something i really love about ikesen mai and really despise about ikepri emma is the way in which they maintain skills from their backgrounds.
mai has a passion for fabrics and a talent for combining colors and actually sewing fashionable clothes! emma however... all those books she read serve no purpose whatsoever.
im currently re-reading silvio's route, and he mocks her about not knowing anything about being a noblewoman, like not waiting for him to help her into the carriage; the game excuses it by saying that she hasnt received many etiquette classes yet but.. as someone who spent her entire life reading, ESPECIALLY romance books, wouldnt she have some basic knowledge?! i love period media like victorian stories and tv series, and over the years ive gathered knowledge about certain social norms or other formalities and it truly is not that hard...
this one episode aside she just never (or rarely, havent played the game in a long time and theres some routes im missing) seems to be educated more than the average citizen, at times even less.. shes just mostly clueless about everything all the time, even concerning some of the most central politics of her country
hells, even kate retains some knowledge from her mail deliverer job!😭 (she knows the streets of london really well)
i know they're all supposed to allow for self insertion as much as possible but jesus, your readers aren't grade schoolers
Actually, I quite disagree with your view on Emma. Please note, you have your personal preferences, and have the right to express your thoughts freely. I am just sharing my takes on the matter.
In ikesen, almost every route, Mai goes to the battle. (Not almost, actually in every route). And her skills on fabric does not work in a battle field. Why Mai is so highlighted is for her bravery and free, considerate nature.
In ikepri, Emma is just a simple commoner, who never knew about anything what the royals do. She reads a lot of books, mainly romance book. It's not like she read them for educational purposes. Reading a book for fun and reading for education is REALLY different. Just imagine, who will read a romance novel to learn etiquette? Romance novels or other fictional books is not for learning etiquettes or manners, they are just for fun! Just think it, you will never pay much mind what etiquette are there in a mystery or romance novel yourself. You will only read them for entertainment, and Emma did just that. It was because she is just a simple commoner. If she ever knew that she would be belle in future, she must have used her romance books to learn more manners.
Actually, reading for learning is the formal form of education. She has the basics. But as a commoner, she never had to take them seriously. And there are nothing much to learn about manners and other stuffs in romance or the fiction books Emma reads which any reader can use as learning. That is where academic education comes. In these novels, you only have tidbits of manners and other things, no details, because the book heavily focus on romance or fiction. That is why she needed extra lessons to learn how the royals do things and all the study sessions.
Emma is quite simple person, and she is clever when she learns something. I am currently reading Rio's route, and in this route and all the previous ones, Emma's character building and moral or ethics is admirable.
While I do understand and see your point of view, I'd have to disagree. Although yes, reading to learn and reading to pass time are two different things, even books read to pass time can teach you things, way more than you can imagine. Some of the social etiquette I have personally learned I got it from classics such as Madame Bovary or The Rouge and the Noir , which I read for pleasure.
For example, if you were to read a book about a man stuck living in a lighthouse, you'd learn of all the ways in which a lighthouse works, if the book is well-written enough, even if you don't specifically look forward to learn about them. It's something you pick up as you move along with the story. The same way, a book on ancient Roman gladiators could teach about traditional Roman attire, foods, hairstyles, etc. as the reader would encounter them in the narration moving around the main events of the story.
Passive learning from books is the reason why certain people, despite having little to no education, manage to have such vast and deep knowledge of general culture! My grandma never studied past middle school, but she LOVED reading and going to the theatre; she was as knowledgeable (and at times even more) than people I know who attended university. She was both simple AND a commoner, just like Emma!
So Emma either has read slop books that don't really have nothing going for them aside from the characters and their story her entire life, or the writers just fail miserably at fully utilising what could be some solid knowledge. Either way, I think writers should think twice before building a character's background if they don't want to go all the way through; Emma's literary knowledge comes in handy only in very limited occasions, and even then it's always... irrelevant. For example, in Silvio's route she has to act like a villainess, but she needs Sariel to walk her through it; aren't romance books (ESPECIALLY sloppy ones) filled to the brim with despicable evil villainess? The writers could have just put a spin on it and have her come up with something on her own! This is just a suggestion for more creative writing, but there's times where her lack of information becomes an actual issue in the credibility of the (and her) story.
This said, it doesn't mean she lacks character growth or development, she is a wonderful MC oftentimes. YET, because of all the reasons I mentioned above, her writing frequently feels extremely weak.
Just my two cents!
(btw ironically enough madame bovary is a book about a woman so in love with the romance slop books she spends her time reading that she loses touch with reality and ends up making stupid mistakes and dying over it; difference is that madame bovary is social critique, whereas emma is supposed to be a character we self insert with)
edit: Also, as regards Mai, my main point was whether the character's backgrounds make a comeback to give something more to the character itself or the writing. There is no way Mai's interest in sewing can help her at war, however it is sometimes brought up as a pastime that brings her comfort despite being thrown 500 years into the past (your character is an unfamiliar place with low chances of getting out -> theyre stressed -> you need a literary device that helps them calm down somehow -> mai's love for fashion and sewing which is something she can do even 500 years in the past works in this case, as opposed to, say, gaming), sometimes it brings her closer to the suitors (in shingen's route the first time she actually smiles is when visiting a fabrics shop, and this helps build their bond), and at other times it allows her to create a place and purpose for herself. The knowledge gained from this skill cannot help her survive in a traditional sense, but it still has its uses and i find it to be nicely employed. On the other hand, Emma's literary knowledge is not only close to none, but it has a much much MUCH bigger potential than Mai's, and yet it is totally useless nonetheless
During the elections for student council president, Kagura says: “Yeah, and when the day that Gorilla becomes student council president comes, even that sadist bastard will get a free ride to the top. I will never acknowledge that!”
A scene goes like this (direct translation from the Japanese version):
Looking at the moving-page comic that Okita had drawn, Kagura couldn’t help but laugh.
Okita: You bastard, what are you peeking at!
Kagura: How lame. If it were me, I could draw this a hundred times better!
Okita: Go draw then. We’ll compare them both and see who wins!
Kagura: Fine. There is a secret to this. First—
Kagura started to draw her moving-page comic, and Okita was watching her drawing skill.
To this, Hijikata said, “What a lame argument! And rather, looking at this scene, aren’t you all actually on great terms?”
It's interesting that 気にかける is used, which is like 気になる but lean more into the "look after" and "concern" kind of care. Basically it says he does have concern about Kougyoku but can't help teasing her. It's sweet that his descriptions are "the one who supports her dream" and "providing her consultation and talking with her in the imperial palace". And that gives a little more context to this tegaki.
It means he's genuinely trying to cheer her up here, but being an avoidant asshole with 0 emotional intelligence makes him unable to express himself without cracking jokes or being a dick to hide his vulnerability. Yet it's still shown. Judar's not the type to take shit from anyone, not even Hakuryuu, and he retaliates every jabs thrown at him. But everytime Kougyoku starts throwing things in a fit of anger (that he caused), he just takes hits without even activating his borg. Everytime Kougyoku steps into the picture Judar becomes visibly gentler. They have few scenes together, honestly it's not their fault the Haku-Ju-Kou group were confirmed to be the secondary trio right before the last arc and had to share every possible screentime with Sinbad's end of evangelion plan (also Ohtaka's tendency to shove her female characters sideline but I won't be talking about it), but all of them present that Kougyoku is also very dear to him.
JuKou (Judal x Kougyoku) Analysis & Moments Masterpost
(Last updated 09.13.18)
Since there’s been quite a bit of hate on the JuKou ship recently, (Judal x Kougyoku from Magi) I have decided to type out this analysis of their relationship as well as a masterpost of their moments together. I hope to explain things in a different view. I’ll make sure to leave evidence for everything.
I will not mention any other pairings because I think this should strictly support Judal x Kougyoku.
I would also like to say that there is MANY evidence to the JuKou ship and things are more important than they appear (with a bit of shipper imagination, too, of course)! If you are curious about the ship and why people ship it then this is for you.
I just read the kn8 light novel and I need to yap sooo....
CRUMBS GALORE!!!!
Okay I'll admit it. I walked in hoping for Kikoreno crumbs mostly, but also to read Reno's unadapted story, and BOY did they SERVE.
WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME THEY HAD SO MANY INTERACTIONS HERE!!!
But first of all. FINALLY.
Okonogi, Akari and Hakua getting the rep they deserve!! And Akari calling Kikoru "Kiko-baby" is SO adorable hello??
Telepathic communication. Same exact thoughts. Just one look needed.
I'm??? Not shocked but also??? Wow?????? Reno follows her as an example. Bet he spent 90% of his time pining over her and claiming it's "observational learning."
Kikoru trusts him so much I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE. Just him being near Kafka alone eases her mind??? I CAN'T???
Also they are not helping my "Kafka's kids try to keep him from transforming but also there's feelings in the process" agenda.
Side note: Kikoru calling Okonogi "Miss O-kay-nogi" was hilarious. Soshiro will never make Konomi live it down
I'M IN SHAMBLES.
Reno trying to calm his gf down then Kafka drops the ball. "DRONE?" OHHH they are so done with him. Somber expressions and everything.
My soul was gone. Ascended, you see. They know exactly what Kafka's like and all they can do now is damage control and prevent people from finding out.
KAFKA. Give your kids a medal THEY DESERVE IT.
THIS SCENE IS SO PRECIOUS TO MEEEE!!! They slowed down! For Kafka!! Just one look at the guy and they simultaneously went "yup. pops gotta rest." No communication required.
Oml?? They just left Kafka in the dust???🤣 They wanna run away together soooo bad/j
My heart says they had to go to the lake and leave Kafka for a quick mid-battle smoochie. Trust me.
Poor Kafka keeps getting cut off in the frame if Kikoru and Reno are in it😭 CHANGE IT NOW that's their dad!!
If this the fish kaiju fight was adapted into visuals I would explode/pos I just. I NEEDED TO SEE MORE KIKORU/RENO INTERACTIONS OKAY. I miss them. Loved how in-sync they were the whole time they were together (albeit because of Kafka)
I can't add anymore photos but there was this line:
"This is incredible. To think there are this many kinds of Darjeeling," said Reno in amazement.
I now headcanon Reno became a tea enjoyer because of Kikoru. They definitely met up and had tea time together to recover from the stress of being Kafka's secret keepers.
Anyway this is THE stuff. Their dynamic was summed up perfectly in these teeny interactions I found. I genuinely wished these were in the main medias like the anime or manga spinoffs like Relax or B-side but NO. I had to go digging until I found the light novel translated to English. Good grief
Kikoru: You're giving me a sticker?
Gen: Not just a sticker. That is a sticker of a kitty saying me-wow.
Kikoru: I'm not a preschooler.
Gen: Fine, I'll take it back.
Kikoru: *hisses* I earned this. Back off.
These translations are not intended as a replacement for the game. Please support cybird by buying their stories. SPOILERS under the cut. Expect mistakes.
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(Could it be that this guy is...?)
Man: "As I thought, one of the twins survived."
The man clucked his tongue and walked up to Kicho casually.
(Survived?)
Mai: "Kicho!"
Kicho: "..........."
Man: "Who the hell are you!?"
Jumping out of the shadows, I immediately lifted the table and threw it toward the man.
CRASH!
Man: "Whoa!"
(Okay! Now!)
Mai: "Let's run!"
I grabbed his small hand tightly and ran toward the doorway.
(It's gonna be okay. I'll figure it out.)
(I'll protect him.)
We ran out of the castle, took a horse, and continued to flee without looking back, only stopping when we were in the middle of nowhere.
Mai: "I think we're safe now that we've made it this far."
Kicho: "Yeah. They already caught that guy."
Mai: "Huh!? How can you tell?"
Kicho: "He got caught by the vassal, who noticed the commotion when we passed the hallway."
Kicho: "I think that vassal thought I was Nohime."
Mai: "That's..."
Kicho: "It was worth it to dress like this."
He smiled softly as he traced his lips.
Mai: "If you already knew, you should've told me earlier."
(If they thought he was Nohime, I would've been treated as a kidnapper and a thief because I also stole a horse!)
Kicho: "If I told you, they would've found out who I was."
Kicho: "Also, I've always been curious."
Mai: "Curious about what?"
Kicho: "Everything that's not in that room."
He took his eyes off me and carefully dismounted the horse as I followed suit.
(Oh...)
A fresh morning breeze crossed over the plain and ruffled our hair playfully.
The sound of grass and flowers rustling reached my ears and eventually faded away, absorbed by the blue sky.
It was a heart-wrenching moment.
(I see. That room doesn't even have a breeze like this.)
Kicho: "What did I do to my body?"
Mai: "Kicho?"
Kicho: "I was only born into this world. I didn't do anything to be shunned like that."
Mai: "............"
When I saw him turn toward me, I felt a pain in my chest similar to that of a nail being hammered.
Soon, large, uncontrollable tears were spilling from his wide-open eyes as if his feelings had broken down.
Kicho: "I don't want to die. I just want to live."
Kicho: "I'm not Nohime. I'm not a person who doesn't exist. I'm...!"
Mai: "Kicho."
Kicho: "..........."
Mai: "You are you."
Mai: "There's a lot I don't know, but that's the one thing I know very well."
I hugged his little body tightly as I told him this.
Mai: "This is just my take on it, but in this world, other people's evaluations and values make you who you are."
Mai: "But no matter where you are and what you do, you are you."
Mai: "As long as you continue to live and have your will, this fact will never change."
Kicho: "..........."
(These are the most important words he gave me, so I want to return them properly.)
Mai: "Please continue to live as you."
Mai: "I want you to live, too.”
Kicho: "Really?"
Mai: "I'm not lying. I told you earlier that I wouldn't lie to you."
(My meeting with him in the future was the exact opposite.)
(I’ve spent days searching for the truth, confused about what’s right or wrong.)
(In the end, I couldn’t convey anything properly.)
Mai: “I want to be honest, not for your sake, but for mine.”
Mai: “That’s why these words are not lies.”
Kicho: “This is weird.”
Mai: “Is it?”
Kicho: “It wasn’t just your words. You took me with you and ran all the way here.”
Kicho: “You’ve been on my side ever since you showed up out of nowhere.”
(Oh...)
He looked at his hand on my arm and squeezed it tightly.
(I wonder if I conveyed the heartfelt feelings I couldn’t put into words before.)
I wrapped my body around him as if I were hugging the only treasure that was more valuable than anything else in the world.
I felt his heartbeat that overlapped with my own.
Kicho: “I don’t know why you care so much about me, but I believe you. No matter what happens, I will live.”
Mai: “That’s a promise, okay?”
Mai: “If anything happens to you, I’ll be very sad.”
Slowly, I released my arms, and he stared at me.
His eyes were a little reddish, but much more intense than the ones I had first seen in the dark room.
Kicho: “What’s your name?”
Mai: "Huh?"
Kicho: "Your name. I still don't know it."
Mai: "Oh, right. I'm...."
Girl's voice: "Please, answer me! Where are you!?"
Kicho: "-----!"
(I can hear a child's voice and multiple sounds of hoofbeats. I think someone's coming.)
Mai: "Um, Kicho. Did you hear that?"
Kicho: "It's Nohime."
Mai: "So it's your sister's voice."
(Thank God. He can get home safely now that someone is coming to look for him.)
The moment I breathed a sigh of relief...
Mai: "-----!"
I heard a sudden roar of thunder, and rain began to pour down.
Kicho: "Why suddenly?"
Mai: "This is bad. You'll get wet if you don't hurry up. You need to join your sister quickly."
(Huh? This rain feels familiar.)
(Right, a wormhole!)
Mai: "Kicho, I think this is where I have to say goodbye."
Kicho: "What?"
Mai: "I can't involve you in this. I'm sorry!"
(I'm sure that with all those horses, Nohime and the others would notice him immediately.)
I left Kicho behind and ran as fast as I could.
Kicho: “Big sis! I still don’t know your name!”
Mai: “Don’t worry. We’ll see each other again soon!”
I waved my hand, shouting so as not to be drowned out by the sound of the rain.
(He will live and be free to leave, but he will still get tied down by heavy shackles.)
My wanting him to live is unmistakably my true intention.
And I want that life to be something that is not bound by a dark room or shackles.
(I’ve come a long way, so let’s not get lost again. Let’s run straight with our legs and hearts.)
A haze began to form around me, surrounding me, and then I lost consciousness.
Mai: *sigh*
I quickly sat up and looked around.
(I’m in the cabin. I see. I’m back.)
(I’ll never get used to this feeling, even though this is the third time I’ve gone back in time.)
The scenery outside hadn’t changed, and it appeared that not much time had passed since I had lost consciousness in the cabin.
However, I was soaking wet, showing that it wasn’t a dream.
Mai: “Alright!”
(I need to go to him.)
I stood up, determined, when...
Motonari: “Sorry for the intrusion.”
Mai: “Motonari!”
Motonari opened the door with a kick and widened his eyes slightly when he saw me.
Motonari: “What were you doing?”
Mai: “Nothing. I went swimming.”
Motonari: “You mean you went for a dip in the sea at a time like this? You’re crazy.”
Mai: “I didn’t do it because I liked it, but it did clear my head.”
Mai: “More importantly, what do you want?”
(He’s in alliance with him, so maybe he’s got some kind of message.)
As I waited expectantly for Motonari’s response, I heard footsteps approaching again.
Subordinate 1: “Lady Mai! Are you okay一gyaah!”
Kicho’s subordinate jumped in and collapsed on the spot, his face contorted in pain.
Mai: “Eeeek!”
Motonari’s Subordinate: “Boss, we’ve cleaned up everything.”
Motonari: “You’re late.”
Motonari’s Subordinate: “He resisted, saying he never heard such instructions.”
Motonari: “I don’t need any excuses.”
(What does that mean?)
Almost shaken by what happened, I stepped back and distanced myself from Motonari and the others.
I wanted to escape, but they were blocking the entrance.
Mai: “Cutting him even though he resisted is awful. Aren’t you guys comrades?”
Motonari: “Ha? We’re not friends. We’re just temporarily working together because of our shared interests.”
Motonari: “So, if he gets in my way, I’ll kill him.”
Mai: "That's too much!"
Motonari: "You're no exception, princess."
Motonari: "Because of you, the crazy demon became human."
Mai: "Demon?"
(Could it be...)
Motonari: "You know him well. It's Kicho."
Motonari: "Ever since he got involved with you, he's been acting strange."
Motonari: "That's why we have to get rid of him for our plan."
Mai: "-----!"
Motonari: "Take her."
Motonari's subordinate: "Yes, sir."
Mai: "Let me go! No!"
(I need to get to Kicho right away!)
I twisted desperately to shake off the arm that Motonari's man had grabbed, but the difference in strength was obvious, and I felt a searing pain.
Mai: "Ouch."
Motonari: "Grow up. You don't want to end up like him, do you?"
Motonari glanced at Kicho's subordinate, lying on the floor.
Mai: "So where will you take me when I stop resisting?"
Motonari: "That's something you'll have to wait and see."
Mai: "If you do this, won't it cause a rift in the group?"
Motonari: "The opposite. When you're gone, he'll wake up."
Motonari chuckled, his eyes the same color as the blood spreading on the floor.
(I don't think I can escape on my own.)
(Kicho!)
At the same time一
Kicho: "..........."
Kicho suddenly frowned and stopped his horse.
Subordinate 1: "Lord Kicho, is something wrong?"
Kicho: "No, nothing serious. I'm just a little dizzy一Mai?"
For a moment, he felt some kind of memory flashing through his mind.
When he looked up, the sky remained the same color, but the slightest whiff of rain reached Kicho's nose.
Kicho: "Don't tell me..."
He regained his grip on the reins and was about to move on again when一
Mitsuhide: "Wait."
Mitsuhide appeared from among the trees, gun in hand.
Kicho: "Mitsuhide. Are you here to interfere with me again?"
Mitsuhide: "I'd say, of course, but there's one more thing."
Mitsuhide: "Have you seen Mai?"
Kicho: "I see. You've been following that woman."
Kicho: "Don't worry. She already contacted us."
Mitsuhide: "Is she okay?"
Kicho: "Yes, but she'll never return to the Oda army."
Kicho: “We move her to a place where no one can touch her.”
Subordinate 2: “Lord Kicho!”
Subordinate 2: “I have a report. Someone has taken Lady Mai!”
Kicho & Mitsuhide: “----!”
Kicho: “What do you mean?”
Subordinate 2: “I returned to the cabin after preparing the small boat, but there was no sign of her.”
Subordinate 2: “The man on guard was also unconscious after someone slashed his back.”
Mitsuhide: “Is there any possibility that Mai has escaped of her own free will?”
Subordinate 2: “Mitsuhide Akechi! How can you say something like that?”
Subordinate 2: “Are you sure you guys didn’t take her as a hostage again?”
Mitsuhide: “I see. It seems that there is a lot of mixed information out there, or are you really attached to that woman enough to make her worthy of being a hostage?”
Kicho: “I wonder about that. Either way, we don’t need to talk about that right now.”
Mitsuhide: “What matters is who took her?”
Mitsuhide: “For her sake, I’ll give you the right information this time.”
Mitsuhide: “It’s not the Oda forces. I can assure you of that.”
Kicho: “I assure you that we have no intention of spreading lies and causing confusion about this matter, either.”
Mitsuhide: “Oh? So you’re saying that a third party took her away?”
Subordinate 2: “By the way, I noticed that the area around the hut was wet. It was as if it had rained only there.”
Kicho: “Rain...?”
Kicho quickly reached into his pocket despite the gun pointing at him, but what his fingertips were looking for wasn’t there.
Kicho: “I see. If the future is destroyed, so is the life that was there.”
Kicho: “I’m going back to the port. You guys look for Mai.”
Subordinate 1: “Yes, sir.”
Mitsuhide: “Don’t move. I can’t let you get away from here.”
Kicho: “Then come with me.”
Kicho: “That woman, Mai, may not be here in Japan anymore.”
Mitsuhide: “What?”
Kicho & Mitsuhide: “Mai!”
When the two jumped into the cabin, it was, as they reported, empty.
Nothing remained but the bloodstains of his subordinate, who had already been carried away by his comrades.
Kicho: “I knew it.”
Mitsuhide: “Kicho. What do you mean, she’s not here in Japan?”
Kicho: “It exactly means what it says. Mai’s existence disappeared.”
Saying this, Kicho gently reached into his pocket, where there was nothing left but the perfume.
Mitsuhide: “Existence?”
Kicho: “That woman is from the future. Also, I know that future, too.”
Mitsuhide: “That sounds like a fictional story. What proof do you have?”
Kicho: “Only the knowledge I have in my head.”
Kicho: “If you don’t want to believe it, don’t. I’m not asking you to do that.”
Mitsuhide: “Then, if that were true, why did Mai disappear?”
Kicho: “It’s simple. This present is connected to the future.”
Kicho: “When the present changes, so does the future. It also affects those who live there.”
Kicho: “Mai is no exception.”
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