#kurotsuba

Tsubakura Enraku and Kuroji Shitodo (1):

I'll just link you to some screenshots I've prepared over the years, because they do all the talking for me honestly. If you wanna make this quick, I've ☆d the really important ones, but I included everything I deemed as evidence. Len'en is a very obscure series so I need to make a stronger case than anyone. These are in order of game release: Evanescent Existence, "Tsubakura" vs Kuroji (side note, the Tsubakura here is actually a fake, but it's Kuroji's feelings that matter). Earthen Miraculous Sword, every time Kuroji vagues Tsubakura (to be clear "black" is being used as an adjective to describe Tsubakura's clothing, unfortunately there aren't any dark-skinned characters in these games yet). These are fruit because it proves how much of Kuroji's headspace Tsubakura occupies. Reactive Majestical Imperial: Slaver Team (context: Kuroji blackmailed the character named Saragimaru into doing their bidding) vs Shrine Team (aka Tsubakura and their partner, Yabusame). Scoundrel Team (consisting of Kuroji and their two younger siblings, Hooaka and Aoji) vs Tsubakura: Context: Kuroji and their siblings got attacked by one of Tsubakura's old enemies. Kuroji chose not to inform Tsubakura about the appearance of said enemy. Still not entirely sure why but I think the justification was a combination of not wanting to kill Tsubakura's vibe and that Tsubakura could handle said enemy (so I've synthesized that into a headcanon about Kuroji wanting Tsubakura to randomly encounter and hopefully neutralize that enemy instead of playing defensively). Book of the Cafe (Context: This is just a demo. The gist of the dialogue we have there is that these two characters, NiLU and Tom, are looking through the dialogue of the first game and speaking their thoughts on it.)

Adora and Catra (2):

Catra spends five seasons (and arguably her whole life) obsessed with Adora and no matter what Adora always has some level of hope that Catra can be better and they love each other but they won't say it out loud until one of them is actively dying

The most important context is that Len'en is a bullet hell game, and thus for most of the on-screen time, people are going to be fighting.

Reason 1: Kuroji is always going on about being inferior to Tsubakura.

(Note: The Tsubakura here is a fake Tsubakura. Still, Kuroji hadn't realized it at this point so their response is genuine.)

Tell me there's a heterosexual explanation for this. I mean, you're allowed to interpret Tsubakura and Kuroji's genders in a way that would make them straight, but even if they're straight, that still doesn't make them straight.

(Note: Yabusame is a mutual friend of theirs and works with Tsubakura at the shrine you'll see talked about in these dialogues.)

(Note: Saragimaru is someone Kuroji blackmailed into doing their bidding because they're an asshole. This is a section of the game where KuroSara and YabuTsuba fought because the game creator didn't have enough slots to fill in all 6 stages otherwise, and a bullet hell game's gotta have 6 stages right? This isn't a critique I love all the duo attacks, themes, and character interactions that came out of this arrangement.)

(Note: Shion is a newborn youkai made up out of many souls that got entrusted to YabuTsuba after the third game.)

Reason 2: Kuroji vagues Tsubakura even when they're not around.

(Note: "black" here is used because Kuroji has kinda black hair and Tsubakura wears mostly black. I assume it's more natural in Japanese.)

(Note: Shou and Lumen are boss enemies in the second game.)

Reason 3: Witty banter

(Note: "The dumb one" is Yabusame.)

(Note: This is after Tsubakura said that Kuroji is actually a good person sometimes. You'll see that bit of dialogue later.)

Reason 4: Tsubakura has praise for Kuroji too!

(Note: This is YabuTsuba's bad ending for the third game. I actually forgot to include this in my submission! Anyway, the joke is that Tsubakura died but got brought back to life by a magic flower, and everyone is acting like they're still dead for the bit.)

(Note: Jinbei is the familiar of the shrine YabuTsuba work at. They help out with various duties.)

Reason 5: This Conversation

This time I'm going to give the context beforehand, since this conversation is a bit long. Some dialogue for the upcoming Len'en game was released a year ago, to give us a teaser. This dialogue consists of two characters, NiLU and Tom, going over the dialogue for the first game for the sake of information gathering.

Mainly it's just an excuse to have the dialogue from previous games in there at all (since it's a mobile game that the creator plans on using as an entry point for people that are interested in his series).

You remember from before when Kuroji said something like "You always, always surpass me"? This is the reaction to that.

Reason 6: I dunno where to put these two interview questions so they're going here:

Some Fanfic Recommendations:

This is mostly so you can experience the same thing that the runner of the poll did when I sent them a submission. Remember, these are not a reflection of canon. They are, however, fics I like (yes I know one of them is mine, that's because I'm proud of it).

Typhoon Commute by Nobelium

The Next Step by Nobelium

I Kept It Warm For You by FatalYeet

Kuroji with Tsubakura

Kuroji cares deeply for Tsubakura. Openly, too, when they first met.

Here was this talented rookie, ready to make their mark on the world. Kuroji was impressed by their junior researcher, but soon Tsubakura had their curiosity as they quickly climbed the ranks.

Kuroji had taken Tsubakura under their wing, only to be quickly outpassed them. Of course, their was some envy, but for the most part Kuroji was proud.

But affection was a weakness in this rotten army. Affection was a weapon people can use against you. And that's exactly what Kuroji's superiors did.

So Kuroji turned icy whenever around Tsubakura from then on. At first it was out of love, for a way to protect them. But the resentment inside them grew and grew. Why do they get all the love from their superiors, all the praise? They're the one with more seniority!

Even after arriving in Mugenri, that chilly reception still remained. The jealousy Kuroji harbours for Tsubakura runs deep, like roots of a great oak tree wormed into their grey matter. There's a light inside them that still cares for Tsubakura, but its flame is weak.

Perhaps that's what that rotten army wanted all along.

Kuroji with Saragimaru

Saragimaru talks about Yaorochi a lot.

They way they wax poetic about their dear eldest sibling, as if Yaorochi was simply misguided at the moment and will return to their senses any day now.

In many ways, Saragimaru reminds Kuroji of what they used to be like. Young and eager, always following their seniors around like a puppy. Their superiors always knows what's best.

Fucking pathetic.

Isn't Saragimaru supposed to be a youkai? Then why do they act so weak, like a sniffling, snot-ridden child who's lost their way home?! They've lived for so long, they should know better than to mindlessly follow their superiors!

For the most part, Kuroji tries to channel this energy into something more productive; if Saragimaru wants to act like a slave, then fine. They can be their slave. But sometimes their anger gets the better of them, manifesting in different ways. They grow colder towards they Orochi, they lash out and say cruel things to them. One night Saragimaru found them on top of them, knife in hand. They learned they couldn't overpower the youkai.