#WE WERE SO CHEATED OUT OF THIS HORI

[justatalkingface]

The 'Great' MHA Read Along, Part Two (Chapters 5-7): The Aizawa-ing.

*checks last post, gets more than one like*

*blinks*

Huh. Well. OK then. Let's do another one, I guess.

And, literally the first panel? Bakugou. Wow, Bakugou is so great, so strong...

Bakugou scored zero rescue points. Zero. He was the only one, as far as we know, to get zero points and still pass... and that doesn't concern you at all? Considering most people didn't almost die like Izuku and Ochako, then the bar for 'rescue points' honestly must have been in the ground, like helping someone when they fell or something. And here, in UA, an elite school for Heroes, whose job is to save people, Bakugou scored zero rescue points. Like, I don't expect him to not get in over this, but it'd be nice if, instead of everyone fawning over him, from literally page one, someone could go, 'Hey, I don't like the looks of that'.

Then we transition to Izuku and All Might, and I guess that answers the question of, 'Why couldn't All Might help Izuku get in?': because he knew Izuku wouldn't want that.

I. I'm actually not sure of that? He wouldn't want attention, at least. But whatever, ultimately, the problem I have with that is All Might literally just dropped him in the exam with absolutely zero Quirk experience when, from all accounts, he could helped him get in somehow, Mr. Number One Hero, but....

Alright, bear with me a second. In theory, letting him earn his way is fine, but in practice, there's no fucking way Izuku should have passed if he didn't accidently crack the morality cheat for this exam, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize this. At the same time, though, it's clear he doesn't deserve to be recommended student, yet, because again, he's a total noob, and I doubt he'd pass that exam, either, since it's just a giant race.

I think, ultimately, the problem here is Izuku is in a position where there's no reasonable way for him to pass, period. And I can't really blame anyone other than Hori, since, you know, author, and it goes back to what I said last time about he just set up Izuku to struggle for struggling's sake. And the thing is, he could still have had a hard time at at exam, but not have been so damn helpless about it; I mean, in all honesty the only reason Uraraka survived (as far as we can tell those robots are not safety proofed) is that he just so happened to have his Baby's First Quirk moment at that very moment, and since his Quirk is on the level of a fucking god he accidentallyed a robot that could step on a fucking Gundam. If it wasn't for protagonist level plot armor, in other words, Ochako should be dead, which... is a realization. Izuku has no way to fight the robots, or win the race, other then exploding himself, and this setup, for someone who is theoretically supported by the most powerful and influential man in the country, who is literally on the staff, doesn't really make sense. It'd be one thing if was literally nobody, but he's not: he's All Might's apprentice and heir. He is the exact opposite of nobody, but the story never really treats his situation like that; it be easy enough for them to swing it as him being Heroic royalty if All Might and Izuku were more pretentious (you could debate about the destabilizing effect of that, but all things considered All Might retiring and/or having an heir before everything went to shit actually could have been helpful, even if it made Izuku's life infinitely more complicated).

I just don't like that whole situation, basiclly, both with Izuku's capabilities and how hands off All Might suddenly is when he was helping him train daily literally to the actual day of the exam.

And then All Might admits he saw the problem of Izuku's control coming and did... nothing about that. Is. Is the reason All Might is inside OFA because it took his entire personality on the way out? A few chapters ago he was worried about Izuku exercising too hard, and now he's all, 'It's fine', with this apocalyptically powerful Quirk? And, now that it's established that there is a problem with his control, why isn't he trying to help with that problem? Like... at all?

See, this is what I was talking about last time: Arc One All Might is this committed, focused trainer who is expertly pushing Izuku's body just a hair from his absolutely limits on the daily and devotes large portions of his time to helping him improve. Arc Two All Might is just letting him blow up his arms for no apparent reason, while barely ever having time for the child with the legacy of his teacher and like, the primeval spirit of heroics inside him.

And, to top it off, there's the knowledge that he's never going to recover from this change; it only get worse from this point on.

Good bye, Competent Might. I'll miss you.

...And, here's Bakugou. And, with peerless Bakugou Logic (TM), even though he's in the best heroic school period, he's still treating his classmates as extras. Literally.

Pause here; random tangent time.

You know, early Bakugou's story has the shape of a 'big fish in a little pond' story, but have you realized his Quirk is perfect for that as well?

So, the thing is Explosion is a good Quirk, but it's just that: good. It's better than... seventy, eighty percent of Quirks we see, than most of his classmates. Then there's presumably another ten percent of equal Quirks, somewhere....

And then that last ten percent make Explosion look like kid shit. It's hard to remember with how chronically underused it is, but Momo's Quirk is terrifying with some work. I would bet that there's a chemical that neutralizes nitro she could pull out, which would neatly defang Bakugou, for example. Or, a blast of water, to get rid of his sweat, so there's nothing for him to blow up. Or, his actual, canon weakness, cold; fire extinguishers, anyone?

And that's not even mentioning Shoto. And this isn't later story Shoto, who is a side character in his own story, oh no, this is Earlyroki, who can solo the entire class with minimal effort on his part (except Izuku, but that's the starting point of their relationship, Shoto acknowledge him as a potential threat). This is Shoto before the nerfs rolled in.

The set up for the 'small pond' shit is honestly perfect, but Hori just never commits to it. Worse yet, to get around the limits he put in on Bakugou's Quirk, he just... starts breaking his own rules, all the way back with the Sports Festival (coming... at some point!), and it's super disappointing when you realize how great this could have been for realigning Bakugou's ego.

...Alright. Got off track there. Let's stop talking about Bakugou, and start talking about Iida! Iida who apologizes, and acknowledges Izuku! Iida who calls out Bakugou on his shit! Far more wholesome.

And then Uraraka shows up, and I'm pretty sure this is the end of his, 'OMG a girl I literally can't talk' phase, but again, nice to see someone acknowledge Izuku's existence and not hate him...

Ah, Bakugou flashback. I don't hate this, for once, because while it's Bakugou's flashback, it's about Izuku, and his growth, and him standing up for himself, even a little bit. Self affirmation is always nice to see...

And there's a homeless man who broke in! How talented. Wait, that's not a homeless man, that's just an adult who doesn't give a shit about personal hygiene!

(If you're new here, welcome to my blog. As you may have realized, I am not an Aizawa stan.)

(And yes, Bakugou, you tell that ball to die. How dare it be round!)

Welcome, everyone to Eraserhead Land, a world where you don't need to know things like where the consoler is, because mental health for law enforcement personal armed with dangerous superpowers is for losers! Welcome ceremony? Feeling accomplishment about getting into a top school? Possibly learning important things when everyone is gathered in one place? Naaah. If you're not stressed, miserable, and on edge, you're not doing it right!

To those unfamiliar with my posts, you may think I'm joking. I'm not.

Literally, the whole, 'Last place gets expelled bit'? Is because the kids were excited. All Might confirms that, yes, Aizawa absolutely would have kicked someone out.

Dadzawa Fans: 'Ah yes, the "Aizawa Critical" theory. The idea that Dadzawa is false and that the man in question is in fact deeply flawed and acts in incredibly traumatizing and Quirkist ways that should have massive negative repercussions on everyone he has ever taught. We have dismissed this claim.'

Me, deadass watching Aizawa prepare to kick someone out of school because some kids were happy: *blinks in visible confusion*

...This is a man in deep need of therapy. Which probably explains his views on guidance counselors.

Oh, and then Izuku neatly sums up my problem with how his life goes, that can basiclly be applied at any given moment : "My (insert normal thing here) has turned into a huge ordeal!"

Anyways, time for a bunch of tests that, by design, Eraserhead could never pass. And of course, we can't go five minutes (or five seconds, sometimes), without yet another demonstration of how unreasonable Bakugou is, what with him blasting Izuku in the race, which is actual sabotage.

Aizawa... sees no problem with this, apparently. Give it a couple of years, and we'll see an enterprising class take that to its logical conclusion, and murder and/or maim one or more of their fellow classmates for the win!

And now we have a flashback where, surprisingly (? I'm not actually sure if that should be surprising at this point) All Might actually tried to advise Izuku... by basiclly telling him to dial it back, but otherwise to figure it out himself.

You.... You had this Quirk. This exact Quirk. Why is your advice so useless?

Then we have a single panel of the long jump where I half think Bakugou ended up sabotaging Izuku again; why are these kids doing all these at the same time, again?

And then it comes out: Aizawa had already singled out Izuku, even before class, for him passing the exam at all, which didn't 'make sense'.

(With how the exam was set up, Izuku could have passed with minimal stress on his part if he just helped people instead of trying to deal with the robots all. Unironically, I don't think you actually need to interact with the robots at all, in the exam about fighting the robots. This is, as far as I can tell, a valid strategy, and it's not Izuku's fault that it rewards people for helping, bloody fuck.)

I'd bet this entire thing was just because of Izuku, so he could bump him out with minimal justification on his part. He flat out says he doesn't like All Might (an 'insufferable' hero) and compares Izuku to him directly. Like, god this is so damn targeted, and we have All Might watching, internally monologuing about how Eraserhead hates him and he's helpless to protect Izuku...

...Some the fuck how. The Number One Hero is helpless to protect his heir from a clearly biased attempt to get rid of him, when the principal is in the know about important he is. And he seems remarkably fine with his student's seemingly impediment expulsion.

'I can't help him! I'm just going to stand here watching from behind a corner instead of making sure Nezu knows how ABSOLUTELY LIVID I'll be if he gets expelled, or preparing to leverage my immense fame and influence to help, or maybe threatening Eraserhead if he takes his dislike of me out on an innocent student! Nope, no way I can contribute here, oh well, sorry for being such a waste of space Izuku, you're on your own.'

...What the fuck is this? This doesn't make sense! I bought into the narrative of this the first time I read it but now that I've stopped to think about it for five seconds this entire arc is collapsing in on itself.

Why did you make Izuku's mentor the most powerful person on the planet, with the ability to command legions of devoted fans, who single handedly changed how an entire country looks at heroes, if you were going to make him so fucking helpless?!

And then, the cherry on top of all of this is Izuku 'grows' by only breaking his finger, and this fills Aizawa with apparent delight.

Bloody hell. Here, let me summarize my impression of Aizawa after reading this arc again:

"The longer Eraserhead is observed, the more terrible a teacher he becomes."

And now we reach the next chapter, where Bakugou promptly attacks Izuku for the crime of having a Quirk, and Aizawa stops him before... whining. About dry eye.

Mr. "I expel entire classes" yet again sees no problem with students fighting each other, apparently, which is more evidence for my Bloody Mist style Class 1-A theory; we already have discount Kakashi, whose entire character is basiclly badly copied copy ninja characterization, so we might as well get young!Zabuza or something as well.

Oh, I almost forgot Aizawa's first lesson to his students: you can never trust anything I say, ever, because I can, and will, lie to you, for no reason at all, at any moment at all, even when what you think are real-life consequences are on the line, and if you fall for it that's your mistake for falling for a 'logical ruse'.

Talk about a trust building exercise, huh? Clearly, this is Best Father Figure.

Meanwhile, can I mention how nonsensical All Might teaching when he has a time limit is? Why the hell is he wasting his waning moments of power, which could be used for so many more important things than standing there while the students gawk at him? Teach as Skele-Might, or watch the security cameras or something.

...Huh. My translation doesn't have 'Dekiru' in it, even though we had Ochaka accidently call Izuku Deku. Was that later or did whoever did this just not put it in...?

Welp. This was immensely frustrating. Good thing the next arc isn't going to have anything at all concerning, SOD breaking, or horrible in it, right?

#bnha critical #mha critical #bakugou critical #aizawa critical #The 'Great' MHA Read Along #well this got worse fast #goodbye competent might #hello dumb might #the arc one to two whiplash #struggling for struggling's sake #i have no idea what i'm doing #but i'm glad tumbler now knows to offer this tag to me #what the fuck did i just bring upon this cursed land

[jazzthatonewriterchick]

Lovers & Friends (18+ Fic)

Pairing: Keigo Takami x Black!Fem!Reader (Friends to Lovers)

Synopsis: In which you and Keigo have begun to realize the strange new feelings you both have for each other after one drunken night at a close friend’s wedding that ends with you in his bed, but because of your longtime friendship and committed relationships with other people, you’re more than happy to forget that night even happened and keep your mutual feelings in the dark…for now, at least. 

Story Warnings: Smutty smut; 18+ (MINORS GET AWAY); Cheating/Infidelity; Mating; Light Degradation; Spanking; Exhibitionism; Multiple Positions; Creampie; Unprotected PIV Sex; Facial; Scent Play; Marking; Spitting; Deepthroating; Cunnilingus; Begging; Edgeplay; Power Play; Wing-Stroking; Daddy Kink; Some Angst; Hurt/Comfort; Mild Violence

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters mentioned in this fic. However, as this is my writing, I do not give permission for my work to be reposted on any other sites that are not from my own accounts. Thank you!

Writer's Note: Got 2 new chapters for y'all!! Yes, my baby daddy Dabi makes an appearance. And I'm planning on writing some spooky shit for Halloween soon so stay tuned. I fucking THRIVE in the fall. And has anyone been watching the new live-action One Piece?? That shit is GOOD. I can't wait till I get to see my baby Chopper, Robin & ACE. When we get Law, I apologize for the horiness. -Jazz

Chapters: One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen. Sixteen. Seventeen. Eighteen. Nineteen. Twenty. Bonus Chapter.

Read on AO3 here!

***********

Chapter Nine: Caught Up.

Keigo closes his laptop and leans back into the chair behind his desk, feet up and wishing for this day to be over already. 

“Thank God,” he sighs to the ceiling, glad to finally be out of that meeting he swore was longer than an hour. He had met with the Musutafu police department chief, the city commission, and the Hero’s Public Safety Commission aka the HPSC aka a pain in his ass regarding putting more of Hawks’ agency heroes out on patrols during the day.

While Keigo knew the meeting was important, he was fading in and out of sleep during the entire thing. Which led to his third iced coffee of the day. He knows his stomach will hate him later, but it works to keep him awake for the next few hours until the day is through. 

After checking his watch and realizing lunch is in an hour, he gets up from his desk with his Starbucks cup full of iced coffee and walks over to his kitchenette settled in the corner. He walks straight over to the Keurig coffee machine and takes a sugar packet from the silver holder next to the row of glass mugs, coffee pods, and a bowl of packaged snacks specifically set for him and any other guest he has in his office. 

Though he doesn’t seem like it, Keigo is very selfish when it comes to his office and who he lets in it. Like his penthouse, he considers his office to be another sanctuary for him when he isn’t doing hero work or any work that comes with being the CEO of his own agency. He’s had this agency since he was eighteen, so it has changed in many ways–from the inclusion of different heroes, regardless of size, gender, or quirk, to the interior design of his office. 

Keigo’s high-rise office used to be a bit smaller than it is now, but after racking in more money with his agency and brand deals, it has grown in size. It can now house about fifteen people instead of one, coming with a kitchenette with stainless steel appliances, his own private bathroom and shower, furniture for nap time, and a flat-screen and window overlooking the city behind his mahogany desk and walls of awards and framed photos of close friends. 

When he is here, he is at peace, finally able to be Keigo and not Hawks for once. Any guest he allows in here must also respect his space, which most of them do. You were one of them. Though you work at the same agency as Rumi, you’d always come in here during your lunch breaks to eat up all his snacks and drink up the saki he kept in his fridge. Because he loved you, he’d always let you, and then you’d gossip about which pro is fucking which and watch movies until you fell asleep until it was time to go back to work. 

He always looked forward to those times…and now they’re over. Keigo lowers his coffee onto the marbled counter and leans against it, tilting his head up to the ceiling. He knows he’s being dramatic, but he may as well be right. At this rate, you and he will never be the same again. 

It’s been two weeks since he made the biggest mistake of his entire life at that hotel. Since then, you and he haven’t spoken. And it’s fucking killing him! He and you talk almost every single day, even if it’s about nothing at all, so to go two weeks without hearing your sweet voice is like two years. It takes everything in him to not shoot you a text or call you to say hi, knowing you don’t want to speak to him right now. 

And plus, he can’t be sure he’d even know what to say to you. He’s wracked his brain for days and for so many sleepless nights trying to figure out what to say when he finally sees you…if he finally sees you. He doesn’t even know if he could look you in your eyes after knowing what they look like when you cum…among other things. 

Images of you that he shouldn’t be conscious of swim in his head now. You and that night are on his mind, day in and day out. He daydreams of your body at every hour of the day–at work; in the car; while patrolling, cooking, or exercising at the gym. All he sees is your soft naked skin and braids splayed out on the pillows, your legs thrown over his shoulders and your sweet moans in his ear. 

It gets much worse at night. When he closes his eyes, he sees you above him, your gorgeous tits and dark nipples jiggling in his face as your perfect little pussy squeezes around his cock. He can almost smell your perfume in his sheets, feel the warmth of your body in his bed throughout the night. You haunt him constantly, filling his mind with the sights of your soft lips wrapped around his hard dick and your beautiful thighs wrapped around his waist as he drills into you. 

It’s gotten so bad that he’s been avoiding sex with Sakura, making up stories that he’s been sick or working late hours at the office. He hates what he’s become and he hates that you’re the reason for it. 

And then there’s the nesting part. Keigo has tried in vain to block that part out of his memory, but the fact that his stupid hawk hybrid instincts see you as his mate still firmly stands. It’s even worse that hawks mate for life. This means that if you were to ever end up with him, Keigo is locking you the fuck down. You’d be his forever. 

The question he has though is how the hawk half of his brain came to this conclusion. Was it the sex? Was that night just validation of how he already felt about you? Has he always thought of you as his mate? His best friend?

“Fuck,” he growls lowly, running his hands through his blonde locks before dragging them down his face. How did this all manage to go so wrong? 

A sudden knock at his office door stops him from wallowing in his guilt for too long. “Mr. Hawks said he isn’t seeing anyone right now!” Tokoyami, one of Keigo’s summer interns from UA, protests from outside the door. “You need to come back later!” 

“Relax, Tokoyami!” Toyu, his assistant for the summer (also from UA), laughs. “I just need to drop these off.” Another knock comes and Keigo sighs. “Come in,” he calls, leaning against the counter. 

The door opens, revealing Toyu in her floating blazer and skirt, and a very nervous Tokoyami. “I-I tried to stop her, sir,” he stutters. 

Keigo waves him off, giving him a reassuring smile. “Sorry to bother you, Mr. Takami!” Toyu chirps as she floats (or walks?) into the room, a binder in her invisible hand. Keigo sighs as he picks up his iced coffee and meets them across the room. “Hawks, Toyu,” he tiredly corrects her for the fifth time since she started at the agency in May. “Call me Hawks.” 

“Sorry, Mr. Hawks!” Toyu corrects herself, earning an eye roll from Keigo and a snicker from Dark Shadow. Tokyoyami shushes him. “But I have the rundown on everything for the next week if you wanna take a peek.”

Keigo looks at the color-coded binder, the urge to stomp his foot and throw a tantrum growing inside of him. ‘It’s always something.’ Can’t he have just one week without doing anything at all? “Oh, thanks,” he says, giving both of the UA students a grateful smile. “Go to lunch early today. Come back whenever you wish. If anyone gives you shit, tell ‘em to call me.” 

Toyu excitedly thanks him before shooing a wide-eyed Tokoyami out of the room. Now that he is alone again, Keigo slouches down into his wheeled chair behind his mahogany desk and flips through the binder to next week. He sips his coffee, reading each event set for next week, Monday through Friday (minus the weekends but the weekends are rarely free for Keigo). Day patrol; lunch-in with All Might and his agency team; a visit to the Musutafu police department… 

“Shit, another meeting?” he quietly laments when he gets to next Wednesday. This time with Nike for a photoshoot. Then he has to meet with the HPSC next Friday to talk about taking precautions for new villains. Keigo tosses the binder onto his desk, huffing.

He knows he won’t be able to focus on any of this, his mind too hung up on you. “Fuck,” he exhaustively groans, leaning his head back against his chair. 

“Well, sounds like you’re havin’ fun this week,” a familiar, raspy voice sarcastically says from behind him. Keigo’s body tenses and his wings instantly go rigid, his feathers sharpening to points. Immediately, he stands from his chair and turns around to look for the threat. 

However, it isn’t a threat at all. As soon as Keigo finds those cool-blue eyes staring at him from the darkest corner of the room where the noon sun doesn’t touch, he knows exactly who is in his office. 

Keigo squints at him, instantly relaxing. “Da fuck?” he scoffs. “Dabi?” 

The man of the hour steps out from the shadows like he has rebranded himself as a villain. He could definitely pull it off since he still has the same burn scars and staples that stand out against his pale skin like tattoos and those cold eyes that could make even the most seasoned pro shiver in their boots. The only two differences are the gray sweats that all Musutafu prisoners are allowed and the snow-white hair that he’s rocking in contrast to the stark, black locks he had while he was in LOV.

Dabi steps into the light, one hand shoved into his dangerously low sweats while the other is holding a plastic bag. “What’s poppin’, b?” he rasps, smirking at his longtime friend. 

Keigo gapes at him, overwhelmed with confusion and happiness to see him. “What the hell…how did you…how’d you get in here?” he stutters out.

Dabi waltzes over to the couch near the balcony, pretending like he was invited here. “Nice to see you too, friend,” he sarcastically replies. “You left your balcony door unlocked.” 

Keigo looks at the balcony doors and swears. He knew he forgot to do something after coming back from morning patrols. “How are you even here?” he demands, staring at Dabi like he’s some kind of supernatural being that just appeared in his office. “Aren’t you on lockdown ‘cause of that riot?” 

Dabi leans back against the couch, legs cocked open and arms slung over the back. “Relax, bird brain,” he chuckles. “The warden did some investigating and found out I had nothing to do with that riot, so I got my perks back: twenty-minute calls, one hour on the facility laptops every day if I choose, and one day of freedom every two weeks for my good behavior.” 

He kicks a foot up on the coffee table, careful to not ruin the glass surface with his sneaker. “And what better way to spend my free time than comin’ to the rescue for my very depressed and dejected friend according to Cotton Tail’s call?” 

He grins at Keigo and Keigo notices that this one reaches his eyes. It isn’t cold, crazy, or sadistic the way it used to be while he was in LOV–it’s a genuinely happy smile. He has no idea what they’re doing to Dabi in prison, but whatever it is, it’s working. He’s so happy to see his friend after weeks of separation that he nearly misses his words. “Rumi called you here?” he asks, confused. “Why?” 

Dabi gives him a look as if it should be obvious. “You’re bein’ a bitch, Rumi says.” Keigo scowls at him, even more confused. “She called me last week and didn’t say much, but she says you’ve been actin’ way off lately and begged me to talk to you. I can see why.” Dabi eyes him up and down, sizing him up. 

Keigo flushes in his designer clothes and crosses his arms over his chest, trying to hide himself from his friend’s scrutinizing gaze. He thought that he was doing a good job pretending in front of people, but obviously, he’s been caught. He should’ve known Rumi would’ve seen right through his grumpiness and blowing off club hopping with her for the past two weeks. 

“You ain’t the only one,” Dabi continues. “Apparently, Y/N’s been actin’ up too and you guys aren’t talking. What, you guys fight or somethin’?” He gives Keigo a confused scowl, not liking the idea of his friends fighting.

Keigo knows he’s been caught. However, he is more alarmed at the fact that you’re not doing any better than him. Are you okay? Are you losing sleep and avoiding all human interaction like he is too? Are you just as frustrated over him as he is over you? The urge to call or visit you rises, making him want to jet right out of this office and come to you. 

Dabi stares at him expectantly, waiting for an answer. Quickly, Keigo comes up with a lie. He already promised you he’d never tell anyone and the last thing he wants to do is break a promise he made to you, especially since the truth could destroy your entire friend group. “Look, I’m sorry,” he sighs, sitting on the edge of his desk, “but I’m just frustrated with work right now and–” 

“Bullshit,” Dabi growls, his eyes sharp. “We’ve been friends since high school, Kei. You can’t fool me; now spill.” He suddenly reaches into the plastic bag he bought and retrieves a case of beer. “Look, I got beer,” he cheerfully states, a wide grin on his face. 

Keigo blinks at him as he puts the bottle cap to his mouth and chips it off the beer with his teeth like it’s no problem. “At one in the afternoon?” he snickers. Dabi glares at him. “Hey, it’s five o’clock somewhere and I can’t get this shit in prison, so do you want one or not?” He holds a bottle out to Keigo, raising an eyebrow. 

Though Keigo knows he shouldn’t be drinking on the job, he takes one from Dabi’s anyway. A shiver runs through him as he wraps his hand around the ice-cold bottle. He quickly presses it against the edge of his desk and slams down onto the nozzle, causing the bottle cap to fly off. As soon as he takes a sip of the beer, strong, refreshing, and chilled to the bone, he feels relaxed. Relaxed enough to tell Dabi the truth about his sins. 

“Okay, you can’t tell anyone about this, understand?” he sternly says. “Y/N will murder me.” Dabi draws an X over his chest, nodding.

Keigo takes a deep breath, his heart pounding and feathers frazzled with anxiety. He cannot believe he’s doing this. “After Fatgum’s wedding, Y/N was feeling low over breaking up with Tempo, so I decided to take her to a club. Things got chaotic, we had a couple of drinks and–” 

“You had sex?” Dabi finishes. Keigo harshly bites down on his bottom lip and nods, feeling like a firecracker about to explode.

Surprisingly, Dabi doesn’t look disgusted or even the least bit upset. If anything, he looks like he isn’t even shocked. “Jeez, Keigo, it took you this long?” he scoffs. “How long have you been wanting to get in this girl’s pants?” 

“That’s not the point, Dabi!” Keigo growls, wanting to chuck his beer at the ex-villain. “I just cheated on Sakura and possibly ruined my friendship with Y/N! And that ain’t even the worst part.” He runs a hand through his locks, mentally preparing himself to confess the worst of that night: “I nested,” he quietly laments. 

A tense silence descends on them as Dabi blankly stares at him for a moment. “You mean, like…for a mate?” he carefully asks.

Keigo nods slowly, ashamed before he watches as Dabi spits out his beer, coughing with guffaws and a high-pitched laugh that doesn’t sound anything like his regular, deep, raspy voice. 

Keigo growls at him, irked. “It’s not funny!” he snaps. “Cut it out, you crispy bitch, before I toss your ass off my balcony!”

Dabi tosses his head back, hollering at the ceiling. “That’s the funniest shit I ever heard!” he says through his hysterical laughter. Keigo flushes bright red with humiliation, just as red as his wings. “Wait, so, Y/N is your mate?” Dabi finally asks as he wipes away tears. 

Keigo flinches slightly at that term coming from someone else’s lips: mate. The idea of you–his best friend, his partner in crime–being his mate is something he just can’t believe. “Not officially, but obviously, my body and stupid animal instincts think so. And no, I’ve never done nested for Sakura or any other person I’ve dated. Y/N is the only one.” 

He sighs, lowering his beer down onto his desk. “I guess sleeping with her that night was what my body needed to validate that,” he admits. Dabi hums in agreement, kicking another foot up onto the coffee table. “Guess it was that good,” he mutters. 

“It was that good,” Keigo confesses in anguish. “That’s the problem. I can’t even look at her the same way.”

He covers his face in shame, but all he sees behind them is you and your gorgeous, naked body. “Jesus, Dabs, what the fuck am I gonna do?” he sobs. Dabi chugs down his beer, barely even looking concerned despite his two friends having sex. “Well,” he starts, “and this just came to me…you could always talk to the girl instead of actin’ like none of this happened and you don’t want to break her back again.” 

Keigo stares at him, dumbfounded. Does he understand the dilemma here? “I can’t!” he protests. “If I do, she’ll never look at me the same way again. It’ll ruin our friendship even more.” He feels a pang of something in his chest at the idea of never seeing you again. Despite his love for you, he could never toss away your friendship. You mean too much to him. 

Dabi quietly belches and tosses his beer can perfectly in the trash can behind Keigo’s couch. He then stretches his muscled arms high over his head, grunting as he does so like he doesn’t have a single care in the world. “Well, you do what you want,” he sighs, "but just know this will fuck up the crew’s dynamic anyway now that we all know you slung a dick in our mutual friend.” He smirks at a bristling Keigo as leans back into the couch. 

“This was not the advice I wanted, dickhead,” Keigo deadpans. Dabi cocks his head at him, raising a brow. “Fuck I look like?” he asks, deadass. “A psychiatrist?” Keigo considers kicking his ass out before something begins to methodically beep from somewhere on Dabi. The white-haired man looks down at his ankle and pulls up his pants leg to reveal the red light flashing on it. 

Dabi tsks, looking irked at his ankle monitor. “Gotta go,” he sighs, rising from his seat. “My appointment is about to start before I have to head back to the facility.” He heads over to Keigo and claps him on the shoulder before walking over to the open balcony door. 

“Appointment?” Keigo repeats, confused. “For what?” Dabi stands in the sunlight, his hair illuminated by the sun’s rays, making him look almost ethereal. “Sex therapy,” he replies. “Says it does wonders for stress. You should try it.” Before Keigo can reply, his friends is jumping over the balcony and climbing down the building from there like a madman. 

Keigo rushes over to the balcony and watches as his friend finishes climbing down the rest of the building before getting into the backseat of a slick, black car that can only be paid by the Musutafu prison. Before the car takes off, Dabi rolls down the window and gives Keigo the finger, the sound of his laughter intertwined with the summer wind as the car pulls away from the agency. 

Keigo shakes his head at him. While Dabi was never good with advice, he definitely knows how to make you forget about your problems for once with some laughter. “Prick,” he chuckles and shuts the balcony doors before getting back to reality. 

#friends to lovers #keigo takami x black reader #hawks x black reader #feral hawks is the only hawks #black fanfic writer #smutty smut #bnha smut #my fic shit #black coded reader #keigo takami #my works #hawks smut

[bnhayyy]

Less shipping: top ten platonic m/f friendships.

Oh man… not gonna lie, I’m kinda disappointed that you specified male/female friendship, because there are also a lot of same-gender relationships that I enjoy platonically, but don’t particularly ship. (Hello Sokka and Zuko) However! I think I’ve come up with a pretty good spread for this list.

My qualifications for a paring to appear on this list were simple:

The pairing is not romantic in canon.

I, personally, do not ship them.

The dynamic is not paternal or that of a mentor and mentee. That would get its own list.

Friendships are ranked by no metric other than my personal enjoyment of them. With that out of the way, let’s get started!

10. Sandstorm & Graystripe (Warrior Cats)

Holy childhood flashbacks, batman! I’ll admit that it’s been a long time since I’ve read warriors, but I remember that I really enjoyed it whenever these two interacted. They were Firestar’s most important people, and maybe their character arcs didn’t really involve each other, but damn if they didn’t have some good chemistry.

9. Sam Temple & Diana Ladris (Gone)

Another one from my childhood. Sam and Diana might have initially been presented as a “hero” and Diana a “villain”, but as the series progressed and black and white morality gave way to shades of gray, it became apparent that the situation was more complicated than that. They were just scared kids who made a metric fuckton of mistakes between them. After everything they went through, it was nice to see them find some measure of solace in their friendship with each other.

8. Aang & Toph Bei Fong (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

I don’t really have a deep or moving explanation here. I just really liked them? It might not have been quite as bad as Toph and Katara, but their differences in personalities and moral philosophies made them clash pretty badly at first. However, they also weren’t too dissimilar at their core - two children bound by societal expectations who wished to be free. It was nice seeing them learn to get along.

7. Narancia Ghirga & Trish Una (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind)

Fuck, man. Just fuck me up. All of their little interactions over the course of the series were great, but the thing that really earned them their place on the list? This scene, right here. (Gold Wind spoilers ahoy) Seeing Narancia emphasize with Trish so strongly and go on to fight for her so fiercely, and then seeing how much he clearly meant to her in the end… my heart is in ribbons.

6. Tsukiyama Shuu & Hori Chie | Touka Kirishima & Amon Koutaru (Tokyo Ghoul)

Yes, I’m cheating and doing a tie for number six. My first impulse was to give the slot to Amon and Touka. They’re a pair of characters with a lot of bad blood between them who both let themselves get deeply entrenched in the cycle of revenge. Not only was their conversation a powerful piece of wish-fulfillment moment for me, but actually seeing them bury the hatchet and become something like friends was even better. However, it was only one chapter, and Amon and Akira’s ambiguous ending means that we don’t know if they kept in touch and pursued a friendship or that was it for them. 

For that reason, I am also shining the spotlight on Tsukiyama Shuu and Hori Chie. He is a murderous ghoul and picky eater, the infamous gourmet. She is a reckless human photographer, doing whatever it takes to feel alive. Together, they are unapologetic degenerates. Their relationship is actually very sweet and wholesome in :re as well, but this paragraph is reserved for degeneracy. Have you read the Days light novel? If not, buy it, read it, and be amazed.

Note: I did consider using Saiko and Mutsuki, but decided not to because the amount of discourse surrounding Mutsuki while the manga was being published thoroughly prevented me from enjoying his character whatsoever. It wasn't anything to do with the actual content of the manga or how the character was written. He was my least favorite character in the series for a good long while purely because of the fan wank surrounding him, which was incredibly obnoxious and neigh-unavoidable for a time. Although I appreciate and enjoy the character now, it felt dishonest to put Mutsuki and Saiko on the list when I wanted nothing more than for him to disappear from the manga for so long. 

On a semi-similar note, I also considered doing Saiko and Urie! However, I decided not to since I do ship Urisai romantically as well. 

5. Erza Scarlet & Gray Fullbuster (Fairy Tail)

Like I said in my last list, Fairy Tail didn’t draw me for the plot, but its character dynamics. Although the romantic relationships are my personal highlight, there is no denying that it also has some spectacular platonic dynamics. Gray and Erza are one of them. Erza started the series as intimidating and bold, yet closed-off and reserved when it came to her personal feelings. Gray was one of the only characters who knew that she wasn’t absolutely untouchable. When she first showed up at Fairy Tail, he was intrigued by this ridiculously strong girl and kept pushing her to fight him (and getting absolutely trounced). One day, he went to confront her again, only to find her crying and come to the staggering realization that she is not only just a human being, but a hella traumatized one at that. After that, he swore not to let anything make her cry again. Come the Tower of Heaven arc, he fails, which is what triggers this flashback. Character development saw Erza open up more and Gray’s own list of important people expand, but this particular friendship still holds a special place in my heart. (Erza’s interactions with Gray and Natsu are also just really entertaining in general.)

4. Sasha Braus & Connie Springer (Attack on Titan)

(This segment contains spoilers for the final season of Attack on Titan)

Sasha and Connie's interactions were always a delight in this series. For a long time, I wasn't sure if I preferred them as a platonic or romantic couple, so I was surprised by how relieved I was when Isayama gave Sasha a different love interest and allowed her relationship with Connie to remain strictly platonic. This is probably because it did not undermine the strength of their relationship in any way. Sasha and Connie are a good example of how platonic relationships can really be your strongest bond, and when she died, you felt it. Connie and Jean were devastated, with Connie in particular going in a spiral in which he almost crossed a point of no return. It hurt like hell, but it was a good hurt. 

3. Ebisu & Fujita (Dorohedoro)

I loved these two dumbasses? So much? Which is kinda unusual, since I found both of the characters pretty annoying on their own, but they grew on me through their interactions with each other. Also, look at this scene from the blue night arc. Superb. How can you not love them? 

Note: I'll admit that I did seriously consider Nikaido and Kamen for this slot. They probably would have gotten number two if I went with them. However, as I'm an anime-only and suspect that their relationship may turn romantic before the series is over, I decided to eer on the edge of caution. Of course, the same risk theoretically exists for Fujita and Ebisu, but it feels less likely. 

2. Donna Noble & 10 (Doctor Who)

Yes, I love them. Yes, that is all that I can say about that without crying. Seriously. Seek out any Davies era Doctor Who fan - they'll probably do a better job of explaining why they're so brilliant than my inelegant blubbering. 

Thematically dedicating a whole-ass season to Donna Noble was one of the only good choices Moffat made, fight me

1. Xander Harris & Willow Rosenberg (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Willow and Xander were close childhood friends whose relationship was featured again and again over the course of the series. I knew from the moment I received this prompt that they were going to be my number one. But the reason they got my number one slot specifically? 

(Major spoilers for season six of BtVS ahead) 

The yellow crayon speech. 

Season six was flawed, both on a story level and on a more intentional in-universe level. Xander and Willow were at their worst for the majority of it. When the finale came, Willow took that to the next level, lashing out at the people she loves and eventually trying to destroy the world in her grief. Xander was no exception to that, as the above clip shows. But after a season where he was most memorable for getting scared and running away, he saved the world by refusing to leave his best friend. Watching the fight drain out of Willow as Xander starts to get through to her, until she eventually breaks down crying in his arms, still brings me to tears. After a generally shoddy season, it reminded me what I love about the show, which wouldn't have worked if Willow and Xander's friendship wasn't strong enough that this cheesy "save the world by talking" ending felt genuinely earned. 

#answered #Museflight's top 10 #warrior cats #AtLA #Gone series #JJBA #Tokyo Ghoul #Fairy Tail #Attack on Titan #Dorohedoro #Doctor Who #Buffy the Vampire Slayer

[bokunoheroanalysisforthefuture]

Alright, chapter 8! And man is there a lot to talk about here. I don’t really have any pre-content things to say, so we’ll just hop right into it today!

[No. 8 - Rage, You Damned Nerd]

I swear, this first page has a LOT to talk about on it, so I’ll go from panel to panel and do some rambling thoughts on each segment. 

First off, UA doesn’t actually handle the costumes the kids get! It’s support companies affiliated with the school that does - which makes sense, since the school has to focus on teaching their support students before letting them get their hands on actual costumes that these kids might be fighting in.

I mean, they seem to be allowed to practice on like, minor support stuff (read: Mei making Izuku his new gloves post-Nighteye or somewhere around there) but not full costuming, which is… actually a bit reassuring? But also explains some of the lag time in getting costume repairs / upgrades since they’re probably busy companies. It also explains why there probably aren’t major alterations to any costumes besides between the summer and winter variants, since it would be time-consuming to remake these costumes so regularly.

(It still doesn’t excuse some of the costumes the kids got, but that’s more on the whole ‘eye candy’ thing for readers than actual practicality, so whatever.)

(Also, I can’t get over the fact that Snipe has a support company. Fucking Snipe. Guess we know another canon or likely-canon Support teacher.)

Next we get a preview of what the kids sent in for specifications for their costumes:

We get a bit of insight into a few of the characters - as background stuff, we get Shouji, Mineta, Aoyama, and Sato. Mineta got pretty dunked on for char design and costuming, and Aoyama’s costume almost looks like a magical girl outfit like this, which honest to god would have been fantastic to see him in. More interesting (at least to me) are the other three: Ochako, Tenya, and Katsuki.

Ochako first, because that pressure point thing is interesting, and I dunno how often those actually come up in fics besides a passing mention, like. What if her support bracelets / neck piece broke during training / a mission / whatever? Would she suddenly have to fight through the nausea? By the point of current canon (War Arc) she’s probably trained enough that she doesn’t need them as much, but man, it could be an interesting little thing to explore, like, post-Kamino.

Tenya is a bit surprising, since we know he comes from a well-off hero family. Logically, this was before the whole Hosu / Ingenium plotline was really developed, so Tenya didn’t have that to fall back on, or it could be argued that the support company that Ingenium is associated with also works with UA. Alternatively, it could be that either Tenya didn’t want to rely on his family (which seems silly when they’d know how to work with his quirk best) or UA is very firm on ALL costume stuff going through them…

But then again, Katsuki. Oh god, Katsuki. What fucking support company looked at this kid and went ‘yeah we should give him a way to store more explosives AND give him bombs’ and just. Did so. Why did UA not vet that. Maybe the support company didn’t realize how strong his explosions were without the gear, but UA, man, I just. I suppose they had no way of knowing how reckless he’d be with them, but honestly, after the battle trials, they should have been fucking yoinked from him so damned fast. 

Anyways, onto other parts of Katsuki’s costume, we see he’s a fucking dork. Possibly what lowered their guard. ‘Something scary’ and ‘Dynamighte all over’. What the hell, kid. At least your designer stuck close to your design… including the huge-ass clunky gauntlets. Man, the Musketeer Trio movie poster ones are so much better looking and so, so streamlined. Works of art, they are.

Moving on, we get a bit of a flashback to ~three weeks ago, which by the calendar would be around March 20th? So a few weeks after the Entrance Exam. And Izuku is only NOW getting around to updating the quirk registry? Izuku baby seriously, how the FUCK did none of the UA staff notice the ‘quirkless’ on your application form at any point before this?

But yeah, he’s worried about his registry, so he calls Toshinori, who explains the update process. It gives the example of someone who might alter their stuff with updated information, with one or two allowed - though major ones aren’t accepted. Toshinori then says it’ll probably be okay since he started with nothing, then tries to correct himself to ‘definitely’, only to get cut off because Izuku accidentally hangs up in a panic when Inko calls out that she’s home. Haha poor Toshinori, and poor Izuku, the two anxious dumbasses. 

Anyways, moving on from that is Inko showing off the jumpsuit she made, with Izuku surprised. She admits it’s not the coolest, but she based it off of the design in his notebook (the one we saw back in chapter 1). She tells him she regrets giving up on him back then, and how he never quit regardless of her faith. She apologizes and says from there on she’ll be cheering him on with all she’s got. 

Izuku’s narration notes that it’s a symbol of his mom’s love, and that he couldn’t wear anything else, even if it’s not ‘efficient’ or ‘cutting edge’. (Or even at all decent looking.) And it’s also hinted through the present thoughts on it that it’s meant to be an homage to All Might (the smile and the hair pieces) which is just such a dorky thing.

We get to the wide-spread of hero costumes, which- wait a second.

That’s Momo’s initial hero costume design???? Why did Hori not stay with that??? It’s a LOT better than the stuff we’ve seen her in later! Like, sure, it’d still be improved with the main opening being her stomach and not her chest, but this still looks like actual human clothing and not a sexy Halloween costume variant of her hero uniform. Fucking hell, now I’m even more mad.

Tsuyu’s costume meets the approval of the discord server as basically ‘no changes needed’ asides from maybe the goggles being a bit bulky.

Tenya’s costume, I’m sorry, I know it’s an homage to your brother / family, but were the additional pipes really needed? Also, the helmet isn’t a bad idea since he goes fast, and bugs in the mouth/teeth have to suck, but it just looks so damned Gundam-y I can’t help but laugh a little.

Shouto… nah, too easy a target.

Aoyama is Aoyama. I’m actually a bit disappointed now that it’s not a magical girl costume, but alas, I suppose even Hori couldn’t be that brave.

Kaminari… I forgot he had that headset thingy. 

Don’t really have much else to say about anyone else, so let’s move on.

Izuku bugs out a bit about Ochako’s costume/appearance, while she compliments his more practical looks and laments not being specific, saying it’s a bit too puffy and curvy for her. Which means it’s more the accessories which seem to be her issue with it over the main costume itself? Huh.

Anyways, after All Might confirms they’re all there, he notices Izuku’s headpieces, which are a match to his costume, and has to turn to muffle a laugh for how obvious a reference it is. Tenya steps up, asking whether they’ll be doing cityscape maneuvers again since it’s the same field used in the entrance exam. Izuku thinks to himself how cool Tenya’s costume is, while All Might explains that they’re moving onto step two - indoor anti-personnel battle training!

He explains what while villain battles are most commonly seen outdoors, statistically the worst crimes and villains are more likely to be found indoors. Confinement, house arrest, black market deals… the clever villains luck indoors to avoid heroes. Which is why the class will be split into teams of two and pit against each other, heroes versus villains style!

Ah, Tsuyu. Calling him right the heck out, as expected. All Might then notes that in this scenario, the fight won’t be against disposable robots. 

This entire page is just fucking hilarious. The class and all their questions while All Might is shaking with nerves. The fucking cheat sheet he uses to try to get back on track. Him being questioned on the lot drawing, and shaking while Izuku accidentally ends up covering for him. I just. All Might was not prepared for this mess and it shows. He was doing so much better when it was the one on one stuff with Izuku.

But yeah, Izuku notes the scenario is like from a western comic plot, and he’s also the one who ‘realizes’ the lots are like when heroes from different agencies have to team up for emergencies without prior warning. 

Lots are drawn, and we have our teams:

Izuku’s so stressed out because he still can’t really talk to her, while she’s excited to be teamed up and calls it ‘fate’ that it happened. All Might draws the first two teams to participate, and… team Izuku and Ochako (as the heroes) versus team Katsuki and Tenya (as the villains). Both Izuku and Katsuki are alert from this development…

Which makes this a good point to cut off, since it’s halfway through and we got a lot of information to chew on already. Second part should be out this weekend (hopefully). 

#chapter 8 #readthrough #opening arcs #boku no hero academia #my hero academia #midoriya izuku #uraraka ochako #iida tenya #yagi toshinori #bakugou katsuki #midoriya inko #class 1a #izuku's first costume was fucking hideous #thank god hori / the support company improved on it afterwards #also shouto #i don't even need to say anything when the fandom has made fun of your for me #also i cannot BELIEVE we were robbed of this momo costume #what the FUCK hori

[arkus-rhapsode]

MHA 280 Discussion: Did Kirishima Steal Mina’s Spotlight?

So, as you can all tell from this title, chapter 280 of My Hero Academia has debuted and has had some “mixed” feedback. Most of it revolving around the instance of Mina seemingly being set up as the person who was going to deliver the final dosage of anesthetic to Gigantomachia, but was instead saved by Kirishima, who actually finished the beast off.

Now as I said, this moment has been mixed, many people like it and see it as a great character opportunity for Kirishima as he finally comes full circle from the first time he froze up meeting Gigantomachia. While others see this as Horikoshi taking a potentially cool female character finally get a spotlight moment but then undermined.

Personally had to sit on this for awhile and think about how I felt about this. Mainly because I thought that this was good, but not sure how to feel about Mina being literally pushed aside. However after sometime I sorta found myself more okay with this.

Now if you want my most raw opinion, I do believe the idea of it at least being Mina’s vial used to put Giganto to sleep by Kirishima was the best possible way to handle this situation Hori wanted to tell. As it doesn’t totally erase Mina as a contributor. However upon revisiting chapter 280 and chapter 279, I believe I came up with a conclusion to my feelings on this moment.

But before I elaborate, I’d like to revisit the end of chapter 279, which built these expectations of Mina getting the big damn spotlight.

If you look at chapter 279′s ending page, it does set up Mina as being important and will likely be the to carry us into the next chapter. However, there is no defining text that indicates that she is the central hope. Mt Lady’s dialogue could apply to any able-bodied UA student at the time. As well as the structure of the page pushes Mina into the bottom.

This is not some big one full page character portrait of the one who will be central hope, but rather Mina is placed in the last panel at the bottom of the page with little narration caption that makes it seem as if she is the most important. In fact, with the way the chapter just seems to end right there, it makes it appear that Mina is more of a convenience.

Now regardless of this, there is no denying that this created an expectation by the audience to see Mina do something. Especially since the honor of a color page was devoted to Mina. Similarly, the last character centric color cover page we got was Miruko the same chapter she was the one to end on shattering Shigaraki’s tube.

And Horikoshi does follow through on this with Mina seemingly focused om as the one so close to doing throwing the vial into Gigantomachia’s mouth.

Even bothering to hone in on Mina’s own internal struggles while thinking of Midnight and then shedding her armor. Only for her to realize who Gigantomachia is and then fold because of previous trauma from the first time the met.

Now we must remember what this means for both Kirishima and Mina. As the two were both present of meeting Gigantomachia as young teens and it left an impression on both. However, if we recall the Kirishima’s flashback, it was Mina who took the initiative to protect people from Gigantomachia while Kirishima couldn’t muster himself to intervene.

But now, its the reverse, Mina is the one unable to follow through while Kirishima is the one to do this.

Now, before I cover what this means for Mina, I want to say that this is good character writing. And essentially rounds out Kirishima’s arc. The villain who was the sole root of him seconded guessing his decision to become a hero is now the person who he is standing up to.

It once again is an example of Horikoshi giving a character, no matter how minor a moment. But the root cause of the discourse on this chapter is the fact this was not a moment for Mina. Regardless if Kirishima was well written, does that make it bad writing when it comes to Mina?

Well as I observed, I think there was an expectation built by the audience, but not one that would seem like they were cheated out of the moment. I do believe we saw a “bait and switch.” People expected it to be Mina only to misdirect you and have it be Kirishima, however, outside of the color page, I can’t really say there was spotlight put on Mina beyond her conveniently being the closest person. And I think that’s where a lot of my issues come with, because I read this week to week.

Now as previously stated, chapter 279 just kind ends. And as I read that last week I was like, “that’s it?” Like it almost seemed a rather odd place to cut it off at. There was no big end cap to this chapter. It almost had felt like that chapters 279 and 280 were actually suppose to be one big chapter. but had a pause put inbetween them.

And when read the two chapters together, they actually flowed much better. Treating it as one big chapter. with the focus going from the group of young heroes to Mina. Which actually is pretty clever as Mina is the one who gives the last bit of interpersonal connection with Momo when she tells her about looking forward to ending this.

And while this definitely made me like Kirishima saving Mina in 280 more, What I mainly drew from this was Mina never really had a spotlight to steal. As melodramatic as that might sound. If this whole excursion between chapter 279 and 280 was anything, it was one big relay race. With the baton passing off to other characters as they all worked to put down Gigantomachia. Everyone contributed, it was just Kirishima who pushed it across the finish line.

Now lets face it, most tend to equate the victory with the one who did finally throw it in rather than the group effort. And from a storytelling perspective, it had to be either Kirishima or Mina, their the only kid characters who would have an emotional victory putting down Gigantomachia. If it was someone like Kaminari, it be cool he stopped the deadly force, but he doesn’t know Gigantomachia. He doesn’t he a personal stake beyond, “big bad villain that I’m obligated to stop.” Which would not be as powerful.

Especially seeing as Gigantomachia as a villain is just this massive force that you can’t just take a couple of characters to fight against him, Hori used everyone in UA. The final “punch” was just delivered by someone who would benefit from a character background standpoint to do some.

But its controversy also lies in the disproportionate amount of times it seems the female heroes don’t get to be superheroic while a bunch of the guys get super cool character driven victories. The biggest example I can think of is during the Yakuza arc where Nejire is the only big 3 to not get a character introspection of what has pushed them to be at the top of UA while most of the female cast fights a character away from most the underground action.

And as I had brought up in a previous post, characters like Momo who are consistently hyped only for them to lose to either prove the enemy stronger or the fact that they’re not ready yet.

Now those are legitimate gripes I can understand why readers would have with chapter 280, but where I disagree with that is, this was not really a singular person’s win. Afterall, this strategy of trapping Giganto was Momo’s idea. Does she get all the credit? Well, no. But she contributed, she mattered. And that is something we got from Mina, as it was still her vial used to put Giganto to sleep.

There wasn’t a “oh look, she was built up only to fail and now a man must do the work.” No there was clearly an effort put forward, just like everyone else. But then you have the fact Mina froze up, now this leaves me interested in where would go from there. As I brought up, Kirishima has essentially gone full circle, that means we could likely see him phased out more in favor of other characters. And the fact that Mina froze has opened up a new possibility to explore.

In my Momo post, I brought up how they’ve now redefined Momo more as a strategist and leader. He strength doesn’t come from her physical prowess on the battlefield like Bakugou, but rather her skill in support. This is an interesting concept that tries to show off a character’ value isn’t just by how many big bads they’ve punched out. Though I completely understand the need to see more female heroes as action girls rather than simply support.

In conclusion, I do not believe that Kirishima stole any spotlight from Mina. As there wasn’t really a spotlight to begin with. However, expectations were generated from the end of 279 and unfortunately the way a week to week format is structured allowed those expectations to grow. Which resulted in 280 having this underlying sense of disappointment for those who had expectations. However, taking both chapters together as a whole, there’s a lot stronger story here, and makes me hope we get that when we get an anime adaptation of this. It would be tough, but talented directors know what to do with multiple chapters worth of material.

This also leaves me optimistic for the future as Mina’s fumble has made something to be explored as well as the potential conclusion to one of the most beloved characters in the series. I guess all we can do is wait and see.

#my hero academia #my hero academia discussion #boku no hero academia #mha #bnh #mha 280 #bnha 280 #mha 279 #bnha 279 #my hero academia 280 #boku no hero academia 280 #kirishima eijirou #mina ashido #ashido mina #eijirou kirishima #gigantomachia #himiko toga #momo yaoyorozu #bakugou katsuki #kirimina #league of villains #paranormal liberation front #mt lady #yuu takeyama #shigaraki tomura

[ganglylimbs]

Ok, because I want to gush about it here are the warnings! 

Hero Risings Spoilers under read more! I’m literally talking about the entire movie so avoid it if you don’t want to see anything you don’t like

Ok, first of all, the fact that the movie is so heavy Class 1-A focused as a whole is amazing. Seriously, this is all I ever wanted, the class working together to stop the villains

The beginning where they all go out to help the village and are doing their thing to help and I love them all so much

A small thing but my queer heart was so happy to see Mina going “Oh she sounded so dreamy”. I don’t care what the reason was, that small little tidbit made my smile so wide

Although, I’m glad it still centers on Bakugou and Midoriya 

When people talk about how Mahoro and Katsuma are Bkdk’s children, I will admit, I thought that people were exaggerating. That they thought of them that way because there were children the two interacted with. But no, they deliberately made the two that way. Like Katsuma has Midoriya’s shy personality but Bakugou’s outlook on how you should be a hero while Mahoro has Bakugou’s outgoing personality while having Midoriya’s need to protect. 

Which is fucking great when you consider the scene of Midoriya talking to Katsuma while Bakogou eavesdrops. Like, he’s literally talking to Bakugou about how a hero also needs to help people but doing it in a way where Bakugou actually considers it instead of resisting (even if Midoriya doesn’t know that). And then! Because of that talk, Bakugou was actually going to go out and help people! He put on his hero suit and everything! It speaks to how far their relationship has come 

The fight scenes were great! I fucking love them

In the fight with Mummy, the fact that the others were so excited that Bakugou came to help them because they know that Bakugou would give his all to defeat the villain and that they can count on him. 

And then! He sacrifices his gauntlet to escape from Mummy’s Quirk because the boy will not be restrained and will not allow himself to be used against his friends (and of course he gets restrained. Again. Because Hori has a fetish I swear) 

Also a quick note, I love love love the Bakugou, Kirishima, Kaminari team-up. I think they would make a great superhero team. 

And then the Bakugou-Midoriya team up against Nine. I wonder if they practiced that move where Bakugou throws Midoryia or if that was just made up on the spot. It was funny though, the guy behind me went “oh that’s so awesome” and I agree

My absolute favorite thing is watching Bakugou fight. He is so expressive, so powerful and his moves are so calculated

And then we have class 1-A being their delightful selves. Even though they’re all hurt, here they are, pushing themselves to help the villagers. Like, both Momo and Kaminari are draining themselves to provide for them. 

And then we get to the big fight scene. And yes, yes, yes. Them using strategy to help them fight is what I want. Them working together to bring the villains down! That’s what I want more of! 

Aoyama using his naval to distract them as Momo literally blasts them with canons? I love it. 

And then Sero and Uraraka! They fucking knocked it out of the park when they threw the rocks at Nine. Like, they are the best holy shit. And that finishing move? When Uraraka lifted the logs? Best girl hands down. I can’t believe she wants to go into rescuing when she’s perfect as a powerhouse fighter

Ok, now I’m going to talk about the fight in three sperate parts. First up, the fight against Knives. I wish we saw more of it, but I get that the other two were more interesting. Still, that Mina-Todoroki team up was great. Tokoyami going “The darkness is my domain” and putting on those claws was so badass. And Knives little “Cheeky boy” oh boy, I’m in love. And then Mina burns her hair off before flipping her way out of Knives’ attack was so amazing. And then Dark Shadow! Being angry that Mina got hurt! And coming out. That’s one of my favorite tropes, where someone’s power rises to dangerous levels because their friend is in danger. And I hope Tokoyami continues to do it throughout the series

Onto the Chimera fight. Again, their tactical minds come out. They have a pretty good plan to keep him contained until help comes. He’s just too powerful. Tsyu is so damn powerful too, she has poison mucus??? But then he super powers up and Idia, Tsyu, Kirishima and Todoroki have to use the last of their strength to fight him. The fact that Kirishima can take a full blast that leveled the forest is so freaking amazing. And then Todoroki shows him up by literally freezing Chimera from the inside out! Anyways, they’re all so good and I’m so proud of them. 

And then the main fight against Nine. Honestly, I can’t write how amazing it was. You just need to go see it. So I’m going to get the main part. The OFA transfer. I think they make it pretty clear how big of a deal it is for Midoriay, literally giving his Quirk and one chance at being a Hero away. So I’ll talk about how damn hard that must have been for Bakugou. Not just because we know Bakugou has trouble accepting help from others. But also because he hates “cheating” with stuff like that. He wants to surpass Midoriya on his own, he wants to beat Midoriya, which can’t happen if Midoriya isn’t even a Hero anymore. So to take Midoriya’s hand, to take the Quirk, was a big deal for both of them. And then the music that played. It wasn’t anything hard and badass. It was soft and inspirational and gave me goosebumps. And then the fight! Just please, watch it

Also, I love the emphasis they place on how the kids learn throughout the fight and the villains don’t. Like, they say several times “I saw you do that before”, which takes the villain by surprise. And it comes back to bite Nine in the ass in a big way when he tries to use the Lightning and they use Kaminari as a lightening pole

As for the ending, first off, I think (???), what they were going for is that because Midoriya was so selfless when he gave the quirk up, the ancestors of OFA gave the quirk back to Midoriya. The explanation they also pose is that Bakugou passed out before the quirk can be fully transferred.My theory? I truly think that Bakugou gave the quirk back. I can’t explain how or why, but if it’s possible, I absolutely think that Bakugou would give the quirk back. He doesn’t want the power, not that way, so of course, he wouldn't want to keep it. 

And then the Heros come. Hawks is so soft when picking up Tokoyami, I love him

Anyways, go watch the movie, it’s so great

Ok, so here is my two complaints: 1.) I don’t know why they made Bakugou lose his memory of the OFA transfer? There doesn’t seem to be a point to have him lose that character development. So, my personal opinion is that Bakugou just said that because like hell is going to fucking admit to doing anything like that, are you kidding? Admitting to being vulnerable and showing emotions? and then 2.) I wish they had showed Bakugou helping the villagers at the end. His whole mini character arc in this movie was going from not wanting to help them to admitting that’s what he has to do in order to be a good hero. So it would have been a nice conclusion. 

#my hero academia #bakugou katsuki #midoriya izuku #that's what this kind of focuses on #but it's also all of class 1-a #super power kids #super hero kids

[middledumpling]

i like the way you smile

fandom: gekkan shoujo nozaki-kun

summary: everyday he walked past the dim windows of the tattoo shop next door and wondered about the owner with the bright orange hair and the beautiful smile

notes: soulmate!au for day 3 of @gsnkfandomweek 

The sun was just beginning to break over the mountains but Mikoshiba had already been up for hours. Truth be told, he hated getting up early, but there was something about the stillness in the air as the world was waking up, like it was holding its breath in anticipation of something, that made it worth it. He tilted the spout of his watering can back and stood up from where he was crouching on the ground. Those were the last of his various indoor plants and flowers watered. All that was left was to decorate the sign board and set the displays outside his door before he could officially open for the day. Mikoshiba rummaged through the top drawer for his chalk pen. Uncapping the pen, he began to outline some daffodils that would serve as a border to the text he’d add in later. Drawing flowers had always been a special skill of his and required almost no concentration, so inevitably his mind began to wander to the store next door, as it was wont to do these days. His small flower shop was unfortunately located right next to a tattoo parlour. It hadn’t been an ideal location for him. Mikoshiba was terrified of illicit yakuza activity and scary people in general, so he had always hurried past the tinted windows with averted eyes in order to avoid seeing any of the store’s employees or clients. But one day he had seen a small girl, at least a head shorter than him, stride confidently into the store. She had been wearing a long sleeved, poofy dress with two large ribbons in her hair. The sight was so odd that he stopped right there in the sidewalk to see what would happen. Nothing happened, of course. It wasn’t until later than he found out she was the owner of the store. But what had started as mere curiosity had slowly evolved into interest and then into a small crush. “You don’t even know her name,” his friend Kashima had pointed out. She had even offered to go and find out for him, but Mikoshiba had staunchly refused. Even if he knew her name, he was too much of a coward to do anything about it. He knew himself too well. Mikoshiba placed his chalkboard pen back down on the table and leaned back against his chair, staring at the way the early morning sunlight filtered through the store. The world didn’t feel beautiful anymore but terribly, terribly lonely. ... The bell over his front door jingled. “Welcome to Mikoto’s Flowers!” Mikoshiba greeted. “Oh—it’s just you.” Kashima laughed and brushed her windblown hair back into place. “Don’t sound so disappointed,” she said. Before he could say anything else, she went on. “Anyways, I know you told me not to talk to the tattoo girl but—” Mikoshiba heart lodged itself firmly into his throat and he leapt to his feet. “What?” he yelped. Kashima’s hands flew up in defence. “I just talked to her that’s all! I didn’t even say your name. I just mentioned I was interested in getting a tattoo.” Mikoshiba stared at her. Since when was she interested in getting a tattoo? Suddenly the pieces clicked as he watched her absently run a hand over her bare wrist. It was still strange to see it blank, when for the past however many years he’d known her it had been scrawled with lines of text. He flopped back into his chair and ran a hand through his hair, sighing. “You’re a hopeless romantic,” he complained half-heartedly. Mikoshiba glanced up just in time to see a soft smile spread across her usual charming face. “Hori-chan-senpai said that it wasn’t necessary, but I think I’d still like it as a momento,” she said decisively. “And besides, it was just lines of script anyways. Nothing to be embarrassed about!” Yeah, it was nothing like his. Mikoshiba’s face burned as he tugged down the sleeve of his sweater so it covered the black line of ink on the inside of his wrist. It was only one sentence, but it sure made an impact.

Too late, Kashima seemed to realize her blunder. “Not that having an embarrassing line is completely awful! It’ll fade either way once you meet them.” Mikoshiba sighs, running an hand through his hair. “Yeah, I know. But still. If I meet my soulmate and want this line tattooed on me again, promise me you’ll stop me.” Kashima nodded solemnly. “I won’t stop you.” “Thanks—hey!” While they tussled, Kashima put him into a headlock and grinned down at him. “I found out her name by the way,” she said. Mikoshiba glanced up, suitably distracted. “It’s Chiyo. Sakura Chiyo.” Mikoshiba mouthed the name to himself. Sakura Chiyo. The name suited her. ... It was still dark outside. Mikoshiba walked down the silent street, breathing in the crisp air of the morning.

As usual, he passed by the tattoo parlour on his way to the store. Before he realized it, Mikoshiba was hovering just outside the glass window of her storefront, watching her putter about the store, cleaning this or shifting that. There was no other way to describe it. She was just so… adorable.

But she walked around with a quiet confidence, with the kind of presence that had caught his attention in the first place. Their eyes met through the tinted glass. The girl—no, Chiyo—looked startled at first. Mikoshiba froze in place, embarrassed at having been caught staring in the first place. Then her lips quirked up into a smile as she waved at him. Mikoshiba had enough presence of mind to let out a quiet eep and wave back before ducking into his own store, blushing all the while. ... It was Valentine’s Day. Regardless of the fact that it was his birthday, his shop was swarming with people. Roses, lilies, chrysanthemums, assorted bouquets—everything was being sold at a rapid fire pace the way it did every year. The bell above his door jingled, signalling the arrival of yet another customer. “Welcome!” he yelled in the general direction of the front door. Milkoshiba rang the customer in and when glanced up, his heart nearly stopped in his chest. The customer that had just entered was Chiyo from next door, and when she caught his eye from the front of the store she wiggled her fingers at him in greeting. Adorable.

I’ll come back later, she mouthed sheepishly, pointing at the door. Mikoshiba nodded and waved back before his attention was completely seized again by a customer asking his opinion on flower languages. Later, after the chaos, Mikoshiba bemoaned the fact to Kashima. “I could have talked to her!” he exclaimed. “What would you have said?” she asked, eyebrows raised in question while perched on a nearby stool. “I would’ve, I dunno, introduced myself or something,” Mikoshiba groaned. “Or like, been all suave and given her a flower while saying ‘This is just for you, it’s on the house’.” “Maybe it’s better that you didn’t talk to her then,” Hori piped in, leaning casually against Kashima’s back. “Or you could always go next door you know, and introduce yourself like a normal person?” Kashima asked. “No, that’s not an option. I’ll just pine here until I die I guess.” “Please don’t,” Hori said.“You’ll ruin the linoleum.”

“I hate you both,” he complained. ... His phone rang once, twice, and then a third time  before he picked up. “Hey, are you free right now?” she asks, her tone peppy even through the static

“Yeah, what’s up?” Mikoshiba asked, phone cradled between his ear and shoulder during one of his only days off. “We just got our new script and we need some extra people to help read. You down?”

Mikoshiba hesitated. He stared at the screen of his TV, where Yukino was waiting for him to ask her on a date.

“I’ll buy you that new figure that came out. Limited edition, right?” Kashima wheedled.

His decision was made in an instance. “I’ll be there in five. Where are you?”

“Nozaki’s house! We’ll leave the door unlocked so just come right in.” And with that, she hung up. Mikoshiba grabbed his wallet and keys and headed out for the day. He stepped out into the sunshine, only mourning his cool and darkened room for a brief moment before he was cheered up by the thought of the limited edition figurine waiting for him at the end of the night.

It was a quick train ride to Nozaki’s house.

Nozaki was a bit of an eccentric mangaka, but then again, weren’t they all? Mikoshiba helped pen in flowers for him to make a little extra cash on the side and so he could tentatively call them friends.

Mikoshiba cautiously pushed open the door.The house was already alive with yelling and impassioned monologuing. Mikoshiba’s stomach twisted a little at the thought of how many people would be in the room, but he had to do this.

For Yukino, he decided, and pushed open the door.

He opened the door to total chaos. Hori had his back to him and was yelling his lines impassionately at a girl standing in front of him. Kashima was clearly long gone, her admiration for her senpai’s acting throwing her sanity out the window. And Nozaki was sitting back near the window, obviously enjoying the scene before him.

Hori moved to the side at his arrival, and Mikoshiba looked down at the girl, making eye contact with dizzyingly familiar purple eyes.

“Hey,” Sakura Chiyo, owner and tattoo artist of Ribbon & Ink Tattoos, said determinedly. “I know I cheated but I just can’t decide who I love more! You’ll forgive me right?”

Mikoshiba choked. His jaw dropped as he tried to process not only the turn of events, but his entire perspective on the concept of soulmates. There’s a burning sensation on his wrist and he glances down to see the black ink that had accompanied him for most of his life fading into unblemished skin.

“Your line!” Sakura snapped, and Mikoshiba jolted.

“Um,” he stammered, and suddenly a script was deposited in his hands. Mikoshiba scanned the page desperately. “The world may burn and the stars might twinkle out of existence, but I will always love you and therefore, I will always forgive you.”

He peeked up at Chiyo. The realization of what he just said registers in his mind and he feels his cheeks blaze red at the cheesy and embarrassing line. She stared up at him, wide-eyed and shocked, only breaking eye contact to glance down at her arm.

Hori, who had already finished his next line, trailed off to stare at the silent couple.

“...huh,” was all he said. Mikoshiba’s face burst into flames.

At this point, even Nozaki, hopeless in any type of romantic matters, caught on. “Oh ho,” he said, the statement made worse somehow by his usual deadpan face.

Kashima was beaming.

Mikoshiba targeted her, because he’s blushing so hard he can’t keep his gaze on Chiyo—his soulmate. Lord, even the thought of it was crazy.

“You set this up,” he hissed at her. She shrugged haplessly at the accusation, seemingly unable to keep a smile off her face.

“Let’s give them some privacy,” Hori interjected, dragging Kashima off by the back of her collar. “Nozaki, you too.”

In an instant the room was clear. Mikoshiba simultaneously loved and hated Hori-senpai at that moment.

There was a light touch on his arm, and he turned to see Chiyo holding her hand out. Up close, she was even tinier than he thought she was.

“I’m Sakura Chiyo,” she said, smiling bashfully at him. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

#gsnk #gsnk fandom week #gekkan shoujo nozaki kun #Sakura Chiyo #mikoshiba Mikoto #my stuff

[the-nysh]

Hey, since you talked about your feelings on td//dk and kr//bk (which were super interesting to read btw!) do you have anything to say about opinions on k//cchako?

Hey there! :) And thank you! So let’s see…Uraraka andKacchan. I see fan content of them on my dash fromtime to time, but it rarely garners any deeper thought, so I often just scrollpast with little to no reaction. Simply put: I don’t harbor enough investmentor interest in them as a ship. Even so! Yes, I still have opinions about them, so I’ll try to go in depth here. 

From their limited amount of canon interactions together, therewere actually two noteworthy scenes of them that I really liked. 1.) During theirmatch in the Sports Festival, and 2.) the databook omake situated after Deku andKacchan’s fight vs All Might. (However, in both cases, their interactionsrevolved around Deku, so…) 

I liked their match in the Sports Festival because it wasone of the first times we get to see another side of Kacchan – an important one thatreveals some of his honor code. Fighting seriously against a girl, thateveryone else in the audience assumed was ‘weak and frail’ based onappearances, and therefore automatically judged their match barbaric andunfair…well. Aizawa (Dadzawa), and Uraraka herself, proved them wrong. Urarakaproved her grit and Kacchan treated her as a legitimate threat regardless ofgender stereotypes. (Actually, he approached their match seriously and cautiouslybecause he thought she had a planfrom Deku.) Further acknowledging herstrength with the ‘what part of her was frail?’ comment too.

It’s herewhere I thought, ‘nice, this is a guythat can be trusted, because he earnestly puts his all into the things he’sserious about and expects the same -the best-from his opponents in return.’ (If they don’t,he interprets that as them underestimating or looking down on him.) Without anyother ulterior factors swaying him, there’s a steadfast consistency and honorto that kind of focused mindset, both in how he handles himself and impartially approaches thethings that matter to him, which makes him predictably trustworthy in the long run. (Also meaning, if there’s ever anyfault/betrayal in that mindset, it’s a break in character…which ayyy, Deku willtake notice! ;D)

However, I took the Sports battle and these establishing traits(Uraraka’s grit and Kacchan’s honor) as separate strengths respective to each character, rather than anything shippy.Because Uraraka ultimately fought for herself (and her parents) while Kacchanproved he’d take any girl (anyone)seriously if they show proper worth and challenge respect. So it wasn’thim showing special treatment for Uraraka in particular, but an example of hishonest and impartial competitive sportsmanship. 

Now we have Uraraka thankful that Kacchan took herseriously, and therefore she’s unafraid to confront/approach him on her ownterms -as equals- later. Which is good! :D And it’s why I like the omakecontent of them so much, where she questions him about his behavior in the endof term test:

Uraraka: “It’s like you’re intimidating (Deku) because you’re scared and wanthim to go away from you.”

It’s greatbecause her intuition can clearly read through him: Kacchan purposely singles out and keepsDeku at bay because he fears how Deku makes him feel. Like, boom! She totallycalls him out. ;D BUT…I didn’t read this interaction of theirs as shippy either,because it revolved around Deku AND showed how much Uraraka is in support of their reconciled friendship. She WANTSthem to get along! (If anything, it makes hermore like their wingman… So ayy, bothshe and Kiri would be supportive of their repaired relationship!)

So, from these two canon interactions (only one was a significant event in the manga by the way…), I see the potential basis for a refreshing m/f friendship, where shecan mentally joust and bicker with him without any major consequence. However,as a romantic ship, no; it’s not enough to convince me.

Aside from how limited their canon interactions are, and howin both cases they revolvedaround Deku…the two of them have other canon characteristics to consider. Notonce has Kacchan ever shown interestin any girls in ‘that’ way (or really, invested interest in anyone other than Deku)…and Uraraka hasher utterly transparent feelings for Deku to resolve. Already, that starts themin separate, opposed lanes with respect to their connection to Deku. So whenconsidering them as a ship instead, Ihave to repeatedly ask myself howthey’d ever manage to merge onto the same lane, and what that would even entail,narratively.

Because what wouldit mean? Would Uraraka’s feelings for Deku simmer down to sisterly affectionsof support and admiration, leaving her to choose the immediate second option:Deku’s riv–…wait a sec, what aboutKacchan’s feelings for Deku? (This is writing off that same elephant in the room issue I talkedabout in my previous post…) Are theyboth actually rivals for Deku’s affections?! XD Would Uraraka choose to bewith Kacchan, for the sake of helpinghim ‘get over’ his feelings for Deku too?? WAIT hold on. This is the SAME thingI talked about with kr/bk: it is notUraraka (or Kiri’s) business, or even their responsibility, to forcibly butt-in with the hopes of ‘changing’ or ‘fixing’ Kacchan’s problems/bad behavior FOR him.Except in Uraraka’s case, there’s theadded, antiquated gendered trope of the ‘good girl’ saving the ‘bad boy’ at theexpense of her own wellbeing. Sacrificing her own happiness to care for him fulltime. Which…oh no. Urarakadoesn’t deserve such a harsh fate like that. And Kacchan is not there to become a ‘pet project’ to coddle and change at theexpense of his feelings either. Theseare all some of the main arguments against the ship that I’ve seen, and I agreethat I’m definitely not interested in seeing a one-sided/harmful relationshipdynamic perpetuate like that…but I still have one final, personal dealbreaker.

Which is how Kacchan (my fav) ultimately becomescharacterized. And it relates to his ‘honor code’ established IN his fightagainst Uraraka too. Consider how Hori likely designed Deku and Uraraka to bethe ‘obvious’ endgame het pairing…with them having ongoing, mutual crushes oneach other (truthfully, I really only see fledgling, one-sided flustered admiration/envyfrom Uraraka’s side…) Now then, HOW does this make Kacchan look in turn, forhim to step in between them like this? If he knows they’re friends who like each other, would he really purposely step in to sabotageDeku’s chances with the object of his affections (Uraraka)? No way, not even outof potential spite against Deku or something. It would betray the very consistent and steadfast ‘trust’ about hischaracter that I talked about before.

Because Kacchan’s a gruff asshole ingeneral, but THIS (essentially ‘stealing’ Deku’s crush) would be an underhanded dick move of a whole new lowfor him. Completely at odds with his established character development. He outrighttells villains how he despisesunderhanded tactics like cheating and lying! Doing something like this would contradictand destroy his own ideals. Even if he somehow had a crush on Uraraka (which would already be a stretch andsuspension of disbelief, since he’s never shown any interest in girls likethat anyway) he’d do everything in his power to stay in his own lane and continueaiming for his goal as the top hero. Kacchan lives by his own strict standards andperfectionism in his drive to become the best.He’s an asshole, but not that other kindof asshole. Whenever I see shippy fan content of kac/chako being together atthe expense of Deku, this is the kindof asshole it makes Kacchan appear to me, which is a mischaracterization Ican’t tolerate. It’s a reason I haven’t seen other people talk about, but it’s alwaysbeen in the back of my mind, and probably the main reason why the idea of theirship rubs me the wrong way.

Whew, but thankfully, I don’t see any signs from Hori that they’llbecome endgame. (And it’s why most fan content of them slides past like water off a duck for me.) Truthfully and honestly,I really want Hori to step up Uraraka’s game, to make her a fully fleshed out characterand therefore, a viable contender in either of the boys’ hearts. Because atthe rate she’s going…she’s falling behind to the wayside compared to how Hori’sdeveloping Deku and Kacchan’srelationship. And she’ll have a tough time displacing the lifelong feelingsDeku has had for Kacchan, unless she does something drastic. (Ayyyy so where’sthat one traitor theory~)

Honestly, using Uraraka (or any girl actually) as shipfodder for the boys, just because of her gender, is something I’m not a fan of.I would rather be a fan of Uraraka based on the merits of her own character,and not from her designation as a satellite love interest to anyone. But IF Urarakahad to end up with anyone endgame, I would muchprefer her with either Iida or Tsuyu. Both of them are loyal and good friendswho would treat her with respect and provide needs in the way she deserves.

Alright! I think that covers everything. This actually got alot longer than anticipated. XD Thanks for reading!

#Anonymous #replies #bnha #kacchan #uraraka #shipping #meta #this one comes to about 1500 words #honestly longer than i expected :O #but i think that covers everything i like; prefer; and observe about the characters

[deniscollins]

Japanese Justice Faces Scrutiny in Case of Nissan Chief and U.S. Board Member

Carlos Ghosn, former CEO of Nissan, has been indicted on a charge of violating financial reporting laws by understating his compensation while investigators explore possible financial wrongdoing related to his nearly 20-year career at Nissan. In Japan, he faces government lawyers, for hours, on his own, is not allowed a lawyer during interrogation, prosecutors can question him for weeks without charges, and can extend his detention with a routine court request. Should the U.S. adopt similar methods for indicted suspects in its judicial system: (1) Yes, (2) No? Why? What are the ethics underlying your decision?

Five months ago, Carlos Ghosn, a multimillionaire executive credited with reviving Nissan Motors, hosted the wedding of his daughter Caroline on Naoshima, a rarefied island enclave of art and sculpture. The celebration began with the cracking open of a barrel of sake, an elegant and traditional way in Japan to toast good fortune.

Now, Mr. Ghosn is living in a Tokyo jail cell, sleeping on a tatami mat and futon, unable to communicate with his daughter or any family member, as investigators explore possible financial wrongdoing related to his nearly 20-year career at Nissan.

Mr. Ghosn has been indicted on a charge of violating financial reporting laws by understating his compensation; he is being held as prosecutors question him daily. Nissan, which accused Mr. Ghosn, its former chairman, and a board member, Greg Kelly, of colluding in financial chicanery, has been ensnared by the same inquiry and was indicted on a charge of violating reporting laws.

The treatment of such a prominent foreign defendant has been revelatory for people who see Japan as a model in Asia for doing business. Mr. Ghosn’s arrest on Nov. 19 has exposed stark differences in how crimes are pursued and suspects are handled in Japan and in Western democracies.

Mr. Ghosn, who ran a global auto empire that included Nissan, Mitsubishi and the French carmaker Renault, was taken into custodyjust after his corporate jet landed at Haneda Airport. His arrest was seen as extraordinary given his position and history with Nissan.

It turns out that he has been treated much like any suspect in Japan.

A citizen of Brazil, France and Lebanon, Mr. Ghosn faces government lawyers, for hours, on his own. He is not allowed a lawyer during interrogation. Prosecutors can question him for weeks without charges, and can extend his detention with a routine court request. Last week, on the day he was indicted, Mr. Ghosn was rearrested on allegations of additional wrongdoing. A day later, he was ordered held, again without bail, for 10 more days.

There is some reason to see Mr. Ghosn, 64, as a flight risk. He is wealthy; he has no known family in Japan; and neither Lebanon nor Brazil extradites its own citizens, offering him a plausible place to seek refuge.

He is being held in a small room and can be visited only by diplomats or his Japanese lawyer, as foreign lawyers cannot offer legal services in criminal cases. He is allowed to request blankets and books, but all requests are reviewed by officials and can be rejected. Sheets of writing paper, for instance, have been denied.

Prosecutors are likely to hold Mr. Ghosn until they believe they will win a conviction. Mr. Kelly, who was indicted on the same charge, has been suffering from poor health and may be released for medical care. Members of his family have used Twitter to complain to American officials about his condition while in jail.

In part, prosecutors’ methods are aimed at wresting confessions from suspects. About 90 percent of indicted suspects in Japan confess to a crime before trial.

“I think it reflects differences in the societies and cultures and the views of criminal justice,” said David Litt, an American professor of law at Keio University in Tokyo. “We have a view in the United States and Anglo-American systems where we have the greatest respect for the autonomy of individuals.”

In Japan, Mr. Litt said, “there is a deference to the authorities and to what they say.”

Mr. Ghosn’s arrest has been the talk of expatriates who see a possible chilling effect on foreigners willing to work in Japan. “If you start throwing people in jail for doing something in the gray area,” said Stephen Givens, an American corporate lawyer here who has been following the case, “everybody lays awake at night worrying that they’re next to hear the police knock on the door.”

Critics who say the Japanese system is biased against defendants have focused on its high conviction rates, but even in the United States, 90 percent of defendants indicted on a charge of a white-collar crime in federal court were found guilty in 2017, according to the most recent Justice Department figures. Japan also is not the only democracy that restricts a defendant’s access to counsel or holds suspects for weeks or months without charges.

German law allows suspects to be held for months if a judge rules that they might flee, obstruct justice or pose a danger to society. Rupert Stadler, the chief executive of Volkswagen’s Audi division, was held for almost five months without bail this year after he was heard on a wiretap making statements that prosecutors interpreted as an attempt to obstruct an investigation into emissions cheating.

The right to have a lawyer present during questioning is not sacrosanct across democratic countries.

In France, defendants can have a lawyer present during interrogations, but the lawyer is not allowed to interrupt — although in practice, they sometimes do, and they are allowed to ask questions when investigators are finished.

In the Netherlands, lawyers were not allowed in the interrogation room until last year, when the rights of defendants were expanded. As in France, lawyers in the Netherlands are not supposed to interfere with interrogations but can interrupt under certain conditions, such as if the defendant becomes too fatigued or distraught to answer questions.

In the United States, lawyers for witnesses and defendants are not permitted into federal grand jury proceedings, where suspects are indicted. Lawyers must wait outside the courtroom, and witnesses and defendants can leave the proceedings for counsel.

In Japan, detained suspects can meet with their lawyers outside of interrogations. Yoichi Kitamura, a lawyer for Mr. Kelly, visits his client daily, he said, and Mr. Kelly denies any criminal wrongdoing. Neither Mr. Ghosn nor his lawyer Motonari Otsuru have commented on the charges. Aubrey Harwell Jr., a longtime Nashville lawyer who represents Mr. Kelly, has not yet been allowed to speak to him.

“That’s how the system works when they decide to go after you,” said Nicholas Benes, a board director at the Board Director Training Institute of Japan, a nonprofit group that focuses on corporate governance. “They are keeping you that long to force you to admit to wrongdoing and make the prosecutors’ lives easy.”

Although a confession alone is not sufficient to secure an indictment, suspects come under pressure not only from prosecutors, but from judges who make bail decisions.

During the time when suspects are held but not yet charged, judges rarely grant bail. If a suspect does not confess, “sometimes the court does not approve bail,” said Yasuyuki Takai, a former prosecutor turned defense lawyer who advised Takafumi Horie, an internet tycoon who was found guilty of violating securities laws in a notorious trial a decade ago.

“If a suspect keeps denying the charges and insisting on their innocence, judges in Japan would worry that the suspect might destroy evidence if they are granted bail,” Mr. Takai said.

Mr. Ghosn and Mr. Kelly are not the first corporate defendants who have been jailed for weeks without charges.

In 2015, Julie Hamp, at the time the head of communications for Toyota Motor, was arrested and held for two and a half weeks in detention in Tokyo on suspicion she had illegally imported the painkiller Oxycodone. She was released without charge and left Japan soon after.

In 2012, three executives from Olympus, the optical equipment maker, were arrested and detained for nearly six weeks after a wide-ranging investigation of accounting fraud at the company. All three were convicted although they received suspended sentences and served no prison time.

Mr. Horie, a larger-than-life Japanese entrepreneur, spent three months in detention before he was charged with securities fraud. After a six-month trial, he was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to two years and six months in prison. He served 21 months before he was paroled.

Mr. Horie was held in the same detention center as Mr. Ghosn. In a blog published in 2010, Mr. Horie described how prosecutors pressed him to recall incidents entirely from memory and denied his requests to consult his company schedule or emails.

“Now I can say what their intention was,” Mr. Horie wrote. “Once I started describing vague memories, they could adjust it to fit their story. As my memory was unclear, it was easy to manipulate. If I had some discrepancies in my daily conversations with prosecutors, they could check it against all the email records.”

“Anyone would have doubts about their own memory or feel guilty,” Mr. Horie wrote, “if a prosecutor says ‘that’s not what you said yesterday. You’re telling a lie!’”

Life in detention was meager, Mr. Horie wrote. He slept in a 50-square-foot room with a toilet. Detainees could bathe twice a week in winter — three times in summer — and order items like toothpaste and shampoo once a week. A doctor visited inmates weekly.

Breakfast was miso soup and rice cooked with barley. Mr. Horie was allowed to order bento lunches from a specially vetted shop but they were “not so tasty, to be honest.”

A senior Japanese government official said the prosecutors’ detention center provided each suspect with an air-conditioned cell. He said Mr. Ghosn was not being treated unjustly and that prosecutors were following Japanese laws. A spokesman for Japan’s Ministry of Justice said officials at the Tokyo Detention Center and all correctional facilities in Japan “try to respect inmates’ human rights.”

Mr. Kitamura, Mr. Kelly’s lawyer, said each detainee was given a futon mattress to place atop a tatami mat and typically are not allowed pillows. Mr. Kelly was granted permission to have a pillow, Mr. Kitamura said, because of a chronic health condition.

In apparent desperation, Mr. Kelly’s son, Kevin Kelly, posted a message on Twitter to Vice President Mike Pence and the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, asking for help releasing Mr. Kelly from the Tokyo detention center so that he can get neck surgery. According to Mr. Kelly’s lawyer, Mr. Harwell, his family is concerned that if he does not get surgery soon, he will suffer permanent nerve damage.

According to Mr. Kitamura, a Japanese doctor conducted a medical examination and an M.R.I. scan on Mr. Kelly and consulted with his American doctor. The Japanese doctors will submit a request to the court later this week asking to release Mr. Kelly for medical treatment in the United States or Japan. Mr. Kitamura said representatives from the United States embassy have visited Mr. Kelly in jail.

Jonas Stewart, a spokesman for the United States Embassy in Tokyo, said embassy personnel could not comment on consular assistance to individuals because of privacy laws.

One Japanese couple who spent months in detention last year sent Mr. Ghosn jackets to keep warm this winter. Junko and Yasunori Kagoike, operators of a kindergarten in Osaka that was embroiled in an influence-peddling scandal linked to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, spent 10 months in an Osaka jail on charges of fraud. In November, they sent a Uniqlo fleece jacket and a down vest to Mr. Ghosn.

Mrs. Kagoike said she received a receipt from the detention center confirming the jackets were delivered and she was asked to pick up the shopping bag. She did not know if Mr. Ghosn was given the jackets.

In an effort to contact Mr. Ghosn and Mr. Kelly, The New York Times sent letters to both men at the detention center, and included three blank sheets of paper and a stamped envelope with each letter.

Officials at the detention center wrote back, confirming receipt of the letters. They requested that the blank sheets of paper be retrieved at the center or they would be returned to The Times, c.o.d.

Japan has been sensitive to how its justice system has been portrayed and tried to deflect criticism surrounding the Ghosn case as Western insensitivity. Shin Kukimoto, the deputy head of the Tokyo prosecutor’s office, last month defended the treatment of Mr. Ghosn and Mr. Kelly. “Each country has its own history and culture, and systems,” he said. “I wonder if it’s appropriate to criticize our systems just because ours is different from others.”

#Ghosn #Japan