#asaship

[danganronpa-shipping-galore]

✨ Danganronpas: As a Ship ✨

Celestia Ludenberg—which is obviously her true name and absolutely nothing else—the Ultimate Gambler who has a daunting reputation in the underground world of never losing a single bet. Besides her love of goth lolita clothes, everything else about her is vieled in a web of lies and mystery. Except her enjoyment of specially made milk tea, she'll make that very clear.

Leon Kuwata—the Ultimate Baseball Star who's become tsundere about the actual sport, and yearns to be the Ultimate Musician because of a hot bodied, "butter-face" girl he met at a salon. Despite never attending a single practice, he excels at playing baseball, and pro teams already have their eyes on him to join the major leagues.

Just from their descriptions and appearance alone, these two seem completely different, don't they? Well, there's more than meets the eye. Let's analyze the dangerous, enigmatic gambler and the carefree, daring baseball star and how they would be together...As a Ship.

(Just replace he with she.)

✨ Beneficial Similarities ✨

Both Leon and Celeste initially rejected their Hope's Peak admission, and while their reasons were different, something I couldn't help but notice was in fact their greatest similarity:

Non-conformity:

They make it clear right from the get-go that they refuse to be controlled or changed. (The following exchanges are paraphrased but still accurate to what went down during their scoutings by Koichi Kizakura):

Koichi: You have been requested to join Hope's Peak Academy; a school where success is all but guaranteed after graduation.

Leon: Uh, cool I guess. But I hate studying and I do what I want.

Koichi: You have been requested to join Hope's Peak Academy; a school where success is all but guaranteed after graduation.

Celeste: I refuse. Gambling is not something that can be nourished in a school setting, and I do as I please.

Neither of them conform to what society expects of them. They both have their own ambitions and dreams they are working towards. In fact, one of the reasons Celeste seemed to agree attending Hope's Peak is viewing her eventual success upon graduating as finally having the resources in full of reaching her dream.

Speaking of dreams...

Ambitious:

Dead-set on their dreams, even if others might said dreams to be overly ambitious and/or unrealistic. In fact, they were so set on their ambitions that they were some of the most desperate characters to escape to the point of sacrificing another person's life to escape. Only difference is that Leon's dreams often change, especially depending on the girl he's interested in at that moment.

Discomfort with being seen as weak:

Both of their Trigger Happy Heart events—an event from THH's School Mode where you get a glimpse of the character's inner thoughts—share similar themes of them secretly worrying about other people they care finding them weird for their dreams and true feelings. That could potentially be something they could mutually relate to.

Fabricated Personas:

Leon's case of fabrication is not nearly as extreme as it is for Celeste, but it's still present and strong enough to rule over his interests and lifestyle. Celeste's entire sense of self is coiled with lies, to the point where she confirms herself that she can even trick her own thoughts.

For Leon, it isn't so much lies and deliberate manipulation, but more trying to acclaim praise and putting put on a "cool guy" act. And as mentioned before, Celeste puts the act on more of her own volition and isn't looking for people's approval, where Leon puts these acts on for girls he wants to get with.

They also happen to wear platform shoes/boots that make them taller than they really are.

While this would seem like a disadvantageous similarity to share, and it definitely can be in more ways than one —we'll get there eventually— like with their insecurities, this could be something they could potentially understand about each other on a deeper level. Something that many others are likely not to understand.

Interests:

They have little to no shared interests, but here are a couple of small tidbits:

They both approve of getting the Project Zombie gift purchased from the MonoMono Machine.

While Leon clearly likes it for the cool zombie themes and staring a rockstar (which is something the English localization forgets to point out), and Celeste possibly enjoys it for the theme of dominance, possibly the overall dark themes and apparent rarity of the item, they could potentially play video games with similar themes like that together. Or Leon could play and Celeste can simply observe.

Both enjoy playing darts according to their School Mode events. Again, it's for different reasons: Celeste for the strategy behind it, and Leon for showcasing his spectacular aim. I like the idea of Leon being impressed by Celeste's aim and her teaching him strategy behind his throw. Though not before Leon shows off and Celeste saying something like:

Hot-blooded:

Celeste likes to put on an act of refinement and elegance, where her true Taeko self is actually more vulgar and temperamental. Her Taeko self is more similar to Leon in ways of expressing their selves, albeit in dramatic ways. While this could potentially cause intensely heated arguments between the two, it could also be a way for them to respect each other's fiery spirit and conviction.

✨ Complimentary Strengths ✨

Leon's easygoing nature could balance Celeste's calculated intensity. When she's too caught up in maintaining her appearance and refinement, being around him can subconsciously make her feel more relaxed and just go with the flow.

In turn...

Celeste's methodological approach could balance Leon's spontaneity. He is pretty much the walking embodiment of "act before thinking", so having someone like Celeste around could bring much needed structure and grounding when he's about to do something particularly reckless and/or stupid.

✨ Canon-fueled moments ✨

There are no noteworthy, shipworthy moments for them in canon, and they pretty much never directly interact besides a few moments in the trial grounds when Celeste is absolutely certain and serious that Leon truly did kill Sayaka and it wasn't just out of self defense.

The closest thing I could think of is actually following said trial scene: Leon's execution.

While it could naturally be the fear of the current situation and what she believes could likely eventually happen to her after witnessing the horrific scene, she shows a rare moment of fear and disapproval after witnessing Leon's execution. This could be interpreted as what I formerly mentioned, her being affected by Leon's death, or a combination of both.

✨ Bonus content moments ✨

Just like in canon, they also don't have any moments in bonus content such as UTDP, DRS, IF, etc.

However, Celeste is shown to be one of the 3 characters part of Leon's battle team in UTDP.

It's unknown how these group members are chosen for which character you're playing as, if they offered to join the team or said character chose them specifically, but either way they seem to be deliberate choices for the most part. With that being said, Leon is placed in the athletic category for his card stats, so he would need at least one intellect and one variety character on his team, and judging from every character team in the game, somebody from his own class. In his specific case, Sayaka is his variety team member, G.Jack—questionable but ultimately funny choice—for the other athletic member besides him, and lastly, Celeste for intellect. If he wanted to go with a girls-only team, he could have chosen Kyoko or Toko as the intellectual team member but went with Celeste instead. Then again, he also chose G.Jack over other athletic girls in his class such as Hina, Sakura, or Mukuro "Junko", but I guess that's a funny theory to think about for another day.

{{NOTE: I haven't read most of Danganronpa manga, non/ambiguously canon books, or 4-koma stuff, so if there are any moments from those I'm missing, feel free to reblog or comment with some noteworthy moments!}}

Now, everything I've mentioned so far is all fine and dandy, but like any relationship of any kind, there's bound to be challenging moments, where there are also compromises if both parties truly work through it.

✨ Main Struggles ✨

Drastically different lifestyles and hobbies.

This one kind of goes without saying...but I'm bringing it up anyway. One is elegant, sharp minded, and enigmatic. One is casual, doesn't like thinking much, and, well, not very subtle. Potential ways to work around this are the following:

1. Accepting each other's vast differences. This may sound obvious, but it's important for a pair like this. No matter how many times they are annoyed with each other, no matter how many times they fight, they have to embrace and appreciate that that's just the way they are in the end, and maybe even why they fell for each other in the first place. And hey, if you ship these two as more of a fling or something casual/short-term, they could either accept this about each other easier since they wouldn't have to deal with the responsibilities to fully commit, OR, they simply wouldn't care because of it being temporary, which would be even EASIER.

2. Compromise. Let's start with an example: Celeste would refuse to go to Leon's matches or any outdoor, sweaty activity in general, possible solution: Celeste would accompany Leon only once in awhile, but she must have her parasol and/or sufficient amount of shade to shield from the sun, and also frequent refreshments brought to her. For Leon to partake in anything Celeste wants to do, Leon could actually appreciate some of her aesthetics. The way she likes certain colors, the intricate designs, and the cooler, darker stuff like skulls and gothic things; Leon can actually think that’s pretty cool. He doesn’t have to get super into it, but he can see why she likes it, and that’s enough to connect with her on that level.

And then there’s how she likes games that involve strategy. At first, Leon might not be into that at all because he’s more about playing fast and having fun rather than thinking too hard. But because he’s competitive, he might actually start learning some of her games just to win—or at least have fun trying. And that actually makes spending time together more interesting for both of them, because she gets to enjoy a game she likes, and he gets to enjoy the challenge in his own way.

So yeah, even though they’re pretty different, they could find these small ways to meet in the middle. Leon’s fun, easygoing side and Celestia’s detailed, thoughtful side could actually balance each other out. And that mix of aesthetics, strategy, and a little bit of playful competition? That’s what could make their dynamic really fun and believable as a ship.

Mutually self-centered.

Both Leon and Celestia are pretty self-centered characters - Leon wants to ditch baseball for his music dreams, while Celestia wants her fancy castle and butler lifestyle. But here's how they could actually make things work:

First off, they both know what it's like to want a completely different life than what they have. Leon gets Celestia's desire to reinvent herself, and she understands his need to break free from baseball.

They could support each other's goals - Celeste could use her gambling money to help fund Leon's music career, while Leon could help her practice her lying and manipulation skills by being her practice audience. Plus, his punk rock style could add some edge to her gothic aesthetic.

The key is that they both want attention and recognition. Instead of competing for the spotlight, they could share it - the rock star and the gambling queen power couple. Celeste gets the luxury lifestyle she wants, and Leon gets his music career. Win-win.

Sure, they're both dramatic and self-focused, but that means they understand each other's need to be center stage sometimes. They just need to take turns being the star of the show.

Leon's lack of commitment:

Leon dislikes being held back and being told what to do, and relationship wise, he constantly jumps from girl to girl. If you ship them casually, as an open relationship, or in a polyamorous one, this wouldn't be much of a problem. But even in a monogamous relationship, there are still conceivable ways this could work out.

Celestia's manipulative nature actually works in their favor here. She knows how to keep people interested and wrapped around her finger. Unlike other girls Leon's pursued, she's not easily impressed or won over, which would make her more intriguing to him.

Plus, Celeste values her independence too. She's not the clingy type - she's got her own goals and schemes going on. This gives Leon the breathing room he needs while still keeping him curious about what she's up to.

The challenge of "winning over" someone like Celeste could be exactly what Leon needs to stay committed. She's not an easy conquest, and that ongoing challenge keeps him engaged rather than getting bored and moving on to the next girl.

Facades & Insecurities.

While this was something I previously brought up as a way for them to connect and relate to each other, on the same coin, these flaws could also be detrimental to any healthy communication and overall foundation of any relationship between them. The compromise would be exactly what I mentioned before in their beneficial similarities.

✨ Love Language ✨

Leon would love to spoil her with gifts whenever he can (as long as it doesn't require too much legwork), and show off his skills to prove that he's worthy of being her knight (whether literally or metaphorical).

Celeste would feed into Leon's competitive spirit, finding it immensely entertaining. Leon isn't interested in most strategic games, but once he gives it a shot, he refuses to give up, making him a formidable opponent.

For Celeste, showing genuine affection means slowly letting her walls down. Instead of just maintaining her perfect 'Queen' persona, she'd start showing little cracks of Taeko - maybe letting him see her without the elaborate gothic outfits, or speaking in her natural accent when they're alone. For someone who lives behind a carefully crafted mask, these small moments of authenticity are huge displays of trust.

She'd also start including him in her plans and schemes. Not just as a pawn, but as a partner. For her, sharing her true thoughts and plans is like sharing a piece of herself.

The key is that it's gradual. Each small reveal of her true self is like a private performance just for him - and Leon, being the attention-seeker he is, would probably eat that up. It makes him feel special, being the only one who gets to see behind the curtain.

I picture their mutual love language involving their competitive banter and challenges.

✨ Lifestyles & Surroundings ✨

The closest living being in Celeste's life is her beloved cat, Grand Bois Chéri Ludenberg. I picture Leon and Grand Bois disliking each other at first; Leon would see him as spoiled and boring, and Grand Bois would not see him as worthy for acknowledgment or affection. As time goes by they would end up getting closer, especially if Leon would give him treats (only the *best* treats would do), but they would still annoy each other every now and then.

Leon is presumably close with his family, but he especially cares about his younger cousin Kanon (in what way is uncertain, but he usually refers to her as a sister type.) Given Kanon's obsessed taboo feelings towards Leon, she wouldn't approve of him and Celeste being together. She and Celeste would likely have a pretty indifferent relationship since they don't really have anything in common and Celeste would most likely find her behavior and way of speaking annoying, but their relationship has a high chance of turning chaotic when they would be forced to be around each other and Kanon provokes her about Leon. However, like Leon and Celeste, Kanon has the problem of hiding behind her own fabricated persona, not thinking highly of her true self. If Leon and Celeste could potentially relate to each other, then so could Celeste and Kanon in the best case scenario.

When it comes to friends, fellow acquaintances/companions, since they are both in the same class at Hope's Peak, their friends/acquaintances from that class would be mutual and familiar for the both of them.

✨ Conclusion ✨

[danganronpa-shipping-galore]

✨ Danganronpas: As a Ship ✨

Requested by @multishipper-baby. Also dedicated to @sadbubby 😊

NOTE #1: In Japanese, Angie doesn't refer to God as Atua, and some people took offense to that change in the English localization, and I can understand why, so I decided to go with the original phrasing, just in case.

NOTE #2: V3's canon is very ambiguous, so please keep in mind that almost everything mentioned in this post about the featured characters is alleged.

Kaito Momota—the Ultimate Astronaut who often figuratively and literally has his heads in the clouds no matter where his feet stand. No matter what kind of person you are, he will believe in your potential until the very end. With his hot-headed, passionate spirit, he's been diagnosed with Cool Guy Syndrome, so now he takes Adde~rall.

Angie Yonaga—the Ultimate Artist who claims to be a vessel of her God when crafting her creations. She approaches life with enthusiastic vigour and doesn't let anyone bring her down, including anyone trying to stop her from collecting samples of blood for a divine sacrifice.

They are pretty unique, aren't they? Would a relationship between the two be just a unique? Let's analyze the lively, passionate astronaut and the lively, devot artist and how they would be together...As a Ship.

(Just replace he with she.)

✨ Beneficial Similarities ✨

Exuberant:

Very few people match their level of energy and appreciation for life. Imagine their energy levels combined? Like two children who just met at a public setting, running everywhere and occasionally screaming at nothing.

Outcasts:

Neither of them care for social norms and don't shy away from being their true quirky, questionable selves. That would most certainly benefit any potential relationship between the two since they wouldn't exactly care about public opinion or feel that they have to change themselves just to be with each other.

True to themselves:

While you could argue that this would be in the same category as "outcasts", I wanted to dedicate this specific mutual trait to its own section since I personally picture it being the glue that would keep their connection firm and practically unbreakable. They would find it refreshing to be around someone who doesn't have any hidden agenda (except when Angie has her manipulative tendencies, but we'll get to that eventually). There would be little to no judging or insecurities, which is especially beneficial for both of them since they are equally emotionally sensitive.

Intuitive:

While they can be niave at times, they can actually read situations and others' emotions pretty well, before the other person even recognizes their own feelings. This not only makes them caring friends, but also caring romantic partners.

It would be an especially beneficial trait during arguments or overall tense moments because they would likely understand how the other is feeling before they even have to explain themselves.

Since they are also stubborn though, it would be a double-edged sword to predict/understand how they are feeling before the other says anything, though. On one hand, it could save the verbal explanations if one of them already understands.

On the other, either of them could still see somebody reading them too well as intimidating, and/or refuse to acknowledge their weakness, especially Kaito. We'll return to the subject of their stubbornness later on.

Gregarious:

They pretty much share the same level of social energy, and are keen to making new friends. That fact would serve the social aspect and needs of their relationship well.

(Yes, I realize these screenshotted moments were taken from the likely fake memory implants taken place before the killing game, but as I mentioned in the beginning: V3's canon is still pretty ambiguous, so they could be real. Even if they aren't, they act this way in the actual game regardless.)

Not to mention, they know how to pull people in and motivate them, even if their ways differ drastically. It's shown during their cast's killing game that they don't like when people are at odds and prefer to bring them together—though Kaito's way sometimes involve more aggression.

✨ Complementary Strengths ✨

Kaito could introduce Angie to concepts outside of whatever she labels as God's solitary influence. Showing her that there's even more to explore and more people to appreciate for the mere existence of things.

Angie could bring Kaito back to earth when he's too caught up in daydreams. While Angie is known to have her head in the clouds as well, compared to Kaito, she is a bit more present-focused, enjoying the moment as it is.

✨ Canon-fueled moments ✨

Despite being in the same game and class, they rarely have any one-on-one interactions in general. The closest moment involving the two worth noting takes place early on during the killing game when the initial time limit to kill was on the verge of expiring. On the day of, Kaito recruited a group of people to fight back against Monokuma; Angie was one of those people. According to Maki, Kaito chose Angie because her divine connections could be useful in a fight. This implies that Kaito doesn't judge Angie's views and believes that she is capable in her own way.

✨ Bonus Content moments ✨

Similar to in-canon, there aren't any meaningful shipworthy moments. However, there is a one-on-one interaction between the two in DRS.

While it is a very short and simple interaction, it's still a pleasant one nonetheless.

{{NOTE: I haven't read most of Danganronpa manga, non/ambiguously canon books, or 4-koma stuff, so if there are any moments from those I'm missing, feel free to reblog or comment with some noteworthy moments!}}

✨ Main Struggles ✨

Like any relationship, there would be struggles, but also ways of making things work.

Kaito's fear of the occult:

Kaito fears anything considered related to the occult, to the point he feels dangerously nauseous. With Angie, associating with the occult is pretty much a big part of who she is and how she presents herself, though not as prominent as it is with someone like Korekiyo.

How to make it work: Kaito would have to accept the fact that Angie often operates in outlandish, sometimes creepy ways, and Angie would have to accept that Kaito finds certain topics uncomfortable.

In canon, despite Kaito's fears involving the subject, he was not afraid to tell Angie when she had gone too far when it came to using the Ritual motive. He spoke up, but he also wasn't trying to change her. I'm sure the same situation would apply to any kind of relationship they would establish. So, while Kaito would still need to accept this about Angie, he also needs to keep her grounded once in a while, which is something he has already been shown to do.

For Angie's part, at first she might see this as a personal attack or Kaito simply "not getting it", but if she understands that it's not personal against her and it's something that truly distresses him, then she would be hit with a Divine Epiphany: that she would not bring certain subjects up in front of Kaito or at least tone it down significantly.

Angie's manipulative tendencies:

As I've already mentioned a few times already, Angie tends to emotionally manipulate others, which could especially spell trouble for someone like Kaito who doesn't tolerate dishonesty. Besides, trust in general is important for any relationship.

How to make it work: As mentioned in the previous example, Kaito doesn't seem to be afraid to call Angie out when she's gone too far, and in her FTEs when Shuichi calls her out for doing something he doesn't want, it turns out she liked Shuichi for doing that since nobody on her island has ever gotten angry at her. So, it's clear that it's a trait she respects.

Also, Kaito's genuine nature and need for people to be honest with him could make Angie feel secure, and potentially ease her need to manipulate if things don't go her way.

Chaos meets Chaos:

While their chaotic energy levels are certainly a beneficial thing to have in common, it could also be a disadvantage. There are certain ways Angie could find Kaito too much, or Kaito finding Angie too much, especially since they aren't exactly passionate about the exact same things, i.e: Kaito can get passionate about physical activity, where Angie does not. Angie can get passionate about divine rituals & appreciation, where Kaito does not.

How to make it work: Honestly, nothing complicated for this one, just pure acceptance of each other's differing passions would do.

Angie's neediness:

While Kaito could be persistent as well for companionship, Angie is more overwhelming and physical about it. Kaito could find this overwhelming to deal with, especially if this level of clinginess prevents him from searching or achieving things.

With Angie's romantic feelings towards Shuichi in her FTEs with him, it's clear that she is looking for a committed relationship. That might be difficult—but still possible—with someone like Kaito since he is drawn to many things at once. The idea of settling down (if you ship them as a serious relationship), would be challenging and feel restrictive for him.

How to make it work: Balancing a reasonable amount of independence and together time, and a way for Angie to feel loved and wanted without Kaito always needing to physically be there.

Kaito's view on "manliness":

While Kaito does respect women, he also tends to have outdated notions about what makes a "strong man." Obviously in a relationship with a girl—if you ship them canonically hetero—that could cause issues here and there where Angie feels like she isn't being respected enough.

How to make it work: Angie would need to assert herself when necessary, while her wiser, more patient side could help him see that true masculinity includes accepting sensitivity and differences.

Angie's overreliance on God:

Obviously, this Angie's most prominent flaw; she lets God influence her decisions more than herself.

How to make it work: A middle ground seems to work best for Angie (based on her bonus modes), where her partner of interest doesn't judge her devotion to God while also encouraging her to have her own agency.

Angie's passive reactions:

Despite Angie being a sensitive individual, she comes across as overly passive during serious and/or devastating moments. While this seems to be a front she puts on to keep her "God says to not carry negative thoughts with you", this already seems to bother Kaito in-canon, and would continue to bother him.

How to make it work: Since Kaito tends to recognize the masks people wear, the more he gets to know her, he would probably recognize the act and understand that she does care deep down.

✨ Love Language ✨

Angie would see Kaito as a blessing from God, and seek him out as much often, finding him fascinating, curious to know more about him and wanting to involve him more in her own world. Like she does with Shuichi in FTEs, she would feel comfortable creating her art in front of him.

Kaito would especially be fascinated with Angie's potential and actively be there for her as emotional/physical support. He would be fascinated with her art and ask lots of questions about the process.

Their mutual love language would be seeking each other out and being involving in each other's passions. They would turn their daydreaming into reality. Would also likely be very generous, presenting each other with gifts and treats. Their dates would be as lively as they are.

✨ Lifestyles & Surroundings ✨

The closest people in Kaito's life (allegedly) are his grandparents, and they all seem to have a close, loving relationship. Nothing is really known about the grandparents' personalities, but it is to be assumed that they would find Angie puzzling at first, mainly because of culture differences and Angie's openly questionable ways and beliefs. However, if they have Kaito as a grandson and can accept his odd ways, then the chances of them eventually accepting Angie is pretty high. Besides, Kaito has a way with words, even if they don't really make practical sense, so he can probably convince them.

As for Angie's relationship with Kaito's family, she would educate them on her culture (and of course, God), but would also enjoy what they have to teach her, especially about Kaito. Angie would 100% be the type of girlfriend who would enjoy pouring through old baby photos of her boyfriend and occasionally playfully tease him about it.

Angie has her fellow Island inhabitants, but she doesn't seem to be too close to them, given how she doesn't seem to mind staying at the Ultimate Academy in both the canonical AND non-canonical story routes. Akin to the situation with Kaito's own family, it could take time for Angie's people to accept someone like Kaito because of initial culture differences.

In Angie's FTEs, it is heavily implied that Angie always felt lonely on her island, and it wasn't until she started spreading the word of God that made them started paying attention to her and labeled her as their Oracle. Because of this, it's hard to say whether they would eventually accept Kaito genuinely besides them having to accept it due to it being "the word of God."

Kaito, on the other hand, would find it exciting to meet everyone and be very curious about the island, eager to explore (even if he would find certain rituals & wildlife terrifying if what Angie says about the island in her FTEs is completely true). His astronaut training taught him several languages, so he would likely pick up on their dialect faster than most tourists.

When it comes to friends and fellow acquaintances/companions, if they were/are both in the same class pre-game or in the situation of V3's killing game being a simulation but them remembering what happened and still alive similar to DR2, then their friends/acquaintances from that class would be mutual and familiar for the both of them. Kaito has Shuichi and Maki, and Angie has Himiko, and all five are familiar with each other.

✨ Conclusion ✨

[danganronpa-shipping-galore]

✨ Danganronpa: As A Ship ✨

Originally requested by @kuzugamiceo 😊

Byakuya Togami—the Ultimate Affluent Progeny who is the heir to the grand financial conglomerate of the Togami family. He is worth even more outside of his family's name alone, already managing to acquire considerable personal assets of his very own. Known for such quotes as: "Am I wrong? Or am I just rich?" ...What do you mean that's an incorrect quote?

Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu—the Ultimate Yakuza who is the heir of the largest criminal syndicate in the nation, the Kuzuryu clan. Bringing up his lack of height or "babyface" is explicitly forbidden unless you want to be buried in concrete.

Two heirs... 🎵 one family🎵 A relationship between the two sounds like it would deal with a lot of pressure and preposterously high standards. Let's analyze the proud, unrelenting affluent progeny and the fierce, independent Yakuza heir, and how they would be together...As a Ship.

(Just replace he with she.)

✨ Beneficial Similarities ✨

Expectation Struggles:

The Togami and Kuzuryu families are nationally recognized and respected, which comes a lot of expectations for them to burden; these burdens are struggles they could relate to in ways that the average person could never truly understand.

UPDATE: I was rechecking the SDR2 relationship charts and I completely forgot that Imposter Byakuya literally spells this out!

Upbringing:

Have been exposed to the dark and violent side of humanity practically since they have been born. They wouldn't need to tell each other what the dark underbelly of the world is like, because they would already know. Again, this opens opportunities for identifying with each other. Whenever they have to deal with a situation of a violent and/or ruthless nature, they could handle it together or even independently, accompanied by their ruthless experiences and knowledge.

Ambitious:

It is a mutual desire for the pair to prove their worth outside of their family's influence. They detest being viewed as mere heirs who solely rely on others to make their mark in life.

Loyal:

Incredibly loyal to their principles and those they care about. Once they started opening up to their respective groups, they expressed their care by acting as leader and keeping others out of trouble and jumping in whenever necessary to defend them.

Character Progression:

Underwent similar progressions where they gradually embraced camaraderie and decided to use their power for more inspiring and supportive deeds, bringing the legacy of their families to even greater heights by forging their own paths.

Tactless Honesty:

Neither of them beat around the bush, which could be seen as difficult and intimidating to others, but refreshing to the pair. They’re both the type to say exactly what they think without trying to soften their words, which means there’s very little guessing involved in their communication. Even if their bluntness leads to arguments sometimes, it also means they would rarely have to deal with passive-aggressive behavior or hidden resentment.

✨ Complementary Strengths ✨

Byakuya's strategic poise could balance Fuyuhiko's raw instincts. Careful planning and calm decision-making could help Fuyuhiko avoid rushing headfirst into trouble.

In turn...

Fuyuhiko's street savvy could balance Byakuya's refined expertise. At the same time, Fuyuhiko’s quick thinking on the streets could push Byakuya to be more flexible and adaptable when things don’t go according to plan.

✨ Canon-fueled moments ✨

While they don't really interact directly in-canon and there aren't any shipworthy moments between Imposter Byakuya and Fuyuhiko—there are Fuyuhiko/Imposter moments but that's when Imposter is acting less like Byakuya so it doesn't count— Byakuya does help Fuyuhiko and the rest of his classmates along with Makoto and Kyoko at the end of DR2 despite everything they've done as remnants of despair.

This direct interaction between the two actually further proves my point that Byakuya can possibly push Fuyuhiko to genuinely think things through before acting on impulse and emotions alone.

✨ Bonus Content moments ✨

This moment comes from Fuyuhiko's UTDP where Fuyuhiko offers Byakuya a yakisoba as he's strolling by his food stand. As you can see, Byakuya declines and they bicker about their differences involving their respective clans, but Fuyuhiko eventually ends the interaction before things get too heated. It's worth noting that Fuyuhiko snarkily comments that Byakuya has guts to say what he does, which is begrudging respect on his part.

✨ Main Struggles ✨

Confrontational Nature:

Just as their UTDP interaction shows, they are likely to be at each other's throats often with their overly confrontational and stubborn personalities. Neither of them likes backing down from an argument, especially when their pride is involved. Because of that, even small disagreements could easily turn into heated verbal sparring.

How to make it work: Byakuya and Fuyuhiko are both characters who are shown in-canon to respect those who truly challenge them. While their verbal sparring would get intense with insults being spewed here and there, they would most certainly admire each other's conviction and refusal to back down from what they fervently believe in. I will return to this subject again, but I imagine most of their insults being laced with actual constructive criticism, actually making them think and even subtly improve from these criticisms in certain areas. Sometimes a heavy dose of Tough Love is exactly what they need.

Different temperaments:

Fuyuhiko would often find Byakuya to be too snobby, and Byakuya would often find Fuyuhiko to be a bit too ill-tempered and volatile. Their arguments would escalate quickly because of these very flaws. Byakuya also doesn't have as strong a moral compass as Fuyuhiko does, which would make Fuyuhiko see him in an often irredeemable light, using very colorful vocabulary to call Byakuya a jerk.

How to make it work: A lot of their friction would probably come from the fact that they express control and pride in very different ways. Fuyuhiko tends to react emotionally and defensively when he feels disrespected, while Byakuya usually defaults to cold detachment and superiority. If they actually took the time to understand where the other one is coming from, that contrast could start balancing out instead of clashing. Also, UTDP shows that Fuyuhiko can put a stop to things before their heated conflicts get out of hand.

Families:

Their families have differing expectations, methods, and views. Their families have differing expectations, methods, and views. The Kuzuryu Clan operates on values, loyalty and personal bonds, and cutthroat violence while the Togami family prioritizes power, status, and ruthless competition. That and the clear disapproval their families would have about who they chose as their romantic partner. Especially since a Togami traditionally doesn't approve of love and attachments.

How to make it work: As touched upon early on, they have the potential to recognize that they share similar internal and external battles despite the differing ways their clans operate. Concerning disapproval, while the dishonor labels would hit them hard, they are both stubbornly independent and make it clear that they will chart their own course.

✨ Love Language ✨

They are both tsundere, read-between-the-lines human beings. It would take them a lifetime to even say "I love you" or "Want to go out sometime?" So, offering practicality and protection with backhanded compliments is the way to go. They would use their individual business connections to ensure their needs are met, find excuses to make these business negotiations with each other with the hidden agenda of simply wanting them to spend more time together, and providing them with surprisingly sentimental items or assets because they would pay attention to each other's needs and preferences even if it doesn't seem like they are paying attention at the time.

Like most figures of high society, Byakuya has a passion for music and classical art in many forms—as shown in his School Mode and Hope's Peak dorm room. This shows Byakuya's romantic side, and he could introduce Fuyuhiko to the world of classical art and maybe even play piano or violin for him, wordlessly communicating a great level of vulnerability that he usually keeps hidden from others.

Fuyuhiko would provide a grounding presence for Byakuya during high-stress situations. Just being there by Byakuya's side makes him feel stronger and more confident. In his own way, staying close and making it clear he’s not going anywhere is one of the most sincere ways he shows his love.

I picture them often challenging each other with a "bring it on" kind of attitude while simultaneously improving each other for the better being their ultimate mutual love language.

✨ Lifestyles & Surroundings ✨

Ah, a Yakuza clan and a noble family full of privilege...that would cause an outright war and/or loss of body parts...

The relationship between Byakuya and Natsumi as in-laws would be pretty entertaining. Natsumi would hate Byakuya's guts and Byakuya would likely view her as someone with all talk but no bite. However, I honestly dig the idea of them having a familial-like love/hate relationship the more and more time goes by, and share a mutual respect for each other—ironically enough, much like Byakuya and Fuyuhiko. Natsumi could potentially be the closest person he's ever had to a genuine sibling. Speaking of siblings, Fuyuhiko would likely be baffled to discover that Byakuya doesn't have any sort of relationship with any of his own.

✨ Conclusion ✨

[danganronpa-shipping-galore]

To show you guys just how serious I am about my "as a ship" essays and why it's been taking so damn long to get back into it, it's because I've been working on character docs for MONTHS now. When I say they are detailed, I mean they are DETAILED. I even went back and forth between translations a few times, comparing them. But I consider it a labor of love, so it's worth it!

I have more character files obviously, but Tumblr only allows up to 10 images. Characters like Monokuma and Kurokuma are obviously not going to be included for "as a ship", they are just there for general character reference.

[danganronpa-shipping-galore]

BIG UPDATE: So, I've been doing a lot of thinking and attempts, but As a Ship in video form just doesn't cut it for me. I find it takes too much extra work when I'm already busy with school and other things, and I don't feel comfortable editing with my voice.

But...

The good news is that I'm officially back doing these again through Tumblr posts, but here's what's going to be different:

Each section will be even more thorough

Some GIFs or images will be included throughout

Hope you guys don't mind me changing my mind yet again. I tend to have the problem where I can bite more than I can chew, but at the same time it's good to experiment.

With that being said, Leon/Celeste will be posted today. I figure Valentine's Day would be the ideal day to start anew for something like this. Then some point this weekend I'll be working on one of my many new requests.

[danganronpa-shipping-galore]

✨ Danganronpa: As a Ship ✨

"It's terrible that he was built by a degenerate male to be a degenerate male; he's actually pretty reliable!"

- Tenko

"She has an amazing spirit; it's incredibly admirable. Though I admit that her hatred of the male gender and occasional robophobia could use some work..."

- Keebo

Canon Fueled Facts:

Despite being in the same game, they don't really have any meaningful or ship-worthy interactions. The closest thing I could think of is when they are investigating a new area together from chapter 2. Before Shuichi arrives, it's just the two of them.

Also, in the special but optional Faux Celebrity event, and in-canon, Tenko doesn't really see Keebo quite as dangerous or sketchy as the other boys...but this could likely be because of her "robophobia." Specifically, when Tenko asks Keebo in-canon if he is a boy or girl (right before the Faux Celebrity event), he admits that he hasn't really thought about it, so it's after this point where Tenko seems to treat him a little less harshly. P.S: I love me some gender-neutral identifying Keebo.

Beneficial Similarities:

Fight for justice, albeit in their own ways.

Enjoy anime & manga.

Understand the importance of staying active and healthy while also lounging and relaxing when needed.

Appreciate pleasant and naturally beautiful environments, especially the traditional atmosphere of Japan.

They are both sensitive beings. Keebo himself is not only sensitive, but also never acts inappropriately towards others, which would make Tenko feel safe.

Complementary strengths:

Keebo's rationality balances Tenko's passionate outbursts.

Tenko's boldness balances Keebo's cautious restraint.

Main Struggles:

Despite them both being sensitive, Tenko is still judgmental towards males (even if neutral towards him he would still be uncomfortable with it) and even robophobic towards Keebo a couple of times.

Keebo would find Tenko too extreme and intimidating in certain cases.

Tenko isn't tech-savvy, so she's wouldn't understand how to tend to Keebo's needs, and probably find his technical functions and terms confusing.

Family, Friends, Pets:

Professor Idabashi is like a father figure to Keebo, and nothing is really known about Tenko's parents besides them sending her away to be trained because of her overwhelming volcanic-like energy. Since nothing is known about their personalities, it's unknown how they would interact. However, Tenko would likely struggle with bonding with Professor Idabashi initially, given that he's a male and involved in the field of science rather than martial arts. Ultimately, they would bond over their adoration for Keebo, earning each other's respect.

As for Tenko's parents, Keebo would be naturally polite and potentially awkward, but there's a high chance of them liking him (despite their initial confusion of their daughter dating a robot), since he genuinely cares about Tenko and he's able to calm her... sometimes.

There's also the closest person in Tenko's life—her master in neo aikido. Their interactions could be similar to Keebo with her parents, but again, we don't know her master's personality outside of seemingly taking advantage of her naivety.

V3's canon is purposely confusing and ambiguous, so it's hard to say if they are truly in the same school/group of students or not. But if they are, their friends/acquaintances from that class would be mutual and familiar for the both of them.

Their Love Language (unique to them as a ship):

Tenko would fend off anyone who dares spit their robophobic filth at him while also teaching him how to defend himself.

Keebo would take special interest in Tenko's Neo Aikido, wanting to understand it more. Also, he would use some of his functions for practicality for other things she enjoys, e.g.: Since Tenko loves bubbles, he would use something that allows him to blow some of all kinds of shapes and sizes.

Their mutual love language would be protecting each other in their own ways.

Combined Lifestyles:

Given that they both have an appreciation for traditional Japanese beauty, they would enjoy being surrounded by such aesthetics.

Tenko would be eager to teach Keebo Neo Aikido, and Keebo would be willing to learn. Even if he has the strength of a standard senior citizen and often gets thrown about in their matches, he still sticks with it after much-needed repairs. He never enhances his robotic strength for their matches, choosing to keep things fair.

When Keebo studies human behavior and attempts new but common human activities, Tenko often joins him, guiding him with her characteristic enthusiasm.

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NOTE: I haven't read most of Danganronpa manga or 4-koma stuff, so if there are any moments from those I'm missing, feel free to reblog with some noteworthy moments!