Let's go to hell

₊˚⊹ ᰔ Risotto Nero

𖹭 Risotto is a man married to his work unfortunately, but it's an unhappy marriage let's be for real.

𖹭 If he did have a S/O, it would have to be someone extremely patient with him. He's another man who could be with someone who works with him or doesn't. He does actively avoid having any relationships with civilians, but one can always work their ways into his heart.

𖹭 He just wants someone to collapse onto and relax completely around. So a lot of stability and security, along with a lot of patience since, again, he is the leader of La Squadra and is VERY busy.

𖹭 Loves someone with some fat on their body too, enjoys the contrast between his hard physique and their soft one. (He's lowkey obsessed with it.)

₊˚⊹ ᰔ Prosciutto

𖹭 Prosciutto is a very dominant man who takes control as much as he can, really, the only man he's ever really listening to is Risotto. He prefers someone more submissive to him, though, when they do challenge him? It gives him the thrill (or migraine) to put them back in their place.

𖹭 I don't believe he is a man who wants complete submission, he wants a little kick back, because, as much as he hates to admit it, he can be wrong too.

𖹭 He would call his S/O a brat when they do have a rebellious streak, but both parties enjoy it with one another, even if he doesn't show it.

𖹭 He tries to handle issues mostly on his own, because that's what he's used to, carrying his own problems with others. But with someone so insistent, he learns that he can share the burden as well, and it makes him feel deeper in love with his S/O.

₊˚⊹ ᰔ Formaggio

𖹭 One word. Spicy.

𖹭 Okay, so, he's really into someone with a lot of sass and who doesn't put up with bullshit. Especially his bullshit. Bickering is his #1 favorite activity and if someone can match it, or better yet, put him in his place? He's all for it honestly. (He's a bottom, sue me.)

𖹭 Formaggio needs to be put in his place since he's a little shit all the time. But he also I think he does appreciate the few rare moments of softness.

𖹭 As much as it seems odd to say, I think he'd be attracted to someone who is jaded and has a lot of problems of their own. He knows he can handle it, and he also does enjoy helping in changing their perspective if he's able to contribute to that. He enjoys the challenge of it. He can either make his S/O better or worse, and he's all for it, (he's into that toxic love guys).

₊˚⊹ ᰔ Illuso

𖹭 When it comes to Illuso, he's an arrogant, smug and condescending bastard, but I believe it's a front, in a way. He hates vulnerability a lot, but someone humble this man. He radiates insecurity under all of that guise he has, and I feel like he needs someone who knows how to break down his walls.

𖹭 A S/O who doesn't put up with bullshit, (like Formaggio's S/O), and who is calculating in how to break a person down would probably be a good match for Illuso.

𖹭 It would probably take forever, but with patience and persistence, there's a softer, quieter side to him. He wouldn't really be one to talk about his feelings, he will ALWAYS struggle with that, but he would at least put in the effort to listen to you when you speak.

𖹭 Illuso isn't an easy one, but his S/O doesn't do easy. They're in it for the long run, and truly love him enough to stick around.

₊˚⊹ ᰔ Ghiaccio

𖹭 Ghiaccio needs someone who can handle his angry outbursts and someone who's able to talk him down from his highs. Man is constantly on edge, so he needs someone to relax him. Patience and warmth is key for this man.

𖹭 He will never direct his anger at his S/O and makes a lot of effort to never do so. He would rather gnaw his own foot off before hurting his lover's feelings. With that being said, he would NOT ever be with someone who consistently teases or makes fun of him. A little light hearted teasing here and there is fine, he knows it comes from a place of love. But if it's consistent, he's really not interested.

𖹭 He is also into a person with intelligence, though he does get the thrill of teaching someone as well if they don't understand something, (although, he does get a little pissy here and there). Do not ever say Venice with this man, for your own and everyone else's sake, never even mention Venice.

𖹭 The #1 fat person lover. Loves gripping onto their fat, and LOVES how warm they are. He's a cold man, and I'm sure it can be a little exhausting being cold all the time, so he's curled up into your warmth a lot when there's free time.

₊˚⊹ ᰔ Melone

𖹭 For Melone, honestly, he'd love it if his S/O is someone who listens to his ramblings and is just as interested in human biology, genetics and reproduction as he is.

𖹭 Someone who can rant with him for hours on end makes him feel a little freaky…

𖹭 But for real, he just finds intelligence so sexy, it's just his type, but combined with confidence?? Oh he's having the time of his life.

𖹭 I think he's kind of scared of having kids of his own, but actively fantasizes about starting a family with you. Your decision would be the final verdict but he's fine with either decision, he can live without having kids.

₊˚⊹ ᰔ Pesci

𖹭 This sweetie needs a sweetie himself.

𖹭 Pesci, oh Pesci, this poor man has a lot of insecurities, so he finds a lot of safety and comfort in someone who is secure in themselves and offers stability as well. Someone who is able to handle when he is down on himself and quick to correct him when he's spiraling.

𖹭 This REALLY helps his confidence and makes him flourish into the man he's meant to be.

𖹭 Another man obsessed with his S/O being chubby, god it drives him crazy in the best way. LOOOOVES to cuddle so much, favorite part of his day.

₊˚⊹ ᰔ Sorbert & Gelato

𖹭 They're each other's type (LOL).

𖹭 But in all seriousness, I believe they would want to find someone to balance their clashing personalities.

𖹭 Sorbert is sharp and calculating, comes off as the cold and cruel type, while Gelato comes off as more chaotic and manic, although he's a little friendlier than Sorbert is.

𖹭 A S/O who has a good head on their shoulders, able to be calculative but a risk-taker themselves would fit the couple best if they did open up their relationship.

𖹭 I don't know why, but I can also see their S/O also being an anxious type as well. I feel like they'd eat that up.

Please do not feed my writing to AI or repost it anywhere else, please and thank you. <3

⟢ Hates coffee, loves tea. Will always make you a cup of whatever he has and silently leave it beside you like it doesn’t mean anything. It means everything. (pls take it and go sit with him PLEASE).

⟢ Is unbeatable at scrabble, knows words that shouldn’t even be human.

Risotto: Quixotic.. Across here. Formaggio: That is not absolutely not a word man… Melone: What he said. Risotto: Yes it is. Melone: How do you even know that? Risotto: I read? You: Ris what does it mean? Risotto (with a tiny smile): Unrealistic. Ghiaccio: I’m gonna flip the fucking board if you put that down…

⟢ Will sing to you softly if you can’t sleep, don’t tease him over it or it will literally never happen again. Or after an ungodly amount of begging, he can sing really well. He sings you old love songs…

⟢ Has naturally low iron.

Ghiaccio - 

⟢ Don’t ever talk science/anatomy with this man, he gets unnecessarily heated, especially if you're adamant he is wrong, will explain in great detail how he isn't. Never bring up dragons/wyverns you’ll be there all day

(he just like me fr, I'll join into your rants Ghia...) 

⟢ A huge nerd, he won’t show it to many people. He collects Digimon and will rant at you for hours about why its better than Pokémon. Please get this man some packs to open on a bad day, or just any day. He will sit and show you every card and talk about why its cool. It’s actually incredibly cute to watch him so relaxed and excited.

⟢ LOVES hot drinks, he runs cold all the time so having something nice and warm makes him feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

⟢ On the same note, please hug this man, literally let him snuggle up to you 24/7. He will never ask for it but if he starts getting huffy or on edge that's what he wants.

⟢ Loves you and only you touching his hair, no one else can but he will happily rest his head in your lap and just let your rake your nails against his scalp

⟢ His anger rarely reaches you, only when you get hurt carelessly, will apologize a lot afterwards, he was just scared.

⟢ Loves music, please make this man playlists for you guys to listen to together.

⟢ Canonically can drive… date nights where he drives you to places. DRIVE IN MOVIE THEATRES sorry I got excited about that one… 

Illuso - 

⟢ No one will ever find him like 67% of the day, he’s chilling in his mirror world, you have constant access to it, he leaves it open for you and you alone.

⟢ Enjoys sleeping during the day, he likes to be up during the night so he can watch the stars, especially if its nice and quiet.

⟢ Loves iced coffee, like will go to coffee shops and order the most expensive, coma inducing, caffeine ladened drink you’ve ever seen, and you just sigh cos you’re gonna be the one having to deal with him.

⟢ Loves to torment everyone when he’s in the safehouse, just to dip into his mirror like an absolute gremlin. Ghia destroyed every mirror so bad he needed someone to go buy one to get out… He now leaves him alone. Literally was standing in his realm like 🧍‍♂️

⟢ Cries over sad music/movies… Will say it's allergies, he doesn’t have allergies.

⟢ Likes to watch you while he’s in the mirror world, he feels like he's such a creep just watching you, but he likes to just see you when you don’t think anyone is watching, just you being you. Especially if you’re concentrating, he just sits with a lovesick expression on his face while he stares at you.

Prosciutto - 

⟢ He takes Pesci fishing sometimes, not to use his stand. But just sitting and fishing somewhere as he teaches him, he's really good at it.

⟢ Is absolutely a good leader but he doubts himself a lot internally, debating if it would be something Risotto would do or if there could have been another way.

⟢ Incredibly soft for you, only in private, doesn’t like PDA but if people are getting flirty/close to you he will put his hand on the small of your back, silently showing you’re his.

⟢ Religiously drinks coffee, he needs a cup in the morning to even function. Black, one sugar.

⟢ The BEST at soft reassurances, you will never feel like you aren’t good enough, he shuts it down quick.

⟢ Gets tired really easily, like exhausted. It’s why he drinks so much coffee but it just makes it worse, he gets incredibly huffy when he’s tired. And weirdly needy, will just want to lay down with his head resting in your lap.

⟢ The team drives him absolutely crazy, he pretends to hate it with snappy words but deep down he would never want them to change. Notices immediately when they do, won't just walk up and comfort them with words but he will sit by them until they want to talk. He listens every time.

Pesci - 

⟢ Incredibly sweet, will treat you with such love, even if it terrifies him.

⟢ Will talk for hours softly about things that he likes, will listen to YOU talk for hours, he prefers to listen to you talk to him. It doesn’t matter what it's about, he is hanging on your every single word.

⟢ TERRIBLE at fishing, putting the bait on the hook is gross and he moves the rod too much that the fish literally just refuse to go near it, once used his stand to catch a fish and felt bad about “cheating at fishing.” He threw it back and proceeded to not catch a single fish for the rest of the day.

⟢ He doesn’t style his hair like that, it literally just refuses to go the way he wants it to and he just gives up and leaves it up… It's because he keeps putting too much hairspray in it and going to sleep.

⟢ Hates coffee, tries it once and it’s so bitter that he never wants to drink it again, makes him super hyper and when he eventually crashes he literally swears off of it like it's hard drugs. Incredibly dramatic but also adorable.

⟢ Hates sad movies because they make him cry, but also loves them because you cry with him. Never let him watch a movie where the dog dies ESPECIALLY if it's a dog movie, he will be upset for hours about it and will get sad anytime he thinks about the movie for like a month.

⟢ Never tell him what they did to Laika… He will be upset for the rest of his life about it (Just like me frfr)

Formaggio - 

⟢ Will make you small as a joke, like literally will shrink you like 2 inches and make you feel like you’re going insane, it makes him laugh SO hard. 

⟢ Will put your stuff high up on shelves at the same time so you have to ask him for help and he can come to your rescue.

⟢ Loves comedy movies + comedians, will take the jokes and try to tell them himself, he fucks it up badly every time, like he is laughing at the joke before he can even start speaking.

⟢ Loves spicy food… Can’t handle spicy food, like at all. Full tears while he’s saying that “It’s not even bad babe! try it!” Never try it, he just wants you to be in pain too. On the same page as food, he will 100% say he isn’t hungry but then take half of your food, you should order extra…

⟢ Calls you babe unironically, gender doesn’t matter. Babe is a state of mind. He has said this multiple times. Occasionally calls you sweet things though, mainly when he’s in a loving mood or if you ask him to. He likes “My heart.” the most, will say it with a sweet cheesy grin and pressing his hand over your heart. 

⟢ Is bad at arguments, makes things astronomically worse because he misunderstands what people are saying, it’s something you have to work around but he appreciates you for trying. He really doesn’t mean to, people think he’s being dense on purpose.

Melone - 

⟢ Obviously a huge flirt, will make nicknames up 24/7 to make you flustered/embarrassed when he calls you them. Specifically in public. 

⟢ Extremely handsy, please tell him when you’re uncomfortable. He will stop immediately.

⟢ Will never use BabyFace on you, he’s curious about how you’ll both come out in his stand but he never wants to push you to basically make a child with him. Even if he thinks about it or jokes about it.

⟢ Despite his stand I don't think he would ever want kids, they’re too much hassle and too unpredictable, especially in the life you all live.

⟢ He is such a brat, will deliberately push your buttons and make you annoyed all the time just to get a rise out of you. He’s dumb and wants you to snap at him, he loves seeing you mad. Do with that what you will…

⟢ Incredibly cute at night/in the mornings, like super sweet with you, calls you “My Love.” or a type of flower depending on your personality (My sunflower if you’re super friendly/sweet. My rose if you’re hot headed but still kind and loving, My Venus (as in the fly trap and the goddess of desire) if you have fire and a sharp tongue to pair with it.

⟢ Very occasionally and I mean very, flirts with other people just to get you jealous, if you tell him off/get genuinely upset about it he will NEVER do it again. Also loves when people flirt with you, watching you turn them down gives him such an ego boost. If you flirt back though to piss him off… 

Sorbet + Gelato - 

⟢ You will never see these two apart, literally conjoined, usually with you smushed between them.

⟢ Sorbet hates mornings, will stay in bed for as long as possible, Gelato is the opposite, gets up early and works out, if you join him he will be ecstatic to have you beside him in the morning, if not he makes you both breakfast in bed… 

⟢ Gelato loves coffee, for the taste not the caffeine, drinks decaf whenever possible or he has trouble sleeping at night. Sorbet doesn’t like hot drinks, very rarely hot chocolate when it's cold, but he likes iced drinks more.

⟢ They will make you sit for hours doing designs on your nails, one hand each and they try to coordinate a design between them. They’ll let you paint their nails too, and let you do their make up in the morning.

⟢ Sorbet hates dogs, especially big dogs.

⟢ Gelato is allergic to roses, but loves orchids, he has a beautiful purple orchid Sorbet bought him for his birthday. 

⟢ They love cuddles, if you aren’t super touchy they wont push you to snuggle, they’ll cuddle up together and hold your hand instead. If you are… Good luck getting anything done ever, you’re literally cocooned between them, they get incredibly warm too, so great for cold weather, terrible when it's already warm. They get whiny if you tell them that.

⟢ They’re both very dramatic, Gelato more than Sorbet, will act like its a personal attack if you don’t want to cuddle/hold his hand. If you move away from them at night Sorbet will literally wake up and drag you back into them, will follow you to the bathroom like a dog and stand outside the door because you leave the bed.

⟢ They both can’t hold their alcohol, get very drunk very quickly. You thought they were clingy before? Don’t let Formaggio give them ANYTHING. Having 2 men complaining in the morning about the hangover is the worst part.

First of all. Hi, my name is Kuja. I am a dedicated Risotto Nero centric artist and also a yumejoshi of him. Maybe you saw my art before if you like this character. If you do, maybe you also know how much this character means to me since he basically changed my life and brought me back into art and is the reason I found a wonderful community. Which is the reason I want to take my time and talk about this novel in my own interpretations and observations.

In short, this novel is exactly what I wanted to read about regarding to Risotto Nero.

It features no romance, introduces all of the members of La Squadra Esecuzioni and their steuggles, new characters and mostly is focusing on Risotto and his thought process, aka. his „observations“ which will be a reoccuring theme in this novel, which makes it a joy to read.

The short novel is timeline wise in the time around Christmas playing shortly after the murder of Gelato and Sorbet, which will also be a central theme.

Chapter 0:

A short scene where we witness Risotto Nero committing another successful assassination. As imagined, he is mostly using the camouflage abilities of Metallica to hunt down his targets. The kind of k1llingd he does keep being brutal and bloody, as we know later on also often to send an example and message from the highest of Passione.

It is interesting how peaceful the scene was written with the festive christmas music in the background which slowly fades into horror as the corpse is getting discovered by the passengers on that festive day.

Highlight of this chapter is for sure the absolutely high contrast of Risotto's deeds. On the one hand taking a life in a cold way, as expected from the leader of a hitman team. On the other we are experiencing a softer side on him, which many fans often speculated about. The target of Risotto's mission was just kicking a young pickpocketing girl away, making her almost fall to the ground and hurting her while Risotto, still invisible, catching her hand. Her only seeing iron powder on her small hands, probably wondering what just happened.

Seriously guys, this scene alone made me as a die hard Risotto Yume tremble in joy since it confirmed a lot of my own interpretations and headcanons about him, like having a soft spot for the younger generation. He did NOT have to help the girl, but he did, without ever getting anything in return since the girl could not even see him.

Risotto then sends a message of the confirmation of the hit to the boss who interestingly immediatly answers. Diavolo, are you camping your phone and computer all day?

Chapter 1:

One of the most interesting chapters for me personally because of the amount we learn about the hitman team again by observing how they interact with each other.

It is early in the morning and the hitman team is interacting not in person, but in a computer group chat, their personalities shining through.

We learn that Risotto Nero is currently residing inside a room which is part of a cheap apartment inside the outskirts of Naples. So is this only a temporary spot? It is written that Risotto brought his computer so it seems like he is only for a brief time living there. Do they have actual homes? Or do the members rather travel between short lived hideout spots from Passione? In the end, it is no luxury how they live. And this story often reminds us about this fact.

The hitman team is discussing about the most recent news recieved from the boss himself, about a new hit of a man called Rossi who plans to flee real soon and that Passione is entering the business of waste disposal. And two of their members should forcefully (a no won’t get accepted) transferred into this new branch: Formaggio and Illuso. Which causes a big uproar in the chat. Not gonna lie, it is very charming how they all are interacting and even throwing jokes in between. You see once again they all seem to have close bonds to each other. The typical duos are interacting, Pesci with his anniki, Illuso and Formaggio and once again Melone and Ghiaccio who really seem to get each other well, how they interact with each other really tells a lot about their dynamic.

Only one is not fully participating and rather „observing“, Risotto Nero, who tries to read in between the messages and how his subordinates are really feeling in this moment.

Also because of the most recent trauma they endured, the brutal loss of Sorbet and Gelato, two members who were tired of being treated like dirt and dismissively by the whole organization. Not respected, awful pay and the high risk of losing their lives on the daily. It is always interesting how sympatheticly La Squadra Esecuzioni is written, sure, they are assassins for the most dangerous Italian mafia but you can still emphazise with them. Many of us probably can relate to these feelings, not being treated and paid properly for the hard work we do and wanting to get their deserved amount. Their coworkers and close friends being sent to another occupation without their consent. Their capabilities not respected. Who wants to be treated like this? Sure, the motives are mostly motivated in an egoistical sense compared to an altruistic like some members of Bruno‘s gang do, which is one of the main differences of these gangs. But this is also why the hitman team feels more close, since they operate and think as a group, they want the best for themselves, the others coming afterwards, contrary to wanting to stop entire branches of their business for a better cause as a whole.

Even the boss is sending them more and more not so subtile threats how they have to submit and be obedient to his will. Like Pesci realizes, the messages are hidden in numbers. „Smorfia napoletana“ as it is called and we learn about which is a very clever stylistic choice of this novel which are basically numbers with meaning. And the boss knows very well what he wants to communicate to his hitman team, that he has the sole power over them.

And then we have Risotto Nero again. Who is, like I mentioned before, rarely participating in the talk and more inside his head and thoughts, trying to form plans, trying to see patterns and things. Now even more than before.

Because he feels guilty. Because he feels responsible for the death of two of his subordinates. He is angry at himself to not catching on clues of their planned rebellion against the organization. For not preventing them. For not hinder their deaths. In the end, he has to grief again. Something Risotto Nero always has trouble to deal and process. Once again there were people close to him taken away from him. By death. Something he now himself is known for. He, as the jet-black executioner of Passione. It is quite ironic.

Risotto really can’t let these thoughts of guilt go, he constantly is tormening himself about his and now decided to be even more keen on his men. To analyze, to think about their next steps, to prevent such a mistake. To observe.

It is not only that Risotto Nero is „surface“ level invested in his men. No, he „couldn't“ lose anyone else. He is responsible, as their leader. But why he can’t lose them?

Is it just because of the team itself? Do endure even more consequences by the boss and being dissolved by being useless? Is it because of the team spirit? Is it because he needs them for being able to work in the first place? Or is it actually because he can’t stomach any more losses? We don’t know anything about the lives of the hitman team outside their job. Do they have friends? Family? Or only each other? It seems they go around quite a lot, and being gangsters is not easy forming honest relationships between them and civilians. And even other teams inside Passione seem to be cautious, even hateful towards them. They don’t seem trustworthy for anyone else outside the team.

Also, this novel also confirms that Risotto truly cares about his subordinates since he is absolutely trying to analyze and insight for their mental states. He knows his team is processing trauma. They are still human. Luckily he knows as well how many of his members can deal with the stress or who of them is capable protecting themselves most efficiently. He thinks a lot, analyzes a lot and tries how to make a change and impact for their benefit and therefore a raise of the group morale. The mention that Risotto is thinking about giving Formaggio missons with a high chance of succeeding, just to improve his mental wellbeing because he alone found the corpse of Gelato…it tells so much about him. Risotto is absolutely observant and does not tolerate his own mistakes and puts on actual effort of being a good leader for his men. He does not want to any bad causality ever happen again between them. And losing them. As their leader, he needs to look out for the hitman team, they only have themselves.

After the team points out how quiet Risotto is the whole time, he tells them to take on this assassination by himself alone. He really is losing himself a lot inside his analytical thoughts.

Chapter 2:

This chapter is more revolving about the setting itself. We get to know the urgent this assassination is, putting pressure onto Risotto who usually keeps a cool head. Risotto will take out this murder of the soon trying to flee Rossi in a very crowded place, directly inside the mansion of this man who is tainted by very crude and unethical businesses himself. To put an example. Don’t mess with Passione. A job suited for Risotto’s brutal Stand capabilities.

The party being thrown in the luxurious mansion was right before Christmas, Rossi is intending to show his new adoptive son, Gennaro, another central character in this story.

This decadent luxury is a nice way to show again the difference of the worlds they live in.

By the way, it is very cute to imagine Risotto Nero inside a proper elegant suit he is wearing for this event. Sorry, needed to let this out.

In the next scene, an elderly couple speaks to Risotto about the over the top interior of the mansion. It made me actually laugh that Risotto was seriously being called „a wallflower“. I seriously can see this, he does not seem like the center of attention of a party. He also doesn't need to, he is supposed to be blending into the scene after all.

Afterwards Rossi appears into the spotlight and talking about the mystery of the „unopenable door“ and also just spewing out some meaningless anecdotes.

Also a rising and uncomfortable heat is described by the pair which is unsually also affecting Risotto Nero himself, which is surprising him. But it the reason is a sense of unease he tries to pinpoint to, until he realizes it is actually Metallica wriggling and moving inside his body and not actual nervousness about the mission itself. They are reaction to something inside this mansion which also is affecting Risotto‘s body. All this while he is planning how to cover the walls in red real soon.

Later on the party, Gennaro, a 14 year old boy is finally introduced to the story and guests, seemingly innocent and youthful, full of enthiusiasm.

Then the party guests were starting a tombola game, an Italian tradition, where we also get to know about the smorfia napoletana again and get introduced to new numbers and their meanings.

While Rossi and Gennaro are playing a farce in front of the crowd, Risotto thinks about the numbers and their meanings, as well as getting further affected by the temperature and discomfort inside his body.

The numbers are really dire and somewhat ironic when we take Risotto‘s backstory into account. 14 and 18, which are ages which his life turned around. 14 meaning „drunk“ and „18“ blood-stained. It is incredibly ironic just how these numbers describe his past, while the 90, before in his apartment room poster, is also appearing on his tombola card as well. His reaction and realizing these numbers was followed by a snort of him.

It really is amazing how much the author of this novel is taking Risotto‘s backstory into account and building onto that or referencing it. He constantly gets reminded of the cruel acts he decided to do many years ago which led him chose a path without any redemption.

Right after this, when the party and speech of Rossi is reaching its climax, Risotto plans to kill him, approaching him to close the Stand distance. It is interesting how he also is pointing on the target. It seems a bit suspicious, but the whole story is constantly describing that the others are not paying any attention towards Risotto Nero anways, he mostly blends in.

Also, Risotto seems to view himself as a „professional“ regarding his job as a hitman, not doing these murders for the fun of it. As long as they are paid and not caused by his own Vendetta. It seems like it is thrilling for him to catch up the ideal chance to carry out the murder for the most dramatic moment for reaching the biggest impact.

But right before Risotto could activate his Stand, the light faded, panic invokes between the guests and he lost track of his target who completely vanished after the lights come back to, the family of Rossi, his wife and Gennaro, worried about his absence and calling the police. But Risotto does not give up yet, further being suspicious of the unopenable door which not even the police who arrived could open.

After many unsuccessful attempts of opening the door and getting a new signal of Rossi outside the mansion, the police leaves again, making the party end.

It is very fascinating to witness Risotto Nero using his brain power to connect the dots and uncovering the secret of this unopenable door, using Metallica again to form objects like forks to the keyhole, which is also fake and therefore detecting a lie of Rossi losing its key. Risotto Nero has such an analytical and smart way to approach matters, trying to stay calm and composed. He knows this mission can't fail, the stakes are high.

Still, he fails to control his feelings once again, as stone faced as he is, a remark even his team mates are using towards him, which is truly sweet in a weird way, how they joke about this with their leader. He got a new message from the boss, who revealed how poorly Illuso and Formaggio will get paid and basically disrespected on the waste disposal branch. Succumbing to his anger, Risotto Nero breaks his phone, not realizing it until he hears the cracking sounds of the broken phone and through his Stand again inside his bloody hand, who seem to express his true thoughts and burning anger, screaming in their usual noises ordinary people can’t hear.

Metallica here in this novel acts very metaphorical as they really seem to be a vessle for his true feelings at times he has trouble expressing at the exterior. Be it the need of a leader of a hitman team, his past trauma or other reasons, but Risotto Nero often seems not in tune about his own feelings until later on. It is heartbreaking in my eyes that the unfair treatment of his men causes such reactions inside him. He does not want such a reality for them, he as a leader can’t allow to fail them again. And he is so sick of getting treated like this by the boss, his resentment growing stronger as well as his own rebellious spirit he tried to bury to protect his team, despite being treated worse every day. It is an endless circle of torment these hitmen need to endure. The boss basically told them to put their lives on the line, it is understable how enraged Risotto gets by that remark.

Risotto‘s appearance also gets briefly mentioned. He seems to have scarred lips, afding to his very rough a gruff apperance. Are these scars because of a neglect of himself of are these results of his past encounters?

But there was an even stronger reason making Metallica roar, the door seems to be connected and controlled with magnetism, also being most likely the reason for his own permanent discomfort on this place, which only faded within the power outage, which he now realized, the dots are connected now inside his head.

Chapter 3

In the end, the police did throw everyone outside before leaving but knowing Risotto and his Stand, He camouflages himself yet again and enters the mansion once more, iron will determonstion to uncover the secret and to carry out his bloody mission.

Inside he not only realizes all the stolen and proudly displayed good from Rossi, but also meets the adoptive son, Gennaro, once again, who detects the presence of Risotto despite not being able to see him. All while Rossi knocks and screams behind the unopenable door.

The mystery as Risotto figured out was an electromagnet inside the door, which is also the cause of his Stand reacting before.

Interestingly this novel confirms another headcanon I had about Risotto since a long time, as he tells Gennaro about the mechanism of the electomagnet which he read inside a book about waste disposal. He really seems like an intellectual and sophisticated person, reason he seems to be naturally curious about a lot of the world and its functions around him.

Gennaro lies about his reason being here, but the knife in his hand reveals his true intention, as Risotto observes, seeing the boy as a hindrance and thinking about peacefully assassinating him as well if he keeps being an obstacle of his urgent mission. Seeing that Risotto thinks about this dark act but not carrying out this murder of a young man, shows his hestitation despite him being a ruthless and experienced hitman. But, he is also seemingly intruiged by him, curious about his motives and the plan of the boy and realizing the benefit of unrevealing the crime of the young man. Also we can see that Risotto very well decides how „brutally“ he will take out a murder of a person.

Risotto lays out his own observations and detective work how the disappearance of Rossi was made possible during the power outage, which was caused by the extreme indoor heating and the lights of the christmas tree.

Quite funny how Risotto also uses his Stand powers to make a metal Tombola piece float in the air, it must have confused the boy to no end, not knowing about the supernatural Stands. He reveals another meaning of the numbers, 77, the devil, which was Gennaro‘s own remark against his new father. The man the young boy planned to kill himself, just like Risotto Nero.

Risotto is seemingly impressed how well crafted Gennaro is in planning his own assassination, but even the boy begins to flinch by the ghostly presence of Risotto, being called a grim reaper, which was also always part of his overall design.

He is curious about the motives of the boy, who wants to reveal the secret in front of Rossi himself, so they release him, with ordering the boy to drop the knife.

Rossi, completely out of breath, storms out of the room behind the door, questioning his son about the reasons of his hostile acts.

Then Gennaro revealed it all, how much Rossi has tormented him all these years after making him witness the torturing and murder of his own mother, just to get adopted by him again, probably making him suffer even more behind the disguise of a noble man, a habit of Rossi‘s twisted games. He even underestimated the boy to remember him after all these years, showing his arrogance and belittlement of others. All while the boy suffered in silcence and played an act, until now the time for his own assassination and revenge has come.

A motive and reason we all know defines Risotto all to well, his whole life. We get a glimpse of a backflash inside Risotto‘s head of the funeral of his cousin, many years ago. His mind turning dark just like his clothes. Full of rage and seeking justice of losing someone caused by another person. A person who will soon endure the same cruel fate, to make up for it again. But at what cost?

Risotto sees himself inside the boy. He was in he same situation many years ago, being 14 as well, his mind and spirit not able to process the loss of a family member. But choosing revenge led Risotto to a path of no redemption, a path of endless crime, just to get disrespected at the daily and putting his own life at risk, just to witness his loved ones getting erased from life again, not being able to counter the perpetrator this time and to submit.

No, this is a scenario Risotto experienced himself, he knows what this path will involve. I am very sure Risotto wants another fate for this boy, despite knowing the cathartic feeling of getting the revenge one seeked out for many years. Would Risotto chose this path himself again when he was reliving time? A scenario we will never know an answer of but here we see him protecting the boy for basically ruining his future life, a life without a real future, filled with crime, surrounded by mostly mean spirited people despite the closest ones.

So he tells the boy leave, threathening him to kill him if he refuses. He will carry out the mission, not only for the job, but also to spare the boy a life full of darkness.

But Gennaro does not accept, he suffered way too much from what Rossi has done, sleepless nights, trauma, feeling helpless, he only wants the release of revenge. The boy shows a strong will of resolve. And Risoto can relate so much, he truly understand what the boy is feeling. He knows these moments, this burning hatred and just bringing justice to end this once and for all. This is affecting Risotto even in such a way, that he lets his guard down, revealing his appearance, making the boy gasp in surprise by his dark and ghostly presence.

The moment of tension and two spitits connecting only got suddenly interrupted by the police forces, not hestitating to shoot on Risotto Nero as a quick act to save Rossi. The leader shortly needed a moment to process what just happened but decided to remove enough iron from the bodies of the officers to make them unconscious - a fairly peaceful decision for a hitman. But is it because he does not want to harm people who are not involved in his job or is it rather to spare the uproar of the corpses of police workers? Maybe a mix, still, it shows quite a new light of Risotto, being surrounded by members of his team who do not spare the lives of people close to their target mission. At least sometimes. Even tho, these hitmen seem all to have their own moral codex they act on.

After all, Risotto Nero is still cruel and cold enough to traumatize the people around his targets with his brutal and merciless killings, like he just wanted to do some hours ago with all the guests and family Rossi. I really enjoy how morally grey Risotto is written which really makes him an appealing and interesting character, and I try to say this as unbiased as possible.

While this short moment of being focused on the police, Rossi takes action and stabs Gennaro with his own knife he dropped earlier, directly into the stomach of the young man.

Now it was finally the time Risotto needed to act, bringing a gruesome end and torturing Rossi with nails made from Metallica‘s powers, making him suffer a long time before he finishes finally his assassination.

It is very symbolic that Risotto basically crucifies Rossi with the way he pierced iron nails through hus hands, it is very symbolic for a multitude of reasons and made me think.

If we think about Christian Religion, the punishment of being cruzified was reserved for the sinners. A way to show dominance and control by the upper hand instances, which is Passione.

It was often used for „low-life“ criminals and slaves back then, basically mocking the luxurious life of Rossi.

The dramatic display of the corpse for everyone to see to give off a warning: do not act like this sinner. It is an open display of Rossi‘s long life of wrongdoings and crime and how he now must suffer the consequences, caused by his sins. Since it is also a tool of enforcing and showing social control, it also fits the method of Passione scaring other gangsters and enemies. They are in control and on the top. They are showing psychological warfare and invoking public fear.

But also, does this act also is an act of mercy to bring salvation to Gennaro? Making Rossi die for his cruel sins to release the darkened spirit of the young man? It is quite interesting to think about this potential interpretation.

Risotto then rushed to Gennaro, picking him up, telling him that Rossi will now suffer for his sins. As Gennaro is seemingly dying in Risotto‘s arms, smiling, he found finally peace of his mind. His last act is showing the tombola card with the number 90 again, and we finally get know its meaning.

Fear.

This is what Gennaro wanted to overcome, feared and suffering by his past, not being able to act, not knowing if the feel of being haunted by Rossi will ever fleet away, now that the boy was adopted by him, probably even abused by new methods of Rossi‘s twisted mind.

Fear is what is haunting Risotto Nero and his team since weeks, enforced by the boss, treating them like dogs, making with the hitman team whatever he feels to, not respecting them, humiliating them. No regard for their talents, always reminding Risotto of his failure as a leader he cannot stop feeling guilty for. He needs to act. He can’t let this continue. But it is fear he also feels, not wanting to lose more of his men. But what is the other path? An endless cycle of ridicule? Risotto has enough. In this moment the brave acts of Gennaro must have inspired him to also put a stop onto all this. He can’t let fear to keep controlling him and his men.

And then, while Risotto is scolding Gennaro in an endearing way, talking to him like as if he was scolding one of his subordinates, like a mentor, he transforms the iron tile inside the boys hand and forms a staple.

Chapter 4

A short time skip. The news were talking about the gruesome murder of Rossi by a gangster and how this gangster also tortured a young boy was saved by a „skilled police officer with a stapler“

…a story wirhout any sense. Only Risotto Nero, Gennaro and the reader know the truth about what happened. Risotto did an heroic act, no one will ever know about, probably not even Gennaro himself, since he was barely left conscious when Risotto stapled his wounds with Metallica.

It is unbelievably tragic but also needed, as Risotto Nero has a reputation to hold. On this day, he took a life but he also saved another. And not only in a physical way, Risotto prevented Gennaro, who returned into a orphanage, to chose the same path as him many years ago. He brought salvation to his tormented and young spirit, finally removing his tantalizer from life. The boy has now again a chance of a normal life, a life, Risotto does not have himself.

Once again, Risotto brought success to Passione, without ever getting properly rewarded, payment as low as ever. Nothing changed. Only Risotto‘s resolve has.

He gathered his men again, this time in person, inside their usual hiding spot we know of. Which seems to be a rare occurance as the hitman team remarks, last time being the day they got these dreadful horrible packages of thin pieces of one of their members.

The waste disposal transfer seems to be on hold, Illuso and Formaggio being spared from changing teams this time, and they begin bantering again. Knowing they are essential to the team and valueing being among them.

This scene also confirms the basically fanon of the fandom that Prosciutto is a smoker - he indeed does.

Suddenly Risotto began to talk, he is resolved. The boss won’t continue to play with them like cheap and disposable puppets. The incident with the determined Gennaro and collecting his strength depsite still being scared, made him realize to act as well. Or else he and his men will keep this vicious cycle of being a team of assassins who despite carrying out the missions with success, still are only good enough to get potentially transferred to deal with garbage. It is a clear message, like the boss always does.

It is finally enough, time to free themselves from the chains.

He swears to overthrow the boss and organization. His will and decision strong as iron. Wanting to claim what has been taken from „HIM“.

This remark seems to be a direct hint on his pride, how much he personally has lost in his life and how sick he is of all this, fighting for a better future, for himself. But also for his team. To avenge the deaths of Sorbet and Gelato, to make their loss not being unresolved.

His subordinates being in silence, making Risotto questioning how they will decide, will they stay loyal to the team or to the organization of Passione? By now, they can only hold themselves only the little clues and whereabouts of the boss, events which unfold in the storyline of Vento Aureo.

Until then, Risotto Nero will continue to observe, to catch every clue to fulfill his revenge and bring dark glory and a better future for his team, them alone, against the remaining world. The stakes are high, him being the leader is responsible for the outcome of this resolve. Unfortunately, we know how this decision will turn out in the end. They were so close but it still was all for nothing, the mostly self motivated team of assassins' fate has already decided and it will lose against the altruistic motives of the gang of Bruno Bucciarati.

Okay, this was long. I don’t know how many of you really did read this. If you did,

Thank you.

As a summary, this short novel is a fantasticly written story about Risotto Nero and his team of hitmen, also shining with hints of fanservice, as confirming many ideas the fans had about them, and letting them all stay in character without ever breaking depsite all the bantery conversations, how close these men are. In the end, they are all they have.

This story really did Risotto Nero justice as a character, not once ever conflicting with the hints we knew about his personality but also expanding on them.

He is ruthless, cold and stone-faced, as we witnessed already in the original source material. But what we learned in this novel about him throws a new light on him, showing also his softer side.

He IS concerned about his teammates, he feels guilty about his failures as a leader, he can absolutely not cope with grief and has trouble managing his outbursts of anger - even targeting against himself and hurting himself. He looks after the wellbeing if his men, concerned about their mental health and respecting their trauma, not ever ridiculing them and their feelings. Risotto Nero is absolutely not emotionless, his inner world and thoughts are rich, which he just isn’t able to express for probably a multitude of reasons. He even shows compassion for strangers. There was no reason to save the girl from falling harshly to the ground, there was no reason to spare Gennaro, he even knows Risotto‘s face and could be therefore a danger in the future.

But he did help them. And the most cruel fact about this is, no one of them or the others, probably not even his men, will know about these acts and truths (only if they will maybe figure it out by themselves by the staples).

He is not a person who wants to be a hero, he knows he isn’t and he will never be, too many lives did he take by now. But, these little deeds to mercy and kindness are probably a secret of him, no one ever needs to know about. He has his own reasons to act, his own way. His own moral code and his own way to act.

This all makes Risotto Nero such a very well written character in my eyes, combining some of the worst human sins but also showing signs of compassion and protectiveness, like preventing others from a path full of pain or wanting to fight for his men, to finally get what they deserve.

I thank the author of this story, Ayato Toya, by a lot. This novel was a joy to read, which I already did by a couple of times. Also thanks to Hudgyn for the wonderful translation, which is very well and clearly written.

This novel probably strenghtened my own feelings for this character by a lot. I can’t express how happy I am this was written at all, if now this story gets and animated adaptation, my life will be complete. Come on, who does not want to see Risotto inside a suit?

Thank you for reading.

Oh yeah, here is my artwork of him again I made for this novel, I did imagine how he might look with a suit.