Rarepair enjoyer.

A blog meant for headcanons from the Another series. All characters are by Linuj, all characterization by yours truly.

[live-digital-love]

Hello, hello!

As said above: this is a rambling account for the Another series, created by Linuj! Everything I write will be canon-adjacent, in the sense that I will favor my interpretations of the characters over following canon to the T.

I am open to:

♡ Ship headcanons ("tsurei on a date?")

♡ Single-character headcanons ("is Syobai annoyed with all the languages he knows?")

♡ What-if headcanons ("what if Yuri survived chapter one?")

ও My Rules and Masterlist are here!

♡

[live-digital-love]

So I got a question op (love ur blog btw) what do you think would happen in a scenario for SDRA2 if everyone woke up from the simulation like how it happens in the canon games (cuz it's rly sad they're gone forever and im in denial over it :'3)

Thank you for loving my blog!

Unfortunately, I don't have any thoughts in my brain for this one because I haven't actively watched nor played the end of SDR2 or DRV3 so I don't entirely know what ideas I'm s'posed to be having.

Are we talking a mix of SDR2 and DRV3, in which everyone is able to wake up and it's like... they're all in a facility and have to go through rehabilitation or whatever?

I haven't watched SDRA2's ending either. Doesn't the Kisaragi Foundation show up and cause chaos at the end? How long were they chillin in the place that everyone else is for Rei and Teruya to have been there since the beginning? Doesn't time pass super fucking quickly in the simulation compared to real life...?

[live-digital-love]

How about something to do with teruya's merchant talent? something like a scenario where the sunshine trio are trying to sell something dumb to the class, the others fall for the marketing tactics that teruya pulls or just want the trio to stop bugging em so they end up buying, but then here comes the ultimate challengers who they're supposed to convince- rei and tsurugi

I love it, but one question:

This entirely depends on what kind of merchant Teruya is.

Is he a good, honest man?

Or is he a little weasel that will steal your shit and then knowingly sell it back to you while you have no fucking clue what he did?

[live-digital-love]

also this one's more of a question, but how would you change or add some parts in DRA when it comes to characters applying their ultimate talents? characters like kakeru or kinji could've had such cool arcs to me if their talents shined out more than just "oh loud lawyer in a trial" or "oh yes kinji prays sometimes in his dialogue"

You just gave me an excuse to rant about one of the biggest beefs I have with Lin regarding one of my favorite characters, buckle up.

There were a lot of things that felt as if they just. Could have been used more, to phrase it gently.

For example: there was potential for Kakeru to have acted as a sort of "straining force" against Tsurugi even if temporarily, especially during the first trial. They both would have a relationship with "the law" as a concept, but I don't recall Kakeru challenging Tsurugi, which he very much could have done. If anything, Kakeru straining against Tsurugi only to bow back down to him could've been a moment to show just how influencing Tsurugi is.

If that did happen and I don't remember, then I stand corrected.

With Kinji, my biggest pet peeve is how Lin wrote his personality. I feel like, with how it's mentioned that his voice is so soothing, it's meant to be able to sway... what, an entire prison full of grown convicts to never commit crime again? He also mentions that he convinced a horrible man to become a head in the church or something just by talking to him, because that's how influential his words are. Even Yuki says that just being in Kinji's presence makes him feel at peace.

But from what I've seen, this doesn't really get used. He's cold, blank, very distant from everyone. How come this same man that was praised for his moving and soothing word doesn't... try to help anybody? He watches multiple people have mental breakdowns and doesn't even offer a single kind word. He just stares and watches.

I would have loved him as a character so much more if he had that 'moving' way of him all the time. In the sense that he actively showed what he's known for. The inspirational speeches and giving others the will to go on.

Someone so kind, and soothing, and gentle, someone who truly did try to help everyone see the sun beyond the storm and find their own peace...

Turns around and kills two people, nearly fucking four, because it was for "the greater good"?

The same man that preaches that there is no true right and wrong, only what one believes to be true? The same man using that belief to soothe others, then turn around and use it to defend his own horrible actions?

A holy man that stands the definition of "gray morals."

[live-digital-love]

I'm still going on about Kinji.

I love writing him in a way that he is still very uncanny. His love and adoration is so universal that it's truly, wholeheartedly, unnerving; the way he always gently smiles, no matter what happens. He has heard so, so much pain, and now gets to witness it all for himself-

What can he do but smile and offer warmth?

Smile and offer warmth as people go into hysteria, and gently try to coax them into something calmer, something easier than so much mental anguish.

Smile and offer warmth as a corpse is discovered, and a wave of pure terror washes over everyone, yet he stands there, simply, sweetly. He gives a prayer to the victim, and another to their killer, right before they are sentenced to their death. He smiles and offers warmth as he watches the fear and regret wash over their eyes, and only wish them happiness before they die.

Smile and offers warmth as he gently chides a man for trying to strike fear into the hearts of people who are already terrified beyond belief. Smiles and offers warmth at what the others call his cruelty, his heartlessness.

And most of all, he smiles and offers warmth to those horrified by his own actions, when they find out what he's done.

His love and adoration is overwhelming to the point it's sickening.

[live-digital-love]

also this one's more of a question, but how would you change or add some parts in DRA when it comes to characters applying their ultimate talents? characters like kakeru or kinji could've had such cool arcs to me if their talents shined out more than just "oh loud lawyer in a trial" or "oh yes kinji prays sometimes in his dialogue"

You just gave me an excuse to rant about one of the biggest beefs I have with Lin regarding one of my favorite characters, buckle up.

There were a lot of things that felt as if they just. Could have been used more, to phrase it gently.

For example: there was potential for Kakeru to have acted as a sort of "straining force" against Tsurugi even if temporarily, especially during the first trial. They both would have a relationship with "the law" as a concept, but I don't recall Kakeru challenging Tsurugi, which he very much could have done. If anything, Kakeru straining against Tsurugi only to bow back down to him could've been a moment to show just how influencing Tsurugi is.

If that did happen and I don't remember, then I stand corrected.

With Kinji, my biggest pet peeve is how Lin wrote his personality. I feel like, with how it's mentioned that his voice is so soothing, it's meant to be able to sway... what, an entire prison full of grown convicts to never commit crime again? He also mentions that he convinced a horrible man to become a head in the church or something just by talking to him, because that's how influential his words are. Even Yuki says that just being in Kinji's presence makes him feel at peace.

But from what I've seen, this doesn't really get used. He's cold, blank, very distant from everyone. How come this same man that was praised for his moving and soothing word doesn't... try to help anybody? He watches multiple people have mental breakdowns and doesn't even offer a single kind word. He just stares and watches.

I would have loved him as a character so much more if he had that 'moving' way of him all the time. In the sense that he actively showed what he's known for. The inspirational speeches and giving others the will to go on.

Someone so kind, and soothing, and gentle, someone who truly did try to help everyone see the sun beyond the storm and find their own peace...

Turns around and kills two people, nearly fucking four, because it was for "the greater good"?

The same man that preaches that there is no true right and wrong, only what one believes to be true? The same man using that belief to soothe others, then turn around and use it to defend his own horrible actions?

A holy man that stands the definition of "gray morals."

[live-digital-love]

Utsuro and Akane at the fair

You've waited so long for this, and all I can do is apologize.

♡ Utsukane | Fair Headcanons

It isn't anything new that Utsuro is a very... tired and lethargic man. He won't move a muscle for days, hardly even breathing, unless Akane asks him to do so. Even then, there are times in which he'll only manage a blank stare before going unresponsive again.

Thankfully, those are only the bad days. Akane wouldn't know what she'd do if that was all the time...

On the average days, she can convince him to actually get up and move around. On good days, he'll even agree to go somewhere with her to stretch out "those sad little bones," as she cheerfully puts it. Today, she wrote him a list of places she thought might be fun, and he cast a lingering glance at one in particular: a travelling fair that happened to be in town.

Akane only really considered what he would even be able to do once they got there. Rides might be fun, but wouldn't he make them malfunction waiting in the line? Maybe. Let's not risk that until later, to not rise too much suspicion, hm?

Next option was the festival games, which... also. Were not an excellent option, as he can't exactly play them fairly. To be fair, the fair itself doesn't play them fairly because they're rigged. Wouldn't two "unfairs" make it a fair competition, then?

To Akane's surprise, Utsuro was the one who picked out a game. The lights surrounding the booth caught his attention and he wandered over to it. It was a stand that had towers of bottles to be knocked down. Usually, some of the bottles are glued or stuck together so that they can't all fall.

But Utsuro simply took one of the balls and handed it to Akane.

She was pleasantly surprised now, looking between him and the ball curiously. "Huh-? You don't want to at least try?"

"... Everything would fall. Even if I dropped it."

"Right. But why are you giving it to me? I can't win anything."

In lieu of a response, he leaned in far too close, a hand drifting by her side to guide her near. He gently guided her hand to point at a corner of one of the bottles.

"... There," he mumbled. "Hit it there."

His slurred words rang through the haze that ebbed on her mind. It grew stronger whenever he drew too close, and could linger for days or weeks at a time. She always welcomed it eagerly.

But now, it drew away once he moved.

... He's allowing her to do it on her own.

Any toys they won through this process would have been given to Utsuro to hold, though Akane herself offered to do so. He seemed very content with a certain stuffed bear in particular. He got to keep that one.

She also introduced him to what cotton candy was, after she found him wandering away again to look at a stand. He stared blankly at the treat up until it was in her hands. As they sat down at a table not too far away, she could have sworn he actually looked... pleased with the small piece she put on his tongue.

[live-digital-love]

♡ Yuriroha / Kagajiue | Teaching

♡ Casual fluff

♡ In trying to explain to Iroha a misbelief she has, he discovers that they have something in common.

♡

The words poured over his tongue like a river, a steady flowing course that has been said over, and over, and over again. Memories flowed back as well, some pleasant, some bitter. Some were of the best he'd ever had. Some still tugged at his mind years later and rid him of sleep. No one else would ever know the more gruesome details that danced behind his eyes. And that's okay. That's how he wanted it to be.

Even the most horrifying tales can be turned into a bedtime story if you're creative enough.

He could never tire of telling stories like these, especially not when he has such an attentive and creative listener herself.

Iroha Nijiue. The only girl who was more than happy to sit down and listen to his stories. He noticed rather quickly that he has to make the boring parts a lot more exciting to keep her attention, but she made an effort to stay awake, and that's all he needed.

Just her name alone made the memories worth it.

⠀

Yuri started on another story, describing how far he had travelled this time, describing the culture and scenery of the new world he'd stepped into, describing---

Iroha's face suddenly lit up, her hand shooting in the air as it did.

"Oh! Wait, hold on! I got a question!"

Yuri chuckled at her excitement. "Yes, dear? Ask whatever it is, and I'll be sure to find an answer for you."

"Have you ever been to the edge of the world?"

He opened his mouth to reply, then felt his entire body freeze up. Yuri slowly sat back in his seat, carefully considering how to... answer that, licking his lips as he did. Surely, she must be talking about some sort of attraction that he's never heard of, right?

"Could you elaborate, dear?"

"You know! The end of it, where the water spills over and you can see out in space and stuff! It'd be so cool to go there!"

⠀

Dear god, not this.

Normally, Yuri would have been compelled to say something sweet to make her blush. The first thing to come to mind was: 'I could take you there on our wedding day!'

It was adorable, the last time he said something like that. She whined and got so embarrassed, hiding behind her sketchpad to shy from his gaze.

But he can't even bring himself to play along right now. He just can't.

Come, come, now. He's a man. He can and will be respectful about this.

"I don't mean to doubt you, baby, but... the world having an edge? That's certainly news, despite my travels. Could you explain it to me?"

She happily nodded, lifting that adorable little sketchpad out of her lap to flip through some pages of it. She readily tilted it away from Yuri's delightfully curious gaze. If some of the contents made her blush, it would easily be worth his time, no? Come to think of it, he never has seen a portfolio of her more personal work, has he...

"Here!"

She finally spun the book around and slid it across the table, its pages showing an astonishingly detailed map of the earth.

"When I was a kid, I had to learn how to make maps of areas off the top of my head. How come the Earth's a circle if there were so many flat maps?"

⠀

Because maps existed back before they had the technology to determine that the world had a curve...? Really? This will be a doozy.

He got up from his side of the table, humming as he moved. Then, froze to ask: "Oh, er. Do you mind if I come show you? I find it very difficult to explain without a sketch as a reference."

Iroha looked down at the space next to her and shrugged. "I don't care."

Which... made Yuri cock a brow. "I'm sorry, but I'm very particular about this sort of thing. I don't think that was an answer."

"Uhm... do you want me to say yes? Go ahead."

At the clear confirmation, Yuri easily moved around to her side of the table, and he cautiously sat close enough to see over the sketchpad but not so close as to make her feel anxious.

He then asked her to draw a sphere and tried to explain to her the things that he knew for certain: he knew how to find the trajectory of an object in the air, he knew how to measure the length of shadows to find the time of day, he knew how to find the window in which something could safely leave and enter earth's atmosphere, he knew how to read the stars in the sky and the horizon over the water. All things that proved his point one way or another.

But all the time he spent talking was futile, as his listener only grew bored and obviously stopped paying attention after his first two examples.

⠀

This is going nowhere.

Time for a different approach.

His fingers drummed gently against the table. "I have a question. How did you learn how to draw a map with that much accuracy, and no distortion? Usually, flat maps like that will have some countries looking bigger than others, and that's because they didn't know about the curvature of the earth."

"Oh! I noticed that, too. It really irritated me when I was still learning. But I figured it out because I looked at a globe instead! They were really the only things proportionally consistent."

"... So you used a globe to take into account the curvature of the earth? So everything would be proportioned correctly?"

"Uh... I think so!"

"And you understand that a globe is a sphere, correct? A rounded, circular object?"

"Yes, I get that! I'm not dumb!"

"I would end my life before I'd ever say that you are, baby. I'm just trying to repeat what you said back to you, but in a longer way, okay?"

"Eh...okay. But you don't have to get weird about it."

He could only chuckle. "You're right, I don't. What my point is: if the Earth is flat, then how come a spherical globe is more accurate than a dozen flat maps?"

Iroha opened her mouth to respond, then suddenly froze. Her gaze broke from his, trailing off into space. He could practically watch the gears turning in her brain, which was very hard not to chuckle at. He did allow himself to smirk as her face dropped in realization, though. She slumped over with a very familiar whine, setting her face on the table with a gentle plop.

⠀

"Oh... ohhhhhhh. I take it back, I am dumb."

His mind flew to thoughts of him leaning over and rubbing her back, or brushing her hair out of her face, or cupping her cheeks in his hands to lift up her head, or softly cooing that she doesn't have to say those things. His body itself, however, stayed deathly still. Maybe he can... let himself attempt the last one.

"Come, no, you're not. You just needed it to be explained differently, see?"

She only rolled her pretty teal eyes. "Yeah, right. Compared to you, I'm dumb. And annoying. And a sad excuse for... everything."

"Don't say these things, dear, you'll break my heart!" There they are, again: those thoughts he had to ignore. That he can't quite spin into a story just yet.

"Then let it break. It's true."

"See: I don't know the things I do because I just know it. I had to learn it. For example: I like to think of myself as a visual learner. That's why I asked you to draw examples for me. I learned that you think very differently compared to me, even though I think you're a visual learner, too. And I learned that you need a better person to be around than yourself, if you really think those things about someone as kind and sweet as you."

⠀

His attentive, creative listener groaned at his last few words, a hand seemingly trying to swat them all away. "You say that to every girl."

"I really, truly don't. That was just for you." Unsure of how else to get her attention, Yuri rested his head on the table beside her own, trying to look into her very being.

"I can prove it. I learned that you use your left hand to write, but your right to draw and paint. I learned that your hands are much more fluid depending on what I asked you to make. I even learned that you go out of your way to spend time with me just because I said I was a little lonely so long ago I can't remember. I may be nice to every woman I meet, but you are not every woman, Iroha."

⠀

Soft color spread its way across her more and more the longer he spoke. Quiet pinks and reds brushed her cheeks, and ears, and nose. A beautiful contrast to her wavering eyes and deep brown hair.

"But I can't do that. You saw that stuff and you know it now. I can't. I don't know anything unless it has to do with... stupid technical art stuff. I'm only good for that. What good is painting something with perfect contrast and a stunning composition if I can't even..." She trailed off, pouting as she thought. "Muti-... Mulpl-... Mul-i-ply...?"

"Multiply?"

"See!? I can't even say it right! Little baby kids can do it! I'm useless if I'm not painting."

⠀

She doesn't know something as simple as multiplication, but is extremely gifted in anything regarding a physical medium...

... He did learn something else about her before this, didn't he? That she shies away whenever someone says her family name.

Only trained in one specific thing, and being practically shielded from knowing about anything else...

He knows that all too well.

It wasn't long before memories of his own, similar to those, bubbled in his mind. Long hours he was forced to study, and starve, and sacrifice, all to be the heir to something he now resents. And all in vain, as it was all useless to him the moment he stepped outside those blackened walls, or were dragged out of them kicking and screaming. Again, and again, and again.

But this isn't about him anymore.

⠀

"Please don't get sad, dear. You do know how to count and measure amounts, don't you?"

She puffed out her cheeks. "... I think so."

"Then you're doing fantastic already. I know math and science and literature because those are concepts. You need to be taught them by someone else who knows them. I don't think you were taught any of these things."

"... No. Anyone that tried to just said I didn't need it or that I'm too stupid to remember it all."

"Well, I want to make that different. May I try to teach you the things you want to learn?"

The creative, attentive student, now, sprung up from the table. Her smile beamed as bright as the sun. He could've sworn she'd gotten so worked up she was vibrating with excitement as he lazily sat up.

⠀

"Will you!? You really think I learn? I mean- please? I don't know what I can do to make it worth it for you, but, uhm---"

"You don't have to. Seeing you so happy makes it worthwhile as it is, baby."

"Yeah, but I want to do something for you, too! I want this to feel like it's fair."

"In that case... what about this: I teach you whatever you want to know, and you teach me how to do whatever makes you the happiest. That is the only thing I want."

"I can do that easy! I'm gonna be smart! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Iroha squealed right after she spoke, practically lunging for Yuri to wrap him in a tight hug.

⠀

He took the playful pounce with so much ease. His hands shot out to the sides, however, so they wouldn't touch her by accident. He made sure of that. But, he...

God, he melted at the slightest warm touch, let alone this.

The warmth of her, the smell of her hair, the brilliant smile still burning in his mind, the fact that she's even here with him...

It was like heaven on earth had her arms wrapped around his chest. And he'd give anything to die right there, enveloped in so much peace.

But he made a promise that he has to keep. He can't until she knows every little thing that will make her happy.

[yurikagarinstan]

Hey OP i hope you understand how much this made me kick my feet in the air and flap my hands around like an idiot. You did not have to make it this cute 😭😭😭💗💘💓💘💓💞💓💞💓💕💓💕 (brb gonna go lose my mind in the tags)

[live-digital-love]

LISTEN TO ME.

I would be so down to write more of them because I am mentally unwell about them suddenly

They're the polar opposites in everything and it's all because of their pasts and even to the point that Iroha would gladly throw someone else's life into the pyre to save her own because all she has is her own, yet Yuri would just as willingly get down on his knees and slit his throat with her very own scalpel if she asked and all she would have to do is ask because the only thing of value that he can give is his life because all he has is his own.

What the fuck.

[live-digital-love]

♡ Yuriroha / Kagajiue | Teaching

♡ Casual fluff

♡ In trying to explain to Iroha a misbelief she has, he discovers that they have something in common.

♡

The words poured over his tongue like a river, a steady flowing course that has been said over, and over, and over again. Memories flowed back as well, some pleasant, some bitter. Some were of the best he'd ever had. Some still tugged at his mind years later and rid him of sleep. No one else would ever know the more gruesome details that danced behind his eyes. And that's okay. That's how he wanted it to be.

Even the most horrifying tales can be turned into a bedtime story if you're creative enough.

He could never tire of telling stories like these, especially not when he has such an attentive and creative listener herself.

Iroha Nijiue. The only girl who was more than happy to sit down and listen to his stories. He noticed rather quickly that he has to make the boring parts a lot more exciting to keep her attention, but she made an effort to stay awake, and that's all he needed.

Just her name alone made the memories worth it.

⠀

Yuri started on another story, describing how far he had travelled this time, describing the culture and scenery of the new world he'd stepped into, describing---

Iroha's face suddenly lit up, her hand shooting in the air as it did.

"Oh! Wait, hold on! I got a question!"

Yuri chuckled at her excitement. "Yes, dear? Ask whatever it is, and I'll be sure to find an answer for you."

"Have you ever been to the edge of the world?"

He opened his mouth to reply, then felt his entire body freeze up. Yuri slowly sat back in his seat, carefully considering how to... answer that, licking his lips as he did. Surely, she must be talking about some sort of attraction that he's never heard of, right?

"Could you elaborate, dear?"

"You know! The end of it, where the water spills over and you can see out in space and stuff! It'd be so cool to go there!"

⠀

Dear god, not this.

Normally, Yuri would have been compelled to say something sweet to make her blush. The first thing to come to mind was: 'I could take you there on our wedding day!'

It was adorable, the last time he said something like that. She whined and got so embarrassed, hiding behind her sketchpad to shy from his gaze.

But he can't even bring himself to play along right now. He just can't.

Come, come, now. He's a man. He can and will be respectful about this.

"I don't mean to doubt you, baby, but... the world having an edge? That's certainly news, despite my travels. Could you explain it to me?"

She happily nodded, lifting that adorable little sketchpad out of her lap to flip through some pages of it. She readily tilted it away from Yuri's delightfully curious gaze. If some of the contents made her blush, it would easily be worth his time, no? Come to think of it, he never has seen a portfolio of her more personal work, has he...

"Here!"

She finally spun the book around and slid it across the table, its pages showing an astonishingly detailed map of the earth.

"When I was a kid, I had to learn how to make maps of areas off the top of my head. How come the Earth's a circle if there were so many flat maps?"

⠀

Because maps existed back before they had the technology to determine that the world had a curve...? Really? This will be a doozy.

He got up from his side of the table, humming as he moved. Then, froze to ask: "Oh, er. Do you mind if I come show you? I find it very difficult to explain without a sketch as a reference."

Iroha looked down at the space next to her and shrugged. "I don't care."

Which... made Yuri cock a brow. "I'm sorry, but I'm very particular about this sort of thing. I don't think that was an answer."

"Uhm... do you want me to say yes? Go ahead."

At the clear confirmation, Yuri easily moved around to her side of the table, and he cautiously sat close enough to see over the sketchpad but not so close as to make her feel anxious.

He then asked her to draw a sphere and tried to explain to her the things that he knew for certain: he knew how to find the trajectory of an object in the air, he knew how to measure the length of shadows to find the time of day, he knew how to find the window in which something could safely leave and enter earth's atmosphere, he knew how to read the stars in the sky and the horizon over the water. All things that proved his point one way or another.

But all the time he spent talking was futile, as his listener only grew bored and obviously stopped paying attention after his first two examples.

⠀

This is going nowhere.

Time for a different approach.

His fingers drummed gently against the table. "I have a question. How did you learn how to draw a map with that much accuracy, and no distortion? Usually, flat maps like that will have some countries looking bigger than others, and that's because they didn't know about the curvature of the earth."

"Oh! I noticed that, too. It really irritated me when I was still learning. But I figured it out because I looked at a globe instead! They were really the only things proportionally consistent."

"... So you used a globe to take into account the curvature of the earth? So everything would be proportioned correctly?"

"Uh... I think so!"

"And you understand that a globe is a sphere, correct? A rounded, circular object?"

"Yes, I get that! I'm not dumb!"

"I would end my life before I'd ever say that you are, baby. I'm just trying to repeat what you said back to you, but in a longer way, okay?"

"Eh...okay. But you don't have to get weird about it."

He could only chuckle. "You're right, I don't. What my point is: if the Earth is flat, then how come a spherical globe is more accurate than a dozen flat maps?"

Iroha opened her mouth to respond, then suddenly froze. Her gaze broke from his, trailing off into space. He could practically watch the gears turning in her brain, which was very hard not to chuckle at. He did allow himself to smirk as her face dropped in realization, though. She slumped over with a very familiar whine, setting her face on the table with a gentle plop.

⠀

"Oh... ohhhhhhh. I take it back, I am dumb."

His mind flew to thoughts of him leaning over and rubbing her back, or brushing her hair out of her face, or cupping her cheeks in his hands to lift up her head, or softly cooing that she doesn't have to say those things. His body itself, however, stayed deathly still. Maybe he can... let himself attempt the last one.

"Come, no, you're not. You just needed it to be explained differently, see?"

She only rolled her pretty teal eyes. "Yeah, right. Compared to you, I'm dumb. And annoying. And a sad excuse for... everything."

"Don't say these things, dear, you'll break my heart!" There they are, again: those thoughts he had to ignore. That he can't quite spin into a story just yet.

"Then let it break. It's true."

"See: I don't know the things I do because I just know it. I had to learn it. For example: I like to think of myself as a visual learner. That's why I asked you to draw examples for me. I learned that you think very differently compared to me, even though I think you're a visual learner, too. And I learned that you need a better person to be around than yourself, if you really think those things about someone as kind and sweet as you."

⠀

His attentive, creative listener groaned at his last few words, a hand seemingly trying to swat them all away. "You say that to every girl."

"I really, truly don't. That was just for you." Unsure of how else to get her attention, Yuri rested his head on the table beside her own, trying to look into her very being.

"I can prove it. I learned that you use your left hand to write, but your right to draw and paint. I learned that your hands are much more fluid depending on what I asked you to make. I even learned that you go out of your way to spend time with me just because I said I was a little lonely so long ago I can't remember. I may be nice to every woman I meet, but you are not every woman, Iroha."

⠀

Soft color spread its way across her more and more the longer he spoke. Quiet pinks and reds brushed her cheeks, and ears, and nose. A beautiful contrast to her wavering eyes and deep brown hair.

"But I can't do that. You saw that stuff and you know it now. I can't. I don't know anything unless it has to do with... stupid technical art stuff. I'm only good for that. What good is painting something with perfect contrast and a stunning composition if I can't even..." She trailed off, pouting as she thought. "Muti-... Mulpl-... Mul-i-ply...?"

"Multiply?"

"See!? I can't even say it right! Little baby kids can do it! I'm useless if I'm not painting."

⠀

She doesn't know something as simple as multiplication, but is extremely gifted in anything regarding a physical medium...

... He did learn something else about her before this, didn't he? That she shies away whenever someone says her family name.

Only trained in one specific thing, and being practically shielded from knowing about anything else...

He knows that all too well.

It wasn't long before memories of his own, similar to those, bubbled in his mind. Long hours he was forced to study, and starve, and sacrifice, all to be the heir to something he now resents. And all in vain, as it was all useless to him the moment he stepped outside those blackened walls, or were dragged out of them kicking and screaming. Again, and again, and again.

But this isn't about him anymore.

⠀

"Please don't get sad, dear. You do know how to count and measure amounts, don't you?"

She puffed out her cheeks. "... I think so."

"Then you're doing fantastic already. I know math and science and literature because those are concepts. You need to be taught them by someone else who knows them. I don't think you were taught any of these things."

"... No. Anyone that tried to just said I didn't need it or that I'm too stupid to remember it all."

"Well, I want to make that different. May I try to teach you the things you want to learn?"

The creative, attentive student, now, sprung up from the table. Her smile beamed as bright as the sun. He could've sworn she'd gotten so worked up she was vibrating with excitement as he lazily sat up.

⠀

"Will you!? You really think I learn? I mean- please? I don't know what I can do to make it worth it for you, but, uhm---"

"You don't have to. Seeing you so happy makes it worthwhile as it is, baby."

"Yeah, but I want to do something for you, too! I want this to feel like it's fair."

"In that case... what about this: I teach you whatever you want to know, and you teach me how to do whatever makes you the happiest. That is the only thing I want."

"I can do that easy! I'm gonna be smart! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Iroha squealed right after she spoke, practically lunging for Yuri to wrap him in a tight hug.

⠀

He took the playful pounce with so much ease. His hands shot out to the sides, however, so they wouldn't touch her by accident. He made sure of that. But, he...

God, he melted at the slightest warm touch, let alone this.

The warmth of her, the smell of her hair, the brilliant smile still burning in his mind, the fact that she's even here with him...

It was like heaven on earth had her arms wrapped around his chest. And he'd give anything to die right there, enveloped in so much peace.

But he made a promise that he has to keep. He can't until she knows every little thing that will make her happy.

[live-digital-love]

Damn now I wanna write them.

Someone give me a prompt or I will.

[live-digital-love]

Someone who has watched DRA Chapter Five, help me.

Do Mikako and Yamato ever directly call each other brother and sister? I'm trying to figure something out regarding them.

[live-digital-love]

I've come to a verdict regarding this. Thanks to those who chipped in.

Tl;dr: if I do write them together, it'll likely be more of a "childhood friends that lived together" situation over a "literally siblings" situation. Found family sort of vibes.

[live-digital-love]

Someone who has watched DRA Chapter Five, help me.

Do Mikako and Yamato ever directly call each other brother and sister? I'm trying to figure something out regarding them.

[live-digital-love]

OH and another question!! what do you think would be the friend groups that'll form if the SDRA2 and DRA characters were in the same class? I personally think emma and setsuka would be super close with people like kiyoka and kizuna >:D

Finally getting to this one, hello.

♡ Classes 79-A and 78-B | Mingling

Kizuna would either absolutely adore, or be very jealous of and pretend she absolutely adores, Emma. And that is hilarious.

But she would get along well with Yoruko, that's for sure. Yoruko, on the other hand, would have to put up with so much teasing.

Tsurugi and Shinji would have a very strong mutual respect for each other. Though... Tsurugi may find his, erm... eccentric nature... a bit unprofessional. Shinji may find Tsurugi's everything else to be a bit... what the fuck?

Syobai better fucking Run if he sees Tsurugi.

Yuri would be beyond joyous to see Akane again! The first thing he'd do is bow to her and try to catch up since the last time they've spoken.

Kanata and Iroha might get along, ft. Iroha encouraging her to be a lot more laid back and not as serious all the time.

Kokoro, Kanata, Rei, and Kinji may have a nice, quiet few moments in the library before someone (read: Yamato having found out Setsuka exists and how hilarious she is) runs in and interrupts their peace.

When not laughing off Yamato's hundred-miles-an-hour brain, Setsuka would definitely get along with Kiyoka. She'd likely encourage Kiyoka to do what she loves, not what she's good at.

Satsuki finding Setsuka? They'd be utterly inseparable. And everyone else would be so, so screwed.

Mitch would get in a fight with (and get his ass handed to) by either Yuri, Hajime, or both of them, so fucking fast. Bonus: Sora, too.

... Two Teruya's? Two Teruya's. Third Year Teruya would likely break down crying seeing Haru and Satsuki again, while Second Year is extremely confused and doesn't know what to do to help calm him down. None of them do. And Third Year refuses to tell them why he seems so sad...

So, uh... the whole "Fake Yuki" vs "Real Life Guy" thing... might get awkward...

So, uh... the whole "Void now meeting Utsuro face-to-face" thing... might get bloody... and would need to be intervened before one of them hurts him, or they hurt each other due to differing opinions, as soon as their sanity starts to slip by being so close again...

[live-digital-love]

♡ Terurei / Torimeka | Tragedy

♡ There is no happy ending.

♡ All angst.

♡ Something short and sour that I didn't feel like fleshing out further.

♡ Teruya tries. Dear god, he tries.

Note: when I originally wrote this, the perspective changes rapidly between Teruya and Rei. I wasn't sure how to make this clearer without undoing what was originally there.

♡

They feel like a tragedy.

Tragedy, between someone who moves too fast and someone that likes to take her time.

"Let's go, we have all the time in the world!" and "If you're not careful, you'll end up dead."

-

Teruya trying to move forward.

Jogging up to her in the echoing halls, trying to catch her before she ducks into her room to hide away. He took off as soon as he noticed she left, and somehow, she was still so far away.

"Why're ya bein' so rude to everybody back there? The last thing we need is makin' enemies, y'know!"

She raises an arm to her chest, at first; it seems to be a force of habit when he talks about these things.

"I don't need anyone else but myself, thank you. Now run along and stop wasting your breath."

But he only stops and whistles.

"All 'm tryna say is that havin' some maybe-could-be-future friends in here wouldn' hurt!"

Over.

-

He's out of breath this time, having to practically run after her surprisingly brisk walk. His head buzzing like a hundred flies all crammed in one after the other, and the only thing they can buzz is blazing red. Blazing red, and buzzing screams, and lifeless eyes and:

"H- Hey, why aren't you helpin' us? You're smart! Yer really, really smart, and--- w- we can't do this on our own! We need you!"

She only kept pace with the own dazed thrum of that damned thing thudding in her chest. She's read about this before. This feeling, this situation. She's read how to handle this. All of it.

She's read. She's read. She's read.

"Then figure out how to. It's not my responsibility to help you."

He stopped so fast he nearly tripped over his own feet.

"You won' even try!?"

And over.

-

Desperate, shaking hands card through gelled hair. His nerves are fried. Everything is fried. It wasn't meant to be real. It should have stopped.

They should've been saved by now.

It should've ended when everyone promised---

It should have, it should have, it should---

Words fell off his tongue just as fast as they whirled through his mind. They whirled orange, and they whirled blue, and they whirled only one name.

"Please, I need somebody! Everyone else is leaving me!"

Her ears are ringing. From his whining yells or from the own pounding in her head, she can't tell anymore. It blurred long ago. She doesn't care.

She doesn't want to care.

"Who said I have to be here for you?"

He threw his arms and his body itself in an attempt to physically shake the emotions tearing through him, and he nearly slams his body into a wall in the process.

"I- No one, but---

Please, god, don't let me be alone!"

And over again.

-

He's crying. He hasn't cried like this since he was a child. Maybe he still is one, rubbing his eyes and coming crying to someone he knew wouldn't listen. Heaving sobs get caught in his throat. It takes hiccups and wheezing breaths just to speak.

"You're the only one who'll look at me."

She froze. Her hands steeled into fists. He couldn't know they were shaking mere moments before. Words she once spoke only to reflections in her youth flooded out of her mouth.

No one else can know. No one else does. No one else will.

"Then you should look at yourself! You shouldn't need someone else to help you. You're only as weak as you are now because all you do is cry wolf to someone that actually matters."

He was almost stunned by how... cold she can be.

"But I want them to help me, so I don't have to do it by myself!

I want you to help me!"

-

Even in the end.

Even after there's nothing left.

He keeps trying.

He still looks around: wildly, madly, for anything, anything that still burns bright, vivid orange, or bright, vivid white now, or anything that might look like her.

"Why can't I find you? Where did you go?"

Her response, in another world outside of the one his mind is kept, is a hitch in her breath. Her gaze bored into the monitor screen. He should have been right after her. He should have woken up by now. He still hasn't moved. Why hasn't he moved? Didn't he know?

"... This isn't right. What did you do?"

In that other world, he looked to himself with horror. With disgust. Flames and ashes played beyond his eyes on loop. Terror trailed its way through his mind as he realized just what he had let happen.

He realized he ran out of time.

"What did I do?"

What went wrong? What went wrong? What went wrong?

But she doesn't move. She stays frozen. She stares and watches.

She doesn't move until it finally started to set in that she was years, and years too late.

Until the dull whirr of blue-green lights and meaningless numbers ticked down and down and stopped entirely.

Until they sealed his fate.

Until she realized she ran out of time, too.

-

Only this time...

It tore her heart to guilt-filled shreds.

And she acknowledged that it hurt.

[live-digital-love]

I've found old Terurei angst that I took pictures of but deleted the original file for.

Thoughts on me further ignoring my requests and restoring that instead 👀

[live-digital-love]

♡ Mitsuyame / Higatano | Manhunt

♡ Eventual fluff.

♡ Playful bickering.

♡ Ayame agrees to a certain deal after Mitch makes it sound appealing; only, it results in... "a happy accident."

♡

Game day. Game day, game day, game day.

The day that the classes all get together and compete against one another in a sort of school-wide competition. Like... when you're a kid in school and it's field day. Only for this, the school is considered fair playing ground, and from what she's heard, everything is on the table.

The last game was something called... 'Manhunt.' It was like tag, but more than just running. It starts with one hunter, and everyone else playing the game is a target. When you get tagged, you become a hunter, and have to hunt down everyone else. Night had already fallen, so the game is to be played in the dark. One of many dangerous factors that made it all the more exciting in theory. Someone even announced over the PA system when a player was tagged.

The only important rule was: Don't get tagged. Which, while it was very, very easy, made the game not... that fun when she wasn't a hunter.

No one tried going near her after long enough. They either didn't want to try or didn't want her to let them tag her out of pity.

⠀

Now, Ayame crouched in the dark, listening to everything move around her. About half of her classmates were still free, if she's been keeping count right. It wasn't long until a new announcement was made.

'Mitsuhiro Higa has been tagged!'

Not ten minutes after that, she finally heard something to her right. Her head snapped towards the sound, and as it turned out, it was another player. Specifically, it was Mitsuhiro.

Ayame sprung up, quickly moving to keep about twenty-five feet between them, at least. He's fast. If he tried to spring at her, she needed space to move.

⠀

Her opponent froze at this, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Whoah, slow down. No need to get spooked. I'm only here to make an offer, not tag you. Pinky promise."

"Make an offer? We're playing a game right now. Why do you want to make an offer to me?"

"'Cause I get the feeling we both know this game's a bit unfair. I mean... come on. No offense to our classmates, but they've got two of the fastest athletes in the world playing for themselves. The orange-haired chick knew we'd both demolish anyone else, tha's why she's not playing. Prob'ly other nerdy bullshit too.

But point is: if you hadn't heard..."

Mitch trailed off, lazily pointing one arm up at the PA system hanging in the corner of the room.

"I let myself get tagged already."

Ayame blinked a few times at the television. What... is his point, exactly? Just pointing out they're on opposite teams? "Right. So now you want to tag me because I'm still free."

"Not it, princess. If I did wanna tag you, I woulda got you already. My offer is: You pretending I tagged you."

Her gaze trailed back to him, blinking even slower this time. This is making less and less sense the more he speaks. "Why would I do that?"

⠀

A strained chuckle escaped Mitsuhiro. His hands came up to rub his face, as if the whole conversation was exhausting him. He mumbled something into his hands... (it sounded like: "goddamn, girl, for the fastest person here, your brain sure as hell isn't..." but she wasn't entirely sure,) before peeking through his fingers.

"Two of the fastest athletes in the entire school, remember? If people think you got tagged, they're gonna shit themselves when they see both of us coming. If I don't tag you, once I get everyone else, it'll just be us left. Then you win."

"Well... don't you want to win?"

"Can't a guy just wanna help a girl out sometimes?"

She paused to consider his question, then shook her head no.

"... Damn. Well, this guy does. All I want is a nice, clean competition between me n' you. And I can't have that if there's other people out and about. You herd people to me, I tag 'em, we go until 's only us left, and we have a race across the school to see who's actually the best.

Let's be honest:

You've got the speed, but I've got the endurance. We both know I can catch you. I just wanna prove it to the whole class."

⠀

She frowned slightly. Her classmates have said he's a jerk in the past, but... maybe he could be telling the truth? Maybe? Possibly? Well. With his reputation, probably not.

"... You want to chase me to prove that you think you can keep up with me, just to boost your own ego. When, no, there's no way that you can actually catch me."

"Don't go and hurt my pride like that, fuck! Look--- I'm not only in it for my ego. I win, I get bragging rights; you win, you win the manhunt game and I'll take you out to dinner or something, okay?"

He very clearly forced a smile as he held out a hand. It wasn't even kinda hidden.

"Shake on the deal?"

⠀

Ayame considered it. Considered it more. It might not be bad. It might even be fun, to race someone that poses a competition to her again. She hasn't had that in a long time. And she might win something that isn't a race, if she can outrun him. Winning a class game and actually trying for it sounds really cool.

And he doesn't seem... too bad to work with. Right now.

Having made up her mind, Ayame nodded. She initially moved to take his hand, then--- brought it back quickly. "Wait. If you touch me, I'll be tagged, right?"

A sly, sly smirk lit up his features. He licked his teeth through his smile in satisfaction. "Heh, you got me. It was worth a shot."

"The gesture stands. We have a deal, Mitsuhiro."

Her now-ally suddenly cringed, his whole body dramatically turning away. "It's Mitch, okay? Cut it, you sound like my mom when you talk like that."

"I'm... sorry? I didn't know. But, okay. We have a deal, Mitch."

Mitch went to say something likely snarky, then sighed. "Yeah, whatever, I get it. C'mon, let's go give our classmates heart attacks."

"Only pretend heart attacks?"

"Sure. We'll see."

♡

She had to admit: that was fun.

Just as Mitch said, everyone who wasn't tagged yet panicked and took off running once they both came into view. She darted out ahead of them to make them slow down, and Mitch came up from behind and tagged them all. Ayame made sure to dart away once they were, and somehow, no one seemed to notice that her name hadn't gone over the speaker yet.

They rounded up everyone in their class this way, working together surprisingly well. Mitch naturally took on a more defensive position, allowing Ayame to guide the other players as she pleased, and waited for the right moment to spring to life and close the distance. She couldn't deny that he was fast. Really fast. The longer she watched him play, though, the more clear his weakness was: his endurance was high, but his stamina was shockingly low.

His strategy seemed to be blitzing at near max speed only for a few seconds, then falling back down to something much more comfortable to keep up the chase rather than maintaining a steady pace. Even then, he kept going for a long time before needing to fully stop.

He might be able to outlast her if he's calculated enough. As long as she can keep distance, he'll keep falling behind. When he made the bet, Mitch had to have been banking on her tiring herself out and him closing the distance after long enough.

⠀

Thus, when they got to the track and prepared for the final race:

"I have a timer I keep on my side for things like this. I'll give you thirty seconds to catch me."

Her again-opponent scoffed. When she turned to look back at him, she caught his eyes darting up to hers. Huh. Weird. "Only thirty? Why's that?"

"That's after I've hit my breaking point and have to slow down to keep going. If you really want to show off that you can catch me at my top speed, there's no point in giving you more time after I've slowed down. It might be after the point where you start slowing down, too, but I'd have to watch your form longer to know for sure."

He stared at her blankly. Then, raised his hands in mock defense once again and smiled. "Note to self: only question the runner about anything regarding running if you want her to ramble about it. Got it."

She huffed out a frown. "You asked me a question and I answered it."

"C'mon, don't take that the wrong way, it was cute. That's the most I've heard you say all day, princess. 's just that the only way it would've been more nerdy is if you started explainin' the sciency parts of it all."

"... Do you mean basic biology?"

Ayame rolled her eyes, setting the timer and leaning down over the track. "You can stop calling me that, for one."

"Whatever you say, princess."

She watched him do the same out of the corner of her eye. She could hear another grin light up his features. "What, getting tired of that one? How about Momma instead, since you talk so much like one?"

He kept going, amusing himself over more and more pet names, while she counted quietly. It isn't cheating. If he wasn't talking, he would have heard it. Really. And because he was, he wasn't ready when she finally started the timer and yelled: "Go!"

She heard Mitch take off late, sputtering over himself as he darted forward. "Hey! You know that ain't fair, Momma!"

"You should've been paying attention, uh- Dad-da! Nope, that's weird."

"Add a Y, and then it'll work that way, princess!"

⠀

That just sounds stupid. Whatever. She tried and failed to come up with a comeback to that, so all of her attention went to staying on the track. And just as she anticipated, Mitch fell into the same pattern he took on earlier: only now, fit with playful teasing. He let her put distance between them, then blitzed closer, then fell back.

He's keeping with her somehow. There's no way he can be keeping pace without pushing himself too hard. This was fun when he suggested it, but she doesn't want him to hurt himself. But she also doesn't want to lose.

Think, think, think... what to do to keep her lead without going so fast that he'll hurt himself to keep up?

He's not used to the track, but it seems to be helping him well enough despite this. From how short his bursts are, he was going faster earlier, though. Why? It's just a difference in...

Turf. He was faster going through turf, because he's wearing cleats!

If he won't slow himself down, maybe she can make him.

⠀

With that thought in mind, Ayame slowed and then suddenly darted towards the school building, avoiding any grass like the plague. Mitch picked up the pace. Thankfully, shortly after Ayame burst into the building, her theory was proven... half right:

Mitch cried out a second after she hit the tile, cursing as his feet slid out from under him. Somehow, though, he still kept up. If anything, she heard him fall into a steady sprint over his short bursts.

Final option: up the stairs, into a classroom.

The sound of metal spiked cleats scraping tile is a horrible one. Someone lost his footing again at the stairwell. But he was on her, still, despite all of this, and got way too close for comfort as she slowed even more to save energy and sling into a classroom.

He's not slowing down, at all.

Is he crazy? Does he not know what he's doing to himself!?

As a last ditch effort, Ayame vaulted over desks to put something between her and her pursuer; finally sending herself over the teacher's podium, pulling it down over her as she fell to the ground behind it.

⠀

He slammed into the wall above her so hard, he shook the whole room. Not even half a second after she hit the floor. One second passed after that, and a piercing beeping rang out.

The timer, still clipped to her shorts.

Mitch had already started leaning down, but froze the second the timer rang. He straightened back up, forcing out a wheezing chuckle. His words floated through huffs, and it sounded like a lot of effort went into pushing them out clearly. "You... you're a cheater... huh, princess? Going... in the school..."

She chuckled herself, shaking her head. It was a good workout. She actually broke a sweat. But she can't deny that she's worried. "You never said I couldn't. You okay after that? I didn't think your body could handle staying that close."

His breath turned harsh, then words fell into incoherent mumbling. He was definitely trying to say something. That isn't good.

"Mitch?"

Muttering.

"Mitsuhiro?"

Nothing.

Oh no.

She stuck her head out from under her 'distraction,' looking up to fully see Mitch, still standing over her, but barely.

He was already drenched and dripping in sweat, his entire body heaving with each heavy pant. He's shaking... He's trembling just to hold himself up over her.

Ayame slid out from under the podium, about to tell her 'rival' that he's pushed himself too far, but he did it for her. A shudder ran down his whole body, and with one last gasp; his eyes lulled, and his head followed, and his knees buckled. His body hit the floor with a horrible thud once it finally gave out.

⠀

All of the exhaustion drained away as she rose, quickly going to the collapsed man's side. A moment's panic. Not knowing what else to do, Ayame took Mitch into her arms the best she could and initially tried to pick him up. It turns out that a roughly sixty-six kilogram guy feels much, much heavier when he's unconscious. She resorted to dragging him down the hall instead.

"I should've known he'd be that petty. Why did I agree to this? I don't know what yet, but I'm gonna do something if he wakes up and tries to have a rematch..."

It didn't take long for someone to find them and help her take Mister I-Cant-Regulate-Myself-Healthily to the nurse's office. There she sat by his side, for the next hour, as conflicting feelings welled within her.

On one hand, she shouldn't have even agreed to a race if she knew he'd do this to win.

On the other, it was the most fun she's had in a long time.

On one hand, she has to help keep her fellow classmates safe, even if they're temporary competitors.

On the other, it isn't really her fault that he didn't know his limits, right? She tried to slow him down.

⠀

Thoughts like these whirled through her mind until... he finally stirred. A soft hiss escaped as he tried to move his legs, which made him try to peek at his surroundings, which made him groan in even more pain. He did hit the ground very, very hard. And likely tore muscle, if not irritating it beyond belief. There was a long pause before he opened his eyes again, slowly looking around the room he's in now.

That same smirk as before still tugged at his eyes as he took her in, taking the time to process every last bit of her and him and where they are annoyingly slow.

It made her grow anxious. "What is it? Do you need something?"

The words had a clear slur to them, some blending together and coming out slowly. "Not much. Jus' a few more seconds."

"... Of what?"

"Of the angel 'm lookin' at, beautiful. Can't believe you waited for a dumbass like me."

Ayame straightened up at this, growing rigid at the shift in words and tone. This was... sweet, compared to the teasing things he said earlier. Mitsuhiro, saying something sweet? He really does have a concussion.

She scoffed softly. "You need to go back to sleep. You're clearly still delirious."

"Huh? Whaddaya... mean? Do I look funny?"

"The Mitch I've heard wouldn't say stuff like that unless he's impaired, like right now."

He groaned, yet now, not in pain. "Really? Aww, that guy's an asshole. Look: I've gotten hit in the head so, so many times. Way too much. I know what 'm saying well enough, beautiful."

He grinned widely, now. "I know I mean it. I jus' can't think enough for the asshole guy to change what I wanna say. That's the difference. I know it so much, I wanna make another deal."

⠀

Her eyes only narrowed. Surely he can't be serious.

Yet, he... was, now straining to piece together the words he supposedly really wanted to say. "No, don't do that. Please? I know this is... way outta left field, but I wanna try while I've got you here. My deal was to take you out to dinner. Give me one night, and if it doesn't work out, I'll go away. Gone, for good. No more asshole. We got a deal?"

... Huh. Odd. She thought, and thought, and eventually reasoned that maybe giving this... 'not an asshole' Mitsuhiro a chance might be worth it. After all, if it led to another concussion, it might not be so bad. Because he's nicer. Not because she wants him to get brain damage. That would be horrible.

Either way, she crossed her arms neatly under her chest and sat back in her seat.

She's smiling. But she better not regret this.

"Okay. We have a deal, Mitch."

[live-digital-love]

I currently have two things to post, one some time tomorrow and one soon after that, and neither of them were requested of me. But y'all still gettin' content either way.

As for now, I am five seconds away from doing a whole long analysis on how I characterize Mitsuhiro fucking Higa and I can and Will rant about him if asked to.

[live-digital-love]

What if Kouhei was alive and never died at the bombing?

According to what Tsurugi himself said:

If Kouhei survived, that would mean that either Tsurugi himself died in his stead, or neither of them died, and it went far better than how it was supposed to go.

Either way, we would have a very bubbly, playful guy in Tsurugi's place in the killing game. Tsurugi said that he believed that if Kouhei was alive, he never would have been taken in as the Ultimate Policeman; Kouhei would have.

It is a very interesting thought to consider how Kouhei would have been, over Tsurugi. Perhaps...

A man who was kind and guiding, over forceful and controlling? Someone just as controlling as Tsurugi, but with a soft smile on his face the whole time, outwardly treating everything like a game they're all playing? Maybe he would have been a bit more drastic than Tsurugi was, and actually destroyed the Monokuma over holding back in the beginning.

Maybe they all wouldn't be scared of him.

Maybe it would have been better if Tsurugi was the one that died.

At least... Tsurugi thinks so.

[live-digital-love]

I want to add onto this after further thought:

If one of them were to be admitted into Hope's Peak, then the other one would be used in the first motive as "their most important thing in the world."

If Tsurugi goes on, Kouhei will always die.

If Kouhei goes on, Tsurugi will too, eventually.

They will ever live past the age of twenty together.

Like star-crossed lovers.