#now Shougo

[active-mind-15]

I had a silly little KNB idea based on the "of course" trend going around on Tik Tok

Kuroko: we're the Teiko basketball team. Of course we shoot laser beams out of our hands when we're playing basketball. You thought that was special effects?

~~~

Kise: we're the Teiko basketball team. Of course everyone has a gimmick like we're members of an early 2000s boy band. I'm the good-looking one, by the way.

~~~

Midorima: we're the Teiko basketball team, of course everyone has insufferable personalities that make us incapable of befriending anyone who's not part of the club.

Aomine in the distance: speak for yourself, loser!

~~~

Aomine: we're the Teiko basketball team, of course we have inhuman strength and abilities that surpass NBA players despite all of us being between the ages of 13 and 16.

~~~

Momoi: we're the Teiko basketball team, of course we have data on every basketball player in the district down to their blood type and social security number. Doesn't everybody?

~~~

Murasakibara: we're the Teiko basketball team, of course we... what was my line?

Kise, out of frame: Not again!

~~~

Akashi: we're the Teiko basketball team, of course we have cheesy nicknames for every one of our abilities. We're middle schoolers, what did you expect?

~~~

Haizaki: this trend is stupid, I'm not doing it.

Nijimura, appearing behind Haizaki and gripping his shoulder: wanna repeat what you just said???

~~~

Nijimura, holding a beat-up and barely conscious Haizaki: we're the Teiko basketball team, of course as a senior I have to play the role of a single parent and make sure these brats behave.

Akashi, out of frame: Nijimura-san, I think Haizaki stopped breathing.

Nijimura, unfazed: he'll be alright.

[kb11rd]

Worst poster/card idea ^^

[kirisaki-daichi-scenarios]

the boys as bodyguards

dedicated to absolutely no one. sure this is an asks blog - does that mean i have to actually answer them? i know i know bad admins bad admins whatcha gonna do whatcha gonna do when they come for you but i had a dream ages ago now that involved bodyguards, tsunamis, and also a shit ton of murder. don't ask. anyway, it got me pondering. and then it took literal months to write this so i figured i'd post what i've got so far, and maybe i'll update with the rest of the boys later, depending on how well this does/how much time i have

hanamiya makoto

hanamiya’s the package deal

he’s the chief advisor; he’s the doctor; he’s the bodyguard; he’s the sniper. just a right hand man in every way possible.

i mean, he’s not literally your right hand man: he’s the leader of a team, and often it’ll be one of his men there next to you at events, but he’s always supervising or coordinating or collecting intel

ie he’s dedicated to his job. he does like engineering spider’s webs after all.

having said that, he’s also an uncontrollable prick

he’s the best at giving you advice, both in terms of navigating high society and in terms of actual business advice, but is he going to give that advice without slipping in a snide comment about how you should really know all this by now? when you tell him to make sure to take a break some time, is he going to stop himself from saying “maybe if you weren’t so incredibly useless on your own, i’d be able to.”

and sure maybe he’s breaking the universal declaration of human rights with what he does to the people who dare to try harm you, but you don’t know about that

need to know basis type beat

you don’t even have access to the full floor plans of your own property, which includes a basement you’ll never know about, let alone step foot in. hanamiya keeps that information very close to his chest.

gotta make sure his employer has plausable deniability

gotta make double sure that you don’t find out about half the things he does - from the ways he sources his information, to his very dodgy organised crime links, to the number of people that have sadly lost their lives in the name of “fuck it, you’re pissing me off” - because he hates when you bang on about bullshit like “laws” and “morals”

after all, if everyone followed your beloved laws and morals, then you’d have no need for his services

as he always tells you, he’s just your pet necessary evil

yamazaki hiroshi

i reckon he only got into the bodyguard business because he spent his childhood wanting to be a samurai but, well you know, that’s not really a job opportunity anymore

what it does mean though is that he’s all about bushido: mastering his work, bravery, honesty, etc - and above all else loyalty to one’s employer

on a random thursday afternoon, he’ll tell you, completely nonchalantly, straight face, “i would die for you if that’s what it takes. on my life, i’ll always keep you safe.”

you’re staring at him like wtf and/or trying to stop yourself blushing, but he thinks that’s a completely normal thing to say cause he’s just following bushido

of course, late one night, he’ll wake up realise how weird that came across and he’ll spend the next week trying not to blush whenever you talk to him

just like the time he spent a week kicking himself after you walked in on him training, shirtless and rather sweaty, and when you told him he should take a break, he said “but i need to train so my body can be at its best for you”

again, at the time that sounded very reasonable, serious, and totally bushido to him. it’s only later that he’s freaking out in his room like why in god’s name did he say that.

but hey that’s bodyguard!yamazaki for you. a little weird, a little socially inept, but loyal to a fault

haizaki shougo

can you imagine the number of jobs that this man has lost for sleeping on the job?

he’s only got his current gig looking after you because his prices are cheaper and you were getting desperate to find someone in your budget

he’s a ...uhh… unique bodyguard? in the sense that he’ll get you out of harms way eventually, but "eventually" is the key word there

haizaki actively ignores intel that a certain location might be dangerous, because he really just wants to get into fights. sure you might get in the way occasionally, maybe even get some nasty bruises, but hey you get what you pay for.

you want a good bodyguard, save up some money, idiot.

literally the only reason he got into being a bodyguard is so he can beat people up legally (and because he got dishourably discharged from the military); he doesn’t care that much about the whole ‘protecting’ side of things

he’s also the type to ditch you the minute a better paying job comes up (possibly combat work as a mercenary). however he’s not as cold-hearted as he may seem, and he’ll happily spend a day of leave breaking into your penthouse

so that when you return in the evening, he’s there sat on an armchair, grinning smugly, “man your security’s turned to shit since i left.”

shortly followed by, “miss me?”

jason silver

jason’s the quintessential bodyguard, cause, after all, having a very muscular 6’11 man follow you everywhere you go isn’t exactly subtle

but he’s recognisable for other reasons as well.

like the fact that he’ll accompany you to formal balls, and he’ll be the only man there with an undone tie - it’s such a massive argument trying to get him to wear an appropriate suit instead of his usual hoodies and sweatpants, that can anyone blame you for not having the energy to insist he stops undoing his tie as well?

he’s also not exactly one for professionality. like you’ll be minding your business, trying to network, and suddenly you’ll hear a wolf whistle by your ear and a “wouldn’t mind me a bit of that”

“jason, that’s the ambassador to norway. we’re having her over for dinner next week, so, with all due respect, shut the fuck up. and whisper next time, for heaven’s sake! what if someone had heard you?”

“shit, is it a crime to like some nice tits in this economy?”

and when you glare at him, genuinely furious, he grins, puts his hands up, and says, “sorry, sorry. forgot you don’t like me having eyes for anyone else, boss.”

but don’t get me wrong, jason’s not all evil contra to fujimaki’s propaganda

he is an incredibly good bodyguard - those animal instincts really help him out when it comes to getting you out of a sniper’s line of sight, or saving you from a bullet, or just assessing a room for potential entry points. and he packs a mean punch if anyone tries to try something on you, a solid ko.

no one’s getting past him essentially

the only problem is that it’s incredibly difficult to thank jason for saving your life, cause the last thing he needs is an ego boost or feeling like you owe him.

“seriously jason. i don’t know how i can ever repay you.”

“usually the payslip’s enough,” he smirks, “but you know that little lady ambassador-“

unsuprisingly, he’s not invited to the dinner.

[bloodyspade0000]

cuz Haizaki's a misogynistic lil twat, I write him as gay & a bottom.

[heavensxrot]

The Justice of Villains: Were they wrong?

Don’t we all, at some point, feel how unjust the world we live in is? Do you ever find yourself sympathizing with antagonists? Do you wish they’d won in the end? Were they just misunderstood geniuses — or simply corrupt evil creatures? Maybe, like me, you sometimes admire the ‘villain’ more than the so-called hero.

Let’s talk about justice and characters that fought for it.

What is JUSTICE in the first place?

This has been one of society’s key questions for centuries. Justice has been a fundamental pillar in our existence since time immemorial. I would personally prefer to refer to Plato, the Greek philosopher, whose idea of justice seems the most unbiased and conventional.

Since the tradition of Greek Philosophy considered ethics to be important, they believed that the state comes into existence for the sake of life and continues for the sake of a good life. Plato believed in the same dictum and held that the state exists to fulfil the necessities of human life. To save oneself from any suffering and to prevent injustice, men enter into a contract to prevent injustice upon themselves or on others. That is also how laws came into existence to codify standard human conduct and bring a sense of Justice. (From “The Republic”)

Justice is when everyone (or every part of the soul) does their proper role in harmony, guided by reason and the good. The virtue that befits the state is JUSTICE which creates harmony in all the three social classes and is a necessary condition for human happiness.

Valid. Proven. Just.

Now, let’s talk about how Light Yagami(Death Note), William Moriarty(Moriarty the Patriot) and Makishima Shougo(Psycho-Pass) saw justice, with flaws and good sides of their ideals.

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LIGHT YAGAMI. [Modern world]

“This world is rotten and those who are making it rot deserve to die. Someone has to do it, so why not me?”

Oh, the man he is — a simple student from Japan with the powerhouse of his brains and so much lost potential. Let’s be honest — the guy is admirable and his idea of justice seemed to be very justified. If we could make all evil perish, wouldn’t we do it immediately, right?

Here’s the thing, I LOVE masterminds, they can have me: mind and soul. But when it comes to Light and people who stand on the same hill as he did? Very HARD pass. I do judge you.

Light equates justice with death, allowing no space for rehabilitation, context, or nuance. But he forgets who the main enemy is — corrupt system, people’s ignorance and lack of accountability. He wants to erase the ‘flawed’, but aren’t we all? Is it fair to apply the same punishment for criminals with different range of guilt? Is the mother who stole napkins from the store for her newborn child supposed to die in the same way the rapist will?

Isn’t that why courts exist in the first place? To look through evidence, analyze the context and come to the most reasonable verdict ?

I understand his justice-driven behavior, but it doesn’t mean I agree with it or even respect it. To me , his ‘justice’ was flawed and doomed from the very beginning.

if we kill all criminals, does it mean that only the good ones remain? No — not even close. A society that avoids crime out of fear alone is no better than a herd led blindly, stripped of will. The guy values control through fear — people will behave well not out of goodness but out of terror. However, it has and never will work. Take the actual examples from history(USSR) and modern times(South Korea).

I am not going to defend our juridical system, it has to be reformed, that’s for sure. But it doesn’t mean we need some narcissistic with god-complex to decide people’s fates.

Verdict: Light’s justice is fascist, punitive and absolute. It lacks compassion, context and forgiveness. We are emotional beings that need freedom, not terror and dictatorship, where deviation = death.

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WILLIAM JAMES MORIARTY. [Past times]

“People’s fancies do not get taken by that which is out of view.”

Once again — how do they keep making villains so beautiful? Tell me you guys also fell for his face and his dramatic literature-style of speech. Yet another intelligent and well-educated person that fights for equality and justice! Mastermind with the eyes that have seen the terrors of humans’ existence.

What is his idea of justice? William believes that the root of all suffering is inequality. The aristocracy(people with money and influence) abuse power with impunity, and the law protects them. True justice can only be achieved in one way — by resetting society, eliminating those who built their lives on exploitation. His justice is utilitarian, class-based, and revolutionary.

With all due love and respect that I harbor for my precious William, I must admit that I don’t entirely agree with his idea, although his methods don’t look as bad as, for instance, the ones belonged to Light Yagami. You may ask me — why? Let me explain.

I am a history buff from Eastern Europe, so I know stuff when I say that Utilitarianism is not a way to fix the world. The death of the few (corrupt) for the good of the many (oppressed) has been one of Lenin’s leading causes. We know how it ended. “We will build our new world. He who was nothing will become everything!” And no, it never worked.

William aims to destroy the elite class and redistribute justice by empowering the lower classes — often via crime. And here’s the thing, why to demolish the noble class if you can use their wealth and power for the good, while simultaneously helping the lower classes? Not all rich are bad, not all poor are good. His ideology reminds me of radical socialism, which again never worked. We cannot possibly live in a stateless world. Stateless does not equal freedom and equality. Nevertheless, we can choose liberalism to protect people’s rights and bring our society closer to desired equality.

Verdict: William’s key values are omitting the importance of law, legality, reform and individual power. Our world cannot be changed drastically with violence. We are humans, not animals. Most of us learns, we grows, and evolves. He could have used his own influence to guide, to make others become better people.

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MAKISHIMA SHOGO. [POSSIBLE FUTURE]

"I think the only time people really have value is when they act according to their own will."

Oh, the best antagonist I have ever seen in fiction. Well-written, magically beautiful, intelligent and slightly old-fashioned. A perfect blend for me, I would write poetry dedicated to this man. Frankly, I don’t really understand why people hated his ideas…? Among all the characters mentioned in this post, he actually makes sense, although his methods are devastating and horrifying.

Despite him being only in one season, I fell for hard for this man. “So, sir Makishima, what’s your idea of justice?” (I ask while writing my phone number to give it to him, lol)

The man believes that humanity has surrendered its soul to safety and order, Sybyl System that is. This said system dehumanizes people — punishing or sedating them based on potential , not actions. And this is where I am absolutely on his side. Is it fair to judge people, whose actions have not been illegal just based on some technology, which also includes criminals’ brains? Is labeling or even eliminating people gor what they have not done… just? Can we trust the ones who pull the strings and just forget about importance of human nature? Can’t a person be guided back — rather than destroyed?

The whole idea is admirable by me, but the way he implements his view, the way he manipulates people and cares so little about the most essential concept — human’s life? Unacceptable, sad, tragic.

I fear that our future might look the same. Think of the amount of propaganda we fall for, or about AI replacing employees, or about people’s ignorance of global issues we have caused ? Is it what the world needs? People held captive by trepidation? No, it’s definitely not what I personally stand for.

I am not justifying Makishima’s actions. They are too radical, too brutal, too… soulless. Leading people into the abyss through terror has never worked, and never will. I’ve said it before — utopia can’t be reached, no matter the method. That’s just who we are: flawed, and always will be.

Verdict: Makishima’s justice is anarchic, existential, and romantic. He wants people to live authentically, even if it means violence and collapse. He values freedom, human emotion, and genuineness over safety, stability and mechanical efficiency. However, he believes that suffering equals the truth, which reminds me of my biggest enemy — fyodor dostoevsky. Accepting our imperfections is good, but indulging in them — and acting purely on emotion — makes it hard to distinguish between the human and the beast.

‧ ˚₊ ✦ ˗ˏˋ  ˖˚⊹ ‧ ˚₊ ✦ ˗ˏˋ  ˖˚⊹ ‧ ˚₊ ✦ ˗ˏˋ  ˖˚⊹ ‧ ˚₊ ✦ ˗ˏˋ  ˖˚⊹ ‧ ˚₊ ✦ ˗ˏˋ  ˖˚⊹ ‧ ˚₊ ✦ ˗ˏˋ  ˖˚⊹ ‧ ˚₊ ✦ ˗ˏˋ  ˖˚⊹ ‧ ˚₊ ✦ ˗ˏˋ  ˖˚⊹ ‧ ˚₊ ✦ ˗ˏˋ  ˖˚⊹

Light, William, Makishima… great minds with so much lost potential. Proof that even the smartest can fall the hardest.

It’s okay to love these characters for their depth — but can we really believe they were right, when their actions scream otherwise?

We dream of utopia, peace, and equality... but the question remains: can such a world be reached through pain, suffering, and death?

Let’s stay humans — even when the world we exist in has lost its soul.

[ozzgin]

... Did I imagine headless bosozoku the entire time as tesshou???...maybe. AS ALWAYS ALL UR WRITING IS SO DELICIOUS!!! Also as u r in delinquent fever I have to share an idea I got ok so ik u have a wip of a worst hc with a fighter reader and I thought of fighter read who's secretly a freak like looks normal but like a secret adrenaline junkie or smth like biting ears off during fights just going insane style and eventually they have a rivalry with one of the guys and after some days of building tension they set a date for a fight and during the fight reader tackles him into a wall and it's ofc followed by heavy breathing and eye contact and then messy make out sesh both mouths filled with blood cuz there's no fun if there's no blood, I don't think Tesshou fits for this sadly as I think he's a dog when he's in love and would just take a beating, I do see amachi being like this tho PLS TELL ME UR THOUGHTS... Also I'll scream if u make any yandere!crows x worst stuff my 2 fav things

I think Amachi would absolutely love a violent darling. He'd let you scratch and bite him with a smile on his face. Though at some point he'd probably try to put you in your place, taking great pride in being able to dominate you. Hell, he'd probably be turned on by your frustrated struggle, watching you as you squirm underneath him, cuss him out, spit in his face. Same for his gang, like Daitou, Koumei, Zenmei. They love a feisty partner, but they hate losing and wouldn't stand the thought of not being a proper sparring mate for you.

Guriko might also enjoy it to some degree. I feel like bleeding might be too much - he'd take a step back and be like "Hey now, (Y/N), we don't do any permanent damage! I can't have this handsome face scarred, hmm?" But otherwise he'd find your fighting spirit tremendously entertaining. Didn't he have a thing for female wrestlers? He'd probably beg you to choke him with your thighs or something.

Ah! Higuchi of the Manji Seven is also a good contender. He's crazy. You're crazy. A match made in Heaven. He'd encourage you to try harder, he barely felt a thing. The other guys are a little freaked out by his battle markings, wondering if he has a thing for masochism.

On the topic of yandere Crows x Worst, I think I struggle a little to see most characters as yandere. They're honest, good-hearted dumbasses. I can't picture it without taking away from their canon personality, you know what I mean? Amachi is the classic antagonist, and even when he changes for the better he's still not exactly a goofy clown like the rest of them, so in his case it works. Same for someone like Zenmei. But the others? Hmm.

I seem to rotate between characters when it comes to my thirst, and lately I've been into Shougo a lot. This is just an unrelated musing. He's strong, smart, loyal. He'd treat you like royalty. Call him at 3am because you had a bad dream and he'll hop on his bike to come over and keep you company. Has your number as his favorite contact, to be notified at any second of the day. Probably asks Takumi for advice because he's never had a partner before. Blushes a lot and is extremely awkward during intimate moments. Could maybe have the slightest yandere potential? As in, being frequently insecure and secretly jealous because what the hell, half the town most likely wants you. He's gotta keep them at a safe distance. Doesn't like it when you hang out with other guys. "I could've taken you there myself," he'd huff. I mean, look at him. Date material.

[frankie-bell]

An Essay Exploring Psycho-Pass's Most Controversial Character

I know I’m opening a huge, slimy can of worms and potentially incurring the wrath of half the Psycho-Pass fandom, but I feel compelled to share my feelings on Mika Shimotsuki and how I believe she serves as a lightning rod for fan culture misogyny. Now, before I start, let me just say that this essay isn’t targeted at any one individual, and it’s just my personal opinion, which you are more than welcome to disagree with. I’d also like to stress that, despite my love for Mika’s character, I’m going to try my very best to approach this topic from an academic standpoint rather than an emotional one. I recently picked Parasocial Relationships and their effect on female celebrities and fictional characters as a thesis for my Gender and Media course, and it really got me thinking about this anime in particular, so here we go…

Let’s tackle the female side of things first, because it’s the one that shocks and disappoints me the most. Don’t get me wrong -- I think fandoms with a strong female presence are awesome, complex, uplifting, and oftentimes incredibly positive and inclusive spaces. I love being a female genre fan and interacting with other female genre fans. That said, I’ve noticed female fandom can sometimes fall prey to online bullying and misogynistic groupthink when it comes to (a) female characters they find arrogant, bossy, mean, etc. and (b) female characters who are positioned as potential love interests for their collective male "blorbos," "husbandos," "faves," whatever the term may be. These two things very often overlap, which I’ll touch on later, but for now, let’s talk about the first point.

There was a big movement online several years ago urging creators to “let women be mean. Let them be angry. Let them be petty and complex and difficult. Let them be messy.” I fully support this idea in both theory and practice and wish it were that simple, but unfortunately, it’s not, because uncomfortably large swaths of fandom don’t like/appreciate unapologetically mean female characters the way they do male characters. Men in fiction are allowed to be cutthroat, selfish, cruel, narcissistic, arrogant, and even evil without garnering even a fraction of the judgement that female characters receive for simply being “difficult” or “unlikable.”

Take, for instance, Shougo Makishima. The Psycho-Pass fandom at large adores this character (myself included), despite the fact that he’s a remorseless sociopath who touts the importance of free will as a wholesale excuse for murder. He is a bad person, full-stop, and yet he garners love -- even sympathy -- in abundance. He’s the subject of fawning fan fiction, chibi art, thirst tweets, and endless Reddit analysis. Fans are capable of seeing him, murderous warts and all, as a product of the warped dystopian society Sibyl has created. But Mika? Nope. Just “a bitch, a whiner, an arrogant little girl who deserves to get slapped in the mouth.” (I am not making this up. These are the type of comments I see *female* fans making left and right about her character). She receives far more hate for giving up the location of Akane’s grandmother as a blackmailed, frightened teenager than Makishima does for slashing Yuki’s throat or blowing up Masaoka. Hell, she catches more heat for Akane’s grandmother than Sakuya Togane, the woman’s actual murderer and -- I can’t stress this enough -- a 41-year-old adult man.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking -- Makishima and Togane are villains, so their personality flaws (putting it lightly) and horrible actions are essential to the narrative and indicative of good storytelling. We’re meant to “love to hate them.” All correct, and yet this doesn’t change or excuse the fact that their standing in the fandom, when compared to the equally complex and emotionally fractured Mika, is textbook pernicious misogyny. But, for the sake of argument, let’s compare Mika to another character ostensibly on the side of good -- Nobuchika Ginoza. [Note: Ginoza is my favorite character in Psycho-Pass, and any commentary regarding his PP1 shittiness is made with pure love and appreciation for him and nuanced character growth in general.]

When we first meet Ginoza, he is rude, terse, unyielding, intellectually smug, and totally unforgiving of those closest to him. He’s a brilliant character, and his behavior, no matter how insufferable and seemingly cruel, is the result of compounded trauma -- the trauma of having his father ripped away when he was only nine, the trauma of being unfairly judged for the “sins” of said latent criminal father, the trauma of his mother numbing her pain with medication and eventually becoming something akin to a human corpse, the trauma of finding a new support system and best friend in Kougami only to once again be “abandoned” for the other side of the law. In many ways, he’s still a hurt child lashing out at the world, unwilling to see it for the complicated, morally gray place that it is, because being mad is easier. Telling himself that Enforcers are nothing more than dogs for him to guide and use as shields is easier. Blindly trusting the judgements handed down by Sibyl is easier.

In this way, he and Mika are remarkably similar. When she first joins the MWPSB, she’s a 17-year-old minor whose best friend (and probably first love) was dismembered by a latent criminal under the direction of a serial killer disguising himself as a teacher -- a trusted authority figure. She’s filled with guilt and self-loathing over her failure to act, and the easiest way for her to sort out her feelings and ensure the same thing doesn’t happen again is to harden herself to all latent criminals. Distrusting them, treating them as “other,” is her form of self-preservation. Yes, it makes her come across as mean, as closed-minded, as unlikable, but that’s not a bad thing. It’s good storytelling, and it presents her with plenty of potential for growth, which she is certainly given.

[Upon discovering that her best friend, fellow Oso Academy student Kagami Kawarazaki, has been murdered by Rikako Oryo, Mika breaks down in tears, blaming herself for the tragedy. This is the moment her distrust of latent criminals is solidified.]

But, unlike Ginoza (a 28-year-old adult man), over half the fandom decided that Mika was so awful, so totally unforgivable, such a “heinous cunt,” that they were unwilling to allow her the time and space to grow beyond her trauma and immaturity. But why? Is it because we’ve been taught to judge women, even fictional ones, based on a different set of criteria than men? I think the answer is obvious, and I urge fans who dislike Mika’s character with such intensity to seriously examine their reasoning. I don’t mean to say that she’s infallible (hardly) or that it’s wrong to dislike her. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and no one person’s take is more valid than another’s, but it’s definitely something to think about in the larger conversation that is media analysis.

Which brings me to Akane Tsunemori, someone who fits all the abovementioned criteria for a “likeable” female character. [Another note: I love Akane, and none of this is meant to disparage her. I am simply trying to point out that she’s a more easily digestible female when viewed through the patriarchal lens of pop culture.] She’s smart but not arrogant about it, strong-willed but never disagreeable, empathetic but not easily led by her emotions, and most importantly, she’s always kind to the fandom’s male faves. She is, in almost every way, trademark "Best Girl" material, and Mika is her foil (at least in PP2). She’s set up to be the anti-Akane, both in personality and narrative function. If Akane trusts someone, Mika doesn’t. If Akane wants to bend the rules, Mika is rigid in upholding them. If Akane isn’t afraid of clouding her Hue, Mika is downright terrified.

Though it’s never stated outright, she probably hoped her senior Inspector would serve as a mentor figure, yet we see none of that from Akane, who often abandons Mika to chase down seemingly wild leads and appears to be stuck in the past, yearning for the original Division 01. (Mika even says as much to Ginoza in a novelization of the first film.) On top of that, I think it’s important to remember that we’re predisposed to side with Akane, as she is both our POV protagonist *and* the hero of the narrative. We have unprecedented access to her private moments, motivations, and methodology. We know she means well and trust that her unconventional strategy will pay off in the end. Mika does not. All she knows is that her direct superior is habitually breaking the rules, overloading her team with what feels like excessive busywork, and ignoring the more bureaucratic side of the job in favor of unconventional/unsanctioned detective work. If I’m being perfectly honest, I would also be submitting concerned reports to my boss.

[When Akane blatantly disregards Sibyl's judgement of bomber Akira Kitazawa, talking him down from a Crime Coefficient of 302 to 299, Mika confronts her for putting both their colleagues and nearby civilians in danger. This later proves to be the right call, as Kitazawa attacks Inspector Risa Aoyanagi and escapes police custody.]

[While investigating Kirito Kamui, Akane keeps her suspicions/theories close to the chest, leaving Mika and the rest of Division 01 in the dark as to her game plan.]

[Although Akane's decision to entrust Hinakawa with all 185 Halos proves to be the right one, it's understandable why Mika is taken aback by her placing so much responsibility on a single subordinate -- especially one with Hinakawa's history.]

Now, that’s not to say Mika’s feelings about Akane are purely altruistic. She’s definitely jealous of her senior Inspector and resents her standing within the Bureau, which makes her behave in ways both petty and vindictive. But I’d argue that this, too, is understandable, if not wholly forgivable, when viewed through Mika’s eyes. Picture this: You’re the youngest-ever recruit to a highly coveted position. You follow protocol to a T, are deferential to your superiors, and show a genuine aptitude for the job. Even your callousness toward the Enforcers (again, your childhood best friend was butchered by a latent criminal) is in accordance with Sybil’s will. Shitty, yes, but standard for someone raised within the Orwellian hellscape of 2100s Japan. And yet, everyone around you prefers your senior Inspector. Your subordinates defer to her when you’re the officer in charge (Hinakawa) and even help her game the system (Ginoza). The Chief tells you you’re boring, but displays obvious favoritism toward her. This severely harms your self-esteem and colors the way you interact with everyone around you. After all, it’s hard to feel like a valued member of the team when you’re being undermined and lectured at every turn. This doesn’t excuse Mika’s behavior, and if she didn’t evolve, I might understand some of the hate, but she does evolve. Spectacularly. She’s just not Akane, and that’s okay.

[While dealing with the hostage situation in PP2, Mika notices Hinakawa working on something off to the side. When she confronts him about it, he admits that he's acting on Akane's orders, even though Mika is technically the officer in charge.]

[A similar incident occurs in Sinners of the System: Case. 1, when Ginoza shoots down Mika's (admittedly ridiculous) plan, which she interprets as him once again siding with Akane over her.]

Again, this is good storytelling at work, and you can acknowledge that these two women are diametrically opposed and still appreciate -- hell, even like -- both of them for the well-written characters they are. After all, most Psycho-Pass fans like both Kougami and Ginoza in PP1 despite their many differences, not to mention the fact that Ginoza is (and I say this with love) a giant asshole. Let’s not forget, he was *this close* to microwaving Kougami at Chief Kasei’s behest. You can tell yourself he wouldn’t have, but are you sure? Are you really sure? But we forgive him, because he’s a man. Anyway, back to Akane and Mika. For reasons I’ll never understand, many fans find it borderline impossible to love two women with beef, whether it’s one-sided or mutual. There can only be one Best Girl, and everyone better be on her team. It reminds me of the Sansa vs. Daenerys discourse that gripped the Game of Thrones fandom in its last few seasons. This is doubly ridiculous in Psycho-Pass’s case, because Akane and Mika come to trust, respect, and depend on each other. But people decided to hate this 19-year-old forever, so none of that matters.

[Notice how Ginoza's gaze narrows ominously in the last frame, suggesting he might actually have pulled the trigger, thereby killing his best friend, had Akane not intervened.]

Now, let’s return to my earlier point about certain fans irrationally hating any female character they deem unworthy of their blorbo, husbando, etc. This is where Parasocial Relationships become extremely interesting. As mentioned above, Ginoza is my favorite character in Psycho-Pass, which I think is pretty common. While I myself have never been one for self-insertion or creating OCs to pair with my favorite characters, I understand that it’s a popular trend, and if you enjoy it, more power to you. It becomes problematic, however, when those who engage in self-shipping/OC-shipping decide to collectively gang up on the female character creators have paired (or hinted at pairing) with the object of their affection. Enter GinoMika. Now, I know what you’re thinking -- “But Mika’s a lesbian!” I don’t necessarily agree. Do I think she was in love with her best friend at Oso Academy? Yes. Do I think she had a crush on Yayoi at the beginning of PP2? Yes. Do I also think it’s obvious she currently has feelings for Ginoza, which have been steadily growing since Sinners of the System? Absolutely. For this reason, I interpret her as being both bisexual and demisexual. But that’s beside the point --

The point is that many Ginoza fans who ship him with themselves, their OCs, or Akane (remember, she’s Best Girl) seem to enjoy trashing on Mika like it’s an Olympic sport. And when I say “trashing,” I don’t mean your normal yet still disappointing level of ship nonsense; I mean unhinged, violent rhetoric that makes me feel like the Internet is a place where women can never win. And why? Because she was mean to him when she first started working for the MWPSB? As if he was oh-so-kind to the Enforcers who worked under him. I seem to recall him screaming at his father and threatening to “make him pay” for visiting his sick wife without permission. Oh, and then there was the time he introduced Akane to her new colleagues by telling her, “Don’t think that the guys you’re about to meet are humans like us.” But yes, Mika once told him that she didn’t want his opinion as a latent criminal, which is so much worse. And before you can say that she’s still a bitch to him, let me point out that she is a textbook tsundere. That’s how she flirts, shows affection, etc. She can never come right out and say what she means, because that would make her vulnerable. But she can surreptitiously tell Ginoza he better come back alive by insisting he return her special Dominator. You know, because it would be a real hassle if she had to replace that thing.

[The language Ginoza uses when introducing Akane to the Enforcers, including his own best friend and father, is deeply dehumanizing.]

[When Aoyanagi takes Masaoka to visit his estranged wife, Ginoza reacts with explosive anger, reprimanding his father in front of their colleagues and threatening to retaliate should he do it again.]

Which brings us, at long last, to the male portion of the fandom. While many female fans like to call Mika out for her more negative character traits, completely ignoring any and all growth she’s experienced since PP2, male fans tend to direct their anger, dislike, etc. in a much more aggressive manner. I wish I was exaggerating when I say that I’ve seen multiple posts praying for Mika’s rape and subsequent murder. You can’t dive into a single “Season 4 Wish List” thread without finding at least one person wishing extreme ill on Mika Shimotsuki. It's pure misogyny, classic “I’ll fuck the bitch right out of her” rhetoric, and it has no place in this fandom or any other. You would never see a male character being talked about in these terms. Consider this: There’s more fan fiction featuring Mika being raped or coerced into sex by her tormentor, Sakuya Togane, than her having a positive, consensual experience with any other character. Love her or hate her, that is extremely fucked up. We as a fandom need to do better, because once this type of misogyny can be weaponized against fictional characters, it becomes much easier to use against real people. Fan culture, though it might seem trivial, says a lot about us and our values.

[This is just a sampling of the comments you'll find on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, and other social media sites.]

That said, I’d like to end this essay on a more positive note, so let’s take a look at all the ways in which Mika has become a better, more compassionate human being over the course of the series...

By PP3, she shows obvious concern for her Enforcers, values their opinions, and treats them like integral members of her team. In an especially cute scene, she even fist-bumps Tenma Todoroki after they work seamlessly to defeat Koichi Azusawa’s henchmen. She also makes a point to attend the party thrown in the Enforcers’ quarters, as she now longs to be part of the gang -- a gang she would have actively shunned in PP2. 

[During First Inspector, Mika shows time and again that she's willing to work with and for her Enforcers.]

[As Chief, Mika realizes that Enforcers deserve respect and gratitude from their superiors. They are no longer dogs to her.]

[In PP2, Mika tells Ginoza she doesn't care what the Enforcers think of her. By PP3, however, we see her display concern that her team might find her dull. She wants to be liked and accepted by them.]

She becomes far more flexible with her co-workers, allowing Inspectors Arata Shindo and Kei Mikhail Ignatov plenty of freedom to conduct investigations as they see fit. Yes, she consistently scolds them (textbook tsundere behavior), but this is done in a manner far more humorous than anything else. We know she actually trusts them and has their best interests at heart; she just can’t bring herself to say it aloud. She also repeatedly takes heat from Chief Hosorogi on their behalf and is genuinely worried for Arata when it seems like Sibyl might “eliminate” him. The palpable relief on her face when she finds out he’s allowed to remain an Inspector speaks volumes.

[Throughout PP3, Mika allows Kei and Arata to play to their individual strengths, even if it means bending the rules -- something she would never have done in PP2 or the first film.]

[Just look at that excited face. No caption necessary.]

She goes out of her way to make sure the immigrant prostitutes saved by religious leader Joseph Auma are protected following his death. This is an especially big deal, since many of these individuals are latent criminals, and Mika is forced to ask her newfound nemesis, Frederica Hanashiro, for a favor in order to secure their safety. When she tries to pretend it’s no big deal, Frederica calls her bluff by pointing out that no one would stoop to asking someone they hate for help in order to protect people whose fates they don’t care about.

[Even though Mika detests Frederica, she puts the well-being of the immigrants before her own pride.]

In Sinners of the System: Case. 1, her distrust of latent criminals is permanently altered after dealing with Izumi Yasaka, whom she works tirelessly to rescue and comes to view as brave, capable, and worthy of reintegration into society. She also displays genuine concern for and lack of discrimination toward Takeya Kukuri, the young son of a latent criminal, and is horrified to discover that the latent criminal inmates at Sanctuary are being used as disposable tools to move nuclear waste canisters.

[Sinners of the System: Case. 1 marks a decided shift in the way Mika views latent criminals. Instead of lumping them all together, she begins to see them as individuals who deserve basic human rights.]

[Even though Mika is unable to save all the latent criminals at Sanctuary, she does everything in her power to ensure Yasaka and Takeya walk away clean.]

When Enforcer Mao Kisaragi turns out to be the “fox within the CID,” Mika and the rest of Division 01 are united in supporting her claim of innocence. Mika trusts (without concrete proof, mind you) that she’s telling the truth about being an unwitting accomplice, something she never would have done in PP2 or even the first film.  

[While the old Mika would have been the first person to distrust Kisaragi, here we see her standing up for the beleaguered Enforcer.]

She comes to respect Division 01 (Akane, Ginoza, Sugo, Hinakawa, Kunizuka, and Shion), views them as a surrogate family, and misses them once their unit is disbanded. In Sinners of the System: Case. 3, Frederica Hanashiro, who temporarily worked as part of their unit, says, “CID Division 01… They’re not just capable; they have a rare teamwork that overcomes the barrier between Inspectors and Enforcers.” Yes, this is mostly due to Akane’s guiding influence, but it’s clear Frederica is talking about the whole team. It’s taken Mika years to get there, but she is now definitely part of the group, not a jealous outsider looking in. In fact, even Mika’s obvious dislike of Frederica in PP3 is a clear result of this affection. After finally finding a place to belong, she feels as though Frederica swooped in and stole her found family, leaving her right back where she started -- on the outside.

[Though she'll never admit it, Mika views Ginoza as both a mentor and a friend. When he leaves the PSB to join SAD/MOFA, she misses having him around.]

[During her lowest moment in PP2, a jealous Mika actually hopes that Akane's Hue will darken. In Sinners of the System: Case. 2, she pleads with her to take her own safety more seriously. It's clear a big change has occurred in the intervening years.]

[Instead of feeling constant competition with Akane, by PP3, Mika is finally able to give her her due. It's clear they trust and respect each other despite their many differences.]

She’s grown from an immature young woman who couldn’t bring herself to take responsibility for her failures -- most notably her involvement in Akane’s grandmother’s murder -- to a responsible PSB Chief who holds herself accountable for anything that goes wrong with her Inspectors and Enforcers. This is most evident in her reaction to Koichi Azusawa taking control of Nona Tower and subsequently endangering the lives of MWPSB faculty and agents. We first see inklings of this change near the end of PP2, when Kunizuka tells Mika she’ll never forgive the person who gave up Aoi Tsunemori’s location, and Mika responds in kind. It’s clear that she’s not merely parroting a response to save her own skin but is deeply troubled and filled with regret over her own actions.

[In PP2, Mika is constantly blaming others for her mistakes. By First Inspector, she's owning mistakes she didn't even make.]

[Mika trusts her team so much, she's willing to put her job on the line.]

[Although Mika doesn't come clean to Kunizuka about her role in Aoi Tsunemori's death, it's clear she’s haunted by it. Later, when she confesses the truth to Ginoza, he admits to feeling a similar guilt over the way he treated his late father, telling Mika they'll have to bear their respective shame silently for the rest of their lives.]

And lastly, I believe the biggest example of Mika's growth can be found in what is arguably her most important relationship -- the one she shares with Ginoza. Whether you view them as mentor/mentee, begrudging friends, potential love interests, or all three, you can't deny that they have one of the most interesting and entertaining dynamics in the series. As mentioned above, when Mika first meets Ginoza, she views him as a cautionary tale. His demotion from Inspector to Enforcer is her worst nightmare, something that could conceivably happen to her, though she'll never admit it. Because of this, she treats him with hostility, disregarding his opinions and shunning his advice. But the longer they work together, the more we realize that Ginoza brings out the best in Mika -- and vice-versa. His calm, cool demeanor tempers her fiery spirit, and her enthusiasm makes him feel like he still has a purpose. By the time PP3 rolls around, he's become her #1 confidant, the person she calls whenever she has intel to share, grievances to air, etc. And you can't deny that Mika is the one person who makes Ginoza funny. Their flirtatious banter is genuinely charming and shows the softer, more human side of both their characters.

[Given her history with latent criminals, Mika refuses to listen to Ginoza, even when he's coming from a place of experience and genuinely trying to help her.]

[After working together for several years, Mika learns to value Ginoza's opinion and even feels proud when he compliments her.]

[During the Sanctuary case, Ginoza admits to both Akane and himself that being an Enforcer isn't so bad, as long as Mika is the one calling the shots. He knows she has a good heart, and working for her reminds him why he joined the MWPSB in the first place.]

[Notice how Mika's body language changes from PP2 to Sinners of the System. She now looks at Ginoza with appreciation and, in certain instances, affection. The fact that he views her the same way speaks volumes about how far their relationship has come.]

If you made it to the end of this mammoth post, thank you for sticking with me. Hopefully, we can all treat Mika with a little more patience, kindness, and respect when PP4 arrives.

[yoha-oa-art]

OH MY GOD... MY HEART CAN'T HANDLE THIS (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

This is the most fun i had in a rhythmic! forget getting a full combo I'll keep up with them dancing 😭💗

AND THE SONG

Ace voice actor Seiichiro Yamashita was one of my favourite back in middle school becuse of his role as shougo from pripara his singing parts were THE BEST ❤️‍🔥 same goes for ortho's seiyuu Shouta Aoi you can name an idol anime and you'll find him in it, but my favourite will always be Mikaze Ai💙

And now i can finally listen to more of Kalim's voice (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)❤️

by the way i got both of Ortho and Cater's cards❤️‍🔥

[kb11rd]

It's out!! The 1st chapter of Worst Gaiden : Dokuro is released!! I cleaned the raws, did the typesetting and uploaded it, I hope u enjoy it I'd love to hear ur thoughts

https://mangadex.org/chapter/d180acbb-cd44-40b9-8410-c970804a2568

JUST FINISHED READING IT!!!! And the first thought ever is that Shougo looks so cute 😭😭🤏🤏🤏

The rebel phase is REAL. istg. Love him tho. Hehe.

Akira's haircut is SO BAD though. Good lord. Like I'm so sorry my little pebble but you need to cut that off. Right now. Kim being aware of everything that's going on in town is sooooo nice. Real from the beginning. Stay true king.

Tesshou is kinda unhinged. No real surprise, we knew how he was but damn. That's kinda funny to see it heh. Waiting for the moment he'll get his ass kicked by Kousei ;]

Also I find it hilarious that he straight up when for the brawl when Shougo wanted to ask him stuff. No fucks given 😭😭. Tesshou my boy you need to CHILL.

Regardless of that first meeting it puts everything into perspective when we take a look at Shougo and Tesshou's relationship! They've known each other for so long, no wonder Tesshou was so protective of him... "His friends are my friends. His little brother is my little brother, his family is my family!" That just hits harder... It also makes Shougo's grief incredibly sadder :''''') ...

You did a real great job that was fun to read!! I'm really excited for the rest now <333 Thanks again for this because this is just amazing... Lots of love to you anon 🫶🫶☝️☝️☝️

[thefloatingstone]

What's a good starter set to watch for 80s retro future anime?

It depends what you're looking for in tone as well as commitment.

I would NOT start with "Legend of the Galactic Heroes" because it's a fucking BEAST. So even tho I still need to start it myself, I just know it's not beginner friendly.

If you want to try the OG that is the very first Gundam (Gundam 0079) The entire show was compiled into a trilogy of movies which trims away the fat, making it far more accessible. And it's much easier to watch the first movie and see how you feel about Gundam and if it'd be something you like. Also all 3 of them are on Netflix in my country.

I've heard people say the 2nd series Gundam 0083 is better than 0079 but 0079 is the one with the staying power and is the influential one that inspired pretty much everything following it to some degree.

Of course my BIG Recommendation will always be the movie "Macross: Do You Remember love?" which is definitely one of the best anime movies I've ever seen. However it is 3 hours long so prepare for a long sit. But it's genuinely great and the plot and setting are easy to grasp without bible sized lore you need to keep track of to understand the story.

For something more grounded in reality, I'll recommend Patlabor. I mostly prefer the first movie which I highly recommend, but there is an OVA series and TV series which I still need to get to but have been highly recommended. However the 2nd movie is basically just a lot of discussion about international politics so I wouldn't say that one is in line of what you're looking for. The first movie is great tho

Another personal favourite is the OVA trilogy "Megazone 23" although this one is 'your mileage may vary'. It's very rough in places and it's cynical as FUCK (at least the first 2 parts) but it has a certain style to it I just highly enjoy. Think of it as Macross' dark twin who isn't as good and has a much worse outlook on life as a whole. I do recommend it tho because it's a really good representation of Showa sci fi anime outside of the big hitter franchises without being absolute garbage.

If you want something truly retro, there's always the original Captain Harlock although I have only seen bits and pieces of it. But much like Lupin the Third, it's one of those old school anime that still has a LOT of prestige around it and they will make new movies and specials about it every now and then.

[izartn]

Direct continuation to this post!! I will now finish the recs for the Complete fics, from over 5.000 words, of whose fandoms I only have one (1) bookmark. This will be the last post for the one fandoms, next up I'll be going to rec 2 fics each by fandom.

That'll be the progressive order until I get into the fandoms I have on double digits sometime in the future!!

But for now onto the spicier stuff with the Mature and Explicit rating!

NOTE: The fandom will be marked with NCK for no canon knowledge on the recs where I haven’t read/watched a substantial part or all of the canon before reading fic. I rec those fics but fair is fair and I warn my judgement is not as good in those cases!

Mature

runs in the family by liketheroad (2 works) Fandom: The Borgias - NCK

Words: 6.081

Tags: Underage Sex, M/F, M/M

Ships: Cesare Borgia/Lucrezia Borgia, Cesare Borgia/Juan Borgia, Juan Borgia/Lucrezia Borgia

Summary: Juan is not Cesare's first love, but he is still his love.

"When Cesare returns home after nights with Lucrezia, he will slip into bed beside Juan, smelling of her, and they will lie on their backs with their eyes open, talking like brothers do, teasing each other until the lingering softness of Lucrezia is gone from Cesare and his hands and words turn cold and cruel."

Shamballa by jusrecht (2 works) Fandom: Psycho-Pass

Words: 10.433

Tags: Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings, M/M

Ships: Kougami Shinya/Makishima Shougo, Kougami Shinya & Tsunemori Akane

Summary: “I’d rather shoot you like this than hunt for your brain in Sybil’s bowels.”

Makishima and Kougami and how they co-exist in the aftermath.

Explicit

come down now by arahir Fandoms: Trigun (Anime & Manga), Trigun Stampede (Anime 2023) -NCK

Words: 6.607

Tags: Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings, M/M

Ships: Millions Knives/Vash the Stampede (Trigun)

Summary: He’s serious. Dead serious.

Knives peers down at Vash, chin in hand. "He's mine," he says simply. "His first breaths were mine. Our hearts beat in time. And when you and all your kin are dust in the sand of this place, he will be mine still. Does that comfort you?"

"No," Roberto says. “No, it doesn’t. You think he’ll survive that?”

“I will make him survive it.”

Field Research by OrchisAilsa Fandoms: 七爷 | Qi Ye - priest

Words: 6.112

Tags: No Archive Warnings Apply, M/M

Ships: Jing Beiyuan/Zhou Zishu

Summary: Helian Yi has given Zhou Zishu an assignment that will require some highly specialized knowledge.

Jing Beiyuan is a very enthusiastic tutor. (Zhou Zishu is an unexpectedly eager student.)

Run Me Like the Numbers, Roll Me Like the Dice by innie for blithers (Restricted) Fandoms: Wallflower Series - Lisa Kleypas, The Devil in Winter - Lisa Kleypas

Words: 7.940

Tags: No Archive Warnings Apply, F/M

Ships: Evangeline Jenner/Sebastian St. Vincent

Summary: Probability says they should never work. Modern AU

On the Edge of Desire by straightforwardly (Restricted) Fandoms: 谁敢说师兄的坏话 - 古玉闻香 | Who Dares Slander My Senior Brother - Gǔ Yù Wén Xiāng

Words: 5972

Tags: Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings, M/M

Ship: Jun Yanzhi/Wen Jing | Lu Jing

Summary: Jun Yanzhi and Wen Jing go on a trip down the mountain together. Or, the one where Jun Yanzhi spends most of the story unsuccessfully trying to seduce Wen Jing, while Wen Jing is simultaneously oblivious about what he’s doing and really turned on… up until they stumble upon some mysterious flowers.

[always-wizu-you]

Okay so today I wanna talk about the mascot managers of WITH boys. They don't quite have it officially; however, their seiyuu did create some on their first live event, for a "what-if" segment.

1. Sorazou

Asahi's mascot, made by Kobayashi Tatsuyuki!

The name explains what it is, sora (sky) + zou (elephant). Kobatatsu came up with this mascot because he wanted to express Asahi's cheerful personality with bright blue sky and white clouds motif.

Why elephant? Because there's no elephant mascot yet and he felt that it would be cute.

This mascot can't speak, only makes deep "sora" noises (contrary to the cute appearance ww).

2. Purufu

Koyoi's mascot by Tsuchida Reiou, a purple wolf.

This mascot was made after Reiou came up with the "Avocado machine gun" background settings for Koyoi, so he wanted the mascot to have a cool, wild feelings; hence a wolf. (Tbh I'm gonna need a full separate post to talk about Reiou's influence on Koyoi's official background story. I'll do that later.)

His catchphrase is "I'm not a dog/cat! I'll bite you!" and he doesn't acknowledge Shougo and Asahi as Koyoi's teammates. In reality, he's just a tsundere and actually likes WITH. Reiou specifically designed him with Asahi and Shougo's colors included (in the earcuff, eye and bangs color).

3. Unicon

Shougo's mascot by Yamashita Seiichirou. Despite its name, it's not related to unicorns, it's actually... a flying sea urchin (uni).

But why? Because it came to him after he thought about other mascots' names, especially Punicorn. So he based it off Punicorn mixed with sea urchin. Like Punicorn, Unicon can also fly, have wings, a curly tail, and a pair of arms.

Also, when Shougo completes his Idol Time, Unicon would literally rip some part of his face off and offer it to him as a meal. (According to Seichi, that's the sea urchin meat you usually eat as sushi toppings / uni sashimi; see the image below.)

Unicon can't speak, but he makes cute "unicon" noises. Seichi wants to voice it himself, but if he's rejected by the director, he'd ask Megaboy's seiyuu to voice it.

None of these mascots are used as official PriPara materials. However, Seichi still draws Unicon pretty often on his personal Twitter, so much that it's now his own mascot rather than Shougo's. On March 2023, Seichi even launched a series of Unicon goods under his own label.

Kobatatsu and Reiou also commented on Unicon goods launching here. (They basically congratulated him but also lowkey dissed Unicon lol)

So in terms of popularity, although Purufu won the fan favorites on the day they were created, I guess we can say that Unicon is the most successful and popular now. All thanks to Seichi's persistence on drawing him.

And as a closing, have a Unicon human form drawing that Reiou made here! Thanks for tuning in to my wizu ted talk 🐰

[meli-r]

I thought of writing this today, as a supposed memory Makishima has after Choe dies. Sorry it's short, I'm not good at writing when I do it on the same day.

PS: it's Shakespeare's sonnet 66.

*****

Tir'd with all these, for restful death I cry,

As, to behold desert a beggar born,

And needy nothing trimm'd in jollity,

And purest faith unhappily forsworn,

And gilded honour shamefully misplac'd,

And maiden virtue rudely strumpeted,

And right perfection wrongfully disgrac'd,

And strength by limping sway disabled,

And art made tongue-tied by authority,

And folly, doctor-like, controlling skill,

And simple truth miscall'd simplicity,

And captive good attending captain ill.

Tir'd with all these, from these would I be gone,

Save that, to die, I leave my love alone.

With one leg crossed over the other, Makishima Shougo closed the book on his slim thigh, covered by a pristine beige suit. He sighed and momentarily raised his eyebrows as he looked out toward the horizon. The wind played with his long white hair, which fell in soft waves over his shoulders, and the last rays of sunlight merged with the gold of his narrowed eyes.

The waves crashed against the stones and walls of the pier as he watched the gentle movement of boats and ships between the floating walkways. The sunlight reflected off the water, creating golden glimmers that danced on the surface. A faint smile crossed his face at the thought of sailing out to sea, but it faded as he remembered his inability to handle boats. He frowned and lifted his head a few centimeters, lamenting not having learned earlier.

In particular, he remembered one morning when he had sailed south without a set destination. The feeling of reaching land never surpassed the desire to venture further into the unknown. The sky was then completely blue, not cloudy as it was now. Standing with his forearms resting on the railing of a small yacht, his slim and pale torso exposed to the sun, Makishima gazed at the line dividing the sky from the sea. His gaze descended to the figure lying on his back in a floating hammock, his slightly tanned skin and short, wet brown hair falling backward.

For hours, he lay in the sun, speaking little. Makishima had long forgotten the words they had exchanged; their shared serenity was their means of communication in the tranquil silence of the sea.

That day, they had both gone for a swim, and Makishima had been the first to emerge, wearing only a pair of shorts, his slender body dripping with water. For a moment, the idea of starting the engine to depart gave him a sense of pleasure and power, making him smile and squint. However, that sensation faded as he realized that nothing and no one could compel him to exert that power. He acknowledged his impotence in the presence of a man whose presence seemed to surpass even the machine that drove the boat.

“You’re killing yourself, Choe,” he said, as the man lifted his round sunglasses to look at him and placed them on his forehead. “For days you’ve been glued to a screen without leaving the room, and here you are, lounging like an undeserving millionaire. How does it feel to do the hardest thing for you, to rest?”

“I’m not fleeing from my work, if that’s what surprises you. I know when to quit, but I don’t do it until I’m finished. I acknowledge I’ve been wasting time lately and doing my job poorly.”

“Have you ever done your job poorly?” Makishima raised an eyebrow for a moment.

“Probably more often than others. The only difference is that my failures end up in the trash.”

“This is what I wanted. To drag you with me and give you everything imaginable, except a computer. No codes, algorithms, or systems. I want to teach you how to eat, sleep, and live like a man who only knows how to laze around.”

“I’d like to try. But you didn’t drag me into anything, nor could you ever, even if you like to think otherwise,” Choe replied, pausing. “It’s not too late for you to learn about boats.”

“That won’t be necessary. I have you.”

Makishima closed his eyes, allowing the sounds of the pier and the sea to envelop him. The sun was slowly sinking into the horizon, painting the sky a deep red. Choe’s presence felt tangible in his mind, as if his shadow were beside him. For a moment, he could almost imagine Choe approaching from a walkway, calling his name and guiding him toward a boat.

He considered the possibility of setting sail once more. A simple snap of his fingers would make someone start the engine for him. But that idea soon faded; he no longer felt the same urge. He reflected on the essence of companionship and solitude. It wasn’t about seeking to be guided or finding a captain in others. He had always rejected that need and would eradicate any attempts at imposition. True friendship does not seek to control or guide.

The boats and the sea, which once offered him solace, now only accentuated his boredom. He understood that the solitude and peace he sought did not reside in the places he traveled to but in something deeper and personal he had left behind. He knew he would give his life to experience that feeling again, though he understood he could never return to it. It was like the world seen only once in childhood, when everything is new and wonderful, and the rest is just an echo of memories. The scent of cherry blossoms is yearned for, but it no longer satisfies like it did the previous summer.

[ozzgin]

:3 🧋 anon back after idk how long I did try to read clover a while ago and after u recommending it I tried to read it again and actually got to 100 smth chapters but for some reason just dropped it but I'm gonna pick it back up again now fuhdissnsajdjsld I've just been rereading crows and the worst and its like Side stories KUNOU RYUUSHIN, KOUSEI AND SHOUGO THE MEN U R <333 GOOD GOD THE ARMAMENT HAS SUCH FINE MEN!!! Juuzou too I love me some blondes <33 anyway lovee ur recent work btw ehe 💗💗💗💗 ur writing is just so fun to read and is very entertaining!! All of ur ocs r so cool too!! My favs r totally Daitou and Kazuya also ofc the old man yakuza cuz im a WHORE fujsodn AAA anyway so sorry for the long ask its just I'm not good at like showing my appreciation for like this free content u write and draw for us and let us consume tysm!! I hope u continue ur work and have a good day ❤️❤️❤️

Who would've thought that a fellow delinquent enjoyer is going to prefer the criminal OCs? By the way, Daitou and Kazuya are named after WORST characters. 🤫

I'm very glad you've given Clover a chance! It's a tad less delinquent heavy compared to Crows and WORST, which is why it also took me some time to finish it, but I feel like it has more fashionable characters, you know? Takahashi Hiroshi goes for a very 80s-90s style.

I've been wanting to come up with a biker OC for some time, but now I'm wondering if I should just quietly advertise Ryuushin as a character in some sequel romance instead. Big, buff guy at your local gym who tells you he's a professional boxer and used to lead a biker gang in high school. Asks you out for drinks, can't handle alcohol too well. You get to meet his buddies from the old days, like the older Bitou brother, or the younger TFOA members occasionally coming by to pay their respects.

Maybe someday, when my schedule clears up. Until then, I leave you with some pages from the official artbook. Wishing you a great week!

[ecargmura]

Paradox Live The Animation Episode 1 Review - Anime Rapping Show

To be honest, I was never a big fan of hip-hop and I’m still not. However, Paradox Live seems different. Also, the reason why I got know this franchise is that I remembered listening to BAE’s song in the past and was surprised with the sudden usage of Korean. However, what got me hooked into ParaLive was the song “Jumping In To My World” which I’ll link below.

Other than that, I’m not too familiar with ParaLive in general, so this anime might be a good opportunity to see if I’ll get into it or not. Right now, I’m a bit interested. I love the character designs and the choice of voice actors!

So, from what I’ve seen, Paradox Live is about underground rappers who are invited to partake in a tournament in the mysterious Club Paradox, said to have disappeared ten years ago and then reappeared recently with the location and building being the same. Four groups are invited and the anime shows their lives in and out of rapping. Also, what makes this rap show unique is that they use the power of Phantometals. Not sure if they have them right now, but with the way they are described, it sounds like crack but metal.

The main group is called BAE, consisting of Allen Sugasano, Hajun Yeon and Anne Faulkner. They’re all roommates and go to school together. Allen seems to be the leader of the three as he’s the one making music and keeping the team together; he seems to be a music making geek in a way as he’s the one most excited to meet Buraikun. Hajun is the perfect prince—he’s rich, caring towards his friends, a model and tall. I think what makes Hajun super unique is that he’s Korean. Korean characters are rarely featured in anime, so for them to go out of their way to make him Korean and not a bad stereotypical caricature makes me happy. I love that he uses his rich boy privileges to do crazy things like riding in a limo and entering Club Paradox from helicopter. From the research I did on ParaLive before the anime premiere, I am aware that Anne is non-binary, but I’m still gonna call them a queen. I love their design out of the main three. I love that they’re not used as a joke either. I’m surprised Japan is becoming progressive with how they write Hajun and Anne.

There are other rap groups: The Cat’s Whiskers, cozmez, and AKYR. There are so many characters, so for now, I’ll just say my first impression of them. Regarding The Cat’s Whiskers, I was surprised to see a character like Saimon. Usually, I really like ikemen characters, so to see such a refined and elegant gentleman like Saimon made me feel something. Right now, he and Hajun are my favorites but that might change in the future. Other TCW rappers are Yohei, Ryu and Shiki. Right now, I think Ryu stands out the most after Saimon from the sheer fact that he’s a weirdo and voiced by Natsuki Hanae. For AKYR, they’re a big group. I know that the pink haired boy is Reo and he’s voiced by Shougo Yano, who voices Mafuyu from Given. I’m interested to learn more about this group. cozmez is a twin duo group consisting of older brother Kanata and younger brother Nayuta. They both live in the slums and want to compete so that they can live a better life and for Nayuta to get treatment; the younger brother seems to be ill? Anyways, I think their character designs are the best because they’re so unique! This is how you should design twins! Give them two different hair styles instead of having the same hairstyle but in different directions. 

What I like best about this show is that everyone is connected and knows each other’s identities in real life, so it’s not a hush-hush secret life kind of show. BAE are students who attend Saimon’s classes and know that they rap. Shiki seems to know Nayuta. This gives the story opportunities to give each character some spotlight since they’re all interconnected! I just hope that the anime will give me characterization and not just singing/rapping for the next 11-12 episodes.

The voice acting is splendid! They use a plethora of talented voice actors and utaites to make this show work! BAE’s voice actors are Gakuto Kajiwara (Allen), Ayumu Murase (Hajun) and 96Neko (Anne). The fact that they even got utaites for this project really makes it stand out! I can’t wait to hear more from the other characters. Once again, the stand out performance is from Ryu (Natsuki Hanae)’s five second screen time like I mentioned earlier.

The music’s great so far and I can’t wait to hear more! Will they ever perform Jumping In To My World? I want to hear that! The CG’s actually really good! It’s not too stiff and it does feel like the characters are moving flawlessly.

Overall, I’m excited for more! I’m also worried about what Allen’s doing at the end because that does not look pretty at all. I hope he’s alright. What are your thoughts on this anime’s premiere?

[jullinh4x]

Aiko Ikari

あいこ イカリ

My Ghost Grid (ゴーストグリッド) OC!

Name: Aiko Murazaki Ikari

Age: 25

Height: 1,73 cm

Weight: 65 kg

Personality: Loyal, Faithful, Brave, Quiet, Calm, Serious, Cold

Nacionality: Japansese 🇯🇵

Place of Origin: Hijima Pond/Fumori Forest

Clan: Murazaki

Weapons: Tanegashima Rifle and Katana

Energy: Digital

Biography:

Aiko Ikari is a 25-year-old girl who was part of the Murazaki Clan and was born in Hijima Pond, Japan.

She lived in harmony with her people and family until a terrible tragedy happened...

A curse fell on her clan and killed almost everyone... And so, Aiko Ikari and her brother, Hiro Ikari were the only survivors.

The two had to leave their home and move to the Shougo Capital, but they also have their own problems...

Their clan was constantly persecuted by other clans for being too powerful to the point where they teamed up with other clans to defeat superior threats.

But the curse cast on the clan was more powerful than the clan itself... And that's why everyone died.

Now, Aiko seeks out members of other clans to help her get revenge on the person/demon who cast the curse on her clan.