Video;

[truthdecided]

[Today, Akechi presents a rather peculiar object to the Pearls: a smartphone, circa 2016. Certainly state of the art, by Bottlecap Bay standards, but more importantly is the music playing from its speakers.

Soothing, smooth jazz... How he's missed it.]

I'm not entirely sure how, but it seems I've been reunited with one of my belongings from home.

[He shuffles around the phone, brushing off some glitter.]

It took some doing to operate it in my current state, and I'm not certain how I'll keep it charged. If any electric types wish to volunteer their services, I would greatly appreciate it.

In turn, it may be possible to use my phone to better record data and take photographs on missions. I will have to be careful with it, of course. It may have a shockproof case and screen protector, but it is hardly invincible.

Still... If anyone else received technology, perhaps we can pool resources. This has a great deal of potential.

Comments

[truthdecided]

Indeed. I can't say this is the most terrible position I've been in, but it is rather inconvenient to be thrust into another world, in an entirely foreign form, and with no indication of when you'll return.

[Yet, despite his words, his voice remains level. Not too irritated, all things considered.]

Though, as far as isekai scenarios go, I will certainly take this over a lethal MMORPG.

[sharpjustice]

I've always disliked isekai manga...

[This is her kneejerk reaction to the topic. Perhaps she comes off a bit snobbish saying this, but Mayaka is nothing if not brutally honest when it comes to her opinion on the current manga landscape.]

[truthdecided]

All isekai, or just the ones based on formulaic light novels designed to be male power fantasies?

[Yes, Mayaka, he is being that nitpicky.]

As I understand it, classic isekai often skewed more shoujou fantasy, or portal fantasy, if nothing else. The need for online game settings and copious harems came later.

[sharpjustice]

Well, yeah, but these great, classic shoujo series weren't labelled 'isekai' when they first got released, right? It became a popular term in the last two decades because of the light novel wave. And that's what most of them are now: Too formulaic! Sure, there may be some that try to flip the script and play with expectations, but that's expected when it comes to wanting to stand out and sell print runs in a cesspool of monotony. Am I supposed to clap and open my wallet when I see a cat or a female protagonist on the cover now? Where is the innovation?

In contrast, shoujo has always been pushing the boundaries of setting and genre, and yet it still gets looked down upon by many readers. That's completely unfair.

[A pause.]

Wait, wait, wait! I'm not having this conversation with you! You can't know so much about manga too!

[This Sneasel is clearly exasperated. She's been tricked into an excessive ramble about her secret interest. Damn you, Akechi!!]

[truthdecided]

[Haha... Mayaka, you activated his trap card. The nerdy infodump is so... enlightening, really.]

I imagine misogyny is an aspect of it. Across the globe, the interests of women and girls are scorned and mocked, seen as less 'legitimate' than those geared at a male demographic. The male gaze is seen as the default. The more marketable.

But, specifically, the straight male gaze.

[sharpjustice]

[He ignored her and continued the conversation... argh!!]

Yes, even though women make up close to 50% of overall manga readers now. And, mind you, much more women read shounen manga compared to the proportion of men who read shoujo and josei manga. Unbelievable.

[Despite this, Mayaka cannot resist adding these facts. Then, she looms close to the Grumpearl so that only her fierce glare is visible.]

We did not have this conversation. Got it?

[truthdecided]

[Heh, heh... The reaction was absolutely worth it.]

You seem embarrassed over a perfectly mundane interest.

[sharpjustice]

[Mundane?! Oh if she could just reach through the Grumpearl with her bare claws now...]

Maybe it is for a nerd like you, but liking manga isn't exactly mainstream, and I'd rather not have to explain myself to people who don't understand. [Mayaka says with a loud harrumph. Though, it's certainly the 'drawing manga' that embarrasses her more than the reading of it. At least Akechi doesn't know about that.]

Anyway, I don't think most here know what manga is to begin with apart from you... and maybe Maya-san and Umemiya-kun. But don't you dare tell them!

[truthdecided]

Is it really that unusual? Manga and anime wouldn't be so successful if they were fringe media.

[Regardless, hmm... There's one teensy little problem.]

Regardless, this is a public network. If they had objections, they would have likely spoken by now.

[sharpjustice]

Wha.. I... DAMN IT! [She'd been so caught up in this, she forgot this was an open channel. Even if someone hasn't spoken up, whose to say they haven't overheard?]

No more talking about this over Grumpearl!

[The connection goes silent. Mayaka buries her pearl under the covers of her bed before stomping off, hoping that no one else was listening.]