#anyway next up is the Saejima one!

[melonsodypop]

Hi! How about some silly fluff? Yakuza men and playing pocky game with them? uwu Thank you!

yakuza men and playing the pocky game with them !

✾ pairing - kazuma kiryu, goro majima, taiga saejima, shun akiyama, y0!akira nishikiyama, daigo dojima, ryuji goda/reader (all seperate)

✾ tags - gender neutral reader, fluff, suggestiveness in some sections

✾ a/n - ur brain is so huge because this is SUCH a cute idea and i would've never come up with it on my own :,3 <33 fluff is a bit harder for me to write so it's a little shorter than my other posts but i hope you all still enjoy !!

✾ kazuma kiryu 🐉

when you suggest playing it, bro just hits you with a blank stare

"what... is that?"

you decide just to give him a visual of what you mean by taking the stick out and putting it between your teeth

his eyes widen a little when you point at the other end of it and tell him to bite it

you can almost see the gears turning in his head. he's starting to get the point

you're fully expecting him to turn you down when he nods, that determined gleam he always has still in his eyes. "fine. i just need to bite down here, right?"

he feels ridiculous when he bends down and catches the pocky stick between his teeth, but when your hand comes up to cup his jaw and you bite a little closer his focus zeroes in entirely on you

you can practically see the way his pupils dilate when he takes his turn to bite, the increasing closeness of your lips driving him up the damn wall

it only takes another flutter of your eyelashes and an infuriatingly small nibble on your end before kiryu's biting down hard, snapping the stick between your mouths and just pressing his lips to yours

his hand comes up to cradle the back of your neck, his frustration pouring into the kiss before he finally softens, pulling away to look you in the eyes

the tips of his ears are a bright red, and his brow is furrowed in the way it does when he's thoroughly embarrassed

"that... wasn't half bad," he mutters, "but if you wanted to kiss me... you could've just asked"

despite his fluster, he can't get the image of you so close to him with the little treat between your lips and the taste of chocolate on his tongue when you kissed out of his head for the next week

✾ goro majima 🐍

his lips curl in interest when you ask him to play the game with you

you don't know HOW but he somehow already knows what it is, preemptively taking a stick from the box in your hands and putting the end between his teeth

waggles his eyebrows at you and guffaws when you get embarrassed

"aren't you the one who suggested it, babydoll? don't get all shy on me now"

bends down and slings an arm lazily around your shoulders when you take the other end into your mouth

keeps eye contact with you almost the entire time, his good eye gleaming with satisfaction at being this close to you

every turn he takes is a short little bite, determined to draw this out as looong as possible

it's just a good excuse to stay close to you, anyways

the smirk on his lips only grows when your lips are mere centimeters apart, his hand sliding up to gently hold your chin in place

he can tell his proximity is starting to get to you, the air thick with the scent of tobacco and his expensive cologne

but neither of you are the type to back down, returning his barely-there bites with your own

majima's the one to kiss you at the end, his grip on your chin tightening ever so slightly

when he parts, he licks his bottom lip to get the bit of chocolate left there, never resisting a chance to rile you up a bit

"well, wasn't that a treat? hey - how many are left in there, doll? i'm thinkin' i might wanna play a few more rounds"

✾ taiga saejima 🐅

oh boy good LUCK trying to convince this man to play

he has no idea what it is when you suggest it, and after you explain it he's still not really sold

he's not a huge fan of sweets in the first place, plus if he wanted to kiss you he just would do it

he'll grumble and brush you off when you whine and try to convince him

that is, until he catches the puppy eyes you're giving him

well, fuck. how is he supposed to say no to that

he can't even look you in the eyes when he bends his head down to bite the end of the pocky, the corner of his lips twitching when the chocolate starts to melt on his tongue

caresses the back of your head gently as you crane your neck up to look at him

you take your turn first, saejima's eyes trained on the way your lips wrap around the stick

you can feel his hand's grip tighten slightly on the nape of your neck, his jaw tensing

lets out a hiss through his teeth when you look up at him, expecting him to take his turn

everything about you - your eyes trained upwards at him, the pout of your lips, the way your eyebrows furrow in confusion at his reluctance to take his bite

a grumble comes from his chest before he's reaching up with his other hand to snap the stick in two, crashing his mouth onto yours

his kiss is hungry, his hands on your body possessive and firm

when he pulls away, he's shaking his head, an uncharacteristic blush on his usually stoic face

"fuckin' hell, can't focus when ya look at me like that," he grumbles, pulling you to his chest and pressing an apologetic kiss to the top of your head for ruining your little game

✾ shun akiyama 💵

cocks an eyebrow at you when you suggest it, an interested smile pulling at the corner of his lips

"y'know, babe, if you wanted to kiss me, you could just ask"

relents as soon as you pout and say it's more fun this way

leans back in his chair and pats his thigh, his ever-present smug look as he invites you into his lap

is the one to pull the stick from the box in your hands, placing it lazily between his lips like a cigarette

raises his eyebrows expectantly at you as you stammer and splutter, one hand lazily resting on your hip and his other arm across the back of the couch

"c'mon, sweetheart - it's just you n' me, nothing to be embarrassed about"

his smirk grows as you bite down on the other end, an amused laugh rumbling in his chest

uses his hand not on your hip to cup your face, guiding you a little closer to him as he takes his turn to bite

probably winks at you at some point while you're taking a turn just to fluster you even more

teases you by moving his head back when you try to finally lean in and kiss him

he can't help but tease you - he's always thought the way you pout is so, so cute

he finally closes the gap between you two once you've pouted enough, tilting your face up so he can kiss you deeply

his chest swells with affection when you grasp at the lapels of his suit jacket, chuckling as he pulls away just to leave another affectionate peck on the tip of your nose

"have i ever told you how cute you are?"

he has, many times - but he'll tell you again and again, peppering your face with kisses until you're laughing and telling him to stop

✾ akira nishikiyama 🎏

smirks when you walk up to him with the stick in your mouth, already knowing where you were going with this

"alright, you're on"

probably complains that you took the frosted side for yourself

holds you by the hips as he bites down on his end, cocking an eyebrow at you suggestively

he's trying to look you in the eyes, he really is - but he can't take the way off your lips, the way they're so prettily wrapped around the stick making his mind wander

you can tell when nishiki's distracted, and a little idea forms in your head

he's dragged back down to reality when he hears the snap of the pocky breaking between the two of you

he lets out a choked noise of surprise as you pull him down to press your lips to his

his eyes flutter shut as he finally lets himself relax into the kiss

he can taste the remnants of melted chocolate on your lips and your tongue, his brow furrowing slightly as tilts your chin up so he can kiss you deeper

there's a slight smirk on his lips when you pull away, letting out an amused scoff

"you cheated, you little-"

he doesn't even let himself finish the sentence before he's tugging you close by the hips to kiss you again

playfully wraps his arms around your shoulders and keeps you pinned against him, peppering your face with kisses as punishment for your betrayal

doesn't stop until you're both laughing so hard that you're tearing up, nishiki picking you up by the waist and spinning you around

"you're lucky i love you so much, you little minx"

✾ daigo dojima ⚔️

you can practically see the steam come out of daigo's ears when you ask him to play the game with you

he's never really been one for such... cheeky gestures of affection

but if you really want it, he supposes he'll have to oblige despite his embarrassment

it's not like he's unfamiliar with the game, anyways - he's frequented enough cabaret clubs in his white puffer jacket era to see every lovey-dovey little game there is

surprisingly, he takes the initiative to put the pocky in his mouth first, gently pulling you closer by the waist

"well? this is what you wanted, isn't it?" he asks through his teeth

a bit of his reluctance is shaved away when he actually sees you bite down on the other end, your proximity intoxicating

it's subtle, but you know him well enough to recognize the gleam of interest in his eyes

plays by the rules, politely waiting for his turn and biting down a respectable amount

that is, until you guys get about three inches apart and he suddenly takes a way larger bite than before, forcing his lips to be a breath's away from yours

he keeps his facial expression neutral as he watches you flounder, caught off-guard by his sudden playfulness

he raises his eyebrows at you expectantly - he's not saying it verbally, but you know he's challenging you

he watches every little twitch of your eyebrows and dart of your eyes with amused intrigue, interested in what you were gonna do next

he's pleasantly surprised when you take the initiative to bite down the rest of the pocky, your soft lips melding against his

he cradles your face in his hands gently, moving his lips slowly against yours

presses your foreheads together when you part, wrapping you up tightly in his arms and swaying you back and forth

"you always manage to surprise me, darling"

✾ ryuji goda 🐲

his brows furrow when you suggest the pocky game to him

"eh? what the hell is that?"

watches you intensely as you explain it - you almost change your mind about asking because he seems so disinterested

once you're done, he laughs out loud, amused greatly by the thought of such a silly little game

like saejima, he doesn't really see the point in doing a little song and dance before kissing, but hell if he'll back away from a challenge

"heh, sounds fuckin' dumb. let's do it"

has one hand tightly on your hip and the other slung around your shoulders as he bites down on the other end of the pocky

he can't help but snicker at the situation, his sharp canines gleaming in the light

you nod, indicating for him to take his turn first

but you're taken by surprise when he just bites off the rest of the pocky, his lips firmly pressed against yours

he laughs at the surprised expression on your face when he pulls away, always endlessly entertained by all the ways he can surprise you

"what's wrong, doll? ya never told me how far i could or couldn't bite"

can't help but ruffle your hair when you pout up at him, laughing gruffly

presses a kiss to each of your cheeks to placate you, satisfaction swelling in his chest when he makes you smile again

[kulemiwrites]

Taiga Saejima | NSFW AtoZ

Rating: 18+ Character(s): Taiga Saejima Warning: When I do these, they act sort of as my guidelines that I follow for when I am writing smut of the character in question. Obviously, these are headcanons but some of these headcanons are lore heavy- based on things I’ve come up with over the years. Privately or publicly. If something seems out of character or doesn’t make sense to you, that may be why! I hope you can try to enjoy it anyway. Bear in mind that while gender neutral pronouns and terms of endearment are used, this was written with female anatomy in mind. 

Read on AO3

OG AtoZ can be found here

A = Aftercare (What they’re like after sex)

His body damn near overheats no matter the intensity of his performance. Once he’s spent, he’s torn between wanting space to cool off or making his body heat his partner’s problem by smothering them. He usually takes his partner’s needs into account though. He’d hate for them to feel used because he’s done what he needed to do and left them to fend for themselves. If they’re a bit on the needy side, he may wrap them in blankets (if applicable) and pull them onto his chest while leaving himself stretched out next to them completely uncovered– After he’s cracked a window and/or turned on a fan, of course. 

B = Body part (Their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

He really appreciates his eyes. He acknowledges that he’s got ‘good’ ones. They’re sharp, keen and he’s heard a few times that they’re not so bad to look at either. He’s not entirely sure about that last part but he’ll give some credit where it’s due. He’s quite perceptive and his eyesight has yet to fail him with age– not everyone is blessed enough to say something like that. Nothing ever gets past his peepers without him knowing. Plus, with his eyes he can take in his lover as they sprawl out beneath him. He can’t imagine a world in which he has to miss out on a benefit like that. He’s a firm believer in the phrase “we eat first with our eyes.”

Taiga is a self admitted ‘sucker for a pair of legs’. While he does have his preferences, he adores all types of legs. No matter what his partner’s legs look like, he’s going to be dragging his tongue along them til they have no choice but to wrap them around his head. He likes to see them bare, he likes to see them covered up in something form fitting. He likes it all.

C = Cum (Anything to do with cum basically… I’m a disgusting person)

A pearlescent white and viscous. His loads are typically pretty generous but it does depend on how long it’s been since the last time. It thins out a bit with frequency. It’s not uncommon for him to pant out the question, ‘where do you want it?’ right before he lets go. If his partner has no preference and he’s not using protection (because if he were, why the hell would he bother to pull out?), he likes to slip out and stroke himself until he’s painted his partner’s legs with sticky, warm seed.

D = Dirty Secret (Pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

He had a decent sex life before his 1st stint in prison, a little lady he often spent his time with but after getting locked up she didn’t so much as send him a letter. He supposed the shock of hearing what he’d done frightened her. During his first years behind bars, he spent many nights reflecting on old memories of her company but once he realized she wanted nothing to do with him, he tried to shut them out. He didn’t see any benefits in riling himself up anyway. He knew of people that were regularly getting off in their cells to contraband materials, like snuck photos and magazine clip-outs or sometimes trying, and failing to stealthily relieve themselves in the shower. He didn’t want his libido to control him so he worked on maintaining his celibacy until he got out. It drove him nuts in the beginning but after some time, he never even thought about it. Once he finally got out, he was interested in sex but it was so far down on his to-do list, he had no desire to seek it out. If it would happen, then it would happen… And finally it did.

E = Experience (How experienced are they? Do they know what they’re doing?)

Referencing his dirty secret, he had a decent sex life. He had a couple partners from the time he first became sexually active to the time he was imprisoned. After that, his experience building obviously took a standstill. He lets his instincts carry him but he can be pretty clumsy without realizing. 

F = Favorite Position (This goes without saying. Will probably include a visual)

He almost always goes for positions that allow him to rest his partners’ legs on his shoulders, such as this. Having their legs right there full view and within reach is enough to rile him up just as a visual. Not only does he get to show his affection to his favorite part of his lover, he can also reach deep within them and hear their toes crack near his ears as they curl and flex. It’s amusing after the fact but during? He’s just deep set on ripping as many sounds out of them as possible.

G = Goofy (Are they more serious in the moment, or are they humorous, etc)

Yet again referencing the previous point, there are moments in which he finds himself amused by his partner but when he gets aroused there is not much that can disrupt his one track mind. He’s so focused on getting off and making sure he’s not neglecting his partner’s needs in the process that he doesn’t think to smile about it until well after the fact. He gets sort of intense when he’s riled up. 

H = Hair (How well groomed are they, does the carpet match the drapes, etc.)

He’s hairy as all hell. His arms and legs are hairy and he’s got a noticeable happy trail leading down to the jungle that is his pubic hair. He’s got a lot of thick, dark, straggly hair that he hardly bothers to maintain. If he receives a complaint from his partner, then AND ONLY THEN will he give it a bit of a trim. Emphasis on a bit. Sure, he realizes he’s got hair going all between his ass cheeks but he just doesn’t see the point in getting rid of it if it’s just going to come back and itch the hell out of him in the process. 

I = Intimacy (How are they during the moment, romantic aspect…) 

It cannot be expressed enough how deeply he gets lost in the act of sex. He just shuts the world out and nothing exists but himself and the person he’s sharing the moment with. Feeling them, taking them in, appreciating their body– his mind is a scrambled mess and unless his partner knows how to read him, they have no idea what’s going on behind that intense gaze of his.

J = Jack Off (Masturbation headcanon)

Truly he can go without it. He’d much rather go for the real thing. When he was younger though, he couldn’t keep his hands out of his pants. He chalks his ability to abstain up to what he did while being locked up for 25 years. 

K = Kink (One or more of their kinks)

Light Bondage- Hand binding most specifically- while he knows that he should have an aversion for the act of his wrists being bound, it does turn him on when being restricted from acting out on his desires. He can only handle it for so long before his impatience turns into something else. He wouldn’t mind being blindfolded as well. On the whole, these are things that his partner would have to suggest. He wouldn’t even know that it’s something he’s aroused by until the person he wants to bury himself in is the one doing it.

Lingerie- Not a kink but fetish. He gets really turned on by lingerie. Seeing someone dressed up with the sole purpose of enticing him is more than enough to rev up his engine. And while it isn’t lingerie, he thinks hosiery is sexy as all hell and he loves to see all different types. He may be prone to ripping holes in them– so maybe his partner should be wary of being intimate with him while wearing their favorite stockings?

L = Location (Favorite places to do the do)

He thinks that public sex is wildly attractive in theory. In practice, not so much. He wouldn’t be able to pay attention to his surroundings as well as he should to avoid getting caught because he just locks in on his partner. That said, he enjoys lazy romps on the couch during a movie or having his partner straddling him while he sits in a chair. Otherwise, bed, it is.

M = Motivation (What turns them on, gets them going)

Someone being turned on by him turns him on. To Taiga, there is nothing sexier than being wanted. All his partner really has to do is give him a look or a few suggestive touches before his blood starts pumping. Another thing is his appreciation for sudden shyness. If his partner is typically bold but starts to clam up while beneath him, he will do things to burn them up with embarrassment. 

N = NO (Something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Breath play freaks him out. He’s heard stories of erotic asphyxiation gone wrong and he wants no part in it. He knows how intense he can get during sex and he wouldn’t want that to be the cause of the beginning of a horror story. He wouldn’t want someone doing it to him either, even if he trusts his partner, he can’t trust himself to understand his limits.  

O = Oral (Preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc)

He prefers to be the receiver. He’s not too confident in his skills in this regard but he will try if his partner is interested. He hasn’t been on the receiving end of many compliments in that department but he is very open to criticism. Too low? Too high? Prefer this motion? You got it! After all, he does try not to be selfish. 

P = Pace (Are they fast and rough? Slow and sensual? etc.)

It truly depends on how aroused he is. His default is a pretty quick and sharp but steady pace. He likes to hear the sound of applause filling the room. However, sometimes, he enjoys a nice and slow pace– lazy strokes, busy hands, lots of kisses. 

Q = Quickie (Their opinions on quickies rather than proper sex, how often, etc.)

Yes, please. He really only lasts as long as a partner would prefer him too. He doesn’t have to have a long drawn out session to feel satisfied. He’s definitely a little more selfish during a quickie. If he knows he doesn’t have much time to get the job done, it’s almost like every man for himself then. If his partner needs more attention, they’ll have to tell him because otherwise, he’s sort of just chasing his own high.

R = Risk (Are they game to experiment, do they take risks, etc.)

He’s open to most things that a partner could possibly recommend. If he hears that his partner feels like things are getting stale, he’ll be the first to suggest they brainstorm with him to come up with things to spice things up a bit. 

S = Stamina (How many rounds can they go for, how long do they last…)

Sex with him is typically a one and done. The length of each bout of passion varies on his needs and his partners. All he personally needs is 10-15 minutes when he’s in the mood but he tries to understand that his partner may require a bit more effort than that. If his partner hasn’t expressed a preference for a longer session, he will cum with, if not, shortly after they do. 

T = Toy (Do they own toys? Do they use them? On a partner or themselves?)

Isn’t he all the toy his partner needs? He’s almost prideful about how much he believes toys have no place in his bedroom. It would take lots, (and lots cannot be stressed enough) convincing to get him to change his mind on that. 

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

Sometimes if he’s feeling a little mischievous, teasing is the name of the game but he’s not very good at sticking to it. He gets so turned on by the reactions to his teasing that he forgets what he might have been doing in the first place. When the tables are turned and he’s the one being teased though? He’s dying on the inside. He just wants the games to end and for his partner to get to the point. One may say that he can dish it but he can’t take it.

V = Volume (How loud they are, what sounds they make)

Aside from panting heavily, he’s not very loud. He gets off to the sounds his partner makes, so he prefers not to overshadow them. He does tend to let out a curse or deep groan from time to time. He’s at his noisiest right as he’s about to cum. Lots of loud ‘Hah’s and some equivalent of ‘oh shit’ spilling from them plush lips.

W = Wild Card (Get a random headcanon for the character of your choice)

He finds that he is sort of fascinated by shibari. He’s not sure if he’d ever get around to practicing it with someone but the thought is pretty exciting. He’s mostly certain that he would have a preference for being the rigger but considering how turned on he gets from having his hands bound, he can’t help but wonder…

X = X-Ray (Let’s see what’s going on in those pants, picture or words)

He’s hung– quite. It’s a marvel, really. He’s a grower and my, are looks deceiving. Before erect, he gives the impression that he’s much less endowed than he actually is. He’s about average in length measuring at a tad over 6 inches and his cock is phat. Capital P– with a leaky mushroom tip. Depending on his lover, he may be a little difficult to take the first time. So, he tries to make sure he gives his partner a moment to adjust to the sheer girth before he starts going to town on them. 

Y = Yearning (How high is their sex drive?)

As far as he’s concerned, he’s just as horny as the next guy. His libido is about average. It could probably be higher if not for age and also just him actively suppressing his urges for so long. If he’s in a relationship, it’s easy for him to meet them where they’re at. If that means he gets to have more sex, then great! If it means less, then, well… 

Z = ZZZ (… how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)He tries to fight it but he gets sleepy as soon as he’s done. His eyes get heavy and even when he’s got somewhere to be, he can’t resist the urge to rest them for just a moment. For this reason, he prefers not to have a quickie if he’s got plans. He just might not make it. Doesn’t mean he’ll turn it down though.

[awkward-wicked-failure]

RGG High: Rainy Day

what is my life rn

=================

It was supposed to be sunny that day; they had promised "clear skies for the rest of the week!" If Kaoru had known, she would have brought an umbrella or, at the very least, avoided being the last one to leave RGG High School. Now, she found herself standing at the front of the building, sheltered from the heavy rainfall. She had stayed behind to finalize plans for a bake sale with the rest of the student council and was holding a black binder filled with important paperwork she wanted to review at home. How she wished she could have beaten the rain.

She recognized the footsteps coming up next to her with the rustling of a duffel bag.

"I thought it was supposed to be sunny all week," Kiryu said.

"I thought so, too. You haven't left yet," Kaoru asked, "but everyone else did."

"We practiced until we heard the thunder, and then everyone left.'

"But you didn't."

She glanced at him, taking in the sight of him in the RGG baseball uniform. The black fabric clung to him as the rain drenched the vibrant white and red lettering. She almost snickered.

"Nope." He said plainly. "How come you haven't left yet?"

His eyes met hers.

"I was going to, but-" she knocked on the binder. "Important student council papers are in here. And...I don't want to risk them getting soaked."

Kiryu unzipped his duffel bag and pulled out the black blazer he wore with his usual school uniform. He handed it to Kaoru, who looked puzzled by the offering.

"I figured maybe you can wrap the binder in it...?"

"Oh. How kind of you."

She took the blazer from his hand, wrapping it around the binder tightly to secure it.

"I'll give it back tomorrow."

"I know." He zipped the duffel bag closed.

"...Um...Kiryu?"

"Hm?"

"Did you want to walk me home?"

"Oh, uh, I can't."

"Right, right. I just thought to ask." She clutched the binder and dashed out of the school into the heavy rain.

"Bye, Kiryu!" she called out to him one last time before turning the corner.

"...Bye." He responded before letting out a heavy sigh, his face turning pink.

The next day, the sun shone brightly over RGG High School. During lunch, Kiryu stood by the grimy dumpster behind the school with Majima and Ichiban, smoking cigarettes and discussing their classes.

"And you know what I told Saejima?" Majima started. "I was like, 'Look, it ain't my fault ya got sent to juvie for the 50th time,' right?"

"Right, right." Kiryu rolled his eyes, taking a drag.

"And he got mad at me for just statin' the obvious and-"

"Uh-huh, yeah."

"Uh, guys?" Ichiban spoke up, but Majima waved him off.

"Grown-ups are talking, Freshie."

"But-"

"Upupup! Grown-ups are talking."

"The StuCo president is coming over here."

"Oh shit."

Majima and Kiryu immediately tossed away their cigarettes, stomping them out quickly and assuming relaxed poses. Kaoru approached the group of young men with confidence, draped over one arm was Kiryu's blazer.

"Kiryu, I wanted to thank you again for the blazer. The student council is forever in your debt for your noble sacrifice," She joked, handing over the blazer to him.

"It wasn't any bother," he told her.

"Still. I owe you."

"You really don't."

"Take the win, already."

"Is it a win, though?" He smiled at her, and in response, she playfully punched him on the arm.

"I'm looking forward to your game today." She turned on her heel and walked away. "Do this school proud!"

"I'll hit a home run in your honor!"

"Please!"

"What the fuck was that," Majima asked, his face showing absolute disgust.

"What? She's just a friend."

"No, no, she's not. That was textbook flirting." Ichiban spoke again.

"And whaddya mean you gave her your blazer?"

"She was walking home in the rain and didn't want her binder and papers to get wet? It's common courtesy."

"You didn't walk home with her?"

"Well, no."

Kiryu examined his blazer and noticed a new stitch on its shoulder that hadn't been there before.

"What the hell were ya doing at the school that late anyway? Baseball got out before the student council, right? 'Specially with the rain and all that." Majima lit another cigarette, offering the pack to Kiryu, who hadn't noticed.

"Yeah, but I had other things to do." He put on the blazer, placing his hands in the pockets and feeling something inside one of them.

"Like what?"

"Just stuff."

"That's such a non-answer, Kiryu-senpai." Ichiban sighed.

Kiryu took a folded note out of his blazer pocket, immediately catching the attention of Majima and Ichiban. The atmosphere became tense for a moment as Kiryu unfolded the paper. He read it silently before folding it back up and putting it away.

"Well?" Majima asked, "What'd it say?"

"Nothing important," Kiryu answered.

"Another non-answer..." Ichiban said.

"Bullshit."

"It's none of your business anyway, Niisan."

"So it's definitely something romantic, right?"

"Yeah, what the freshie said. If it's not a big deal then you should be able to tell us what it says!"

Kiryu rolled his eyes and walked away.

"I'm going to class." He said.

"Lunch ain't even over!"

"I'm going to class."

"...You think he stayed behind so he'd have an excuse to talk to Sayama-senpai?" Ichiban asked Majima. "Or...is that just me?"

"...Shut up, Freshie." Majima sighed with defeat.

As Kiryu walked towards the school building, he took out the piece of paper from his pocket and opened it up again, rereading it with a smile.

Wanna hit the arcade after school with me? Promise, it won't interfere with your baseball club activities! Let me know at the end of the school day. :)

-Kaoru Sayama

[yakuzacanons]

here’s a random one:

you did the boys and watching spooky movies w their s/o,

so how about the boys taking their s/o on a date to the movies? what types of movies fo they prefer, who’s getting what snacks, etc?

HELL yea, I'm a huge movie fan and I collect DVD so I lowkey spent time going through my collection wondering which ones the boys would watch lol. Each entry in this list is on the shorter side but I tried to include as many of the lads as possible here, enjoy!

Kiryu Kazuma

Not a big fan of movie dates as he prefers actual one-on-one time and interactions but does enjoy going to see a movie occassionally in a serious relationship. Likes action movies for the most part, partial to samurai dramas as well.

Majima Goro

Whatever you do, do not take his ass to the theater cuz he will not shut up during the movie. Even if he begs, do not give in, just make him watch the movie at home. Popcorn fiend, can eat an entire large bucket in one sitting. Will watch anything but he HAS to be entertained, that's the one rule.

Saejima Taiga

Thinks a movie and dinner date is cute as he can talk about the movie after. Almost never gets snacks at the theater but will buy some to share if you really want some. He likes westerns or samurai flicks. Romances make him cry sometimes.

Akiyama Shun

Secretly a rom-com enjoyer. Will hold your hand during the movie. Not big on snacks but almost always buys a drink of some kind. Romance movies and dramas are good choices for him. Likes anything with pretty cinematography and pretty music.

Tanimura Masayoshi

Fond of animated movies, both domestic and foreign. Prefers TV shows over movies since they're easier to get into on his days off work. Actually doesn't like buddy cop movies, finds them annoying or innaccurate. Serious crime dramas are okay but be warned he will have a lot of comments afterwards. ALSO he sneaks snacks into theaters. Most theaters never carry what he wants anyways.

Nishikiyama Akira

Likes a good movie date on occassion, but only if there's something both of you really want to see. Buys snacks to share, totally holds the popcorn bucket in his lap so you have to reach over to get some. His movie taste is kind of all over the place; one week he'll want to see a musical and next week he'll want to see an action movie.

Ryuji Goda

Not super into movie dates because he's usually super busy and he tends to fall asleep in them a LOT. He prefers dates that have the two of you doing something together, not just sitting in a dark room. He WILL however chow down on some snacks. You do have to stop him from going overboard on the popcorn butter...

Daigo Dojima

Same boat as Ryuji for similar reasons, although he'll gladly watch a movie at home with you as an indoor date, especially if it's bad weather out. Prefers oldies and classics; think Seven Samurai, Casablanca, etc. Watches them to try to get an understanding of what makes them so important, as he finds that aspect most interesting. Not snobby about it though; if he doesn't get it, he'll straight up be like "... THAT'S the movie people keep raving about?!"

Mine Yoshitaka

Sick horny bastard is into a movie date in the idea that you are in a dark room with him, teehee. He's not ALWAYS like that but he will try to get it on during a movie with you at least once. If he's actually going to watch the movie, it's crime thrillers for him. Loves a good, brooding atmosphere.

Tatsuo Shinada

With how expensive tickets are these days, his ass cannot afford to go to the theater often so it's very much a special treat. He also sneaks in his own snacks... likes comedies and 80's movies the most.

Ichiban Kasuga

Bless his heart but he cannot stay awake in a movie theater for the life of him... it's just so comfy in there. At home he actually has a better chance of staying awake, somehow. But still, it's not the best option for him and he knows it. Most fond of superhero or action movies though.

Yu Nanba

Doesn't watch a lot of movies or keep up on what's trendy so you'll likely have to suggest a movie date. Watches some documentaries at home by himself though. Pretty open minded otherwise.

Adachi Koichi

Lots of comedies or action movies for Adachi. Enjoys movies pretty frequently and likes going out to see them with you. Snacks are a must if it's a blockbuster movie. That's the rule, he claims.

Tianyou Zhao

Down to see a movie now and then but he does kind of get fidgety if he's not fully entertained. Also sits funny in movie theater chairs. He's a little embarassed to admit it due to how stereotypical it sounds but he likes movies with lots of cool stunt work or martial arts. Things like The Raid or John Wick are fun for him.

Joon-Gi Han

Kind of a human trash can in that you can make him watch just about anything. Not super into popcorn but WILL eat a whole bag of candy by himself if you don't watch out. It's not that his sweettooth is even that bad; he just kind of does it absentmindedly. Never talks during movies, ever.

Osamu Kashiwagi

Likes arthouse and underground films; if it's something he's never heard of, he will want to try it just to see if it's interesting. Also likes to check out local filmmakers or festivals if he can make it. He would love for you to join him!

[memorys-skyscraper]

my timbers have been thoroughly shivered (pirate yakuza finale pt 2)

OKAY when they swung the camera around on the film set and ichi was there i couldnt tell if that was like. actually ichi or if they just put a random person from your crew in there with nishida & minami until he spoke LMAO. anyway why is ichi like beefing with majima & co and insisting majima made all this shit up, ichi has enough whimsy in his heart to believe it (especially given he fought a giant squid himself??), he's not this cynical

SFDGLSDKHFGLDTRL I'M GONNA PASS OUT AT THIS DANCE NUMBER, SAEJIMA ABSOLUTELY HITTING THAT SHIT TOOK ME THE FUCK OUT, NOT THE LEGS TOO!!!!!!! WHAT THE FUCK IS THISSSSS

is this lost judgement's legacy? did rgg realize "hey actually it's extremely fucking funny to watch these deeply self-serious characters break into a highly-choreographed dance routine, we should do this more often"? yagami may be dead to rgg but his legacy lives on, god bless

ohhhhhhh my fucking GOD this post-credits scene. you cannot. im gonna be sick what is WRONG with rgg. you cannot fucking tell me the only fucking reason majima was going to hawaii to oversee the guys on nele island in the first place. was because he found out about the supposed elixir of everlasting health. and wanted to look for it. for kiryu. and even after he lost all his memories he still fixated on the esperanza legend. bc even after losing everything he held on to the fact that that treasure was important and he needed to find it. you cannot fucking say that to me and then cut to majima's forlorn expression while saejima says "kazuma kiryu. you never could give up on that one."

im gonna...... die, i think. like i spent this whole game being like "hm yknow this is cute and fun but given how gaiden went i was expecting at least a moderate amount of emotional devastation but none so far" but they fucking got me! ladies and gentlemen, they got me. they hit the buzzer beater with a fucking nuke. like all of it is so. the fact that daigo visited earlier in the day and broke out his old suit for the occasion and everything. daigo joking that majima was acting twenty years younger the way he was rushing around to get to hawaii after he heard about the treasure. saejima genuinely being like "sorry you couldnt find it," then him being like "we should find a new dream. why not?" and majima saying "yeah we should. guarantee kiryu's still thinkin about his next dream too." them being like "yknow we got nothing but time to kill, we should spend it telling kiryu all these new stories we've got."

i just like. dont even know what to do with myself after that. like i had all these points i wanted to make, i wanted to comment on the fact that i kinda wished we got a bit more of majima reckoning with his memories returning and the idea of like, "damn, this is who i could've been, this is what my life could've been, and hell i could keep lying and saying i dont remember anything and keep living this life and abandon everything that came before, if i wanted to," bc i wanted a bit more drama, a bit more angst to sink my teeth into, but like. i got it! rgg took the literal final moments of the game to look back at the rest of the plot and douse it in a nice layer of tragedy by letting us know that all of it was for kiryu, whether majima knew it or not. and i mean i probably shouldve seen this coming when they started talking about an elixir of everlasting health, but i guess i had no reason to believe majima knew about it prior to the events of the plot. and even if i'd had my suspicions i dont think it would've made that cutscene any less devastating.

like obviously majima is pretty out there and the idea of going on a treasure hunt is appealing to him in its own right but. him fixating on something that's so clearly more myth than fact and still going after it bc even if it's a moonshot, if it could save kiryu, it's still worth trying, especially because it's basically all he can do....... being so desperate yet helpless to save someone that you start chasing down centuries-old rumors to play the million-to-one odds that they might be true is so fucking tragic that i just. want to die

anyway. guess i'll take all these new brainworms rgg has gifted me and go to bed. maybe finish up side content tomorrow. idk.

[everygame]

Yakuza 4 

Developed/Published by: Sega CS1 R&D / Sega Released: 15/03/2011 Completed: 18/12/2024 Completion: Finished the story and all substories (other than the hostess club ones.)

Well, it’s taken me five years to play another game in this series, thanks to a global pandemic meaning my PS3 was in storage miles and miles away from me, and because one of the main roles, Masayoshi Tanimura, was recast for the remastered version, I absolutely refused to play it first (it’s like wanting to play a Lucasarts adventure in EGA. You want to see the original author's intent!)

Anyway, it’s a good thing too, because–as I mentioned the last time I was on the Insert Credit podcast–Yakuza 4 takes ages to install and while it’s installing it’s the only place you hear the vocal version of the main theme, “For Faith” and it absolutely slaps. They literally just play it about ten times in a row, setting a precedent where I play it ten times in a row. I find it hard to believe there will be a better track across the entire series (though I’m excited to find out if there is) because I have to be honest that nothing from 1, 2, or 3 stuck with me.

You should listen to this while reading the rest of the article, right?

Unfortunately, outside of one of the most hype tracks ever, Yakuza 4 is… kind of a mess? It’s not actively the fault of the Yakuza core, which is all there and accounted for, but simply that the game feels like it’s a billion hours long and the narrative is… genuinely nonsensical.

Taking place a year after Yakuza 3, with Kiryu still running an orphanage in Okinawa, the plot hinges on a massacre of 18 yakuza in 1985 in a botched hit on a clan chairman. We play and follow the stories of Shun Akiyama, a loan shark(!), Masayoshi Tanimura, a corrupt cop(!!) and Taiga Saejima, the guy who did the massacre(!!!) gradually unravelling the mystery of what happened and why it connects their lives, before Kiryu has to show up and (ostensibly) pull all the threads together in a humdinger of a climax.

This does not, exactly, go as you might hope. First let me say that one of my absolute favourite thing about the Yakuza games is that it is a rule that you are playing the kindest, nicest person who ever lived, but who will also, at a drop of a hat, beat you within an inch of your life with the nearest piece of roadworks. It reaches absolutely absurd levels here as our loan shark turns out to be giving his money away without even charging interest [“come on man, at least charge inflation”--Investment Ed.] our corrupt cop turns out to be shaking people down to support and protect immigrants who otherwise have no legal recourse, and our mass murderer turns out to (spoilers!) have never killed anyone at all!!!

This “our heroes are the most honorable men to have ever lived” gimmick is especially funny here because if you look a bit deeper it gets a bit confusing. Our loan shark does a surprising amount of funnelling desperate people into sex work as a condition of a loan (sex work is work, but it definitely feels like coercion) our corrupt cop turns a blind eye to some seriously fucked up stuff to get kickbacks, and Saejima… definitely intended to kill those dudes!

The problem ultimately is that compared to the (relatively) straightforward stories of 2 and 3, 4 gets lost in a web of increasingly unbelievable twists even as it should be following a fairly straightforward episodic form. You have never seen any piece of media where this many characters get shot to death and then turn out to never have been shot at all. Indeed my favourite bit in the game might be when a character says “ok I’m going to kill these two people now” before a cliffhanger, only for one of the characters you just thought were shot to show up in basically the next scene and for another character to attempt to explain away why he said that. It doesn’t work.

The game was written by Masayoshi Yokoyama as the other games have been, but I have to wonder if the script was in flux for a long time, or if there was meddling from the top down. Notably, Kiryu feels absolutely inessential to the plot here. His chapter front loads about an hour of cutscenes and he doesn’t really do anything except any substories you choose to do. It’s possible he wasn’t originally planned to be included, but maybe they just liked the idea of the fourth game having four protagonists.

The game generally feels unbalanced–the first character you play, Akiyama, does seem to have the most interesting stuff to do, and he’s the most charming, interesting non-Kiryu protagonist–and I was disappointed in the substories this time around. Maybe it’s just that I’m four games in, but “go to place, beat up guys, go to other place, beat up guys” isn’t that interesting the hundredth time you do it, and the stories generally aren’t interesting enough to make up for it. 

As usual, there are a zillion mini games, but this time round managing hostesses is made as tedious as possible (you have to walk around the club listening to people and constantly dressing your hostesses differently???) and the only other in-depth mode is a martial artist manager that I wasn’t too excited for either.

This is still a Yakuza game, though, and it’s still entertaining! I love strolling Kamurocho and I still enjoyed the fighting even if I didn’t love having four different fighting styles to remember in the climax. The issues really do relate to the story, which constantly undercuts any opportunity to be moving by constantly being confusing or ridiculous. The game actually ends with an intense one-on-one battle for each of the protagonists to a different arrangement of For Faith and it should have made me so hype but for at least three out of four battles I was confused as to why they were happening.

Unfortunately, I’ve heard that Yakuza 5 doesn’t make massively more sense, but hopefully it won’t take another five years to get to it.

Will I ever play it again? Of the Yakuzas I’ve played, this definitely feels like the most inessential to play. 1 and 2 have Kiwami versions (although I believe that 2 has some cuts and visual downgrading in its remaster) and 3 was chopped to ribbons in localisation, whereas this one has everything in the remastered version. So probably not!

Final Thought: Actually, it might take five years to get there, considering I’ve got two PSP exclusive Yakuzas and Yakuza Dead Souls to get through first. There are so many of these!!!

Every Game I’ve Finished 14>24 is OUT NOW! You can pick it up in paperback, kindle, or epub/pdf. You can also support Every Game I’ve Finished on ko-fi! You can pick up digital copies of exp., a zine featuring all-exclusive writing at my shop, or join as a supporter at just $1 a month and get articles like this a week early.

[zaddyazula]

yakuza final review?

fhsiaosjhde i love this question!!!!! (spoiler bit is under the cut)

i really do not like the fighting in 4. i will not lie. it’s really fun in the other games (even 3 which is known as blockuza 😭😭😭) and i only enjoyed one fight. in the entire game. in 22 hours of my playing i enjoyed a singular fight, mainly because of how annoying the other ones were. they weren’t necessarily hard, but just very, very tedious and mini-bosses who made me want to kill myself.

the story on the other hand is one of my favourites in the series. 4 protagonists!!!! 4 main characters!!!!! they all had 4 parts each with 4 chapters each and it actually got going pretty quickly. it didn’t drag out at the start like in 3 where for 5 FUCKING CHAPTERS (probably about 6 hours of playing) was housewife simulator and i was debating quitting the game. i will admit i wasn’t 100% at first, but as the story moved on i started to like it even more. the story isn’t as good as 0’s or 2’s (in my opinion) but it’s still a really enjoyable story which has the same amount of silliness as the others. four main characters also meant four final bosses though, though the first three were fine. it’s the just the last one which is really my fault for being annoying. i didn’t have enough money to get recovery items before the point of no return so i crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. managed to get to it by 12am and got steamrolled even after changing to easy. ended up reloading the save and doing the other three fights again, before managing to the the last one first try on normal after all of that. the one fight that i enjoyed was the third boss fight which i actually played properly for once. because i was impatient i did the first two on easy to save time (i did them on normal the first time anyways) but the third one i just played on normal because i enjoy it so much.

all of the big bads weren’t even really big bads, apart from one dickhead who just annoyed me greatly (the last boss). one guy was a police officer pretending to be a yakuza, one was some washed up ass yakuza and the other was the guy who the main main character (of all the other games) made head of their yakuza clan (tojo clan) at the end of 2. he was in a coma for all of 3 and i was screaming at the tv for the whole fight taking the piss out of him. what a clown. he had it coming. he put my favourite character (majima) in jail.

the game took a bit of patience at times, but i would play it again if someone held a gun to my head. i really hate the combat.

i really wish i was able to record my voice along while playing so you could hear the ramblings i go on with. maybe next time.

i think that’s all of my thoughts (spoiler free). now. spoiler time 💥💥💥

THIS BITCH ON THE LEFT. THIS FUCKING CUNT. he’s the boss fight i actually enjoyed. guy on the right is my favourite character. who daigo put in jail.

I ACTUALLY LIKED HIM AND THEN THIS GAME THE MAN WENT OFF HIS TITS. I MADE HIM SIXTH FUCKING CHAIRMAN OF THE TOJO CLAN AND HE HAS THE FUCKING NERVE TO TRY AND MOLLYWOPP ME. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I WAS (whisper) SCREAMING “STOMP THIS BITCH OUT” AT THE TV. I WAS INSULTING THIS FUCKING WASHED OUT FUCK LIKE IT WAS A SPORT. FUCKER WAS TRYING TO BE RYUJI (antagonist from 2 who wasn’t even that evil). WAS REALLY TRYING TO ACT LIKE HE WASN’T GONNA GET WASHED. BY THE DRAGON OF FUCKING DOJIMA. REALLY TRYING TO ACT LIKE HE WASN’T GONNA GET HIS ASS TIGER DROPPED.

moving on.

these are the main guys. like damn i love it when we get a lined up shot like this. left to right is: akiyama, saejima, kiryu (main man) and tanimura. that’s also the order of the boss fights. i really like talking to fake chat as well, and i swear i wish i was able to record me fucking ranting on at these bitches. all it takes is one boss fight and it’s me ranting about some random nonsense.

at lot of this game was running back and forth between places which got very boring VERY quickly. unlike in 0, 1 and 2, i did not have a blast all the time playing this. as getting stopped five million times trying to move across the map is actually rage inducing. some of the “boss” fights were just me getting grabbed by their support demons over and over again. i was losing my shit by the end of it. had to go for karaoke a couple of times.

i honestly think that’s all i can say.

[cryingcow]

Character Story - Daigo [RGGO]

This might be the longest Character Story I’ve done and man do my fingers feel it, but here’s Daigo! Now with GIFs, because I finally figured out how to use screencapture on my phone and I want to show how extra Majima’s sprite is XD (Thank you @onadacora​ and @blurred-voices​ for the request!)

Story: Kiryu leaves Daigo in charge of the Tojo Clan, but the people really don’t like nepotism, surprisingly. Majima returns to the clan but doesn’t listen to Daigo because he doesn’t have the required gym badge to tame him yet.

Bodhisattva Majima: “The Tojo Clan is pathetic! This is all Kiryu-chan’s fault for leaving!!”

Bonbon Boy Daigo: “Majima-san, I know you’re upset about your breakup, but please stop taking it out on our men D: ”

Note: “Bodhisattva” according to google means “a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings” (so yeah Majima’s definitely full of shit). “Bonbon” refers to whiskey bonbon. EDIT: Apparently it’s slang for “rich spoiled brat”. (Yay new Daigo nickname!)

.

CHAPTER 1

.

|A few months after Kiryu Kazuma settled the score with Goda Ryuji and the Go-Ryu Clan, Dojima Daigo is recommended by Kiryu to be appointed as the Sixth Chairman of the Tojo Clan.|

Kiryu: “Then, I trust you to handle the rest . . .  Daigo.”

Daigo: “Yeah, please leave it to me.  . . . But . . . why me?”

Kiryu: “What do you mean?”

Daigo: “I think there are others more suitable than me. Such as Kashiwagi-san and Kiryu-san . . .”

Kiryu: “No, there’s no one else more suitable to be the Sixth Chairman than you. That’s what I think.”

Daigo: “More . . . than anyone?”

Kiryu: “Daigo, you are strong. You have the strength not to give in to violence or power. Now, with the Tojo Clan exhausted by the conflict against the Omi, we need a strong leader like you.”

Daigo: “A strong leader . . .”

Kiryu: “You will surely unite the Tojo Clan. I believe so.”

Daigo: “Kiryu-san . . .”

----

|After several months . . .|

Kodama: “That bastard Sasaki, invading our territory, what is the meaning of this?! Sixth Chairman!!”

Daigo: “. . . I don’t mean to leave it alone. I have repeatedly advised Sasaki to be careful.”

Kijima: “It’s not just Kodama, I’m affected too. Are you just going to let them do what they want?!”

Daigo: “. . . I’ll have a lot of words for Sasaki.”

Kodama: “Honestly, I don’t want to hear what you’re going to say. I’m sick of the Sixth Chairman.”

Daigo: “. . .”

Kijima: “You think this is all right? Sixth Chairman, do you even know what you’re saying? ‘The Sixth Chairman is a half-assed yakuza who lets the direct patriarchs do what they want’. That’s your reputation in the clan, right?”

Daigo: “What?”

Kashiwagi: “Kijima, watch your mouth.”

Kodama: “Kashiwagi-san. These are just facts. Even if you look away, it won’t solve the problem. Moreover, Kanda, who recently became the head of the Nishikiyama Family, is rumored to be planning something big.”

Kijima: “Haa~. None of this would be happening if the Fourth Chairman was still holding the seat.”

Daigo: “. . .”

---

Daigo: “Damn it! Nobody listens to what I have to say . . .”

Kashiwagi: “I’m here. The resistance is strong . . . even so, there is no courtesy to the Sixth Chairman.”

Daigo: “. . . but . . . what they are saying is also plausible.”

Kashiwagi: “Sixth Chairman, this isn’t solely your responsibility. There was also that incident with the Omi, and the clan is still in turmoil. The police are also keeping their distance from the Tojo, and the battle for territory is accelerating.”

Daigo: “Yeah. I can’t leave it as it is.”

Kashiwagi: “Jeez . . . that Kiryu left such a heavy role on you.”

Daigo: “Kashiwagi-san. For now, let’s talk to Sasaki again.”

----

Sasaki: “Sixth Chairman, even if you say that. I’m not doing anything wrong, am I? You just pay the money properly, make a contract, and buy the land, right?”

Daigo: “However, the land is Kodama Family territory. It doesn’t make sense to buy territory from your own relatives.”

Sasaki: “What reason. I’m not doing anything illegal, right? I even consulted with a lawyer.”

Daigo: “Even if you didn’t violate the law, you violated the code. I can’t forgive you for that.”

Sasaki: “Good grief, the person who was just a mere gangster the other day is now acting like he knows anything about being a yakuza. Didn’t the deceased Patriarch Dojima . . . no, didn’t your daddy give you a special education?”

Daigo: “What?”

Sasaki: “At this point in time, let me tell you . . . no one accepts you as the Sixth Chairman. Doesn’t have any experience or track record. Doesn’t have his own family. Aren’t you just recommended by the Fourth Chairman? On the contrary, until recently you were just a thug who drank a lot. Being fucked over by the Omi, getting captured, and after being released you play around with your parents’ money like a good-for-nothing boy?”

Daigo: “What was that?!”

Sasaki: “Is that who’s supposed to be the Sixth Chairman? How funny. You think anyone would agree to that? Hey, you . . . how much did you bribe the Fourth Chairman?”

Daigo: “Bastard!!”

Sasaki: “. . . That’s right. What are you going to do?!”

Daigo: “. . . if people don’t understand what you say, you need to change the way you say it.”

Sasaki: “Sixth Chairman. You think if you hit me in a fight, I’ll answer to you?!”

Daigo: “Yeah. If I can do it, then I’ll try it!”

{Daigo beats up Sasaki.}

Daigo: “Who are you calling a boy? Huh?!”

Sasaki: “Gyaah!!”

{Sasaki collapses.}

Daigo: “Haa . . . haa . . . haa . . .”

Kashiwagi: “Daigo! What happened?”

Daigo: “. . .”

Kashiwagi: “Is this . . . Sasaki? Daigo, you . . . no way . . .”

Daigo: “If people don’t understand what you say, you need to change the way you say it.  . . . Kashiwagi-san.”

Kashiwagi: “. . . Sixth Chairman. Is this what Kiryu expected of you?”

Daigo: “Eh?”

Kashiwagi: “Anyone can rule by force if they’re strong enough. But is this what Kiryu wanted you to do?”

Daigo: “That is . . .”

Kashiwagi: “I know suddenly being thrust into this role is confusing. But still . . . don’t lose sight of what you have to do as chairman.”

Daigo: “. . . Yeah. I already know that.”

Daigo: “. . .”

---

|After a few weeks . . .|

Kashiwagi: “. . . Sixth Chairman. There’s been talk.”

Daigo: “Talk? Of what?”

Kashiwagi: “Yeah it’s . . . should I call it good news, or should I call it bad news. Actually . . .”

Majima: “. . . I’m tired of waiting! How long I’ve waited!”

Daigo: “Ma-Majima-san?!”

Majima: “Daigo-chaa~n! Great to see ya!”

Daigo: “Kashiwagi-san, is this what you were saying earlier?”

Kashiwagi: “Yeah. the Majima Family will return to the Tojo Clan. It seems that Kiryu persuaded him. He wants him to support you.”

Daigo: “Kiryu-san? For me?”

Majima: “So, I’ll be taking care of ya from now on.”

Kashiwagi: “. . . Majima. I ask that you moderate your behavior.”

Majima: “Oh, leave it to me. With a bodhisattva-like heart, I support Daigo-chan.”

Daigo: Yes! If Majima-san returns, that would be reassuring! With this, the Tojo Clan . . . I think it will finally come together.”

Majima: “. . .”

Daigo: (Alright. From now on, let’s brace ourselves!)

.

-END-

.

CHAPTER 2

 .

Yakuza: “B-Bastard . . . What’re you doing?”

Majima: “You . . . I heard it. You’re dissatisfied with Daigo-chan’s manner of doing things. It sounds like something is being planned behind the scenes. Are you staging a coup d’état?”

Yakuza: “Wh-What the hell are you talking about?! Guh!!”

Majima: “Get up. I’m not through with ya yet.”

Yakuza: Hiii! No more!!”

Majima: “The Tojo Clan has become weak. If Kiryu-chan was still here . . . It wouldn’t be such a mess!!”

Yakuza: “Gyaaa!!”

----

Daigo: “What was that?! Majima-san again?!”

Kashiwagi: “Yeah. This is the 19th incident this month.”

Daigo: “Damn it. Why is he doing this?”

Kashiwagi: “It seems he is rampaging as much as he likes against those under suspicion of rebellion against you. With or without evidence, if he has judged you to have the will of rebellion against the Sixth Chairman, he will give you no mercy . . . Thanks to that, the number of voices dissatisfied with the Sixth Chairman is only increasing.”

Daigo: “. . . Majima-san, this is counterproductive . . .”

Kashiwagi: "That man is the kind of guy whose leash you couldn’t even hold in the first place. That Kiryu, bringing back such an outrageous problem child . . .”

Daigo: “It can’t be helped. I’ll have a word with him . . .”

----

Majima: “Daigo-chan, what’re ya talking about?”

Daigo: “Majima-san, I heard you’ve been rampaging around Kamurocho.”

Majima: “Kiryu-chan told me to. Hit the guy who opposes Daigo-chan from one end. That was what Kiryu-chan endorsed.”

Daigo: “Kiryu-san said that?”

Majima: “That’s the truth. I don’t know what to tell ya: if an idiot strikes, the owner will bite back to discipline him. With a dog.”

Daigo: “Th-that may be so . . . but what you’re doing is overkill.”

Majima: “. . . Haa. Daigo-chan, you’re an amateur.”

Daigo: “. . . Majima-san. Thank you for doing this for me and the clan. However, because of your rampaging, the Tojo Clan is plunged into more and more chaos. That is . . .”

Majima: “Daigo-chan! There seems to be a misunderstanding, so let me clear it up.”

Majima: “I don’t want to do this for the Tojo Clan and Daigo-chan.”

Daigo: “Then . . . are you doing this because of Kiryu-san?”

Majima: That ain’t it.  . . . It’s because . . . I want to rampage.”

Daigo: “Eh?”

Majima: “Kiryu-chan asked me to do it for Daigo-chan, it’s just for the cause!”

Daigo: “Wha-”

Majima: “Besides, the only one who can order me around is someone who is stronger than me! But Daigo-chan . . . you’re weak. I met ya the other day and it was easy to see at first glance.”

Daigo: “W-Weak?”

Majima: “Hopeless. I won’t listen to someone that weak. Y’know, that kind of thing!”

Daigo: (What . . . such an absurd person . . .)

----

Kashiwagi: “Really. Majima did that . . .”

Daigo: “Yeah. I’m in trouble.”

Kashiwagi: “. . . But, Sixth Chairman. Are you in a position to criticize Majima?”

Daigo: “Eh?”

Kashiwagi: “The other day, you too tried to make Sasaki obey with violence.”

Daigo: “!”

Kashiwagi: “What Majima is doing and what you did are essentially the same. The result is the current turmoil.”

Daigo: “. . .”

Daigo: “. . . Kashiwagi-san. How would Kiryu-san deal with this?”

Kashiwagi: “If it was Kiryu? No . . . I think the problem here is, ‘What would you do?’”

Daigo: “Me?”

Kashiwagi: “Yeah. There must be a reason why Kiryu is willing to entrust the Tojo Clan to you. In that case, it shouldn’t be about what Majima or Kiryu will do . . . but rather what will you do?”

Daigo: “. . . so it should be by my method?”

Kashiwagi: “Yeah. Just think it over.”

Daigo: “Okay . . .”

----

Daigo: (My method . . . In terms of achievements and popularity in the Tojo Clan, I can’t hope to match Kiryu-san. Majima-san’s way of domination through violence, that’s not my way . . . Then Kiryu-san, what were you expecting from me?)

Driver: “Uooooo!”

{The driver swerves wildly.}

Daigo: “Oi! What?!”

{A hail of bullets rings out.}

Daigo: “What?! A shootout?!”

Thug: “Dojima Daigo!! Come out!”

Daigo’s Bodyguard: “What the hell are you doing?!”

Thug: “You guys, do it!!”

Daigo’s Bodyguard: “Kuh . . . this many people . . .”

Thug: “You’re annoying!! Now die!!”

{the thugs beat up the bodyguard.}

Daigo’s Bodyguard: “Damn. . .”

Thug: “Hahahahahahaha!! Die!!”

Daigo: “Oi!! Stop it!! Aren’t I the one you want?!”

Daigo’s Bodyguard: “Sixth Chairman . . . please run away . . .”

Daigo: “No. I can’t. If I run away, you guys . . .”

Daigo’s Bodyguard: “B-But . . .”

Thug: “Hehehe. Don’t count on it. There are 30 people here. The load is too heavy for the Bonbon Boy!!”

{Daigo defeats all 30 men.}

Thug: “S-So strong . . .they didn’t say . . .”

Daigo: “You thought a chairman who sits at his desk all day and only does clerical work couldn’t fight? You guys . . . who hired you?”

Thug: “Damn . . .”

Daigo: “Answer me!!”

Thug: “. . . To-Tojo Clan.”

Daigo: “What? Oi!! Which family was it?”

Thug: “Come on! I don’t know! He seemed to be from a family at the lower end, but he didn’t give a name!! We were just given money by him and were told to kill you!!”

Daigo: (Shit. Who the hell could it be?)

---

|A few days later . . .|

Daigo: (The other day’s attack. The assailants didn’t seem to know anything . . . The person who hired them. If I think about it . . . it must be someone who has a deep grudge against me. Sasaki . . . he was still complaining about me after that, but could it really be him?)

Kashiwagi: “Daigo! It’s terrible! There’s an attack! Sasaki’s office is being attacked!”

Daigo: “Attacked?! By who?”

Kashiwagi: “. . . Majima. It seems he called up his family and headed to Sasaki’s office.”

Daigo: “What was that?!”

Kashiwagi: “Majima thinks Sasaki is the culprit who had you ambushed, said he was going to execute him.”

Daigo: “E-Execute?”

Kashiwagi: “Sixth Chairman. We can’t forgive Majima’s violence anymore. Isn’t that right?”

Daigo: “Y-Yes!! Let’s head to Majima-san right away!”

Kashiwagi: “. . .Yeah!”

.

-END-

.

CHAPTER 3

 .

Daigo: “Majima-san!!”

Sasaki: “U-Ugh . . .”

Majima: “Oh, Daigo-chan. Yeah, I came here too. This guy spilled everything. He said he had Daigo-chan attacked.”

Daigo: “You?”

Majima: “Rebellion against the chairman won’t be forgiven. You’ll be executed.”

Daigo: “Majima-san, stop it!!”

Majima: “Stop? Why? Didn’t this guy try to kill Daigo-chan?”

Sasaki: “D-Don’t kill me . . .”

Daigo: (Th-This method . . .)

Daigo: “. . . Majima-san! This method of making a mark is wrong!”

Majima: “. . . Haa. Don’t say something so boring. Besides, didn’t I say so the other day? The only ones who can order me around are those stronger than me. Is Daigo-chan stronger than me?”

Daigo: “. . . Th-that is . . .”

Majima: “Or . . . can ya prove it? That Daigo-chan is stronger than me.”

Daigo: “Eh?”

Majima: “Since you’re silent, I guess that means I don’t have to do what you say . . .”

Daigo: “Prove . . .”

Majima: “If ya can’t do it, then don’t do it. Let me do things my own way!!”

Daigo: “W-Wait!!”

Kashiwagi: “Daigo. Majima is provoking you. If you hop on . . .”

Daigo: “I know that. But . . . if I pull back now . . .”

Majima: “What are you going to do? To stop this guy from getting killed, are ya gonna prove you’re stronger than me?”

Daigo: “. . . . . . . . . Understood. Let’s fight, to bargain for his life.”

Majima: “Oh! So you’ll do it?!”

Daigo: “Yeah. And . . . if I beat you, please swear your loyalty to me.”

Majima: “What? That’s a hefty condition. Well, in that case . . . If I win, I get the Tojo Clan. I’ll be the next chairman.”

Daigo: “What!”

Kashiwagi: “O-Oi! That’s . . .”

Majima: “If ya can’t meet those conditions, then this discussion is over. Let Sasaki die.”

Sasaki: “H-Hiii~~!!”

Daigo: “. . . Alright. Let’s drink to your conditions.”

Majima: “Kukuku. Yeah. We’ll have to do that, Daigo-chan.”

Kashiwagi: “Daigo . . . ! This method . . .”

Daigo: “Pardon me, Kashiwagi-san. But this is the only way . . .”

Majima: “. . . Really. I should change the location. The best stage for the best event is . . . I’ll contact ya in a moment, so please wait. The pickup will come soon.”

Daigo: “. . .”

----

Daigo: “Here?”

Audience: “Wow!!”

Ring Announcer: “L a d i e s   a n d   G e n t l e m e n ! ! We suddenly have a special match tonight! Tojo Clan’s Sixth Chairman, Dojima Daigo VS  the patriarch of the Majima Family directly under the Tojo Clan and the Mad Dog of Shimano, Majima Goro! The battle for the chairmanship is about to begin!!”

Audience: “Oh~~~~~~!”

Daigo: “Wh-What is this . . .?”

Majima: “A special match. Isn’t it more exciting to do it this way?”

Daigo: “Heh. How like you . . .”

Majima: “Time to say goodbye, Daigo-chan!!”

{Daigo and Majima fight in the ring, presumably shirts off. Daigo . . . very much does not win.}

Daigo: (Damn . . . of course . . . he’s incredibly . . . strong . . .)

Majima: “After all that, Daigo-chan, it wasn’t enough. this is how it turns out.”

Daigo: “No, not yet!”

Majima: “Hmph. Let go.”

{Majima kicks Daigo.}

Daigo: “Guh!! Damn it!”

Majima: “Can’t be. I shouldn’t hit ya that way. It’s too full of holes!!”

{Majima kicks Daigo again.}

Daigo: “Gah! Guwaaaaaa!!”

Ring Announcer: “Oops, Dojima Daigo is  d o w n !”

Majima: “This is the end!! Uoryaaaaaaaaa!!”

{Majima kneedrops Daigo in the head.}

Daigo: “~~Gah!!!!”

Ring Announcer: “The Mad Dog of Shimano’s ruthless kneedrop downed Dojima Daigo with a direct hit to the skull!!”

Daigo: (No . . . I can’t beat . . . this person . . .)

Majima: “It’s over, Daigo-chan. The Tojo Clan is mine.”

Daigo: “. . .”

Kiryu: “Daigo, you are strong. You have the strength not to give in to violence or power. Now, with the Tojo Clan exhausted by the conflict against the Omi, we need a strong leader like you.”

Daigo: “A strong leader . . .”

Kiryu: “You will surely unite the Tojo Clan. I believe so.”

 Daigo: (. . . I see. So that’s what you meant, Kiryu-san.  . . . Strength is not just about power. The strength of Kiryu-san that I admired . . . is so much more than that!!)

Majima: “Wh-What?!”

Daigo: “. . . Haa . . . Haa . . . Majima-san, it’s still . . . it’s still not over yet!!”

Majima: “Hn. Ya talk big. Uooryaaaaaaaaa!!”

Daigo: “Guh!!”

Majima: “Good . . . now stay down, Daigo-chan!!”

Daigo: “No, I can’t lose. I can’t afford to lose!”

Majima: “Wh-What are you doing? Are you really going this far for the Tojo Clan and Sasaki?!”

Daigo: “. . . Majima-san, I finally understand now. What Kiryu-san expected from me and entrusted to me.”

Majima: “Wh-What?”

Daigo: “I will not give in to violence, because there is something to protect. But. If I succumb to you here, I would be recognizing that violence rules. I can’t admit that . . . so I can’t back down!!”

Majima: “!! . . . Hopeless. Daigo-chan, you . . . Being great . . . it’s hard. Meeting Kiryu-chan’s expectations.”

Daigo: “?”

{Majima falls to the ground.}

Ring Announcer: “Wh-What the hell is this?! Majima has fallen?!”

Daigo: “!”

Majima: “I lost. I’ve been completely defeated. Daigo-chan has crushed me.”

Ring Announcer: “Th-This is . . . the Mad Dog of Shimano has been torn downnnnn!! A miraculous reversal by Dojima Daigoooo!!”

{The crowd cheers.}

Daigo: “Majima-san, you promised. From now on, follow me. Okay?”

Majima: “. . . Yeah. Do whatever ya want with me. I entrust my life to Daigo-chan. Really, you’re a great man, Daigo-chan. It’s your win.”

{The crowd goes wild.}

----

|A few weeks later. . .|

Tojo Clan Member A: “Hey, have you heard the rumor? It’s said that the chairman disciplined a rampaging Majima with an iron fist.”

Tojo Clan Member B: “Ah, really? I can’t believe it.”

Tojo Clan Member A: “But lately, the Majima Family patriarch has been listening to the Sixth Chairman, and quietly does as he is told.”

Tojo Clan Member B: “No way, the Mad Dog of Shimano deferring to that boy?”

Majima’s voice: “Who is this ‘boy’?”

Tojo Clan Member B: “P-Patriarch Majima . . .”

Majima: “As long as my eyes are black, rebellion against the Sixth Chairman won’t be forgiven!!”

Tojo Clan Member B: “Hiii. I’ll be careful!”

Majima: “Hmph. Just rumors, at most.”

----

Sasaki: “I’m really sorry!! For me . . . to do such a thing . . .”

Daigo: “It wasn’t for you. I did what I should as the chairman.”

Sasaki: “But my betrayal this time can’t be forgiven! I will atone here as a yakuza!!”

Daigo: “Can you even use your fingers? I don’t need you to do such a thing.”

Sasaki: “But . . . !!”

Daigo: “With the Tojo Clan exhausted after the conflict with the Omi, we need as many people as possible. We do not allow acts that will impair it. Work frantically if you want the chance to remove your finger.”

Sasaki: “S-Sixth Chairman . . .”

Kashiwagi: “Everything worked out as you expected.  . . . Majima.”

Majima: “Whatcha mean?”

Kashiwagi: “The Mad Dog of Shimano that rampages as he likes, obeys when the Sixth Chairman punishes him . . . For the newly appointed Daigo who has no backing yet, that legend will become his strongest backing in leading the Tojo Clan. In preparation of that, didn’t you rampage around just so you can challenge Daigo to a one-on-one battle?”

Majima: “. . . You’re overthinking it. I just do what I want to do and I did it.”

Kashiwagi: “Hmph. So you did.”

Majima: “I was convinced and have accepted him as the Sixth Chairman. That guy is worthy to lead the Tojo Clan.  . . . Daigo-chan is real. More of a worthy man than I thought.”

Kashiwagi: “. . . Yeah. Maybe Kiryu had seen Daigo’s worth . . .”

Daigo: (The rebuilding of the Tojo Clan is just getting started.  . . . Kiryu-san, please watch. The future of the Tojo Clan that you protected, I will take over and show you.)

.

-END-

Masterlist

[strawberry-jan]

reference photos of mahjong parlours of kamurocho: modern mahjong (y6), lullaby mahjong (y6), orchid palace (y5 -- miss my old mahjong haunt in the dragon engine games...) 

I didn’t get into mahjong in yakuza 0 because it seemed impenetrable, but then I learned how to play it in kiwami 1, and I’m now at the point where it’s the first thing I rush off to do as soon as the game allows me to wander around :3 

[athenaholmesartistsguild]

View on Patreon (for free!)

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Yet another card in the series!

The Magician is (technically) the beginning of the Major Arcana, being the card to officially hold the '1' position.

I have a big, long analysis under the cut so if you're interested in that, please read it lol. I spend a lot of time thinking about symbolism and I would love for people to talk with me about it!

But anyway, let's begin with an analysis of Majima as The Magician:

The Magician, being at the very start Major Arcana still has the youth and the drive of the Fool while also knowing a bit more about what they want. This want fuels them and unlocks their magical potential.

And let's talk a bit about magic. The Magician in their original card holds one wand up to the sky while pointing to the ground. This is a representation of the phrase 'as above so below'. In its most basic form, this is the belief that the beings who created the Earth imbued that magic into everything on the planet.

The reason I chose Majima for this card is that, in many ways, he's super magical himself. We see this the most in 0 where he took the Grand, a failing Cabaret, and made it into the heart of Sotenbori. He was some scrappy kid with no prior knowledge of management who somehow made his impossible situation the best it could possibly be.

And we see throughout Majima's life that things just work out for him.

(Spoilers for Yakuza 1/Kiwami, 2/Kiwami 2, and 4)

There's the absolutely ICONIC scene where he disarms a bomb with his fucking intuition, and then in the beginning of the Majima Saga, he says something along the lines of 'I can make a lot of money if I try'. Money has never been something that Majima couldn't make. It comes to him if he just. Desires it.

And there are other examples of Majima putting himself into situations where he's grievously injured and just... bouncing back from them.

There's the scene 1 where he's stabbed in the baseball center (or shot at the piers depending on which game you're playing) and although he's taken to the hospital, he's fine like. The next day.

In 2, he fights off an entire army of men and sure he's pretty beat up, but he's up and running around not long after.

He does this again in 4 where he's able to fight off an obscene number of guys when Shibata is telling him not to go to Saejima. Although Majima is more permanently injured in this instance.

And we can partly chalk these fantastical elements to Yakuza's crazy world. Magical things can and have occurred in this universe before. For example, Tachibana's little stunt where he turns off the lights in Kamurocho for a few seconds doesn't have a non-magical explanation other than 'this is the power of money'.

He can say that all he wants, but there is not way to explain what happened without a fantastical element.

But even within the strange universe of the Yakuza games, Majima is still an outlier. Nishida is surprised that Majima was disarming that bomb with his fucking. Intuition. All the other officers at the Clan meeting were shocked at the amount of money Majima brought in.

The infinity sign above the Magician's head (obviously) symbolizes the infinite potential of the Magician-- their ability to utilize their drive or their intense desires to get what they want. And in the crazy universe that Majima's in, he's recognized as an outlier and is both respected and feared for his magical potential.

(End of Spoilers)

Another reason I chose Majima's Y0 self for the role of Magician is because the Magician serves as a connection between the divine forces above and the people on earth. That's why they're pointing up and down. Because not only do they understand the origin of magic, but they are also able to communicate with both sides.

While Majima is temporarily out of the Tojo Clan in 2, he functions largely the same as if he were still a member.

Majima in 0 however is a civilian. He's so much a civilian that Shimano scrubbed any records of him off the books. Despite this civilian status, he aches to return to the Tojo Clan so he can make a place for Saejima, his sworn brother (or so Saejima can kill him).

Whereas Majima in 2 is largely content with his life outside of the Yakuza, Majima in 0 does not have the same luxury. He's doing work for the Yakuza (in this case Sagawa), but functions largely as a civilian until Sagawa ultimately gives him the hit. Even then, his kindness keeps him from severing that link between himself and civilian life, leading to the later events of the game.

But let's also want to touch a bit on the Reversed version of the Magician.

While the Magician Upright is authentically magical, the Reversed is a charlatan. They're using flashy tricks to distract and manipulate, not to inspire.

In 0, Majima is pretty thoroughly tricked by Shimano.

Shimano knew Majima so well that he used his own morals against him. And because Majima was so blinded by his desire to return to the Tojo clan, he fell for the lies.

It could also be interpreted that Majima, while in the process of tracking down and killing Makoto, was exhibiting much of the same qualities. He breaks into Hogushi Kaikan, he lies to Makoto about why he's there, and even after he saves her from the Yakuza trying to kill her, he still contemplates breaking her trust and murdering her.

We see glimpses of the Magician Reversed in these attempts to deceive, but ultimately, the reason Majima doesn't keep trying to take advantage of people like Makoto is that hurting people in that way is just not how he's built.

By the time the events of Yakuza 1 happen, we see that Majima has become a more violent, selfish person, but I would argue that's partly due to Shimano's influence. Once Shimano dies, Majima seems to mellow out immediately. Even before he leaves the Clan, he's not as outwardly violent or angry. He's still clever and he knows how to get what he wants, but he doesn't lean on violence as much.

And then when he leaves the Clan? He immediately starts building something. Sure it's just a mall, but I always thought this shift from destruction to creation was so interesting. Especially because Majima actually finishes Kamurocho Hills.

In this small character beat, I think we can see the essence of the Magician tarot card.

A true Magician creates while a false one deceives and destroys.

[hellomynamiseglaf]

🌰Chestnuts and Warm Milk🍂

My List of ~Favorites~ for Interactive Fiction and Visual Novels

(This is a work in progress so please bear with me)

Interactive Fiction:

The Wayhaven Chronicles (WIP Series in Development) - @seraphinitegames  (Look,,, I’m just... obsessed.. I can’t stop thinking abt it,,, and I'm..... sometimes, I read and I think I feel like I know what love is.)

Mind Blind (WIP) - @mindblindbard (I just,, UGH it’s so good. I can't even say that much because my feelings about it are so potent that everytime I see an update I try to tell myself to leave it alone to play larger portions of updates as a treat and everytime my willpower FAILS and I replay the demo like twice in a row)

Demon: Recollect ; Forsaken (WIP) - both by @bathalafiction (whew...WHEW!!! Are you kidding me?? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? Look. I was attached to Demon: Recollect. I loved it. And then I played the Forsaken WIP and now I can't get over my absolutely BOMB character design for my player persona. Also it's kind of fun being considered a jerk in the game, because it opens up a lot of different options that I usually feel bad about taking)

Shadow Society - @carawenfiction (the concept is so interesting,, I dream of more. Also Quaiel...baby...)

The Soul Stone War - @intimidatingpuffinstudios (also whew!! I really enjoyed it and the characters all picture themselves really vividly in my mind for some reason.)

Greenwarden (WIP) - @fiddles-ifs (reading this is like thick fog.. but in a good way? I don't know how to describe it without pictures but this IF smells like fog over wet grass)

Divine Intervention (WIP) - @divineinterventiongame (the concept?? UGH SO GOOD. For some reason it's always the first game I click to check for updates)

Golden (WIP) - @milaswriting (😈😈😈😈)

Blood/line (WIP) - @bloodlineoffical (simply put,,, LARRY)

Supernatural in New York ; The Bastard of Camelot (both WIPs) - @llamagirl28  (UGH Both of these are so good in their own ways but equally as exciting to see updates for. I haven't consolidated my feelings much further than "my MC for SiNY is so cute" and "Mordred is a child" but they're all generally positive.)

Ace of Spades (WIP) - @steph-writing (I keep thinking about,,, con........)

Nevermoore (WIP) - @asteristories (AHHHHH.... let me say it again for those in the back: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH)

Son of Satan: The Mortal Coil (WIP) - @sosthemortalcoil (YES.)

Shepherds of Haven (WIP) - @shepherds-of-haven (yes. I just have to sigh because it's very good and I like saying those funny little words of power. But also outside of the game I can only picture this game as a great, grey border collie)

Attollo (WIP) - @attollo (Also a very interesting concept, whoo... I almost forgot how immersive it was untill I played the demo again and was reminded of how 'into it' I was straight off the bat. Also the seperate, short little piece on the blog with Sysba was also really good and I had a dream about it the other day)

Into the Shadows (WIP) - @wynnakang​ (whooo.... I'm sighing again, but louder. I press restart and play the demo again)

A Comedy of Manors (WIP) - @sviyaginthegreat (I kept replaying options that I hadn't chosen before because I wanted there to be more lmao)

Fallen Hero: Rebirth - @fallen-hero (I think there's a sequel coming up? I haven't stopped thinking about this storyline since I finished it omg... the.. the details are really good and I've become ridiculously attached to my tragic villain? Character... she IS the standard for my reusable IF persona, or at least one of my most prominent ones ;-D )

Samurai of Hyuga (WIP series) - (I'm pretty sure multiplechoicestudios.com is the development blog for this game, or at least what I've been checking for updates..... this is a series with four book currently out.... and I've been playing through book 4 at slower than a snail's pace in a desperate attempt to prolong my experience. I really didn't think I was going to like it as much as I did but I got a little too into it and now I'm horribly attached to all the characters)

The Porthecrawl Witness(WIP) - @porthecrawl-witness (I'm pretty sure this is a WIP?? But ugh. SCREEEEEE- it's so good. It's SO GOOD. I really want to punch Talbot in the face. And Asher, if for a different reason. And sort of Staci just to try. Quinn is just a cutie I could never hurt him like that. Ugh but they're all so good and I forgot that I was reading a WIP untill it suddenly was over..... I'mfeeling really aggressive rn as I'm writing this, so please just note that the punch comment is meant as a statement on how interesting the concept and immersiveness of the characters and story is)

Forgotten Names (WIP) - by Alexandra_Zorila on the CoG Forum (turn the volume up. AHHHHHHHHHH!!! Look, look. It's..... delicious. It's SO interesting and I obsessively have a tab open on my computer to check for updates)

OFNA: Birds of a Feather (WIP) - @ofna (the vibes are so grey and smoky but the fog is definitely from a party smoke machine and the room is only dark because the walls are taped with those huge sheets of black construction paper that teachers use to cover their bulletin boards with... the game definitely falls in the 'dark and mysterious' genre but something just strikes me as really funny when I play it. Anyway it's good and it's in a lot if recommended lists for a reason. Also I'm very attached to my American Goldfinch)

More Things in Heaven and Earth (WIP) - @morethingsgame (in the same way that it's fun to play Guenevere in the Guenevere game or Mordred in The Bastard of Camelot, playing Ophelia in the sort-of Hamlet story is really fun. If anyone has read the Missing collection- which I absolutely love- by Margaret Peterson Haddix, this gives me similar vibes for some reason. Anyway, I really want to give Hamlet a hug and make him a flower crown or something)

A Tale of Crowns (WIP) - @ataleofcrowns (It's kind of not even funny how much I love this game... It's hard to even describe why I like it, just that it's so well rounded in terms of the story, characters, dialogue, and relationships. It's such an interesting plotline and it's pretty immersive. Also the first time I read the demo, there was an update as I was reading and the high that sent me on has very rarely been matched. Also Dara running to save my Crown in the tunnel?? 🤚😩🤭💓 ugh. UGH!! That's good food for my fool heart)

Scout: An Apocalypse Story (WIP)- @anya-dev (I'm usually not that into apocalypse themes/plots but I really enjoyed this game, and the plot was very good and intruiging... it really pulled me in and I like my character in the story a lot. I don't know why but it tastes like chikuwa, atsuage, and this specific type of carmelized onions that my mom makes sometimes)

Nothing left to burn (WIP)- @clowdee-works (......ouch. I *knew* what was going to happen and I STILL became attached to Drew)

Smoke and Velvet - @roast-ifs (It's good. And I am VEDY much into my character design. Also the story is really interesting, and I enjoy the setting a lot somehow)

Speaker (WIP)- @speakergame (very fun to play, and each update gets me more interested in the aspects of the plot. I also really like the little descriptions of what the characters think of the player)

The Nameless (WIP)- @parkerlyn (interesting plot, I like the characters a lot, and The aesthetics of this world are so interesting. Definitely had a good time visualizing what everything looked like)

Fields of Asphodel (WIP) - @asphodelgame (I think it's really cute so far!!! I like mythology in general, and the persephone/hades dynamic is *mwah!*... I like the way the story progresses in the beginning, and I think it works well in drawing the reader into the world. I also very much enjoy petting large dogs.)

...there are so much more.. and I have followed so many blogs.........

I'm not sure why I can't find it rn but there's this one WIP game that I really like where the MC buys a manor for like dollar and moves to go live there with her best friend and shenanigans ensue as they try to settle in and fix up the estate

Harbringer (WIP) - @harbringercog (....are you KIDDING me?? I was fully planning on just enjoying the demo and keeping a mental note to update the list sometime later,,, but this game... THIS GAME really made me fold. It's very immersive and regardless of how nervous the author claims to be after releasing the demo, it's of my humble opinion that those nerves can be calmed. It's very good. I was planning on procrastinating and reading a little bit and then going back to this essay I need to write, but somehow I got pulled in and ended up reading through the whole demo and it's apparent that I honestly had no chance of getting through this without becoming invested in the plot.... just... so good.. I'm very excited to see how this will progress)

Visual Novels:

Andromeda 6 (WIP) - @andromeda-six​  (I repeat: Obsessed, I come back every few months to see an update and I fall deeper into the hole every time...)

To the Edge of the Sky (WIP,, probably) - by Ajané (??) on Steam (I think, it’s been a while)

Next on my list to check out: Perfumare by pdrrook

Does.... does The Arcana game by Nix Hydra count as VN?? If so, then yes.

Similarly, the FictIF games are all entertaining, although Last Legacy and Heir to Love and Lies are my favorites rn (and.....unfinished....)

I also don't know if this counts, because I kind of consider Otome games to be their own genre, but on the Love 365: find your story by Voltage Inc. There are a bunch of fun stories, my favorite of which are: the Shinichi Kagari route on After School Affairs and the Saejima and Keiichiro routes on Bad Boys do it Better

..To be continued...

[majimemegoro]

had to scrap this bit from this WIP bc it turns out that the mountain village is NOT close enough to sapporo that you can just go there and come back lol.

click the read more to see og okudera being absolutely unhinged about groceries.

“Okay, so,” Okudera said, scribbling furiously on a piece of paper, “I’m writing a list of stuff you should try to bring us back from Tsukimino. It’s no big deal if you can’t find it all, but it’s really risky for us to be in the city because of our history, and the trader can’t just run errands for us all the time. So please do try to find the stuff.”

“It’s also risky for Saejima and Baba to be in the city,” Suzuki said dourly from where he was leaning against the wall with his arms folded over his chest.

“Well, they’re going anyway, so they can pick up a few things before they come back,” Okudera countered, undeterred.

“Yeah, sure, we’ll try,” Saejima said, and was awarded for the response with a truly brilliant smile from Okudera.

“See, Suzuki?” Okudera said. Suzuki said nothing and Okudera turned back to Saejima. “So: rice, carrots, garlic, onions, booze, toothpaste. That’s just the regular shopping, all stuff we can get from the trader if you don’t want to carry it. So don’t worry too much about that. But the next stuff is important, okay? So listen carefully. I’ll give you the list after, too.” He paused, poising the paper aloft for optimal reading distance. “Miso. Cigarettes. Some kind of freakish novelty alcohol—your choice what, but make it at least 30%. Nothing pathetic. Some fresh fruit—like peaches!”

“You can’t get fresh peaches this time of year,” Suzuki scoffed.

“Well, something else, then,” Okudera corrected. “But something fresh. Maybe oranges.” He turned back to the list. “A carton of milk. A pack of regular graphite pencils. Some kind of dvd of an obscure movie you like. Some kind of book about nature or poetry. Uh, you can buy those used. Chocolate potato chips.”

“You could get Sapporo College cookies too, if you’re in Okojoya buying stuff anyway,” Suzuki grunted.

“Yes, yes, get Sato his milk cookies!” Okudera said. “He also likes the KariKari Mada Aru, right, Sato? Remember, you were telling me—”

“Whatever,” Suzuki said.

“You know what, actually, Saejima-“ -Okudera tapped his pencil on the counter for emphasis- “-Get the corn candy as well, if they have any. And some kind of messed up flavour of jagariko from somewhere, like something weird that you haven’t seen before. And then, this is the most important part, you have to get takeout right before coming back here. Get a nice sushi. No - get karaage. Oh, no, how about ramen? No! Get some lamb barbecue! I’ve always wanted to try Hokkaido lamb barbeque!”

“It’s not that good,” Suzuki said in annoyance.

“Okay, then it’s settled!” Okudera said. “Get all of it!”

“Pick one, Okudera,” Suzuki said.

“But-“

“Pick one. Saejima-san isn’t your personal errand boy.”

“He’s our friend, doing a favour for us,” Okudera said stubbornly. “Right, Saejima?”

Saejima pulled himself out of a sort of fugue state of bafflement. It was all a lot to absorb. “Well... sure. I ain’t gonna promise I can keep it all fresh if I have to go run around to a whole bunch of different restaurants, though.”

“No, no, it’s easy,” Okudera insisted. “First you get the ramen, because that reheats okay. Then you get the sushi, because that doesn’t need to be hot. Then you get - hm, this is tricky, actually. Sa- Suzuki, which do you think is more delicate, karaage because it’s crispy, or the lamb barbecue? Well, the barbeque is a local specialty, so...”

Suzuki pinched the bridge of his nose. “Saejima,” he said, “Just get him a sushi and a lamb barbeque.”

“What about ramen?” Okudera said, scandalized.

“Enough,” Suzuki said. “Okudera, you’ll just have to wait and see what Saejima picks out. Think of it as a fun surprise.”

Pouting, Okudera subsided. “It’s only a fun surprise if we get everything,” he muttered.

“My dear man,” Suzuki said with fond exasperation, resting a hand on Okudera’s shoulder, “You need to learn to practice moderation.”

“Moderation-?!” Okudera bristled with subdued indignation; Suzuki had won, but Okudera wasn’t happy about it. “Suzuki-chan, moderation is precisely what I practice by practising deprivation all the time, and excess when I get the chance!”

Without saying anything more in response, Suzuki leaned forward and plucked the unfinished shopping list from Okudera’s hand. “Here,” he gave it to Saejima. “Just use it as a guide. You don’t need to get anything.” Okudera huffed and crossed his arms.

“Alright,” Suzuki said. “Now that everything’s settled, you and Baba should be off. Get ready and call a taxi, and I’ll meet you on the porch in five minutes, Saejima.”

[…]

Suzuki turned. His hands were deep in his pockets and the breath leaving his mouth in misty tendrils was snatched away by the breeze. It was very cold out. He must have had some specific reason for wanting to speak to Saejima here. He pulled a hand out of his pocket and held out a stack of bills.

“Oh,” Saejima said. “Oh, you don’t have to, Suzuki-han. I got some money from huntin’.”

“It’s fine,” Suzuki said, still proffering the money.

“But you’ve done so much for us already. I’d appreciate a chance to give somethin’ back-“

“The collection and delivery will be enough of a hassle, with a list like that,” Suzuki said, mouth twitching with wry amusement. “You don’t have to pay as well.”

“I wanna, though.”

“Saejima,” Suzuki said, “Please take the goddamn money.”

After a momentary hesitation Saejima obeyed. He shoved the bills into his pocket. “Thanks, Suzuki-han,” he said. “I’ll return whatever’s left.”

Suzuki gave a vague shrug. He leaned back against the wall.

Saejima got the sense that Suzuki had something else to say, so he just waited, looking out at the village, up at the crest of the gentle hill where the taxi would appear.

“Did Okudera ask you for anything else?” Suzuki asked at last. “Something he didn’t put in the list?”

That certainly wasn’t a question Saejima had expected. “Uh, nope.”

Suzuki nodded. Then, “Good,” he said. And, “You be careful out there. You’ve got a change of clothes, which should help, but you’ll want to keep your hat on and keep a low profile. Or, well, as low a profile as someone like you can keep,” he said, glancing up to take in Saejima’s full height.

Unsure if the comment was supposed to be a joke, Saejima nodded back. “A hat’s probably a good idea,” he admitted. “I shoulda thought of that.”

Suzuki looked at him, with that cool, clear gaze that made Saejima feel as though Suzuki were looking right through - or into - him. Then he nodded again, once, briskly. “Well, go on, then,” he said.

Saejima looked up the hill. The taxi had arrived. 

[zombiebaratiddies]

yakuza!!!

OOOOO OKAY

Referencing this post btw

Ok for MAIN GAMES

Blorbo: shinada,,, he also works as my pathetic little meow meow but i have a better idea for who that is

Skrungly: Saejima ♡♡♡ i like this guy so much i would love to give him a hug

Scrimblo bimblo: honestly? Date

Glup shitto: i,,, do not have one tbh, or can't really remember one. Prolly - HAN JOON-GI MY GUY

Poor/Pathetic little meow meow: Mine WKFMSMFMS listen he may be evil but i think about the multitude of aus out there where he isn't !

Horse plinko: Majima and Akiyama ♡ next question

Eeby deeby: listen i think it'd be a little bit funny if i put Daigo here. I also think it'd be funny if i put Ryuuji here so gay marshmallow and kraft mac n cheese can duke it out in superhell

OK ONTO. THE OTHER CHARACTERS IN YAKOOZIE 7

Ok so mind u i havenzt seen all of the party members but imma do my rubesty here

Blorbo: ZHAO NO QUESTIPN

I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM YET BUT SINCE BEE SENT THAT PIC OF THEM POINTING A GUN AT SOMEONE SAYING "say the damn pronouns." I'VE BEEN OBSESSED

Skrungly: Ichiban ♡♡♡ he jus makes me happy. I saw a post forever ago before i played the game that was hcin kiryu and ichiban as autistic/adhd solidarity and i lost my MIND in the tags i was so overjoyed

Scrimblo bimblo: eri! It makes me incredulously sad that she doesn't get much screentime but i think it's hilarious watching her throw thumbtacks at everyone

Glup shitto(s): FUCKIN. THE BARTENDER I LOST MY MIND WNEN I SAW HIM THE FIRST TIME BC I FORGOT HE WAS IN THE GAME

Pathetic little meow meow: i do not have one at this moment :3 possibly hamako but tbh couldn't like her; she's so poggers

Horse plinko: nanba no question. I think it'd b super funny to watch him suffer for my enjoyment !

Eeby deeby: adachi and he's not goin to the gay one with castiel he's going to the one with the karens who want free shit with expired coupons

Anyways w that all said han Joon-gi hit me up i love u

[yakuzacanons]

I'm so so happy you're back...

I really enjoyed your Saejima breeding kink hcs and I was wondering if you could give a few... just a few... for Daigo... iirc your kink hcs said that he has a breeding kink and I really enjoy that. Probably more than I should. Tysm <3

We return once again to everyone's favorite chairman, Daigo (if your fav chairman is Kiryu that's okay too). His kink is perhaps my favorite one of the bunch, idk why I just love seeing our chairman so flustered from wanting a family that he expresses it sexually. Clearly that's not just me ANYWAYS

It's been stated previously but Daigo didn't know he had a breeding kink before meeting you. He's totally had sexual partners, perhaps a couple serious relationships in the mix, but it isn't until he is fully settled into a clearly long term commitment type of relationship that this starts to develop.

This won't be super obvious to either of you at the start and he won't vocalize it right away. It'll literally spring on him one day, he'll be fucking you and he'll just randomly think about the fact that he has the absolutely urge to just cum in you until he fills you up.

Daigo is immediately embarassed about this as soon as you two are done fucking and might even stay awake at night pondering just what that thought was and what to do with it. He's not a prude or anything, he's just like "...did I really think that?" followed shortly by "...and why the hell do I still wanna do that?!" followed by more embarrassment and profuse blushing on his part.

This is basically his thought process for a little while, although he's pretty good at hiding it. Working under great stress has given him the best poker face, although he does feel bad whenever he keeps his feelings from you. Please don't think he's a liar, he's just processing it himself before telling you.

A few bouts of sex later and Daigo basically mentally throws his hands in the air and he's like "Yea, this is who I am now! That's my thing now, I guess." and that's the point where he will tell you. He wouldn't tell you in the heat of the moment and he certainly would never act on it without you knowing first, by the way.

With your permission, he'd like to indulge in his fantasy a little. It only works if you want it though. If the risk of having a family is something you cannot handle at the time, he'll totally respect it. However, it will translate into some rougher sex because let's be real, the thought isn't leaving his mind. It also means he just gets hornier often.

If you do indulge him, hoo boy... the next time he gets horny, it is fucking ON. Just knowing he has your consent here turns him on even more than normal. Expect complete and total top/dom energy from him the entire time. And remember, he's got pretty good stamina so he can go a couple rounds. He'll make sure you go a couple rounds too yourself... he's quite generous like that.

Genuinely, it ends up being some of the best sex Daigo has ever had. He gets this sort of dreamy look in his eyes after he finishes and is just laying in bed next to you, but this time in particular he just looks heaven-sent. The man's happy. Blissfully so.

If this ends up resulting in a pregnancy, Daigo is okay with that. The man's always known in the back of his mind that he'd have a family someday, it's just now that he's with you he actually wants that if you want it too. If you're alright with sex during pregnancy, he'd be more than happy to fill you up again. And again. And-

[memorys-skyscraper]

time to be a pirate arr

(thoughts on the first ~4 hours of pirate yakzua)

i really enjoyed the throwaway line in the intro where majima was like "this kid noah found me- language barrier was a bitch at first but idk we figured it out" to just completely handwave the fact that literally everyone in and around hawaii speaks perfect japanese, absolutely the right call, who cares tbh- no need to do what y8 did in kinda trying to make the language situation make sense/making jp VAs speak english

anyway those first few cutscenes were like, kinda dire honestly, the way majima was constantly trembling and one of the first things he said was "uhhhhh kid i dont remember anything but i dont think im a good person" was A Lot, certainly more than i was expecting- hoping we circle back to that after having some wacky fun time for a bit

also can i just say that majima washing up on the beach, being found by some kid, then literally the next day beating the fuck out of that kid's dad for not immediately being on board with joining a pirate crew and taking his son with him is an insane series of events lmfao. like ok jason's a little overprotective but we did not need to leap from "noah never leaves this island ever" to "we're pirates now", maybe start with a day trip to honolulu or something?

honestly though the main thing im intrigued by rn is the framing device, like. who's filming this? hell is it even being filmed or is that, like, in majima's head? how much of the story is actually true vs majima's over-the-top retelling of it? like i dont think the whole god damn ship actually broke out into coordinated song and dance like they do for the opening credits, surely majima just made that up in the retelling? are we getting more songs? if this game is secretly a musical i might die laughing

anyway the game started threatening to give me saejima but then tossed me into the madlantis tutorial so i tapped out for the evening, but im having a jolly good time thus far

[dangerouscommiesubversive]

three points where two lines meet

Fandom: Garo (Original Continuity)

Characters: Saejima Kouga, Suzumura Rei, Mitsuki Kaoru

Song: "Tessellate," alt-J or the Ellie Goulding cover (both are on the playlist here)

Nothing formal has been declared, no proposals offered or announcements made, but—she may still maintain her own apartment, but the house is Kaoru’s now, as much as it is Kouga’s. She is just as entitled as he is to find space in it and make it hers, and certainly, if you ask Gonza, she’s allowed to decide that there are going to be guests for a meal, although she doesn’t often extend invitations herself. Instead what she does is say to Kouga, “You know, the next time you run into Rei, you should see if he’d like to come over for dinner.”

Kouga says, “Of course,” and then stops, blinking. “You want to have Rei over to dinner?”

“Sure I do.” She flashes him a smile over the edge of the sketchpad she’s got propped up on her knees. “We haven’t seen him in a while, it would be nice to catch up. I miss him. I know you miss him.”

“Do I? I hadn’t noticed.”

“Kouga, did you just make a joke?” She squints at him. “…oh, no, you didn’t, you actually hadn’t realized. Anyway, Rei should come have dinner with us, tell him if he does then I’ll get Gonza to make a cake.”

Kouga stares at her for a moment and then nods and says, “The next time I see him I’ll ask him,” and she beams at him.

---

They finish off the Horror together, in a rare but not unwelcome moment of perfect coordination, and once they’ve caught their breath and shed their armor, Kouga says, “Come over for dinner tomorrow, Gonza’s making a roast.”

Rei very nearly jumps. “You’re asking me to have dinner with you?”

Kouga doesn’t quite meet his eyes. “Kaoru misses you.”

“Kaoru told you to ask me to dinner.”

“She said to tell you that if you do then she’ll ask Gonza to make a cake.”

“She doesn’t need to do that, I’d visit her with or without cake, but that sounds great.”

There’s a tinny cough from Silva, and then a prim, “Rei, I think you have something else you need to say here?”

He blushes faintly. “Right, yes. Thank you for the invitation, Kouga, I would love to. When should I get there?”

“Five would be fine.” Kouga still isn’t meeting his eyes. “Kaoru will be happy to see you.”

“Aw, come on, you’re gonna be happy to see me too, you can admit it.” Rei doesn’t expect an answer, but he does file away Kouga’s suddenly hunted expression away for further consideration later. “So I’ll see you at five tomorrow, then, I should get home now so I’ve got time find my nice clothes and make sure I’m presentable enough that Kaoru doesn’t just kick me right back out.”

---

Kaoru hears Gonza answering the front door, but she’s so absorbed in her work that she doesn’t think anything of it until a shadow falls over her sketchbook and Rei leans over the back of the couch to say, “What are you working on?”

“Rei!” She sets aside her sketchbook to throw her arms around his neck, much to his obvious alarm. “It’s good to see you, it’s been way too long. And you look so nice! You didn’t have to dress up!”

He hugs her back, blinking. “Yeah, it’s been a while. You seriously told Kouga to invite me?”

“Of course I did, I miss you. Come sit with me.”

Released, Rei moves around the couch, handing Kaoru back her sketchbook as he sits down. “So you didn’t answer my question, what are you working on? I thought you were mostly a painter.”

“I’m writing a picture book. See?”

“That…mostly looks like triangles?”

“Well, it’s triangles now, eventually it’s going to be a person.” Pencil returns to paper as she gets back to sketching. “A little knight, going on an adventure to defeat evil. Normally I’d be doing a person shape with circles, but I feel like triangles get the shape of the armor better. Anyway, I like triangles, they’re such a nice clean shape.”

“Oh, really? What kind of knight, gold or silver?”

She taps her lips with her pencil, smiling at him. “I haven’t really decided yet, I like both colors. Actually, I’m thinking there might be two, and they can have their adventure together.”

To her deep satisfaction, Rei’s ears turn pink, although all he says is, “Won’t that be a lot more to draw?”

“Maybe, but if the option’s open to me then I don’t see any reason not to consider it.” She sketches another triangle armature in next to the first one, very faintly. “I don’t mind putting in a little extra work to make it perfect. Anyway! Kouga should be back very soon, he went for a walk a little while ago and I think he forgot what time it was. We’re going to be eating at six. What have you been up to, where have you been? Why don’t you ever call? Is there some rule against Makai Knights using the phone?”

---

They talk until Kouga gets back, and then have to team up to coax him into even attempting idle conversation, which he’s not especially good at or comfortable with. And as soon as they’ve settled into some kind of conversational rhythm, of course, Gonza comes in to let them know that it’s time for dinner, which disrupts things again, at least temporarily. Around the table, however, conversation is easier.

After dinner, there’s coffee, and after coffee the summer day is still richly present, and again conversation is eased by activity as Kouga and Rei spar on the lawn. Kaoru watches them and sketches, first by the dimming sunlight and then by a small lantern which Gonza brings out.

Finally, exhausted and panting under the increasing presence of night, Rei and Kouga fall apart and shake hands before turning to see—

Rei starts laughing. “You didn’t fall asleep on us, did you?”

Kaoru shakes herself and says, “I’m not asleep. I was just resting my eyes for a moment, it’s a little dark for drawing now even with the lamp.”

Kouga smiles, very faintly, an expression which Rei watches with fascination. “Then maybe we should go back inside. What time is it?”

“It’s—oh, wow, it’s past ten, I didn’t realize it was so late,” and then she lets out a noise of amused outrage as Kouga, reaching her chair in a few easy strides, lifts her out of it entirely and starts carrying her back into the house, notebook and all.

Rei follows behind him, making faces back at Kaoru when she peeks over Kouga’s shoulder and sticks her tongue out at him and then saying, when they reach the hallway leading to the bedrooms, “I should probably go, then, it’s getting late.”

“You can stay, if you like.” Kouga doesn’t quite look at him. “There are plenty of spare rooms, it would probably be more comfortable than traveling back to your apartment at this time of night.”

“And Gonza’s breakfasts are really good,” is Kaoru’s helpful addition.

“I…if you like, it’d be nice to not be heading home in the dark for once.”

“I would like,” Kaoru says firmly. “You should stay, Kouga can find a spot for you once he drops me off.”

They’re already walking again as Rei is saying, “Then, then I’ll stay. Thank you. I—you two don’t share a room?”

At that Kouga does turn red, and immediately hides it in ducking through the doorway to the art-covered room which to all appearances is Kaoru’s alone. “This has been Kaoru’s room since she first stayed here.”

“I like having space.” Kaoru looks around from her comfortable vantage point in Kouga’s arms. “It helps me to think if I have some walls of my own where I can stick sketches. Anyway,” and she lifts her face to Kouga in a very pointed way, “I put up with you carrying me all the way here, I deserve a good night kiss.”

Still somewhat red-faced, Kouga kisses her on the cheek, very primly, and sets her down on the edge of the bed.

“Rei, if you’re going to stand there in the doorway like a weirdo you can give me a good night kiss too.”

“I—I’m sorry, wh—you’re serious. Well, all right, I’m hardly going to tell a lady no.” He steps into the room proper and kisses her chastely on the temple. "And now I'm guessing Kouga's supposed to give me a good night kiss too?"

He sounds like he's joking, but doesn't look like it, and the air is suddenly tense with…something.

Later, in a letter to an old high school friend that she’ll decide not to send in favor of something less scandalous, Kaoru will say that it wasn't like a dam breaking, with all the precipitous rush that phrase implies. It's more like a crack in plaster, long ignored but growing deeper and longer with every day, until finally the pressure becomes too much and the whole wall crumbles away to reveal an astonishing new vista behind it. And then, of course, you have to rebuild your house, but now that you know that the view is there, maybe it can be incorporated. Maybe that wall should have been a doorway all along.

Which is to say: Kouga does kiss him, but nothing in the kiss is a “good night.” It’s very gentle, and very slow, and Kouga seems surprised to be giving it, to say nothing of Rei’s surprise at receiving it.

(The first unexpected fall of plaster dust, the warning creak.)

After a moment he pulls back and Rei, looking stunned, says, “I can’t say I’m upset about that, but right in front of Kaoru?” and gestures to Kaoru.

Who is still perched on the edge of her bed watching them, and who assumes an indignant air as soon as they look at her. “Right in front of me. Like you’re trying to make me jealous, I didn’t get a kiss that good, both of you do it again.”

(And then there goes your wall.)