Spoiler warning for Super Danganronpa 2 (specifically Kazuichi's Freetime Events) and also for In Stars and Time.
AHHHH okay wait I just had a FUCKING THOUGHT. I had a thought. Recently rewatched a Kazuichi-oriented animatic. It briefly showed Kaz covered in blood followed by the black-haired, bespectacled version of him looking horrified, and it reminded me an awful lot of that one conversation with Isabeau. Where he describes the person he used to be— neat braids, glasses, incredibly intelligent but incredibly shy and insecure— and describes how, in the process of Changing, he feels as though he killed that version of himself with his own two hands. He then amends this somewhat, saying it's more like he grew around that version of himself to protect them. And that feels SO similar to Kazuichi's story! Shark boy Kazuichi arrived out of a threat to Kazuichi's emotional health— the betrayal of his best friend— and represented a 180 in his personality; distrustful, brash, and, in Hajime's words, "confident and happy-go-lucky." He wanted to hide away the weak, cowardly kid— EXACTLY like Isabeau. But exactly like Isabeau, while it may have given him surface-level confidence, it didn't stop the insecurity. While I would argue that Isabeau's change was much healthier for him than Kaz's and led to an improved social life, ultimately you can see this idea of never being able to outrun the things that haunt you. They made sacrifices out of their childhood appearances. But Isabeau is still dissatisfied. Kazuichi is still scared to death.
Update: I feel extreme Deja Vu toward this thought. I think it's possible that I drew this comparison on two separate occasions??? Which would be incredible.

Also OMG?! Yin Yang Relationship is SUCH a Kazuichi-coded song?!

Zac Oyama is my comedy ideal. I only DREAM of having such witty lines and perfect sense of timing.
Update: I am doubling down on this. Zac Oyama might be the funniest person on the planet to me specifically.

It really makes me giggle how hot people draw Goth Boy from the MySims series. Granted, I can see it. His style is very distinctive and physically, I get it. But it's just funny, cause Goth Boy is kind of a loser? I adore him completely and utterly, but like... in MySims Agents, he has to run a Turkey-on-a-fork stand in the hot sun. In the original MySims, he remarks on hoping his mom will buy him new goth clothes because his are wearing out. And I recently learned his canon real name is HERMAN. Goth Boy is wonderful and I love him in every installment of the series, but I really don't think the INTENTION was for him to be hot, and yet so many people claim he was one of their first fictional crushes.

MILD Persona 5 Royal Spoilers
I'm not sure if I've talked about this before. I'm so SAD that I only came to awareness about Billy Kametz after he died. He played Ferdinand in Fire Emblem Three Houses, a character who I, infuriatingly, still hardly know a thing about— he was one of only two characters I didn't have time to recruit in my New Game+ playthrough. But, more pressing to me personally is that he played Takuto Maruki in Persona 5 Royal. And he MAKES the role. The entire English cast in that game is SO stacked. I also learned that the woman who played Futaba (and has voiced Barbie before)— Erica Lindbeck— was dating him until he died. I just need more recognition of this man. Rest in Peace, Billy Kametz.

I think I have like at least six ongoing projects right now and I'm literally stumped with ALL of them. I HATE writer's block.
Update: This was BEFORE writing 4 of Nari's Garden Mode Free Time Events

Today I discovered that I really like plums!

I know it can't be helped sometimes in lyrical works (cause the singer may need adjustments) but I hate when covers/remasters of music are in a different key. Nightcore is different because that's expressly advertised. But like— take "An Obstacle in Our Path" from Xenoblade Chronicles. The Definitive Edition changed the key of that piece and I can't STAND it. The original was so good and it feels all wrong ;-;

On a somewhat related note— I love when remakes of games give you the option to use the original version of the music and/or graphics. Ace Attorney Investigations II is finally getting an English localization for the Switch! They made cool new sprites for all the characters but you'll be able to switch back to the pixely art style of the original and I just think that's really neat!

Genuinely think I have to think more about Garden Mode FTE's than the regular ones, which is WILD considering the characters have the same backstory as they did before so it should be smooth sailing. I thought I had a really secure handle on these characters' decision-making, and I do, but ofc their motivations might draw them to behave differently or seek out different people when their lives aren't on the line. Point is I'm having fun but also thinking too hard. It's 1:20 am and I'm feeling WIRED. Too much energy brain moving too fast but also nothing happening so useless. Guys I literally think I could absolutely RAMBLE about how Chimon interacts with Tozen both in the killing game and in the happy simulation but also like is it self-aggrandizing to do analysis on your own characters???