Actually the realest ship dynamic is “pair that act like a married couple who are unprepared influential figures for a misfit band of teenagers”

Some gifs I made from Speedoru’s new Ace Attorney video

They’re all pointing at a gay person

Ok I've mentioned my fave mlm ships before, as well as the dynamic they fit, AND I even made a post with my fave fanfics for those ships, but while rereading a SakuAtsu fic I liked something hit me:

Why does Sakusa like Atsumu?

You would think I would have my own reason for why one of the characters of a ship I thoroughly enjoy has romantic feelings for the other one, but the only reason I've been able to muster up is that opposites attract? I haven't watched Haikyuu, but from what I know these two have very little interactions with one another.

Ships don't always have to be canon, but the most important factor in a ship is chemistry. I understand why there is chemistry between my other fave ships, so let's dive into that.

----------------------- KiriBaku

Starting off with a strong one, I find it completely believable that Kirishima and Bakugo could have a romantic relationship, because they have a very fun dynamic and strong chemistry with one another. Whether you see it as romantic or platonic, the chemistry is there. Kirishima has a great admiration for Bakugo and his manliness, with Bakugo reciprocating the same admiration for Kirishima as an equal. In fanfics I've read, Kirishima tends to put Bakugo on a pedestal and reveres him constantly, but he also has a strong desire to be close to him and be a support for Bakugo. Bakugo only lets Kirishima be close to him, his friend and the only true equal he accepts and acknowledges. Kirishima is the one who knows him best and vice versa. They work well with one another (it's nice that they have compatible quirks) and they're always encouraging one another to be their best selves.

With these two, the chemistry is strong, it's believable that they could be attracted to one another, and it's clear why I ship them.

-----------------------WrightWorth

Moving onto the very popular Wright and Edgeworth, there's so much damn content to unpack here! I also haven't played the AA games, but I've pored over the wiki and fanmade media has definitely helped me learn more about their chaotic relationship. Their relationship is a crosshair away from being confirmed canon by the people working behind the scenes for AA.

So from I've gleaned from my relentless consumption of narumitsu fanmade media and the fanwiki, is that they're childhood besties who drifted apart due to ciRcUmStAnCEs and there's an element of pining and a mutual feelings on both sides now. Phoenix missed Miles. He was worried about his friend and desperately wanted the chance to reconnect with someone he cares so much for, to ensure his wellbeing. He also just wants Edgeworth to be happy, see him smile like he used to so long ago. His actions speak volumes, and most likely you've come across this post via tags so I'll assume you already know the details and backstory behind the two, so I won't baby any of you by explaining the unspoken meaning behind his actions. In short: Phoenix is head over heels, over head over heels, over head-- because the bitch is still falling for Miles!

Miles also has his own complicated feelings for Phoenix, they're complicated but they are there! He has his own baggage to work through first, but in later games I know that he regains a strong relationship with Phoenix, trusting in him wholeheartedly (hard for our emotionally constipated prosecutor) and being able to lean on Phoenix and provide the same support for the man he loves too. He also missed Phoenix, even if he didn't show that he did at first, but later he makes clear how grateful he is to have Phoenix back in his life. Aaaaand, he also just wants Phoenix to be happy.

The two have amazing chemistry with one another, both comedically and romantically, and again it's apparent to me why I ship them.

-----------------------

MatchaBlossom

I CANNOT WAIT FOR THEM TO BE CANON. I AM HERE COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS TILL SK8'S SEASON 2 AIRS. Ahum. So they're also childhood friends! Clearly Kojiro has liked Kaoru longer, since Mr GNC has been pining over the show's villain since his teenage years. They have such a funny love/hate relationship and their chemistry is undeniable. It may seem kind of one sided rn with Kojiro displaying all sorts of gooey ooey faces and emotions towards his friend, but now that Kaoru is officially over Adam, it means we have ample opportunity for their relationship to really bloom (pun not intended). I'm not a manga reader, so who knows what their relationship is like currently, but who cares! With a ship this fun and romantically charged, fanon reigns supreme!

People have likened them to husbands, ex-husbands, ex-flings, FWB, sneaky links, gay chicken enthusiasts-- it goes on. Kojiro definitely has it bad for Kaoru-- he obviously likes being around him, even if he pretends he doesn't. He has a close friend with which he shares the same passion, and they have a complicated and very interesting past, which I am DYING to see. They do fit into the "opposites attract" category, and boy does it work so well! The reason for Kojiro's attraction is also up to the fans to decide for themselves. Maybe he just realised he liked Kaoru for himself and that was that! Love is love. For me, Kojiro's love is this slow growing, simmering thing that he's fostered throughout all the years spent with Kaoru, and he's had to keep it locked up since he knows how the other man feels about another man.

Now with Kaoru it's a tad more complicated, all and all he had feelings for someone else! But this is the exciting part! He's going to realise that it was Kojiro who has been there by his side all this time, Kojiro who's loved him silently, patiently, devotedly, waiting for Kaoru to realise. That's going to be AMAZING to witness. Flustered Kaoru? Embarrassed Kaoru?? BLUSHING KAORU??? Though being that they are side characters, I half expect them to just be holding hands with one another in the background at the end of the show, wedding bands glinting smugly. I think I would just scoop all my organs out of my body with a rusty spoon if they just keep bickering and we get no closure with their relationship. At the end of it all, they better show us a scrapbook montage of these two getting married, their honeymoon going spectacularly wrong, moving into a new place together and--- hang on I'm getting carried away.

The point is, the chemistry is clear and again I understand why I ship these two.

----------------------- Hisollumi

Eh, I kind of fell off these two. Like I said in my fanfic post, I think I only like reading about them now if they exist in a world outside of HXH. But I'll be brief. Hisoka desires Illumi carnally. And also wants to be killed by him, yadda yadda don't think about it too hard. They view each other as equals and as fucked up as they are on their own, it's always nice to have someone you can be crazy with. Illumi is more than happy to put up with Hisoka, because frankly who else but Hisoka would also put up with him? They are outsiders who belong together, which is quite sweet. They are also canonically married so it'd be a bit weird to not see them as romantic. Their chemistry is actually really funny, less so romantic, but there's a history between the two and they certainly gel well with one another.

Here, it's very clear to see why I ship them.

----------------------- SakuAtsu

So here comes the problem: what's the reason for Sakusa liking Atsumu???? Maybe I'm having this issue right now because there isn't any canon chemistry between these two (that I know of), but that wasn't a problem for me because I was LOVING the fan content.

So I've read a few fanfics of them now, and oh yes, they do have chemistry, but... it's unclear what Sakusa likes about Atsumu. Like I said about Kojiro, I don't really know what his reason for being in love with Kaoru is, but it's believable that he is in love with him. I can easily make up my own reason or see why Kojiro is in love with Kaoru when I read fanfic about them.

Bear with me when I talk about fanfic, I swear it's important for what I want to say. SO I READ THIS SAKUATSU BDSM FIC --AND NO STAY WITH ME-- I didn't get why Sakusa had feelings for Atsumu. This could just be me maybe being on the aromantic spectrum

We interrupt this post to announce that the user is in fact on the Aro Spectrum and will now be shutting the fuck up.

Edit: Ok I am continuing, but it’s because I’m DYING to talk about it.

I can see why Atsumu would have feelings for Sakusa, he likes annoying him, in the fic I read he has a thing (sexual, maybe romantic) for authority figures and people who are reserved and stoic. We know who fits the bill, and he falls for his personality because he likes spending time with Atsumu. But!

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THE FIC! ITS CALLED TERMINAL CURIOSITY ITS VERY GOOD!

Sakusa ends up deciding to date Atsumu after the other man confessed because he doesn’t want to lose Atsumu… but kind of for the BDSM aspect? Now don’t get me wrong, Sakusa isn’t just dating him to fuck him, they went over that themselves in the fic, but I can’t see why Sakusa would fall for him. Not saying that Atsumu is unlovable, but we know what kind of person Sakusa is, and Atsumu seems to be the exact OPPOSITE of what Sakusa would look for in a partner. We see the fic from both perspectives, but all of what Sakusa feels towards Atsumu seems to be sexual attraction.

Given that I’ve had time to reflect on my aro spec identity, I think Sakusa does lie on the aromantic spectrum. Perhaps it’s implied and I’m just lacking in reading between the lines. I really like this fic, and I hope after my exams I can interview the authors of the fic and ask them about it personally.

I also can see some of the other characters on this ship as aro/ace too! Bakugo for example is someone who I’ve seen with frequent headcanons as lying on the spectrum and Illumi definitely fits into that category. I mean, his wardrobe does consist of the colours of the flags.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed my post! I certainly enjoyed finding out more about myself :)