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Forest Covered ▶ app
( PLAYER INFORMATION )
Name: Hayley
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ossu
Are you over 17?: yes
Characters in Forest Covered: no
( CHARACTER INFORMATION )
Name/Work Name: Ryousuke Kominato → Oni-san
Canon: Ace of Diamond
Canon Point: Chapter 298, after Seidou defeats Ugumori.
AU/CRAU: CRAU from Holly Heights![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
hollyheights
Age:19 20
History:
→ character wiki, episode list, Ryousuke's OVA/sidestory: Face + the translated script
Ryousuke grew up in a normal household that nurtured an interest in baseball, with a little brother as his shadow. His younger brother Haruichi would always follow him; if Ryousuke ate his tomatoes, so would Haruichi. If Ryousuke was the second baseman on his team, Haruichi would play the same position, even if it limited his chances to stand on the field. As such, Ryousuke would strive to be the model elder brother in order to set a good example for Haruichi and ensure his admiration was not misplaced.
Haruichi was a target for bullying as a child, as it was easy to elicit a reaction from the shy boy. Ryousuke would stand up for his brother and confront the bullies himself, returning home covered in dirt and blood.
Four years later, Ryousuke is told by his teacher that the highschool that was willing to accept him on a baseball recommendation had withdrawn their offer, instead accepting one of the boys that bullied Haruichi, the bigger-bodied Jumbo. The news is a source of frustration for Ryousuke, whose technical skill and plays were pushed to the side in favour of build. Instead, he decides to apply to Seidou Highschool in Tokyo. His parents are surprised, naturally assuming he'd attend school nearby. Bowing his head, Ryousuke says he doesn't want to grow spoiled living at home and would like to challenge himself. His "first and last selfish request".
Of course, Ryousuke didn't expect his time at a prestigious school as Seidou to be easy. His cohort (excluding Chris) struggle in practice, and are deemed hopeless. The "lean year", as they were called. Nevertheless, the first years persist with training, instilling in each other a will to keep swinging their bats, to grow, and eventually become reliable seniors through hard work.
When Haruichi first arrives at Seidou two years later, their brotherly relationship appears somewhat strained. In Ryousuke's third and final year, his talented little brother is still following him, and it's all the way to Tokyo. Ryousuke is quick to remind Haruichi that Seidou isn't as soft as one might think. It's only until the leadup to the Akikawa match does he attempt to bridge the gap between them. Ryousuke offers to help with Haruichi's batting practice, and reminds him to be ready to play in the official match, to the surprise of his fellow third years.
On the path leading to Koshien, Ryousuke manages to injure his right leg during the semifinal match. Kuramochi manages to catch Ryousuke limping despite his best efforts to conceal the injury. When confronted, Ryousuke brushes off the severity, and says he'll concede if his year-long partner believes he will hold the team back. Kuramochi begins observing Ryousuke more closely in practice, watching as Ryousuke moves in practice as if he isn't injured at all. It's during the spring tournament final against Inashiro Industrial when cracks begin to show. His leg begins to hold him back, to the point where he misses catching a ball that could have cost them the game, had Kuramochi not been there to stop it. Ryousuke shows his gratitude: "You saved us. Me, and the team".
Finally accepting that he can't play to his best of his ability, Ryousuke requests for a pinch hitter at his next at-bat. The coach sends out Haruichi! Ryousuke encourages his younger brother to smack the first pitch - and, of course, he manages to deliver, Ryousuke watching proudly from the dugout.
Unfortunately, Seidou still manage to come up short against Inashiro. They ultimately lose the match along with the opportunity to go to Koshien, the Kominato brother's first and last chance to go together. Ryousuke returns back to Seidou to move out of the spirit dorms, officially retired from highschool baseball as their summer was brought to an abrupt end. From then on, Ryousuke is occupied with reference books and practice exams, preparing for university admission. He admits he still hasn't decided on his plans for the future, but manages to find time to swing his bat everyday and check up on the wellbeing of the remaining team. All he knows is that wants to continue to play baseball.
Personality:
To talk about Ryousuke is to talk about expectations - both the ones set upon himself, and the expectations he has of others.
Firstly, Ryousuke is the kind of individual who should never be taken at face value. A smile almost always graces his expression. Combined with his short stature and pink hair, he's a bit delicate looking for the rigours of highschool baseball, an assumption that's a sore sticking point for him, and one that's barred him from certain opportunities.
As a fresh first year with plenty to prove, Ryousuke arrived at Seidou High School swimming in a uniform too many sizes too big for him, ambitions far too large for his slight frame. From the very start he's had to work his way to become a player worth noticing. Sure, now, as a senior with a solid lockdown on the team's starting lineup, nobody questions his place - should anyone doubt his ability, he's more than happy take their expectations and tell them to suck it. But he's never quite grown out of being underestimated, in the physical sense. It's meant a certain slowness to acknowledge others in return, a demand to prove themselves to him first.
Gaining his acknowledgment certainly isn't easy. If there's an evident lag in performance, Ryousuke is quick to point it out with brutal honesty; he won't hold back on his cutting remarks - complete with a smile! He made an excellent first impression on a first year Kuramochi, outright telling him he sucked. Their team is a team aiming for nationals, so if his partner is naive enough to not take it seriously, he should step aside and let someone else take his place. In a way, his strict conduct reflects the high expectations he has of others, and his will to bring them all up to meet them. Furthermore, he has a tendency to police the behaviour of some of the rowdier players on his team: frequently tag-teaming against Seidou's first year pitcher for his volume, reminding another pitcher on the bench to cheer louder, or forcing the entire team to sit seiza-style due to their unsatisfactory progress. Behaviour that he doesn't approve of will earn his dangerous, and widely accepted as terrifying, wrath. Karate chopping people's heads is kind of his trademark— even if he needs to stand on tip toes to reach his target.
Ryousuke may push those around him, and not always nicely, but there is no one he pushes harder than himself. The reason why he can speak so bluntly of other's abilities is because he's put in the time and practice to get him to his current level. He doesn't believe in making excuses, and has little patience for those who do. Before complaining about being born without talent, Ryousuke believes one should reflect on the amount of effort they've put in first: "If you don't want to lose to guys with bigger bodies, you should train just as many times harder". Even as a first year, he was gutsy as hell, standing up to his intimidating upperclassman, or boldly asking the coach for more balls when he was clearly exhausted. The ferocity with which he approaches everything, the poise and deep seated pride behind his every action is what has earned him the respect of teammates and opponents alike. There's a lot of confidence packed into his small frame, and it's definitely not unfounded either.
Of course, Ryousuke's playful side can't go unmentioned. Around the first-string team, his cheeky attitude makes its full appearance, rubbing the belly of the food-loving Masuko, or stealing the cap off Tanba's newly shaven head with a cheerful "you're still shining!" to break the tension during a serious match. One occasion he comments that he could probably switch places with his brother and no one would suspect. Ryousuke's kindnesses are often veiled behind relentless teasing or a snarky jab. Friendly Bullying. For someone that's resolved himself to act like the perfect, good son, he seems to actually chafe under the "good" part. The things that leave his mouth are honestly alarming at times, borderline crude and most definitely impolite, and he says them with the intention of making others startle. Off the field, Ryousuke can be just as stubborn, and almost childishly so. Despite loving Haruichi dearly, he's still prone to getting into normal sibling fights over petty things like sharing a favourite book series, or continuing to play with a stopwatch, trying to pause it at exactly 5 seconds - he'd probably never quit either, had no one intervened. It's a reminder he's a teenager like everyone else.
Something that characterises Ryousuke is his deep respect and concern for his family. Everything he's ever done was with family in mind. He feels a certain gratitude towards his parents for encouraging his love for baseball and allowing him to travel away from home to attend Seidou; he even warned Haruichi to not follow him to Tokyo because it would cause further trouble for their family. Even as a child, Ryousuke believed he had a duty as the eldest son to remain unselfish, well-behaved, and to protect his younger sibling. Haruichi undoubtably means the world to him. There's absolutely nothing Ryousuke won't do for his brother, however backwards in showing his affection. At the same time, it's tough having a younger sibling with such a natural talent for baseball right behind him. Haruichi views him as an impossible wall to overcome. In contrast, Ryousuke sees Haruichi as his shadow, chasing right at his heels. Both wanting to foster Haruichi's growth, and his will to not fall behind him, are two almost conflicting desires of Ryousuke's. Even though he tries to dissuade Haruichi from attending the same highschool, he keeps his inner thoughts to himself: "catch up to me if you can". Although he claims being a big brother is a pain, ultimately, Ryousuke can't say no when it comes to Haruichi. Both brothers motivate each other to improve and reach new heights together.
A great deal of what drives Ryousuke is his pride. It's not always a good thing, exemplified by the way he tends to internalise problems on his own, hiding his weaknesses and injuries to keep playing. But with all the underclassmen that look up to him, the teammates that rely on him, the brother he loves so deeply always watching— he can't afford to show anything other than his best. He can't lose to his little brother, nor can he lose face in front of those important to him. He has always been conscious of his brother at his heels, and works hard to not betray his expectations.
Debt: To pay off the debt of his family in Holly Heights. This includes Sugane Tachibana, his teammate and old infield partner, Kuramochi, and his younger brother, Haruichi.
Note: Ryousuke was a guest during the Forest Covered fourth wall event in which he met a CRAU Haruichi from a later canonpoint. Having been told by the Witch that his Holly Heights family were still here, and meeting Haruichi and Sugane in Koriko already, Ryousuke decided to take up the Witch on her offer.
Previous Game Info:
The holly bush symbolises "domestic happiness". That's pretty much the premise and goal of Holly Heights. The Landlord was the main figurehead behind the small town, providing residents a home and family and the amenities to live a normal, domestic life. Every month there was some odd (usually magical, inexplainable) event, but otherwise life in Holly Heights was relatively quiet and safe; not too different from the world Ryousuke was from, minus the chocolate rain and seasonal live skeletons.
Ryousuke first woke up in Holly Heights alongside the rest of assigned family from house 1452. His little brother and his old infield partner, Kuramochi, became his "children", and Sugane Tachibana, who was a complete stranger, was apparently his spouse. Being kidnapped and trapped in some gated community was a source of frustration for Ryousuke initially. However, since Ryousuke already had canon castmates who arrived before him, he was relatively quick to adapt and attend school and baseball practice as usual, used to acting as the unshakeable elder brother figure.
Two of Sugane's teammates - fellow heroes belonging to the Gatchaman crew - arrived at the beginning of October. Ryousuke was happy to meet Hajime Ichinose and Joe Hibiki, although Joe did not stay for very long. It was the first time Ryousuke had known somebody from Holly Heights to actually return back home. Or disappear somewhere else? Who knew with the Landlord. Sugane was obviously upset and would go out drinking at bars on his own, when he would usually be accompanied by Joe. Concerned about his housemate's state, Ryousuke went out to speak to a drunk Sugane and encouraged him to focus on his new writing hobby, rather than allow himself to get bogged down in his loss. Later on Sugane had summoned the courage to show him his short stories. Although Ryousuke did not sugarcoat his thoughts, Sugane had taken his blunt criticisms to heart. Silently, Ryousuke noted that Sugane stood straighter than the one lost and slumped over a bar the previous month.
A new family member was added to house 1452! Makoto Tachibana told Ryousuke of a few stray cats around town, and he eventually took up the idea to adopt one for Haruichi. The Kominatos had never really owned a pet before, but his little brother was overjoyed when he met the small kitten. When asked what they should name it, Ryousuke was idly staring at one of his favourite books at the time thinking of different kinds of love; the love both siblings shared for baseball and the same kinds of books they liked to read, the unconditional love he had for Haruichi. So he suggested to name the kitten Lovecraft like the horror nerd he is.
The true peace of the town was disturbed during December. Rin Hoshizora, whom Ryousuke was already acquainted with, had been transformed into a monster by the rainy devil monkey's paw. Although he did not encounter her personally, two of his housemates were involved in the incident. Kuramochi was attacked and thankfully escaped with only a broken arm. Sugane felt he had a responsibility to patrol Holly Heights as a Gatchaman hero and engaged in a fight with Rin too. Having a teammate and partner injured was obviously a sobering experience, but there was little he could do but be more vigilant until the monster was stopped.
In the same month, everyone received a few mysterious gifts from the Landlord. Haruichi and Kuramochi were gifted with magic mistletoe. Ryousuke switched to overprotective aniki mode in response. To ensure he would always appear when needed to interfere with little brother kisses, Ryousuke was given the power of instant teleportation. The mistletoe compelled Ryousuke, the aloof and unaffectionate brother, to kiss Haruichi on the forehead. It was a significant moment for both siblings, but immediately afterwards he was hit by the feeling of failure — that he might have unintentionally nudged Haruichi from the path he spent so long trying to set for his little brother, to motivate him to work harder and gain Ryousuke's acknowledgement. Fortunately it had the opposite effect. Not long later Haruichi regained memories from back home and endeavoured to practice even harder — even if Ryousuke was more distant than usual.
Throughout his time in Holly Heights, Ryousuke ended up teaching Gon Freecs and Kise Ryouta baseball. Kise in particular previously found the sport boring, due to his skill in copying the movements of his opponents. This kind of mary sue ability didn't sit well with Ryousuke, yet he continued to boss Kise around and assign him to run laps with a tire in order to impart the lesson of hard work onto his clingy new kouhai. Eventually he was able to see the effort Kise was putting in and agreed to partner up with him while Kuramochi's arm was still healing.
Haruichi had been developing a crush on his fellow teammate from home, Furuya Satoru. Ryousuke became immediately suspicious of his especially fluttery, blushing behaviour, and began approaching Haruichi's friends to inquire about anyone new in his life. He might have misled Kuramochi to believe his brother joined a gang. A conversation re: Haruichi with Chiyo Sakura led to a very private topic for Ryousuke. As expected of a shoujo heroine, she managed to get him to talk about his stance on... feelings. "Some things can only be known if they're told", is what she said to him.
One of Ryousuke's close friends from home, Koichiro Tanba, arrived in the month of February. Poor Tanba found out his 'wife' was a princess and came to Ryousuke for help to ease their relationship. Ryousuke and Tanba got up to a lot of ridiculous shenanigans, including piggyback running, shaving Tanba's head again in a bet, and sharing unwanted 2chan creepypastas despite Tanba's protests. February was also the month Ryousuke finally got a job at Moe Moe Funtime Cafe as a manga librarian.
Right before the beginning of March, the residents of house 1452 worked together to throw a surprise birthday for Haruichi. Multiple rounds of the King's game were run for entertainment during the night. King Chiyo requested for Ryousuke and Sugane to play the pocky game (RNG why), sparking a chain of events between the two. Before this point, Ryousuke's relationship with his assigned spouse had undergone a lot of development. Initially, they were more or less roommates, forced to share the same spaces. Sugane had tried to keep his cover as a hero secret, both of them not willingly sharing much about each other. Ryousuke didn't think much of his spouse, and his obfuscating, teasing nature would get on Sugane's nerves. Over time they became friends, and eventually something more, leading up to Sugane confessing to Ryousuke. However, they both had agreed that it should not be a decision to rush into. It was only until a few weeks later did Ryousuke return with an answer: yes. It was one of the few times he chose his own wants, his own happiness first. This decision was one that Ryousuke made knowing it was selfish of him. It could end the same was as it had with Joe, it was unlikely to last in a place like Holly Heights - but he'd take that chance with Sugane. After all, the only way to win is to play.
Noticing that the residents of Holly Heights had been disappearing with greater frequency, Ryousuke presented his baseball glove from home to Haruichi. He would have graduated by then and moved on from Seidou and highschool baseball. In Holly Heights, there was no definite goodbye, their future all uncertain, so it was only fitting to pass on his glove to the brother who he expected to inherit his position and jersey number - while they were still together.
Chiyo later approached Ryousuke to hear his opinion on something she handcrafted - a scrapbook of his family from house 1452. His answer? It was missing something. They amended it, taking a selfie together to add to the book of memories. Ryousuke was oddly touched by her gesture of kindness, finding it in himself to thank her sincerely.
Ultimately, Ryousuke changed very little during his time at Holly Heights. Maybe he opened up to a few more people outside his previous small circle, picked up a few more eager kohai, got smacked headfirst with Feelings and actually ?? confronted them, but he's still the same infuriatingly prideful guy with a name to prove and an image to live up to.
Inventory:
→ The clothes on his back (a Holly Heights baseball jersey with the number 4, socks, stirrups, baseball cleats)
→ Mizuno brand baseball glove and pair of white inner gloves.
→ A baseball cap with tiny angel wings sewn into the sides.
→ A sports bag containing a change of clothes and phone.
Abilities:
Ryousuke is an extremely skilled batter, even amongst Seidou's fearsome offensive lineup. It's been noted by both teammates and opponents that Ryousuke has excellent technical skill, and "can hit any pitch". His position on the batting line up (second) means his objective is to connect to the cleanup hitters. Meaning: get on base. His method includes hit and run tactics, switching from a bunting position to a hitting one, bunting one-handed, pulling off consecutive forced fouls (11??? and beyond) to tire the pitcher etc. He's also got a good eye (ALTHOUGH YOU NEVER SEE THEM ??), able to follow fast pitches and breaking balls, and can easily distinguish between balls and strikes to raise the pitch count and earn a walk.
When it comes to infield defense, Ryousuke makes up one half of Seidou's impenetrable "Iron Wall". Together with Kuramochi, they're considered one of the best keystone combos in Tokyo due to their teamwork and understanding of each other on the field. His position on second base requires a lot of agility, reflexes, and quick-thinking.
Other than baseball, Ryousuke is a perfectly average human being in everything but height.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
+ Ryousuke possesses a great deal of mental strength, allowing very little to stop him when he's set on something. He doesn't dwell on his own negative thoughts and is not prone to self pity.
+ Confident. He's good, and he knows it, because he's had to work to reach that level. At the same time, he's very aware of his own limitations and how he measures up against his younger brother or those with natural 'talent'.
+ A relentless hard worker. No complaints.
+ Dutiful. Especially to his family. He has a strong sense of responsibility and tries very hard to be his idea of what makes a good senpai, son, and brother.
+ Sharp. Ryousuke is fairly perceptive, at times able to read others to the point of plucking the exact words out of their head. He's clever in the way he takes advantage of people's perceptions of him, and navigates his way through interactions knowing exactly what to say to startle a reaction.
+/- Stubborn. His inability to give in and allow other people's opinions to discourage him no doubt helped him get this far. However, that stubbornness might come at the expense of his own well being. Multiple times it's noted that Ryousuke really, really hates to lose. It can bleed into pettiness and silly fights, too.
- Prideful. Because of the high standards he holds himself to, it's not often does he allow himself to show weakness. Or confide in even his closest friends or family. Or even admit he's wrong. There's a lot he internalises on his own.
- Aloof. Ryousuke can have a tendency to put distance between himself and others often as a misguided attempt to do what's Right, to retreat in on himself, or to set boundaries as an upperclassman. He often comes off as difficult to approach.
- Emotional honesty? Never heard of it. He's not exactly the most outwardly caring older brother despite loving Haruichi so deeply. Kuramochi described him as "kind but not honest" after Ryousuke let Haruichi borrow the book they both wanted to read, but not without going about it in an incredibly roundabout, difficult way.
- A bully…….. he's sly and has a pretty dark sense of humour, often delighting in making others sweat a bit. It's mostly friendly, but he really does have a knack for unbalancing people... terrible...
( SAMPLE )
Characterization Sample:
→ thread sample!
Name: Hayley
Contact:
Are you over 17?: yes
Characters in Forest Covered: no
( CHARACTER INFORMATION )
Name/Work Name: Ryousuke Kominato → Oni-san
Canon: Ace of Diamond
Canon Point: Chapter 298, after Seidou defeats Ugumori.
AU/CRAU: CRAU from Holly Heights
hollyheightsAge:
History:
→ character wiki, episode list, Ryousuke's OVA/sidestory: Face + the translated script
Ryousuke grew up in a normal household that nurtured an interest in baseball, with a little brother as his shadow. His younger brother Haruichi would always follow him; if Ryousuke ate his tomatoes, so would Haruichi. If Ryousuke was the second baseman on his team, Haruichi would play the same position, even if it limited his chances to stand on the field. As such, Ryousuke would strive to be the model elder brother in order to set a good example for Haruichi and ensure his admiration was not misplaced.
Haruichi was a target for bullying as a child, as it was easy to elicit a reaction from the shy boy. Ryousuke would stand up for his brother and confront the bullies himself, returning home covered in dirt and blood.
Four years later, Ryousuke is told by his teacher that the highschool that was willing to accept him on a baseball recommendation had withdrawn their offer, instead accepting one of the boys that bullied Haruichi, the bigger-bodied Jumbo. The news is a source of frustration for Ryousuke, whose technical skill and plays were pushed to the side in favour of build. Instead, he decides to apply to Seidou Highschool in Tokyo. His parents are surprised, naturally assuming he'd attend school nearby. Bowing his head, Ryousuke says he doesn't want to grow spoiled living at home and would like to challenge himself. His "first and last selfish request".
Of course, Ryousuke didn't expect his time at a prestigious school as Seidou to be easy. His cohort (excluding Chris) struggle in practice, and are deemed hopeless. The "lean year", as they were called. Nevertheless, the first years persist with training, instilling in each other a will to keep swinging their bats, to grow, and eventually become reliable seniors through hard work.
When Haruichi first arrives at Seidou two years later, their brotherly relationship appears somewhat strained. In Ryousuke's third and final year, his talented little brother is still following him, and it's all the way to Tokyo. Ryousuke is quick to remind Haruichi that Seidou isn't as soft as one might think. It's only until the leadup to the Akikawa match does he attempt to bridge the gap between them. Ryousuke offers to help with Haruichi's batting practice, and reminds him to be ready to play in the official match, to the surprise of his fellow third years.
On the path leading to Koshien, Ryousuke manages to injure his right leg during the semifinal match. Kuramochi manages to catch Ryousuke limping despite his best efforts to conceal the injury. When confronted, Ryousuke brushes off the severity, and says he'll concede if his year-long partner believes he will hold the team back. Kuramochi begins observing Ryousuke more closely in practice, watching as Ryousuke moves in practice as if he isn't injured at all. It's during the spring tournament final against Inashiro Industrial when cracks begin to show. His leg begins to hold him back, to the point where he misses catching a ball that could have cost them the game, had Kuramochi not been there to stop it. Ryousuke shows his gratitude: "You saved us. Me, and the team".
Finally accepting that he can't play to his best of his ability, Ryousuke requests for a pinch hitter at his next at-bat. The coach sends out Haruichi! Ryousuke encourages his younger brother to smack the first pitch - and, of course, he manages to deliver, Ryousuke watching proudly from the dugout.
Unfortunately, Seidou still manage to come up short against Inashiro. They ultimately lose the match along with the opportunity to go to Koshien, the Kominato brother's first and last chance to go together. Ryousuke returns back to Seidou to move out of the spirit dorms, officially retired from highschool baseball as their summer was brought to an abrupt end. From then on, Ryousuke is occupied with reference books and practice exams, preparing for university admission. He admits he still hasn't decided on his plans for the future, but manages to find time to swing his bat everyday and check up on the wellbeing of the remaining team. All he knows is that wants to continue to play baseball.
Personality:
To talk about Ryousuke is to talk about expectations - both the ones set upon himself, and the expectations he has of others.
Firstly, Ryousuke is the kind of individual who should never be taken at face value. A smile almost always graces his expression. Combined with his short stature and pink hair, he's a bit delicate looking for the rigours of highschool baseball, an assumption that's a sore sticking point for him, and one that's barred him from certain opportunities.
As a fresh first year with plenty to prove, Ryousuke arrived at Seidou High School swimming in a uniform too many sizes too big for him, ambitions far too large for his slight frame. From the very start he's had to work his way to become a player worth noticing. Sure, now, as a senior with a solid lockdown on the team's starting lineup, nobody questions his place - should anyone doubt his ability, he's more than happy take their expectations and tell them to suck it. But he's never quite grown out of being underestimated, in the physical sense. It's meant a certain slowness to acknowledge others in return, a demand to prove themselves to him first.
Gaining his acknowledgment certainly isn't easy. If there's an evident lag in performance, Ryousuke is quick to point it out with brutal honesty; he won't hold back on his cutting remarks - complete with a smile! He made an excellent first impression on a first year Kuramochi, outright telling him he sucked. Their team is a team aiming for nationals, so if his partner is naive enough to not take it seriously, he should step aside and let someone else take his place. In a way, his strict conduct reflects the high expectations he has of others, and his will to bring them all up to meet them. Furthermore, he has a tendency to police the behaviour of some of the rowdier players on his team: frequently tag-teaming against Seidou's first year pitcher for his volume, reminding another pitcher on the bench to cheer louder, or forcing the entire team to sit seiza-style due to their unsatisfactory progress. Behaviour that he doesn't approve of will earn his dangerous, and widely accepted as terrifying, wrath. Karate chopping people's heads is kind of his trademark— even if he needs to stand on tip toes to reach his target.
Ryousuke may push those around him, and not always nicely, but there is no one he pushes harder than himself. The reason why he can speak so bluntly of other's abilities is because he's put in the time and practice to get him to his current level. He doesn't believe in making excuses, and has little patience for those who do. Before complaining about being born without talent, Ryousuke believes one should reflect on the amount of effort they've put in first: "If you don't want to lose to guys with bigger bodies, you should train just as many times harder". Even as a first year, he was gutsy as hell, standing up to his intimidating upperclassman, or boldly asking the coach for more balls when he was clearly exhausted. The ferocity with which he approaches everything, the poise and deep seated pride behind his every action is what has earned him the respect of teammates and opponents alike. There's a lot of confidence packed into his small frame, and it's definitely not unfounded either.
Of course, Ryousuke's playful side can't go unmentioned. Around the first-string team, his cheeky attitude makes its full appearance, rubbing the belly of the food-loving Masuko, or stealing the cap off Tanba's newly shaven head with a cheerful "you're still shining!" to break the tension during a serious match. One occasion he comments that he could probably switch places with his brother and no one would suspect. Ryousuke's kindnesses are often veiled behind relentless teasing or a snarky jab. Friendly Bullying. For someone that's resolved himself to act like the perfect, good son, he seems to actually chafe under the "good" part. The things that leave his mouth are honestly alarming at times, borderline crude and most definitely impolite, and he says them with the intention of making others startle. Off the field, Ryousuke can be just as stubborn, and almost childishly so. Despite loving Haruichi dearly, he's still prone to getting into normal sibling fights over petty things like sharing a favourite book series, or continuing to play with a stopwatch, trying to pause it at exactly 5 seconds - he'd probably never quit either, had no one intervened. It's a reminder he's a teenager like everyone else.
Something that characterises Ryousuke is his deep respect and concern for his family. Everything he's ever done was with family in mind. He feels a certain gratitude towards his parents for encouraging his love for baseball and allowing him to travel away from home to attend Seidou; he even warned Haruichi to not follow him to Tokyo because it would cause further trouble for their family. Even as a child, Ryousuke believed he had a duty as the eldest son to remain unselfish, well-behaved, and to protect his younger sibling. Haruichi undoubtably means the world to him. There's absolutely nothing Ryousuke won't do for his brother, however backwards in showing his affection. At the same time, it's tough having a younger sibling with such a natural talent for baseball right behind him. Haruichi views him as an impossible wall to overcome. In contrast, Ryousuke sees Haruichi as his shadow, chasing right at his heels. Both wanting to foster Haruichi's growth, and his will to not fall behind him, are two almost conflicting desires of Ryousuke's. Even though he tries to dissuade Haruichi from attending the same highschool, he keeps his inner thoughts to himself: "catch up to me if you can". Although he claims being a big brother is a pain, ultimately, Ryousuke can't say no when it comes to Haruichi. Both brothers motivate each other to improve and reach new heights together.
A great deal of what drives Ryousuke is his pride. It's not always a good thing, exemplified by the way he tends to internalise problems on his own, hiding his weaknesses and injuries to keep playing. But with all the underclassmen that look up to him, the teammates that rely on him, the brother he loves so deeply always watching— he can't afford to show anything other than his best. He can't lose to his little brother, nor can he lose face in front of those important to him. He has always been conscious of his brother at his heels, and works hard to not betray his expectations.
Debt: To pay off the debt of his family in Holly Heights. This includes Sugane Tachibana, his teammate and old infield partner, Kuramochi, and his younger brother, Haruichi.
Note: Ryousuke was a guest during the Forest Covered fourth wall event in which he met a CRAU Haruichi from a later canonpoint. Having been told by the Witch that his Holly Heights family were still here, and meeting Haruichi and Sugane in Koriko already, Ryousuke decided to take up the Witch on her offer.
Previous Game Info:
The holly bush symbolises "domestic happiness". That's pretty much the premise and goal of Holly Heights. The Landlord was the main figurehead behind the small town, providing residents a home and family and the amenities to live a normal, domestic life. Every month there was some odd (usually magical, inexplainable) event, but otherwise life in Holly Heights was relatively quiet and safe; not too different from the world Ryousuke was from, minus the chocolate rain and seasonal live skeletons.
Ryousuke first woke up in Holly Heights alongside the rest of assigned family from house 1452. His little brother and his old infield partner, Kuramochi, became his "children", and Sugane Tachibana, who was a complete stranger, was apparently his spouse. Being kidnapped and trapped in some gated community was a source of frustration for Ryousuke initially. However, since Ryousuke already had canon castmates who arrived before him, he was relatively quick to adapt and attend school and baseball practice as usual, used to acting as the unshakeable elder brother figure.
Two of Sugane's teammates - fellow heroes belonging to the Gatchaman crew - arrived at the beginning of October. Ryousuke was happy to meet Hajime Ichinose and Joe Hibiki, although Joe did not stay for very long. It was the first time Ryousuke had known somebody from Holly Heights to actually return back home. Or disappear somewhere else? Who knew with the Landlord. Sugane was obviously upset and would go out drinking at bars on his own, when he would usually be accompanied by Joe. Concerned about his housemate's state, Ryousuke went out to speak to a drunk Sugane and encouraged him to focus on his new writing hobby, rather than allow himself to get bogged down in his loss. Later on Sugane had summoned the courage to show him his short stories. Although Ryousuke did not sugarcoat his thoughts, Sugane had taken his blunt criticisms to heart. Silently, Ryousuke noted that Sugane stood straighter than the one lost and slumped over a bar the previous month.
A new family member was added to house 1452! Makoto Tachibana told Ryousuke of a few stray cats around town, and he eventually took up the idea to adopt one for Haruichi. The Kominatos had never really owned a pet before, but his little brother was overjoyed when he met the small kitten. When asked what they should name it, Ryousuke was idly staring at one of his favourite books at the time thinking of different kinds of love; the love both siblings shared for baseball and the same kinds of books they liked to read, the unconditional love he had for Haruichi. So he suggested to name the kitten Lovecraft like the horror nerd he is.
The true peace of the town was disturbed during December. Rin Hoshizora, whom Ryousuke was already acquainted with, had been transformed into a monster by the rainy devil monkey's paw. Although he did not encounter her personally, two of his housemates were involved in the incident. Kuramochi was attacked and thankfully escaped with only a broken arm. Sugane felt he had a responsibility to patrol Holly Heights as a Gatchaman hero and engaged in a fight with Rin too. Having a teammate and partner injured was obviously a sobering experience, but there was little he could do but be more vigilant until the monster was stopped.
In the same month, everyone received a few mysterious gifts from the Landlord. Haruichi and Kuramochi were gifted with magic mistletoe. Ryousuke switched to overprotective aniki mode in response. To ensure he would always appear when needed to interfere with little brother kisses, Ryousuke was given the power of instant teleportation. The mistletoe compelled Ryousuke, the aloof and unaffectionate brother, to kiss Haruichi on the forehead. It was a significant moment for both siblings, but immediately afterwards he was hit by the feeling of failure — that he might have unintentionally nudged Haruichi from the path he spent so long trying to set for his little brother, to motivate him to work harder and gain Ryousuke's acknowledgement. Fortunately it had the opposite effect. Not long later Haruichi regained memories from back home and endeavoured to practice even harder — even if Ryousuke was more distant than usual.
Throughout his time in Holly Heights, Ryousuke ended up teaching Gon Freecs and Kise Ryouta baseball. Kise in particular previously found the sport boring, due to his skill in copying the movements of his opponents. This kind of mary sue ability didn't sit well with Ryousuke, yet he continued to boss Kise around and assign him to run laps with a tire in order to impart the lesson of hard work onto his clingy new kouhai. Eventually he was able to see the effort Kise was putting in and agreed to partner up with him while Kuramochi's arm was still healing.
Haruichi had been developing a crush on his fellow teammate from home, Furuya Satoru. Ryousuke became immediately suspicious of his especially fluttery, blushing behaviour, and began approaching Haruichi's friends to inquire about anyone new in his life. He might have misled Kuramochi to believe his brother joined a gang. A conversation re: Haruichi with Chiyo Sakura led to a very private topic for Ryousuke. As expected of a shoujo heroine, she managed to get him to talk about his stance on... feelings. "Some things can only be known if they're told", is what she said to him.
One of Ryousuke's close friends from home, Koichiro Tanba, arrived in the month of February. Poor Tanba found out his 'wife' was a princess and came to Ryousuke for help to ease their relationship. Ryousuke and Tanba got up to a lot of ridiculous shenanigans, including piggyback running, shaving Tanba's head again in a bet, and sharing unwanted 2chan creepypastas despite Tanba's protests. February was also the month Ryousuke finally got a job at Moe Moe Funtime Cafe as a manga librarian.
Right before the beginning of March, the residents of house 1452 worked together to throw a surprise birthday for Haruichi. Multiple rounds of the King's game were run for entertainment during the night. King Chiyo requested for Ryousuke and Sugane to play the pocky game (RNG why), sparking a chain of events between the two. Before this point, Ryousuke's relationship with his assigned spouse had undergone a lot of development. Initially, they were more or less roommates, forced to share the same spaces. Sugane had tried to keep his cover as a hero secret, both of them not willingly sharing much about each other. Ryousuke didn't think much of his spouse, and his obfuscating, teasing nature would get on Sugane's nerves. Over time they became friends, and eventually something more, leading up to Sugane confessing to Ryousuke. However, they both had agreed that it should not be a decision to rush into. It was only until a few weeks later did Ryousuke return with an answer: yes. It was one of the few times he chose his own wants, his own happiness first. This decision was one that Ryousuke made knowing it was selfish of him. It could end the same was as it had with Joe, it was unlikely to last in a place like Holly Heights - but he'd take that chance with Sugane. After all, the only way to win is to play.
Noticing that the residents of Holly Heights had been disappearing with greater frequency, Ryousuke presented his baseball glove from home to Haruichi. He would have graduated by then and moved on from Seidou and highschool baseball. In Holly Heights, there was no definite goodbye, their future all uncertain, so it was only fitting to pass on his glove to the brother who he expected to inherit his position and jersey number - while they were still together.
Chiyo later approached Ryousuke to hear his opinion on something she handcrafted - a scrapbook of his family from house 1452. His answer? It was missing something. They amended it, taking a selfie together to add to the book of memories. Ryousuke was oddly touched by her gesture of kindness, finding it in himself to thank her sincerely.
Ultimately, Ryousuke changed very little during his time at Holly Heights. Maybe he opened up to a few more people outside his previous small circle, picked up a few more eager kohai, got smacked headfirst with Feelings and actually ?? confronted them, but he's still the same infuriatingly prideful guy with a name to prove and an image to live up to.
Inventory:
→ The clothes on his back (a Holly Heights baseball jersey with the number 4, socks, stirrups, baseball cleats)
→ Mizuno brand baseball glove and pair of white inner gloves.
→ A baseball cap with tiny angel wings sewn into the sides.
→ A sports bag containing a change of clothes and phone.
Abilities:
Ryousuke is an extremely skilled batter, even amongst Seidou's fearsome offensive lineup. It's been noted by both teammates and opponents that Ryousuke has excellent technical skill, and "can hit any pitch". His position on the batting line up (second) means his objective is to connect to the cleanup hitters. Meaning: get on base. His method includes hit and run tactics, switching from a bunting position to a hitting one, bunting one-handed, pulling off consecutive forced fouls (11??? and beyond) to tire the pitcher etc. He's also got a good eye (ALTHOUGH YOU NEVER SEE THEM ??), able to follow fast pitches and breaking balls, and can easily distinguish between balls and strikes to raise the pitch count and earn a walk.
When it comes to infield defense, Ryousuke makes up one half of Seidou's impenetrable "Iron Wall". Together with Kuramochi, they're considered one of the best keystone combos in Tokyo due to their teamwork and understanding of each other on the field. His position on second base requires a lot of agility, reflexes, and quick-thinking.
Other than baseball, Ryousuke is a perfectly average human being in everything but height.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
+ Ryousuke possesses a great deal of mental strength, allowing very little to stop him when he's set on something. He doesn't dwell on his own negative thoughts and is not prone to self pity.
+ Confident. He's good, and he knows it, because he's had to work to reach that level. At the same time, he's very aware of his own limitations and how he measures up against his younger brother or those with natural 'talent'.
+ A relentless hard worker. No complaints.
+ Dutiful. Especially to his family. He has a strong sense of responsibility and tries very hard to be his idea of what makes a good senpai, son, and brother.
+ Sharp. Ryousuke is fairly perceptive, at times able to read others to the point of plucking the exact words out of their head. He's clever in the way he takes advantage of people's perceptions of him, and navigates his way through interactions knowing exactly what to say to startle a reaction.
+/- Stubborn. His inability to give in and allow other people's opinions to discourage him no doubt helped him get this far. However, that stubbornness might come at the expense of his own well being. Multiple times it's noted that Ryousuke really, really hates to lose. It can bleed into pettiness and silly fights, too.
- Prideful. Because of the high standards he holds himself to, it's not often does he allow himself to show weakness. Or confide in even his closest friends or family. Or even admit he's wrong. There's a lot he internalises on his own.
- Aloof. Ryousuke can have a tendency to put distance between himself and others often as a misguided attempt to do what's Right, to retreat in on himself, or to set boundaries as an upperclassman. He often comes off as difficult to approach.
- Emotional honesty? Never heard of it. He's not exactly the most outwardly caring older brother despite loving Haruichi so deeply. Kuramochi described him as "kind but not honest" after Ryousuke let Haruichi borrow the book they both wanted to read, but not without going about it in an incredibly roundabout, difficult way.
- A bully…….. he's sly and has a pretty dark sense of humour, often delighting in making others sweat a bit. It's mostly friendly, but he really does have a knack for unbalancing people... terrible...
( SAMPLE )
Characterization Sample:
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