#Ibuki Ward

[izayoichan]

The first movie was a general family favorite by now; Armageddon. They all knew it, even Libby and Izzy, so there was mostly talking and eating. 

Liam: Do you ever talk? They looked at Izzy who looked back at the older dragon and nodded. Like most times they visited it was Libby that did all the talking while Izzy mostly kept to themselves and quiet. Libby: He does, just not that often, besides, I talk enough for both of us! Rylan: That’s the truth! There was a chuckle, Liam looking over at Izzy, who for once seemed to have a small smile on his face. He wondered though, what had made Izzy so quiet but decided not to push it. Liam: Maybe one day huh?

Again a nod from the younger dragon, as Liam went back to focusing more on the other ones and what they were all talking about, letting Izzy sit and listen to them as they would usually do. After a couple of hours of chatting, laughing, and random quiet moments where someone asked Izzy something until Libby answered for them as usual, Fannar and Arlo came to take their two home with them. The rest of the evening and night vanished in movies and well, way too much candy.

Beginning - Previous - Next

#the ward legacy #tumblrstories #writblr #simblr #simblrstories #co created with mahvaladara #storytelling #stories #Flynn Ward #Emil Ward #Tyvan Ward #Rylan Ward #River Ward #Lucas Ward #Liam Ward #Ibuki Ward #Kaylin Ward #Mateo Ward #Melisan Ward #Isagel Ward-Sullivan #Libidel Ward-Sullivan #Amuary #they all had a pretty good evening #way to much candy #as it should be

[theamityelf]

In the Undead AU, every now and then Makoto and Nagito combine their classes, so they can both watch everyone at the same time. The logistics of getting everyone into the same room without losing anyone makes it a rare occurrence, but some days it's worth it for one or both of them to have an extra set of eyes.

The undead love this; Class 78 is always excited to join Class 77, because they get to eat real human meat, instead of the animal stuff they've been eating. And most of Class 77 like taking care of the younger kids. Makoto does ask Nagito how his class keeps getting human meat, but Nagito will either say he found some already dead and didn't want it to go to waste, or that Akane got out again. ("Ah, I'm so unlucky. It happened again.")

Both Nagito and Makoto like watching each other care for their classmates.

The fond look on Nagito's face as he watches Makoto wipe the blood off Celeste's hands ("There! All clean. But...I'm sorry, we still have to cut your nails. I know, I know! But you keep scratching yourself and Hifumi."), or break up a fight between Syo and Akane ("Hey, no-no-no-no! I get where you're both coming from, but I'm handling Byakuya's food hoard. Neither of you need to get involved."), or pacify Taka when people start stacking desks, or just generally walk around with Chihiro on his back.

And the smile on Makoto's face when he watches Nagito untangle a knot (that Hiyoko tied) in Mikan's hair, or get ahead of what would have been a nasty fight because Junko has one of Gundham's Devas and those are not for eating and if Gundham attacks Junko then Mukuro and Mondo will get involved and it'll be a whole thing, or ward Teruteru away from Sayaka, or just generally walk around with Kazuichi practically clinging to his leg.

Peko chills with Hina and Sakura. Sayaka and Ibuki are hanging out. Mahiru is actually teaming up with Taka.

Kyoko uses the larger group as an opportunity to sneak out for, like, an hour and come back unnoticed.

Nagito and Makoto spend most of the day chatting, but Nagito learns to stay one pace away from Makoto and not touch him at all, because Byakuya will get territorial.

#danganronpa #undead au #komaegi #celestia ludenberg #genocider syo #akane owari #kiyotaka ishimaru #chihiro fujisaki #mikan tsumiki #junko enoshima #gundham tanaka #mukuro ikusaba #mondo owada #teruteru hanamura #sayaka maizono #ibuki mioda #kazuichi soda #peko pekoyama #sakura ogami #aoi asahina #mahiru koizumi #kyoko kirigiri #byakuya togami #naegami

[forbidding-souda]

Hey Mod Souda! Thank you so much for the healing factor request, can you uh please do Mikan, Ibuki, Peko and Sayaka with an S/O who already has kids, that they had them when they were really young?

Mikan Tsumiki, Ibuki Mioda, Peko Pekoyama, and Sayaka Maizono with a S/O who already has kids

based request from based anon

currently listening: james bond vs austin powers by epic rap battles of history

-Mod Souda

Mikan Tsumiki

❤ She gets nervous around kids. Dealing with them while on the job is rather easy, all she has to do is put a smile on her face and tell them that she's proud of them. But meeting your kids rendered her speechless. She forgot how to even interact around people - which is something that happens a lot anyway. There was always the chance that your child would hate her. She imagined them pulling on her hair, yelling at her and drawing on her skin with those cheap crayola markers.

❤ But the more time she spent around them, the easier it gets. These is just a tiny versions of you - and your children doesn't love her any less than you do. She always saves for them little stickers that are in the pediatric ward of the hospitals she volunteers at. She gets for them building sets like legos whenever she feels the means to.

"Up?" Your youngest asks, standing in front of Mikan with their arms raised. She blinks. And then she looks at you, panic in her eyes, wondering if it's okay for her to touch them. You give her a small laugh before nodding.

She picks them up from under the armpits, holding them curiously before tucking them into her arm. They grab at her hair, wrapping their fingers around it.

"See - it's easy." You smile. "You're a natural."

❤ Watching her bandage up your youngest kid makes you feel so much more safe with leaving them around her. When they scrapped their knee, she sat them down and began explaining to them the process of using bandages, brushing their hair from their forehead and infodumping to try and distract them from crying.

❤ She became suddenly hyper cautious when around them.

❤ "Kids get injured a lot," you have to explain to her. "But you can't be too worried about it. It's just the growing up process."

.

Ibuki Mioda

❤ Plays with your children as if she was their age. She makes pillow forts, imaginary cars out of cardboard boxes, ties blankets around her as if they were capes, and makes flower crowns for your daughter. When it comes to bed time, you're going to have to negotiate with her, too. She gets your kids all riled up, which is a good thing when you're not in the mood to be dealing with that army, but a bad thing when it comes to being a responsible adult.

❤ She teaches them music. In a funny light: lot of guitar hero. But literally, the most patient and calm you've ever seen her is when she was teaching them how to wrap their little fingers around a bass. Beyond the riffs, she was teaching them basic scales, something you didn't even realize she knew. It hardly crossed your mind that she paid attention to any form of music theory.

"Come on, are you sure they need to sleep?" She whines, lifting the blanket from over her body, where she was chasing them around pretending to be a ghost.

"Am I sure? It's 11pm - yes, I believe I'm sure."

She sticks her tongue out at you. "Party pooper!"

Your kids laugh, whining along with her. She turns them against you consistently. You just sigh and scoop them up in your arms, carrying them away from her.

❤ Coming home and seeing them all cuddled on the couch is such a heart warming sight. Most of the time, she is asleep with them, but sometimes she is humming to them or singing loudly.

❤ She gets them so much candy that you feel the need to confiscate it. Which also means, hey, you get to eat some, too.

❤ And she has so much mobile games on her phone that half of the time she's not even the one playing on it - it's just them playing and watching over their shoulders.

❤ She's like their older sister - they couldn't be more happy to have her around.

.

Peko Pekoyama

❤ They were scared of her at first. She never smiled around them, she never showed that she loved them or even cared for them. She was just this terrifying figure that loomed around the house. They were more surprised that she wasn't a demon. But once she started cooking them breakfast, helping the young ones get dressed for school, and buying them fluffy stuffed animals they realized that she meant no harm. Whenever she wasn't around they started asking you where she was. You didn't think they would miss her that much when she was on missions.

❤ You were surprised to see her playing with them. She would pick them up, holding them upside down and spinning them around. They would often find the weapons that she has hidden around her body, and you moved quicker than her when it comes to taking it away from them. One of the first times you've seen her smile was when you gasped when seeing a knife in their hand. The cockiness - horrible.

"It is good for them to learn how to defend themselves." Peko holds the knife in front of you, showing you, as if you don't know what a knife looks like.

"Not with a weapon - they will hurt themselves before they hurt someone else."

"It is a part of their learning."

You shake your head, getting the frustration out of your body with the motion. "Let them be in their double digits first, at least."

❤ And their school called you one afternoon, telling you that one of your kids had flipped somebody on their back and pinned them to the ground. Immediately you sighed. It was her wasn't it.

❤ Which, you weren't too mad, rather impressed that she had managed to teach them that behind your back.

.

Sayaka Maizono

❤ Your kids were dying to meet her. They saw you on her instagram before you even told them she was your girlfriend. Your oldest almost had a heart attack. So you took them to one of her shows, and then backstage, where they met her for the first time. It was as if they forgot you even existed. At least they like her, you think.

❤ She is more motherly than you thought. She wakes up early to make them breakfast, and she also cooks them dinner for you. She can do their hair, she can bathe the young ones, she can care for them more than you even expected her to. They call her mom quickly into the relationship. They have so much fun singing her songs with her - you thought she would get tired of it, but she sings with them the same energy she has on stage.

She hums, brushing their hair in the bathroom when you wake up. You stand in the doorway for a second. For some reason, the situation surprises you. It's the weekend, and they usually sleep in, did she wake them up?

"Heyyy," you smile sleepily.

"Good morning!" She smiles at you, her blue eyes sparkling. "I'm taking them to the dance studio - I hope that's alright with you. You can come if you want."

A day without the kids, sounds like a blessing.

"That's perfectly fine by me. I'll stay here and clean."

She nods, knowingly, smiling to herself. "I hope your day is nice and relaxing, then."

❤ Sometimes they will write her songs for her to perform. One of your kids has a knack for instruments, and Sayaka loves to perform music with them, especially late at night when you tell her they need to be sleeping.

❤ Their rooms have posters of her - which you thought was weird at first, but you tell yourself it's better than them not liking her.

❤ Which, you would have posters of her, too, she's just so damn pretty.

#mikan tsumiki x reader #mikan #ibuki mioda x reader #ibuki mioda #peko pekoyama #danganronpa peko x reader #peko pekoyama x reader #sayaka maizono x reader #sayaka maizono

[sailorfailures]

I fell in love with these postcards from the Girl’s Night Out popup cafe the moment I saw them! I knew I had to get my hands on them, and the lovely @blaze-rocket was able to help that happen.

I cannot get over how perfect these postcards are. To me, this is what Sailor Moon is; a testament to the little moments from the series that made us fall in love with the characters, especially how their personal preferences were reflected in their fashion choices. In a world of merch where it’s easy to just slap a random crescent moon on something pink and say “look, it’s Usagi,” the designer responsible for these graphics went the extra mile to take imagery from the show itself that needles its way deep into our nostalgia-cortexes.

How many references do you recognise? Quiz yourself against this comprehensive (image-heavy) list! 👇

The inners’ postcards all reference the eye-catching sign for Game Center Crown, the iconic arcade where Motoki Furuhata worked and the gang would all congregate to play games and share information.

Starting in R they switched to hanging out at Fruits Parlor Crown, a cafe attached to the arcade staffed by Motoki’s sister Unazuki, which the Inners’ postcards all also reference. They would often get brightly-coloured drinks there, but the drinks pictured on these postcards seem to specifically line up with the real drinks available at the Girls Night Out popup cafe.

Sailors Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto’s postcards all reference “Café Étrangère,” which was the name of the cafe they were seen dining at in the Sailor Moon S movie. Even the logo is replicated faithfully from a scene only a few seconds long.

All the girls’ clothes are hanging on coat hangers shaped like Luna/Artemis/Diana.

Ami / Sailor Mercury’s references:

Ami’s casual outfit is an unusual choice since she only wore it a handful of times over the entire series, and half the times she wore it, it was given a different colour scheme with a green jacket instead of the yellow version pictured here.

Her “mini data computer” is her most iconic tool/weapon/accessory, revealed in episode 009, directly after her introduction.

The pink package is how Usagi and the other girls wrapped up her transformation stick and communicator watch as Ami’s going-away present in episode 062.

The ice cream may be a reference to the same episode, as she shared a cone with Chibi-Usa before she left, and returned to the store to protect her friends from the Droid Nihpasu.

The flash cards are a method Ami commonly used to help her study, and are particularly similar to the ones shown in the SuperS short “Ami’s First Love”.

Rei / Sailor Mars’s References:

Rei wore her casual outfit fairly frequently, starting and most notably in the beginning of the Sailor Moon R movie.

The small red o-mamori charm is from Hikawa Shrine, seen frequently but introduced in episode 010.

The paper ofuda ward was used frequently by Rei to fight evil, even before she could transform, but most notably in the attack sequence for “Akuryou, Taisan” (“Foul Spirit, Begone”).

To my knowledge the purple bag isn’t a specific reference, but Rei did throw a similar purse at a Cardian as a makeshift weapon in episode 048 before she got her Guardian memories back.

The gift-wrapped shopping boxes are the exact same ones as carried by Rei in the Sailor Moon Sailor Stars opening sequence before she trips and falls, right down to the patterns on the paper...

... which in itself may be a reference/callback to Rei’s tendency to make Yuuichirou carry her shopping (maybe so she doesn’t trip).

The phoenix-shaped pendant is a reference to episode 183; it’s made of glazed ceramic, crafted by Rei’s cousin Kengo Ibuki, given to her as a child after she convinced him not to smash it even though he his pottery a “failure”.

Makoto / Sailor Jupiter’s References:

Makoto didn’t start wearing her casual outfit until around S, but she wore it frequently after that, especially as she became more confident wearing “feminine” clothing. They even remembered her iconic gold wrist watch worn over her sleeve!

Her uniquely decorated bento bag debuted in episode 026, her introductory episode, along with the rounded green cutlery. The pouch has been featured a few more times since and its design is a mainstay in almost every Sailor Moon canon.

The teal hairtie and the rose-shaped earrings are two of Makoto’s iconic accessories, some of the only non-magical fashion accessories in the entire series to stay the same whether the character is transformed or not (the other being Minako’s infamous red bow). Her earrings also served a dual purpose as makeshift projectile weapons in episode 025.

The blue book is 月夜の天馬 (Tsukiyo no Tenma, “The Moonlit Pegasus”), a novel which was written by Tomoko Takase and introduced in epsode 134. Makoto knew Tomoko from her old middle school, before she transferred, and was the first one to read her first draft after retrieving it from bullies. She encouraged Tomoko to try and get it published. Makoto meets with her again and helps her overcome her writer’s block to finish her sequel, 天馬幻想 (Tenma Gensou, “Pegasus Fantasy”).

Minako / Sailor Venus’s References:

This is one of Minako’s most-worn casual outfits, especially if you consider the additional outfits based off it. Despite its prevalence, she didn’t start wearing it until the beginning of S.

Minako’s red hair ribbon is her most iconic accessory, but did you know why she started wearing it? The Codename: Sailor V prequel manga explains that she started wearing the ribbon instead of her usual red hairtie on the suggestion of her “first crush” Higashi. But when he turns out to be an enemy in disguise, she decides she looks good with a ribbon anyway, and keeps wearing it for her own benefit.

The red mask is a reference to Minako’s role as Sailor V before joining the team as Sailor Venus. Sailor V was known as a mysterious vigilante superhero and a fictional video game character as early as episode 001, but in episode 033 Minako revealed herself to the rest of the Sailor Team, dramatically removing her mask one final time.

Minako was known to be a skilled volleyball player, especially in the manga, and it was especially relevant in episode 100 where she had to delicately return the serve of an energy sphere containing the Pure Heart of her old volleyball crush, Asai.

The sign with Minako’s name can be seen hanging off the front of her bedroom door in episode 192.

[Manga scan courtesy of Miss Dream.]

Usagi / Sailor Moon’s References:

Usagi wore this outfit in the Sailor Moon R movie, making it a memorable choice. Although the movie aired roughly midway through R, Usagi didn’t start to wear this outfit casually again until the S season.

Usagi is shown eating a lot of food, especially sweets, but she seems to have a particular fondness for crepes, snacking on them in several different episodes.

In episode 143 we can see that Usagi is very technologically trendy - for the times. She’s carrying that blue-and-pink pager which she and Mamoru use to contact each other by way of goroawase, that is, deciphering messages based on the different pronunciations of numbers, a precursor to modern texting. Mamoru pages her the numbers 84 51, which could be read as hachi yon go ichi; reading only the first syllables, and substituting go for the related sound ko, Usagi would interpret the message as hayo koi, which sounds a bit like “come quick” - she’s late for their date. Oops!

By the way, pagers were often called “pocket bells” (pokeberu) in Japan, and became so rapidly popular they even found their way into the lyrics of Rashiku Ikimasho, the ending song for the SuperS season; 「泣きたい時には ポケベルならしてよんで、戦士の休息」 [Nakitai toki ni wa POKEBELL narashite yonde, senshi no kyuusoku] “If you feel like crying, send a page thru the Pocket Bell, take a break from [being a] Guardian”

Chibi-Usa / Sailor Chibi Moon’s References:

Chibi-Usa doesn’t technically have a school uniform, but her casual clothes are often styled after sailor suits as a reflection of both her idolisation of the figure of “Sailor Moon” and of her desire to be seen as older and more mature than she appears. She changes “uniforms” every season, and this pinafore outfit is the version she wears in SuperS. She wore the other outfit in the SuperS premiere episode.

The handgun is from episode 060, Chibi-Usa’s introduction to the series and arguably one of the most iconic absurdist scenes in all of Sailor Moon. The gun itself is actually a toy, probably a transformation of the Luna-P sphere, which Chibi-Usa uses to try and threaten Usagi into giving her the Legendary Silver Crystal. When she “shoots” Usagi, the bullet is revealed to be nothing but a suction-cup flower, also pictured. (By the way, if you were wondering, Chibi-Usa’s fake gun is based on a real Colt M1911A1.) She transforms the Luna-P into a toy gun to shoot Sailor Moon again in the Sailor Moon R movie, this time as a way to motivate Usagi to fight.

The Luna-P sphere was a mysterious gadget Chibi-Usa kept with her for the duration of R and parts of S. It’s unknown where it came from, but it could be assumed to have been created from advanced 30th century technology. It was a combination toy and tool which could transform itself into a variety of objects, formulas, and even weapons, though none were shown to be particularly powerful. It could also be used to communicate with Sailor Pluto at the Time-Space Door. When Chibi-Usa was manipulated into becoming Wicked Lady in episode 085, the Luna-P sphere also transformed into an “evil” and much more dangerous version.

The Space-Time Key was a special tool given to her by Sailor Pluto that allowed her to travel between the past and the future, though it was difficult for her to wield effectively.

The sunhat was given to Chibi-Usa by Ikuko, so she treasured it greatly. In episode 112 it got blown away and was retrieved by Hotaru Tomoe, which allowed her to meet Chibi-Usa and marked the beginning of their close friendship.

The blue-and-red package was a gift containing two manga books (”Drop Drop” vol. 1 & 2 by Ukon Katakuri) which Chibi-Usa intended to give to her new friend Hotaru in episode 113.

In episode 127, Chibi-Usa returned home to the future, and the girls all made her some going-away gifts. Ami made her a floppy disk (lol) to help her study, Rei made her a casette tape (double lol) of her music, Makoto packed her a lunch, and Minako made her a photo album of their time together. Usagi hand-sewed Chibi-Usa the rabbit-shaped backpack using a real outfit she used to love when she was a child.

Michiru / Sailor Neptune’s References:

This is a somewhat unusual choice for Michiru’s casual outfit, as she only wore it for two episodes, and that’s only because they made up a two-part story. But perhaps because the episodes were so pivotal - with Haruka and Michiru almost learning Usagi’s true identity - the outfit itself became more memorable.

Not only do they include Michiru’s violin, but they included the lemon she bounced off the instrument as she played to show off her skills in episode 093.

The teacup, teaspoon and saucer are the same set Michiru was seen drinking from at Fruits Parlor Crown in episode 094.

Michiru and Haruka both reference episode 095, where they had to enter a “true love” contest as part of their investigation. The contestants were asked to find their partner’s hand in an anonymous lineup, and Haruka was able to identify Michiru’s hand immediately.

Michiru used Haruka as a model for an illustration in her green sketchbook in episode 106.

Michiru’s Talisman is the Deep Aqua Mirror, revealed in episode 110 and used in her attack Submarine Reflection. She could also use it to receive prophetic visions. Visually, it was based on real-life art nouveau hand mirrors, and symbolically represented the mirror from the Three Sacred Treasures.

Haruka / Sailor Uranus’s References:

Conversely, Haruka wore this outfit a lot. Maybe more than she should’ve.

The teacup and saucer is the same set Haruka was seen drinking from at Fruits Parlor Crown in episode 094.

Haruka’s postcard also references the lovers contest in episode 095 (see above).

The purple scarf is from episode 096; Haruka was wearing it as a necktie when she almost ran into Makoto on her motorcycle. Haruka used the scarf to bandage Makoto’s road rash, which she returned later, though now smitten.

Not only is Haruka’s motorcycle included, they also referenced (one of) her car(s), the 1968 Toyota 2000GT.

Haruka’s Talisman is the Space Sword, revealed in episode 110 and used in her attack Space Sword Blaster. Symbolically it represented the sword from the Three Sacred Treasures.

Setsuna / Sailor Pluto’s References:

Setsuna didn’t have a school uniform, since she wasn’t a student, so she got to double-up on her casual outfits. Her mauve outfit is her most recognisable, wearing it so often it may as well have been her uniform. In fact, she was rarely seen wearing anything else until Sailor Stars, where she started experimenting with other outfits, including the Time Lord-esque suit on the right.

The potted plant is a Tellun, the energy-draining plant created by Tellu in episode 121. Setsuna was investigating it when it attempted to attack her, but she was protected by her Talisman, the Garnet Orb (also pictured, representing the jewel in the Three Sacred Treasures). She then went on to destroy the remaining Tellun plants and defeat Tellu with the help of Sailor Moon, Sailor Chibi Moon, and Tuxedo Mask.

The teacup and saucer are the same set Setsuna is seen drinking from at Cafe Etranger in the Sailor Moon S movie.

In episode 182, the girls are discussing the mysterious arrival of Chibi Chibi while eating ice cream on a hot summer’s day. Setsuna appears out of nowhere to confirm their suspicions... carrying that popsicle of her own.

Hotaru / Sailor Saturn’s References:

Hotaru tended to wear the same thing, mostly all-black, but she did occasionally adventure into rich colours like this bottle green two-piece outfit and iconic raspberry beret.

The sunhat belonged to Chibi-Usa; it symbolises the beginning of their friendship, when Hotaru caught it after it blew away in episode 112.

Chibi-Usa gave Hotaru the rabbit backpack in episode 116, using it to pass a note inviting her on a picnic.

Hotaru collects lamps, and the two referenced here are seen in her bedroom, which she keeps dimly lit to manage her pain.

The window might seem random, but it was random in the series, too - it’s one of the curtained window which looks out from Hotaru’s bedroom, and when a Daimon experiment goes terribly wrong in episode 118 and transforms her house into a Bamboozled-like inter-dimensional maze, one window overlooks a vast ocean while the other overlooks a strange jungle.

Hotaru’s weapon as Sailor Saturn is the Silence Glaive. It’s said that she possesses enough power to destroy the world with a single drop of her scythe.

That’s it! You made it! How many references did YOU know? 🌙

#sailor moon #long post #I couldn't have done this the easy way. I couldn't have just posted the pictures and been like 'ooh look pretty'. #it was fun though and I actually learned some things in the process #I feel like I slipped through time somehow and designed these for Toei and then blacked it from my memory #again: sincere apologies to those on mobile

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

The Next Day...

…

N-Ngh?

Ah. Look who’s finally awake.

*Kaede stirs awake after somehow falling asleep. She sits up and looks around. She realizes that she’s laying down in some sort of bed, with Kaito and Maki sitting next to her.

Wh-Where am I?

The hospital ward of the Future Foundation main building.

Oh…did I…pass out?

I think all the stress of what happened yesterday got to you. By the time we were on our way back and things had calmed down, I think your body was expended of all strength.

Well, it was also pretty late in the evening. Shuichi, Kokichi, Kuripa and Munakata were all taken away in ambulances. When the medical team heard what happened to you, they took you in to the emergency ward too.

I see…

*The group is suddenly joined by a fourth person.

Ah, good. You’re awake. Great news.

Hello Mikan. Where’d you go?

Sorry about that. I just got a call from Ibuki checking up on me.

Seems your girlfriend is trying to look out for you.

She’s worried, since I’m not going to be able to leave this place for a while.

What do you mean?

Well, aside from the sudden surge of high priority patients I’ve gotten…

My Boss has enforced a massive lockdown of the central building that we’re inside right now.

Every key member of the Foundation in in this building, and no one is allowed in or out.

Why?

It’s ‘cause he wants to catch the traitor. The good news about everything that happened is that Makoto and Kuripa are no longer on the suspect menu, at least not from the way Byakuya sees things.

But it also means the real traitor’s still at large. And this might be our one and only chance to rat them out.

The issue is that Shuichi is likely the key Byakuya needs to save everyone in the Foundation, and he’s currently indisposed.

I-Indisposed!? Wait, I-I need to-

*Kaede is just about to get out of bed, when suddenly she stops and looks at Mikan.

Um…sorry…With your permission Nurse Tsumiki, may I go and pay Shuichi Saihara and Kokichi Ouma a visit?

That depends. Are you feeling better after your electrocution?

I’ll admit, I’m not 100%, but I can definitely stand on my own.

Please, I have to go and see them.

Hm…

*Mikan thinks for a bit.

Kokichi Ouma is in a very severe position right now. I only have a small handful of nurses that I’ve been given, and we’re mainly treating him. So regrettably, I cannot permit you to see him.

Shuichi Saihara on the other hand should be alright. He’s also badly injured, and has a few damages inside and out, but he’s at least been able to recover enough to talk.

I warn you, don’t try to get him to get out of bed. I need to at least keep the patients I have on hand so I don’t lose any more of them.

“Lose any more of them…!?” D-Don’t tell me-!?

Calm down, it’s not what it sounds like.

Kuripa Kurafto just left by himself a couple of hours ago. Mikan tried to stop him, but he said he was fine.

Didn’t he get stabbed!?

He got stabbed quite a few times, but once I patched up his bigger wounds, he just left. He said he wasn’t in pain and walked out by himself.

He really is a very difficult patient!

I’d say that it’s impossible that he wasn’t hurting, but if he could walk out by himself…wow…he’s like some kind of superhuman.

Well, he’s definitely got a beastly side to him, that’s for sure.

Anyway, if you’re able to stand on your own, then yes, you may visit him. He’s not too far away right now.

He was in the same ward as Kuripa, but as you now know, he’s already left. So he’s free to be spoken to on his own.

Thank you very much Mikan. I’m sorry about all the trouble I’ve caused.

An injured patient should never have to apologize about being injured. Just make sure you take care of yourself, ok?

…

*Shuichi is awake, but lies very still and upright in his bed.

Good afternoon Mr Saihara.

Afternoon!? H-How long was I out for!?

You deserved a good rest Kaede. None of us were gonna try and wake you when you passed out in the back of the ambulance.

I’m sure you’ve figured it out for yourself, but you do have visitors.

…!

*Shuichi raises his head, as Kaede, Maki and Kaito step into the room behind Mikan.

Oh…hi guys…

Hey, you reckless hooligan.

You aren’t gonna let me live this down for a while, are you?

Well…I don’t think I need to, given what’s happened. It’s unlikely you’ll ever allow yourself to forget this experience.

No…You’re right about that…

More importantly, how are you Kaede…? You were in a bit of a mess yesterday.

I’m fine now. But…How are you holding up?

Shuichi’s condition goes beyond his scars, burns and injuries from the fire. According to my examination, he’s suffered heatstroke, sleep deprivation and lack of appetite in last few days.

Well, we have been busy, but I thought I told you you needed to take better care of yourself?

Sorry ma’am.

Hey…Mikan, sorry if you can’t give me a real answer to this, but…how long has Shuichi gotta stay here?

At least another night. It won’t be a problem though. This lockdown isn’t likely to end any time soon, and this hospital room is heavily guarded each night.

…That’s a relief. Thank you.

…

*Kaede suddenly notices Shuichi tucks his hands underneath his covers.

Shuichi…

Yes?

…Show me your hands.

…!

*Shuichi fidgets uncomfortably.

I-I’m not sure that you want to see that…

Oh, I’m sure I want to see that, now give me your hand.

H-Hey! Kaede wait!

Ms Akamatsu, please, don’t be so rough with the injured patients!

*Kaede barely listens and reaches under the cover, grabbing Shuichi’s wrist and pulling it out from hiding.

Yaah!

…!

…

…

…

…

*Kaede takes one look at Shuichi’s charred fingers and palms, and very nearly breaks down in tears.

…

Hehe…hideous, isn’t it? This is why I didn’t want you looking at them. But leave it up to you to always be pushy.

I-I don’t really want to say this, given all of the pain and stress you’ve been through, but...you all have a right to know.

The scarring and burns...they likely aren’t going to go away naturally...

So they’re permanent, huh? Jesus...

...

…

Shuichi…I’m so-

Don’t you dare finish that sentence.

…!

I’m not going through this song and dance with you again Kaede. Frankly I’m getting tired of it.

Ever since this case began, you’ve been by my side, providing for me, taking care of me when I falter, and noticing things that I might have missed. Effectively, from the start, you’ve been nothing but helpful, and that hasn’t changed even now.

I can promise you this. Even if he hadn’t gotten his hands on you, Munakata would somehow have found out about the High Roller. And it was clear that he’d planned this attack, since the bombs had already been planted before the Future Foundation arrived.

The fact that I chose to run in there to save Kokichi by myself is my own fault. You have nothing to do with this.

But I-

No if’s, what’s, how’s or but’s. I only care about the truth, and that there is the truth.

Besudes…It’s not the worst thing you know.

How is it not the worst thing…!? Look at you!

Well, sure my hands might be permanently scarred…but at least I’ve still got them.

You say that, but you’ve been unable to hold your spoon properly when you’ve been eating your soup.

W-Well, I’ll get over that with time, surely?

…

Look Kaede, just stop blaming yourself for everything bad that happens to me. The only person to blame for what happened to me is myself.

That’s not really true either though, you know that, right?

Huh?

I don’t know if either of you heard about it already…actually I don’t see how you could have…

But it turns out that Kyosuke Munakata had been brainwashed by Organization Zetsubou. Just like how Gonta had.

Everything, absolutely everything that’s happened ever since the Samidare bombing incident, has all gone according to the Future Foundation traitor’s plans.

We’ve all been lab rats in this little game they’ve written.

In which case…we need to catch them.

The lockdown will at least prevent any potential suspects from escaping. Meanwhile, you can take some time to recover.

Yeah, I know better than to argue with the nurse at least.

Hehe.

So we’ll resume our investigation once I’ve made a proper recovery. Does that sound good, “Detective Assistant Akamatsu?”

…

Ahaha…ok…But you had better take it easy, alright?

I will.

So, from what I can tell from this last checkup, your body seems to have made an almost full recovery from the trauma it experienced from the car battery.

The rest will take care of itself, but…try not to go near any electrical outlets or machines for a little while, ok? You’re free to leave today regardless.

Thank you very much Nurse Tsumiki. I’ll be sure to bring you a gift basket at some point. You deserve a raise.

*Kaede then leaves with Kaito and Maki.

So what’re you gonna do now Kaede?

…

Sorry to brush you guys off, but I need to do some things alone for now.

Shuichi said that this wasn’t my fault…but I need to make sure that something like this never happens ever again. I’ve got someone I need to talk to.

*Kaede exaunts.

#danganronpa survivor #danganronpa #danganronpa v3 #drv3 #danganronpa 2 #dr2 #kaede akamatsu #shuichi saihara #kaito momota #maki harukawa #mikan tsumiki #the fugitive arc

[comixconnection]

Choose Your Three Free Comics!

At long, long last...Free Comic Book Day is here! Unlike the usual “first Saturday in May” celebration that has defined the even in normal years, due to issues with the ongoing pandemic the folks in charge have decided to move this year’s celebration back to August 14th. Want a sneak-peak at the books...?

The following titles will be available at Comix Connection on Aug 14th (while supplies last!). Everybody gets to pick three! Unlike previous years, we will NOT be accepting FOOD DONATIONS in exchange for additional comics. Instead we will be collecting monetary donations to give to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. For every DOLLAR donates, you may select an additional free comic book!

We know the line for the FCBD comics can get long (if you want to come in and shop first, you can skip the line and head straight inside!) so in an effort to both entertain you while you’re in that long line and to help it go a little faster by giving you a preview of the various titles so you can decide ahead of time what looks good, the Comix Connection Counter Monkeys have read and reviewed all of the available FCBD books! Take a peek!

CHOOSE YOUR FREE COMICS:

One hundred years before the Skywalker Saga began, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy! In this prelude to the ongoing Star Wars: High Republic Adventures comic series, follow padawans Ram Jomaram, Lula Talisola, and Zeen Mrala as they try to save Lonisa City from the dreaded Nihil. Also read the beginning of Star Wars: High Republic Adventures #1! [All Ages]

“Two brand-new adventures from the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender! In Clearing the Air, Tenzin attempts to teach his rambunctious children a lesson Aang taught him about how to resolve conflicts. In Match Makers, Iroh runs into some trouble with a few friends...that just might lead him to something fun he’s been trying to hide from!” [All Ages]

Who Sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott? gives a sample of the upcoming graphic novel by the same name, a tale telling the true story of the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement,” Rosa Parks! This excerpt features the immediate aftermath of Rosa’s arrest, and her decision to start a legal battle that would change the course of American freedom! [All Ages]

“There's nothing better than a beautiful sunny day reading comics, so join us for a look at this summer's fantastic all-ages reads, courtesy of Oni Press! From the gentle, magical worlds of The Tea Dragon Tapestry (by K. O'Neill) and The Sprite and the Gardner (by Rii Abrego and Joe Whitt), the adventurous magical mystery of Mooncakes (by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu), and the action-packed Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters (Chris and Laura Samnee), there's something for everyone. Sneak a peek at these four fantastic fantasy graphic novels!” [All Ages]

Sonic is 30 years old! Celebrate the anniversary of the world’s fastest hedgehog with this peek into the ongoing Sonic comic series. Things get meta when Amy Rose starts drawing a comic about Sonic, Tails, and their friends...but what will Sonic think when he finds out he’s been turned into a comic book? Prepare for the big 30th Anniversary Sonic Celebration here! [All Ages]

It's the crisis of infinite Archies! Celebrate 80 years of the Riverdale Gang with this tale featuring a dimension-hopping Archie Andrews in his quest to save the multiverse. Then, witness Archie go toe-to-toe with... himself?! May the best Archie win! Plus, get a preview of the newest Archie One-Shot in shops! This title includes several versions of Archie (from classic to TV to horror) and showcases his evolution as a character over eight decades, all while being a tie-in to the company's 80th Anniversary plans. [All Ages]

“Despite the pandemic and the swirl of world events, back issue comics are booming! It's not all record prices (though there are many) or bargain basement deals, but rather it's many different categories! The team that brings you The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide shines the spotlight on this exciting part of the universe of comic books. Includes tips on how to collect, care for your comics, and preserve them, among other things.” [All Ages]

“Get a sneak peek at book four in the bestselling InvestiGators series! With agent Brash trapped in a mysterious coma, the technicians at S.U.I.T. have designed the ultimate replacement: RoboBrash! This high-tech replica has been programmed with all of the original Brash's crime-fighting skills and know-how--but it seems he's got a few bugs in his system! Will Mango and his new partner be enough to stop the giant ants that are on a rampage in the city? Orchestrated by the spaced-out villain, Maestronaut, and Houdino, the dinosaur escape artist, it seems criminals are certainly upping the ANT-e!” [All Ages]

“My name is Grace, not ‘Kyle's little sister’!” Having a good-looking, friendly, outgoing older brother sucks--especially when you're the total opposite: someone who likes staying home and playing video games. Your parents like him better (even if they deny it!) and everyone calls you "Kyle's little sister" while looking disappointed that you're not more like him. Grace was really hoping she'd get to go to a different middle school, but no such luck. At least she has her friends...until he finds a way to ruin that, too! What will Grace have to do to get out of his shadow?! [All Ages]

Jewish mythology has it that when God created the universe, He left one corner of it unfinished. Opinion is divided on why, but everyone agrees that the Unfinished Corner is a dangerous place full of monsters. Twelve-year-old Miriam is too busy preparing for her Bat Mitzvah to care about the Unfished Corner. She spends her days wrestling with whether she even wants to be Jewish--until a peculiar angel appears, whisking her, her two best friends, and her worst frenemy off to this monstrous land with one mission: finish the Unfinished Corner. [All Ages]

“The City of Gloomhaven isn't "safe" at the best of times, but lately, more folks than usual seem to be disappearing. In a city paralyzed by an unknown menace, only one adventuring crew will do: The Jaws of the Lion! Based on the hit games, Gloomhaven and Jaws of the Lion from Cephalofair Games, comes a fantasy adventure with humor and heart.” [All Ages]

The Last Kids on Earth and their friends each tell their own best story of the Monster Apocalypse, including Jack's high-stakes baseball game, Globlet's attempt to take over the world, Quint's bad-day-away invention, Dirk's bragain with a witch, and June and Skaelka's creepy carnival--plus a surprise story from some bad guys on the run... [All Ages]

Being the new kid is tough, even for a superhero/ward and heir to a billionaire, Damian Wayne (aka Robin)! Join Damian as he struggles to learn patience and understanding from the students at Gotham Metro Academy, including star student and all-around Great Guy, Howard! Plus, an adventure of Amethyst, princess of the mystical realm of Gemworld by bestselling authors Shannon Hale and Dean Hale! [All Ages]

To celebrate the new animated TV series premiering on Nickelodeon Fall 2021, Papercutz is releasing a new series of graphic novels entitled The Smurfs Tales. Preview it here with a number of silly short Smurfs Tales, with a back-up appearance by one of Peyo’s other beloved creations: Johan and Peewit, the young page and the court jester. [All Ages]

In Edge of Balance, a new High Republic story set in the wake of the Hyperspace Disaster, meet new Jedi and their enemies 100 years before the events of the Skywalker Saga! Young Jedi Knight Lily Tora-Asi is assigned to help displaced civilians relocate to Banchii in the Outer Rim. She and her padawans will face more threats there than just anxious settlers, from the insidious Drengir to the Nihil! And in Guardian of the Whills, encounter Baze and Chirrut before they join the Rebellion against the Empire in Rogue One! Presiding over the Kyber Temple on Jedha, the Guardians of the Whills had hoped to maintain the balance despite the growing presence of the Empire in their Holy City. Yet when a rebel named Saw Gerrera appears, Baze and Chirrut must decide if they're willing to compromise for peace, or if Saw's plan is too dangerous to risk. Read the first chapter of these two new Star Wars Manga Graphic Novels here! [Teen]

It wouldn’t be the Teen Titans without heightened teenage emotions and romance! Fan favorites Beast Boy and Raven are travelling away from the dwellings they know to find homes they can feel comfortable in. Along the way, their paths cross, sparks fly, and even a destiny or two might be found. [Teen]

“Street Fighter heads back to school, as the world's young fighters flex both their academic and martial arts prowess! Fan favorites Sakura, Ibuki, Karin, Makoto, and Elena come face-to-face with a new challenger - the leather-clad, motorcycle-riding Akira! It's a square-off of (rival) schools in this action-packed one-shot!” [Teen]

[NOT FINAL ART] “This Fall, jump on board here as VALIANT UPRISING overthrows the status quo with new titles, new creators, and new takes on Valiant's most iconic characters! The VALIANT UPRISING FCBD SPECIAL features: A brand new X-O MANOWAR story from Harvey Award-winning writer Dennis Hopeless and breakout star Emilio Laiso. It's the perfect jumping-on point as Valiant's flagship hero prepares to "Upgrade the World"! Then, get a special advance preview of THE HARBINGER #1, an all-new series from co-writers Jackson Lanzing and Colin Kelly join superstar artist Robbi Rodriguez that promises to take Valiant's psiot rebel in a vivid new direction! Plus, find out how the world's greatest spy responds to being unmasked, hunted, and trapped in a first look at NINJAK #1, the pulse-pounding thrill ride from Ringo Award-winning writer Jeff Parker and legendary artist Javier Pulido. Finally, get a sneak peek from writer Cullen Bunn and artist Jon Davis-Hunt of what's to come when SHADOWMAN returns!” [Teen]

Three epic new Marvel moments begin here! Read the beginning of the upcoming Spider-Man Beyond story that will be starting in Amazing Spider-Man #75! Big changes are coming to everyone’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man...but are they for good, or ill? Also discover the new Venom series, which will take spider symbiosis to whole new levels in the wake of King In Black. And last, sneak a peek at the Luke Cage: City On Fire mini-series, which will pit Luke against not just the Kingpin, but Daredevil too! [Teen]

Gotham is under attack, and it’s by the people claiming to keep it safe! Billionaire Simon Saint has slowly been taking over the institutions of Gotham with his insidious private security Magistrate program. Meanwhile, Batman finds his mind infected by Scarecrow’s fear gas, forcing him to question every decision he makes. It is all leading to the DC-spanning event FEAR STATE that will rock Gotham to its core. Plus, read a preview of Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridely’s I Am Batman series in which the sons of Lucius Fox struggle with the legacy of both their father and Bruce Wayne as they take up the cowl to defend Gotham. [Teen]

Who is Avenger Prime? And what has spurred the chronal collapse that has them sending their army of Deathloks out to save all of space and time? Discover the start of the end here! Then, journey into the unknown with the Incredible Hulk! Bruce Banner never wanted to smash, he wanted to discover. Now, it’s finally time for the Hulk to expand his horizons with Operation: Smashtronaut! [Teen]

In this story from Critical Role, explore a small but important corner from the adventures of the Mighty Nein. Then, in The Witcher, it's an original tale featuring the iconic witcher himself, Geralt! Created in close collaboration with CD Projekt Red! [Teen]

A fascinating graphic adaptation of historian Timothy Snyder’s book On Tyranny, a collections of essays and reflections on lessons from history and how they can help America steer away from the course of authoritarianism. Recommended for anyone looking to learn more about how tyrants all through history have manipulated people and systems to take away the freedoms of others. [Teen]

“Side A: "BLACK: Interlude" What else was going on the night Kareem Jenkins was shot by police and discovered only Black people have superpowers? Find out in this FCBD one-shot! Side B: "CALEXIT: Hollywood Babylon" Once California refused to be ruled by the US government, its resistance fighters became overnight celebrities. Zora used her infamy for recruiting, but Emmie-X has other ideas.” [Mature]

In 2019, James Tynion IV (Batman) and Werther Dell'Edera (Briggs Land) introduced the world to Erica Slaughter, the iconic monster hunter who came to Archer's Peak, Wisconsin to save the town's children from the monsters only she can see. But Erica is not the only member of the House of Slaughter... With nearly half a million copies sold, Something is Killing the Children has become a true comic phenomenon and this Free Comic Book Day you are invited to enter the House of Slaughter...if you dare. [Teen]

Crewed by teenage geniuses frozen in cryosleep, the JEMISON is on a mission to terraform other worlds and provide hope for the human race. But when the ship is mysteriously stopped over a planet that isn't on any of their maps, the crew finds themselves suddenly awoken ten years early. One half remains behind to try and assess the damage and the other is dispatched to the planet below to figure out the answer to a perilous question: What stopped the ship, and is it friend or foe? [Teen]

As the earth dies, salvation is offered to five thousand children who will be spirited away from our planet’s apocalypse -- but what of the other children, still hoping to find one of the bracelets that give them their ticket off planet? In this wistful one-shot from the sci-fi hit We Live, go into the Broken Lands with a group of friends...but there are four of them, and only one bracelet to be found. How will they decide who gets to leave? Then, preview the Rainbow Bridge graphic novel where Andy has to help his beloved dog Rocket save eternity! [Teen]

“The comic adventures of Max, Chloe, and Rachel from the award-winning video game Life Is Strange continue in this exclusive lead-in to an epic new story arc! This FCBD special features the first comic book appearance of an all-new character who will feature heavily in the Life is Strange universe in 2021! This FCBD issue contains exclusive original material!” [Teen]

“To reclaim the Dungeon that fell to the scheming William Delacour, the plan is simple: Marvin the dragon, Isis, and Herbert the duck must find some magic “fugus purit” and use it to dislodge the current occupants of the fortress. But is this really the Guardian's plan? Our heroes will have to fight against everyone to save the Dungeon. Meanwhile, will Marvin succeed in his engagement blast-of-firebreath 'Tong Deum'? Preview the new series here!” [Teen]

See the next chapter of the super-powered scifi epic The Resistance, and then meeet the “Moths”: a subset of the super-powered Reborn. The pandemic that granted the Reborn their gifts during The Great Death gave power to people like  Emily Kai and the rest of the Moths, too...but the moment they use their gifts, their clock starts ticking and they have six months to live. Also, get a sneak-peek at the just-released Not All Robots futuristic techno-depressive-thriller! [Teen]

The second semester of School for Extraterrestrial Girls is in session! Peer into the lives of Tara Smith (fire lizard!), Misako Sato (extra-dimensional fairy!), Summer Cortez (pink tentacle void beast!), and Ekaterina and Zvenislava (anthropomorphic Russian kittens!). They’re all normal teenage girls...except that they’re all aliens stuck on Earth, and since Tara partially destroyed their old school they’ve been sent to bunk at the School for Extraterrestrial Boys while it’s repaired...that’ll go fine, right? Read the first issue here! [Teen]

This official spinoff manga of Rent-A-Girlfriend, the rom-com turned hit anime, features fan-favorite Sumi, the shy girl longing to come out of her shell. Written and illustrated by original creator Reiji Miyajima! Catch up on the manga before the Rent-A-Girlfriend anime returns for a second season, coming soon! [Teen]

Zom 100 is a violent and funny take on the zombie apocalypse! Its main character, Akira, is so depressed in his soul-crushing job that he uses the undead hordes as motivation to finally complete his bucket list! Also included is a sample of the hit fantasy manga Demon Slayer. [Teen]

“Known as the the Weakest Hunter of All Mankind, E-rank hunter Jinwoo Sung's contribution to raids amounts to trying not to get killed. Unfortunately, between his mother's hospital bills, his sister's tuition, and his own lack of job prospects, he has no choice but to continue to put his life on the line. So when an opportunity arises for a bigger payout, he takes it...only to come face-to-face with a being whose power outranks anything he's ever seen! With the party leader missing an arm and the only healer a quivering mess, can Jinwoo somehow find them a way out?” [Teen]

In the small Pennsylvania town of White Ash, there isn’t much going on aside from mining...and keeping the fact that there are elves and dwarves living in the town secret, of course! In this pre-launch of Season Two of the ongoing series, a romantic rendezvous for the grieving dwarf Alex and mischievous elf Lillian doesn’t go as planned...with potentially disastrous consequences! Also read a preview of The Game, a new series where your every action affects impacts the score of your life! Plus a sneak-peak at some vampiric troubles in colonial America in Stake! [Teen]

World of Zorro gives readers a peak at the upcoming titles for the legendary masked swashbuckler, both new stories (that range from the familiar to supernatural horror) as well as newly-translated classic tales! [Teen]

For FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, enjoy this special expanded edition of the hit IMAGE series, STRAY DOGS! Stray Dogs is a comic thriller that features art inspired by classic Don Bluth-style animation, telling the story of a group of dogs brought together by a mysterious loner. Rather than behave like four-legged humans, the brilliance of Stray Dogs is that it gets inside the heads of its canine characters, showing the human world from their perspective. Unique, entertaining, and creepy. [Teen]

The undead Vampirella has been around since 1969, and as the celebrations of her 50th anniversary draw to a close, Dynamite presents a reprint of the first issue of their series that kicked-off her modern adventures! [Teen+]

Take an inside look at everyone’s favorite bipedal shark god, King Shark (aka Nanaue)! Suicide Squad’s many-toothed muscle is currently inside Belle Reve prison, but he won’t remain there for long. PLUS: a sneak peak at the just-released Suicide Squad miniseries Get Joker! [Mature]

“After 20 years of antics coming out of Sunnyvale trailer park, the underground TV phenomenon Trailer Park Boys is finally coming to comics! Full of short stories and activity pages, several of comics' finest join to create a series of comic book specials in 2021 and beyond honoring Ricky, Bubbles and Julian and everything fans have come to love about the series.”  [Mature]

Fungirl is a humor comic that is as unpredictable and hilarious as it is observant and smart. Cartoonist Elizabeth Pich’s creation does as much smashing the patriarchy as she does dreaming of delicious donuts and being spit on by llamas. [Mature]

“Tensions between the clans are high, so when Cecily Bain, an enforcer for the Twin Cities' vampiric elite, takes a mysterious new vampire under her wing she finds herself in over her head and dragged into a massive undead conspiracy! Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the city, a rebellious found-family of clan-less vampire cast-outs investigates a vicious killing.” [Mature]

“Preview the forthcoming full color, original Space Pirate Captain Harlock series from ABLAZE, personally overseen by the legendary Leiji Matsumoto!  In this brand-new Captain Harlock adventure, planet Earth is threatened by an upcoming invasion by the Sylvidres and despite being banished as a pirate, Captain Harlock won't give up trying to save the world. Will Captain Harlock and his crew manage to solve this mystery and save the Earth from yet another menace?  Also includes teasers for 3 highly anticipated upcoming manga/manhwa releases from ABLAZE, including The Breaker Vol 1 omnibus (critically acclaimed martial arts manhwa), Versus Fighting Story Vol 1 (Capcom e-sports shonen manga) and Crueler Than Dead Vol 1 (zombie horror seinen manga).” [Mature] 

“An evil so profound it threatens all mankind... the mightiest heroes on the planet uniting to defend us all... a secret crisis of such utter finality that a countdown to civil or infinite war seems unavoidable... but have you ever wondered what really happens during Crossovers? The Seven, Payback, Teenage Kix, Fantastico and every other supe on Earth team up for an annual event like no other... and where the supes go, can a certain "five complications and a dog" be far behind? Vought-American prepare to make their move, in a story that will change the world of the Boys forever: Herogasm #1. The first-ever Boys spin-off mini-series features the pairing of Ennis with Hitman artist John McCrea and covers by Boys artist and co-creator Darick Robertson!” [Mature]

“The most eagerly-anticipated series of 2021 gets the FCBD treatment with this ALL-NEW "bonus" issue of the series! Featuring 33 pages of comics produced exclusively for FCBD, from the creator of Hip Hop Family Tree and X-Men: Grand Design, designed as a perfect entry point for new readers and a must-have for those already on board. Aided by the anonymous dark web and nearly untraceable crypto-currency, there has emerged a subculture of criminals who live-stream and patronize webcam murders for entertainment. Who are the murderers? Who are the victims? Who is the audience? How do we stop it? An outlaw, splatterpunk masterpiece, as seen on Piskor's YouTube channel sensation, Cartoonist Kayfabe!” [Mature]

“An award-winning comic and soon to be Netflix anime series!  When dusk arrives in the city of Manila, that's when you become the most likely prey of the underworld. Kidnappers and thieves will be the least of your worries. Beware the criminals that can't be bound with handcuffs nor harmed with bullets.  Beware the ones that crave your blood, those who hold your heart ransom, and the ones that come to steal your soul. When crime takes a turn for the weird, the police call Alexandra Trese. Featuring a preview from TRESE Vol 2: Unreported Murders, a section on the forthcoming Netflix TRESE anime series launching this summer (including an interview with Director Jay Oliva), bonus pages with w/ background about the monsters of Philippine myth as told by TRESE creators Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, and a teaser on TRESE Vol 3: Mass Murders, coming this Sept from ABLAZE!” [Mature]

“2000 AD Presents All-Star Judge Dredd is a thrill-powered showcase of the past and shocking present of the iconic lawman of the future! Witness the birth of the world of Judge Dredd in an incendiary preview of upcoming prequel graphic novel Dreadnoughts by Michael Carroll with art by Watchmen's John Higgins. Fan-favourite Judge Hershey travels to the ends of the earth to dispense her own brand of justice in long-anticipated blockbuster spin-off, Hershey: Disease by Rob Williams (Suicide Squad) and Simon Fraser (Doctor Who). Along-side these teases for Fall 2021 epics enjoy a bone-rattling all new stand-alone Dredd caper from elite writer Al Ewing (Immortal Hulk, Marvel's Empyre) and Caspar Wijngaard (Star Wars, Home Sick Pilots)!” [Teen]

“Four titanic tales of pure fun and entertainment for everyone to enjoy! First up. It's no dog and pony show here! Bringing back the iconic puppets from the San Francisco Bay Area "Charlie and Humphrey"!! The modern-day Gumby and Pokey! A true love for al ages featuring a tale by Justin Sane and John Hageman! Next up is "Red Dawn" Written and created by Brandon McKinney, with inks by Bill Anderson and vibrant colors from Ross Hughes!! The government has created the first "controlled" superhero doing the bidding of a shadow operation until things go bad leaving our hero to blame and now on the run. The following story is only exclusive to this FCBD edition. Written by Greg Boucher and illustrated by Victor Moya they bring you "Rock and Roll Biographies: FIGHt" See how a troubled Rob Halford leaves the world biggest heavy metal band to form his own supergroup and take metal back!! Our last preview is written by Mel Smith, illustrated by Frank Cirocco/Alex Sheikman and hand colored by Gerhard! "Becoming Frankenstein" takes down the journey of a troubled Victor Frankenstein as he grieves the loss of his mother while harvesting the body parts of victims to create life again for his monster! Learn the tales of the victims and who they were before they became what becomes Frankenstein's ultimate creation! : This will be the only edition to feature this Rock and Roll Biographies story featuring FIGHT “ [Mature]

Enjoyed your Free Comic Book Day books? Want to read more? Let your friendly neighborhood Comix Connection Counter Monkey know which ones caught your eye, and we’ll be happy to direct you to the next part of the story!

#free comic book day #fcbd #fcbd 2021 #free comic book day 2021 #comixevent #comixmech #comixyork

[quicksilverlightning]

Number One In Our Hearts

It starts innocuously enough, with All Might being invited to run the yearly Quirkless course on Quirk Warrior.

“It’s been a rough course this year folks – only six runners have made it all the way through, but we’ve got one last contestant to go.”

“That’s right, Ken, and it’s the one you’ve all been waiting for. This year’s Quirkless Run has pulled out all the stops – the jump hang is longer, the wall is higher, and it’s all for this one last runner. Ladies and gentlemen, the one, the only, the legend, All Might!”

___________________________________________

 cinnadust

My favorite thing about All Might running the QLC is that he doesn’t run at all. He strolls through like he’s fucking bored.

 Staples083

his wingspan is enormous

 pipe-fingers

Petition for All Might to run the Quirk course #NumberOneInOurHearts

 GangOrg4n

look at him wave at the audience he’s not even tring lol Absolute Legend

 Red-Phone-Wire

please someone make these announcers losing their shit into a meme

___________________________________________

All Might’s appearance rockets the ratings to unseen heights; the full video goes viral and has over a million views before the weekend is over. It isn’t long before the agency is fielding phone calls from the usual suspects – reporters, journalists, talk shows – but also from some more unusual places.

Toshinori lights up when PR brings him the first batch of requests and immediately agrees to do them all. The second flurry of requests comes before the cooking show segment is finished airing and the floodgates open. Every reality show and competition is clamoring for All Might to guest star.

___________________________________________

Quirky Kitchen makes it an hour-long special. The first half is dedicated to some old American favorites; he chats with the host and audience while slicing tomatoes with charming ease. The audience delights in his culinary prowess, gained over long years of bachelordom, and laughs at his silly anecdotes. Which makes the second half all the more surprising.

With the burden of secrecy lifted, Yagi Toshinori can finally see his way forward. All Might can no longer be a pillar, but, perhaps, Yagi Toshinori can be a support beam. While the live audience munches on potato chips hot from the fryer, Toshinori pulls a simple hardback chair from the set, seats himself, and opens up.

___________________________________________

“Cooking… it’s a lot like my Quirk – my strength is gone, but the reflexes, the training, all of that is still there. I can’t eat what I’m making anymore, but I still know how to make it. And I can still share it with all of you.”

___________________________________________

 explendative

holy shit

 out-of-batt

damn, look at him flipping burgers @9:32 this man is perfect??

 h0m3b0dyJJ

Okay, guys, my dad had a gastrectomy a few years before he died and it’s seriously no joke. My dad lost 63 pounds just a few months after his; it’s hard to keep anything down and you have to eat little meals all the time and there’s just so. much. food. that you can’t have anymore. He was taking like a billion supplements and vitamins just to manage everyday challenges. I can’t even imagine going through that on top of being an active Pro.

 its-ibuki

we must protect All Might at all costs

___________________________________________

He laughs when his students gather round, babbling about the dance show. He ruffles Ashido’s hair fondly.

“You don’t get to Number One without some fancy footwork! Take that to heart, my young students,” he nods sagely, managing to extract himself before he’s late to the staff meeting. He heads down the hall, but not before tossing one last piece of advice over his shoulder.

“And learn at least one social dance!”

___________________________________________

Honestly? I don’t like the hero rankings. I’d prefer they didn’t exist at all. How do you rank acts of heroism? Why is saving one life worth less than saving a hundred? You can’t quantify someone’s worth down to a data point. What’s a hundred lives to a parent that’s lost their only child?

- All Might discusses the ranking system on Hero Discourse

 12,086 notes

 LoreleiFae

another day, another reason to love All Might

 FlipFlapItsATrap

you know, I never really got the hype around All Might. Like, I understood he was number one and super strong and all that, but I never got all the fervor around him. I started to get it after Kamino, but it’s really little moments like these that make me understand why he was number one. why he’s still number one, no matter what the ranking says. #NumberOneInOurHearts

 07ohseven

@FlipFlapItsATrap: I’ve met All Might twice, both before and after Kamino (humblebrag, lol), and he really is just the nicest guy. He never treated anyone like they weren’t worth his time, from teenagers hunting autographs to little kids that wanted a hug. I ran into him again a few months ago at the Mustafu Library – he’d tucked himself away into a corner with a few books and we talked a little about what he was reading (a biography and a fantasy novel, if you were wondering). He asked me to call him Toshi and gave me some movie recommendations.

 07ohseven

@FlipFlapItsATrap: I got off topic there, but what I wanted to say was that you’re right – All Might wasn’t number one because he was a good hero. He was number one because he’s a good person. All Might made me feel safe, but Toshi made me feel comfortable, like talking to an old friend. I hope I get to meet him again one day. #NumberOneInOurHearts

  ___________________________________________

Kizumi Takada @0Window0Knight0

@AllMightOfficial how many people have you kissed?

All Might @AllMightOfficial

@0Window0Knight0 None.

All Might @AllMightOfficial

@0Window0Knight0 But, many, many people have kissed me.

  ___________________________________________

 Peony-crowned

Next time on Hero Theory – is All Might asexual?

 Superxxchar04

@peony-crowned: OTP – All Might X Justice

 Hkoin

@superxxchar04: All Might X A healthy mind body and soul in a long life filled with joy and laughter FTFY

___________________________________________

He’s carrying a stack of grading in one hand and nearly throws the entire pile in the air when Present Mic grabs him in the hallway, begging him to be on his show. After a few moments spent calming him down, Toshinori manages to gather that his guest for the night has had a last minute cancellation. He offers an easy smile and agrees to fill in.

He wasn’t expecting Hizashi to open the phone lines up for questions, but what kind of hero would he be if he couldn’t roll with the punches?

___________________________________________

 Am I on the air?

 That’s right, listener! You are live and you’ve got a question for us?

 Yeah! Well, for All Might. Big fan by the way, you’re the greatest.

 Thank you kindly, young man!

 Right, so I was wondering – do you make more from your hero work, or from merchandising rights? I’ll hang up and listen, if that’s okay?

 Perfectly fine, listener!

 I don’t – didn’t – make any money at all from my hero work. Any bounties have gone to victims or to charity, and I’ve never sent anyone a bill for helping at a natural disaster. Merchandising rights more than cover the agency overhead – I’m not even the highest paid individual at my own company.

___________________________________________

 TexasSmashMe

I’m sorry to inform the hero fandom that Stain was 100% correct – there is only one real hero, and his name is Yagi Toshinori.

___________________________________________

 drrdrrdrrdrr reblogged from nessalee

 [gif set]

 [First image description]

 A young All Might flies through the air, cape billowing like a banner

 [Second image description]

 Silver Age All Might holds up a collapsing bridge pillar with one arm while the other gives a thumbs up.

 [Third image description]

 Golden Age All Might overlooks the city from a skyscraper, bangs ruffling in the wind

 [Fourth image description]

 All Might stands tall, battered and bloody, a single fist raised into the air

 [Fifth image description]

 Yagi Toshinori bounces at the front of the course, posture relaxed, waiting for the starting bell

 [Sixth image description]

 A toddler yanks on Yagi Toshinori's bangs as he smiles indulgently

 [Seventh image description]

 Yagi Toshinori sitting in the bleachers at Yuuei, beaming proudly at the field where his students compete

 [Eighth image description]

 Yagi Toshinori stands, battered and bloody, face turned away, pointing into the distance

 A Hero for Eternity

All Might / Yagi Toshinori

36,875 notes

 CoraBakes

get u a man that can do both

 la-la-lo-li

The one with the kid is so cute <3 Yagi-san would be a great dad

 kainnn9056

pft look at him casually holding up a bridge with one arm hes so extra i love it.

___________________________________________

He's just leaving the school when PR messages him with the request from Hero Monthly magazine. It's usually the kind of thing he would sign off on without a second thought, but his eye lingers on a single word - photoshoot. This wouldn't be like answering questions about his gastrectomy online, or explaining his injury on a talk show - this would be actively showing off the wound that nearly killed him.

Toshinori never expected to retire; hell, he'd never expected to survive. He assumed he would die as he lived - being a hero - and take all his secrets with him. But now...

Now he thinks of young Midoriya with his scarred hand; of his friend Todoroki, who couldn't hide his burn if he wanted to. He thinks of Iida's older brother, learning to walk again. He remembers Best Jeanist may lose his own stomach in the near future and the scar under Aizawa's eye. He remembers hospital wards full of children with amputated body parts and prosthetic limbs and dreams of heroism. He remembers being twelve and Quirkless and thinks again of young Midoriya, to whom Quirkless may as well have been a synonym for disabled.

___________________________________________

 [Image set]

 [Cover image description]

 Yagi Toshinori sits in a crisp white button-up on an angled couch, legs stretched over the cushions, looking at the camera over his shoulder.

 [First image description]

 Yagi Toshinori adjusts a cuff-link, grinning wildly at something off camera, suit jacket flared in the wind.

 [Second image description]

 Yagi Toshinori sits on the edge of a bed, hands together between his open knees. His white shirt is unbuttoned, revealing a  skinny chest and hints of spiderwebbing red.

 [Third image description]

 Yagi Toshinori looks away from the camera shyly, one hand rubbing the back of his head. His scar is viciously red, stretching the full length of his torso before disappearing below the hem of the dark slacks clinging to his skinny hips.

108,792 notes

 vedran-oligarch

All Might looks like someone punched a hole through him and I'm still lusting over his fine ass hot DAMN

 i-am-a-blank-page

@vedran-oligarch: it's the eyes - they're always the same and they're always so intense

 vedran-oligarch

@i-am-a-blank-page: point, but those beautiful hipbones aren't hurting my lady-boner

 IrisEvergarden

I really, really love the last picture. His expression is so sweet and unsure and humanizing - the whole set is, but that one really does it for me <3

 paperclipped-wildflowers

his hair looks so soft

 IrisEvergarden

I just want to give this man a hug, he's so good and pure and brave

 ExpectingDelay

okay, but how how no one mentioned the interview part?!

 If I saved one person when I lost my stomach, it was worth it. If I brought one child home to their parents when I crushed my lungs, it was worth it. If my words have helped someone through a rough patch, if I inspired someone to do better, be better, it was all worth it. There are a great many regrets in my life, but helping others has never been one of them. There is nothing I wouldn’t break; no sacrifice that would make me hesitate.

 That's what heroism is - it's taking these hits so that no one else has to.

this man is incredible.

 flowwithit54

@ExpectingDelay: I'm fucking crying rn we don't deserve All Might OR Yagi Toshinori

___________________________________________

It's almost nine when Ishiyama finds him lazing on the teacher's lounge couch, idly scrolling through his own tag online. In the past few minutes alone, he's found post after post from individuals finding strength from last week's magazine shoot. A teenager with an arm mangled in a villain attack; an office worker embarrassed by needing a wheelchair; a boy with an annoying twitch thanks to an accident with his electricity Quirk. Thousands of messages of love and support, admiration and inspiration. It's almost enough to make him wonder why he'd been so worried about the inevitable. Ishiyama hands him a cup of tea.

"You look happy today, Yagi."

He closes the phone and takes the offered tea with a smile.

"Yeah. I guess I am."

#yagi toshinori #All Might #my hero academia #boku no hero academia #fanfic #social media fic #mha #bnha #I maintain that shows like Ninja Warrior would be AWESOME in a world of superpowers #which is how this fic started #and now I'm writing a whole series #about fandom and they ways in which we relate to our heroes #because I can't stop having Ideas #and I am LIVING #for All Might being a hero in a completely different way after Kamino #still salty about the lack of line breaks on tumblr

[mystxmomo]

Title: they're comin' to get me (and, honey, i swear that i'm guilty)

Relationship: Mioda Ibuki/Tsumiki Mikan

Description:

Mioda Ibuki thought she would rule over the airwaves for a lifetime.

But the future foundation knows her name, she's going through her midlife crisis at 24, and Tsumiki Mikan is hanging out asleep in the passenger seat of her 1999 subaru forester.

In order from least to most important, of course.

Chapters: 1/?

Authors Note:

Heeey. So the idea to it is that instead of the remnants getting caught by future foundation and sent to the program, they sort of fall apart with time because they don't have a leader that cares enough to stay. This fic is actually set in the same universe as a different fic I'm working on, of which it will be grouped into a series with. I know a lot of people say this, but you genuinely don't have to read that fic to understand this one.

Also this one has a super sexy music naming theme. I thought it was appropriate for Mioda. The name of the title comes from "Going to jail" By anarbor, and the chapter title comes from "Every high has a come down." Also by Anarbor.

Ao3 link

===

Tsumiki had taken to operating on the outskirts of the city.

She has a fancy little compound that Enoshima had helped her set up. And by that, of course, she means convinced Souda to rig with enough weapons and explosives to ward off even the bravest of folk. The kind of gates with big ol’ barb wire and electricity, that you could feel the buzz of the thing when you got too close.

Coming into it today, she’d wondered if it was meant to keep people out, or keep Tsumiki in. Not that it was needed. Tsumiki had always been entirely loyal to her. Always obeyed and preached her word like a gospel, an absolute truth. Even Mioda, so enthralled by Enoshima’s words and style, had sometimes had the galls to question her truth. Not that she would have ever said as such. Not that it had ever mattered . They were on top of the world, with her. They were the world, with her.

It had been an old hospital. Mioda had never liked those places. Not even in a despair sort of way. There was just something real damn creepy about the way her heels echoed in the halls, unhelped by the response of drills and screams Tsumiki’s hospital specifically had always held. Something real skin crawling about the buzz of LED, the sheer emptiness of the building, the beeping of machinery and computers.

Tsumiki’s curled up loosely in the passengers seat, now. Close enough that she could touch her, if she wanted. Her head rests on the window, close enough that each breath out leaves a little bit of fog against the glass. She looks sort of like she did in highschool like this. A real soft face to her, gentle like, despite the still drying blood on her cheeks and gloves.

There was no way of knowing that she’d been screeching at her, less than an hour ago. Cursing her out in strings of vitriol and whispers, that Mioda had to drag her out of that shitty little compound before Future foundation had gotten to her. That the bruises on her cheeks and wrist, the bite marks covering her arms, was all entirely Tsumiki’s fault.

She looks sort of.. Innocent like this. It’s been a real long time since she’s considered Tsumiki innocent , of all things.

She travels down the coast for a while. The road is covered in crashed cars and spare parts in some spots, but they’re easy enough to maneuver around when you’re use to it. Other parts have been cleaned around by Future Foundation (One of the few good things they did, in her opinion. Some things aren’t worth the despair. Some things are just inconvenient, you know?)

Mioda knows her way into the city like the back of her hand. Makes her way in when the nights become a little too quiet, and she had enough backed up and recorded on her tracks that she could get away with disappearing for a day or two. Her schedule had always been packed tight, but Ultimate Despair didn’t need to know all the connections she kept. They didn’t need to know what she did in her spare time.

There’s a payphone off to the side of the road. She respects the style of it, bright green, in the middle of nowhere, hidden away next to an old broken in bus stop and oddly clean vending machine. When she parks the car to investigate, she discovers the phone is still online. A lot of small things like that are. It’s never been her forte, exactly, more Souda’s thing then her own. But supposedly, it’s easier to let some things rot away on their own then it is to destory the wides of anything that stands in their path.

That the vending machine is very much not alive, so she spends time hitting the glass with a really big rock so that she can break into it and fetch the remaining bags of chips and crackers.

The rock is really big. The sound of breaking glass, somehow, does not wake up Tsumiki.

(She does look tired. She loses herself in those experiments, in Mioda’s opinion.)

She’s chewing on some old Kitkats when Pekoyama finally picks up. Mochi flavored.

(Like, the kind of old that it sticks weirdly to the roof of her mouth, and tastes almost stale, and the chocolate has melted to the wrapping paper.

It’s gross. But thats despair, baby!)

“How did you get this number.”

“Woah, here there! It’s just Ibuki,” She laughs, but surprises herself with the nerves that sit under the tone of it.

“That question still stands,” But it has far less venom to it, this time.

“Yeah- I have my ways,” Souda had always been a rather loose lipped kind of drunk, and he always knew what their newest private line was. Never remembered what he said, when she got him drunk enough. It was easy to get information out of him, when she needed it, “I won’t take up too much of your time. I need help.”

She can practically hear Pekoyama biting her lip. Now, to call Pekoyama kind would be a lie. She wasn’t exactly kind, wasn’t exactly harsh. The type who didn’t speak until spoken to, didn’t act unless forced to. Real blunt sort of woman, with a sharp stare and a nonexistent presence. Even back in highschool. Even before.. This.

She hears her sigh , of all things.

“What did you do?”

“Ibuki did- I did, nothing ,” She’s quick to defend herself, but Pekoyama continues.

“I told you to be careful with the stunt’s you pull. I can’t help now, Mioda-,”

“But I didn’t do anything ,” Her voice teeters into a little bit of a whine near the end of that, something she scrambles to quickly correct. Serious, she thinks. This is serious. She’s not begging the woman to come help move her equipment on an impulse. She’s not attempting to drag her away from Kuzuryuu or anything. She just- “Future Foundation knows , Peko-chan”

Pekoyama goes quiet.

“They know my name. They know- Tsumiki’s name too. They know our faces, Peko-chan,” She thumbs at the cord of the phone, “I had to leave my recording studio. All my tracks and recording stuff! It’s all gone now. And- I barely got to Tsumiki in time. But they know who we are now,”

Pekoyama releases her breath, “.. You too?” the words are thoughtful, torn apart from the previously scolding tone she’d had moments before hand.

She nods at the phone, before realizing that Pekoyama cannot, in fact, see her doing that, “Yes yes yes.”

“Hm,” Pekoyama

“You don’t think we got ratted out?” She was not against stabbing one of her classmates, exactly, if they were the snitch. Not against doing far worse things. She has sleeves of tattoo’s up her arms and legs, each proving another kill to her name. In the spirit of things, of course. In the meaning of them, “You don’t think Servant and -”

“I do not,” Pekoyama tells her, and it forces the tension out of her shoulders near immediately, “They would not.”

The answer is firm. She doesn’t push.

“I don’t know what to do,” She admits, “I need your help,”

“.... What do you think I can do?”

“I don’t know , that’s the point ,” Mioda wants to pull her hair out. Her voice raises, like it tends to when she’s passionate. She’s never been good at keeping quiet. Never been good at all, “You’re the Yakuza, aren’t you? Help me ,”

“Okay. Calm down,” The response is surprisingly immediate. She stops on the order, not to follow it, but because she wants an answer sooner. Wants an answer immediately. She hears nothing, which she knows is Pekoyama’s Very Important Thinking Time (Kamukura was the same was, always went real quiet when he was thinking really hard, shot her the nastiest looks when she got too loud)

“Change your appearance. Don’t go by the same name. Don’t stay in one place for too long unless you have to. I can’t help you beyond that. Use common sense. Please. You have survived this long. You will be fine,” She jots the points down like notes in her head, ignores the insult, “Keep a low profile. And Mioda?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t call this line again,” Mioda opens her mouth to speak, but Pekoyama catches her before she can, “I’m serious. We’re.. Waiting. This out. I.. won’t say too much,” Won’t. Not can’t. She’s not under an order to do this. She’s not forbidden. Mioda can respect as much, respects it more then the orders Pekoyama takes, won’t push that, “We have Souda.”

“I’m so sorry,” She says, with no sympathy to her.

“He’s very… loud,” Pekoyama sighs, “But I will live. Do not try to find him. Don’t try and find us. Stay on the road until you find somewhere safe. Keep close to eachother, and trust no one that you meet.”

Mioda looks over to the car, where Tsumiki is still snoozing. She thinks back to earlier, how desperate Tsumiki had been to stay. Looks down that those bitemarks, some still bleeding and broken.

She doesn't know if trust is the word she'd use to describe this, at that moment. She doesn't think she has to mention that, exactly, “Sounds like a sad kinda life to live,” She tells Pekoyama, blankly.

“Well. Yes. But that is our fate, isn’t it?”

Unsympathetic. Stoic. The kitkats, she notes, have melted in her hands.

“Yeah. I guess so.”

#TsuMioda #Tsubuki #Band Aid #ibuki mioda #Mikan Tsumiki #they're comin to get me and honey i swear that i'm guilty

[trashexplorer]

BLCD 2019: October Releases

Legends:

✓ - have      

💡 - interested

✘ - not interested (but will probably still listen to)    

🙏 - dying for

Tumblr can try stopping me, but I ain’t gonna back down so easy.

1. Megumi to Tsugumi ✘

Release Date: 2019/10/10

Cast: Ono Yuuki x Matsuoka Yoshitsugu

Synopsis: Megumi, an Alpha, son of the great Kokonoe Academy Chairman, goes to avenge his friends who were beaten by a yankee wielding a metal pipe. But that yankee is Tsugumi, an Omega who doesn’t use suppressants and deals with his heats through sheer willpower. Tsugumi loathes all alphas because they consider omegas just tools for reproduction and has sworn to kill them all. Megumi, whose behavior is different from other alphas, confuses Tsugumi and leaves him torn between rage and desire…

2. Sex Suit Love Battle ✘

Release Date: 2019/10/11

Cast: Takeuchi Ryouta x Shingaki Tarusuke *ooohh Yashiro’s back

Synopsis: Taga Masashi happens to catch his boss, Ibuki Keisuke walking out of a hotel with one of his sex friends. To keep his mouth shut, Keisuke proposes that he’ll be Masashi’s sex friend!

3. Therapy Game Mini Drama CD Dear + November 2019 💡

Release Date: 2019/10/12

Cast: Shingaki Tarusuke *screams x Ono Yuuki

Synopsis: Just a little preview for what’s hopefully going to be one of the best BLCDs of this year.

4. Trash Sequel Lost Virgin ✘

Release Date: 2019/10/16

Cast: Ono Yuuki x Yamashita Seiichirou

Synopsis: The sequel for Kirishima’s Onee-Oniisan x Rapist Enomoto or Emoto idk fuck this bitch.

Comment: First of all, why? Second of all, what a waste of trees, talent, brain cells, art, and investment. Nobody asked - or should have asked for this. If this doesn’t end with Emoto (and Kirishima ototo) getting jail time after raping Kurama, imma flip shit.

5. Trash Extra Renai Fuyuki Todoki Kanzenban ✘

Release Date: 2019/10/16

Cast: Furukawa Makoto x Satou Takuya *I hate how this is the only work they’re paired up together in

Synopsis: Trash.

6. Remnant 3 - Juujin Omegaverse - 🙏🙏🙏

Release Date: 2019/10/22

Cast: Kawahara Yoshihisa x Satou Takuya AAAAAAAHHHHH

Synopsis: The third and final installment of the adapted series.

Comment: Satou Takuya’s redemption has come! 😌🙇‍♀️ I’m so fucking excited for this!!! Finally!!! 😭😭😭

7. 30-sai Made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Nareru Rashii ✘ *it’s shounen-ai, so

Release Date: 2019/10/23

Cast: Satou Takuya *slow down, my man + Abe Atsushi *ooohhh welcome back

Synopsis: Adachi, a thirty-year-old virgin, has developed the power to read people’s minds by touching them. After a brush with his very handsome colleague, Adachi realizes the guy has a raging crush on none other than Adachi himself! (Square Enix Manga)

Comment: Sounds like Kotonoha no Hana but comedic.

8. Bokura no Koi Seishun Subete case: 04 Hokenshitsu no Bokura ✘

Release Date: 2019/10/25

Cast: Itou Kento x Kijima Ryuuichi

Synopsis: Fourth installment of the series.

9. Chijin no Ai BL-ban ✘

Release Date: 2019/10/25

Cast:

Yamanaka Masahiro x Yashiro Taku

Hose Yuuichi x Fukamachi Toshinari *this’ll be their debut as lead characters

Synopsis: System Engineer Kawai Jouji falls in love with cafe part-timer Naomi. Jouji was initially content with watching Naomi from afar, but after getting to know him, Jouji decides to take him in and send him to college (Naomi actually adopts ‘Kawai’ as his last name). The two begin to live together as Naomi starts college, and Jouji gradually becomes attracted to his ward sexually with the two of them eventually forming a relationship. Over time, Jouji develops a foot fetish and discovers that he was actually a masochist. On the other hand, Naomi’s insecurities (one of them being him desperate for love and attention) come into light making him casually “test” Jouji’s feelings for him as a result. Naomi starts affairs with his friends from his university; Kumagai Masahi and Hamada Ryou. Both originally hold romantic feelings towards Naomi, but develop a physical relationship with each other later.

10. Koisuru Asahaka ✘

Release Date: 2019/10/25

Cast: Eguchi Takuya x Shirai Yuusuke

Synopsis: Meiko, an ordinary high school student, gets raped by a handsome man on the way home who turns out to be an incubus who only preys on blonde boys!

I can’t believe I managed to fit all of that bullshit into one sentence. 👏👏👏

11. Kuro ka Shiro ka 2  🙏

Release Date: 2019/10/25

Cast:

Hirakawa Daisuke x Itou Kento

Toriumi Kousuke

Okitsu Kazuyuki

Tamaru Atsushi

Tadokoro Hinata

Synopsis: Adaptation of the second volume of the series with the same name.

Comment: Yo, I saw volume 1 in Animate Shibuya, but I didn’t have the time to buy it. I was like: “Yeah, I’m going to Shinjuku tomorrow anyway. Might as well buy it along with the others.” and I kid you not, I NEVER saw another copy in Shinjuku (granted I was only able to go to that one with the non-existent-in-my-mind Given anime elevator doors)! 😩 Toranoana didn’t have a copy either, which is why I only came home with Alternative. Sad. If someone has a copy, please share it with me. 😭😭😭 🙏🙏🙏

12. Yarichin Bitch-bu 4 🙏🙏🙏

Release Date: 2019/10/25

Cast:

Hamano Daiki + Kobayashi Yuusuke + Murase Ayumu *Yacchan needs to be here too! Fight me!

Satou Takuya x Kumagai Kentarou

Yonoga Tsubasa x Yamanaka Masahiro

Okitsu Kazuyuki

Nakazawa Masatomo

Synopsis: Fourth installment of the adapted series.

13. Akiyama-kun Second ✘

Release Date: 2019/10/30

Cast: Matsuoka Yoshitsugu x Okitsu Kazuyuki *sorry babe

Synopsis: Second installment of the adapted series.

14. LOVE HOLE 202 Goushitsu ~ Ukkari ☆ Night Fever ~ 💡

Release Date: 2019/10/30

Cast: Itou Kento x Yamanaka Masahiro

Synopsis: Konno Yukiya, who has a virgin complex, finally decides to graduate from his situation by employing a prostitute’s services. After arriving at the designated hotel room, he meets Amagasa Shou, a senpai from high school whom he hasn’t gotten in contact with since the latter went off to college, inside. Yuuya asks his senpai why he was there and the latter goes on to explain that he had actually called for a male and gay prostitute!

Comment: Dammit. One of the reasons why I went to Japan is to find the first installment. It was sold out at every Mandarake I went to. 😑

15. Sankyoudai, Oniichan no Koi ✘

Release Date: 2019/10/30

Cast:

Kamio Shinichirou x Komada Wataru

Nogami Shou x Nakajima Yoshiki

Yamashita Seiichirou x Kasama Jun

Synopsis: The three beautiful brothers, Ren, Miki, and Suu, might have different fathers, but they are all close and they all love each other a bit too much. Ren, who has an inferiority complex towards Miki, is secretly in love with his younger brother’s best friend, Ai. Ren also is aware of his brother’s feelings for Ai, so it will forever remain a secret. However, a work client somehow exposes his feelings to Ai, and the brothers’ relationship with each other begins to change after the revelation.

#blcd 2019 #blcd releases

[izayoichan]

Emil: I hate waiting for the judges. Flynn: Me too.  River: Me three. 

There was a chuckle from the kids, although they all agreed that they could hurry up. There were more teams to go after, so the final wait to know would still be a while, but knowing their score would help.

Tyvan: Another season and personal best! Ams: That is impressive.

There was a roar in the crowds as they were firmly put in first place for now and the wait to know the end result started. 

Almost three hours later, they were standing outside waiting for the two of them. The ceremony was done, and they should be out soon enough. Emil holding Flynn’s hand, excited to hear what they thought of it all. As the two excited and made their way over, a big smile was on both their faces.

Beginning - Previous - Next

#the ward legacy #tumblrstories #writblr #simblr #simblrstories #co created with mahvaladara #storytelling #stories #Flynn Ward #Emil Ward #Tyvan Ward #Rylan Ward #River Ward #Lucas Ward #Liam Ward #Hayle Ward #Christian Ward #Hayden Ward #Yvreon Ward #Ibuki Ward #Kaylin Ward #Mateo Ward #Melisan Ward #waiting is always the hardest #and then of course #you get to know how good it was #ad if it was good enough

[mythgirlimagines]

Medieval AU: Not even in this universe can Leon escape girl trouble. As prince, he does have a lot of suitors, but most only like him for his wealth/status rather than, y’know, Leon himself. Or worse, they’re there to kidnap or assassinate him. Luckily, the rest of the Idiot Squad is there for him. By that, I mean they use their general nonsense to drive away undesirables. Head canons for the more notable times this has happened?

They so would though

Everyone knew that Leon’s friends were great at distractions. Visiting suitors, on the other hand, did not. When the suitors aren’t legit, they always know how to drive them off.

Once there was a siren queen who was going after Leon’s hand, if only to kill him once she had the alliance. Ibuki took care of that nicely, organizing a concert for the siren queen to go to. Needless to say, she was not pleased.

An assassin came once as well, sent from another kingdom. Even if Nekomaru and Maki were already on guard, Akane and Kazuichi helped out, manning catapults full of manure to cover the assassin.

It happened so many times that they ended up driving away so many potential suitors. It actually cleared up a lot of Leon’s schedule so he could do what he wanted more often.

Altogether, they were great at generating enough chaos to ward off anyone who was after Leon’s status instead of him. They’ll deem when someone comes around who’s good enough for him!

#answered ask #anon #headcanons #medieval au #leon kuwata #ibuki mioda #nekomaru nidai #maki harukawa #akane owari #kazuichi souda #idiot squad #danganronpa #dr1 #sdr2 #ndrv3

[crazynekochan]

Omegaverse AU where Kazuichi and Mikan were sold at a young age (3/4 years old) to a cult that lived on an island in the south of Japan. The cult was very, very devoted to the concept of love and loving someone and being loved in return was seen as the highest bliss. Kaz and Mikan were raised to the ideals of the cult: to know how to get someone to love you, even if you have to manipulate, lie, or humiliate yourself to get it. Mikan especially took these lessons to heart, playing up her (1/?)

Love Cult AU (2/?): cuteness and clumsy tendencies to get affection, while Kaz decided to use his knack for machinery to fix and build things for people so that they would be obligated to like him. The cult leaders got arrested when Kaz and Mikan were 15 for tax evasion and fraud (turns out, the leadership was sucking the money out of their followers and didn't even bother paying taxes on it) and because they were wards of the leader, Kazuichi and Mikan got dumped into the system, but they had

Love Cult AU (3/?): quite fortunately, been scouted by Hope's Peak and got admitted. After a few months where their quirks become quite evident to everyone in class 77-B, Hajime (who got in because he's the only person that Izuru listens to) asks them what's up and they explain their upbringing, to everyone else's mild horror (the leader would like to hit both of them sometimes, then start begging them for forgiveness when he realized what he did, so they think that that's normal, because cult &

Love Cult AU (4/4): the teachings about getting and keeping loved ones as close as possible, which explains Kaz's clingy nature and Mikan's ... issues, those teachings pretty much encourage or even reward yandere/abusive behavior). After that, it's a long road to deprogramming them and their rather toxic views on love, especially before they get into relationships with people who've had crushes on them for MONTHS (Kazuichi and Gundham; Ibuki, Mikan and Chiaki)

Mod: Cults are always seriously scary, especially when children get involved as they are even easily to be brainwashed

Both Mikan and Kaz would be masters in manipulating people into feeling any form of love for them, despite them both never having learned what real love it. When they first get into HPA they would probably be willing to do absolutely anything to gain love and make others craver their love in return, no matter what has to be done and gets done to them. Aa you said, Mikan would be happily willing to completely humiliate herself, while Kaz forces people into his debt until it becomes obsessive of them both, since this is after all normal for them

They would need a lot of therapy to relearn everything about actual love, especially if they one day want to have normal relationships with people

#danganronpa #kazuichi souda #mikan tsumiki #ask #prompt #love cult au #friendlylifecherry

[appreciate-kaimaki]

can we get a scenario with kaito asking maki to a high school dance, and maybe a little description of what they’d do at said dance?

This one has literally been in our askbox for months... I'm terribly sorry this took so long to complete, anon! My perfectionism really got to me on this one because it really struck a chord in me, and I was trying a bit too hard to make it flawless. I've got it under control now... I think. Anyhow, please enjoy the fic under the cut! I had an absolute blast writing this, and I hope you enjoy some shameless Kaimaki fluff.

~Mod Shuichi~

Momota Kaito was a man with much bravado, able to bear the rigorous regimen of the astronaut training program and face the myriad dangers of outer space without batting an eye. Yet, as he prowled the corridors of Hope's Peak High School with his best friend-slash-roommate Shuichi in tow, the spaceman couldn't help but fear the task he was now about to face. The Homecoming Dance was looming a mere week ahead, and Kaito had decided to take the opportunity to try and take his longtime crush, Harukawa Maki, as his date.

That, however, was something much easier said than done. The obsidian-haired girl had the nickname of 'ice queen', which had not come without reason - she was known to ward off anyone foolish enough to dare approach her with a silent glare which, according to Kibo, was capable of cutting holes in metal.

Shuichi sighed. "Please tell me what you see in her, again?"

"I don't know! There's... this something about her that makes me want to know her better."

"If you insist. Just come back in one piece." With that, the detective left Kaito and his girl troubles to hang with his other friends. Kaito wasn't entirely sure that he could return without injury, however, as he slowly appraoched Maki's seat. Hoping his voice wasn't quivering too much, he extended a trembling finger and tapped her shoulder.

"Hey, Harukawa?"

Any semblance of control Kaito had left evaporated like a snowflake on the Sun as Maki finally turned to face him and fixed him in her crimson stare. When she spoke, he could instantly understand what Kibo meant.

"What do you want?"

So this was what it felt like to have his blood freeze in his veins, Kaito thought. Despite his best efforts to control his own speech, his paralyzed tongue could only stutter out,

"Uh, doyouwanttogotothedancewithme?"

The following five seconds were simultaneously the longest, most awkward, and most terrifying moments in Kaito's life. 'That's it,' he concluded. 'I'm gonna show up on tomorrow's news as a dismembered corpse.' Frozen in fear, he missed the look of surprise flashing across the obsidian-haired girl's face - but not her reply.

"Yes. I'll go with you."

"Uhwhat?"

Maki's face immediately morphed into a scowl as she turned away, but it was impossible to miss the shade of vibrant red now gracing her features. For a moment, Kaito thought it matched her eyes very well.

"Do I have to repeat myself? I said I'll go with you, loser!"

Internally ecstatic at her words but also not wanting to incur Maki's wrath by overstaying his welcome, Kaito left her a muttered 'thanks' as he hurriedly shuffled over to Shuichi.

"She say yes?", the detective asked.

Kaito could only let out a deep, relieved sigh. "In a sense."

The remaining week vanished in a flurry of hurried preparations, and soon the big day was upon them. The dormitory hallways were bustling and abuzz with activity as a myriad of Ultimates clad in their finest suits and dresses searched for their dates. Kaito and Shuichi also joined the crowd as they too made their way to the girls' dorms.

"Ugh, I'm never gonna get used to having my arm inside my sleeve," the spaceman muttered. He had dressed in a deep purple tuxedo with a smattering of glittering 'stars' on the lower hem for the occasion, but the formality of the event meant that he couldn't just throw it over his shoulder like he usually did with his jacket.

"Can't relate," his friend replied. He was also wearing a tux, but a more low-profile charcoal gray one with barely visible graphite pinstripes. "Most normal people wear their jackets properly, Kaito."

Kaito waved him off. "Pssh, who cares. Normal is overrated anyway."

Their discussion about sleeves and arms were abruptly interrupted when Akamatsu Kaede all but teleported in front of them, her pink strapless recital dress fluttering behind her and a lilac purple ribbon decorating her bosom.

"Found you, Shuichi! And hi to you too, Kaito. Mind if I steal him away for the night?"

An astounded Kaito turned to his sidekick. "Man, someone got lucky! How the hell did you end up going with her? Never thought you'd be her type..."

"To be honest, I have no idea," the detective replied with a shrug. "She asked me, actually."

Pouting, Kaede put her hands on her hips. "Hey hey, Kaito! No badmouthing my date here! Oh, by the way, who are you going with?"

"Harukawa Maki. I was just going over to pick her up."

"Oh, that's good to hear! She always seemed so lonely. Hope things work out great between you two!", the pianist chirped as she took Shuichi's hand and led him away. Left alone once again, Kaito resumed his search for Maki's room.

Finally facing the door, Kaito steeled his nerves one last time. Taking a girl to a dance wasn't supposed to be hard, even if she was his longtime crush who could, in fact, literally crush him to powder should anything go wrong.

"C'mon, Kaito. You're the Luminary of the Stars... you can do anything you put your mind to... the impossible is possible, you just gotta make it so!"

Reciting his mantra to himself, Kaito finally knocked on her door. He honestly had no idea what he expected to see, but the sight he faced when the door finally opened utterly blew him away. Maki had chosen a scarlet gothic lolita-style dress with generous amounts of black lace frills and a slim halter top that was only held up by a pair of impossibly thin spaghetti straps that crossed over her back before disappearing into her corset. It matched her onyx hair and crimson eyes perfectly, and she looked stunning beyond compare. Even her usual hair scrunchies seemed different... shinier, somehow. Kaito guessed they were some sort of satin.

"Stop staring, idiot!"

"O, oh! Of course, I'm sorry." Snapping out of his Maki-induced stupor, he offered her his arm.

"Shall we go?"

Maki wordlessly nodded and took his arm, and the duo made their way towards the gym where the dance was being held.

Homecoming was a very extravagant affair. Most of the artistically inclined Ultimates had been conscripted to decorate the gym into a party hall, and they had delivered splendidly. The ceiling was nearly invisible from all the banners and streamers that had been hung up, and the floor had been transformed into a polished dance floor with rich velvet carpets around the edges where the tables were. A veritable buffet of snacks, drinks, and refreshments were set out on one side, and a state-of-the-art sound system and a grand piano had been installed on the stage to complete the lavish atmosphere.

Many students had already taken to the dance floor, swaying to the music with their dates as light jazz played over the gym. As Kaito glanced at his date, unsure to ask if she wanted to dance or not, Maki suddenly whirled on him with a fiercely determined look on her face and all but dragged him off to the center of the venue.

"Wha- wh- Maki?!"

"Shut up and dance with me."

Kaito did not object. He allowed Maki to lead him in a foxtrot, the girl surprisingly well-versed in dancing to the point that Kaito had to put in a bit of effort to keep up at first. He caught on soon, however, and found himself gazing into his date’s crimson eyes as they settled into a steady rhythm. They were quite mesmerizing, Kaito thought, like swirling nebulae glowing with starlight…

He was jolted back to his senses by a finger that poked dangerously close to his left eye. "WAH!"

"Earth to space idiot," Maki chided. "You almost stepped on my foot there."

Kaito, as always, was not without a comeback. "It's not my fault you're so breathtakingly beautiful."

"Do you want to die?"

"Sorry, sorry!"

Maki's lips thinned into a line and her brow grew a slight crease as she stared into his tie, her feet slowing for a moment as she sunk into thought. "Do you really think I'm beautiful?", she mumbled.

"Of course! Even more than the brightest star!"

She blushed a beautiful shade of apple red and not-so-subtly brought her heel down on his toes.

"Ow!"

"That's for making me lose my composure."

"You really do look hot when you blush- ow!"

The pair continued to dance to the music, Maki's face now significantly redder than before. Kaito couldn't help but smile - he had his perfect date, the dance was going splendidly, and everything was just so perfectly well!

The tone of the event would soon undergo a complete shift, however. Ibuki-senpai soon took over the stage with her trademark 'music' of unintelligible screaming and yelling, and the once-calm party was now more closely resembling a rave than a dance. Kaito couldn't bring himself to understand how anyone could actually appreciate the cacophony issuing from the stage, but judging by the crowd's reaction it seemed he was the exception, not the norm.

"Wanna get outta here?", he asked his date, who thankfully seemed to share his opinion on the Ultimate Musician's 'music'. Although Maki was standing right next to him, he had to shout at the top of his lungs to be heard over the senseless din echoing in the gym.

"Please!", she yelled back.

Covering their ears, the pair headed out to the school's garden where the full moon was casting its light. Glad to be away from the chaos, they found a bench and sat in a comfortable silence for a while. When he was sure the ringing in his ears had finally subsided, Kaito asked Maki the one question he had been itching to know for the entirety of the past week.

"Why did you say yes when I asked? To the dance, I mean."

Maki averted her eyes from the astronaut, but her blush was impossible to miss. "I... I might've had a bit of a crush on you."

"Wow, I never knew that. I knew I had a crush on you, but this is... why?"

"You showed Yumeno your notes when she got sick and missed school last week. You became Saihara's friend when he was alone. You actually listen to what Tojo has to say. And you're kind and friendly to anyone and everyone you meet."

"I'm afraid I still don't see the connection."

Maki let out a small sigh. "I'm not very good with people. I want to get closer to them and make friends, but I just lash out and scare them away. But you always showed so much kindness to everyone. So I thought maybe, you were the one I could try and get close to."

"I'm honored - wait, how did you know all that?"

"I'm observant."

"Anyway, that's no big problem, Maki Roll. I wasn't really good at being social from the get-go, too." In an incredibly bold move even to himself, Kaito put an arm around Maki's shoulder. Even more surprisingly, she actually leaned into it. "I know you're a good person. I'll make sure help you every step of the way, and you'll be making lots of friends soon. I swear by the name of the Luminary of the Stars!"

"Did you just call me Maki Roll?"

Panicking, Kaito instantly froze. The nickname was something he came up with in the spur of the moment, but had he chosen the wrong thing to say? "Uh, sorry 'bout that, it was kinda stupid, I'll stop if you don't like it."

Then Maki burst into silent giggles.

"No, I love it. Nobody's ever given me such a cute nickname before. Sorry I scared you, it's the eyes, isn't it? I have to work on my expressions..." Her smile was clear on her face as she looked up towards him once more.

Kaito grinned. "Actually, I think you're cute even with the murder eyes. It's unique... it's something only you can pull off."

"Oh, shut up."

Chuckling at her remark, Kaito took her hand in his and stood up. He led her over to a small circular clearing in the middle of the garden where the moonlight shone brightest, fiddled with his phone, and set it down on the floor. The suave voice of Frank Sinatra soon filled the air.

Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars...

"What are we doing?", a surprised Maki asked.

"Dancing! The night is still young, after all, and I don't want to waste my beautiful date because the music isn't to our taste." He took a step back and bowed, extending a hand to her like he did earlier. "Shall we dance, milady?"

Maki took the offered hand. "Gladly."

Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars...

Moonlight illuminated the two of them like a dream as Maki allowed herself to be led by Kaito in a gentle waltz. Her crimson dress flared out like a blooming rose with each spin, and his star-studded coattails flew in the wind with each move they shared.

In other words, hold my hand… in other words, darling, kiss me!

The pair danced all around the garden with hands clasped tight, softly mouthing the words to the song that was serenading them. The experience was similar yet completely unlike the dances they danced in the gym only hours ago - this time it was infinitely more private and intimate, a show for the two of them only. Lost in each other's company, it seemed to them as if they had been transported to a realm of nothing but moonlight and soft music and rosebushes and each other.

In other words, please be true... in other words, I love you!

The song came to a close as Kaito swept Maki into a dip, their faces hovering a mere inch apart. Purple eyes met red, neither able to look away. Lips were parted to let out warm breaths that quickened as both realized how close they were to each other. The pair were in perfect balance, each holding the other in place with their very body. And just as it seemed the fragile yet beautiful moment could last forever...

Maki took hold of Kaito's collar, drew him closer, and kissed him full on the lips.

It was as if time itself had stopped. The rustling of the leaves in the wind, the dull thumping of the music from the gym, and even the glow of the moonlight shining above melted away from her senses. There was nothing left behind but his slightly rough but warm lips on her own, the firm fabric of his jacket under her hands and his toned back beneath it, his gentle and sweet scent in her lungs and the pleasant tingling in her heart. In short, it was nothing but perfect. She could have spent an eternity in that single shining moment and never get tired of it.

Unfortunately for Maki, a slew of doubts started bubbling up to the surface like fizz in a glass of soda the moment her brain caught up to her body. Here she was, with her lips on some boy she'd literally known for barely a few hours. What if she was overreacting to someone who'd only shown her basic kindness? What if she was overstepping her boundaries when Kaito only thought of her as a friend - and a closed-off and distant one at that? What if he thought of her as clingy and obsessed over him in all the wrong ways?

"I'm sorry," she breathed, "that was uncalled for. I shouldn't have done that." She hurriedly pulled away, disentangling from his warm comfortable embrace. She was all ready to flee from the garden, flee from her traitorous emotions and this stupid feeling in her chest when a gentle hand grabbed her wrist.

"Maki Roll," Kaito whispered, "if you wanted a kiss you could've just asked."

He pulled her back into his arms in one swift movement, into that intoxicating black hole of warmth she would never be able to escape, and kissed her again with all the passion in his heart.

And of course, like all things, the second time was even better than the first.

#kaimaki #kaito momota #maki harukawa #fanfic #homecoming #school dance #crushes to lovers #dancing #lots of slow dancing #kissing #fly me to the moon #moonlight #love #featuring bff shuichi #featuring cinnamon bun kaede #featuring high school saimatsu #danganronpa #new danganronpa v3 #ndrv3 #mod shuichi #long fic

[blaster-aichi]

Override: V/Reboot timeline plan

- events play out the same until the end of the Q4/NwO fight - with word having spread about the top three Asian players descending onto Card Capital, Foo Fighter begin to monitor the shop and gauge the situation - a mid-tier fighter enters the shop, demanding the strongest fighter - at the sight of the thug, the colour in Kamui's face drains away, leading Emi to feel concern over what's wrong - with a sneer, the thug hones in on the pair, and although scared, Kamui steps up to defend Emi - from behind him, the intruder is attacked by Misaki, who demands he leave - taking the strike as an insult, he challenges her to a fight; though she's adamant he leave regardless - he offers to leave peacefully if she wins - Kamui warns Misaki not to go through with the fight, trying to convey how exactly Foo Fighter operates, though she determines the easiest way to protect the shop is to deal with him - the fight begins and the true nature of the VF gloves reveals itself - throughout the fight, Kamui grapples with his fear inflicted by his own experiences with Foo Fighter, with Emi trying to coax him - though struggling against the shock of each damage taken, Misaki fights back resilently and pulls off a win - the thug flees, bumping into Miwa on his way out - when questioning what's going on, Miwa walks in on the sight of Misaki removing the gloves she was wearing and notably reacts - Kamui discloses to the pair his history with Foo Fighter and how the previous shop he played it was held hostage, prompting his journey to become stronger - Tetsu reviews the invasion plan, and in conversation with Ren, the matter of a fighting losing comes up, at which point, a sliver of Ren's malicious side shows, Tetsu assures him the incident will not derail their plans and intends to dispatch a stronger fighter, deeming the previous inept - Asaka investigates the Card Capital case, intending to get to the bottom of why a reasonable strong fighter would be beaten - during her surveilance, she discovers Kai around the shop and contacts Tetsu in a panic - noticing how his superiors are shaken, Minami brazenly enters the shop and challenges Kai directly, unaware of what the fuss is about - in attendence; Misaki, Miwa, Kamui and Emi spectate the scene. when asked, Emi explains that Aichi and the others are doing club activities today - satisfied that Aichi won't see what Foo Fighter twist Vanguard to become, Kai accepts the challenge, to Miwa's dismay, his efforts to warding Kai off falling on deaf ears - while the fight is underway, Asaka reports to Tetsu that Minami has acted of his own accord and challenges Kai, which Tetsu is forced to relay to Ren as the latter demands to know what's going on due to Tetsu's unease - with a quip about an untrained dog and how Asaka should train him better, Ren stews over the fact that Kai is back, darkening the atmosphere around him and putting Tetsu off of approaching anymore - determined to please Ren, his master, by dealing with someone causing his regime trouble, Minami throws everything he has into the fight, but falls short - defeated, he retreats, purposefully avoiding Asaka along the way - torn with distress, Kamui wonders if perhaps it was always impossible to escape Foo Fighter; though Emi assures him Card Capital will be safe, Kamui protests that he can't be reliant on Kai, with his previous shop in particular on his mind - after leaving the shop that evening, Miwa requests that Kai not do anything reckless, aware of the history he's keeping from the others; drawing comparison to Kai's secrecy and Kamui's transparency - Kai asks Miwa what he made of Vanguard then; seeing it warped into a blood sport, to which Miwa conveys that he was afraid of the transformation - both in the game and Kai himself, and at the time, it was too much for him to take in and process - Kai emphasizes that is why he has to deal with the issue, before Aichi and other kids are exposed to a game they needn't see, he intends not to let their spirits be broken by such callous violence - once home, Miwa renews his vow not to allow Foo Fighter anywhere near Kai, with eyes on a photograph of the two of them when they were younger, detailing their past and the fallout from Kai moving without explanation; how Miwa tried to play Vanguard as a means of keeping Kai around, but the pain becoming too much - he confided in Ibuki about leaving the game aside in order to focus on himself, running into Kai again years later as Foo Fighter were establishing themselves and Ren testing the VF gloves - under his orders, Kai and Miwa fought one another, with not even Kai understanding the real purpose of the VF gloves and experiencing the pain of taking damage alongside Miwa; having seen the damage done to Kai, Miwa tried desperately to reach out ot him, though Ren and Tetsu blocked him every step of the way, and he once again left Vanguard aside - just as his departure, Kai appeared at high school without explanation; where Miwa latched on tighter than ever -a connection he doesn't intend to allow Ren to break again, snatching up his deck and leaving home

- adamant to make his stand against Foo Fighter, Kamui ventures to his old shop, with Aichi in tow, and still oblivious to the situation - at the shop, Kamui finds himself faced with Kyou - determined not to back down, he fights his fear and takes up the fight to reclaim the shop - the fight also enlightens Aichi into what's been going on - Gouki arrives at Card Capital, having driven over an injured Miwa; when pressed by Misaki and Kai, he says Miwa made it to Voyage and collapsed - Miwa breathlessly apologize to the two of them, saying he tried to deal with the problem so Kai didn't have to put himself in harm's way - while Misaki helps Miwa, Kai asks Shin where Aichi and Kamui are, finding it odd the two of them haven't stopped by; Shin tells him they were checking out Kamui's old shop, sending alarm bells ringing - Kamui loses to Kyou, buckling under the extreme pain of the glove; Kyou picks up his deck and scatters it, pushing Aichi over the edge, who gives Kamui his jacket to make him more comfortable - while the shopkeeper tends to Kamui, Aichi takes up the fight against Kyou - Eiji and Reiji arrive, having been told by a fellow former regular that Kamui was sighted heading towards the shop with someone, leading them to assume he'd come to reclaim the shop and are devastated to see the state he's in - with the four of them pinning their hopes on Aichi, he shrugs off the danger and gives it his all - more frequently, he experiences the same dissociation as during his fight with Leon; causing his body to unconsciously make moves while he flicker in and out of out of body experiences on Cray - as the fight goes on, Kyou recognizes the pattern and comes to understand Aichi, like Ren, possesses Psyqualia - Aichi wins the fight with Kyou, resulting in his dismissal from AL4 and Foo Fighter in general; his lackeys turn on him, beating him up, and when Aichi tries to plead with them not to hurt him, they turn on him - though just one punch is thrown, Aichi stands up in defiance, for his latent Psyqualia's side-effects to take hold and render him unconscious - the lackeys take advantage of the situtaion and grab Aichi, deeming him someone of interest, having beaten one of AL4's members, and when the shopkeeper makes a move to stop them, they brandish a knife in protest, fleeing the scene with their prize - Misaki and Kai arrive at the shop a short time later to discover the truth; Misaki threatens Kyou to spill everything he knows, though he manages to escape partway through the interrogation - at Voyage, Gouki calls on Koutei and Leon, stating they have trouble - the two of them get Kamui back to Card Capital, with Eiji and Reiji volunteering to look after the shop in his stead, in case anyone from Foo Fighter tries to retaliate, themselves battling their fear from the past - once the news about Aichi comes out, Miwa begrudgingly discloses the location of Foo Fighter's headquarters - the place he was the night before, fighting Tetsu - hearing that Miwa would go to such lengths, Kai berates him for being reckless, then recalling that Miwa had asked him to not do the very same, figuring Miwa was going so far in order to protect Kai himself - as Kai and Misaki prepare to leave, Morikawa pipes up, demanding he go along; while Misaki chasizes him for not taking the situation seriously, as clearly Foo Fighter is out of his league - but Morikawa protests that he's very much taking the whole thing seriously, and he intends to save Aichi, whtever they say; between his guilt over bullying Aichi prior to his playing the game, and Aichi's securing of the Cardfight Club, somewhere important to Morikawa, he wants to repay the favour, and protect both Aichi and his way of Vanguard - hearing the full details of Aichi's acceptance into the club, Emi is taken aback, and the speech has the intended effect of swaying Kai and Misaki to allow Morikawa to come along - Izaki and Inenaga both volunteer to join, though Morikawa tells them to stand down and protect Card Capital in case anyone shady shows up, with both Miwa and Kamui down for the count - though Kamui protests the notion of being too injured to help, as he blames himself for Aichi being taken in the first place - from accompanying him to the shop - though his body is unable to stand up with his will, and Emi pleads with him tot take it easy - with everyone's designated roles set; Kai, Misaki and Morikawa head off to Foo Fighter headquarter - at their destination, Aichi wakes up to find himself alone with Ren - once the confusion wears off, Aichi discovers a handcuff around one of his wrists chaining him to a vanguard fighting table - as the pieces start to fall into place, Aichi determines Ren of Foo Fighter, asking him if he's one from "Kyou's group" - in a moment of fury, Ren smacks Aichi, chillingly stating that he shouldn't misunderstand, and that Kyou is in fact part of his group - with little wiggle room, Ren makes clear he intends to fight Aichi, as someone who bested one of AL4, Foo Fighter's best - seeing little option, Aichi is forced into the fight, utilizing the VF gloves, experiencing first-hand how cruel Ren's personality and way of fighting are - during the fight, Aichi recognizes the same symptoms as he felt during his fights with Leon and Kyou, though intensified - at one point, he mutters the name Kyou left him with before he was attacked; something Ren doesn't miss, though doesn't address - he pushes the fight on, destroying Aichi's forces with his Shadow Paladin and making indirect references to the other ways in which the two of them contrast - when the final damage is dealt, Aichi's knees buckle and Ren watches without readable emotion, showing no indication of care, and rather recovers his cards, setting the deck down and demands another fight - when Aichi feebly retorts, Ren picks up one of his cards still on the field and places it into the damage zone, electrocuting Aichi again - clearly without choice, he drags himself onto his feet and sets up for the next fight - at Card Capital, Miwa laments his guilt over not being able to keep Kai away from Foo Fighter and his dread that Ren's manipulative ways might work their way on him - Kamui asks exactly what went down between Miwa and Foo Fighter, both in past and present - Miwa fills Kamui in on his past run-in with them, and his worries that Kai didn't show up again after the fight they had; wondering if perhaps Ren had managed to coerce him into staying, as Kai had made his displeasure at the creation of the gloves clear once they learned of their purpose - Gouki and Koutei arrive at the store, hearing mention of Ren; a name Koutei claims he's heard about in past months; that while Foo Fighter haven't officially tried to infiltrate the professional leagues, there's evidently players from their ranks present, with players such a Bidou Kiriya representing them - puzzled as to why Foo Fighter would send fighters but not their best, who could easily challenge Koutei, Gouki and Leon for the top positions in Asia, Kamui questions the choice of tactic - Koutei reckons it's to give Ren an easy stage to stand upon once the time comes around; as the tournament authorities have been made aware of Foo Fighter's activity, the likelihood of Ren being able to show himself is incredibly low, and his elite circle are also not about to reveal themselves - as though their names are known to some, little more is; making Miwa and Kai valuable assets to their side; people who could offer much greater detail about Foo Fighter - taking the point as a cue, numerous Foo Fighter members make themselves known; boxing Koutei, Gouki and everyone else inside of Card Capital - after another crushing loss, Aichi staggers in effort to stay on his feet, Ren sighs that in three games, he hasn't seen anything of worth, muttering about how he can't fathom Kyou could lose to such a player - excusing himself for a bathroom break, he leaves Aichi alone, who tries in vain to free himself from the tether keeping him, though with his strength waning after multiple fights, can barely get a decent grip - entering into the room, Asaka advises he not bother, as angering Ren will only end poorly for him; for Aichi, who struggles to understand what is happening, he tries to get answers from Asaka; she tells him briefly about Foo Fighter - a street gang, where the strong are respected and the weak are crushed; Ren determined Aichi to be of intrigue after his victory over Kyou - Aichi retorts by grabbing the chain and loudly asking if this counts as respect; Asaka's reaction is that having Ren's attention is enough worthy, adding that it'd be in Aichi's best interest to give Ren what he wants - when Aichi protests that he doesn't know what that is, and why such extreme lengths are necessary, Asaka has no response, as though she doesn't know the answer; from behind her, Ren's voice speaks out - he echoes the name Psyqualia, pointing out to Aichi that he himself spoke it earlier; it's a power that implants someone onto Cray, allowing true synchronization with a unit, and allowing to guide the fight to what he deems its natural conclusion - after the fight with Kyou, Ren was curious, after Kyou's lackeys brought Aichi back, and their report was submitted; what was investigating a strong fighter became that of seeking to unlock Aichi's latent, budding Psyqualia - standing at the table, Ren's eyes glow, revealing he, too, is in possession of the power; which makes clear how he can overwhelm Aichi no matter what happens within a fight - Ren instructs Asaka to unlock Aichi's wrist; as even if he tried to escape, they're in the depths of Foo Fighter's lair, and fleeing would be impossible - Asaka does as told, and with the warning firmly in place, Aichi doesn't try to run; his stamina is already limited and his body exhausted from the fights - Ren instigates another fight, when Aichi asks him why such an aggressive method, Ren simply tells him that it's the afstest way to open his Psyqualia, and find someone worth his time fighting, without speaking of his past abuse, which led him down a road to become stronger; a torture like that he inflicts unto Aichi for the same result - through the fight, he encourages Aichi to delve deeper and reach out to his Psyqualia, smirking when Aichi's movements become more automatic and, though exhausted, he shows less of his consciousness

- at the base of Foo Fighter's tower; Kai, Misaki and Morikawa arrive, forcing their way inside, though their invasion draws the attention of plenty fighters, fired up by the guts shown by the trio to make a move on their turf - though several challenge them, encircling the trio so they can't escape, and put pressure onto them, only Kai and Misaki fight, telling Morikawa not to engage; begrudgingly, he does as told, though stating it's only so he'll get to Aichi in one piece - the fights are fast-paced and high-octane, allowing for Misaki and Kai to clear their first opponents faster than expected; Kai's sights rise upwards, with the awareness Aichi and Ren will be waiting ahead - a raggard Aichi presses on, pausing whilst hunched over his half of the table and commenting that he heard a voice - Ren mutes his pleasure at seeing Aichi embracing the power and synchronizing more, taking note of how much of his subsequent moves are played in silence, suggesting his consciousness remains on Cray, though each damage rips him out of the state and returns him as usual - Tetsu relays to Asaka that there's an attack on their own base, though apprenhensive to inform Ren, as Kai's involved, which rattles her to hear - at Card Capital; Gouki, Koutei, Izaki and Inenaga fend off the Foo Fighter lackeys, giving them some time to breathe; an opportunity Koutei takes to call Leon (though at first, he manages to call a friend, Yuri by accident) - hearing the situation, Leon reports that he'll be on the way as soon as possible to lend support - Gouki, likewise, contacts Voyage and has them be on standby for any trouble, commanding they get in touch if he needs to head back - seeing everyone pulling their own, Kamui beats himself up at being unable to do more to defend the places that Foo Fighter threaten, even falling short of saving his own shop and putting his friends in jeopardy - at Foo Fighter, despite having dealt with several fighters, the hoard continues to hound the infiltrating trio, brought to a halt by Tetsu appearing at the training floor where the fights have been taking place, deciding now to deal with the enemy - Kai presses about Ren's intentions, though gets no answers, though expected - Tetsu makes his way to the table in front of Kai, Misaki and Morikawa, declaring he'll end their efforts here with an iron fist, as Ren's front-row guard - before Kai can voice his piece, Morikawa demands to fight, appealing to Kai and Misaki that they've carried the three of them this far, and that he needs to fight as Aichi had to protect somewhere important to him; how he needs to fight in order to atone for the way he treated him in the past - the two of them are both reluctant to allow him, Kai warning him that Tetsu is of his level, and Ren's right-hand man, the most dangerous among Foo Fighter underneath the leader himself - regardless, Morikawa is adamant to do something; enthusiasm which Tetsu himself praises, and accepts the offer; unspeaking in that he, too, would do the same for Ren in Morikawa's place - shortly after the fight begins, Morikawa tells Misaki and Kai to go on, while he has Tetsu occupied, given Foo Fighter's pride about not quitting partway through - once the pair have complied, Tetsu remarks he wouldn't have expected such a strategic move from his opponent; Morikawa brags that he's not that smart, his club was failing when someone came to save it, and he's still pretty pectulant, but he's strong at Vanguard - and intends to use that as a platform to growing in more realms - the two resume their fight - at the border of what they presume to be Ren's private domain, Asaka appears to blockade the way, smugly teasing how Kai so easily came to them, just as Ren desired, determining this to be the fulfilment of her superior's wish - Kai makes clear he isn't humouring Foo Fighter and very well intends to leave - Misaki steps forward and declares her intention to fight; Asaka quips that she's already aware of the tactic of distracting them via a fight, hinting that Tetsu intentionally allowed for Morikawa's plan to go ahead. Misaki's retort is less that this is about diversion and more revenge - as Foo Fighter attacked her shop, she intends to fight back with their own game - Kai is hesitant to leave her behind when she tells him to go, remarking that she always hated the narrative of friends sacrficing themselves to fend off sub-bosses before the real deal, but she understands that no matter what Kai needs to reach Ren, aware that it's something he feels as much as it is her interpretation - reluctantly, he goes on ahead; Asaka mocks Misaki's 'noble' effort, likening her decision to throwing herself on a sword for him; a notion Misaki refutes, as she doesn't plan on staying behind - At Card Capital, Shin gazes out the window, wondering if the three who left are alright, given they're travelling deep into enemy territory, where they'll be at a disadvantage; he declares his intention to go on after them - Gouki tells him his place is to hold down the fort and believe in them, though he understands, as he would also fret for Nagisa in his place, though he wouldn't want to doubt her potential - Kamui asks about Nagisa; Gouki tells him she's manning Voyage with their strongest players; having been caught off-guard once, he has no intention of allowing a repeat - after a moment of thought, Shin states how he understands Gouki, but also that he needs to look out for Misaki as her guardian; claiming her parents would be livid at him for sitting back and letting her do all the work, and how they need a safe return, figuring Foo Fighter isn't about to let them escape - Entrusting Card Capital to Gouki and Koutei's care, he heads off - Misaki and Morikawa fight fiercely against their opponents, well aware of the steep hill they're both climbing, and never once that either show any hint that the fight isn't well within their control - Kai arrives at Ren's quarters and enters; seeing Ren standing at the fight table with Aichi collapsed on the other side, his cards scattered - remembering how Kamui described the fallout of his loss to Kyou, Kai flies into a rage, determining Ren had done something - he heads immediately to Aichi, something which Ren notes, and begins gathering up his cards, while checking Aichi's condition as best he can - Kai snaps at Ren for his behaviour and treatment of someone who's innocent in their feud; Ren murmurs without emotion that Aichi isn't unconnected - he presses Kai about the fact that he lost to Aichi, grabbing his collar and dragging him up, making it difficult for Kai to keep hold of Aichi - even in the face of Ren's wildness, Kai calmly confirms the rumours that he lost - in his fury, Ren throws Kai down, whose priority is to keep Aichi from further harm - Ren spits that he can't understand why Kai would choose a weakling like Aichi over him, asking venomously if he lost because of Aichi's Psyqualia - cluing Kai into the fact that Aichi may possess it; his facial response entertains Ren, given it suggests he had no idea, and Ren cackles about how softness has caused Kai to become pathetically weak - as evidence, he points at how Kai has been protecting Aichi since arriving, whereas he'd have never done that to anyone - even Miwa - during their friendship, Kai bites back that it was Ren's deception which pushed them into a fight that resulted in harming one another, and that he hated it - he hated hurting Miwa, and he hated that the fight encompassed everything which Ren had become, snapping that it makes him no better than his father to force on suffering and pain to others - Ren punches Kai across the face, spitting at him never to compare them; he yells that his father is a weak man and vented that out by abusing Ren, who took that to become stronger and rise above an inferior, petty man; Foo Fighter's creation is evidence of that - Kai retorts that Foo Fighter's tactics are no sign of power, nothing to brag about; Ren laughs about where they stand in comparison to one another - he the head of a powerful gang and Kai unable to beat a boy he determines as weak, using that as means to discredit Kai's opinion of him - he scornfully tells Kai to get rid of Aichi from his sight, as he's no time for the weak, though intends to have Kai remain, despite the insinuation he believes Kai has grown weak; instead, his plan is to condition Kai to regress into the person he was when Foo Fighter began - Kai refuses, arguing that he doesn't discard people the way Ren does, and has no intention of staying or playing Ren's game - visibly unhinged, Ren snatches up his deck and challenges Kai, who is in the process of picking himself up and supporting his friend, declining afterwards; though he has every intention to bring Ren down, he would rather have those around him out of harm's way - Misaki's fight with Asaka reaches its climax, the former frustrated to witness that her opponent has ruled over the fight's course the entire time, pushing her to her limits - ultimately, she suffers defeat; surprising Asaka when she's determined to stand even after the punishing shocks of taking a full 6 damage. Though Asaka doesn't speak of being impressed of the feat, she does note it being particularly striking against the hoards who would collapse - despite her loss, Misaki vows her intentions to protect Card Capital, enjoy the Vanguard her friends have welcomed her into and them; which is why, no matter how much Foo Fighter beats her down, she'll pick herself up, as someone who does't know when to give up - Kai crashes into a couch, which topples over with him, having been violently assaulted by Ren after refusing to fight - another instance Ren sees as Kai rejecting him outright, where he would favour Aichi - panting from the outburst and how vicious the attack has been, Ren turns his back on the mess, slamming his hands against the tabletop and asking precisely what it is that makes him so inferior to a weakling; how Kai ran back to Miwa when he won't come back to Ren, why he would accept Aichi but not him - he voices speculation that Kai uses them as means to feel strong in comparison, as he was unable to beat Ren when they fought after his corruption by Psyqualia - Kai retorts that it's that toxic and unyielding demeanour that he needed to escape before he became twisted by proxy or enslaved how Tetsu has been; with Ren, there was never any light to escape the struggle of living day to day and reach for somewhere better after the trauma of losing his parents - Ren spits that Kai's decisions back then scream of hypocrisy; that he would have the nerve to claim he doesn't discard people when he threw Ren and Tetsu away for his own sake, that he would leave Ren to his fate with his father's abuse - they're accusations that don't so much as faze Kai; it's only when Ren grabs Aichi by the hair and says that if he warps him in his own image that Kai will have nowhere left to run, that Kai reacts; once again, barking that Aichi need not be dragged into their business, though Ren continues to insist it's too late, and he's become entangled through Psyqualia - his lips twist into an unsettling smirk, claiming that if Kai had looked out for him the way he does Aichi, none of them would be where they are - Kai answers that he's aware this is all his doing; a problem he caused, and that's why he's determined to atone and resolve it; by getting the honest Ren back, and dispelling Psyqualia - his means of not abandoning Ren, perceiving it as something he's not done, by working towards the goal all along - a notion which Ren laughs at mockingly, whilst pointing at Kai's failure to overcome him previously, and his substanutal growth since - after closing the distance between them, Kai shoves Ren aside, separating him from Aichi, who he hauls up and states once more his intention to leave, no matter what Ren says - the door slams open, with Misaki standing on the opposite side, having managed to reach the peak; a means for Kai to escape, and his haste in running out of the room prompts her to follow, leaving no time to question what happened - rather than give chase, Ren screams out Kai's name, echoing through the upper level of the tower - along their escape route, the two come across Asaka again, who they perceive to be an obstacle in their way; and she appears aware that her role should be just that, but she hesitats; rather than blocking the pair, they're able to get past her without hindrance, something Misaki finds strange, given her undying loyalty to Ren - while the pair round a corner and vanish from sight, Asaka peers over her shoulder at the vacant hallway behind - Morikawa suffers defeat at Tetsu's hand, enduring the electrocusion of the VF glove and crumpling against the table; Tetsu praises his motivation, though shows no mercy in denouncing him as powerless to back up his feelings - while he struggles to get on his feet, Kai and Misaki arrive, finding many of the fighters bemused by their return; Kai hands Aichi over to Misaki, telling her that he's Ren's target, and that their priority is getting Aichi out, deeming it safer that she take him, while he helps Morikawa - puzzled, and quite concerned by the insinuation of Kai's words, Misaki stumbles, asking if he's sure, but agrees, if it means getting the unconscious party out - whilst Kai drapes his arm over his shoulders, Morikawa hazily asks what happened to Aichi, though there's no time to escape, and the three work on making their way out, to the confusion of the fighters, who don't act, with rumors that Kai is someone who could contend with Ren leaving them with question of if they may have fought - Asaka arrives at Ren's room, observing the chaos from the confrontation - cautious in entering, she asks if he's alright, to which he numbly answers - a mixture of concern and guilt comes onto her face, as she reflects on her state of mind as Kai ran past - she let them go because she hoped that Ren wouldn't be so fixated on him as to overlook her; aware her decision was selfish, in spite of her desperation to serve him - in the confusion, Osamu of SL3, yells out that there's no need to doubt Ren; he finds it difficult to believe that he could lose to anyone, even the rumoured Kai Toshiki, working the fighters into a frenzy and trying to intervene the trio's path - Morikawa tells Kai to leave him behind so he can escape, given it's him that everyone is after, and he's only slowing down the escape; a frown spreads onto Kai's face and voices his oath not to leave someone behind, as he knows all too well the pain - both having been the victim and circumstances tearing him away from others who would be left with the same - by luck, the three manage to reach the outside of Foo Fighter's lobby and keep running, though Morikawa and Kai begin to fall worryingly behind, as the former can't keep up; Misaki turns and works her way back, observing the closing hoard with Osamu leading the pack, and the situation looking dire - the sound of screeching tyres draw their attention, coming from the van which pulls up and Shin yelling from the driver's seat to get in; the three comply without delay, leaving questions for later. Misaki throws open the door and piles in, dragging Morikawa after, and Kai following, who slams the door behind him with fighters just feet away - despite their efforts to tear open the door once more, Shin slams on the breaks in time with Kai's entrance, the violent start with the risk of tossing him out the vehicle, which luckily doesn't happen, allowing for the escape and his sealing the hoard's entrance - Osamu grimaces at their lost chance, fist clenched, he turns to his fellow members and reminds them that Card Capital is already a target of the area's takeover, meaning they'll be able to storm it in force - from the shadow of the tower, another watches the scene

- at the wheel, Shin slouches and exhales heavily, quipping that it was lucky he put his foot down, then asks how the four are, glancing in the rear-view mirror at the messily stacked quartet - Misaki remarks that somehow they're in one piece. Morikawa laments how rough the entire ordeal was, and glad they're out of there - when asked about how Aichi is, Misaki assures the others that he's fine, and appears to still be resting, though concerned about what exactly occured - Kai relays the sight he walked in on, frowning while reflecting on Ren's proclaimation about Psyqualia - finally, the van returns to Card Capital, with no sign of trouble having beaten them, and Shin hurrying the others inside before closing the store - Misaki gets Aichi into a room in the back, while the others take in what's transpired over the course of the day; Kamui holding onto Aichi's jacket and blaming himself for the situation spiralling out of control - Gouki reminds him that he was also present, so if he insist on blaming himself, then Gouki need share the blame - Kai tells them it's not down to them, but this is a problem that's chased him back to Hitsue, deepning Miwa's concerns for him - with the air tense, Shin makes clear he feels it safer that everyone remain at the store, using the guise of a sleepover to keep everyone's parents from worrying, leading into Kamui, Emi, Izaki and Inenaga contacting their families - though Foo Fighter's information regarding the store's address isn't forgotten, as they were able to attack once, meaning retaliation is inevitable. Gouki grimmly comments that he needs to protect Voyage as well, as it'll become a target once more, and he needs to support Nagisa, leaving Koutei as Card Capital's first line of defence, though holding the line will only hold Foo Fighter off for so long - a voice from the storefront poses that such dire straits means they'll have to attack, and take on Ren's twisted psychology head-on; all eyes turn to find Leon having entered. Shin asks how he managed to get inside, which Leon answers swiftly that Shin never locked the door, which sends him to the floor - Izaki asks what Leon means by combating Ren's Psyqualia, though Kai is able to answer before Leon - making clear he was referring to Psyqualia; something Leon himself must have - Kamui mentions that Aichi brought up the wind to Kyou, who detailed his understanding of Psyqualia, to support Kai's theory, but questions how it hasn't twisted Leon into a similar state to Ren - Leon says he can't be certain, though his hypothesis is that Ren's hardship prior to acquiring the power pushed him over the edge and allowed it to feed on his negativity, resulting in the personality he currently possesses. Kai considers it, suspecting it may be true when put against Ren's demeanour prior to acquiring the power. As someone who hasn't let his hardships overcome him, Leon has been able to retain his personality - from his understanding, it's a power that feeds off desperation; when someone is vulnerable and ready to surrender everything, at their wit's end, it connects with them, offering up the power they desperately crave in order to become strong enough to handle their problems, and manifests through Vanguard [the circumstances established in the main timeline] - with the lifestyle he appears to have; Morikawa, Izaki and Inenaga struggle to see what possibly could have happened to Leon that he would become desperate and feel hardship - Leon details his life as a prodigy, with expectations heaped upon him that he was pushed to breaking point by incredible pressure; that he had no-one to really turn to, no outlet to channel his feelings an dnothing to truly feel joy, he felt suffocated in a closing world; when he began Vanguard, it was a hobby he could sparsely enjoy - as his limit was breached, he contemplates running away from home for a taste of true freedom, to be able to live the life of a normal child, even if for a short time; he messaged his cousins Jillian and Sharlene, whom he rarely had the opportunity to see, and from whom he kept his problems so not to trouble them; girls who idolize him and made him a goal of their's - he left a semi-cryptic final message, about how he treasured him, and that would be his final night at home - during the night, while examining his Vanguard deck as means to calm himself before running away, he began to feel the wind and voices which it carried - it was a connection being established through Psyqualia, which he accepted - that night, he ran, and escaped into the city, spending the next few days hanging out at shops where he indulged his passion, and his remarkable skill began to truly manifest and shine before the eyes of others. Inevitably, his whereabouts were exposed and his family and authorities raced to reunite with him, though the experience shone a light on his new talent, and the need to pull back some from overloading him - from then, he began to rise in the ranks of Vanguard players, able to enter into tournament that once he would have been too busy for, and ascend to national level and beyond - it's a story that takes the others by storm; even Koutei and Gouki having no comprehension of the pressures on Leon in the past and the darker face of his rise to prominence - as someone with the same power as Ren, who should be capable of standing on the same level, Leon makes clear he has every intention of fighting him should the opportunity arise, or if he be required to stop Foo Fighter's campaign, and as such, will remain overnight at the store with everyone else to lend Koutei aid in case the force heading their way is too much for one fighter to manage - night falls on the city and everyone settles for the night - while most everyone is asleep, Kai remains awake late into the night, clearly troubled over recent events and the fallout. Miwa catches him and jokes that he needs his beauty sleep ahead of the conflict - the two spend the later night talking; Miwa confessing how hard it was for him when Kai was gone, but unaware of how much harder it was for Kai himself, he apologizes for not sticking with Ibuki, and hopes he isn't too mad, wanting to get back in contact with him and try to rekindle their friendship, if the absent party is alright with it - Kai wonders if Ibuki resents them the way Ren does, hinting that he's afraid of a similar feud on the horizon, leading Miwa to ask precisely what happened in the time Kai was away from the city - because it's Miwa, Kai accepts the request and confesses about the time; how he was still deeply scarred by what happened and walled himself off so he couldn't be so easily hurt, unable to trust, how upset he was to be torn from Ibuki and Miwa so suddenly and without chance to say goodbye, though he wonders if he would have really opened up about it had he the chance - despite that, Ren gravitated towards him when he found out that he played Vanguard as well; they met at a card shop, where Ren was witness to a cardfight, and became enamoured with Kai, challenging him regularly, while never managing to win - at the same time, he was enduring abuse from his father, which Tetsu informed Kai of after a day when he appeared with clear bruising; when the topic came up, Kai struggled to process it, as he'd still not come to terms with his parents' departure - Tetsu had mentioned many a time how he wanted to stand up to Ren's father, but uncertain how to do so without putting Ren in harm's way afterwards; regardless, Ren endured it and tried to smile to play the part of an ordinary boy - in the midst of all that, and his seeking to reach Kai, earn his approval, Ren was tempted by Psyqualia an gave in, leading to the creation to Foo Fighter - the two of them fought shortly after Ren's rapid change; it wasn't a makeover Kai could approve, but Ren had already given up wanting Kai's approval, rather he wanted him on-side, and that was the wager of their fight - the fight resulted with Ren's victory, and Kai's conscription into Foo Fighter - while establishing themselves, the shop they frequented ask they no longer come by, as other regular players were beginning to feel uncomfortable and hesitant about coming - the rejection stung Ren deeply, further warping his philosophies about Vanguard and its players; instead of aiming for tournaments, he became obssessed instead about asserting himself as someone to be revered and feared by the players - it was while at another store, seeking out strong players to join their cause that they met with Asaka; she was meek, but evidently strong, one of the best at the shop, earning her the admiration of several male players - Ren determined he wanted her for his team, and fought her, with the same conditions as Kai, and the same result - the four of them began recruiting more members; all the while, Kai disapproved, yet had no means of resisting Ren's command, and with that helplessness came compliance that could be used against him if he rebelled - Foo Fighter established themselves, Ren used savings he'd accumulated as child of a rich family to establish a base, and they became more an organization with more members being drafted in, with sub-teams underneath the top AL4 - behind the scenes, Ren and Tetsu had begun researching into means of creating something that would embody their image of Vanguard which none other possessed: the VF glove - when Miwa caught up with Kai, it had recently been completed, but never tested, resulting in the fight they had, and Kai's inability to simply end it to spare Miwa the vision Ren had - after the fight, Kai unleashed his frustration and made clear to Ren he wanted no part in what was fast-developing, yet his words fell on deaf ears. Foo Fighter went ahead with taking over card shops and once the first operation was complete, Kai could bear it no more - making clear he didn't care about the consequences, he couldn't keep quiet and complying with Ren's campaign, leaving Foo Fighter and escaping the city, resulting in his transfer back to Hitsue - Kai remarks that he also felt the same desperation that he suspects Ren and Leon did; something he still does, as the situation has only continued to worse since and he's been unable to make good his word to bring Ren back to his senses - it's a lot for Miwa to process, guilty that he could leave Vanguard aside to forget his pain, while Kai hadn't the freedom to make a decision for himself, but thanks him for coming back, adding that he couldn't live with himself if Kai had lost himself in that madness, particularly after he had a chance to reach out to him - at Foo Fighter's base, Asaka and Tetsu discuss the matter of Foo Fighter shops coming under attack as of late, with several being eliminated from their control - it's an odd phenomenon, given none have been able to identify the figure, who has gone to great lengths to keep himself anonymous - Asaka wonders if it's tied to Card Capital, given their alliance with Voyage and the Asian Champions; though none would be able to disguise themselves effectively enough that even members who have been reported to, such as Bidou, couldn't point them out - Minami, who has committed to the role of a dog - something which was enforced after his desertion following his loss to Kai; a means of keeping him around despite the tenet of losers being dismissed, as Asaka believes it would be dangerous for his removal at the same time as Kyou's very public loss - he wonders aloud if perhaps the person who is liberating shops is the same rumoured to have beaten Kai; Asaka refutes this, referring to the boy Ren had acquired following the Voyage debacle is supposedly the one, as Kai himself reinforced when he infiltrated - something which catches Tetsu's attention - the strategy he decides upon is essentialy for Foo Fighter shops to be on their guard, not to underestimate anyone and report anything of note so they may garner a clearer picture of the situation; meanwhile, he has a secondary branch in development, which he states he'll want Minami's assistance for - once the other makes clear his commitment to help, Tetsu looks around, asking where Ren is - in the guest room he's in, Aichi wakes up, strangely lacking in expression or confusion. He catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror and observes the reflection momentarily - after taking in the surroundings, determining he's no longer in Foo Fighter but somewhere likely safe, he moves to the window, peeling back the curtain and peering out to the dimly lit street under heavy rainfall - down the street, a figure watching catches his eye; Ren glares from the shadow of trees lining the pavement and their eyes meet briefly. Rather than flinching or panicking, Aichi remains unusually calm, without reaction, and after a moment of watching one another, Ren leaves; Aichi drawing the curtain again with the instance over

- when the next morning comes, everyone stirs with the hopes that things go well but expecting anything may happen; Emi checks in on Aichi who, when he awakens, is much more like himself, though somewhat frail - she advises he stay in bed, to play it safe, saying nothing of the suspicions Foo Fighter may try to attack - downstairs; Kai, Miwa, Misaki, Kamui, Koutei and Leon prepare for whatever may come - Morikawa insists on helping, but Misaki suggest he focus on resting, as the fight with Tetsu did a number on him; an argument he protests as she, Miwa and Kamui all also lost and are standing up to fight - before she can respond, the group catches sight of someone lurking outside the shop; Misaki makes a dash for the door, under the assumption that it's someone from Foo Fighter, though as she approaches, they take off - Koutei gives chase when Misaki pauses outside the door, unable to catch sight of anything that might give away the individual's identity and calls after Koutei - once a decent distance away from the shop, the figure ducks into an alleyway, assuming he's managed to escape and removes his beanie, revealing himself to be Kyou - the very same person watched the chaos outside of Foo Fighter the day before from afar - though his hopes of escaping without a hitch are dashed when Koutei reveals himself at the alleyway's entrance, making comment that he somehow managed not to lose the fleeing party, something to brag to Gouki about, who has a habit of mocking his clumsiness, before pressing why Kyou was lurking around Card Capital - Kyou makes clear his refusal to cooperate, in time with Koutei recognizing him as a member of Foo Fighter, drawn from Gouki and Kamui's descriptions of the person who attacked their respective shops previously - at the mention of the gang's name, Kyou seethes and berates Koutei for claiming him to be in league with them after his loss; they got rid of him - something which clearly bothers him given the reaction - Koutei presses that that doesn't answer the question of what he was doing, in fact it muddies the water as he has no apparent motive for watching the shop, but Kyou continues to be uncooperative, and instead challenges Koutei to a fight - determining he isn't going to get anywhere, Koutei concedes and they head to a nearby card shop, overrun by Foo Fighter until recently - despite being ejected from Foo Fighter, Kyou insists they use the VF gloves, tossing a pair he snatched from a member he beat Koutei's way, which continues to perplex him, though he doesn't protest - the two fight and it becomes apparent before long that, even as a member of AL4, something isn't right with Kyou; he's able to hold up against Koutei and even causes him to doubt whether any certainty he would win - at Voyage, Brilliant Stars arrive, declaring that they're here to return the shop to Foo Fighter's control, with a fifth shadow lingering behind them - the fight between Koutei and Kyou amps up, where Koutei finds his back against the wall unexpectedly; considering Kyou was one of AL4, but Ren the leader, he begins to wonder if perhaps he would be able to measure up in comparison, then reflects on Leon's words that he's likely the only one who would be able to combat Ren and his Psyqualia - by the skin of his teeth, he manages to pull through and win over Kyou, who seems displeased, but not the wild reaction he would typically display; instead he grumbles about how's still got a way to get there - as he leaves the store, he leaves Koutei with a message: "tell Sendou Aichi, I'll be coming to crush him and his imagination" - with Koutei gone, Osamu and SL3 arrive at Card Capital, having planned to attack, but taken aback to find Leon present - with Kai and Miwa by his side, a triple fight takes place, with all three Foo Fighters decimated - despite this, they don't seem all too fazed, Osamu going so far as to laugh, and with a smirk, declare their part has been played - though none of the others can fathom what he's referring to, from the counter, Aichi murmurs a single word: Voyage - Leon calls Gouki, who doesn't answer his phone, raising red flags and the fear that something has happened: SL3 was a distraction - Misaki seizes Osamu's shirt and threatens him if he doesn't speak, at the same time, Kamui tries to reach Gouki and manages to connect; his voice raspy and struggling to articulate anything - down the line, a change of hands takes place, and a much deeper voice speaks, instructing that the player who last reclaimed Voyage come to repeat the deed - Kai snatches the phone and a heated exchange between he and Tetsu plays out, with the latter refusing to budge, having drilled it that he intends to see what Q4, and Aichi in particular, are capable of - begrudgingly, the group find themselves with little option left; Q4 and Miwa will head to Voyage, while Morikawa, Izaki, Inenaga and Leon will protect Card Capital should Foo Fighter be planning to split their forces and spring with the shop unguarded, and as way of appeasing Morikawa by assuring him he has a vital role, in particular if Leon needs to move - Misaki requests that Shin hold down the fort, and promises she'll give him regular updates so he needn't worry, adding that if she doesn't report within a certain time frame after the last, that he should call the authorities

- Q4 head to Voyage, finding numerous Foo Fighter lurking around; it flips Kamui's stomach to see a shop important to him snatched away yet again, but composes himself and declares that he'll redeem himself after last time, so not to put Aichi in the spotlight again and further the danger - inside, they meet with Tetsu, Minami and Brilliant Stars - Miwa, Kamui, Aichi and Misaki fight the members of Brilliant Stars, under Tetsu's watch; Aichi facing Ayumu, Misaki fight Harumi, Miwa against Hiromi and Kamui taking on Bidou; each fight being difficult to tell, but Q4's side narrowly pulling through - Kai makes clear his intent on fighting, though the others insist on doing what they can, trying to avoid dragging him in to the mess echoing what started the chain of events which snowballed into anarchy - Kamui moves on to fight with Tetsu, while Miwa does Minami - thought Tetsu clearly has no care to fight someone other than Aichi, he complies, given Kamui's enthusiasm reflecting that of Morikawa's - Minami draws comparisons to himself as Ren and Asaka's dog to Miwa's dedication to Kai and Misaki; not one which Misaki takes pleasure in hearing - at Foo Fighter, Asaka reflects on her early days as a member of the group whilst still debating her decision to let Kai and Misaki go - how she felt inferior to Kai and only recruited because Ren deemed her good in their one fight; since then, she's felt beyond his scope - when Kai left, she hoped to be able to mean something and effectively serve him, though his fixation with Kai's departure countered her hopes - through Kyou, she saw herself as someone who tried desperately and failed to acquire the approval of someone she respected greatly, and as such, wouldn't treat him so coldly when the two of them were alone - they would frequently fight in order to better themselves and pursue Ren together; not as rivals, but as team-mates seeking the same goal - the longer their pursuit spanned, the more exhausted and cynical Asaka became; she wouldn't hold onto the same optimism as Kyou, and began to adopt the cold persona she displayed before others as more natural to shield her from the pain of repeated disappointment - upon hearing Kyou was defeated and ejected from Foo Fighter, she saw herself as solitary; with nowhere to go but remain in Ren's shadow, continuing her efforts to acquire the best results and earn his approval, even if the likelihood, she knew, was little to none - Ren passes by and catches sight of Asaka looking out at the city, asking what she's doing - as a rare instance where Ren seemingly takes note of her, Asaka finds herself elated; she pushes aside what troubles her and faces him when responding, minimizing her moment as nothing more than watching while on standby, then asking what he needs - Ren asks where Tetsu is, which she interprets as him overlooking her in favour of his right hand man; the only person within Foo Fighter who he truly acknowledges, and her heart sinks - when Ren moves on, Asaka turns her back to the door, pressing herself against the window and struggling to keep face; a familiar scene which she recalls Minami finding her in - as someone who cares and respects her immensely, he asked if there was anything he can do - though she's always treated him as lesser, he continues to support her, and she turns to face him, attempting to mask her pain - Minami offered a cardfight as means of getting her feelings out so her head can clear; he doesn't mind enduring the pain if it's in aid of her and Foo Fighter's agenda - she begins to dwell over her pursuing Ren, yet finds herself unable to resist the longing for his approval, leaving her in a painful situation where she has no hope to win - her thoughts turn to Kyou, wondering if he feels liberated to no longer being bound by Foo Fighter's narrow objectives, and no longer being enslaved to the desire for Ren's acknowledgement, wondering about herself, if she were to lose and be removed from the gang - after Kyou, she wonders about Misaki - another girl who comes across as awkward and rough around the edges, yet seems comfortable with where she is and what she has acquired; leaving Asaka feeling more hollow, bitter and alone; even more when contrasting herself and Ren to Aichi and Kai - Minami and Miwa's fight escalates, so much so that Misaki no longer feels acertained with predicting where each turn may lead, spurning uneasiness within her and having to lean solely on faith in Miwa - Kamui makes clear his stance against Tetsu when it comes to everything; how Vanguard shouldn't be used as a weapon, how he believes the gloves were created with malicious intent, and denounces all that Foo Fighter stands for, believing it to be merely a harmful association pushing the agenda of one person forcing his ideology unto others - Kai, who's begrudgingly remained on the sideline with Gouki and Nagisa, listens intently to what Kamui has to say; reflecting on the abuse Ren suffered at his father's hands and turning that around on everyone around him - when observing how everyone is giving it their all to fight not for fun but more akin to survival, it reminds him of his middle school days after Vanguard had been fun, but become more meas of coping and numbing himself - a version of the game he never wanted them to experience, yet finds himself spectating it on a much larger scale than he'd even dreaded, and determining it all to be down to him - the way he argues this to himself is that walking away from Foo Fighter sent Ren into a faster downwards spiral and perhaps if he had remained, they wouldn't have arrived in Hitsue for some time, allowing for a safer time for the others - Kamui falls against Tetsu, in spite of his empassioned words, bringing Kai to him to help in Tetsu's shadow; the two of them locking eyes - Tetsu reminds him that the goal in getting Q4 to Voyage was to fight Aichi, who he demands no longer delay his desire, even as Kai protests - Aichi intervenes; stating that Kamui was hurt protecting him, and he doesn't wish to see others follow the same, as Tetsu clearly won't stop until he gets his wish, so he'd rather do his part to protect them in turn - though their fight is ongoing, Miwa notes to himself how openly Aichi can express what he and Kai have long felt yet not been able to speak so clearly, channelling that into his fight - despite Aichi's words, Kai tries to dissuade him; reiterating that he doesn't want him to step deeper into a world where Vanguard is tainted and it should be Kai who shields him; though over his shoulder, Aichi smiles and thanks him, remarking that he doesn't mind going into the darkened world if it means pulling Kai out - with it laid out, Kai feels helpless while watching Aichi's back as the boy walks towards Tetsu - while Aichi and Tetsu's fight begins, Miwa and Minami's reaches critical mass, temporarily drawing the pair's attention - though he puts his all into it, Miwa struggles to pull through a fierce bombardment from Minami's forces, only to be undone by a Critical Trigger [insert top dog joke] - as he's shocked by the VF glove, Kai yells out to him, recalling the day they were made to fight using the same device - Miwa crumples, and rather than gloat, Minami finds himself gazing skyward, his thoughts charged towards Asaka and hoping to have amended for his poor display at Card Capital; a change in demeanour which Tetsu notes - Kai and Misaki haul Miwa to the rest of the spectators, forced to stand back and watch as the fight truly gets underway - Tetsu proposes a wager; stacking Foo Fighter's promise to leave the area alone if Aichi wins against Tetsu's own intent to take him back to Foo Fighter if he should win; the others make clear their issues with the suggestion, though the hope that the city's shops may be left in peace appeals too strongly to Aichi's heart, leading him to accept - with conditions set, Tetsu has all he needs and does everythinghe can throughout the fight to force Aichi's Psyqualia to active, of which only brief instances occur; not enough against what he hopesto see - during the game, he presses Aichi on what precisely he sees in Vanguard that he would need to go so far as to protect it; to which Aichi responds it gave him a sense of purpose, and something to look for - a light in his world of darkness, when Kai gave him a torch - one he swore to always carry - to hear a simple gesture meant so much to Aichi back then, Kai finds himself moved and believes to have truly found the heart in Vanguard that he couldn't sense after leaving Hitsue; when it's become about getting strong and atonement, there has been so much more to come than only anguish and strife - something he's been unable to see - given the contrast between Aichi and Ren, Tetsu becomes more fired up to research their Psyqualia, and learn how they match against one another, going in full force - his excitement and the power to back it overrun Aichi, whose legs give out after his loss is confirmed, both from the draining electrocutions and shock of having lost himself to Foo Fighter - Misaki and Kai prepare to make their move, not about to let him be taken, when Tetsu grabs his wrist, reminding them it was Aichi's word that swore him over in such a result - Misaki fiercely protests that they can't keep treating people as cattle and look down upon them in the lens of ownership; they, shops and the game as a whole should be free to exist as intended, and what she compares to a god complex shouldn't sully that, snapping that Ren is far from such a standing that he believes himself to be - in the time she speaks her mind, Kai closes the distance between them and grabs Tetsu's wrist, kicking at his ankle so to weaken his balance and separate his hold whilst Tetsu regains his balance, standing over Aichi to prevent a simply recapture - with his intervention successful, Kai instead places a wager of his own; if he should win, Aichi's free to go, but if he loses, he'll return to Foo Fighter, as Ren wished - in Kai's shadow, Aichi pleads for him not to, having experienced first-hand what Tetsu is capable of, but Kai, keeping his back to the other, reinstates his preference for Aichi not to become swept up in the corrupted side of things , but for Kai to be the protector and his belief that he was the one who brought trouble their way, so it be only right that he be the one to resolve it, adding an apology after - Misaki kneels beside Aichi, placing her hands on his shoulders to steady him, but also stop him from trying to give chase while Kai stations himself at the table, meeting his eyes when he peers over with a silent thanks - she helps Aichi back to the others, and they watch the fight, throughout which Kai and Tetsu clash over their experiences around and since Kai's departure from Foo Fighter - the result swings in Kai's favour, who holds out against everything Tetsu throws in anticipation to fulfil both his own and Ren's desires, inflicting a notable crack in Tetsu's armour - despite that, Kai demand Tetsu take him to see Ren; which Aichi, Misaki and Miwa vehemently protest - Kai echoes his guilt over having brought trouble to them, and deeming his beating Ren the only way to undo it, referencing his mention before the fight; a hint to them that he was always going to confront Ren, whatever the result - Misaki barks that he has no need to feel responsible, as it's Ren who's gone off the deep end and unleashing his own grievances on everyone else - including Kai himself - still without looking back, Kai apologies, to her for endangering her shop, to Kamui that his old shop would become a victim along the way, to Miwa for disappointing him and to Aichi for failing him - Miwa tries to pick himself up and reach Kai, though his strength gives out halfway and his legs buckle, arms sprawled out with fingers not that far away from his friend, but enough that he's beyond reach, his voice cracking whilst arguing that he doesn't want Kai to be facing them alone, as he tried that before - glance over his shoulder, Kai meets the sight of his friend, and requests that Miwa and the others trust him, as they've asked of him to them - his final request is for Misaki to get everyone back to Card Capital safely, before moving to leave with Tetsu and Minami - from behind, Misaki grabs his arm, drawing his sights back around to her; a mixture of unease and determination wears itself as she asks him to come back when all is said and done, he assures her and departs - Aichi comments that, from behind, he could see the immense weight on Kai's shoulders

- en route to Foo Fighter, Kai asks Tetsu why he blockaded the way to Ren the last time he travelled to their headquarters; Tetsu's response is solely that he wasn't ready for them to face one another, and couldn't allow Kai to interfere - he returns to the confession he made when they were friends about feeling unable to confront Ren's father, and has felt as though he's failed Ren all this time as a result, he muses if perhaps a part of him would feel more this way if Kai was able to put a stop to the gang's campaign, while he'd been unable to do anything noteworthy all the while - part of his reasoning to creating the VF gloves was it was Ren's request, but he believed it may become a way to whittle out the weak, seek out other Psyqualia users and use them as means of studying the ability, so that perhaps he might be able to understand Ren's vision more, and even acquire it himself so to become strong enough to do what should have been done a long time ago - Kai bitterly asks if Ren's transformation isn't sign enough that seeking out such a power isn't in his best interests, though Tetsu pins down Ren's descent on him, not unlike how Ren himself does on Kai - the motivation understands Tetsu's interest in Aichi as of late, and leaves Kai with the worry about what might become of him now he's harbouring the power, with Leon's current state the only means of reassurance - moving on, Kai asks about Asaka, noting that she was much different when he and Misaki encountered at compared to the last time he saw her - Tetsu reports that she's become much stronger, though taken after Ren in moulding herself into someone more tolerant of pain, not unlike how Kai presented himself when they met, while Minami sings her praises, Kai is left with the sense that her doing so was to cope with the copious pain she herself endures, just as he had - the three arrive at Foo Fighter - Shin drives Misaki, Miwa, Aichi and Kamui back to Card Capital, where Koutei, Leon, Morikawa, Izaki, Inenaga and Emi await, with Kai's absence striking them very quickly - as no-one else can find the words, Izaki is the one who asks about him, though he's certain already from Miwa and Aichi's torn expressions, Kamui glumly confirms the situation, asserting that no-one had the power to stop him even though they tried - Misaki closes up the shop and hands over the three's needs to recharge to Shin - Koutei and Leon step outside, the former calling Gouki to check if they need an extra pair of hands at Voyage, while Leon muses the state of things - he voices his belief that, going by his reputation, Kai might very well be within Ren's league, even without Psyqualia on his side, though he's still concerned about his chances, as someone who's every move will be known to the enemy, Koutei sighs that he's got reason to believe Ren isn't the only one they have to worry about - Tetsu and Minami report to Ren, the former apologizing for his loss to Kai, and understanding if Ren would dismiss him; Ren shrugs it off, and makes reference to Minami's previous loss to Kai in the same moment, claiming that no-one else could possibly beat him so he doesn't really care - though when he's within arm's reach, Ren seizes Kai's shirt and pulls him close, venomously spitting that no-one should be able to beat Kai, and yet someone other than him has, Kai shows no reaction to the treatment, which irks Ren and roughly releases him - turning his back to the three, he casually asks what Kai's visiting for, as he rejected the offer of returning to Foo Fighter just the other day - Asaka overhears the commotion and arrives between Tetsu and Minami as Kai voices his stance on Ren's treament of people, both past and present, and how he's come to put an end to it - Ren mocks Kai's decision and speech, denouncing him based on their last fight - regardless, Kai challenges him to a fight, declaring himself not the same boy as back then, but grown in many ways - before they begin, Ren lays down the same conditions as their previous fight: the wager of forcing Kai to join Foo Fighter against the promise to end their activities; terms that he accepts - the two undergo the fierce fight, with Ren utilizing his skill for the first time in a substantual period, which both Asaka and Tetsu make comment of; Asaka pointing out that Ren was barely trying against Aichi - Minami denotes Ren's form during the fight as something he's never seen before - both fighters put forward their stance on Foo Fighter, Kai's breaking from ranks and the current takeover in Hitsue, striking at one another through more than just Vanguard units but a goal to gettheir side across and heard - Kai tries to make Ren understand that his departure was to get himself out of a bad place and become strong enough to knock some sense into him - his shrinking world in comparison to what there had been prior to Foo Fighter was suffocating him; it had never been about abandoning Ren, and he'd intended to come back - when it comes to Aichi, they both make clear what he is to them; to Ren, he's a weakling who managed to interfere and snatch away what he sought, but to Kai, he encompasses everything that he loved about Vanguard; a light that provided him warmth and someone he needs to protect to preserve that sensation from being torn away by Ren's hands again - once the two of them are at Grade 3, Kai directs the conversation towards how much a true dictator Ren is, pointing to his treatment of those even under him, dismissing those who lose, his ignorance of people like Asaka and Minami; something which, when heard, strikes Asaka, as she'd always believed Kai to be too narrow in focus to notice more of what's going on around him - once the image sinks in, Ren smirks wickedly, taking the idea and indulging it as he declares himself a king of the Vanguard underworld, and as such, will lead his army against those yet to be conquered; Kai snaps back that Vanguard isn't supposed to be a war, and what Ren's twisting the game into is monstrous - Ren reminds Kai that they have players in the proleagues, who have yet to be exposed and banned, meaning it's only a matter of time before he's able to conquer anything he desires, so no-one may look down on him - with clenched teeth, Kai understands what Ren is trying to accomplish and retorts that his father won't care about such a feat, as he never approved of Vanguard, though Ren, seemingly deranged, brushes off the suggestion, stating his father would have no room to speak, as he'd be then beneath with everyone else - having just pulled through the previoust turn and gone off the rails, Ren declares Final Turn and unleashes everything he has in aim of finishing off Kai, knowing that giving him even the smallest window of opportunity can and likely will spell his doom - in time with his Vanguard's attack, Ren draws a Critical Trigger, forcing Kai down to a Heal Trigger if he wants to keep going - hesitating before he draws, Kai reflects on those waiting for him; his promise to Misaki and his need to return for Aichi and Miwa's sake; with those giving him strength, he draws from his deck - checking the clock, Misaki deduces that Kai's likely arrived at Foo Fighter by now, while watching the others recuperate and Shin treat them to a sizeable dinner he made to help - she thanks him, letting him know she's aware he wishes there was more he could do, but by protecting Card Capital for her and doing what he can to help, he's playing a part and shouldn't beat himself down - Shin thanks her, about to make a quip about her getting soft, though holds back - while things seem to pick up, particularly with Inenaga and Emi assuring everyone that Kai will win and be back before nightfall, she sees still something missing from the image; an incompleteness left by Kai's absence, and focuses on his promise to come back - Kyou arrives, despite the storefront being closed and demands a rematch with Aichi; Koutei, Kamui and Morikawa are quick to stand up and block his way, telling him now isn't a good time - he tries to counter the irreluctance by reminding them he's no longer with Foo Fighter, a fact that Koutei supports, informing the others of their fight and Kyou's clear disdain towards the faction - Morikawa smirks and gloats over Kyou's ejection, painting a target on himself to serve as distraction; Misaki frowns at the idea, given he put himself on the line to fend off Tetsu - watching him from behind, Aichi's sight flickers between Morikawa and Kai standing over him, sparking fear inside of him - afraid of Morikawa coming to harm again, he accepts Kyou's challenge, to the other's horror, even when Aichi thanks him for the effort to show how strong he's become - something that throws Morikawa off-guard, given their rocky beginning - Kamui makes clear his concerns, given Aichi's fight earlier in the day, but like then, he's certain that Kyou won't stop until he gets his fight; AL4, it seems, are extraordinarily aggressive, as he's come to understand them - the two head downstairs to fight and when the fight has scarcely begun before something off starts to show itself around Kyou - Koutei recalls the same happening during their fight, leading Leon to question if this was the person he was referring to earlier; Koutei confirms his suspicion - Kyou begins to play mind games with Aichi, about how everything he's worked for for so long fell apart and amounted to nothing as soon as he was beaten; he lost his purpose, his goal and the past few days became hell, with no clear way forward, striking him down with guilt over - but after driving in the nails, his lips twist into something sinister, and he eeriely thanks Aichi for being the lynchpin, as he's much stronger now than he was in Foo Fighter, leading to an unsettling atmosphere - he echoes the words he left Koutei with, and with a maddened expression, his eyes lock onto Aichi with the light of Psyqualia present -that he could acquire the ability stuns everyone, Leon reminds them about the concoction of immense desperation and negativity being the means of attracting it, and articulates that Kyou must have gone over the edge after losing his place at Foo Fighter, allowing it to manifest - it's a hypothesis Kyou agrees with, and points to Aichi, declaring that he's going to take him down, and then Ren, as revenge for the strife they inflicted unto him - Aichi tries to apologize for his part in everything, but Kyou refuses it, deeming a fight the only way he can truly exact his vengeance - Miwa murmurs that the desperation and power have warped him into something akin to Ren, finding it quite  terrifying ability - throughout the fight, Kyou makes use of his newfound ability, using it to taunt and intensify the struggle, which brings back memories to Aichi of his fights with Ren, which shake him up, doubly when considering Kai went to confront him alone, casting anxious looks up to Miwa - running wild with his power, Kyou destroys Aichi's forces and claims victory - Kamui rushes down to help Aichi, who collapses after two losses in a short period of time - having achieved what he set out to do, Kyou takes his leave with only mocking the further damage left behind - the group try to take in the developments, Koutei informing them fully of his previous fight, how close it was and that it would seem they're not alone in resisting Foo Fighter - he decides after to head to Voyage, as he's worried about Gouki and Nagisa; Kamui jokes not to get lost - with nightfall having passed, Shin warns that it's getting late, though everyone remains on edge with there having been no word from Kai - Miwa relays that he's messaged him several times, but gotten nothing back, placing him at the brink of going after him personally, Misaki agrees to go if they're pushed to that stage - eventually, a call comes through on Aichi's phone; Kai's number flashing on screen - he answers, hearing Kai's voice on the other end with a simple message; a rapsy "I'm sorry" - following that, comes another voice; "hii, Aichi-kun" - Aichi goes into shock and drops his phone, alarming the others, who scramble at the reaction; Leon picks up the phone, hearing Kai's wish to entrust Aichi to him, so that he doesn't go astray - Miwa snatches the phone and runs out, Misaki takes off after him - down the line, he yells that he's on the way and for Kai to hang on, but Kai responds without the strength to raise his voice out of concern that he shouldn't; he doesn't want Miwa getting hurt anymore than he already has been; Miwa barks that having Kai stuck in that place with those people will do just that - Kai pleads with him not to worry, understanding that this isn't all that different to the past when he was taken away and Miwa tried to give chase but couldn't catch up; he remarks that it's not as though he's trapped in a cage, but that he feels it safer for his friends that he keep them at a safe distance - the only thing Miwa can respond with is a yell that Kai is too important to him to let things be, earning the response from Kai - "you are to me too" -having worn himself out, Miwa slows to a halt, breathlessly swearing that he'll come for him, because he refuses to lose his friend yet again, Kai thanks him and the call ends - Misaki catches up to Miwa, who slumped against the railing beside him, arm hanging limply and asks her a question; "how long do you think someone can keep trying for everyone else before they break?" - she approaches him, laying a hand on his shoulder to guide him around and see tears welling in his eyes; in a moment of weakness, she guides him against her and allows him to cry freely in her arms

- though crestfallen, everyone returns home so not to worry their families; Misaki encourages Miwa to stay at Card Capital so he doesn't have to feel alone; during the night, she murmurs in defeat "he lied" - at the Sendou house, Aichi tries to take in everything, holing up in his room, which Emi tries to keep Shizuka from noticing; between Kyou's Psyqualia, Ren's hatred of him and Kai's predicament, he feels overwhelmed with grief and uncertainty, guilting himself an incredible amount given his placement in each instance - gazing out the window to the moon, everything runs circles in his head, until the moment in time when he feels frustration towards Foo Fighter and definitely blames himself - his deck falls over, cards scattered, and he hunched over them on his knees, eyes wide as they're cast over them, hues fully enveloped by Psyqualia's light - the following day, everyone gathers at Card Capital, which Shin is leaving in Koutei's hands while he drives them to Foo Fighter; Emi, Inenaga and Izaki remain behind, though Morikawa remarks that he wants to settle the score with Tetsu, particularly after he threw everything into disarray - though he'd rather they find a safer way to resolve the issue at hand, Shin drives Misaki, Aichi, Kamui, Miwa, Morikawa and Leon to Foo Fighter's area, dropping them off nearby and asking them to get in contact as soon as they need him, whatever the reason - he asks Misaki if he's sure she doesn't want him to come along, as he was a prominent cardfighter when he was younger, though she declines, deeming it their fight, but thanking him for the offer - the pack head inside, where they're met with numerous Foo Fighter members, some of whom recognizes Misaki and Morikawa from the previous infiltration; Miwa quips about introducing their friends, and the group get to work clearing their way through - more than once, Misaki notices something different about Aichi during fights, including a glazed look in his eyes - word reaches the higher-ups about the attack; Minami panicky reports to Ren, who appears unfazed; in fact, he smirks and quips that they came faster than he'd expected after such a crushing blow, casting the expression in Kai's direction, who's slouching on the couch and grimaces back - Ren teases how he's likewise impressed that Kai came back, though having his friends as possible casualties, he hadn't much choice; Kai breaks eye contact, his stomach turning that he may be even more under Ren's thumb than the year before - Tetsu mobilizes their forces, though finds many have been beaten by the invaders and fled before they can be formally cut, leading to chaos; he frowns at the sight of Leon active on the field, deducing he fills the role of their Vanguard, while they outnumber the Foo Fighter elite 6 to 5; then determines Ren and Kai's strength in particular to make up for numbers - Ren mocks the team, writing them off as a ragtag bunch of inexperienced players piggybacking off the Asian champion's back, and therefore not worth his time, only that they bring amusement in their rushed effort under some delusion they might stand a hope in hell - though it irks him to hear Ren trash talk them, Kai finds himself struggling with the same difference in power between the two sides, clinging to the request passed around to believe in one another - Gouki and Nagisa venture to Card Capital, surprised to see Koutei behind the counter; they hear from Emi that the others have gone to take on Foo Fighter, with Leon's help - it's an update that throws Gouki, who yells at Koutei for not telling him; Koutei lightheartedly counters that it was a plan put together in the moment and that he thought he had given Gouki a warning, then notices he never actually hit send on the text - Nagisa asks Emi about Kamui, aware of his history with the gang - in light of her concern, Emi tries to assure her that Kamui will be fine; he seemed confident and fired up when everyone left, so she has no reason to doubt that he'll be held back, and adds that Nagisa thinking about him would surely make him happy - mulling over Leon's participation, Gouki determines this to be their best chance at overthrowing Ren, and it being one last desperate strike in retaliation - after several wins on each member's part, Tetsu suggest they just let them up, before Foo Fighter's numbers dwindle; Ren whines about the suggestion, but also piles the blame on the weak fighters who were eliminated along the way

- the group are summoned to the higher levels where AL4 await - Kai doesn't get up from the couch when they arrive, despite how clear it is that everyone's relieved to see him, he does show sign he's also thankful to see them well - Miwa demands that Ren leave Kai to do as he pleases; Ren refuses, citing their wager prior to the fight, and knowing Kai to be a guy of his word - though it riles him up to hear it, Misaki grabs his shoulder, denouncing Ren as beyond listening to reason, and the only way to change anything is to bring him down - Tetsu writes off their chances, with the reformed original AL4 stronger than ever - Kamui barks that there's nothing powerful about taking control of people and using them like pawns, pointing at Asaka and Minami when he verbally bets they were forced to join just like Kai; that they're nothing more than tools for Ren, even if they're supposedly at the top of the gang's food chain - Ren makes his irritation clear and orders Minami to put Kamui down, though the boy takes that as further evidence to his point - regardless, he agrees, recalling how Minami was the one who truly cast Foo Fighter's shadow at Card Capital first - throughout the fight, he remembers the pain that Reiji, Eiji and the others associated with his original shop endured, and what he could only imagine Gouki and Nagisa went through as more victims important to him whom he couldn't protect - on the other side, Minami fights with Asaka with mind; wanting still to continue amending for his past failures and to be of help to her in her quest for feeling worthy in Ren's eyes; though he drew comparison between himself and Miwa previously, he notices the same in Kamui - though not of the elite tier, Minami could compete with most others in Foo Fighter, earning him a fight with Asaka, who triumphed over him, though he could see within her a struggle - rather than be dispatched to tournaments, Minami offered his services to serve AL4 directly, as a bridge between the ground level or streets and those at the top - something he earned after a great deal of work to earn the green light from Tetsu - during and after the process, he had rare opportunities to interact with Asaka and Kyou, feeling similarities between them, and particularly felt enamoured with Asaka, leading him to gravitate towards her, even as their loyalty was sworn primarily to Ren - the fight ends in Kamui's victory - what he believes is his greatest signal of growth in all the time Foo Fighter has terrorized him - Minami slumps and struggles to meet Asaka in the eye, as he no longer has an excuse saving him from being removed from Foo Fighter, and apologizes to her and Ren for falling short - though she say nothing to console him, having another high ranking member removed rattles Asaka, whereas Ren sighs and calls Minami pitifult, even lesser than an animal - Misaki storms ahead to lay hands on Ren, but is hindered by Asaka moving between them; though they remain enemies, Misaki takes note of Asaka's absent viciousness, suspecting that she might be waking up to the reality of the situation, she challenge her rival - under Ren's watch, Asaka feels extra pressure, already plagued by Kyou and Minami's losses with doubt creeping in about what will become of her, regardless of result, though she fights with everything she has in order to show Ren what she's capable of, and how far she's come since her recruitment into AL4 - all the while, she feels herself grappling also with her feeling inferior to Misaki, Aichi and Kai - people who were able to find somewhere they belong and felt it, all while earning Ren's attention that she so desperately sought - pulled in several directions, multiple times, she finds herself struggling in the fight, much more than expected, though she highly doubts it's all down to her mental state, but more reflection of Misaki's power - try as she might, backed by Minami and Kyou's encouragement, and her greatest desire, Asaka finds herself alone on the field come Misaki's final attack; no longer with anyone to turn to after Ren's policy dismissed such great numbers - after her defeat, Asaka punches the table, though ultimately finds herself more upset than angry; at a loss with her place gone and nowhere to go - Misaki takes no visible pride in having brought her down, yet has no opportunity to say anything before Ren lazily and hollowly laments losing Asaka as a member, citing her being the fourth original member as if to twist the knife - Minami is horrified at the scene unfolding, and shakily approaches Asaka, who removes herself from the table, staggering towards the window and drops to her knees when beside Kai, back to everyone else; noticing how their positions leave her in his shadow - seeing her so broken over what should be a simple loss troubles Misaki, who approaches and reaches out - in the same instant, a voice from the entrance captivates everyone's attention - as Kyou stands, having returned to Foo Fighter to make good on his vow to exact revenge - he snarkily thanks the infiltrators for clearing the way; displaying a personality that's foreign to Asaka, but reminds her of Ren - Kyou brazenly challenges Ren, wasting no time in laying out his feelings and his driving force for returning to a place he once considered like home - Ren dismisses the challenge, stating he has no time for weaklings, and timing a sharp glance in Aichi's direction - a laugh comes from Kyou, who says he figured that would be Ren's response, but has a trump card, activating his Psyqualia; amazing Tetsu and intriguing Ren - at this point, Kyou reveals it was he who had been going around and liberating shops under Foo Fighter's control to undermine Ren and hone his new ability - deciding he's interested, Ren goes ahead with the match, hoping to it to demonstrate how hopeless the Card Capital team's fight will ultimately become - Kyou shows no falter in his confidence going into the fight, and both players make full use of their Psyqualia - something Leon remarks as being unique, as it's doubtful there has been a fight between two Psyqualia users before - the two allow their images to clash and do all they can to secure the victory they foresee - during the fight, Kyou's background as a runaway kid is detailed; how he had a turbulant relationship with his parents and took off for Hitsue, finding comfort that there could be somewhere that would accept him as Foo Fighter did - it was that acceptance which led him into the false impression that Ren would have any sort of feeling towards him or any other member, only to have his hopes dashed - but to overcome that familiar sensation of being looked down upon, he gave it his all to be acknowledged and recognized as someone worthy, leading to his coalition with Asaka, and some bonding with Minami prior to Asaka's numbing - he voices how he's come to understand that Foo Fighter was never going to change or accept him, or any of its other members, as they were nothing more than the shop fighters they tore down on a daily basis in Ren's eyes, evidenced by the enforced recruitment of some - furious and empassioned, he makes clear that his revenge isn't just about being tossed out, but being rejected the same way Ren would seethe when perceiving Kai's actions as rejection, and to show once and for all that he's worthy of recognition - in spite of that, and with Psyqualia's backing, Ren turns the tables and chillingly overrules Kyou's image with his own, revealing that his never faltered, and having mastered the power long ago, a knave could never successfully rebel against his king - mercilessly, he crushes Kyou, who is devastated to have lost, even after everything he did to reach his current state, and overcome with frustration that it still isn't enough - Asaka calls out to Kyou and pleads for Ren to stop, though he shows no care in responding blankly to her; responding that he has no need to listen to someone who isn't part of Foo Fighter, which crushes her and further riles Misaki, Minami and Kyou - Ren continues to chillingly tear down his fallen opponent, but finds himself interrupted by Leon shouting that enough is enough, while Aichi checks on Kyou - though he retains bitter feelings, he feels the earnesty in Aichi's efforts to help counter Ren's vicious remarks, praising Kyou for being so strong that he could endure everything and still be aiming ahead, something he denies being capable of himself - Kyou sighs, calling Aichi too nice, and decides he'll stick around only to see the conclusion of whatever it is he's trying to achieve, though warns him not to get his hopes up - having been witness to such a fight, Leon propses following up with his own Psyqualia against Ren's, eager to take him down a peg after all the evidence of how disrespectful he is to the people who admire him; Ren muses about taking on the Asian champion and quipping about if that would make him the new champion should he win - Leon smirks, denying the likelihood, given the match is an unofficial one outside the grounds of a competition; though Ren shrugs it off, aware that he would never be able to compete, so this is the closest he would have until a time when he can take over publicly - the intensity of the pair's Psyqualia images drags Aichi in, who finds himself touching down on Cray for a great deal of the fight; something Kyou notices, despite not experiencing the same himself, leading him to wonder if it's a signal about Aichi's ability - Misaki tries to coax Asaka out of her despondency, trying to assure her that she doesn't need someone like Ren to determine her worth; Kai gets up and kneels in front of Asaka, observing that her eyes are the same as Aichi's on the day he first arrived at Card Capital, and adds his input that she needn't destroy herself following down her current path - he adds that he can see the changes which she's undergone since he left, and apologizes that chances are, he did nothing to help the situation, as well as deny her an extra ear, but appeals for her to come to her senses to rebuild herself for her own sake, as opposed to anyone else's, reminding her that Minami has a great deal of faith in her - snapping out of her catatonic state, Asaka views the sight of Minami with his attention on her rather than anything else, and then the fight unfolding - Leon makes clear how he doesn't approve of what Ren is doing with Vanguard, which should be a means of escape or enjoyment for people, as it once was to him when he was suffocating beneath lofty expectations; when learning that, like him, Ren was raised with particularly high expectations of him, Leon begins to deduce they're like two sides of the same coin - as such, it's that Vanguard which Leon aims to protect, and the resulting images cancel out each other, leaving neither with a clear vision of the fight ahead, making it much more like an ordinary fight based on luck and skill - Leon takes advantage of that uncertainty and puts all his skill into motion, causing Ren to face trying plays and near brushes with defeat, destablizing his bravado, leading to instances where those watching have reason to believe Ren might be about to lose - Tetsu's fascination of Psyqualia only grows when faced with a fight between two individuals who have absolute control over the power, astonished that there could be anyone that could have the same degree of mastery as Ren - Leon lets loose what he intends to be the end, and forces Ren to the brink, reaching for his Twin Drive with the oath that he'll erase Ren's image once and for all; on the side, Aichi, who remains in a trance-like state as a result of his Psyqualia, mutters a simple "no", which Kyou and Kamui alone catch - Leon deals enough damage to Ren to end the game, forcing him to fall back on a miracle Heal Trigger; the position leaving Ren on the edge of unhinging altogether, though Kai watches with hope that it might restore Ren to his sane mind to suffer defeat this way - when faced with the final pull, Ren hesitates, feeling for the first time in years honest fear and dread - emotions he had long become numb to, and bemused that they would return to him - the card turns over; reveal the Heal Trigger necessary to save him - having reached the edge of madness, Ren allows himself to fall beyond the threshold and devolve into a fit of manic laughter, taking the result as sign that he was superior all along, even against someone with a coveted championship title - after putting everything he had into the turn, Leon is thrown back to have fallen short and allowed a chance for Ren to turn things around, though more concerning is his opponent's behaviour - Ren powers into his Final Turn and slays Leon's remaining forces, snatching away victory from the palm of the champion's hand, and the hope that things might come to an end from those around them - having not lost for a substantual amount of time, and to an opponent who is a legitmate threat, Leon finds himself shocked, unsure how to process the turn of events, while Ren soaks in having triumphed, and declares himself above all, with the fight having been proof of what he's been capable of all along - Kamui looks to Aichi, who remains still; Kyou speculates his belief that Aichi saw the result as it cleared during Leon's attacks - Ren staggers from the intense usage of his Psyqualia, to be caught by Tetsu, who suggest he rest up; though Ren bitterly refuses, as he believes the moment to be intrusion on his remarkable ascension, his body does have some degree of fatigue plaguing it, forcing him to comply with backing down for now - Tetsu speaks on Ren's behalf when he drives home that what they've witnessed should be sign enough that no-one is capable to meeting Ren, so the outsiders should withdraw, spurning Miwa to pipe up in protest - he makes clear he has no intention of leaving unless Kai is doing so with them, demanding that he have a shot to help his dearest friend - having no reason to believe he's worth Ren's time, Tetsu volunteers in his leader's place - doing so prompts Morikawa to enter the fray, yelling how he needs to get back at Tetsu for last time, and to pay him back for the trouble he's put Aichi through - recalling the motivation from before, Tetsu accepts the pair's challenge, noting they have tables for three-way and even tag fights available in the building, having one delivered to the top floor to accommodate the three of them - Miwa jokes about the odd match that is himself and Morikawa teaming up to fight, but recognizes their matching drives in standing up for important friends who have influenced them heavily, so openly places his faith in Morikawa to keep up, the other denounces that the fight will be anything like the last time either of them faced Tetsu - the fight gets underway with a decent synergy between Morikawa and Miwa in the face of Tetsu's singular force, giving the pair a confidence boost in continuing ahead - through the game, they fall on and reflect on the mirroring positions they're in in regards to Ren, Kai and Aichi, using them as means to keep from faltering, even as Morikawa grapples with feeling a league behind the other two; Miwa offers him assurance that they'll pull through, but that he'll needs Morikawa's help if they're ging to win, to offer him solace that he isn't the hindrance he believes himself to be - on top of that, Miwa cracks jokes at seeing Morikawa outside his comfort zone is unusual, with how he brags so openly and loudly at Card Capital, telling the previous strongest to show the enemy what he can do, to fire up his fighting spirit - with the encouragement fresh, Morikawa puts everything he has into both following Miwa's and doing all he can to chip away at Tetsu's formation, using both Aichi's capture and loss to their current opponent to keep himself from faltering further - by managing to work together, the two of them conquer Tetsu's Death Anchor, No Life King and succeed in making up for their past losses - Tetsu hunches over the table, head bowed and apologizes to Ren for betraying Foo Fighter's mantra, leaving the leader alone at the helm of a crumbling faction; something he grumbles over - he insists that Foo Fighter isn't finished, as he and Kai remain elite members, and he isn't about to follow his colleagues in falling - Leon regretfully agrees that so long as Ren is active, Foo Fighter will remain a threat, no matter how many members it loses; as a gang that built itself up from his vision alone, it wouldn't be impossible to recreate - Miwa quips that means they'll just have to finish the job, though Leon's loss still has the group rattled; begrudgingly, Leon names Aichi as the only one who has a chance of standing up to Ren, though the others are hesitant to allow him after what Foo Fighter has put him through - Aichi steps up, speaking of his admiration for everyone to have been able to fight for what they believe and done all they can for one another as a unit, but that he should also play his part, and that if wants to answer Leon's faith so it not be wasted - Ren shrugs off the idea, reminding Aichi that they fought multiple times and he lost every single game, so there's nothing of perceived worth in him, but pauses, smirking wickedly when eyeing up the boy, then setting his sights on Kai; commanding that he fight Aichi - vehemently, Kai protests, with the memory of being forced to fight Miwa fresh in mind, he yells in refusal of allowing Ren to make him fight another friend; though it becomes quickly apparent from Ren's demeanour and threats that he doesn't have a choice - Aichi smiles, telling Kai that he's alright with it; a shaken Kai tries to pursuade Aichi otherwise, reminding him that they'll be forced to use the VF gloves, though Aichi counters that he doesn't mind the pain, if it's Kai - the level of devotion, enough to put himself in danger, stuns Kai, who grapples with the possibility of hurting another dear friend, and takes some time before readying himself - in spite of everything, Aichi appears no differently than usual, not even nervous at the prospect of fighting Kai; instead noting it as something he hoped to work towards experiencing again - Ren insist that Kai not hold back just because of who Aichi is, otherwise he'll take it out on Card Capital, worsening the dilemma, and leaving him even more uneasy going into the fight - after dealing the first damage, Aichi's reaction to the pain appears to have intensified, raising red flags all around; Tetsu determines it be a result of his Psyqualia strengthening, though Kyou protests Ren never experienced the same during his mastering the ability, leaving Tetsu to wonder if it might be the result of Ren's numbness to pain - Kai hesitates, unable to bring himself to continue, but Aichi assures him that he'll be okay; he wants to fight if it means the possibility of getting him back and restoring Vanguard to what it should be - in the mean time, Ren takes pleasure in watching the two fighting and dealing damage to one another - as the fight progresses, more and more, instances of Aichi acting unlike himself begin to occur - whether it be a moment of blankness or a misplaced smile - something which Kai recognizes and finds himself troubled further by, given what he suspects - the two pit Dragonic Overlord and Soul Saver Dragon against one another, - as the fight progresses, Kai notices the moments where Aichi displays the same differences that Misaki noticed in the lower levels; the moments where he seems disconnected from the world, all while Psyqualia's glow is present in his eyes - seeing it present for himself and with such frequency sends a chill down his spine when considering how alike the young Ren and Aichi were, fearful of Aichi being twisted into a similar creation as the current Ren under the strain of handling the ugly sid eof Vanguard; his eyes squeeze shut, trying to focus his thoughts towards believing such a scenario would never happen, yet his experience with the ability spurns on his fear - softly, Aichi assures Kai he needn't feel so much unrest; a game between them isn't something to worry about, he wishes only to have fun and that Vanguard shouldn't be painful in the first place; smiling warmly, he promises to grant that enjoyment back to Kai - regardless of his effort, Kai still feels himself unsettled; uncertain whether his opponent's confidence stems from true belief in himself or if it be another symptom of Psyqualia intensifying; whatever the answer, to witness Aichi in such a state does herald substantual growth that takes him by surprise and impresses him - the pair's spirits on Cray sync up with their dragons and resume the fight, putting in all they have to reach a conclusion before Ren with their motivations differing wildly than usual; all the while, Miwa finds himself torn to see Kai so distressed and uncomfortable as part of a cardfight, dreading that perhaps they've reached the point of no return and Vanguard has ceased being a game for them altogether - never during the fight does Kai call Final Turn, but instead, it's Aichi who declares it and promises to protect Kai and end his friend's suffering, to break the binds that hold him down so he can fly proudly again , something he says while wearing a smile unlike any other Kai has seen; Soul Saver takes flight, eclipsing the Cray sun so that its light rebounds from her body, in her shadow, Dragonic Overlord gazes up, awaiting the enemy's move - under her command, the Royal Paladin force launch their attack, bringing down Kai's formation and through Triggers, bringing an end to the fight, Soul Saver remains attached to Dragonic Overlord as his form disintegrates - Kai toughs out the final shock from his VF gloves, requiring the table's bar to keep on his feet, though his knees give way after a moment; Aichi hurries around the table and kneels beside Kai, apologizing for putting him through the pain of six damage, though it's Kai who harbours the most guilt - noting his haggard state, Aichi takes off his jacket and hands it to his friend, requesting he get some rest ahead of them going home before embracing him, thanking him for everything - as he pulls away, Kai reaches out feebly, unable to catch Aichi in time, who stands up; Miwa supports Kai from with hands on his shoulders from behind, meeting Aichi's eye when the younger asks for him to take care of Kai - despite how drained he is, Kai still insists on trying to get up and grab Aichi's arm, who turns away and approaches Ren as the Foo Fighter leader rising; from Kai's perspective, it's the same sight as Aichi's march to Tetsu at Voyage, also not unlike when he was the one casting a shadow over the other, strengthening his concerns, - Miwa hooks Kai's arm over his shoulder and hoists him up, helping him towards the couch, where Misaki and Asaka lend a hand - Aichi requests a fight with Ren, who's face contorts at the sight of someone who could beat Kai other than himself; and not once, but twice has Aichi made such an accomplishment - despite such being the case, the others appear tense, with Leon's loss still casting a shadow - bitterly, Ren accepts, declaring that he'll put Aichi down so he'll be no longer a thorn in his side

- the two set themselves in position, Ren quick to utilize his Psyqualia - by his power, Aichi's reacts and the pair touch down on Cray from the very beginning of the fight - Ren wastes no time in maliciously dealing damage to Aichi, with the intent of making it as painful as possible to get his message across; it becomes apparent immediately the incredible disadvantage Aichi has in feeling additional pain stemming from his Psyqualia, whereas Ren feels none; Misaki likens it more to their empathy than their ability, referencing how Aichi never appears to feel badly towards another but more intent on understanding them - as Aichi stumbles from taking damage, Kamui charges from behind, blocking him from falling over, and supports him to stand, remaining behind him should it necessary - when Blaster Blade and Blaster Dark arrive as both side's Vanguards, Kamui and Morikawa make comment about how alike the clans' lore is to the current situation, curious if perhaps another civil war may seize the United Sanctuary looming - Ren determines that Blaster Dark's character be like that of his own; filled with hatred for the man who appears the other half, yet opposite of him, eager to eliminate him and rise above someone heralded as a hero; his demeanour grows darker yet, voicing how he wishes the worst unto Aichi, so that he may disappear once and for all - a smirk works its way onto Aichi's face, amplifying his Psyqualia in order to distort Ren's image, which takes him by shock, and demanding to know how he could manage it - having to appeared to lose himself to Psyqualia, Aichi reveals that once he reached the peak of desperation, and for a second felt poorly towards Ren, his power appeared to have fully unlocked itself, using the fights downstairs as means of testing it in full force, explaining the instances Misaki noticed - Psyqualia conveys that prior to that moment, it was unable to latch onto anything that it could meld into a means of controlling Aichi; despair could never warp him into something like Ren, resulting in a blank state while the trauma from their past fights had Aichi withdraw deeper into his own mind and it assume control - the night Ren was outside Card Capital - though it's something Aichi speaks almost proudly of; his friends are horrified to hear it - in a moment when Aichi's face begins to concort similarly to Ren's, he declares that Ren took his Kai away against his will and put him through incredible suffering, therefore Aichi plans to dethrone him and get his important friend back - the sight of Aichi dipping into Psyqualia-induced madness brings a smile to Ren's face, finally deeming his opponent worth the time of day, citing the normal Aichi as no more a ghost of his past; the young, weaker self that endured his father's abuse and could do nothing other than suffer - considering such a person to have beaten Kai makes his stomach turn; he could never accept such a scenario, resulting in the root of his disdain towards his enemy - a concerned Kamui hesitantly grabs Aichi's shirt from behind, which snaps him out of Psyqualia's complete control and reverts him to his in-between state of his normal self and the partial meeting between the two sides within him, appearing oblivious to what occurred over the past couple of minutes - Aichi thanks Kamui for supporting him, and returns to the fight - on Cray, Ren utilizing his Psyqualia to unleash psychological attacks of all sorts unto Aichi, who much closer to his usual self, has difficulty grappling with; accusations that Kai could never be truly happy with Aichi, unable to deliver a true fight that would satisfy him, and he would waste away, determining that such has already begun to happen, with how he's seen a weakness spurning with his old friend, spreading like a virus - during the moments when he's weakest, his vision of Cray falters, and flickers with that of what appears another confrontation between them - one they haven't experienced, yet he can see is from his perspective, hearing the whisper of Psyqualia in his ear - Ren rides Dark Dictator and attacks Blaster Blade, resulting in a hefty blow to Aichi - in face of Aichi's resolve to reclaim Kai, without allowing himself to morph into something of Psyqualia's creation as Ren himself has, he returns to his callous demeanour, asserting once more how he needs Aichi to vanish so that all can continue as it should be - on Cray, Dark Dictator drives his sword through Blaster Blade's arm; Ren's image detaching in order to corner Aichi's, driving home once more how he believes the boy to be unworthy of and detrimental to Kai, who would never so easily fall from grace - to further the feedback tormenting the enemy, Ren/Dark Dictator drives his heel into the wound, eliciting a pained yell from Aichi/Blaster Blade - the desperation he's been witness to, as much as he enjoys it, was never a part of Kai previously, but instead Kai was able to stand on the same level as a Psyqualia user without wielding the power himself, yet now he's lost to two, deeming it down to Aichi's parasitic influence - coldly, he declares Aichi too weak to save Kai, himself or anyone else; something he knows very well in his past self, bestowing upon his opponent an ultimatium: become strong and lose himself to Psyqualia if he's to demonstrate any worth in his existence or disappear forever - deciding on the latter being the price Aichi can pay should he lose - Kai demands Ren knock it off with trying to speak for him, particularly when spreading untruths about his feelings, which Ren misunderstands - from the other side of the fight, Morikawa yells for Aichi not to listen to Ren's mind games and let himself become someone like him, reiterating how he's been nothing but kind to everyone he meets, how he helps out no matter how poorly he was treated, and tearfully declares that everyone in the Cardfight Club will be waiting for him - Ren scowls, belittling the word of outsiders as nothing more than the bothersome hums of insects, though the encouragement gives Aichi enough strength to stand once Dark Dictator withdraws to his territory - intending on meeting Ren on an even level so that he might listen to what others are saying, Aichi rides Alfred, calling Blaster Blade back to the field and referring to the field's state as reflections of them; while the Royal Paladins gather Aichi's friends, Ren has been doing little more than sacrificing those around him in pursuit of his own goal, caring not for them - Blaster Blade's presence on Aichi's field, he states, is reflection of Kai's desire to be with his friends; his light remaining with them and having guided Aichi all the way from the day they met as children to he height of Foo Fighter's operations; an intepretation Ren deems merely an insult to him, declaring that he doesn't need anyone - the two Paladin kings do battle, with neither holding any sort of advantage over the other, it's enough to give hope to the others that they're not fighting a losing battle - using that, Alfred rallies a full arsenal to aid in combat - in retaliation, Ren upgrades to Phantom Blaster Dragon, descending from a regal figure to a monstrous being of corruption at the height of his power; the very unit which triumphed over Kai, which sets him on-edge - with the field set, he unleashes a relentless barrage; the attack between Vanguard knocking Alfred from his steed and close to implaining him outright, severing the king's helmet; with nothing to hinder his view of Aichi in the unit's place, Ren revels in having his enemy heavily wounded and pinned to the floor - still, the Royal Paladins hold out, with units coming to to defence of their king, much like how Kamui has taken to holding up Aichi from behind - regardless, Aichi pulls himself up, and continues to resist, turning to Psyqualia in order to hear the feelings of his units, but unable to determine a clear path through, leaving him to rely on his own strength - he locks eyes with Leon, who shows no outward sign of doubt, but offers a resounding nod - standing by his stallion without mounting it again, Alfred soothes his companion - during the battle phase, Aichi is able to deal a 5th damage to Ren, though falls short of finishing him off, earning an unsettling smirk from the Foo Fighter leader - at the change of control, Ren declares Final Turn, throwing everything he has into one last barrage to erase the opposition - Aichi turns to Blaster Blade, charged on what he and Kai represent to him, even in the shadow of Phantom Blaster looming over them - against his attack, Aichi uses a Perfect Guard, though the reveal of a Critical Trigger empowering Ren's remaining Rear-Guard makes it no longer possible for Aichi to protect himself from the following attack - Kai yells out to Aichi as the attack closes in, Blaster Blade unable to reach his king before the attack connects and Alfred is thrown off his feet, blood spilling out, with some splashing onto Blaster Blade's armour - Aichi's body grows limp against Kamui after enduring the shock of the first damage, leaving all in the second check - having reached the conclusion he declares his Psyqualia envisioned, Ren deems the match over - gathering the dwindling strength left in his body, Aichi reaches for his deck, Psyqualia aglow in his eyes, and reveals a Heal Trigger, thanking Kamui through Elaine for his strength - the twist unravels Ren's image of victory, throwing the fight into new territory he couldn't foresee, and threatens the same unstablity that Leon's fight produced - Aichi rides Exculpate the Blaster, charging in for one final assault - Exculpate's sword drives itself into Phantom Blaster's chest, and through that connect, Aichi reaches into the dragon, taking Ren's hand and telling him he needn't suffer alone anymore - shocked by the successful strike, it takes Ren a moment to realize he needs to draw his final damage, finding nothing to undo his loss and, upon entering the card into the damage zone, finally feels some pain through the feedback for the first time - Exculpate returns to Blaster Blade's side, and as Phantom Blaster fades from the battlefrield, Ren ponders the possibility that perhaps Aichi had been a true king - Asaka approaches to help steady Ren when he falters, while the others celebrate Foo Fighter's downfall - Ren's expression lacks emotion when meeting a very exhausted Aichi's, who offers a haggard smile, then collapses - alarm spreads among the group as Kamui struggles and ultimately fails to keep the two of them from falling over; Kai drags himself from the couch, hurrying after Misaki and Morikawa, with Miwa aiding him - gazing at the sight, Ren sighs, with a murmer: "to think that I would lose to someone so weak" - while the others tend to Aichi, Asaka asks Ren's forgiveness; though he shows no apparent understanding for why she would feel the need to, as neither of them belong to Foo Fighter, her apology is in reference to a strike across his face that she follows up with - Tetsu roars at Asaka, though she counters that none of them have any superiority over the other now, and she felt it necessary after how he treated her, Minami, Kyou, Kai and Aichi - hand against his cheek, Ren states that it stings - once more feeling some degree of pain, to Tetsu's astonishment - Kai stands beside Asaka, asking if it finally got through Ren's head that he cannot treat others as property and beneath him, that he has no ownership over anyone and doing so would send him down the same path as his father, with all the abuse he's inflicted unto others evidence enough - he adds that he hopes the fight finally shone a light for him, to illuminate a way out - then Kai turns to Tetsu, conveying that he needn't feel it necessary to use Psyqualia or others to deal with Ren's father, believing him more than capable of doing so as he is now - Leon interjects, asking if Ren understands why he lost; it came down not just to a battle of Psyqualia, but something Aichi highlighted during the fight; the cycle of protection which empowers Q4, promises they've made to one another, were more than enough to tip the scale in their favour over a man fighting for a goal only to him - Ren says he'll take everything into consideration, announcing the disbanding of Foo Fighter and his abdication - while unconscious, Aichi experiences a clearer vision of the fight his against Ren bled into; a world where the two of them meet at the final of the National stage, where Ren feels capable of competing in official competition, and the two of them pitting their Psyualia against one another not unlike at Foo Fighter [main timeline ahoy] - doing so frees Kai from his affiliation; Misaki welcomes him back, to which Kai smiles and responds "I'm back"

- given the clarity of the image, and its initial breakthrough to him, he cannot deny that it's something happening; in another world, in another timeline - when he comes to, he finds they remain in the same location, though Ren and Tetsu have taken their leave, seeing to it the gang members clear out - Misaki calls Shin, informing him that they'll be heading home with an extra party - as all sinks in, Kai suggests to Aichi they head home - that night, Kai and Miwa hang out at the park where they played Vanguard as kids, the former reiterating his concerns about Ibuki, that perhaps he may feel as angry with them as Ren did - Miwa's response is to casually suggest that means they just need to get in touch with him, though Kai still seems distracted - noticing with ease, Miwa asks him what's on his mind, as he should be feeling better than ever; Kai responds there's still something else he has to do - the following day, the regulars gather at Card Capital - Morikawa continues to brag about his part in defeating Tetsu, amazing Izaki and Inenaga each time, who hail him as incredible for taking out one of AL4 - Miwa jests that they're overlooking his part, but shrugs it off, leaning against the counter and checking with Misaki if she's heard anything from other shops in the area which were affected by the gang's activity - she reports there is word of some already having been cleared, and believes it likely anyone who resists will be dealt with by this "mysterious" fighter who was present at several shops the night before - Miwa assumes she's referring to Kyou, though she does note it seems he's continuing to clear out Foo Fighter, though word has spread of someone she describes as a strange guy and his bodyguard, throwing Miwa for a loop - Aichi and Emi arrive at the store, with no sign of Kai present; Aichi asks Miwa, who's first concern is if Aichi's feeling better - he claims to, having spent all night and morning resting after Emi encouraged Shizuka to have him stay off school for the day after working really hard, though seeing him healthier in the afternoon, she allowed him to head out and stretch his legs, Miwa quips about how lucky he is to have such a good sister - regarding Kai, he says that they parted ways at school, with Kai claiming he'd be a little late, but that he would be coming by - everyone settles down for an ordinary day, appreciating like never before the peace they have - Kai arrives a short while later, passing on his thanks for the day before - he pulls Aichi aside so they can talk, asking the same as Miwa, though going further as to ask how he is psychologically, after Ren and Psyqualia's attacks, though Aichi tries to assure him he's perfectly fine - regardless, Kai states that things aren't finished, referencing how he said that everything began with him and he'll make sure the end lies with him too, then asks Aichi for a fight - puzzled, but never about to pass up the opportunity to fight, Aichi agrees, and the two set up downstairs, the others observing from above - when Kamui asks Miwa what's going on, he doesn't respond though it's apparent he understands - the pair begin their fight with typical plays, no sense of stakes involved, allowing for an ordinary, fun game - however before long, Aichi can't help but question what Kai meant by ending it all, a little hesitant, in case Kai should be planning to move on - from Hitsue or from Vanguard - to his relief, Kai's objective is neither; he instead insists he needs to know that Aichi will be alright, after the display when Psyqualia assumed control, he fears there may still be the possibility Aichi may be pulled down a road like Ren, but intends to see him follow a path much closer to Leon's, noting how they still know so little about the power and can't be certain Aichi would have a choice in who he becomes - regarding its usage, Kai says he doesn't mind if Aichi uses it against him, having understood he's used it thus far as a means of bonding with his units, rather than woth victory in mind, to further separate him from Ren - he likens it to Aichi's determination to pull him out of the dark side of Vanguard, even though doing so pulled him in; intending to secure Aichi's escape from such a place, so they may be together in the lighter, safer side, where they may enjoy Vangurd as a game - during the game, Kai reflects on how desperate he was for so long, if perhaps he may have been a target for Psyqualia, awonder of who he might have become had he been offered it and given in, though doing so frightens him, so he prefers to feel grateful that no such opportunity arose, additionally as he feels he doesn't need it - that said, he's adamant not to lose Aichi in the way he lost Ren, feeling still his desperation remains an element to his play - the two reach Grade 3, pitting Alfred against Dragonic Overlord, the perceived epitome of their strength despite Exculpate's presence in Aichi's deck, with Soul Saver and Blaster Blade also present on Aichi's field as representatives of Kai's influence on him - Asaka arrives, with Minami shortly behind her, finding it strange that no-one's manning the shop properly, though finds everyone gathered deeper in the shop and investigates - when she reaches them, a stiffening from Izaki and Inenaga prompts her to assure them she's not here to cause trouble; Misaki finds it strange that she would come back, though doesn't appear to disapprove - in response, Asaka makes the admission that she's long not had a local shop and isn't sure how willing others in the area would be to allowing a former-AL4 member - Kamui skulks that he hopes it doesn't bring Ren their way; Asaka comments that Ren doesn't plan on coming by for a while, until he's figured out who he wants to be, adding that he won't hold her hitting him against her, though intends to have a fight as payback, this time, without his ambitions interfering - though using his Psyqualia lightly, Aichi refuses to seek the outcome of the fight, wishing instead to simply enjoy the experience of having a fight with Kai where nothing rides on the line, something the others can see clearly between the two - it warms Miwa to see Kai able to enjoy Vanguard so wholeheartedly again, allowing himself to feel in turn saved - Kai calls Final Turn, raising a card he determines will be his ultimate triumph over Psyqualia; a means of exceeding it and justifying why it never - his mind rewinds to having pulled it as his sixth damage against Ren, and fiercely getting into the moment, rides Dragonic Nouvelle Vague - the appearance of a Grade 4 astonishes everyone, taking back even Miwa, who had never seen such a card in Kai's deck - it enlightens Asaka further as to why Ren was so fixated on Kai, finding herself eager to test her current state against him some time - Minami is likewise fascinated - with the stage set, Kai launches his final attack, finishing off Aichi's forces and securing his victory - as the dust settles, the two converse briefly on Cray; Kai determines that he has confidence Aichi won't be led astray, even as he intends to stay nearby and ensure no such possibility could manifest, thanking him in turn for everything - Aichi elaborates on his gratitude from the day before; that Kai could open a world to him when he felt nothing and lost, becoming a beacon who would lead him to a purpose for being, a place to belong and people to love; though everyone might regard him as an incredibly caring person, none of that was possible without Kai's intervention, and it elates him to see that their friendship can benefit him in a similar manner - he speaks of having finally found the image of strength that Kai encouraged him to back then, seeing himself as capable, even without Kai as a prop to stand him up, thankful that they could be reunited and reach the peak of their potential; that he could express his deep feelings for Kai and they be heard - the pair return to Card Capital, where seeing Kai so at peace brings Aichi to tears - Kamui and Emi panic momentarily about what could have prompted them, though when Kai asks, Aichi's answer is that he's never seen Kai so happy - Kai rounds the table, holding Aichi just like the younger did him the day before, leading him back upstairs where they can reunite with their dearest friends and embrace their peace

#Override #nudges this into tag #some things need fine tuning but just for the sake of having it safe here

[mudskip-muses]

@ultimatemusicians​

It was quiet in the animal sanctuary, the breeder flitting about the room as he went about the last of his tasks before dinner, feeding all of the creatures under his care before he set out to find food for himself. The peace was broken, however, by the sad cries of a small mouse, a new addition to his animal wards that was having trouble adjusting to its new life. Popping open the cage and placing his hand inside, Gundham cooed at the small creature, a finger gently ruffling its fur as it came to rest in his hand. “What troubles you small one? An unseen demon of the night?” 

His voice was gentle as he lifted the mouse to eye level, the little thing having seen much pain in its young life. He had found it stuck in a mousetrap in the classroom earlier that day, only its tail having been caught in the horrible contraption, leaving it absolutely helpless. After releasing the poor thing and raising an absolute fuss in the middle of class about the traps, he had stormed out with the mouse, tending to its wounds and creating a new home for it until it was old enough to be released. 

It was squeaking up a storm now in his hand, trying to bury itself in the curl of his fingers. It was almost as if it could sense he would be departing the sanctuary soon, and no amount of gentle words seemed to placate it. It was far from being trained enough to take it about like he did with his Devas, so he was fully accepting the fact that he would be going the evening without dinner to keep it calm when an idea came to him. It worked for his Devas when they were young, so why not the mouse?

Settling himself in a crisscross on the floor, mouse cupped carefully in his palm, his voice started out as a low rumble of notes, a mix between words and a simple melody, the actual song long since forgotten with time. It rose the longer he sang, his voice echoing softy about the room, every animal seeming to stop and listen to him, a few of the birds even echoing it back in a sweet harmony. He was so enamored with delivering the low timbre of the notes, he hadn’t noticed his classmate enter, eyes transfixed on the mouse now winding happily between his fingers as he sung. 

It ended just as fast as it began, his song still echoed by the birds even when his melody had stopped. The mouse lay curled in his hand now, put to sleep by the almost haunting tune, a sight Gundham couldn’t help but smile at as he gently pet its head. 

With the song over and the mouse placated, Gundham rose from his spot on the floor and returned it to it’s cage, only noticing the musician when he turned to leave a moment later. He let out a choked sound of surprise, eyes wide and cheeks tinting red before he could hide them in his scarf. “Ah, greetings striped one. What brings you to the realm of beasts so late into the eve?” He tried to save face as he addressed her, hoping that if he pretended he wasn't just singing to his animals that Ibuki would catch on and save him further embarrassment. 

#fuck it you get a bonus gundham too because i had the idea uwu #ultimatemusicians #muse: gundham tanaka #animal injury tw

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Sorry Mikan, I just didn't know you were here.

Why wouldn’t I be? This is the nurses ward.

I’m currently overseeing the recovery of all the people who were injured during the high roller bombing...*sigh* Ibuki’s told me I’ll need to take a vacation when this is all done. Maybe I’ll go back to Jabberwock and relax on the beach for a bit.

#danganronpa survivor #danganronpa #danganronpa 2 #dr2 #mikan tsumiki #ask #the fugitive arc