This theory started because @danieyells introduced me to the idea of a connection between Ritsu and Leo. That got me thinking, and I wanted to dive a bit deeper into it.
In episode 16, Ritsu recalls a tragic case from his father's files: a man with a son close to his age was brutally killed by the Yakuza.
それは、私とそう年の変わらない少年が、暴力団関係者に父親を殺されるという、痛ましい事件でした → That was a tragic incident where a boy, not much different in age from me, had his father killed by someone associated with a crime syndicate.
(In the original Japanese version, the focus is entirely on the son rather than the father. In fact, Ritsu focuses on the guy his age, stating that he suffered the loss of his father instead of focusing on the man killed by the Yakuza like he does in the english version . This suggests that the kid is important and that this might be a hint, not just insignificant information.)
The text uses the verb 殺される (korosareru). Instead of saying "the father was killed" (neutral passive), the sentence structure centers on the boy.
It literally translates to "The boy suffered the killing of his father".
In Japanese, this grammar is used specifically when an outside event causes direct harm, grief, or distress to a person. It emphasizes that the boy is the ultimate collateral victim of this violence. The language itself highlights his pain and the psychological damage he endured.
If we look at the other first-years, we can easily rule them out:
❌ Ren (if i am not wrong he talks about his father in the present tense so i think he is alive), Lyca, Sho
✅ Leo: He fits the profile the most
We know Leo was starving back then. Sho mentions that Leo practically lived off yakisoba buns and milk, and was "skin and bones." This extreme level of povert makes complete sense if his family was targeted by the Yakuza.
Maybe,if that man was his father, He owed massive, unpayable debts to them.
If you choose Leo at the start of the game, his dialogue reveals that he isn't just fighting general injustice, but it looks like if he is almost actively hunting the specific target who ruined his life.
He tells the MC:
"Life sucks then you die, right? I just want to make the assholes responsible regret it."
Also if we look at his full awaking voicelines:
"Their crying faces... I'll show them to honor roll too."
"Because there's no such thing as divine punishment in this world."
That would explain why he hates rich and powerful men they're the ones who bought the law.
Leo knows that the law and "divine justice" failed his father. The Yakuza got away with murder, which is why he took matters into his own hands, made a pact with a demon, and dedicated his life to making "the assholes responsible" pay.
Just look at the way he gets mad while talking with Alan in episode 19:
LEO: 守りたい? 舐めんじゃねぇっつってんの→ "Want to protect us? Don't make me laugh." 失うくらいなら、自分が犠牲になった方がマシだと思ってる んでしょ? → "You think it's better for you to be the one to sacrifice yourself, rather than lose someone else, right?"(it looks like he understands Alan someway)
LEO:親父が死んだ? ダンテを殺した? → "Your father died? You killed Dante?"
だからこれ以上、誰も失いたくないって? → "ls that why you don't want to lose anyone else?" (Is he talking just about Alan or about himself too?)
言っとくけど、それただの傲慢だから → "I'm telling you, that's just pure arrogance."
修羅場潜ってきてんのが、自分だけだと思っ てんなら大間抜けなんだよ → "If you think you're the only one who has been through 'Shuraba' (hell/battlefield), you're dead wrong."
Why I'm using the original Japanese text: English translations often simplify complex cultural terms. Leo says 'Shuraba'. It's not just 'hell', i did some research and it's a Buddhist term for the 'Asura battlefield,' a state of endless, violent conflict. Choosing the original term captures the weight of his trauma, which is way deeper than a simple 'hard time'.
Also in episode 2 Leo interacts with Ritsu. It's just a brief contact, nothing deep, but ask yourself: why specifically Ritsu? If this isn't just a random interaction?, it might be a subtle hint that maybe their pasts are connected?
We know Leo made a contract with the demon Shax to survive.
But let's look at his Stigma: Enhanced Hearing.
Stigmas are deeply tied to ghouls' deepest desires, regrets, and core trauma at the moment of making their pact.
Leo's subconscious mind maybe wished for being able to hear danger coming before it could ever touch him...
For now it is just a theory, but the dots are connecting quite well i think...
I would like to add somenthing about Leo Halloween card "The Grand Guignol"
While "Grand Guignol" refers to the French horror theater (fitting for Halloween), the name comes from Guignol, a 19th-century puppet character.
Looking at the original puppet lore, the parallels with Leo are insane:
Guignol represents a poor, witty silk-factory worker who became the ultimate symbol of the working class. He is independent, street-smart, and absolutely refuses to bow down to anyone. (That's so Leo)
How a typical Guignol story works:
1. Guignol and his wife are starving or facing eviction because they can't pay the rent. Guignol leaves home to find a job or a solution
2. Guignol finds a way to make a living, but a corrupt authority figure, a greedy rich man, or a thief (those reminds me of Leo's targets) tries to scam him or abuse their power.
3. Guignol exposes the scam. He grabs his stick and beats up the bad guys to the audience's cheers, ending the show with a celebratory dance.
Guignol’s traditional enemies on stage:
The Gendarme: Represents arrogant, blind authority. He always tries to arrest Guignol for minor crimes (like stealing food out of hunger) but ends up getting beaten over the head with a stick.
The Landlord: A greedy, heartless man who shows up at the start of every story to demand unpaid rent, threatening to throw Guignol out on the streets.
The Judge: Represents a corrupt justice system that only protects the rich.👀 👀 👀(That's what i am trying to say)
I would like to add somenthing about Leo Halloween card "The Grand Guignol"
While "Grand Guignol" refers to the French horror theater (fitting for Halloween), the name comes from Guignol, a 19th-century puppet character.
Looking at the original puppet lore, the parallels with Leo are insane:
Guignol represents a poor, witty silk-factory worker who became the ultimate symbol of the working class. He is independent, street-smart, and absolutely refuses to bow down to anyone. (That's so Leo)
How a typical Guignol story works:
1. Guignol and his wife are starving or facing eviction because they can't pay the rent. Guignol leaves home to find a job or a solution
2. Guignol finds a way to make a living, but a corrupt authority figure, a greedy rich man, or a thief (those reminds me of Leo's targets) tries to scam him or abuse their power.
3. Guignol exposes the scam. He grabs his stick and beats up the bad guys to the audience's cheers, ending the show with a celebratory dance.
Guignol’s traditional enemies on stage:
The Gendarme: Represents arrogant, blind authority. He always tries to arrest Guignol for minor crimes (like stealing food out of hunger) but ends up getting beaten over the head with a stick.
The Landlord: A greedy, heartless man who shows up at the start of every story to demand unpaid rent, threatening to throw Guignol out on the streets.
The Judge: Represents a corrupt justice system that only protects the rich.👀 👀 👀(That's what i am trying to say)
The ages are kept vague for a reason. I don’t think we can be sure all of them above 20 years cuz if that was the case they would’ve simply addressed their ages? It’s weird how the oldest age we see before the characters attend darkwick is middle school (not sure about Kaito but he doesn’t seem older than 15 in his flashback, as for Alan he’s definitely not above 15 in his flashback unless his father was a teenage dad himself somehow. He was only 35 when he died and that’s canon)
I personally HC it’s a college and they attend it after high school, since it would be weird for characters to be the same age when they enter the academy if there isn’t a specific academic level to finish… MC is in her second year and Mio says they’re both the same age and she should call him by his first name. So first, second, third sans Edward, fourth years are all the same age as their classmates. If ages didn’t matter MC would’ve been in first year not second because she’s completely new to darkwick.
I know the drinking age is 20 in Japan and that messes up stuff but idk how tkdb logic works anymore. I could see Sho just being a delinquent. Ritsu i’d say that scene was super OOC imo and the writer didn’t know him enough (yes there are different writers for episodes and i know that writer’s twitter, go to the japanese tkdb twitter page and you’ll find them quoting the episodes they worked on. The last thing the writer i’m talking about worked on was the 2024 halloween episode with romeo, kaito and kirisaki bros) and i don’t remember any other first/second years drinking alcohol. Rui’s bar drinks aren’t alcoholic but i already HC the third years as 20+.
I wish they confirmed it but this is just me telling people to not bash other people’s HCs or treat the 20+ theory as canon. Nothing is confirmed don’t call them names or claim they’re straight up wrong. I guess as long as tkdb is hiding it everyone can interpret it as however they wish.
I hope this doesn’t start a war lmao. I only said this because i want people to respect other HCs until their ages are finally confirmed
Takes place after Leo’s rant at the end of Episode 19
Smut, minors do not interact
Numb, it had been so long since you’ve felt anything but numb.
“You don’t want anymore boo boos so what, you’re pre declaring emotional bankruptcy?”
Leo’s voice rings in your ears as you wander the campus after storming out of Vagastrom.
Push it down. Bottle it up. Be patient.
That’s what you’ve been doing, what Darkwick wanted from you. Even though it felt like they were doing nothing. They weren’t actually doing nothing right? They were just keeping you in the dark so you didn’t get your hopes up right?
Wandering in circles around campus isn’t going to help your derailing train of thought , so you start heading back to the cathedral.
“So get hurt. Cry and scream and get fucking angry!”
You clenched your teeth. What the fuck did Leo know?
You slam the door of the cathedral open and throw your bag against one of the broken pews.
“So you aren’t completely an emotional blank, there’s at least something going on in there.”
You scream at the unexpected voice, jumping backward and clutching your chest.
You look over to your dorms kitchenette. Leo is there. Perched on a dining chair tilted on its back legs with his feet up on the table.
“What are you doing in here?” You hiss with irritation as he flashes you a condescending grin.
“Grab me something to drink.” He ignores your question and nods towards the fridge.
Push it down, bury your feelings and keep going.
Mechanically you obey, going to the fridge.
“Water or green tea?” You ask tightly.
“That’s all you’ve got? Ugh… fine I guess I’ll take tea.”
You set the bottle on the table, taking monumental self control not to throw the bottle at him.
His grin widens maliciously as he twitches his foot kicking the bottle off the table.
“Whoops. Be a good girl and pick that up for me.”
You grit your teeth as you pick up the bottle and put it directly in his hand this time.
Making direct eye contact he holds the bottle out to the side and drops it.
“Oops.”
Something in you snaps, you shove against his shoulders sending his tipped back chair tumbling to the ground.
Instead of getting pissed like you’d expected, he laughs.
“What is wrong with you?” You hiss
“What’s wrong with you?” He mimics back. “You’re the one who gets mad about a tea bottle but not about the fact your life as you know it is essentially over.” He looks up at you from where he’s sprawled on the floor.
“What the fuck do you know?” You grind out, clenching your fists.
“I know you’ve just decided to roll over and be Darkwicks bitch.” He shot back.
Rage.
You drop to your knees beside him and you slap him, as hard as you can.
He giggles at you, fucking giggles!
“What the fuck do you want me to do!” You hate that you’re losing control, you’ve been so very tightly controlled, patient, but he was right, where had that gotten you? “I’ve done everything they asked of me!” You scream at him. “I’ve done every mission, gone to every class I can, researched everything I can find! What else do you want me to do?”
“Stop waiting on Darkwick to drip feed you, fight them! Make demands! Get pissed off.”
His stupid face, his stupid voice just flares your anger. You wind up to slap him again but he catches your wrist. He rolls off the tumbled over chair and pulls you down on top of him.
“You’re cute when you’re mad.” He purrs teasingly into your ear.
You are straddled across his waist as he’s sprawled on the floor beneath you. Sudden heat flushes your body and the rage in you overflows.
Two months. You have two months. You don’t have time for things like this. You ball your hands into fists and slam them against Leo’s chest.
“I hate you. I hate this place. I hate this curse. I hate that no one tells me anything. I hate that everyone is so wrapped up in their own bullshit that no one seems to notice or care how little time I have left till I bring it up and make them feel uncomfortable.”
He’s just grinning up at you, letting you punch him in the chest over and over. You want to wipe that stupid smirk off his face and impulsively you lean forward and smash your lips into his.
Instead of freaking out and throwing you off of him like you expect, he parts his lips, tongue pressing into you, his piercing massaging against the roof of your mouth.
You pull back staring at him in shock.
“I knew you were obsessed with me.” He chuckles.
You slap him, but it just makes him roll his hips, grinding himself against you. Oh god, he’s hard.
“I’ll show you what you’ll be missing if you just roll over and give up.”
Your brain is short circuiting, you want to stay angry, but your body is responding to his movements beneath you. Your breasts swell, your nipples harden, your pussy makes you all to aware of how empty it is. How long had it been since you hadn’t been to depressed to touch yourself?
“Fuck you.” You spit angrily.
“That is what I’m offering.” He grabs your hips and grinds his clothed erection against your pussy as it slowly soaks your underwear.
“Bastard.” You snap, but you find yourself rocking your hips, rubbing yourself against him.
“That’s fine you can stay pissed, I enjoy a good hate fuck.” His golden eyes are glowing with absolute delight at having gotten you into this awkward situation.
He starts to stand, you try and roll off of him, but he pulls you to him which forces you to wrap your legs around his waist and your arms around his neck if you don’t want to topple to the ground.
He sets your ass on the edge of the table, pressing himself forward between your thighs.
“I told you to scream and cry, I can make you.”
His hands travel up your uniforms skirt, grabbing your thighs and digging his fingers in drawing a pained gasp from you.
“You sure your little pencil dick can get the job done?” You bury your fingers into his hair and give a not so gentle pull.
He nips your earlobe hard. “As long as your whore cunt isn’t stretched to the size of a hallway I’ve got more than enough to work with.”
He slides his hands from your thighs farther up, grasping your underwear you hear the sound of ripping fabric.
Leo tosses what’s left of your panties to the side.
“Did you just tear my underwear?” You sputter, trying to cover for how hot you thought that was.
“Mmm not like they were anything special or fashionable anyway.” Leo shrugs, fingers delving beneath your skirt to stroke your lower lips. You can’t stop your eyes rolling back as he rubs the sensitive skin.
“You’re an arrogant prick.” You murmur. “I liked those underwear.”
“You’ll like what I do to you better.” Leo grins as he starts to undo his pants. You start to undo your blouse. Both of you are shedding clothing rapidly, hands roaming exploring each others bodies
What are you doing? The thought hits you like a slap to the face. You have two months left. You don’t have time to be screwing around. You don’t have time to be making attachments when you’re just going to disappear on them. Maybe you should just disappear now rather than becoming an anomaly. It’s not a new thought, you’ve had it before, and the fire fades from your eyes. You take Leo’s hand and press it to your throat. He could easily do it for you, suffocate you or snap your neck. With ghoul strength it’d be over in seconds.
“You could end it.”
The grin fades from his face and his eyes narrow.
He pulls his hands away from your neck. “I’m not into snuff. If you wanna curl up and die I’m sure Hoshibami will do it for you, or you can get a pill cocktail from Frankenstein. I’m not here to enable you giving up.”
“You didn’t seem to care so much about my life during the Takeru case.” You avert your eyes so you’re not staring at Leo. Fuck he’s gorgeous naked.
Leo rolls his eyes. “I put the mission before you one time, and that means you’re allowed to roll over and die? If my opinion means so much to you listen to me now not then. Get angry. Fight.” You cross your arms over your chest as he looks down at you with condescending disgust. “Or are you really just going to roll over and give up? Are you useless dead weight?”
Every time you had to go on a mission together that’s what he called you.
“I’m not useless.” You ground out.
“Prove it.” He sneered.
You pull his face to yours and bite down on his lip till you taste his blood in your mouth. Your fingers tangle in his stupidly soft perfect hair, and his sweet flowery scent envelopes you.
You are not gentle with each other. Fingers bruise and scratch and claw at each others bodies, teeth raking each others skin.
The way he enters you is not gentle either, sheathing himself inside you with one brutal thrust that makes you arch your back and wince. You keep your legs locked around his hips but try desperately to pry his hands off of you. The harder you struggle, the harder he fucks into you, and god you want it hard, so struggle you do. The dining table is shaking and part of your brain worries it might give out.
He shoves you backward so your back is flat against the table, unlocking your legs from around his waist he hoists them up over his shoulders, pressing into you deeper.
“Bastard.” You moan. “You’re a fucking bastard.” You squeeze down as he slams into you, reveling in the friction and the pleasure it builds in you.
“Look how fucking desperate you are.” Leo mocks, “Your mouth keeps throwing insults but your cunt is gushing for me. You really wanted me badly huh?”
You want to slap the smug look off of his face but he has your wrists pinned.
You writhe and struggle, trying to pull free, while also pulling his cock deeper into you.
“Hahh ah, ah!” You can’t restrain the noises you’ve been holding back any longer.
“That’s it.” Leo smirks. “Moan like the little whore you are.”
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” You scream out, you won’t give him the satisfaction of saying his name.
You’re close, you’re so close…
Leo stops moving.
“No, no, no, why?” You try to thrust against him but he pins your hips to the table. You dig your nails into his wrists, try to pull free his fingers, squirm and wriggle against his hold. “What the fuck?”
“Look at you struggle.” He hums. “So you do know how when motivated properly. You want to come? Tell me you want to live.”
You look up into his taunting gaze. “I want to live.” It comes out as barely a whisper.
“Can’t hear you Honor Roll.”
“I want to live!” It comes out as a choked sob as tears begin to prick the corners of your eyes.
Leo starts to move inside you again, sending waves of pleasure through your body as the tears start rolling down your cheeks.
“Leo.” You whimper as the tears just won’t stop coming. “Leo, I want to live.” You’re the most physically, mentally and emotionally vulnerable you’ve ever felt in your life, with the last person on earth you’d ever expect to be vulnerable with.
He leans forward and you brace yourself for mockery and insults, but instead he simply whispers “Good girl.”
His pace increases, slamming his cock into your g spot, over and over. Your head rolls back, your spine arches, you lift your hips to meet his. You forget your pride and you scream his name as he mercilessly pounds into you. Your entire body tenses like a coiled spring, and then you release with the most intense wave of pleasure.
“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.” You moan over and over as you unravel. Leo’s hot cum fills you as he shudders between your thighs. He lowers your legs and pulls out. His eyes search your tear stained face, expression unreadable.
You nod to him, before closing your eyes with exhaustion.
Login: Nice timing, Honor Roll. Give me your hand. Come on, just do it.
Default(3): Hey Honor Roll! ...Don’t make that face at me. I’m being totally genuine right now.
Winter(noon): I'm freezing... I'm having a carbonated bath tonight. Wanna join, Honor Roll? Of course I'm serious.
Player's birthday(year 1): It's your birthday? I'll help you celebrate. Meet me behind the garage later
(Year 2): Hey, Honor Roll. Heard it's your bday. I'll make you one of those surprise birthday videos. Shut up, just go stand over there
(Year 3): あ、今日特待生サマの誕生日なの？
ちょうどストーリーのネタに困ってたんだよね。ふたりで乾杯しょ♡ ↪️ Ah, today is your birthday, Honor Roll?
I was actually just struggling to find something to post on my story. Let's make a toast, just the two of us♡ (i am not using the English translation cause they took off the otome vibe of this voiceline).
Halloween(year 2): Hey, why aren't you wearing the sexy policewoman costume I picked out for you, Honor Roll? Go change.
Christmas(year 1): This Christmas-themed food Sho made might pull some traffic. All right, uploaded. You can eat the rest, Honor Roll. Say "ah"!
(Year 2): Ha ha ha! I can't believe you're actually wearing that Santa suit I gave you. Stand there, I'll take a picture. Merry Christmas.
(Another sexy costume btw 👀)
Valentine's day(year 1): This is that ultra-spicy chocolate they only sell this time of year... I'm actually genuinely stoked right now.
(Year 2): You got me chocolate? Thanks, I guess. Assuming you just picked the first ones from some list on- Huh. You really picked these yourself? (So cute 🥺)
White day(year 1): Here, as thanks for the chocolate. You’re not going to tell me you don’t know Godiva, are you? All right, now we’re even.
(Year 2): Hey, Honor Roll! I got you something. What do you mean, what for? It was in return for Valentine's but whatever. Give it back if you don't want it. (Such a tsundere)
Affinity 19: I can touch you, but you can't touch me. That's how this works, got it?
Affinity 20: There she is. Hey, Honor Roll! You free? There's something I was really hoping you could help me with
Affinity 21: Hey, Honor Roll, come sit down. Not over there, next to me. Good, you're comfy. Don't move, I'm taking a nap.
Affinity 24: Stay like this till I tell you to leave, okay? Got it? I didn't hear an answer.
Affinity 25: Wenna make a bet, Honor Roll? Over which will come first -me falling for you, or you getting hooked on me.
ちょうどストーリーのネタに困ってたんだよね。ふたりで乾杯しょ♡ ↪️ Ah, today is your birthday, Honor Roll? I was actually just struggling to find something to post on my story. Let's make a toast, just the two of us♡
ふたりで (futari de) = JUST THE TWO OF US ♡
While the Translation...🙄
It is always the translation...
They took off his flirty line and his little hearts, like always 😭
(It is not my birthday, it was months ago, i am just analysing his voiceline again)
I Know i already made a post on that but i am still thinking on how they took this otome moment away from us with the translation 😭😭😭
a birthday toast with his fake gf? we all know he wanted to ask her out,but he is to prideful and tsundere for this 🤭 (in the english version they removed: "Just the two of us ♡ "🤬 but this is the original version)
This theory started because @danieyells introduced me to the idea of a connection between Ritsu and Leo. That got me thinking, and I wanted to dive a bit deeper into it.
In episode 16, Ritsu recalls a tragic case from his father's files: a man with a son close to his age was brutally killed by the Yakuza.
それは、私とそう年の変わらない少年が、暴力団関係者に父親を殺されるという、痛ましい事件でした → That was a tragic incident where a boy, not much different in age from me, had his father killed by someone associated with a crime syndicate.
(In the original Japanese version, the focus is entirely on the son rather than the father. In fact, Ritsu focuses on the guy his age, stating that he suffered the loss of his father instead of focusing on the man killed by the Yakuza like he does in the english version . This suggests that the kid is important and that this might be a hint, not just insignificant information.)
The text uses the verb 殺される (korosareru). Instead of saying "the father was killed" (neutral passive), the sentence structure centers on the boy.
It literally translates to "The boy suffered the killing of his father".
In Japanese, this grammar is used specifically when an outside event causes direct harm, grief, or distress to a person. It emphasizes that the boy is the ultimate collateral victim of this violence. The language itself highlights his pain and the psychological damage he endured.
If we look at the other first-years, we can easily rule them out:
❌ Ren (if i am not wrong he talks about his father in the present tense so i think he is alive), Lyca, Sho
✅ Leo: He fits the profile the most
We know Leo was starving back then. Sho mentions that Leo practically lived off yakisoba buns and milk, and was "skin and bones." This extreme level of povert makes complete sense if his family was targeted by the Yakuza.
Maybe,if that man was his father, He owed massive, unpayable debts to them.
If you choose Leo at the start of the game, his dialogue reveals that he isn't just fighting general injustice, but it looks like if he is almost actively hunting the specific target who ruined his life.
He tells the MC:
"Life sucks then you die, right? I just want to make the assholes responsible regret it."
Also if we look at his full awaking voicelines:
"Their crying faces... I'll show them to honor roll too."
"Because there's no such thing as divine punishment in this world."
That would explain why he hates rich and powerful men they're the ones who bought the law.
Leo knows that the law and "divine justice" failed his father. The Yakuza got away with murder, which is why he took matters into his own hands, made a pact with a demon, and dedicated his life to making "the assholes responsible" pay.
Just look at the way he gets mad while talking with Alan in episode 19:
LEO: 守りたい? 舐めんじゃねぇっつってんの→ "Want to protect us? Don't make me laugh." 失うくらいなら、自分が犠牲になった方がマシだと思ってる んでしょ? → "You think it's better for you to be the one to sacrifice yourself, rather than lose someone else, right?"(it looks like he understands Alan someway)
LEO:親父が死んだ? ダンテを殺した? → "Your father died? You killed Dante?"
だからこれ以上、誰も失いたくないって? → "ls that why you don't want to lose anyone else?" (Is he talking just about Alan or about himself too?)
言っとくけど、それただの傲慢だから → "I'm telling you, that's just pure arrogance."
修羅場潜ってきてんのが、自分だけだと思っ てんなら大間抜けなんだよ → "If you think you're the only one who has been through 'Shuraba' (hell/battlefield), you're dead wrong."
Why I'm using the original Japanese text: English translations often simplify complex cultural terms. Leo says 'Shuraba'. It's not just 'hell', i did some research and it's a Buddhist term for the 'Asura battlefield,' a state of endless, violent conflict. Choosing the original term captures the weight of his trauma, which is way deeper than a simple 'hard time'.
Also in episode 2 Leo interacts with Ritsu. It's just a brief contact, nothing deep, but ask yourself: why specifically Ritsu? If this isn't just a random interaction?, it might be a subtle hint that maybe their pasts are connected?
We know Leo made a contract with the demon Shax to survive. But let's look at his Stigma: Enhanced Hearing.
Stigmas are deeply tied to ghouls' deepest desires, regrets, and core trauma at the moment of making their pact.
Leo's subconscious mind maybe wished for being able to hear danger coming before it could ever touch him...
For now it is just a theory, but the dots are connecting quite well i think...
I fr thought Leo would be a top 10 pick for peoples fave character and turns out nobody fw him . Why . You guys fw nagito komaeda but not Leo kurosagi 😒😒
I can’t even lie…. They’re just so funny … What reason do you have to be stirring shit bruh 😭😭😭😭 it could be their first day on earth and they’d be instigating AND I respect it idgaf
This theory started because @danieyells introduced me to the idea of a connection between Ritsu and Leo. That got me thinking, and I wanted to dive a bit deeper into it.
In episode 16, Ritsu recalls a tragic case from his father's files: a man with a son close to his age was brutally killed by the Yakuza.
それは、私とそう年の変わらない少年が、暴力団関係者に父親を殺されるという、痛ましい事件でした → That was a tragic incident where a boy, not much different in age from me, had his father killed by someone associated with a crime syndicate.
(In the original Japanese version, the focus is entirely on the son rather than the father. In fact, Ritsu focuses on the guy his age, stating that he suffered the loss of his father instead of focusing on the man killed by the Yakuza like he does in the english version . This suggests that the kid is important and that this might be a hint, not just insignificant information.)
The text uses the verb 殺される (korosareru). Instead of saying "the father was killed" (neutral passive), the sentence structure centers on the boy.
It literally translates to "The boy suffered the killing of his father".
In Japanese, this grammar is used specifically when an outside event causes direct harm, grief, or distress to a person. It emphasizes that the boy is the ultimate collateral victim of this violence. The language itself highlights his pain and the psychological damage he endured.
If we look at the other first-years, we can easily rule them out:
❌ Ren (if i am not wrong he talks about his father in the present tense so i think he is alive), Lyca, Sho
✅ Leo: He fits the profile the most
We know Leo was starving back then. Sho mentions that Leo practically lived off yakisoba buns and milk, and was "skin and bones." This extreme level of povert makes complete sense if his family was targeted by the Yakuza.
Maybe,if that man was his father, He owed massive, unpayable debts to them.
If you choose Leo at the start of the game, his dialogue reveals that he isn't just fighting general injustice, but it looks like if he is almost actively hunting the specific target who ruined his life.
He tells the MC:
"Life sucks then you die, right? I just want to make the assholes responsible regret it."
Also if we look at his full awaking voicelines:
"Their crying faces... I'll show them to honor roll too."
"Because there's no such thing as divine punishment in this world."
Leo knows that the law and "divine justice" failed his father. The Yakuza got away with murder, which is why he took matters into his own hands, made a pact with a demon, and dedicated his life to making "the assholes responsible" pay.
Also the way he gets mad while talking with Alan in episode 19:
LEO: 守りたい? 舐めんじゃねぇっつってんの→ "Want to protect us? Don't make me laugh." 失うくらいなら、自分が犠牲になった方がマシだと思ってる んでしょ? → "You think it's better for you to be the one to sacrifice yourself, rather than lose someone else, right?"(it looks like he understands Alan someway)
LEO:親父が死んだ? ダンテを殺した? → "Your father died? You killed Dante?"
だからこれ以上、誰も失いたくないって? → "ls that why you don't want to lose anyone else?" (Is he talking just about Alan or about himself too?)
言っとくけど、それただの傲慢だから → "I'm telling you, that's just pure arrogance."
修羅場潜ってきてんのが、自分だけだと思っ てんなら大間抜けなんだよ → "If you think you're the only one who has been through 'Shuraba' (hell/battlefield), you're dead wrong."
Why I'm using the original Japanese text: English translations often simplify complex cultural terms. Leo says 'Shuraba'. It's not just 'hell', i did some research and it's a Buddhist term for the 'Asura battlefield,' a state of endless, violent conflict. Choosing the original term captures the weight of his trauma, which is way deeper than a simple 'hard time'.
Also in episode 2 Leo interacts with Ritsu. It's just a brief contact, nothing deep, but ask yourself: why specifically Ritsu? If this isn't just a random interaction?, it might be a subtle hint that maybe their pasts are connected?
Also we know Leo made a contract with the demon Shax to survive. But let's look at his Stigma: Enchanted Hearing.
Stigmas are deeply tied to ghouls' deepest desires, regrets, and core trauma at the moment of making their pact.
Leo's subconscious mind maybe wished for being able to hear danger coming before it could ever touch him...
For now it is just a theory, but the dots are connecting quite well i think...
Just some silly thoughts...What if MC meets some of Leo's followers and they think she is Leo's girlfriend because he introduced her like that online? But then Shion suddenly appears and calls her 'his wife'. They would totally think she was taken and cheating on her Husband with Leo?!!!
Indirect or direct confessions of love/care/affection to and/or about fem MC.
All memo/letter papers are from Pinterest. If you know the creator/credit, please send me an ask, and I'll edit my post accordingly.
All writing is my own or a font! Font name will be listed with the letter when applicable. I did my best to replicate their handwriting based on their signatures.
Click here for: Obscuary | Jabberwock | Sinostra
Alan - "Blueprint of Care"
Alan doesn't write much. Or talk much, for that matter. Most of what he means to say comes through in his actions, in the way he fixes what's broken and solves problems before anyone has to ask.
Leaky faucet in your dorm? Fixed before you even notice. Sudden rain on the way out? There's already an umbrella waiting by your door from when he stopped by earlier. It's no big deal to him. He just handles things when they cross his mind.
And lately, you cross his mind a lot.
His workbench in the garage is cluttered with car blueprints, tools, and miscellaneous parts. Most of the paper scraps are just project drafts, measurements, and notes-to-self scrawled in pencil.
At first glance, this note is no different; just a list of things he needs to adjust for his new project car. But read between the lines, and it's really a list of quiet observations about a certain someone. Every correction, a kind of care.
Goodnight 4, Affinity LVL 24: "Can't sleep? ... I'll take you for a drive. Quick run should help you reset."
You're his passenger princess, and this new car must be perfect for you ;)
Font: Integrity
Sho - "Special Recipe"
Sho keeps a stack of notepads by the counter of his food truck: one for orders, one for inventory, and one for half-baked ideas. The third pad is full of scribbles: crossed-out ingredients, arrows connecting sauces to side dishes, and messy notes about texture and flavour.
Somewhere in the middle of a brainstorming session for new menu items, he realizes all the dishes he's been jotting down share one thing in common: they're all your favourites. He can feel his face reddening as he suppresses a bashful grin.
He tears a new page for a special recipe card, one written more carefully than the others. It's not a new menu item, just something he wants to make for you.
Welcome Back: "What took you so long? Your food's cold. Go wash up."
Noon 5, Affinity LVL 21: "I've finally got the hang of running this food truck. I want to thank you for helping me out. Think of something you want."
Title Font: Odachi
Second Font: Fearless
Leo - "Unposted Take"
Stacks of fan mail clutter Leo's desk, all glossy envelopes, glittery stickers, and sprayed with way too much perfume.
Garbage ... garbage ... more garbage ... ugh, he thinks, barely skimming the contents before tossing them aside. They all say the same things anyway:
"Leo, you're the best!" (eye roll, tell him something he doesn't know)
"I LOVE YOU, LEO!" (barf)
"Pleeease write me back!" (they're lucky if they even get a mention in his next live)
He sighs. If only they sent sponsorship offers instead. Maybe it's time to switch up the content.
The last time he posted with Honour Roll, his engagement shot through the roof. Couple content always does well. So, what if he writes a love letter to his "girlfriend" for his next post? Perfect lighting, fun colours, maybe a coffee mug in the frame. A heartfelt letter to show off his "boyfriend appeal" to his parasocial fans. Oh, they're sure to eat it up.
He picks out the trendiest stationary, arranges everything neatly, and begins writing. Just a few lines, he tells himself. Just enough for the photo.
But he keeps getting stuck. Ugh, this is such sappy cringe shit. Gotta lean into the bit, make it believable, sprinkle in some truth with the lies. The more he writes, the more he starts slipping up. Soon the overly sweet bullshit starts giving way to his real feelings.
And when he finally stops, the letter is ... too personal. Too dangerously sincere.
The photo never gets taken. The post never gets made. And the letter is promptly scribbled over, torn up, and tossed in the trash with the fan mail.
Phew, can't ever let that see the light of day. Reputation saved.
April Fools: "Ha ha. You were photobombing one of my pics so I uploaded it and said I had a new girlfriend. 10k interacts in less than an hour. Suckers."
Max Affinity LVL 25: "Wanna make a bet, Honour Roll? Over which will come first — me falling for you, or you getting hooked on me."
MC might fall first, but he definitely falls harder!
Below is what was salvaged from the trash:
Leo's stalker @kat--the--cat - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
