TAROTOBER PART 9- THE TOWER AND THE STAR

 As The Devil stands over the Hermit, Despite His Terrifying Presence, Our hero stands firm, However the Lord Of Darkness has A Demonstration of his Power and Cruelty!

 

With A point of his Finger! A Tower is Struck By Lightning, that Catches fire! As it's inhabitants fall to their deaths, This Tower, which stood for decades, That it's Inhabitants possibly put too much faith that it would never be Destroyed, only to die of their Hubris.

Designated 16 and Ruled by the Aggressive Nature that is the Planet Mars, The Tower means Hubris, Worn down Archaic Values and The Liberation from Said, and Overconfidence, if predicting the Future, an event is coming that will break you down, but you will overcome it, even if it means you are a little more Humble after it!

The Tower card does not denote a single person, but Persona and Street Fighter Did it Anyway!

Dusting themselves off, are Mutatsu, The Drunk Monk, Shu Nakajima, The Coddled Child Prodigy, Shinya Oda, the King of Gunabout, and Balrog, The Crazy Buffalo.

ROUND 1: INSPIRATION

Mutatsu

 

Before being Rudely interrupted by Uncouth Children in the mall, Yuko (See Tarotober Part 5) was telling you of Something Strange she saw in this Building. On a Night out in Escapades Nightclub, Some punks Got in the face of a Buddhist monk. But this monk was not the Forgiving kind, no instead the Monk kicked Their asses. So you go to investigate The Escapades Nightclub, on your next night out.

Going to the Upstairs Lounge Sitting by himself is odd sight of a Buddhist Monk, A Symbol of Spiritual Refinement and Material Detachment, Smoking Cigars and Drinking Brandy in a Nightclub.

He sees you Staring at him and tells you to beat it, However, His glass is empty and needs you to order him a drink. 

You are Underage.

But the Bar-man Doesn't want the monk to rip the walls so he'll make the monk pay for a round for all his customers.

One Frustrating Mini-Game later, and the Monk has his drink, but still tells you to Scram, Until you see him again. He's impressed by your Moxie, So he'll talk to you, and if the Barman complains, tell him you are The monk's Nephew. So he gives you some life advice, but it's all Spiked with Defeatism. Turns out Mutatsu was Sick of a Nine to five where the little he earned went to a Son constantly looking for money. When he gets drunk one Night and mistakes Minato for his son. When he sobers up, he decides to  hire a private eye to find his family.

Turns out they are still in Tokyo and now run a restaurant, With His Son now married with a baby on the way. Learning that he Hopes, For the sake of his ailing health, They can Forgive him and move into the Temple With him.

Mutatsu is the worn Values Aspect of the Tower, Completely inverting All of the Buddhist Tropes, Taking up the the life of  a Holy man solely for Selfish needs. But he didn't factor that a Clergyman has to perform prayers for the dead seemingly every day. He changes his tune in his son asking for money especially with his First Grandchild on the way .

Mutatsu gets a point.

Shu Nakajima

Now to Round off the Social links you can obtain via After-school jobs. We covered being Diligent to work in a Haunted Hospital, Understanding to be a Kindergarten teacher, but now a job that requires level 5 Understanding-to work as a Tutor of a Homeschooled Teenager.

After Meeting his Mother and she sings his praises, much to his embarrassment, She explains that while Shu still attends school as required, Shu is Special, A Genius. However the 6th Class Curriculum does not included Advanced Maths and English and he can't pass without the Gym requirement, your job is not a secure one, if Shu feels you are not teaching him properly, he will tell his mother to fire you. As days go on you learn Shu has feelings of jealousy and the Hatred of an Exchange Student Stealing His Thunder, The Weight of Expectation put on him is giving his enough anxiety to give him sleepless nights 

On the night of the Rank 9 Event, it's Shu's Birthday, Only he is at home, At First you are led to believe that his mother forgot, so you call Yosuke to Deliver a Cake from Junes. Soon, the Rest of the investigation team throws a part for Shu. When he makes his wish, he reveals it to be "To Never have Been Born"! To which the Investigation team call Shu "Stupid" for even thinking that!

The Next time you Meet Shu he reveals his mother didn't forget, his birthday was the same day of an exam and he cheated. And his Mother punished him after he was Suspended From school. When he returned to school he apologized for his Haughty and Arrogant Behavior. And though his jeers towards him was now well deserved, he does get the Forgiveness of the Exchange Student, Who's only crime was not being able to speak Japanese.

So now,  with Yu's services no longer Required, Shu thanks Him for all he has done as a tutor. However he learns that there some things you can't learn in any Textbook!

From Here on in, All the Other Tower Representatives Focus Solely on the Aspect of Hubris. As the Coddled Child Prodigy, Shu has it in Spades. But it's not Entirely his fault, or his mother's. Shu's mother is a single parent, So what better way to shove all the doubt of her parenting Abilities than claim her son is a Genius and have him look after her with a high paying salary job. This pressure had resulted in doing what he did. He Does earn Forgiveness which is more Than the ambiguous ending from Persona 3's Tower,  Which is one better than Mutatsu at least.

Shu gets a point!

Shinya Oda

"For his Neutral Special, Joker Wields A Gun."

We are aware of the meme now, but prior to Persona 5, where every character has a gun on their person, a gun was Nothing more a Weapon wielded as an extension of their Character. 

But in Persona 5, The gun is more important than a Secondary Sidearm, Certain Enemies can only be weakened by Gunfire and of Course, Joker saves all of Humanity, By Shooting A God in the face!

But to unlock the art of Gun, Joker had to go out of his way off his main mission.

One day, the Phantom Thieves take a request to change the heart of a Salaryman who had being fleecing children by beating them in an arcade Shooter called Gunabout! When confronted on Mementos, the fat pathetic Salaryman, who is not great at anything except cheating at games. So he transforms into a shadow called Ose!

 

Get it?  Because he's a Cheetah!

No matter how much you attack Ose, None of your Strikes land, So retreating, Morgana surmises that maybe there is a Expert for this game that even the Cheater can't beat with his Chicanery!

So you go the Arcade, and you see a crowd Surrounding the very game the Target is Cheating at. Making your way through the rabble, Joker Sees a young boy Dual Wielding clearing a Game with no trouble.

 

Joker asks the Boy, Shinya Oda, aka King to help him take down the Cheater, he's Reluctant, but then you mention the Phantom Thieves and his eyes lit up. You let him in on a Secret-He'll be helping the Phantom Thieves. He doesn't believe you until you ask Futaba to hack the Gunabout website. Convinced, Shinya teaches you a Trick not even the Cheater Knows and because of his Cognition of him not losing to a technique he's seen he's easily beaten by this new move!

You can visit him again for other moves. You learn that Shinya has a lot of Baggage. He Fleeces other kids money, only for him to publicly lose to a pro gamer called Takekuma, Who may also be a Cheater, And his Mother is  complete Psychological mess. In fact he is conning kids out of lunch money is because he want his mother to get some help. But after she staggers out of a pub and Accuses you of been a bad influence, after he tries to intervene in her life after she is caught shoplifting.

So Shinya asks if the Phantom Thieves change her heart. So Mrs Oda's shadow is found on Mementos and defeated. Shinya invites the children he Conned to ask for their forgiveness. He can't give that money back, but He asks for pity all the same. The older brothers get angry, but the youngest, the Actual victim, wants The King to teach him how to play Gunabout, they are about to play, until Takekuma returns to give Shinya a rematch. A rematch he wins despite Takekuma's Secret Armour Cheat, which Oda uses his namesake Oda Special to counteract the underhanded tactic in front of Everyone.

Once Again There are Hints of the Hubris Aspect. But it seems Shinya was Stuck in 2 vicious Circles. He preyed and scammed Weaker players and he in turn was Scammed by a bigger Cheat. And the Vicious cycle of his Mother's Behavior. Asking for help is also the Liberation Aspect as his Mother's Values have being worn Down to her been Stand-offish for no good reason. Shinya gets a Point.

Balrog

 

 

We've all being there before Playing the Vanilla Street Fighter 2, the World Warrior, You defeated the 7 other Characters, You feel good that you bet the game, only for the Select Screen to Unlock 4 unplayable boss for you to fight with the Announcement of the next Location being USA

And if you were not already Shellshocked, The fight with Balrog probably Decimated your Pick.

All for a Paycheck.

Growing up Poor, Balrog's Father noticed his son had a talent for Boxing. So His father saved enough to get his son some Gloves, training every day with his Dad, eventually the Balrogs were invited to compete at a Junior Boxing Competition. When Balrog entered the Ring, he threw the rulebook away and Destroyed the other Child til he was disqualified.

This Brutish behavior would last all of Balrog's Life and Career and though Becoming World's champion finally meant he could put Poverty Behind him, He had developed a Gambling Addiction.

Once Balrog's Lust for Money and Women got the Better of him, he lost the belt. But when he earned his title match. He Headbutted his opponent in the Opening minute of Round 1 to death!

When Balrog resurfaced in the Public Eye, he is now as one of the Bodyguards for The Criminal Boss, M.Bison.

As 1 of the 4 Kings of Shadaloo, Balrog is the 4th Tier Acting as an Underboss doing more Menial Tasks like Roughing up Dojos, Bank Robberies, Protection Rackets or just Acts of Intimidation, Like when he Killed one of Dhalsim's Elephants with only one punch, when the yogi demolished Shadaloo's Damn. (See Tarotober Part 1 for more Information) 

But Old Habits Die Hard. Balrog Continued to Chase the Dollar, even betting on himself to win his Boss' Tournament. However that Hustle Ended when Ryu faced The Boxer. Despite Hitting Ryu with his strongest Punch, Balrog assumed that Ryu was knocked out cold. Celebrating his victory too early and preening to the Las Vegas crowd, Ryu had Snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

In the Alpha Series Balrog was tasked with his Underboss duties, such as attempting to kill Gen, and executing Former Shadaloo Underling Birdie After he attempted to steal the Psycho Drive, The Regeneration Pod made replacement Bodies for Bison. and though in Balrog's ending in Alpha he accidentally destroys the Psycho Drive before he could sell it for Money. What really happened is Birdie tried to Snatch it and had his Strength Removed and Absorbed into The Dictator. And yes that's why Birdie is now a fat Slob in street fighter 5, as over-eating has replenished his power, but it's now a crutch.

When Bison's Body was Destroyed by Ryu. and his Base Destroyed by Charlie's Sacrifice, Shadaloo had no real leadership. So Balrog made himself Treasurer of Shadaloo's great wealth...and gambled all of it! Because of the lack of Leadership, Shadaloo's Intelligence Network (S.I.N) Splintered under the vision of their Cloned Boss, Seth, the Host of this new Tournament. Bison had sent a communication to his generals to be at this tournament, though noone had seen Bison yet.

Ryu Defeated A Revitalized  M. Bison and Destroyed Seth's to win the Tournament, As the Crumbling Laboratory was going to explode,  Bison told his men to fall back.

All But Balrog, Who, for his failures, was now looking for a Bargaining Chip to save his ass. Finding Something Valuable indeed. 

 

We covered Ed in Part 6, But in case you missed it, Balrog Rescued a Clone of Bison, and Raised it in Secret, training it in Boxing, Even with the Boy having accelerated growth, the boy acted like any other child that had a father figure to raise it. However Ed turned on Balrog as the Realization that one day, Bison will use his Body and  his Identity would be lost forever,  The Two fought each other, with the young man winning. After the fight, Ed reached out to his Caretaker, But Avoiding showing him real tears, Balrog told him to leave.

 

While Ed was out in the World finding himself, Balrog Continued his plan to betray Shadaloo to give Urien of the Illuminati the Blueprints for Operation C.HA.I.N.S. Aka the Black Sun Satellite Weapon, However the Weapon was Destroyed Easily thanks to the Combined Efforts of the World Warriors, their friends and Governments so the Illuminati had no need for a Weapon So Readily Defeated. They were However more Interested in that boy that was Balrog, the one who Threatened Urien with Psycho Power!

Balrog may not appear in Street Fighter 6, because of a Story Reason. As you know the Timeline for Streetfighter goes like this 

(1=Alpha-2-4-5-3-6) we are told in Street Fighter 3 Secret Files, that Balrog entered a Vale Tudo  Tournament and Alex, broke the arm of the Crazy Buffalo. That or he could just be plain on the run from the law!

Balrog is pure Hubris Aspect, from a Fighting Style that is over reliant on Power, to a Gambling Addiction, No Success Balrog ever had never became anything more than a Short Term gain, Even the only person who didn't see him as a pig-headed thug, turned on him in the end, But like every Gambler Who has caught wind of a sure thing, this Boxer Doesn't go Down without a Fight!

All Contestants get a point

Mutatsu-1

Shu-1

Shinya-1

Balrog-1

ROUND 2-PERKS

Mutatsu can Only Appear when you get the  Strength Social Link up to Rank 4. You need Level 4 Courage and to  complete a Mini-Game  to get him his Brandy. He Drinks from Thursday from Sunday in the Evening, but from Monday to Wednesday, Escapades Nightclub is opened up for Minato to gain Courage by singing Karaoke. AND WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT! THE VERY STAT YOU NEED TO COMPLETE THIS LINK! You gain a Reserve Tag of Mutatsu's Favourite brand of Booze as Proof of being able to Fuse For Chi You.

You need Level 5 Understanding to Tutor Shu. Don't worry this is the Job you need to increase your Academics Stat. And it pays Well, gaining ¥80,000 in total. You also get to choose what to teach, so use this to increase your own Lagging Attributes

• Maths or English to increase Knowledge and Expression. Or~
• PE, to Increase Knowledge, Expression and Diligence.

You also gain Courage point for scolding him (if you choose it) and another for changing a Conversation. You gain the Test Results that will also you to Fuse for Shiva.

Shinya can only be Befriended if you take the Optional Request "Winners Don't Use Cheats!" You learn new moves including Down Shot. Which uses your whole Salvo to down an Enemy rather than leave it to chance, Which can be Upgraded to Cheap Shot. Bullet Hail which let's your party start a round blasting like a John Woo film. ( This can be Upgraded Further into Electric Slug). Warning shot, which makes Enemies beg for their lives. Ammo Pouch to increase your bullets and the Oda Special the move that ignores Resistance and Defences.

Hanging out with a Troubled kid and giving him Real Attention increases Your Kindness Attribute 9 times, But you must take his request to change his mother's heart to Max out his link. In the Arcade you can play the Claw hammer for Persona themed gifts to decorate your bedsit or Gift to your friends. Shinja's Token is the Gun Controller used to Fuse for Mada. But once again, this is optional.

Canonically,  Ryu has fought Balrog Before, he had to to win the second tournament. With the exception of Sagat and Falke, He doesn't feel the same Mercy for Balrog who has flip flopped working for the Drug Baron and Human Traffickers to the Religious Zealots. Balrog in Street fighter IV scoffs at the while idea of Ryu shunning Material gains! After all like Balrog said, when Bison returned, he doesn't fight for free!

Mutastu-2

Shu-2

Shinya-2

Balrog-2

ROUND 3 INFLUENCE ON THE HERO AND HIS WORLD

To save time, Mutastu and Mamaru don't contribute anything big to the Story at large.

Shu if his story is completed, only adds his Thoughts on Yu, during the Cinematic final turn against Izanami.

Similarly, and again to save time, Both Shinja and Hifumi add their cheers to Joker's Cinematic Final turn against Yaldabaoth.

Balrog surprisingly has evolved his style and gameplay. A good Balrog player has more tools possible to contend with Shotos like Ryu.

Mutastu-2

Shu-2

Shinya-2

Balrog-3

THE STAR

The Star is the 18th card, Designated 17 and ruled by the Zodiac sign Aquarius.

 

The Sun Is Setting as the Hermit, Frightened on the last day of his life by the horrific attack by the Devil. Rattled, he Sees a Star peeking through the Darkening Sky, Calming himself briefly, he wishes for the Strength to face his fears head on. So he had a vision of a Naked Maiden Hunkered next to a river, in her hands are two large pitchers, which she spills one back into the river, and another onto the grassy bank besides.

Despite The Somewhat Abstract Visuals, The premise is the Main Aspect of this card-Aspiration. The Idea of Wishing on stars is not as Modern as a concept as People think. As is calling Talented People Stars. The Pitchers of waters are Symbolic of Human Effort, Finite yet Boundless, the Pitcher of The water returning to the river, will it flow from it's Source and be part of the wider world by making it to the Ocean, or will it be lost like a teardrop in the Ocean? And what of the Water spilled onto the grass? Will it's Contents help Flowers grow in a way the water could not? Or will that wasted effort dry up under the sun?

This card means Aspiration, Talent, Endeavour, wishes to be fulfilled and Gifts. Reversed it means lack of Opportunity, Tension, Pessimism and Stubbornness. Hopes you had into a Venture have being Dashed.

When used to Denote a Single person it's usually a teenager or someone born under Aquarius.

Taking the Stage are Mamaru Hayase, Minato's sports rival from another school, Teddie, The king of the TV World, Hifumi Togo, The Shogi Idol and Rainbow Mika, The 7 Coloured Bomber.

Mamoru Hayase

 

Mamoru can only be met if you compete for your School for the Sport's Club you are a member of.

Which Club?

WE'VE DONE THIS JOKE BEFORE!

It doesn't matter What Sport you do, You'll Always come Second To the Rival School's Ace, Mamora Hayase.

After the Race/Fight Hayase Finds You and is Impressed So he asks you if you would like to have lunch after.

Despite Going to a Different School Mamoru is actually a Hometown Hero, Who like Kaz is a young Athlete with Olympic Dreams like Kaz (See Part 4), But unlike Kaz, Mamoru has So much of a better chance that all the Restaurants are Sponsoring him. Despite All that Praise and Pressure. Mamoru is a Very Humble and Laid back Young Man. Every bit the Inspiration off the Track, as the Oldest of 5 kids living in a small flat with their mother, after his father Died of a Car Accident.

One Day you are Supposed to Meet Hayase for Lunch, Until You get a Phonecall Telling you that his mother Got Sick and was Sent to Hospital, Minato learns later from a tearing up Mamoru that his mother fell at work due to exhaustion, taking extra Shifts to make ends Meet. Beating himself up that he let it happen, He has to make the Toughest Choice of his Life: Give up on his dream and Move away to work in his Uncle's car factory to wire money home once he Graduates From High School. It's Going to be tough, But he has to do it!

As A Blue-Chip Athlete and Beloved Elder Brother. Mamoru is the Inspiration Aspect. The Outcome of the Accident are the Tension and Dashed Hopes aspects of the Inverted meaning as his life takes the Sharp turn from nowhere!

MAMORU GET A POINT

Teddie

 

 

(Cracks Knuckles)

Ladies and Gentlemen It's time!

To cover The Most Annoying Playable Character of the Entire Persona Franchise.

When Yu Nurakami Found out he could traverse Worlds by entering a Television, he Couldn't keep it a secret. Despite only moving to Inaba less than a week ago, You trust this secret to the Son of the Local Supermarket Manager, Yosuke. There is a reason for this, You don't know why but you think there is a connection between this power and the two recent Murders, including the Murder of the girl Yosuke had a crush on!

So When Yosuke showed Yu the HD TVS Junes Sell, Yu entered the other world, the tv world, armed only with a golf club! You land in a world covered in thick fog. Not only could you not see, but the fog makes you feel...Bad! Like Physically and Emotionally, like all the the Strength and Hope is being drained from you with every breath! Until a SHAPE walks out of the Mist. A unlikely of all Saviours.

a Sentient Mascot Costume!

Teddie as it calls itself, Saves you but it's Confused and angry why Humans are coming to this world, he had not Interfered when "The other 3" came, but now their Presence is changing parts of the world. He must have being part of this change because he doesn't remember anything before this point. He Decides to Help You and all future Members of the Investigation Team by making glasses to not only see through the Fog but to get through it's Debilitating effects.

Until Rise Arrived,  Teddie was your Navigator, who commenting on all your actions with Possibly some of the worst bear puns Imaginable!

I can say without Any Irony, That Teddie's speech Pattern made him Unbearable!

"unBEARable"

Acting as your guide in this world now being influenced by another, Teddie too Is Being Changed by his Hormonal Charges. Remember I said in part 4 that Persona, at it's heart is a coming of age story? Well it is taken to eleven with a Teddie acquiring the Personality of a Full-on Horny Creep with no filter, after meeting Shadow Yukiko, who was the real girl's Personification of her Sexual Frustration.

When Rise gets Kidnapped, Teddie is Starting to have Self-Doubt, Peering into a world he cannot go to. It gets worse when Rise Confronts her Shadow herself and Reconciles with her Denial. It's seemed that we won't have to a Boss Battle, But It was the Use of the Term "Empty inside", That Triggered Teddie, Sure Enough Teddie's Shadow appeared and told him what he denied, He was a Shadow, just like every other monster from this world.

 

"YOUR MOTHER PLAYS CARD GAMES IN HELL!"

Denying it like the others caused Shadow Teddie to Grow to Galactic Proportions

Sunken into a black hole, Feigning trying to escape, it's face is cracked open to reveal the Nebulous Void Within. 

 

With the Defeat of Shadow Teddie, thanks in part to Rise, Shadow Teddie was defeated and was purified into Kintoki-Douji, a Legendary Toddler with the Strength of a Bear! A perfect match for the immature Shadow in an adult world!

However that outpouring of Emotional left Teddie Flat-Literally! So he said that he was going to do pull-ups and a lot of Thinking so he can become something different, that can be useful for everyone, and to "score" with Girls!

And that when it happened Teddie came to our world.

With Yosuke Covering that this Mascot was exactly that- just a Mascot. Teddie had Another Surprise Not only Getting back in shape, But he had-Somehow!-in his own words-Grown a Humanoid Body!

With Yosuke burdened with Living with Teddie, The Studly Bear In Heat became a party member with Rise replacing him in his Navigator Role. In his Quest to feel Human, Teddie has interjected himself into a school trip, nearly got all the boys killed at the hot springs, but the worst was his plan at a Pageant.

Convincing Yosuke to sign up the girls without their consent to the Beauty pageant, only for the Girls to sign up the Boys for the Cross-Dressing Pageant the night before... Exactly what Teddie Planned!

Being Androgynous in his human form, "Alice" won the "Miss" Yasogami high contest, with the prize being, changing the final round of the girls competition to a Swimsuit round! A Round that Caused Naoto, a Girl whose Gender Identity Issues Nearly killed her in the TV world, Refusing to Compete. This show of Convictions swayed the votes of the female students making the once unfriendly "Boy"  win this Contest and gain new friends. But In truth Teddie did it to continue to leer over his friends!

I think it's time we go to his defense, he is also very dear to Nanako, taking her Kidnapping and feelings of Worthlessness worse than the others, staying at the little girls bedside for nights on end. In the End, in another Dream Visit to the Velvet Room, You find not Igor or Margaret, but a transparent Teddie, who apologizes for his weakness. He realizes that his Shadow was right, that he is indeed just a Shadow and nothing else. He convinced himself that he wasn't, so he Made this Body to make him feel love. But when you tell him Nanako is Alive, he Disappears and Igor and Margaret return. The Master of the Velvet Room is Delighted on the change to the Shadow, calling the free will acquired as "a stone set in a riverbed, loosened by the current". And so Teddie wakes from his visit to the Velvet Room. Just as Nanako regains consciousness. Nanako heard Teddie and the others. And when Yu destroyed Izanami, and saved all of Inaba, Teddie now has the Free will to do want he wants with his new life....though he's still gonna mooch off Yosuke for a while, until he can read and Write at least!

As Irritating as Teddie can be, his Story holds up under the premise of the Star's Attributes, Namely the Endeavour and Aspirations Aspects. Teddie wants to experience Human Life, Not a Being a Creature of Base Emotions. But it's the aspect of Wishes that wins the point for Teddie because it's his resolve to stay with Nanako that Aspect allows her to regain Consciousness.

Hifumi Togo

Yusuke had just joined the Phantom Thieves and Soon the Heroes were asked to take down the Yazuka, However Despite his Decrepit Appearance, Kaneshiro was far more Cagey than the heroes thought, so Yusuke had a idea, in the church he goes to for inspiration, a Classmate of his sits in the pews to do the exact same thing! But while Fox uses the church to study the faces of parishioners, This girl uses the Silence to think of new Gambits for Shogi.(Shogi being a Chess like Strategy game) However this girl is very attractive and is constantly pestered by Men. This girl is Hifumi Togo, a professional Shoji player.

Joker is so Charming that his very presence makes girls pay attention and so you get to do what every other Man could not: Actually get a game with the Rising Star of the Pro Shogi World.

As an Abject novice, Hifumi Wipes the floor with Joker, Giving him his first lesson in Shogi-learn to concede when you are outmatched.

As the lessons Continue, you learn more About Hifumi- Her Talent in board games is not a lucky coincidence, but a Legacy! Her Father was a Grand Champion and though a Great player in her own right never could rise to her husband level due to her gender, So when Mr Togo became sick and bedridden, Mrs Togo's Paltry Women's Division Wage couldn't cover his Medical Bills, Even if Hifumi went pro.

So when the Shoji league's Magazine become interested in her Story, Mrs Togo has an Idea, use her Daughter's looks and Skill in the game to Break into Legitimate Idol and model Work, which pays more than she would get as a female player.....for the sake of her family, of Course (!)

This leads to Hifumi now making waves in League matches, much to the Jealousy of her Contemporaries. But the modelling and interviews are getting in the way of her practice and playing career. But despite that, the Wins are still coming and it gets the attention of the Grand Champion. Hifumi has the chance to be the first female Grand Champion ever.

However Hifumi learned the awful truth-Mrs Togo acting as her daughter's manager, was rigging her matches! Mrs Togo wasn't even doing it for her husband anymore, but for her own greed, fueled by her resentment! Sure enough there is a shadow of  Mrs Togo on Mementos. After changing her Heart, Mrs Togo publicly confesses to match rigging the League did not take away Hifumi's championship game, instead they went and used it to make an example of Her. In front of a Jeering Crowd and with the Commentary treating her like a heel wrestler, Despite a Skillful play late game, Hifumi was Outmatched so she did the only thing she could to save face-Concede.

When she saw Joker after her match, so told him she has requested to return to the Amateur League to get to the Championship the right way.

Hifumi is the talent aspect. Shogi is her life and until Joker came into it, nothing else mattered. She is also the Pessimism aspect. As when she went against the champion, she lost. However her humbling doesn't fit as a Tower rep, as many can argue, But the Defeat fits more with the Stars other Aspects of Insight and Understanding.

Hifumi also gets a point.

R.Mika 

 

 

 

Some Girls, when they are Young, Usually Aspire to their dreams at a very young age.

Some want to be Singers, others Doctors, and Some just want to be Wives and Mothers just like their mothers.

But when Mika Nanakawa was Young, she wanted To be a pro Wrestler!

However unlike Zangief, whose Training Regime of Pulling tanks and Piledriving Black Bears worked for him, Mika's Training was more grounded. 

...And the Only Female Character who has Bigger Tracts of land than Mika, She Rides in her Mobility Vehicle due to...Back pain!

 

She went to a Holiday Resort where Former Wrestler, Yoko Harmageddon was putting up shows. Upon seeing Mika Yoko saw Something Big- Or rather 2 Big Things!

And here is where things get weird, as we go to the strange World of Joshi Wrestling.

This is what happens when marks who Run Idol Agencies branch into a sport they know nothing about. The result is the Joshi Scene, where we get two extremes.

90 Pound schoolgirl

Or

"OH GOD! IT'S COMING RIGHT FOR ME!"

However, Despite "overshadowing" most of the girls, Yoko Decided to her new Charge a Baby-face (Good Guy). Since her last name means "Seven Rivers" Mika was Dubbed "Rainbow" Mika.

A Month of Beach Runs, Muscle training and Learning how to move in what can only be described as a Thonged Clown themed Leotard in public,  Mika caught wind of the Streetfighter tournament. Despite her inexperience, Mika packs her Singlet, her Boots and her mask to make a name for herself.

Soon Donning her Costume, it wasn't long til Rainbow Mika got attention, When Karin Kanzuki, Martial Artist and Heiress laughed at Mika. Taking Offense, Mika Challenged Karin to a fight. Karin, not learning Anything Since picking a fight with Sakura, Accepted and Lost

However Karin was impressed and soon offered to be Mika's Financial Backer.

The Tournament continued to come up Mika, as her next Opponent was her Hero, Zangief. Despite being a Jobber with a Month's worth of Stamina Training, Mika Defeated the Red Cyclone. Despite Apologizing, Zangief was Impressed even when Mika confessed later on her true skill level. But Zangief was such a good sport, he made Mika his student. Soon Master and student ventured into the Shadaloo base and help destroy the Psycho Drive. However In the Ensuing explosion as they were escaping, Mika tripped and fell and was about to be crush to death by debris, until Zangief put his Body on the Line, and deflected the Rocks with his muscles. Indebted with her life, Mika accepted the Tutelage of the Russian Wrestler.

Years later and Mika returned in Street fighter 5 Continuing to improve, thanks to Zangief's Training and Karin's Bankroll. Mika took to the Idea of Zangief's new Philosophy of "Muscle Spirit", Even though she didn't really get what that meant. It was only when they Welcomed Lara Matsuda to Russia for a training match. When Something Happened, All of a Sudden A BEAR! attacked the trio. Attempting to return the Favour Mika started to fight off the bear only to be overpowered before Zangief finished the job. However Mika was told that she finally got Muscle Spirit as it is the Combination one's Passion and one's Muscles working in Sync. For a Brief Moment,  Mika's Body did just that! So when Zangief asks Mika if she would be his Partner in a Intergender Tag Match Lara is promoting, she jumps at the chance, Not knowing the Events of the Dark Sun will change all that.

Despite Zangief Confirmed for Street Fighter 6, Mika has not, though I would expect a cameo.

Mika is the Aspiration Aspect of the Star, to which there is no Doubt. To explain, I get to talk about what is my usual area of Reviewing Material: pro wrestling!

Mika refers to herself as a Star, her Costume is Flashy and made to garner attention, especially when that sport usually refers to it's more famous fighters as "Superstars". As of Street Fighter 5, Mika gains two 2 Moves that fits with this Narrative.

The First is the ability to cut a Promo. Mika produces a microphone, (just don't think about where it could be hidden on her person too much!) And giving a Rousing speech for a minute or 2!

Once powered by completing The promo will make ANY throw KO the Opponent, but it's so situational and you are Vulnerable when you are talking.

 

The second New Move Mika gains in v is both of her V-Triggers that Summon her Tag Partner, Nadesko. A Rising Star Wrestler, Mika would not start in a major promotion on her own, but made into a Tag Wrestler by Shadowing  a experienced Partner, until they find their feet. This is the case with Mika who has two partners, depending on the Circuit she is wrestling on. Despite the very bare Story, Mika gets a point.

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ROUND 2-PERKS

Mamoru can only be befriended if you join a sports club and unlock a cutscene. As proof of completion, Mamoru's Key item is a car key to fuse for Lucifer.

Teddie is your guide to the TV World early on and makes the Glasses for the investigation team to see beyond the fog. His Appearance makes it impossible to investigate properly, But Teddie is the first person Nanako speaks to when she awakens from her coma. Gameplay wise, for the last time, as a playable character, Teddie comes with Follow Up, Calvary Attack, Assist, Recover, Endure and Second Awakening. As the Social link is Automatic, As the story progresses you can Access Helel, Without a key item.

Hifumi can only Befriended by getting your charm to Rank 3. And can only be finished by Taking her Request. In return Hifumi will teach you Shogi Tactics and Gambits as you become her Training partner. Playing such a Strategic Game, raises your Intelligence Also.

Koma Sabaki ("Freeing Maneuver"), Let's you Switch a Party member during battle, Uchikomi ("Repetition Training") increases the chance of Follow up attack when Joker downs an Enemy, Kakoi Kazushi ("Smooth Unbalancing") allows you to escape even if out numbered, Narikin, ("Upstart") Doubles your Money,  Touryou,  (Central Pillar) to make your turn delay less so you can escape easily. Maxing it out upgrades Koma Sabaki into Togo System, making you able to switch party members at ANY Turn! HIfumi's Key item is the Kosha Piece that allows the fusion of Lucifer.

Due to the tournament Setting of Street Fighter, we Don't know if it's been made official if Ryu and R Mika have meet in a fight, as Mika is usually in the periphery as Karin's Sidekick or Zangief's student.

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ROUND 3-INFLUENCE ON THE HERO AND HIS WORLD

Mamoru is Completely optional and bares no  consequence to the larger story.

Teddie,Despite his Polarising Behaviour, has being front and centre to the Investigation at the very start, and could not solve the Mysteries inside the TV world without Teddie's Intervention.

Hifumi adds her cheers to the Cinematic Final Turn should you Max out her Social Link. Hifumi can also be Romanced, as during the same Hawaii School Trip, Hifumi is an Option for a date.

As Said, Mika is Either presented in Ryu's Eyes as Either Karin's Sidekick or Zangief's Student, and official Proof has being shown that have Met without the presence of the others.  If they do fight in game,  Mika Comments that Ryu Fights so Intensely, it feels like he's Fighting Himself. Ryu just Comment that fighting Wrestlers feels the same and uses the same Strategy to deal with them. 

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UN-BEAR-LIVABLE! TEDDIE WINS THIS ROUND!

 

Follow me on Twitter @RealEnli or @RealEnli.Mastodon.world Tarotober will Retirn next month for The essay on the Moon and the Sun. Speaking of the Moon and the Sun, I PROMISE YOU When all the new Icecreams become Available. The Icecream Review will be launched. As of Today, there are 5 posts left before hitting the 5-0-0! You cannot Imagine how excited And Delighted i am right now!