Curate, connect, and discover
Warnings: Shitty writing
"Kuzu! Wanna go out for breakfast or something?" Kyuu suggested.
Kuzu, as usual, was hard at work on his usual...work, and Kyuu wanted him to just relax a little.
Granted relaxing as much as he did wouldn't exactly be ideal.
"Uh...it's already lunch but ok," The glasses man agreed.
And so to lunch they went.
Kyuu had an ideal restaurant in mind, the random pizza place across their apartment served fantastic pizza and pasta.
But by the time they got there, an extremely long queue had already formed. This kind of queue would require at least a few hours of waiting.
No matter, this place's pizza was to die for, a few hours meant nothing.
"Oh well, I guess we'll have to wait a while now," Kyuu pointed out the obvious.
Kuzu rolled his eyes at another one of Kyuu's lame jokes while supressing a smile.
Luckily for them, many customers soon grew impatient and left the queue, leaving our pair seated comfortably in the restaurant in no time.
"Uh... I'd like an extra-cheesy cheese lava pizza, and he'll have the carborana pasta," Kyuu ordered as he decided Kuzu's meal without informing him.
"Uh... ok I guess," Kuzu was not the kind to protest violently against trivial details like his lunch. He just went along with whatever Kyuu suggested.
"Your food is here!" This restaurant was insanely quick in serving its dishes, they hadn't even realised they'd finished ordering already.
"Yay! Let's eat!" Kyuu exclaimed wildly, then began to slurp and chew his cheesy pizza viciously and rather loudly.
Kuzu, being the refined gentleman he was, ate his pasta with the posture of an educated being. Slowly and quietly.
Kuzu was not embarrased of Kyuu though, despite the many weird looks from different customers.
After all, why should he?
After all, he was proud of the fact that he was Kyuu's, and that Kyuu's was his.
Idk honestly apologies for how terrible this is, and I'm sorry if I've disapponted you idk
Everything the adap did wrongly (Season 2)
It has been a while but:
Excluding Doudou, Mitsurugi and Kariya (and Mahiru but he's mostly season 1)
Cutting out Enji's inner monolgue
Not showing Enji's torture (so now Banda is just another fanservice character instead of actually being shown as the psychopath he really is because Enji's torture was the best time to show it and they really just FUCKING SKIPPED OVER IT
Doing Heiya so dirty people see her actions as fan service
Excluding Kuzuryu from the 4 of clubs
Not including Chishiya and Daimon's flirty banter (also with daddy Kuzuryu just being the daddy to the gay daughter and hot son) (KEEP THE ◇ FOUND FAMILY CLOSE)
NEFTLIX WHERE IS MY "69, well, no comments there~"
Cutting out Shiirabi's entire backstory that now he's just some mindless killer to the live adap only watchers
Basing Kuzuryu's backstory around Chishiya so when you bring up Kuzu in a conversation with the live adap only watchers 49% of them say, oh the glasses guy (season 1 watchers) and 48% say "oh, the one that lawyer guy that (insert Chishiya reference here) (also the other 3% say "OH I REMEMBER HIM! HE'S THAT HOT DILF SUGAR DADDY" but that's beside the point)
Not including the explanation of the Joker being the ferryman between life and death or some other shit
Not including Tatta admitting he jerked off to Kuina, then Kuina stripping to make Tatta hard again (it was just funny also KUINA MY QUEEN)
Making everyone who was in the K♤ game nearly immortal with THICC ASS chunks of plot armor instead of just getting Doudou (again, excluding Doudou), his big sister Heiya, and his dad Aguni defeat Shiirabi on their own WITHOUT ARISU HAVING TO SPRAY A DRUG STORE WITH DEODORANT
Also it was all because of everyone not dying in the K♤ that people died from his broken hand because he "hAd nO WiLL tO LiVe" like SHUT UP! Tatta didn't drop out of school to pursue his dreams (or something haven't read the manga in a while) just for you to say he has "nO wiLL tO LiVe"
Cutting out any possible Kuzuyuuma interactions because WE DESERVED TO SEE OUR HUSBANDS BEING GAY!! THE SUPER ENERGETIC NUDIST AND THE LOW-ENERGY DEPRESSED LAWYER THEY WERE THE BEST SHIPPPP (aside from Kuiann of course but again, that's beside the point) (and then the live adap only watchers will say "why do you even ship them? They never even interacted," because SHUT UP YES THEY DID! VERY GAYLY!)
Not showing Kyuma's pp
Cutting out Chapter 52 and basically all possibility of citizen interaction because WHERE IS MY BIG HAPPY CITIZEN FAMILY NETFLIX??? WHERE???
Making the show such that live adap only watchers think watching the show only is enough and they don't have to read the manga
I think I actually missed out quite a lot but let me know if you noticed any that I missed! 😀
"Kyuuma."
"Hmm?"
"You'll always remember me, right? Even if I go to some faraway place and for a long time... you'll always remember me, right?"
"What are you saying, of course I will!"
"...Good. Just asking."
It was time for their plan to beat the joker card. The card that had been directly responsible for the death of so many innocent people.
They decided not to tell Mira and Shiirabi. It would just be their little secret between them. If they ever did need their help, they would tell them immediately.
"This joker isn't some ordinary guy. To defeat him, as the ancient prophecy had foretold, we'll need a word powerful enough to cut his flesh, and a swordmaster willing enough to wields the sword to cut his flesh."
"Hmm. I get the sword part, but why would the sofar not be willing to cut the joker's flesh?"
Kyuma, again with his baseless questions, said out loud.
"Well, I wouldn't know," Kuzu replied monotonously.
"Anyway, apparently now we have to go to the Requiem Of The Echoing Depths (and yes I copied that from Genshin) and find the sword? I have no idea," Kyuma replied now energetically.
"Well, we already know where this Requiem is, so let's go!"
---------------------
"Uh... this is it? Doesn't look very Echoing Depthsy- wait Kuzu don't go in yet, wait for me!" Kyuma shouted to his glasses guy (yes, his glasses guy)
After a short period of walking, they arrived at a fork.
"It splits two ways,"
"Yes, that's how a fork works,"
"..." Kuzu tried not to show any emotion regarding the insult-compliment Kyuma just threw at him.
"Which way should we go?" Kyuma questioned.
"Um... I think we should go the left way? I might be wrong, and there might be a trap there, though," Kuzu sounded his opinion.
"Oh whatever! If there's a trap, we'll figure out how to escape it together, let's go left if you think so then!"
And so left they went.
And indeed left was right. (Pun intended)
They arrived at a room with a stone pedestal. On the stone pedestal, there was a little device that looked highly technological enough Kyuma could swear it was built by aliens.
They reached forth to take it, careful of any traps, if any.
"Seems like some device for... sword-making? Kuzu, we found the right place!" Kyuma announced as he read off the label, which literally wrote: "Sword-making machine. "
"But how does it work?"
"Let's take it back to the HQ first. There might be traps around here,"
"Oh yeah, let's,"
-----------------------
"... Wait. I think I know how to operate it."
"Wait, you do? How?"
"The joker is a really twisted god. He must have put this here so he could give those who want to kill him a chance to. But there must be some kind of twist behind it..."
"Oh yeah, well said, Kuzu,"
"Uh...ok, concentrate... uh... no this doesn't work" Kuzu's failed attempt at activate the device was greeted by a slight smirk on Kyuma's face.
"Well, whatever, let's go get some snacks," Kyuma, distracted by his hunger, informed the lawyer of his whereabouts, then disappeared into the lunch crowd.
"I'll join you later!" Kuzu shouted at him against the noises of the other citizens' and dealers' conversations.
"...So that's how you work it. A true "hearts game" indeed. Then I'll take it. It's not like I could let anyone else take the glory anyway."
"So... you have decided? Are you sure you want to do this? Is it really worth it just for me?" A dark silhouette arose from and surrounded the device.
"To defeat you, anything is worth it!"
"Ah... I see... a memory for a memory..."
"But don't think you get the easy way out. They are going to remember you until they leave this land. And you...
you... are not going to die. I will keep you alive, as the "true hearts game", after all..."
"...Just one question before I go. ...Why?" Kuzu questioned the shadow.
"You ask me, why? Why, indeed, I do not know either," The Joker replied honestly.
"So, that's why... alright then, do it.
I shall defeat you, Joker of the Borderlands."
"Ahahahaha, yes! Then let the games begin!
Although, I'll need the help of a certain nudist..." The Joker hinted at musingly.
"?!? ... You leave him out of this!" Kuzu replied defensively.
"Don't fret, It's just that I can't take a physical form, so I'll have to possess someone to..."
"Kuzu? What..." Kyuma, seeing that Kuzu hadn't come for the snacks yet, came to find him.
"Ah, perfect timing!" mused the Joker.
"Wait, no, Kuzu don't...Aahhh," The Joker had already taken control of Kyuma's body.
"Just do it. Defeat the joker, and save all players and players to come!"
"Now, I want... that knife over there. The sharpest knife in the shed, eh?" Kyuma- or rather, the joker- reached for the knife on the table he was gesturing at.
"Please don't..." Kyuma pleaded with him.
His hands had gotten hold of the knife and was plunging it into Kuzuryu.
It was his own hands that was killing Kuzuryu.
His own hands.
His murderer.
He caught Kuzu in his hands as he fell over from his wounds.
"Ugh...it...it's ok...I'll probably... with... these... wounds...go in about 30 minutes..." Kuzu reassured the nudist.
"Please, Kuzu, don't..." Kyuma continued to plead with him.
"Please...forget me..."
"Ah, what a sweet romance this is! Shall I end it for you?" Amused the Joker, clearly either not able to read the room or just plainly oblivious to the moment of silence Kyuma obviously needed.
"YOU SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!!!" Kyuma was mad now.
"...You said you...didn't have a ...physical form, yet gave us a... sword to ....cut your flesh... what are you... planning at?" Kuzu came to a sudden realisation of a contradiction within this cruel god's words.
"What? Oh, that? Oh, I do have a physical form, I just wanted to enjoy the drama of this guy being the one to drive the sword into you, and I must say it was pretty-"
"I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP! TO JUST SHUT UP!"
"Oh and did he mention? For the rather large serving of icing on the cake, once you return to the real world, all memories of him will be word from the surface of the planet! You won't even remember him! AHAAHAHA!" The Joker was starting to sound a lot like Mira now. Granted Mira would never do something like this.
"...I will kill you."
"What?"
"I'll kill you. With the sword and my own two hands."
"Oh right, before I forget, here's the sword! It's made with the memory and life force of this glasses guy here! Aaahhh how interesting!
If you need me, I'll be at the Requiem Of Echoing Depths!"
And with that, the Joker was off.
Kuzu had already lost consciousness from the blood loss, and all Kyuma could do was hug his lifeless body.
"I'm sorry.... I'm really sorry...."
-----------------------
"Ah, so here we are, the nudist with his sword. And I thought you wouldn't want to come anymore after that last encounter, hmm? Anyw-"
Kyuma didn't even let him finish speaking. He straightaway swung his sword at the Joker, barely missing him.
"Oh, so we're really getting serious now, huh? Alright then...Gahhhh!"
Kyuma swung his sword again, this time plunging it into the Joker's stomach.
"Hey at least gimme a warning first, right?"
"This sword... is Kuzuryu's sacrifice. I'm not gonna let that go to waste."
Kyuma lunged forward, and before the Joker could have had any time to react, stabbed the sword into his neck and cut off his head.
"Congratulations. It is game clear. All survivors will be sent back to the real world," The familiar robotic lady voice announced.
"It's game clear, Kuzu, it's game clear," Kyuma cried, hugging the sword dearly.
--------------------
"Oi, Mira! It's your turn to pay today!" Kyuma reminded Mira of what she was supposed to do.
"What? No! I paid the last time, so it's your turn to pay now!" Mira then reminded Kyuma of what he was supposed to do.
"Shiirabi, whose turn is it to pay?" Kyuma and Mira both questioned their trustworthy third party.
"Um... Kyuma's?"
"I KNEW IT pay up now~"
"Ughhhh, fineeeee" Kyuma whined as he got up out of his comfortable seat and got ready to pay the bartender.
"That'll be $93."
"Ok. Give me a moment to find the money.."
Oh, there was already someone paying.
Wait.
There was something oddly familiar about him.
Was it the hoodie or the mask? Kyuma didn't know.
"Um, Hi. You look familiar, have I seen you before somewhere?"
He must have really startled the guy, because the moment he heard his voice, he immediately tensed up.
"Oh... uh... no." The man responded.
"Uh...I don't have enough money, I'm sorry," He turned to inform the cashier.
"Wait, lemme pay for you," Kyuu swooped in to save him from embarassment.
"Huh? Nononono, I can pay for myself..."
"No need, I've decided to pay for you, which means I'm paying for you no matter what you say! By the way, what you said just now really reminded of someone I feel like I know...
Well, you look really familiar, hey I know! How about I take you to my friend Mira? She's a psychiatrist, maybe she'll know why I find you so familiar!" Kyuma suggested.
"Oh, Mira..."
"Hmm? You know her?"
"Oh! Uh... no! It's nothing,"
"Oh right, I haven't even introduced myself yet. My name's Ginji Kyuma. What's yours?"
"... Keiichi Kuzuryu. A pleasure to meet you."
"Haha, well, we should meet up some other day, eh Kuzuryu? Mira's waiting, and if I don't get back in time, she'll slit my throat (literally)!"
"Yeah, that sounds like Mira alright, um, bye!"
Kuzu bid farewell to the enthusiastic little man.
After he left, he took out his phone.
Or, rather, his Borderlands phone.
RE: RESET DATA. CLEAR ALL MEMORY. RESET MEMORY.
...
GAME SAVED.
Whew this is really going out of the borderlands topics but I needed to have some sort of way for them to erase memory of Kuzu's existence so yeah.
Leave a note if this made you cry! I hope it did! And I hope I didn't sound like a pyschopath in the above sentence!
Btw the $93 Kyuu pays for Kuzu is actually symbolic of the Kyuu's 93rd day in the borderlands, which is the day the citizen quartet clear the K♡.
And also this is shitty because it's out of the botderlands theme but hey, at least I tried, right?