I'd like to keep as much of it as a surprise as I can keep from my gremlin prediction brain so,,

Thanks for your understanding!

[jitterbugperson]

Talentswap Au Pologue: Part 3

This isn’t getting much attention, but I’m still working on it! I really hope more people see this soon, I’m working hard on it and it’s a real passion of mine. Also sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes, I didn’t read this over before posting this, I wanted to get it out quickly.

Kaede looks at the list in her hands, and goes through it quickly, not dwelling too long on anyone in particular. Each person got pointed to as she went through the list, allowing Kaito a few seconds to try and memorize and match names to appearances.

Kirumi Tojo, Ultimate Martial Artist- Light green long hair tied up with a ribbon, wearing a  short button up and tie with a few colored bandaids on her arms.

Himiko Yumeno, Ultimate Pop Sensation- Short bob of red hair, wearing a frilly light red and pink dress with several bracelets on her arms and pins in her hair. The one currently putting the colored band-aids on Kirumi’s arms.

Angie Yonaga, Ultimate Clairvoyant - White hair cut straight and short, wearing a  purple cloak, several piercings, scattered tattoos on her exposed skin of her arms, legs, and stomach. Currently talking to Rantaro.

Rantaro Amami, Ultimate Gambler- Short green hair, wearing a vest and bowtie, sleeve of tattoos. Currently listening to Angie ramble.

Gonta Gokuhara, Ultimate Moral Compass- Long green hair in a loose ponytail, very muscular, wearing a school uniform. Trying to get Ryoma to stop smoking

Ryoma Hoshi, Ultimate Biker Gang Leader- Very short, wearing a beanie and leather jacket, carries a pack of cigarettes. Currently smoking and being worried over by Gonta.

Tsumugi Shirogane, Ultimate Swimming Pro- Long blue hair in a high ponytail, wearing a baggy jacket and athletic shorts. Currently talking to Tenko.

Tenko Chabashira, Ultimate Softball Player- Dark green hair in a braid, wearing a star covered ballcap and a jean jacket with pins on it over a t-shirt and pants with holes in them. Currently talking to Tsumugi.

Kiibo Iidabashi, Ultimate Programmer- White hair, wearing a green and grey hoodie and headphones. Currently standing away from the others with his headphones on.

Korekiyo Shinguji, Ultimate Writing Prodigy- Long straight blue hair, round glasses, a small black mask over his mouth, wearing a sweater and jeans. Currently standing next to Kiibo, also away from the main group.

After going through the names, Kaede looks at him with a small smile.

“Got it alright?” She asks, still holding the list. Despite not fully memorizing the people, names, and talents in such a small window of time, he nods. 

“Yup.” He’s lying, but she doesn’t seem to catch on, simply folding the paper and putting it back into her pocket.

Kaito lets his eyes wander, gazing over the grouped up people. For the situation they were all in, they seemed surprisingly put together. At least no one was freaking out, so that’s a good sign. They were all ultimates though, so that is to be expected.

He cleared his throat, turning to Kaede.

“So, what now? None of us know how we got here, the windows are closed off, I’m assuming there’s no exit. And there’s no teachers, from what I’ve seen.” He questioned, almost into thin air as Kaede had no answers for him.

Thankfully, there was someone who could answer his question for him. As soon as he asked the question, an annoyingly high pitched voice called out.

“Ahem! Ahem! Mic check, one two! This is a test of the school broadcast system!

It rang out throughout the room, followed by a loud chime.

Ding dong, bing bong

Everyone turned their heads to the noise, and saw a monitor at the front of the room spark to life. Through static, a small, bear shaped silhouette could be seen.

“Am I on? Can everyone hear me? Okay, well then, to all incoming students, I would like to begin the entrance ceremony! We’ll be starting at about… right now! Please make your way to the gym at your earliest convenience. That’s all! I’ll be waiting~”

After the sing-songy voice cut off, everyone stood silent for a few moments.

What the hell?

“What the hell?!” Someone shouted out, speaking what everyone was thinking. Kaito turned to the voice, seeing Miu still staring at the monitor, her face one of confused shock. At her comment, everyone else looked around nervously, unsure what to do,

“Hey now, let’s just stay calm. This is probably just to get us excited for the entrance ceremony, that’s all.” The green haired guy in the vest and bowtie stepped forward, a calm smile on his face. Rantaro, Kaito reminded himself.

“A-Are you sure? This all seems too strange to be normal for a school, but I don’t know.” The kid with the headphones replied nervously, his headphones now dangling at the sides of his neck.

“I’m sure we’ll be okay Kiibo, I mean, we’re all okay now, right?” Himiko smiles at the taller student, who looked away, avoiding eye contact, and instead stared at the ground. 

“Yeah, alright.” Kiibo nods, and Himiko grabs his hand in a comforting gesture. 

As soon as she does that, there’s a scoff from the front of the entrance hall. Facing the noise, Kaito notices it’s the purple haired kid from earlier, looking at the scene with a small sneer.

Without saying a word, he turns around and walks out of the room, heading down the hall and towards the gymnasium, leaving everyone else behind.

Tenko and Tsumugi exchanged looks.

“What’s his deal?” The girl haired girl commented, snarky and obviously not a fan of his attitude.

“I’m not sure, but he does seem to have the right idea. If the entrance ceremony is starting, wouldn’t it be a good idea to head to the gym?” Tsumugi adds, talking to no one in particular. The others look around, before unanimously deciding that heading to the gym would be the best idea at the moment.

The group of 15 split into smaller groups as they walked down the halls, similar to the groups in the entrance hall. Maki and Shuichi, Tsumugi and Korekiyo, Gonta and Kirumi, Angie, Ryoma, and Rantaro, Tenko, Himiko, and Kiibo, and Kaito, Miu, and Kaede. Together they headed to the gym, the purple haired kid already there waiting for them. 

Next to Kaito, he heard Kaede speak up to both him and Miu.

“Don’t you think it’s odd we didn’t see any other students on our way here?”

Now that he thought about it, yeah that did seem pretty weird. Judging by the look on Miu’s face, she thought so too.

“Hey, you’re right. Where the hell is everyone?” Miu shouts out, a little louder than necessary.

The response she got was similar to Kaito’s in the Entrance Hall, replied to by the same high pitched voice.

“Hey there, howdy, hello! Is everyone here?”

Without waiting for anyone to answer, they continued.

“Good! Then, let’s get things rolling!”

As soon as those words were spoken, a small, animatronic teddy bear popped out from behind the podium on the stage, its body split into a half of black and a half of white. No one dared to move or speak for a few seconds, trying to take it in.

“Is that… a stuffed bear?” Korekiyo asked out loud, voice quiet and full of disbelief.

“I am not a stuffed bear!” The bear cried out, angry at that notion.

“I am Monokuma! This school’s headmaster.”

Just when I thought this day couldn’t get any weirder.

The bear stepped down from the podium and walked closer to the students, and the knot of anxiety that’d slowly been accumulating in Kaito’s stomach turned to outright dread as he realized how absolutely screwed they were. This was definitely not a normal school, much too weird for Hope’s Peak, and certainly not a school that made the tiniest bit of sense.

“Nice to meet you all!” 

After Monokuma finished his introduction, everyone stood still and quiet, just staring at the bear.

“Um, is anyone else seeing and hearing the same thing? I’m not hallucinating this?” Tsumugi asked, looking at the other for confirmation.

“I am not a stuffed bear!! How many times do I have to tell you!” He yelled out angrily, jumping out at her and causing her to flinch back.

“Eeeeek! Get away from me!!” She yelled, putting her hands in front of her face. Quickly, Tenko, who’d been standing next to Tsumugi, jumped in front of her, hands out wide.

“Back up little dude.” The green-haired girl hissed out, glaring at the bear.

“Stop it, both of you!! It’s not like it can do anything to you, even if it can… walk and talk, for some reason.” Kaede tried to reason, not wanting people to get worked up for no reason.

“No no, little miss jumpy over here has the right idea. I could kill you if I wanted!” The bear chuckled, causing a few people to exchange looks.

“Well, anyway, do you happen to know why we’re here, mister...Monokuma?” Gonta speaks up, ignoring the potential death threat in favor of getting some answers.

“Ah, yes! Of course, that is why I brought you all here!” Monokuma exclaims, and a few students relaxed a bit at the notion that their questions would soon be addressed.

Kaito wasn’t one of those. He wasn’t sure why, but he just felt…off. Something wasn't right here, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

Monokuma cleared his throat(?).

“Now, continuing with the entrance ceremony! First, we should address what your school life will be like here! Yes, this should be the first thing to talk about since you’ll be living the rest of your lives out here.”

He said it so calmly, yet Kaito felt his heart stop. Looking around at everyone else, they seem to have heard it too, all wearing similar expressions

“Yes yes, you students are the hope of this world! You will all spend the rest of your life designated only to the grounds of this school, protected from the outside world!”

“H-Huh? That’s not… you’re not serious are you?” Kaito spoke, now hoping that this was all an extremely elaborate prank like he’d thought in the beginning.

“I am one hundred percent serious, my little luckster! But do not worry, we have quite the budget, so your life here will be quite comfortable! You will be more than accommodated for here at the academy.”

“Wait, so we’re stuck here? With no way out?!” Tenko shouts, her eyes wide with fear.

“Yup! You’re all completely cut off from the outside world! You can call for help all you want, but you’re stuck within these walls for the rest of your life!”

The room was silent, everyone quietly panicking at the news that they’re stuck in here forever. What about their f”milies? Their friends on the outside? Their lives on the outside?

“Aww, why do you all look so glum! You all came here of your own free will, didn’t you?”

Well, he isn’t entirely wrong.

“I guess you’ll all be happy to hear, there is something I forgot to mention. There is one way out, and only one.”

Everyone perked their heads up at that, some skeptic, others willing to listen.

“I’ve created a special rule, allowing those who wish to leave the ability to do so! With some conditions of course.”

“Spit it out already, we’re tired of waiting.” Ryoma grumbled, looking heavily annoyed at all this stalling and back and forths.

“Hold your horses, I’m getting to that!” The bear shouted, angry.

“Now then, what I was trying to say is that this school has what is called a Graduation Clause. The lifestyle you all will have here is one of order, but should someone interrupt said order, they and they alone would be allowed to leave.”

Kaito quirked an eyebrow.

“Interrupt the order? What does that mean?”

“Ah, curious one, aren’t you. What I mean by that is, in order to leave, someone needs to commit a crime most unspeakable, one that would truly disrupt the natural order. Murder, to be more specific.”

At that, everyone’s face paled a good few shades.

“Asphyxiation, blood loss, snapping of the neck, cutting off all blood flow to the brain, get creative! It doesn’t matter the process, all that matters is someone’s heart stops beating! That is the only way to escape this school.”

Katio could feel his breath picking up, panic becoming the leading emotion in his head. Kill someone to leave? That’s insane!! He was losing his grip, heart beating out of his chest and his hands gripping the sleeves of the others absurdly tight. A hand dropped to his soldier, surprisingly calm. He looked up and saw the Ultimate Affluent Progeny, lips in a taut line as she stared at the black and white bear.

“What makes you think we’ll just go along with this? Do you forget we’re children? The chances of us getting the nerve to kill someone is absolutely absurd, and this is considering you’re telling the truth. Chances are, this is some trick, a prank of some sort. Why someone would go through this much trouble to prank us, I don’t know, but there is no way you would be allowed to do this, considering some of our home lives.” Kaede spoke with such confidence and authority, the kind Kaito likes to pretend to have but could never amount to. A kind of confidence bread by experience, one she could only get in the kind of life she lives.

The bear quirked his little head.

“You all keep acting like this isn’t real. What is it gonna take to convince you that you’re stuck here forever? Because this isn’t a joke you know.”

As soon as Monokuma finished his sentence, there was a short rustling sound, a blur of motion, and suddenly, Monokuma was being held in the air. Holding him up in a death grip was the short purple haired kid, an ice glare on his face.

“I don’t know what your game is, or what psycho decided it would be a fun idea to mess with us. Whatever your reason, I’m not a fan, so I’m giving you about ten seconds to cut this shit out before I destroy your little toy.”

“A-Ah! This is certainly unexpected!”

“10.”

“Hold on now! You have no idea what I’m capable of little boy-” The grip on the bear’s face tightened.

“9.”

“You don’t want to do this, trust me.”

“8.”

“Alright, if this is what you want!”

“8.” An autonomous voice joined in with the smaller boy’s counting.

“7.”

“7.” 

“Hey, m-maybe you should put it down.” Himiko stepped forward towards the boy and the robot.

“Stay out of this!” The boy snapped, causing Himiko to yank her hand back.

“6.”

“6.”

“She has a point, I feel like you should let go of the-” Kirumi tried to reason, but was interrupted.

“5.”

“5.”

There were some metal clanging noises.

“What the hell is that?” Kaito shouted out.

“4.”

“4.”

“Seriously man, put the damn thing down!” Ryoma shouted, but he was ignored as well.”

“3.”

“3.”

“2.”

“2.”

The metal clanging got louder, and Kaito moved before he could think, his panic fueled adrenaline making him do something he normally wouldn’t.

“1.” 

As soon as he spoke the last number, Kaito pushed the bear out of his hands, stopping him from destroying it. The boy turned to the much taller one, the icy glare now directed to him.

“What the he-!” He was cut off as metal spikes sprung out of the belly of Monokuma, shooting straight up and out to the spot the kid previously stood, and still would have if he had still been holding the bear. The spikes pierced through the air, ripping through the fabric on the short kid’s shirt sleeve and the side of Kaito’s sweater, cutting through the skin with the tips of the metal. Both let out a surprised cry of pain, and Monokuma dropped on the floor with a small CLANG.

Kaito gripped his side with his opposite hand, a pained grimace on his face as he stared at the bear. He heard a few startled cries from behind him, and soon felt a pair of hands on his shoulders. Turning around, his face met a worried Miu’s, with Kaede soon behind him.

“Holy shit, you alright dude?” 

Breathing heavily, Kaito nodded.

“Yeah...yeah I’m okay.”

No one had time to move much before the metal spikes returned to the belly of the robot, sinking back in and being covered up as though they weren’t even there in the first place. Monokuma sprung up with a hearty chuckle.

“Looks like you got saved before I could skewer you! Well, at least now you know that I am serious about this! If that nosy kid hadn’t saved your ass, you’d be good as a shish-kebab!”

He laughed again.

“Now, it’s important to know that violence against the headmaster is strictly against the rules! I’ll let you off with a warning this time, but anyone else who disobeys the rules won’t be let off that easily.”

Everyone was silent, the gravity of the situation finally dawning on those who’d been skeptical before.

“I’m not unfair though! I’ll be giving you all fully digital e-Handbooks so that you know the rules of the school and what not to do! Remember, there are surveillance cameras all over the school, so don’t even think about getting away with anything naughty.”

Dread settled over the entire gym, everyone staring down at the handbooks being held to them as Monokuma went down the line. Once all were handed out, Monokuma straightened out.

“Well then, that’s the end of the entrance ceremony! I hope you all have a wonderfully depressing school life here at the school, and I look forward to what kind of murders you decide to come up with!”

He gave us a small wave, his unnerving half-smile still plastering on his face.

“See ya!”

And like that, he was gone, leaving us all to our own devices.

“Well, shit.”