#Tenma being a good father | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sankatsuka · 7 months

Text

Tenma Siblings Discussion - How Saki Feels About Tsukasa, A Seflessness that Makes You Feel Undeserving

"But I'm not getting better at all... I'm ALWAYS troubling them, big brother, mom and everyone else...!"

Warnings:

Discusses JP dialogue from Smile of Dreamer, Hinamatsuri, Dazzling Lights, NSNF

HC territory as usual

HFD Tsukasa delusioner

I'm sorry but I was personally uncomfortable with what happened in Hinamatsuri, so this discussion helps justify Saki's behaviour. You may not like it if you thought Saki was entirely justified, sorry again!

In NSNF JP, I found the choice of wording interesting: first thinking about Tsukasa, then their mother, then delegating their father within the "and others".

From how she mentions him first, she seems to instinctively recognize Tsukasa as being the one most affected that she has to miss out. Moreso than their parents who are the ones logistically impacted, which probably shows their parents did a good job of not making her feel like a burden. This small detail and mention of Tsukasa in NSNF, as well as using the same flashback period as Dazzling Lights, implies Saki has always known how much Tsukasa focuses on her and how her wellbeing strongly affects him.

In NSNF, she's shown to be able to generally recall events, but not the strong emotions she experienced in them. So of course she can easily say 'Tsukasa has always cared for her', but it doesn't mean it is properly nailed in. She seemed to show a lack of awareness of this in Hinamatsuri, with how she never thought her forced smile would affect him to such an extent and how she only mentions Tsukasa's loneliness in passing. She also acts rather strangely in Hinamatsuri - she quickly snaps at her brother despite being very well aware of how he will always act in favour of her happiness. We see in unit story that Saki would never get angry at a loved one even if they hurt her (Honami), yet she doesn't think twice before getting angry at Tsukasa.

This is what leads me to HC that perhaps, her feelings towards the part she plays in Tsukasa's happiness are suppressed too. Because she can't just be "okay" to be happy on her own, she also would never be "okay" enough to not make her brother sad. It makes her happy to feel so valued, but with how she is, there's nothing she can do for him in return, not even just be happy and fine. Perhaps this is why she feels urged to have to smile even when she feels like crying from happiness, so she can give something back to her brother. Or even, maybe she cries because she can't do anything for him in return, yet he gives her so much and makes her feel so loved when she feels worthless. There's inevitably that feeling she doesn't deserve him, that perhaps she may even feel like he's going to leave her someday because she can't give anything to him.

You'd think that after being cared for so much, Saki would want to repay it twice as much now that she's able to. But she doesn't, and instead has him doing favours for her (buying her things). It's just easier and feels better to go about your day as if everything's always been normal that way instead of face all the pain from the past and try to make up for it. Plus, feelings in the past don't change that easily - just like how her self-hatred still stays strong enough for her to compose the powerful song in NSNF, her helplessness towards her brother won't just disappear. It instead manifests in turning a blind eye to it and simply continuing the way her past self has: just being carefree and happy and keeping up with trends, just like how she deals with her own self-hatred.

If Saki stops playing the role of the smiling sister, and instead goes all-out to do more for her brother, to return all the love he's shown her - it means having to face that helplessness and how she feels undeserving of Tsukasa's presence in her life. Not only will it make Saki feel less of a sister, it will further ruin their siblinghood when it was built upon such a one-sided foundation. She knows a normal brother isn't supposed to be this way (Smile of Dreamer side story), that everything Tsukasa has done till today truly makes Tsukasa the 'best brother in the world'. But the 'best' is all it will amount to, because thinking anymore beyond that will destroy their bond.

Before it was with the tattered Hina dolls, and now we see Tsukasa going the extra mile again to buy Saki the new Hina dolls. I don't want to think she's naive: it's obvious from first glance Tsukasa spent money to buy all those dolls for her, and she knows from all these years of growing up with him that her brother is always well-intentioned: he will always act for her happiness, Saki knows. But now she has more she has to return for him.

So Saki could have uncharacteristically lost her temper because Tsukasa's actions had exacerbated her suppressed feelings of helplessness towards him. She doesn't want to lose him if he keeps doing more than she can possibly return to him. Saki isn't the type to lose control over her emotions to the point of saying such hurtful things to someone she cares and loves - NSNF demonstrates this that she will keep things inside if she thinks it will hurt other people, even if it's painful. Such a habit doesn't easily die off. That's why this HC suggests that Tsukasa's actions may have triggered her somehow. In the first place, Tsukasa was throwing away something that Saki cherished as a way of appreciating his strong love for her - Tsukasa was belittling her own efforts to return everything he's done for her. If she already doesn't feel anything is enough, it's bound to be triggering.

Her suppressed helplessness and self-hatred does seem to lead her to act irrationally against her own will. She wants her loved ones to be happy, but she also has her own needs of companionship that she can't meet because of the way she was born. There's that contradiction that forces her to keep smiling and make jokes but also want to control others. She rags on herself for being born different, begs people not to leave her no matter what and expresses a desire for everyone to just disappear so she can finally have everything she wants: a world where she isn't left alone (/because no one is there) and everyone (/no one) is happy.

It may have been a budget issue, but the writers also made the choice not to have Tsukasa appear in NSNF Episode 7, despite how he's the one who gave Saki the belief that 'tomorrow will be fun', which is exactly what served as Saki's light in NSNF. And it's strong enough of a feeling that in Hinamatsuri's side story, Saki feels comforted seeing the light from his door at night, which reminds her she won't be alone in the hospital at this time of the year again, and that she can sleep soundly and safely think tomorrow will indeed be fun and not another day of being isolated. Yet he doesn't appear in NSNF to serve as one of the lights in her darkness.

Personally, it seems right to me that he doesn't appear in NSNF. It just feels out of place and ingenuine. I guess it's because I don't feel like any of Tsukasa's bonds feel real because of how he's lacking his own self so much. Saki's own feelings towards him, as I describe here, explain why it doesn't feel real: being too selfless and self-sacrificial makes it difficult for someone to love you back: instead, you become someone they feel they don't deserve. I honestly find it... sad, when it was something he worked so hard for as a child. It makes sense why Tsukasa believes he always makes Saki sad, when it can be possibly true with how he cares far too much about her that it troubles her.

#project sekai #saki tenma #tenma saki #tsukasa tenma #tenma tsukasa #tenma siblings

39 notes · View notes

lilis-doodle-dome · 1 year

Text

Finally finished this! Antag Tsukasa hours!! I don’t tell how Tsukasa became corrupt, so feel free to theorize as you will

Au info below:

- As stated, Tsukasa is the antagonist. While Mizuki works with him only to feed info to the rebels and Akito is a glorified hostage

- The rebels each have a reason why they turned, and with the exception of the VS‘s it‘s directly related to Tsukasa

- Taukasa acts like a version of canon Tsukasa, but turned up to 11 as though he doesn’t actually know how to regulate himself. This of course is an act, he enjoys playing the fool and having others underestimate him.

- Tsukasa is also exceptionally hard on his two guards. Training with them until they collapse, gloating over them as he wins (which he always does).

-Sending Mizuki to do inane and unreasonable tasks to ‘prove their lotalty’ (which is because Tsukasa knows full well that Mizuki is a traitor and finds it entertaining to watch them run ragged trying to ‘prove’ themself).

-And of course ‘retraining’ Akito on how to act properly around nobility, which Akito constantly rebukes by acting out more, gaining even more ‘lessons’. (Toya’s section explains the retraining)

- Tsukasa has a huge amount of mana that he’s quite proficient at using (although nowhere close to Rui for profiency or Saki for mana storage) and is a master at sword fighting. So on top of being the crown prince is also a general in the royal guard. So defeating him would be quite the challenge *hint hint*

Saki: Ran away from her family, assisted by Tsukasa, who at that point was how we know him in canon. Despite hearing that he‘s become corrupt, she still wants to free him from the castle.

-She has the biggest mana resevoir of possibly any human ever, but has to use a lot of it to keep her body running. When she does use her magic, it‘s like a bomb going off, but leaves her very weak.

- Saki has the least about her because a lot of her ties back to Tsukasa and I’m trying not to reveal too much about him.

Toya: Tsukasa was someone he admired, so it came as quite a shock to him that, when Akito (Toya‘s personal guard) was heard complaining about the Tenmas, Tsukasa willingly took Akito to ‘retrain’ him.

-Toya’s father offered Akito as an apology for the slight (he already didn’t like Akito and the influence he had on his son, so it was an easy choice). Toya knew Tsukasa had been changing, but to go so far as to take Toya’s known closest compaion?

-Losing Akito, his father and Tsukasa’s betrayal. It was all too much, he had to leave. He’s working to free Akito and bring him back to his side!

Rui: Born a peasant, but snatched up by the Royal family as a mage when he showed incredible ingenuity and craft with magic,

-Rui spent most of his life being rejected by both sides (nobility and peasentry) for not being enough like either. Still he had his magic and two good friends, which was enough.

-One of his friends was Nene, who he knew even before he lived in the castle, but she followed him there using her amazing voice to land her a position of lead entertainer for the royal family.

-One day though when performing, she messed up and froze when she failed to hit a note. The Tenmas were not pleased and Tsukasa got up unsheathing his sword, saying: ‘A songstress that can’t sing, might as well lose her tounge.’

-Of course Nene ran for her life, but after awhile Tsukasa returned holding a bloody tongue. He threw it down in front of the remaining performers and told them that was ‘a lesson and warning’.

-Rui was horrified about what happened to one of his only friends and left, swearing revenge. But not before telling his other friend, Mizuki, about what happened and his plan.

-In response Mizuki, who was already a member although low-ranking in the royal guard, decided to work their way up to Tsukasa’s side so they could help their friend in his revenge.

118 notes · View notes

pocketsizedowls · 1 year

Text

One of the most important characteristics of Mizuki Akiyama is her love of cute things.

Unlike many teenage girls who, by her age, may feel embarrassed about their passion for the color pink or kawaii culture, she thrives as a "girly girl," a teenage representative of the latest fashion trends and make-up products. She is cheerful and artistic, sensitive and kind. If we lived in a world where gender roles and binaries are less rigid, perhaps she wouldn't struggle so much under the glare of society's hefty expectations. I think of her all the time because I know her story well.

Mizuki is just like my brother, who used to sneak into my closet as a young boy to try on my church dresses. My brother, who shed hot tears when my father forced him to cut off his long hair. My brother, who went off to college and at long last, started wearing make-up to school and dancing in a cheer team full of girls who claimed him as one of their own. He has never been this happy, and I am grateful for his happiness and for his femininity, because my mother loves buying me dresses I'll never wear and make-up I'll never use. If I give them to him, I used to tell myself, I'll do a good deed. And, most importantly, I'll no longer have to worry about being a "good enough woman," both for my mother and for society at large.

According to American theorist Judith Butler, gender is a performance. To put it simply, gender is a book of rules, a game of chess, and all people should think twice about their gender and the hoops they jump through to fulfill those roles before they claim to be, for a lack of a better word, gendered the way they were assigned to be. As a glum teenager, I watched girls around me blossom into women, and while I identified with some aspects of girlhood (i.e. crying over a boy, trading secrets at the playground, and braiding each other's hair), I never aspired towards womanhood. Or femininity, really. It wasn't until I got older, after years of settling into a nonbinary lesbian identity, that I finally picked up a foundation brush and put on a skirt. Because by then, those things are just cute and beautiful to me, instead of womanly and intimidating.

I wish I could shout this from the rooftop. That I am free, and so many people should be, too.

Mizuki is just Mizuki, because gender is a friend to meet and a thing to love instead of an obligation to fulfill or a monster to defeat. Much like Tsukasa Tenma, who shines on a stage and carries that spark with him everywhere, gender is supposed to be euphoric. It's Mizuki, when she finishes sewing a new dress. It's my brother, when he puts on heels that actually accommodate his shoe size. It's me, when people call me "they" instead of "she," a "lovely person" instead of an "anxious girl."

I don't exactly know how Mizuki identifies or what her true pronouns are, but what I do know is that she is allowed to take her time. She is young, she is loved, and she is not a freak. If you are trans or nonbinary or anywhere under the umbrella, you are also not a freak. You can also take your time, then stomp your feet like a toddler when the world angers you because transphobic people are everywhere, and America seems especially fond of passing anti-trans registrations these days. Which goes to show, perhaps, that you are a miracle. And despite how lonely being a trans person can be, you're survival gives everyone else in the community hope and strength to keep going.

For some trans anger, I recommend you listen to Teniwoha's Villain, sung by Mizuki and Mafuyu. The lyrics are truly awesome.

For some trans hope, I recommend Toa's ID Smile, sung by all the N25 girls. The background of the 3D MV is so beautiful and relevant.

69 notes · View notes

attorneys-against-court-violence · 10 months

Text

The Tenmas: Simon and Athena Lite

The Monstrous Turnabout is... an episode. It's... certainly one of the Ace Attorney cases of all time... and it has a murder...

Alright alright. I'll pack it in. There's a lot I like about Monstrous; Athena and Apollo's blossoming dynamic, Simon and Bobby's introductions... though those aren't specific to the case at hand - those things could have happened in any case.

There is ONE thing I enjoy about it that I don't see getting much attention in the Dual Destinies fanspace; the Tenmas. As implied in the title, there's a LOT of parallels with these two. But let's introduce them with a quick character analysis first! Spoilers incoming (but hopefully you already knew that!)

Jinxie Tenma

Jinxie Tenma, the first of them we meet, is a woefully troubled lass. A combination of schizophrenia and the yokai-obsessed culture she was born into leaves her shaking with fear most of the time, constantly wary that a monster is lurking nearby to do harm. She carries charms with her wherever she goes, even wearing one on her head, and reflexively slaps one on people who manage to scare her (not a hard thing to do honestly). She's constantly vigilant and her psychosis doesn't lend itself to being easily understood by others. When she's gripped by intense fear, her schizophrenia worsens to the point where she sees yokai inhabiting an entire room, obscuring the moment she found the Alderman dead and her "father" close to unconsciousness.

It's said she lost her mother at a very young age, finding courage in the golden flowers that symbolise her. We'll come back to this, don't worry.

She also has a habit of sleep-walking far from the mansion, rationalising that she had been possessed by a yokai - namely Tenma Taro. Both she and her father have seals on their heads to prevent such a thing from happening - Damian getting the entire top of his head covered in warding seals to prevent Tenma Taro from escaping. We'll come back to this too.

Damian Tenma

A stone-faced man with an intimidating build to match, but a heart of gold to contrast it. He's annoyed by how the former belies the latter but apologises profusely for causing distress. He's also extremely protective of his daughter - especially after his wife passed away. How kind and protective? Well... threatening to break out of the Detention Centre to offer Apollo tea and later to go check up on Jinxie should give you a good idea!

He's adamantly against the merger with Nine-Tails Vale and is quite unpopular in the region. Despite this, his wife was born and raised in the Vale and Jinxie had decided to move there to be more independant and get closer to her mother's origins. Damian doesn't seem to have any objections to this, preferring that her daughter pursues what makes her happy than be overbearing. The pressure-point that pushed him toward the merger was a threat against his daughter's well-being - an anonymous threat from L'belle in his efforts to obtain "Tenma Taro" (a giant gold nugget) from the Vale to pay off his debts. Still wanting to fight the merger without drawing attention, he did so under the guise of the Amazing Nine-Tails who fought against Tenma Taro (ie Nine-Tails Vale would fight against Tenma Town, never to join forces). Notice also that the first time we see him in this guise, he's protecting his daughter from the curse of Tenma Taro. Knowingly or not, he's protecting his daughter from becoming a casualty of the greed Tenma Taro inspires in people such as L'belle.

Up to now, he's shown himself to be a kind man and a loving father. A smart one as well, finding a way to fight against the merger and rally Nine-Tails Vale behind his cause without giving his identity away and resulting in the blackmailer making good on their promises. When his daughter's on the line, he's willing to play both sides to make sure she isn't in harm's way. And when his trial threatens to put her in the line of fire...

Tenma Taro

Alright, this is less of a character and more a persona. "Tenma Taro" himself isn't interesting - an entertaining sequence but not that deep. It's the act of Tenma - no, not this one - NO, not the rock, pay attention - DAMIAN! Damian Tenma! Him taking on this comically villainous persona that re-enforces what we already know about him. For one, it's to protect his daughter. She's far and away the most important part of his life - more-so than his political standing - yet despite not being guilty, he plays the villain to help her testimony hold water, even if it implicates him all the more. For two, he's very good at playing up a character to make his ends meet. The Amazing Nine-Tails is a chilvalrous hero valliantly protecting Nine-Tails Vale from Tenma Taro, swaying the public towards his wishes of going against the merger. It's hammy, sure, but the people seem to buy into it!

Hmm... I wonder if that's a dig at how easily people took to Fulbright's ridiculously heroic visage... hmm.

For three, it's him turning a part of himself he disdains to his advantage. He knows he's an off-putting guy and it bothers him quite a bit, but he's willing to lean into that in order to protect what's important to him. It's resourceful and a showing of how much he loves Jinxie that he's willing to do this. He's even willing to play on his daughter's belief that they are at risk of being possessed by Tenma Taro - an evil that threatens to harm both of them through L'belle's schemes and the one she believes to have killed the Alderman. Nevertheless, he takes the burden of being the villain to protect her.

Now I was going to talk about how Taro could be an alternate personality here... when being asked questions about what Damian saw, Taro draws upon what Damian knows as if he were another person. When he comes-to in the detention centre, he questions why Apollo and Athena are talking to him like he's some evil overlord. I figured "oh, maybe this Tenma Taro is just a yokai-fied explaination for his system of personalities". Buuuuuuut... the ending of DD makes it clear that it is, in fact, a persona, him lamenting that he can't fight himself when people requested "Tenma Taro" face of against the Amazing Nine-Tails.

Referring to both Nine-Tails and Tenma Taro as "himself" is decent enough evidence that this isn't a system of multiple people like Uendo, though feel free to pitch in if I made a mistake here. Chances are I have!

Overall, the Tenmas are a fun pair of characters and their story highlights a lot about them. The tragic daughter of a long-lost mother - trying her best to live a normal life in spite of her condition - threatened by the plans of a supposed aide to steal the rock that would solve all of his problems. Despite his misgivings, a stoic and intimidating guardian takes advantage of his most belothed traits in order to protect this girl he holds so near and dear, respecting her independance despite it going against his stance on where she intends to go.

Hey wait a minute-

The Parallels

Athena and Simon's plight is the beating heart of Dual Destinies. There is no debate. EVERY case in the game has some significant (and even minor) element that ties back to their conflicts. In the Tenma's case, it's almost play-for-play a spin on the very incident that started this mess.

Simon and Damian - responsible to varying degrees for the saftey of a young girl - are forced to take the fall for a crime committed by an unknown force most only know as a supernatural entity. For their respective reasons, this mysterious assailant wanted to steal away a priceless rock from the person they had killed (both very important people in their own right, clad in white and yellow). Said unknown party posed as someone important to this girl in order to get away with their crimes; L'belle disguising as Damian under the Amazing Nine-Tails mask & the phantom disguising as Metis using a Noh mask. These items also have supernatural connotations, with the Nine-Tailed Fox being a key figure in the myth of Tenma Taro and the Noh mask being said to be able to turn the wearer into. Wait for it. A phantom! When push came to shove and the girl was at risk of being indicted for the crime, Simon/Damian leaned into the false acussations, using their naturally intimidating qualities to their advantage in order to either buy enough time for the mystery to be solved or simply to take the fall in her stead.

Finally, the ones responsible for these crimes were thought to be valuable aides to both men; L'belle being the literal aide to Damian and "Bobby Fulbright" being the detective responsible for handling Simon during his conviction.

The Tenmas in this case serve to highlight the undying love and loyalty underpinning Simon Blackquill's actions. Damian is a scary guy but is aggressively polite and puts a great deal of effort in ensuring the safety of his daughter Jinxie. Simon has built quite a frightening reputation himself, but everything he does - from taking the fall for UR-1, to gunning after Starbuck so hard in 5-4, to stepping in and recounting his false confession in 5-5 - is all done to protect the most valuable and beloved treasure of his mentor, and someone he undeniably cares for himself. While prison has changed him quite a bit, he's retained a keen awareness of other's needs and breaks character on occassion to reveal his softer side. In this case, accepting Jinxie's warding charm shortly after threatening to behead her father, likely realising this is a genuinely mixed-up but still kind girl that he's needlessly frightened.

It's also worth noting that despite Damian's seeming dislike of Nine-Tails Vale based on the merger, and Simon's disdain for defense attorneys, both respect Jinxie and Athena's pursuits in a place they're not too fond of respectively. Speaking of, Athena's first reaction upon hearing about her client Damian? Tears. Literal tears. Probably not just for how much he cares for Jinxie - she probably caught the similarities to Simon and was reminded of his dorky kindness. Granted it doesn't take much to make Athena cry but I'd say that's a good enough reason to.

I'm quite fond of the Tenmas myself, though part of me does have to admit it's because they're shadowing a much more important and stirring dynamic. I liken their story to Sasha and Orla's in 5-DLC, oddly enough - one focusing on Simon's side and the other on Athena's. How both of them risk being run to ruins but being completely geniune in their desire to see the other free. Man, now I have to talk about Reclaimed at some point!

Did I mention that Jinxie and Athena are at least some flavour of neurodivergent? At least, that's what's implied on Athena's end. Jinxie's unambiguously schizophrenic. Maaaaaan, I gotta talk about Athena's divergent little brain too... been holding off on that re-write for too long, maaaaaaaaan!

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY! Just the same as Jinxie found courage in her mother's golden flowers, Athena found a posthumous connection to her mother through studying analytical psychology. It's through that she's able to find the ability to actually help the situation with Simon. Both found themselves enabled to help resolve the situation through their connections to their mothers. And like how people would think Jinxie was possessed by Tenma Taro - both during the trial and during her sleepwalks - Athena would similarly be accused of being the monster that caused UR-1 in the first place. Damian and Simon would protect both from this by shouldering the burden of being the monsters for them - Damian the evil crow man, Simon the phantasmagorical killer.

So yeah, the Tenmas are alright. Now if you'll excuse me! I need to figure out who the Phineas Filch is in UR-1...

#dual destinies analysis #dual destinies spoilers #ace attorney spoilers #aa5 spoilers #damian tenma #jinxie tenma #tenma taro #florent l'belle #simon blackquill #athena cykes #bobby fulbright #the phantom ace attorney

27 notes · View notes

thedandelionthief · 10 months

Text

okay project sekai appearance headcanons time. friendly reminder that i’m always right and if you have any complaints, you should reevaluate yourself. also this is a Long post

ichika looks. mostly how she does in canon to me. i do think she’s a bit gangly, just without the height. the way she carries herself is pretty awkward, and she has bad posture.

saki is a part-time mobility aid user. i’m not sure which one specifically she would use, but either way it’s decked out in all kinds of stickers. also i don’t like how ambiguous her being a gyaru is in canon, but she is one. also all three tenmas have dimples and yes i’m including toya

honami is fat why is she not fat in canon. also, she straightens her bangs, but stops doing that going into her 2nd year once she’s gained more confidence in herself. her hair is naturally super wavy. freckle haver

shiho has really broad shoulders, and also she has a septum piercing and a bunch of ear piercings.

minori has So Many Freckles, and her teeth are a bit crooked. she’s mixed japanese-mexican

haruka also looks mostly how she does in canon, but i think she starts to dress a lot more masc over time, and gets her hair cut shorter too. a big reason she dresses so plain and feminine is because she thinks it’s how she should dress as an idol

airi’s hair is thick in the like. getting the brush stuck in it way, and is also a lot wavier than it is in canon to me. mixed hispanic/japanese, but i don’t have a specific ethnicity i headcanon her as

shizuku, like shiho, has broad shoulders. she’s also 5’10 because tall girls pretty and she deserves to be taller. has more moles than in canon

kohane is mixed korean-japanese, and she is freckly. good for her. also chubby. good for her

an is filipino-japanese. ken is my favorite filipino single dad of all time (i am ignoring the fact that an has a mother. ken is a single father). also maybe she’s taller than she is in canon because i think it’d be funny if she was taller than akito in heels

akito is hispanic/japanese and shorter than he is in canon (he’s like 5’5) and he eventually grows his hair out into a mullet and he has piercings and his hair is not naturally orange. i will not accept it until they show shinomom on-screen and she is a ginger. my good mutual zip has converted me to fat akito as well so there’s that. i’ve just been playing dress up with him and now canon akito looks wrong to me

toya… i decided this just now he is a person with albinism. good for him. and dimples because tenma

tsukasa like i said earlier also has dimples. also he should be allowed to grow out his hair but he has not yet.

i confess i have nothing for emu. i tend to draw her with freckles though sometimes. and actually i take that back i like the hc of her being blasian. she has beaded braids a lot. i can see her getting wxs colors :)

nene is blasian as well. also chubby. why is there no body type variation in proseka (i know why don’t try to explain it to me) make some of them fat i’m begging you

rui has the most fucked up teeth. his canines are like fangs vampire style. had braces as a kid and they did not work. also has heterochromia. one blue eye and one yellow. he is so extremely lanky and i don’t believe for a second he is 5’10 this guy is like 6’0

kanade is so frail and i don’t know why she is drawn like almost the same as the others when she is literally like ghostly pale and sickly but that’s besides the point. the worst eyebags you’ve ever seen.

mafuyu is like. i think she starts to lose weight during her 2nd year at the height of all her stress, but begins to gain back what she lost in her 3rd. she is fat. also cuts her hair shorter

ena is mixed hispanic/japanese obvi and she has naturally wavier hair. also has horrible dark circles. is naturally chubbier and she is once she gains a healthier relationship with food. it’s the good ending guys gaining weight as a sign of healing.

mizuki mizuki mizuki. taller than she is in canon by kind of a lot. like 5’7-5’8. mostly because mizuena height difference is good. also has streaks of lighter and darker pink throughout her hair because it’s natural and that’s how hair works (it’s especially prominent with her though).

all 4 of them get gray hairs early because of stress. ena and mizuki dye them and the other two do not care enough.

#sekaiposting #my hcs

27 notes · View notes

yuzokasu · 6 months

Text

can i gush over the new 1st gen cards for a second. spoilers for the backstages under cut

when i tell you they know what the fans want THEY KNOW WHAT THE FANS WANT. they know the kind of people 1st gen fans are and it scares me cause why'd we get reni ponytail fanservice. do it more

like hell yeah give me more slice of life moments like that!!! and the fact that the godza kids complimented reni on his hairstyle??? shift calling him cute and reni being confused like cmon aegyo for us reni dont be shy

and listen i've been DYINGGG for crumbs of syu and tsumugi's dynamic because compared to the other three leader duos we don't have a good idea of what they are??? they hardly have as much interactions together is what i mean!!! they seem to be in this safe distance which is fine but yknow i hoped we could see them interact more. and then syu's ssr drops and his backstage throws syu and tsumugi straight onto stage together in ONNAGATA ROLES my jaw dropped when i saw the sprites it was legit a motherquake. currently praying for my fuyu leader mutuals rn

and don't get me started on hiro's backstage oh my god. firstly hiro's son TAKUMA HYUGA!!!! he's such a baby he's so cute he loves tenma so much!!! he's so lucky to have an entire group of big brothers one of which is The Sumeragi Tenma he's been a fan of for so long!!! him asking for a tenma standee in front of hiro was funny as hell too KSHJFKSFGSDKFG and hiro's so cute his disguise is the exact same as tenma with those glasses the writing team really loves to add parallels each chance they get??? keep it coming though. also did you know hiro got good at crane games just so he can get stuff for his son he fathered so hard.

and the way when hiro was telling the other 1st gen that he understands why takuma loves tenma so much and once again starts spilling compliments about tenma and kasumi was like Lol you stan him and hiro's like SHHH I DO NOT!!! KJHGKSJFDGSFDG i'm sorry i love them so much i love how 1st gen interacts with newborn mankai it's so feel good. i waited so long for more content of them and the fact that it's here and there's more coming makes me so happy. please read the backstages they're just so sweet

#a3! 1st gen #reni kamikizaka #syu otomiya #hiro hyuga #sorry for the rambling i still haven't recovered from the 1st gen gacha #i waited so long for stuff like this i can't be happier #I'M SCARED AS HELL FOR KASUMI'S ZEN'S AND YUZO'S CARDS BY THE WAY .#backstage spoilers

9 notes · View notes

leovoid · 11 months

Note

Hello. I was wondering if you read Naoki Urasawa's "Another Monster". If so, I had a question and I thought an analyst like you could give me your opinion about this.

So very little is stated about Kenzo's family in Another Monster. Let alone the mother.

Tenma's old friend said that it appeared as if Tenma was trying to isolate himself from his father and brothers, but what about his mom? It was said that she was harsh on him and favored her step-sons instead of her own flesh and blood, Kenzo, for no apparent reason. I don't get it. As a stepmother usually one would think they'd favor the child they gave birth to, so why would she so harsh on him and adamant to get rid of him? I know there's no definitive answer for this, but I would like to know people's theories about this. A theory I heard from someone else is that Kenzo might've been "too clingy to mommy", and another one said Kenzo reminded the mother about her ex-husband, but that kinda doesn't make sense because wouldn't the other siblings remind her of the father as well?

Let me know your thoughts, pleaseee

Thank you for the ask and I hope you're having a good day so far ^^ While I did read Another Monster, Its unfortunate to say that I can't really give you a satisfactory answer to the question due to the extremely limited information we have in regards to this. Kenzos mother preferring the stepsons over him for no apparent reason is all the details given to us, but I suppose I could theory craft here and try to rationalize the reasons... At the risk of sounding as if I advocate her behaviors, I believe it was due to how distant Tenma was towards not just his peers but his own family as well "Throughout his life in Japan he made very few friends and didn't forge strong bonds even with his own family, which is one of the reasons given by Dr. Takahashi to explain why Tenma came to Germany and never went back." - Monster Wikia As a child Tenma always stood out for being extremely bright and this caused his father to take deep pride in him, dedicating his hospital to soon be inherited by Tenma once he grows of age. I can only assume that due to this, a lot of attention from Tenmas father was soley on him and not the rest of his offsprings. Due to this I can only imagine that Tenmas mother had very little time to bond with Tenma due to the fathers infatuation of his talent. As such, this lead Tenmas brothers to be shunned and ignored, leaving the mother to be the only one relied on by her step sons while she could have felt Tenma had no need for her since her husband is so hyper-fixated on him. Because of this, I would believe there was a wedge between Tenma and his mother because of how little she has had an influence on his growth and their relationship as mother and son. Adding on to this, it doesn't help that Tenma is so disconnected from everyone purely by choice. Whatever his reasonings are, are factors that were not shown to us but thats another rabbit hole to go through It could just be his mother was a jealous bitch or something idk? LOL It could also be because Tenma for his entire life felt the expectations placed on his shoulders to be unfair and overbearing to what he actually strives to do in his life. It was mentioned that Tenma stood up against a teacher to defend a punishment taken too far by a fellow student, so I can only imagine that Tenma has an opinion of his own as to what injustices are. In an act of rebellion he went to Germany ON A WHIM, and worked in Eisler Memorial hospital where he wished to conduct his research on Alzheimers dementia. Now if we take a look at Monster the series, its clear that this research he dedicated his life to was thrown away from a motivation and purpose he set for himself when he saved Johan. To save all the lives he could, no matter who they are. I believe Tenma up to that point was operating in a rebellious phase towards the expectations put towards him by his father, where the first thing he heard was an opportunity of neuro surgery and decided to drop everything to pursue a goal given to him purely off inspiration whom he thought was written by Dr.Heinamann. Until he met Johan, Tenmas true purpose was given a stable foundation.

#anime #naoki urasawa's monster #monster #anime analysis #kenzou tenma #monster anime #anime discussion

16 notes · View notes

emilycollins00 · 1 year

Text

Getting there (Tenma centric)

Igawa is not Tenma’s father.

And yet, he ends up caring about him like one— he’s a bit awkward about it though.

OR three times Igawa is there for Tenma, and one time Tenma steps up for him.

Anyone that sets foot inside the acting world in Japan knows what type of power comes from the Sumeragi’s agencies.

Premium status. Fame. Validation.

One of the best of the current generation according to the media. Their buildings and workers emanate class, authority, and it wasn’t easy to manage a job there— which is why many agreed one could be called lucky just to be considered.

Igawa adjusts the collar of his suit. Ignores the prominent beating of his heart. Pushes his glasses up his nose. Repeats it all over. He is conscious how much sweat he is producing with only empty chairs staring back at him, and wonders if it would be possible to ask for a cup of water without crying.

How in the world he had managed to get so far was still out of his comprehension. A blur. After the first shock, a few more interviews and some phone calls, today was the day he would sign the final contract to become Sumeragi Tenma’s personal manager and guardian, the agreement outlining the terms of a two-year commitment and providing an option for renewal.

That is if he managed to leave the room without having a panic attack.

He stirs in his seat, taking for the sixth time a look at his watch, anxiety rising. Seven past ten. They hadn’t guided him into the wrong room, had they? As a test?

Oh god, he really hopes not.

Just when the young man is contemplating the idea of discretely checking the number of the room the door swings right open behind him, barely giving him time to swallow his scream. Two figures enter while he scrambles to get up and bow, drying his sweaty hands on the back of his pants.

“Igawa, I presume.”

“Y-yes, sir! I- it’s a pleasure!”

The man in front of him nods, taking his hand in a strong grip. “Thank you for waiting longer than necessary. I was needed to sign some documents before coming here and they took longer than expected.” His face is stoic and his voice profound while they shake hands.

“Oh, no! Not a problem!”

There was something about Sumeragi Eiji that instilled respect even from afar. But having the real deal in front of you? Downright terrifying. His acting had been leading the masses for many years. One wrong move and you could be done soon enough, to which Igawa imagined extended to his son.

His son.

It’s right there when Igawa takes his first good look at Sumeragi Tenma.

At the ripe old age of ten, Tenma is of course shorter than him. He seems to feel his gaze, because not even a heartbeat later the boy lifts his head up to meet Igawa’s— piercing, captivating purple eyes focused in a way the young man had never seen before in a kid.

"Tenma, this is the man your mother and I informed you about. He’ll be your manager and act as your guardian while we are abroad for the time being."

The young boy nods, half of his face twisted up as he keeps staring at Igawa thoughtfully. He wasn’t the son of two the current biggest celebrities in the country for nothing. "Nice to meet you, Igawa-san. I will be in your care."

His voice is childlike, although there is a slight effort being put on a low-pitched tone. The clear attempt to sound more mature, maybe trying to imitate his father’s powerful voice. Igawa nods and bows as quickly and politely as possible. "L-likewise! It’s a pleasure to finally meet you too, Tenma-kun." he holds his hand out awkwardly towards him, and they shake hands. “I’ll be in your care from now on.”

It doesn’t take Igawa long to learn the young actor exudes an aura that inherently draws others, just like the rumors said. His rising fame is an ongoing talk in the media— never seen another child actor behave more like an adult, treating every co-worker with the seriousness and respect they all displayed.

“He really is perfect!”

“Eiji-san must be proud.”

“Could we have some words from the upcoming young star of this movie?”

Of course, Igawa also comes to notice certain walls. Given his status and young age, Tenma was many times unaware that not everyone shared his privilege, which left many of his remarks about others seem cruel and hurtful. It was difficult, to try to explain the difference between honestly and bluntness.

Still, Tenma was a good kid with a dream he was determined to reach. Seeing how Tenma pushed forward to improve, hanging on to any advice or criticism he received from veteran actors or directors with a spiteful passion, practicing his movements or voice projection for hours after his personal instructors had left— all that effort made Igawa want to support him the best he could.

Which makes the time he failed to enter his planned middle school such a big deal.

They had just renewed Igawa’s contract a few weeks prior, meaning he had been able to feel once again an incredible mix of confusion, appreciation, and horror at the same time. The amount of press recognition Tenma had gotten over the years was more than many had expected. Although not his parents, apparently. They kept sending him emails with offers and used their connections daily, which made passing the entrance exam for middle school a much bigger issue than the ordinary person.

“Tenma-kun?! Tenma-kun, can you hear me!”

Igawa would have never expended the young boy to run away from the school grounds like that. Maybe— maybe he hadn’t made himself clear? Tenma was supposed to wait for him inside the car as he signed some documents so once he entered the vehicle and found it empty, it only took him less than a minute for his anxiety to spike through the sky.

Oh my god.

They had just renewed his contract and he had already lost his actor.

"Tenma-kun! Tenma-kun!!"

Igawa calls out of breath as he looks around desperately, gaining looks from other passers-by. For the first time he doesn’t take notice of being the center of attention or rather, he doesn’t even notice. How could he? He has no idea whatsoever where his twelve-year-old genius child actor, who captivates masses way beyond his regular piers, could probably have gone.

The thought makes Igawa want to vomit.

It’s only fifteen minutes later, just when Igawa is on the verge of having a breakdown and calling the police when he catches a glimpse of familiar hair. Tenma is sitting on a bench, looking exhausted and a little worse for wear. His shoulders are hunched and jaw set as he meets him. "Igawa...?"

“Tenma-kun!”

The young boy starts to rise as the Igawa runs in his direction, all his strength fading away. He can’t even manage to pretend to be angry, just confused. “I-I’ve been looking for you for…! Why did you suddenly leave like that?!”

“What do you mean?” Tenma frowns. “I left a message in the car saying I was going back home alone. Didn’t think you would come to look for me.”

“The car…? But— you, I didn’t think you—” Igawa doesn’t know how to explain this without damaging his confidence. “Tenma-kun this is… the opposite, um, way. I’m afraid…”

They stare at each other, and seconds later the young boy’s cheeks redden, sitting back on the bench and evading looking at his eyes. "I— of course I know that! I just had more stuff to think about so I decided to walk around some more!”

He then looks to the ground ashamed, gritting his teeth while Igawa finds himself still regaining air.

“...What did my parents say."

“Uh?”

“It wasn’t a difficult question, Igawa.” Tenma spits. The boy regrets the tone as soon as the words come out of his mouth though, because Igawa indeed looks worried (although he always does in the youngster's mind) but he’s too proud to take them back. “Whatever, the press will cover it soon and they’ll know.”

And then it finally sits on Igawa. The press.

Working the media industry is dangerous. No matter how long you have been at the top, one can always count on something happening, even the smallest thing, to rise and flop your career. Young Tenma knows. And Igawa knows too.

So that’s why he looked a little more than desperate.

“Forget it, let’s go home.”

Because Tenma has never been the best student— and he knows, despite feinting otherwise. He is always painfully aware when his professors let him go with a free pass, the thought ‘you didn’t earn this’ nagging at the back of his mind each time he moved up a year only because of his parent’s influence.

Next time he won’t even have that. Pathetic.

"But—" Igawa tries to interrupt but Tenma’s jaw tightens again, and his eyes narrow, casting his ashen face in shadow.

“...Who cares about working hard!” He suddenly declares out loud, turning his hands into fists. “Everyone is right. Everyone should be angry and disappointed with me. You are too, right Igawa? I saw it the moment we looked at the results. All I have is because of my parents and their connections. If I can’t even get in a stupid school like that one everyone will—”

“TENMA-KUN!”

The unexpected shout— for both of them really, Igawa doesn’t remember ever raising his voice in front of him for anything— cuts his speech off. Once the shock ends, Tenma reverts back to the expression he had come in wearing, like a man ready to be condemned. Igawa's anxiety rises again.

"Sorry! Sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled. It’s just, you are not at fault, Tenma-kun," he explains, leaning forward as though the action would force the young boy to accept his words. “I’m not, angry or— disappointed. I was just worried.”

He blinks, his face painfully surprised. "What do you mean?" He asks, feeling dumb.

Igawa sits next to him on the bench. He speaks again. "...I was worried because you didn’t look okay, and then I worried again when I couldn't find you. Not because I thought you did anything wrong or failed the entrance exam, but because you could have gotten hurt, ah— even if you were going home."

"Worried?" Tenma repeats, looking even more confused. He doesn’t seem to know what to do with this information. He blinks once. Twice. "You mean... you don't think I’m stupid?" Tenma asks slowly.

Igawa’s stomach sinks.

He looks at Tenma's face. He is ashen and looks exhausted, little bags showing under his eyes. He had been on a full stride of commercial the last few days with irregular working hours. It looked like nothing held him together but pure desperate, stubborn will. And even with all of that, he did the exam.

You don’t think I’m stupid— how could a child ask an adult that?

“No!” he shakes his head, vividly scared at the mere thought. "I— Tenma-kun I never thought you were. Not even once."

“But— but I failed!” Tenma shut his mouth, face flushing from embarrassment, adverting his eyes at the memory. He can’t help the disappointment that wells in his gut as he stares at the ground.

“A-and there’s nothing to be embarrassed about that! You did your best. That’s— that’s what’s important, right? Your parents know this as well.”

“Right. Because they told you that.”

He hadn’t called them, but Igawa finds himself nodding nonetheless. It’s not like he was actually lying. Because why would they mind? They were his parents. Tenma’s face contorts as a result and it occurs to him that whatever the young actor expected him to say, Igawa gave him something else entirely and the boy didn't know how to deal with that.

"Oh." He says, sounding as lost as he looked. "Well— okay, I guess.”

Most fourteen years old have specific interests or hobbies that they enjoy. Sports, crafts, music, games, you name it. And yet, after all these years, Igawa could have a gun pointed at his head and he still wouldn’t be able to say what exactly did Sumeragi Tenma in his spare time.

It’s not weird, right? Oh please don’t let it be weird, he begs as he presses the doorbell.

Was he crossing a line he shouldn’t? Would his parents say something? What if—

"Igawa?" Tenma squints, peeking outside the apartment at the tensed manager. “What are you doing here?”

"H-hello Tenma-kun!" his voice comes out a little breathless and rushed, but does his best to smile nonetheless. “May I come in?”

The young teen gives him an odd look, but apparently decides the point wasn't worth pressing as he shrugs and turns to let him enter. As he sits again in the living room, Igawa notices the young teen has scripts all over the dinner table.

“A-are these the offers I sent you yesterday? You have gone through them so quick! I’m impressed as always.”

"Right..." the young teen repeats slowly, staring at Igawa like one would a madman. "So? I thought I had no schedule this week.”

"Mhm? Oh! uh, you don’t." the teenager frowns in confusion. He then pays attention to the box the man has been carrying all this time.

“What’s that?”

“Uh?”

“Inside that box.” Tenma points with his head. “Fan letters?”

Igawa gulps down. Maybe it hadn’t been the best idea after all. He scratches his head. “W-well, um, actually I was thinking of showing you this…”

He takes up the object from inside the box, and immediately Tenma frowns puzzled.

“A bonsai? I thought they were pretty much for old people.”

Igawa tries to laugh it off, placing the tree on the table next to the scripts. Tenma steps forward, touching it with the tips of his fingers with a spec of curiosity. He had never seen an actual bonsai. “W-well, it was um, my late father’s. He enjoyed taking care of them.”

Tenma quickly retracts his hand from touching the plant anymore. “Ah. Sorry.”

“Oh no! It’s fine.”

Tenma doesn’t seem to think it’s fine. Even though they have been together for so many years, he actually knows so very little from Igawa aside from being prone to having mental breakdowns yet being strangely skillful when coordinating his hundreds of different schedules. “So… why have you carried it here then? Bonsais are supposed to be impressive but this one looks more than a little runty and small.”

“This particular bonsai...” Igawa starts to explain quietly. His own father told him it was going to die years ago— even his mother asked if it was even worth watering. “I brought it to my house, hoping I could nurse it back to health. And you know, it did! Kind of? It’s, um, kind of a stubborn Bonsai. It fought for every one of its roots, and it managed to survive when I showed it some care and attention. I thought- maybe you would like to, um, give it a try.”

“Like a pet? You know I don’t have time to take care of it, Igawa.”

“Not like a pet! I— well. I know it’s not the best uh, gift but it helped me when I was down. N-not that I think you are sad, of course just, um, thought it would also brighten up this apartment…?”

Tenma stares at the tree, and proceeds to sight in resignation. His manager was so weird sometimes.

Tenma steps out of the bathroom, towel around his shoulders as he heads towards the living room. He keeps reading the message their parents sent— another too-long note about how they hadn’t been able to come to see him due to some issues, along with a promised video call that would probably not happen given the time.

He closes the phone and yawns, heading to the sofa to eat the bento box the cleaning lady uses to leave him for dinner. It has carrots, and while he entertains himself in separating them, a sudden feeling makes him stop and lean back on the sofa, head looking at the ceiling. His head then turns to the right, finding the bonsai Igawa had left still in the same position he had left it.

Of course it was in the same position— he lived technically alone by now. If he didn’t take care of it, no one would.

M-my late father enjoyed taking care of them.

He stands up and walks towards the small tree, staring at it for some time, analyzing every inch of its form. It really wasn’t the best-looking bonsai. And yet he couldn't bring himself to stop staring at it.

“...Sorry for making fun of you.”

There’s a silence after he says that sentence out loud, and Tenma almost cringes at his own actions. Who talked to plants?

He sighs, scratching the back of his head, and looks away. He stares at the phone in his hand, and then back again at the little tree. The young actor traces a finger along its leaves, softening his gaze once he notices how brittle they feel.

“You should just grow at your own pace, you know. You for once are lucky to have all the time to be the best”.

Hearing those words almost feel they were for him too.

Two days later Igawa calls the doorbell. They have an audition and need to be there early, since they are one of the first ones to go.

He rings again. No one opens the door. There is no sound coming from inside, which sets an alarm. Begging this just like when the now teen forgot to wake himself up as a child, Igawa looks into his keys, finding the copy from the apartment. “Tenma-kun?” he calls. He runs to the bedroom, and then to his living room.

Usually Tenma is brazen, so it’s strange even for Igawa to see him so out of his element. The manager blinks to make sure he really is seeing the young teen on the couch, curled around a book about bonsais as if he’s fighting an inward battle.

“How do they make them so small?” he mutters to himself, unaware that he’s even in the room. He holds a bag of soil and scissors like they might get up and start dancing.

“Tenma-kun?”

Tenma jumps "Wha—! Igawa, you could at least ring if you are coming inside!” he exclaims, trying to hide everything he can to no avail. His ears are red.

“Sorry! I, uh, rang?” his eyes turn to the Bonsai that’s been sitting next to the orange-head. “Did you buy all of that for—”

“D-don’t get me wrong! It’s not that I enjoyed taking care of it, I have far too many things to do, but— it’s not really smelly and, uh, it really brightens the apartment so… yeah.”

Igawa has to force himself to bite his lip in order to not smile.

“Of course! Please let me know if you have any question. I still have some things back at home if you would like to have them!”

Tenma knows Igawa is happy— he’s not an idiot. He can see he’s barely containing his excitement, which is embarrassing on its own. But for this time, he’s gonna ignore it.

“…Thanks.”

His manager really was weird.

As the passing years turns out, it gets settled in Igawa’s mind that while Tenma has become and actual celebrity just like he always wished, he isn’t exactly well in the emotional department. He wonders -not for the first time- if he should say anything. Do something. But then again, who is he to meddle in his employers' family matters?

So for now, he does his best from where he can help.

Please be there, please be there, please for heaven’s sake be still there.

Among the immense crowd at the entrance of the school, Igawa stops the car and rolls down the window. There are groups of students and families walking out, and he’s about to give up when he’s finally noticed by who he’s been looking for. Motioning from inside the car, he waits until the back door opens and hears the muffled sound of something dropping. Tenma holds his middle school graduation diploma in his hands. He is half slumped over the car seat; legs stretched as he stares blankly at nothing in particular.

“…I thought today was your day off.” He comments flatly.

“A-ah, that! It’s just, uh, Yamada-san suddenly got some urgent matters to attend to and I was already in the area so it was decided.” Igawa looks over the car’s mirror. “So, uh, how… was the ceremony? Did you take photos?”

"It was okay." Tenma responds dully. "Aren’t you going to start the car?"

Igawa stares again at the teen, worry churning in his gut. After all the school Tenma had missed— not his fault or on purpose, Igawa never blamed him for that— the preteen knew how important keeping his attendance up was and he desperately didn't want to be held back. He worked hard to catch up, trying to get to know other students who one day could be called friends. He just wanted some normalcy, to keep whatever regularity in his life he could.

That unfortunately, wasn’t always the case.

After arriving at the apartment, Igawa glances at the clock and bites his lip. He closes the door as gently as he can while watching the young actor walk down to the hall.

Igawa tries to understand the situation. He really does. With a heavy heart, he picks up his cell phone remembering the call, barely an hour ago.

We won’t be able to make it back home today. Congratulate Tenma for us.

“They sent sushi.”

There’s no emotion in the teen’s voice coming from the kitchen. The lights in the living room are still off, the only light coming into the luxurious flat from the opened blinds left by the cleaner that very morning.

"Tenma-kun," Igawa calls, seeing him leave the backpack to the side, blank face as he stared at the feast in front of him. He clears his throat. “Tenma-kun your parents… they couldn’t make it in time, it seems.”

“Mhm.”

No comments. Not a resemblance of surprise in his purple eyes as they eye the beautifully presented food.

“They, um— they told me they were truly sorry and they wish you spent a…” he felt dirty saying it outloud. “…wonderful day! I— I can confirm they’ll see you as soon as their own schedules free them on the—”

“It’s fine, Igawa. See what you can do about the food, I’m gonna go change.” Tenma informs dismissing the matter. He walks away towards his room, still clinging to the diploma like a lifeline, his knuckles almost white. He closes the door and proceeds to seat on the floor, curling up. His eyes are squeezed tightly shut.

He is fine, Tenma tells himself.

He just needs to calm down and change his uniform. He knows Igawa, and he will most likely come to get him if he doesn’t come out soon. There was no way he would make a fuss over it— he was not going to make his own manager worry. Impotence arises when he feels tears gathering in his eyes.

What was he, five?

“T-Tenma-kun?”

A few knocks come from outside the door, and his eyes snap open when he hears his name being called, panic practically oozing out of them.

"One second!" his breathing is erratic, coming out in strangled gasps as he leans over slightly, bracing his hands on his knees tighter. "Just— give me a second!"

Great acting. That was such a blatant lie the soon-to-be summer troupe member didn't know if he wanted to laugh or cry. He also knew Igawa hadn’t believed him. He wasn’t an actor’s agent for nothing -no matter how much of a nervous wreck and worrywart he was.

"…You know what, you can leave, Igawa." he croaks, his voice shattered. “You didn’t even had to come get me and now I’m acting like a child.”

"P-please! You have nothing to be sorry for!" Igawa exclaims. Tenma can’t see his face, yet he can picture it perfectly. He scoffs.

“I’m not that stupid you know. I expected something like this.” He tries to regain control of his voice, but it still sounds heartbreakingly shattered.

Embarrasing.

It wasn’t the first time they hadn’t come to see him. Nor the second one. Not even the tenth one.

But he had worked so hard this last year.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, Igawa thinks he might be sick.

Because Tenma was already fifteen. A young actor still rising who worked day and night, whose fame stared in multitude of adverts. But for heaven’s sake he was also only fifteen too, sitting at the moment in the middle of his cluttered bedroom and trying to understand why his parents couldn’t spend one day with him on the day he wasn't working on a movie or practicing for a casting call.

"You know Tenma-kun, You don't always have to be strong. Nobody will think any less of you." The manager mutters.

Tenma barely looks up. The dying sunlight from the lone window in his room cast his face half in shadow, half in warm glow, eyes half masked in tears that had yet to drop.

"You— Tenma-kun you are without a doubt… the strongest person I've ever had the privilege of knowing." He repeats, and feels the teen moving. Not that he can be sure, so he continues talking.

“...Do you— mind if I stay? If you want, of course!” he hopes he doesn’t sound as awkward as he feels. “I, um, can put some plates and eat a bit. S-seems a waste of food, right?”

Tenma doesn’t make a sound, but that wasn't a no, so he stayed.

“Congratulations on your graduation, Tenma-kun.”

Again, he doesn’t respond, but Igawa hadn't really expected him to.

Sixteen-year-old Tenma stares at the flyer left on his bed. “Igawa,” he calls as he picks it up and reads the address. “Do I have anything planned after the fitting custom today?”

“Let me double check! Let’s see… it seems that would be the last thing programmed. Were you thinking about doing anything?”

“I want you to drop me in one place. Don’t say anything to my parents.”

"Do you realize the shame you've cause us? What this offer meant for your career?!"

“Dad, if you only—"

“I DON’T WANT TO HEAR EXCUSES!” The hand slamming onto the table makes Tenma’s jaw tightens and scowl.

They have been in the Sumeragi’s household for less than ten minutes and Igawa feels he can barely breathe already. He knew that it was just— just discipline, and Igawa was merely a spectator. A horrified one at that.

Still, he can’t leave the teen to confront this obstacle alone.

"U-um, Eiji… san? Sir?” Igawa weakly intervenes next to Tenma, raising his hand. The tension in the air felt physical and his mouth dry. “M-maybe you should hear him out?"

Sumeragi breaks focus on his son and stares Igawa down, his face unreadably menacing.

"You…” Eiji’s voice is deeper than he remembers, intimidating him more than enough as he gets up from the sofa and points at him. “Lying to us for months... Making us believe whatever you wanted… and for what? What did you gain from this?"

Igawa stays silent.

Sumeragi however, doesn’t. “Tell me who are YOU, of all people— to decide what is best for my son?!" his voice is a raw shriek by now, and before Igawa can process anything, he is grabbed and yanked from the sofa onto the floor.

“DAD!” Tenma gets up as a reflex, wide-eyed and horrified at the view. “Are you— out of your mind?! It’s me! It’s me who told him to lie to you two!”

Igawa hears both of them arguing in the distance. He wishes the situation hadn’t turned like this. Oh, how he wished there was something after all the years he’s been Tenma’s manager and guardian he had had courage to do.

He looks up toward the concerned teenager. Now instead of shiny purple eyes, he sees himself reflected in a sea of fear and anxiousness. “Tell him, Igawa! Please!” Tenma keeps begging him.

He shuts the option down. At this point that would only make things worse, he knows it would make it worse. Igawa stands up.

Who are YOU, of all people— to decide what is best for my son?!

Of course, he knew he wasn’t his father. Nor his family, or friend. But it didn’t matter. It really didn’t.

“I’m Tenma-kun’s manager. I work to help him reach his dreams.”

“Igawa…” Tenma whispers and Sumeragi barks a laugh.

“His manager, you say… his dreams, you say.” he steps closer, and grabs him by the collar of his shirt. “We believed you understood how important Tenma’s future was. That you cared. We thought you knew the amount of work we do is to provide him with everything he might need to have a successful life! All I ever asked in return, Igawa, is for a little respect from MY employee.”

Igawa knows Tenma has never looked happier than where is now. His place is in Mankai, and so he will stand by what he said.

“Look me in the eye when I’m talking to you!”

Sumeragi raises his hand, and Igawa closes his eyes, ready for the impact.

“Bear it a little bit more… that’s it.” Izumi smiles as she sees the summer actor flinch one last time at the contact the cotton does on his swollen cheek. It’s late at night, so there’s no one in the living room besides them and Igawa. “Did your father hit you because you joined our theatre as you please?”

Tenma feels Igawa tense.

“No, it’s because I refused a movie offer without asking him.” Tenma lies without missing a beat. “I’ve already apologized for it though. And I’ve told him this play is an important step in my career as an actor.”

“Because you don’t have any experience in theatre-?”

“I— um…” Igawa interrupts. Both of them turn to him. “I think Tenma-kun is in good hands. So… I will be leaving now.”

“Oh! Sure, Igawa-san. Thank you for everything.”

He bows to Izumi and heads outside. As he is about to open the car door, a figure comes running out of the dorm. Igawa barely looks at Tenma— he does and is sure will break, the memory flashing through his eyes like a nightmare already.

“You should rest. It’s. It’s been a hectic day and you have school tomorrow.”

“Igawa I—”

"It's fine. We talked plenty with your father. He apologized and so did I, for both of our actions." Igawa mutters faintly. “and you should never do something so—“

Tenma rolls his eyes, like he does everytime he thought Igawa was exaggerating. “I told you, it’s not that big of a deal. In a few days no one will-“

“But it is a big deal, Tenma-kun!” he turns to him, shuddering with the effort of holding back tears. Another thing Tenma used to roll his eyes to. “You were hurt! You can't. You are— precious! You shouldn’t just— do such things without thinking!”

“Well I would do it again!” Tenma shouts back, and Igawa’s stomach flips. “Because it wasn’t your fault. It never was! Because I made you lie and worry all this time for my own selfishness and because I’m sorry!” the waver in his voice makes it all too real.

Igawa had never seen the teen like that.

“I… I’m sorry, Igawa.” Tenma tries again, voice cracking this time. The summer leader frowns frustrated, not knowing what else to do. “I’m sorry.”

Igawa can't listen to him apologize anymore. He can't see the young teen on the verge of tears. The same boy who at eleven ran to him when he got the main lead in his first drama, the very same little boy who hid in the bathroom of his own apartment for hours until Igawa came and killed that cockroach. All of them make the cluster of emotions already begin to disappear, pulling out like the tide. "Tenma-kun please, no. No, stop. You can't— you can't be sorry for helping me. That's not fair."

“W-well you can’t either!”

Tenma doesn't say anything after that for a long moment, and neither does Igawa.

"I just... I got so mad because you weren’t saying anything. Because I had ruined everything. I know it's, it's not been fair for you. It's. It's not. I don't know. I'm sorry."

Tenma feels pathetic. What kind of explanation was that supposed to be? He notices Igawa steps forward, his hand finding its way to Tenma’s hair, threading fingers through it. He is slow about it and oh so gentle.

"Igawa?"

Tenma looks up, bewildered at Igawa’s gaze. It’s a gaze that he’s seen more and more, as years passed by.

A softness reserved solely for him.

Coming from anyone else, it would make him feel uncomfortable. Like pity, leaving him feeling strange and sticky. But on Igawa’s face, Tenma sees the melting-brown-eyes look for what it is.

Love.

"Tenma-kun, I’m proud to be your manager. I’ll always be." the man says. His voice comes out clean, just like he always did the few times Tenma had found himself nervous before an audition. "You are an incredible actor and an even better person. I already know you have what it takes, now you just need to show it to your father. To everyone else. I... promise I’ll be right behind."

And then he's hugging Tenma, incredibly awkwardly and everything of course— because that’s just who Igawa is— but also as though his life depends on it.

It sinks on Igawa that in the end, Tenma does mean a lot to him. That's why he choose to care about him. On purpose and despite everything, he will care about him.

He notices Tenma takes a while until he hugs him back, equally awkwardly.

"…Sure." Is all he manages to hear him say quietly.

Because words cannot properly encompass the emotion building in his chest right now, cannot possibly give meaning to the tears stinging his eyes.

Mornings tend to get chilly at Mankai. Tenma notices this everytime he has to leave his room early, just enough to feel the wind brush across his skin. It’s not cold, but the wind is brisk. It wants to be known.

He has a shoot in an hour, so he yawns and stretches his back in front of his room, noticing from upstairs Tasuku arriving from his morning jog and Omi and some other early bird —probably director or Guy— heading towards the kitchen to prepare for the day.

He himself heads towards the courtyard for the bonsai trees zone. His zone. Where five of them stand on intricately designed and expensive ceramic pots.

He’s there for his prized possessions, the reason why he listens to the wind talk so loudly in the morning, ignores the slight chill on his cheeks. To check their soil is rich and dark. To stare and their leaves full and green before leaving the dorm.

“Morning.”

Greeting them had become somewhat of a routine. Now if he imagines hard enough, he can see the leaves open toward him, showing their health in all their waxy green glory.

He checks if there’s anything he needs to pay extra attention to. After all these years, of course, he’s learned how to painstakingly trim branches when they have gotten too unruly. He also counts down the days until he needs to turn the soil, has mapped out the places where they get the most sunlight thanks to Tsumugi, and watches intently for when they start to protest because the rays in the form of dry soil and drooping, crack their leaves.

Yes, Tenma takes pride in seeing them grow. To be the one who is able to help them, to pay them the attention they deserve to become the majestic bonsais he raised from seedlings to saplings.

Then, there’s this bonsai, the smallest of them all: a runt on its own right. It struggles to reach its branches toward the sun, one drinks up water from Tenma’s watering can hungrily. This last bonsai is always his last stop. Always.

It’s a stubborn one. A tree that needs lots of coddling and care. A tree that no matter how many years might have passed, doesn’t grow any taller or bigger or stronger at all.

“Still looking tiny as ever today, uh.” Tenma hums, but he’s speaking softly, lifting with care a stray branch with one hand and holding gardening scissors with the other. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d even think you shrunk.” he punctuates his quip with a snip.

Because it is actually fine.

Then the entrance door opens and a pair of panicky and already known into his core steps run towards the courtyard.

“I’m so sorry I’m late, Tenma-kun! I forgot the passing cards and had to go back into the office a-and then there was a lot of traffic in the last few blocks so I had to…!”

Igawa’s voice reaches the garden, and the teen stands up. “Well, I’m going.” he mutters to his bonsais. Their brittle leaves move with the wind, a light shimmer covering the surface as if saying take care, see you soon.

“They look healthy.”

He scoffs once he reaches Igawa’s side and gives a proud look back at the garden. “Of course they do. I never do half-hassed jobs, you know that.”

The man gulps down and nods as they head back once again to the entrance. “R-Right!”

“So? What was it today.”

“Well, you have…”

And as he watches the man trying to make sense of the three identical files he carries —he really should label those— warmth floods Tenma’s chest. A smile makes its way into his mouth, and his eyes soften for a few moments. There’s admiration. Respect. Fondness.

Because Igawa was the weirdest manager Tenma had ever had in his acting career. No matter how many years they had spent together he kept apologizing, always nervous and stressed regarding his packed schedule and whatnot. Enough to make the summer leader sight in all honestly.

Other times though, Tenma couldn’t be thankful enough.

________________________________________________________

I was so excited to post this because it’s been a WIP for years!! Igawa has always been one of my favorite background characters. He deserves recognition.

Hope you all enjoyed it! Have a wonderful day! 💕

#a3!#a3! act! addict! actors!#a3! tenma #a3! igawa #a3 #props to @icharchivist as well #forever in love with your insights icha!

44 notes · View notes