#p5 akechi

[roseblossom01]

I've just finished my third playthrough of Persona 5: Royal, including the third semester.

I played as Ren Amamiya and dated Maokoto Nijima. In total the game took me 61 hours and 22 minutes to beat. I completed all confidants except for Haru, Iwai, Oyha, and Shinya. I ended the game at level 99 (my first ever) and with just shy of 8 million yen.

These are my thoughts on completing the third semester.

1.) I think Persona 5 may be the best game I've ever played. I don't know if it's my favorite game, but I think it could quite possibly be the best. I cannot believe how much fun I had and how moved I was.

2.) Good god. I cried. I unironically cried. This is the second time I've ever cried to a video game (the first was to the credits of Expedition 33). Saying goodbye to Akechi on 2/2 was one of the most heart-wrenching things I've ever done. I'm glad I did it, I know it was the right choice, and I still cried. And just when I thought it was over, when I knew that Akechi took a backseat, I watched Maruki reach for a snowflake and saw it dissolve in his hand. Just, good god.

3.) I spent 30000 yen on taking Akechi to the jazz club 10 times. It was worth every penny. I would've spent more if I had the time. I've written something else about this, but there is really no way to describe how much I love Third Semester Akechi. In all honesty, he is the reason I replayed the entire game. It was worth it. I love every moment I get with him, and every moment he wasn't there, all I could think about was "I want to be making out with my boyfriend right now."

4.) Maruki's palace is great and Maruki is a fantastic villain. I think that my favorite moment in the entire game (aside from Akechi throwing his glove at you), is the moment on the bridge of glass with Ren and Maruki throwing hands. It is so fucking beautiful.

5.) Alright here's where my thoughts get a little more random. Here's one thing I haven't found a place to post elsewhere: I love mementos. I spent so much time in mementos. I love grinding down there it is so fun. I mean, it's total ass without Ryuji's insta-kill, but with it I love it.

6.) Monacopter is objectively super dumb but I do not care. It is whimsical and it is fun and it really has no effect on the story. The writers could have made it so they had a clear way of getting out of the palace and it would've been the exact same. Therefore, I like monacopter.

7.) Akechi being alive is also objectively kinda dumb but I do not care. I am such a sap, and just the idea of him not having to be dead is so wonderful to me. I hope he lives a long and happy life with Ren Amamiya.

8.) Dude Maruki's boss fight is, like, really boring, right? At least the first part with Azathoth was. Idk man I just sat there slowly whittling him down and healing when I needed to. I wasn't ever really in danger but it also took a while and made me have to pivot a few times in ways I found more annoying than engaging.

9.) I got to see Akechi's third persona for the first time, which was awesome. Idk what I fucked up on my first attempt at third semester, but I didn't get it then so I'd never seen or used it until now. It's cool. Loki is a better design, but who cares?

10.) On that note, I still haven't seen Joker and Sumire's showtime attack. I know he carries her while they're grappling hooking and that's about it. I have no idea how to unlock it, although I'm not sure I super care.

So that's it! 61 hours of my life (relatively) well spent! This game is amazing. Goro Akechi is the single best character in all of media.

[boggyscumbag]

my bouncing lad

HEAVY flash warning akechi(s) vv

[ttakeyourheart]

Omg i forgot to post here gahhh bonks my own head several times

[roseblossom01]

Words cannot describe how much I love third semester Akechi. He is such a fascinating character put into such a fascinating position. It actually makes me go feral to get to see him in action.

I’ve heard people discuss previously whether 3rd semester Akechi is the “real” Akechi, and the consensus seems mixed. So, I’m going to throw my hat into the ring.

No, it’s not the real him. Not even close.

I think the easiest way to go about telling this is to imagine how uncomfortable he must be. Think about it. The jig is up, and the secret is out. Not only that he’s the traitor and the black mask—which is uncomfortable enough on its own—but also that he was manipulated. His biggest, most debilitating shame, something he’s only been able to cope with by entirely ignoring and pretending it’s not there thus far, is now out on the table for everyone to see. His carefully crafted castle of a persona now has a giant fucking hole in it, allowing anyone to look through to the soft, beating heart on the inside. That is a mortifying prospect. And it’s not like he can run either. He knows he needs this group to take down Maruki. More interestingly, though, he also knows that Joker cares about these people and, despite his best efforts, he can’t stop caring about Joker. He is, by proxy, stuck with them, unable to manipulate the situation such to get him and Joker alone because he knows Joker always comes with friends, ingrate that he is.

So what does he do? He hastily puts together another persona. If one castle isn’t working then how about a second? The detective Prince dies and the “ruthless-sort -of”-Black-Mask takes its place. He preemptively prevents anyone from pitying him or trying to understand him by making himself a one dimensional insane person, not worth touching with a ten foot pole. He exudes self confidence and self grandeur because he knows it’s off-putting and because it ensures his position as unquestionable. I imagine it filled him with triumph to be called a “ruthless sort of person” by Sumire, or referred to similarly by the other PTs. I know that it fills me with triumph when people indulge and enable my mask.

Now none of this is to say that Black Mask Akechi is entirely fake. Like all masks we wear, I believe it is at least somewhat based in reality, a flanderization of the facts. For example, I cannot imagine him going that insane on Shadows only because it compliments his mask. His showtime, especially, seems too intense to be made up. Some of it is likely posturing, but I do think that some of it is real. This extends to the rest of his interactions, even outside of the metaverse. They’re all tinted with falsehood, but his true self does appear at times, mostly in conversation with Joker since he clearly has a difficult time controlling himself around him.

But this is all exactly why I say that 3rd semester Akechi is a fascinating character, and one of the many many reasons why I believe Goro Akechi is the single best character in all of media. By attempting to flatten himself, he in turn reveals his own vulnerabilities and insecurities in ways he never would otherwise. As I always say with Akechi, it is our responsibility to see past his masks and to the child underneath.

Oh third semester Akechi. I want to hug you until you burst. I want to crush you in a hydraulic press. I want to throw you in a well. I love you so much.

[morganachronism]

AHHHH ITS DONW

MY STUPID AKECHI SPIRAL THING IS FINALLY DONE IM FINISHED

this is just to tell you its done... i'll make a separate post with translations and explanations for every section:) and ill link it here when thats done:))))) sooo keep an eye... out...

TLS AND NOTES HERE:)

song that the lyrics are from:

[klavkomaeda]

He Returns

[roseblossom01]

God I’m just full of these stupid little interactions aren’t I?

Navi Akechi says: “it’s a treasure chest. Doesn’t look like there are any traps, either,” sometimes when he spots a chest.

Akechi, buddy, I don’t think a single chest in the game is trapped. Obviously this is small and stupid, but it does kind of reflect his trust issues lol.

[soleilstaresatthesun]

ethereal glowing akechi