If you've invested whenever playing the game, you know that will takeru collar x malice is definitely basically synonymous along with being called a "seaweed head" and being bribed along with high-quality donuts. Takeru Sasazuka is 1 of these characters that sticks with you long after you've put the system down, mostly since he's such the distinct departure through your typical "nice guy" love interests. He's sharp, he's rude, and he's probably smarter as opposed to the way everyone else within the room—and this individual definitely knows it.
When you initially dive into his route, it's simple to feel a bit intimidated. He doesn't turns out the red rug for Ichika Hoshino (the protagonist). In fact, he's pretty much the opposite. He's suspicious, blunt, and offers zero patience regarding anyone he believes incompetent. But that's exactly what makes the journey by means of his story so rewarding. It's not really a slow burn off in the traditional sense; it's more of a high-stakes intellectual sparring complement that eventually turns into something further.
The Benefit of the Saltiness
Let's be real: Takeru is a "tsundere" in the particular truest sense associated with the word. He or she spends a good 70% of their screen time insulting Ichika's intelligence or her hairstyle, yet you can't help but want to win his approval. There's a specific type of satisfaction in Collar x Malice when a person finally get Takeru to acknowledge that will you're not the complete "dummy. "
His personality is associated with a shock if you've just appear a route like Mineo's, where every thing is loud and energetic. Takeru is quiet, focused, and extremely efficient. He was obviously a former member associated with the Cyber Criminal offense Division, and their brain works like a supercomputer. Mainly because he's so reasonable, his emotional outbursts—when they finally happen—hit way harder. You realize that beneath everything "I don't care" energy, he's actually carrying a lot of weight concerning his past plus his reasons for attempting to solve the particular X-Day incidents.
The Donut Obsession is Real
You can't speak about takeru collar x malice without mentioning their absolute fixation upon sweets, specifically donuts. It's one of those character eccentricities that humanizes your pet instantly. One minute he's hacking into an extremely secure database plus uncovering dark secrets about a terrorist organization, and the next, he's declining approach you unless of course you bring your pet a box of premium glazed donuts.
This isn't just a randomly hobby, either. It's a core section of how you communicate with him. Within the game, meals (and specifically sugar) will act as his gas. Watching him obtain genuinely excited—or as excited as Takeru gets, which generally involves a small smirk or a slightly less grumpy expression—over a pastry is usually adorable. It offers a much-needed break up from your heavy, oppressive atmosphere of Shinjuku under siege.
Why the Active Works
The chemistry between Ichika and Takeru is usually interesting because she has to remain her ground. In the event that she just allow him walk throughout her, the path wouldn't work. Instead, she learns exactly how to handle their personality. She understands when to push back and when in order to just let him have his space in order to work.
I think a lot of gamers enjoy this route since it feels like a partnership constructed on mutual respect. Takeru doesn't want a damsel within distress; he desires someone who may keep plan him, or at minimum someone that tries their own hardest to perform so. When he or she finally starts having faith in Ichika with their own vulnerabilities—like their complicated relationship with his past in America—it seems like you've actually earned that intimacy.
The Mystery and the Levels
Plot-wise, Takeru's route focuses greatly on the technical and digital facets of the Adonis corporation. Since he's a genius hacker, you may spend a lot of time looking directly into the "vlog" murders and the way the particular terrorists use the particular internet to spread fear. It feels very modern plus relevant.
There's a specific tension in the route because of their "independent" status. He's not officially with all the police anymore, which gives him a little bit more freedom in order to operate outside the law, but it also means he's constantly on the knife's edge. The stakes feel personal for him. He has a very black-and-white view of justice at the start, but through their interactions with the particular protagonist as well as the investigation, you see those lines start in order to blur a little bit.
The particular Voice Acting plus Design
We all also have in order to give a shout-out to Daisuke Namikawa, the voice professional. He nails the particular "arrogant but privately soft" vibe properly. The way their voice drops when Takeru is being serious or defensive is enough to provide any otome fan butterflies.
Visually, his design is also a standout. The unpleasant green hair, the oversized jacket, and the headphones about his neck completely scream "tech guru who hasn't rested in three times. " He looks like he's perpetually done with everyone's nonsense, which, to be fair, he usually is.
Is He As well Mean?
I've seen some arguments online about whether Takeru is too severe. And honestly, I actually get it. In the event that someone called me a "seaweed head" within real life, I probably wouldn't fall in love with them. But within the context of the Collar x Malice universe, where everyone will be under extreme pressure and literally wearing a poison collar, his bluntness feels like a success mechanism.
He or she doesn't have period for sugar-coating things because sugar-coating doesn't solve crimes. Once you get past that prickly exterior, a person see that he's actually probably the most fiercely protective characters in the game. He doesn't just need to save Shinjuku; he wants to make certain you specifically stay in existence. He's just not really very good from expressing that with no side of sarcasm.
Final Ideas on Takeru
When you achieve the conclusion of the takeru collar x malice path, your perception associated with him has generally done a total one hundred and eighty. He goes through being that "annoying short guy that keeps insulting me" to "the only person I want in my corner when things go south. "
The romance development is satisfying mainly because it's grounded within the reality of their situation. There are no grand, capturing romantic gestures that feel out of personality. Instead, it's the small things: your pet letting you stay in his workplace while he works, a rare moment of physical nearness, or him actually admitting that he or she likes having you around.
If you haven't played his route yet, or if you're sitting on the fence as they appears a bit as well salty, I'd say provide him a chance. Just make certain you have some donuts on hand. You're going to need these to get on his good side, but trust me, it's more than worth the particular effort. Takeru might be a handful, nevertheless he's easily 1 of the nearly all well-written and memorable parts of the entire Collar x Malice experience.