305

[branchandroot]

Having given the matter sober and measured consideration, I have come to the following conclusion.

Konomi, you suck.

In the space of two pages you have totally slaughtered all the characterization you have previously built up.

For one, Ryouma is a brat, and has the Mouth that ate Manhattan, but he is not, or has not been to date, the kind of evil little fucker that would perpetrate indignities on an unconscious opponent.

For another, as Michelle points out, NO ONE STOPPED HIM. Not even Tezuka.

And that says some pretty nasty things about Tezuka himself, things that I had not thought to be true. That Tezuka does not, in fact, care for good gamesmanship and respect for the game and the opponents nearly as much as he makes out.

Getting back to Hal's observation about this not really being a typical sports-story, this is the kind of thing that the VILLAIN-TEAM does.

If I accept what those couple pages say about characters I love, I'm just going to have to cry. And I'd really rather not.

So Konomi? You suck. Get your shit back together, man.

Comments

[branchandroot]

I really think we should.

And Ryouma would have this grudgingly impressed crook to his smirk, and Atobe would smirk back and tell him better luck next time, and Ryouma would blink at him and point out that he won, what does he need better luck for? And Atobe would toss his jacket stylishly over his shoulder and lift his chin and say that Echizen only one /once/. And Ryouma would laugh. He really would.

And Tezuka would have this quietly pleased look in his eyes as Ryouma comes back, and they watch the Hyoutei club all getting bald.

[ssj10.livejournal.com]

Yes! Yes yes yes! And when it all settles down, Tezuka and Atobe can shake hands with each other, satisfied with themselves and the conduct of their teams. Hyoutei walks away with their heads held high (and shiny and bald!) and comes back to cheer on Seigaku in the finals as the most noble team to ever be defeated. This is exactly how I wanted it to go! It's how I expected Konomi-sensei was going to make it go, for crying out loud! Because as cheesy as it sounds, everyone wins that way. Hyoutei is on top of the world in a moment like that, regardless of the fact that they lost, and there's nothing to tarnish a well-earned Seigaku victory.

Sign me up for Project Rewrite 305.

[written-in-blue.livejournal.com]

*waves pompoms for the two of you*

[branchandroot]

Right, then! *cracks knuckles and gets started writing this story*