Straw_P

So I just finished the quest today and I have some thoughts to share with (aka inflict on) y’all. But If you haven’t done it yet and don’t want to get spoiled, then scroll away. I totally respect those who haven’t done it yet because I myself am often super lazy or want to savor the quests.

OK, here we go! *SPOILERS BELOW*

When we first start the quest, we get the premise: Yoimiya’s been hiding a man in her fireworks shop who entered Inazuma illegally and is now wanted by the Shogunate, and she’s trying to help him escape the country by boat. Interestingly enough, this setup is almost treated lightly in the story “oh, that Sakoku Decree is such a bother,” but I think it’s kind of huge in putting Inazuma’s political situation into perspective. The state is run by a dictator with their own police force that won’t let people leave the country, oppresses certain groups of people, indoctrinates citizens into the shogun’s cult of personality, and kills or imprisons anyone who does not comply. This is fascism. From real life examples, we know that this is a really dangerous situation. Though it is toned down in the game, I think the message comes across pretty clearly. Yoimiya is taking on great personal risk to help Sakujirou, and the archon quest tells us that this is not the first time, she’s hid vision bearers in her shop before. And we’ve seen her distribute fake visions. I mention all this because I think it’s important to keep in mind as you progress through the story.

About halfway through, we find out that Sakujirou, the man we’re trying to help escape Inazuma, came back because he wanted to apologize to a childhood friend, Keisuke, after they had a fight many years ago. But, it turns out that Keisuke joined the Tenryou Commission and has been personally hunting Sakujirou down to arrest him. Which he does.

During their confrontation, it becomes apparent that their relationship runs deeper than just childhood friends. You might say that they have a SPECIAL relationship. Historians would describe them as “such good friends.”

I mean that they’re gay. That’s what I’m arguing for here. I doubt that Mihoyo intended it that way, but that’s how I read it and here’s why:

1. Firstly, Yoimiya has to spend quite a lot of time getting two adult men to confess to each other how they feel. They both seem embarrassed and reluctant, possibly more so than a normal couple of friends who had a falling out.

2. Sakujirou risked his life coming back to Inazuma AFTER the Sakoku decree was put in place. He explains that he felt lost (the implication being lost without his friend and homeland), and that he felt guilty running away when Keisuke never did. Returning to a fascist-controlled nation where you might lose everything is a level of commitment that I think goes beyond just childhood friendship. And what’s more, Sakujirou says, “I just had to come back and visit. It was like fate was calling me, and I couldn’t ignore it any longer.” Sounds pretty romantic if you ask me.

3. Keisuke also risked his life and livelihood for his friend. After he lets Sakujirou “escape,” he admits that even before they met he planned to let him go. He used his position in the Tenryou Commision to keep the other officers away and help Sakujirou get his boat. The consequences for this could be severe, and Keisuke’s actions are not taken lightly. He also mentions that although he’d like Keisuke to stay, he won’t keep him there by force, which I find to be very in the vein of “If you love someone let them go,”

4. The firework. Sakujirou commissioned a firework from Yoimiya in the hopes of setting it off with Keisuke. We know from previous conversations in the quest that fireworks represent people’s hopes and commemorate events. They can represent friendship, love and marriage, and the fact that Sakujirou wanted one means that he and Keisuke are very close. Though Sakujirou can’t stay to watch the fireworks, after he leaves Keisuke promises to set theirs off.

Why did Keisuke and Sakujirou want to set off fireworks together? “Unwavering beliefs?” yeah…yeah, right.

5. Promises to return to each other. Keisuke tells Sakujirou he will help him get into Inazuma if he goes through the legal process, and asks Sakujirou to wait for him. Though there’s no verbal confirmation, it seems like Sakujirou intends to return. As his boat leaves Inazuma, he looks longingly back at the fireworks show, whispers “Keisuke…” and begins to cry. It’s one of the most emotional moments in the quest.

6. I may be reading into this whole thing too much, and people may argue that it’s just an example of close male friendship. EXCEPT. If this was a story with a male and a female character instead of two male characters, it would absolutely be a love story. And the background of a facist state that wants to crush dissent and those who are different makes it even better.

Sanemi has small feet.

Like not really small but small for his size.

I thought it was like the anime's style but

His foot size seems to be smaller compared to other characters

Here's Tanjiro's feet for comparison

Here's Rengoku's(RIP King), notice the hand vs foot size

Look at Genya's

Compare that to Sanemi's

lemme just

yeah, sanegiyuu my beloved

Every time he finds a pretty stone, he puts it in his pocket, and the next time he sees Damian, he hands them to the boy with no explanation.

Damian, while confused, keeps them like precious treasures. He even gets a display case.

It is only after he watches a documentary about the Antarctic with Cass one night that he understands what's going on.

He calls for the Super immediately, and Jon arrives in minutes with a new blue stone in hand.

"Are you attempting to court me like a penguin?"

"That depends. Is it working?" And offers the new rock gingerly.

"Unfortunately, yes."

I like to imagine that ever since Damian started to mend his relationship with Talia, he has been slowly dressing and donning the mannerisms he had in the League.

Not the insecure anger of a terrified child but the dignified air of a royal.

Damian starts wearing the elegant silks he grew up with. His mother gifts him gold and jewels that now permanently adorn his skin.

Talia finds out how much allowance Bruce gives him and freaks out. She gives Damian a literal crown and gifts him an unlimited credit card, a penthouse with the best security and a castle in France.

No son of hers will ever be lacking anything.

So Damian moves from rich kid chic and a Bruce clone to looking more like his mother. Elegant, refined, and undeniably royal.

Damian Al Ghul Wayne is not arrogant but confident. He is proud but not pompous. He is kind but dignified.

Everyone around him at med school and high society looks at him with awe.

Jon Kent looks at Damian in his more traditional clothing and kohl and acknowledges his best friend is out of his league.

Jon might be a hero, but he is also a farmboy and he has no chance when Damian could have the world at his feet if he only asked.

Too bad Damian doesn't agree.

Damian falls in love with the boy who argues back, that never just follows Damians lead blindly yet never judges him for his past. The man who grew up to be kind and joyful despite the hell he has been put through.

The boy that makes him feel like something precious. Like someone worthy of being protected.

And Damian intends to keep Jon as long as he is allowed.

He brings Jon to dinner and buys him gifts and food. Jon looks especially lovely in the suits Damian has made for him for the Galas he attends by Damians side.

He brings it up as they watch the sunset together at Kent Farm.

He grabs Jons hand, and when Jon turns to look at him with wide eyes he kisses his best friend softly.

Jon gasps, but when Damian moves back, he is lifted on Jons lap so he can be kissed properly.

When they finally stop for air, Damian laughs at the shocked look on Jons face.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Because I'm happy."

Jon smiles, and Damian wants to poke at his dimples

"I'm happy too."

The moment is perfect until Damian interrupts and says, "Mother wants to meet you properly."

"Why?" Jon asks hesitantly.

"So she can welcome you to the family."

"We're not married."

"According to League Traditions, you have completed almost all of the courting process, actually."

"What?!"

Damian smiles, "You saved my life, beat me in combat, pledged your loyalty, and defeated my enemies."

Jon looks at him with dawning realisation. "What else is there?"

"First, you get Mothers approval, then we say our vows"

Damian waits for a negative reaction for Jon to panic, but the Super just holds him tighter.

"I can do that."

"Do you want to?" Damian asks seriously.

When I write Jon taking care of Damian's problems for him, it isn't because Damian is a soft innocent baby who needs protection

It's Damian going "GUARDS" because he knows now he deserves better and this is beneath him

It's Damian having to fight battle after battle for his entire life since he was born and being done with it. He refuses to fight any longer

Jon is possessive, protective and vengeful, but never in a way that would undermine Damian

100% it's like in a guard dog kind of way but not in a degrading way, in like a "Jon can you deal with this for me I have a better things to do today" kind of way.

Damian has the kind of face that you could spend hours just staring at and wonder how a person could even be that pretty.

And Jon has the privilege of getting to do exactly that on a daily basis.