replaying p5 rn and i completely forgot about how mishima both called shiho into kamoshida’s office and how he leaked akira’s criminal record….how do you think he carries that guilt? if it’s in any of ur fics for them i lowkey might have to tap in 🥹
You caught me right as I was fixing my queue, so quick answer! (well, quickly started. I love rambling about Mishima)
I very much think he carries that guilt and it plays into his character. He tries so hard for the Thieves and especially Akira because he's part of the reason people suffered and he doesn't want them to toss him aside, he wants the power and the safety it holds like Kamoshida has, he hates being weak and being seen as weak because that's who he was under Kamoshida, etc etc. The repercussions of his actions follow him. Even if he's not actively aware of it or acknowledges it.
I love Mishima's character, and a huge part of that? It's because he almost becomes the thing he hates most. He almost turns into a power-hungry control freak like Kamoshida, someone who needs their ego constantly stoked and flattered, someone with no care for others unless they're useful and guarantee his safety and status. But that's not who he really is, deep down, it's just a shell to protect the scars and bruises he gained under the hand of a tyrant.
I truly and honestly think that without some guilt and self awareness he would've had a way harder time changing his own heart. He can change himself because he knows Akira means it, he knows it's possible because these people he believes in have done it before. He knows because Shiho did! There's other ways to be loved and appreciated besides demanding people love you and hold you dear + being powerful doesn't mean you're safe from repercussions.
I'm sick and I'm really tired bc of it so this post isn't the most... thought out and consice thoughts of Mishima's character and thoughts?? He's like Kenji in that a lot of my rambles are in the notes of random tumblr posts about him, because Mishima is one of the best written characters in P5 and I will not hear otherwise! Atlus wrote a real and honest depiction of abuse and grief and then went "what if we make him a punching bag because he's a loser?" Atlus when I find you...
And he is impacted by that grief and his actions + all his dang trauma in my fics! It's never been the main point of any of them, I'd say it's most immediately affecting him in my Merkira fic because it starts right before Kamoshida is taken down, but it's always brought up in some form or another in my long form shuyuu fics. It's somewhat unavoidable since that entire incident is part of the reason they met, after all!