In front of the Journalists' Syndicate, Cairo, Egypt, on 15th January 2024.
The crowd chants:
مصر مشاركة في الحصار
معبر بيننا و بين اهالينا
الصهيوني متحكم فينا
طول ما الدم العربي رخيص
يسقط يسقط اي رئيس
عملوها احفاد مانديلا
و احنا فخوف و فعار و مزلة
عايزين المعبر مفتوح
Translation:
Egypt participates in this siege!
A crossing between us and our people!
Controlled by Zionists!
As long as Arab blood is seen as cheap,
Any and every president must fall!
Mandela's grandchildren have done it,
While we are seized by fear, shame, and humiliation!
We demand Rafah Crossing open!
If there's anything I've felt about ace attorney since playing through the original trilogy, it's how cheated I've felt about the fandom interpretation of it. Y'all were so caught up with your gay boys and your Miles Edgeworths I didn't realize how much of this game was about WOMEN. THE CORE OF ACE ATTORNEY IS IN ITS FEMALE CHARACTERS. From Mia jumpstarting Phoenix and guiding him throughout the whole trilogy even after her death, her presence being the primary connecter of Phoenix and Maya, Maya and Godot, heck even Dahlia and Iris and the whole lot of them. From Franziska's earnest faith and consolation of Miles Edgeworth, even begrudgingly, pulling him out the trauma of his childhood with the face to face confrontation of a bullet wound in the same spot as the man who killed his father. Lana and Ema dragging Phoenix back into the thing he does best. Lana and Ema who's tragic story lies in a pair of sisters ruined by the heinous law system and their unconditional love for each other. Dahlia and Iris with a different version of sisterly tragedy, struggling through generational trauma in separate settings and support systems. The matter of the Fey tradition looming over the entire narrative and all the legal and social terror that comes with it. CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE ACE ATTORNEY WOMEN.
"Rejecting" the smug and overly confident Gojo Satoru — who has so many admirers and yet is madly and obsessively head over heels in love with you.
You call him attractive in a roundabout way, because the conversation was on the topic of who is most goodlooking in this school.
Though he replies smugly, inside he freaks out — he was worried you would think Suguru is more attractive than him.
"Of course you're attracted to me; I'm Gojo Satoru after all!"
"Okay." you gave him a confused smile and went on your way.
But before you could leave, he blocked your path by hopping in front of you. He cleared his throat.
"Um! Wait! S-so — uh — what are you doing later today?" he experienced a small voice crack.
He seemed nervous, frantic, like he felt sudden shame for using his smug charm on you and seeing it fail to catch you.
"Ah, I don't have any plans for the rest of the day. Why?" you reply, friendly and nonchalant.
He stuttered, froze, and reanimated himself as if he was an animation missing key frames.
"Oh nothing..." he reclaimed his boisterous, over-the-top smug attitude. "I was gonna ask you out on a date, but I'm a busy guy... so."
"Okay." you gave him a friendly, confused smile. "Well then, see you around—"
"—d'you wanna go on a date with me?"
"Huh?"
"?"
"A date?"
"Yeah? Y-yeah. A date."
"When?"
"Right now."
"Right now? (Didn't he just say he's a busy guy?) Aha, sorry... but I must reject you. I promised my friend I would watch his basketball match. It's important to him. He's made it to the finals."
"...huh?"
Satoru's shoulders slump. His heart sinks, and so sink his hands into his pockets — balled up into fists. He clenches his jaw in embarrassment.
"You can't seriously be rejecting me..."
You misunderstand him to be saying that as a joke. He notices your misunderstanding, but plays along.
"Haha. See you, Satoru."
"Uhhh yeah... see you."
Ah, his heart is so patheticaally thumping when he hears you say his name.
You leave the library.
A boyish blush paints him hot red all over. He kicks his feet annoyedly and hangs his head in defeat.