she/her | 29 | Hungarian in Austria | Ramblings about video games, spicing it up with art | Tianyou Zhao simp | on my Yakuza OC bs | rarely I make bad gifs | sideblog: trixistudies | fandom tags | Currently playing: Cyberpunk 2077
♥ Still into the RGG/ Yakuza/ Like a Dragon franchise
♥ Digital artist
♥ Yapps a lot about my RGG OC Kori and Zhao. :3
♥ Also yapps a lot about her Ishin counterpart, Cori :3
♥ Occasional mature content!
Twitter: TrixiBebe
Instagram: trixibebe
BSky: trixibebe
Feel free to hit me up for Discord!
My Fanfics:
♥ Tianyou Zhao x Reader: I Wouldn't Mind (Y8)
♥ Tianyou Zhao x Reader: Love You Left Me Madness (Y7) -> tag
♥ Todo Heisuke x Reader: Godless -> tag
Table of contents
♥ Video games ♥
Yakuza; Y7 -> My Yakuza Stuff
Like a Dragon: Ishin! -> My Ishin Stuff
Judgment/ Judge Eyes -> My Judgment Stuff
Cyberpunk 2077 -> My Cyberpunk Stuff
My Hakuouki Stuff
Cult of the Lamb
My Story of Seasons FoMT Stuff
Devil May Cry -> My DMC Stuff
Nier Automata, Nier Replicant -> My Nier Stuff
Virtue’s Last Reward, Zero Time Dilemma
Bayonetta
Persona 5 -> My Persona (5 Strikers) Stuff
Ai: The Somnium Files
While we like to joke that Zhao's IW drink links with Kiryu are just "Oh no! A blogger is saying mean things about my restaurant!🙁", I really do like that Zhao's drink link story is a parallel/condensed version of Kiryu's struggles running the orphanage and trying to integrate back into civilian life. Getting away from his old life, trying to start over, but the Tojo Clan and others still just can't let him go.
I know its only part of a drink link story and didn't have any impact on the main story, but I really wished the writers could have delved a little deeper into this. I love the thought of Kiryu finding comfort in Zhao's company, because he actually does understand how Kiryu feels to an extent. But also a little worried about him, hoping Zhao won't have to deal with everything he went through and get to live a peaceful life. However, if you choose the slightly more "personal" dialogue...
After they have that little moment, Zhao sort of puts up a wall to stop that particular conversation from going any further. Like he slips back into acting "tough" like he did with Ichi in Y7. The impression I get from it was him, for some reason, not wanting to seem too vulnerable with Kiryu? They don't seem to bring this up again in the rest of the drink link story (unless I didn't see all the conversation options, then correct me please lol).
Slightly off topic, but I remember also wanting them to at some point talk about the similarity of their childhood friend growing up, coming to resent them, and trying to kill them. Nishiki and Mabuchi may have some differences, but both Zhao and Kiryu trying to have faith in them and still wanting to save them was exactly the same. To my disappointment, it never came up. But it wasn't like there was a point for it to be brought up anyway, so... shrugs
“What happened?” the former nurse wanted to know again.
“I- I…” you started, wanting to explain how you just worked a little too hard lately, how they shouldn’t worry so much about you. You literally just had a fight about this with Zhao, you should’ve known better by now, but you couldn’t shake the guilty feeling that you worried them, that they took time off their day because you didn’t manage to look after yourself. Maybe it was the fever but your emotions felt like a mess.
“I’m sorry…” was all you could bring out at the moment as tears started forming in your eyes. You were so sick of yourself. The two men exchanged quick glances, then Nanba asked, pressing the issue further as you weren’t giving him real answers:
“For what, _______-chan? Did something happen?”
“I- I just worked… a lot. And, and I thought… I just needed some rest. I thought I could handle it. And now I caused problems for everyone. You had to come here, and Tesso probably would have something better to do too. And Zhao is mad at me.” you rambled and sobbed like a little kid.
“What are friends for, huh? Don’t we look out for each other in time of need?”
“But I haven’t been… in touch for so long. I just didn’t want to cause problems for you with my past with the Tojo Clan…” you whined, not caring about spilling the beans anymore and his eyes widened with realization.
“So that’s why you’ve been so distant? Zhao and Joongi too, because of what you were or are?” And then he chuckled to your surprise. “As if that stopped us being friends. Besides, who cares what you used to be? It didn’t stop Ichiban from the election either.”
“I know, but-” you wanted to elaborate how it might not be good for their jobs if their superiors learn what kinda friends they have but he cut you off:
“Listen, I can assure you that we’re gonna be fine. And if not, we’ll weather the storm together. Like how we used to, okay? You got us.” A few sharp sobs escaped your throat as you were trying to calm down, barely believing what you’d heard. He’s not mad? What he said made you feel a little better, but before you could answer, Tesso gently shook your legs with one of his big hands and voiced his concern:
“He’s right. And I got your back too. But you really gotta take it easy a little, ______-chan. You could’ve hit your head really bad if I hadn’t been there and Zhao-san’s really worried about you, too.” And the guilt was right back to torment you.
“I know... We had a fight right after you left… He’s probably sick of me…” you murmured, looking away again.
“Did he say that?” Your glance snapped back at his serious scarred face.
“Huh?”
“Did he ever say something that makes you think that? That you’re a burden to him? That he’s sick of you?” Tesso wanted to know and you admitted, shaking your head:
“N- no. The opposite actually. He- he kept telling me to rely on him more. But-”
“He’s a man of his word. If he said that, he meant it. Trust me, if he’d been sick of you, he wouldn’t be downstairs busting his ass makin’ that soup right now. I’ve never seen him as happy as he is with you and I’ve known him for many years.” The last sentence made you speechless for a few moments. He’s happy, isn’t he? It made your heart burst but also ache. He’s happy and I’m messing it up…
“I just didn’t want to trouble him. Or you two.” you eventually said, gaze on the floor again.
“But you aren’t!” both of them practically shouted in conviction and it made you blink at them in an initial shock. When you didn’t say anything for a moment, trying to comprehend what they said, Nanba continued in a softer tone:
“Seriously, you gotta let people worry about you. Ask for help. In everyday life too, not just during fights. Don’t push us away, you hear?”
