College AU Galore
Realized that I have not one, not two, but THREE versions of College AU.
The first is the sort of "original" College AU that became For The Freedom to Love, sequel to The Early Years verse.
It follows Keima and Kiyoshi's highschool years and beyond.
The second College AU is a super vague idea of what-if Keima and Kiyoshi never met as kids but ad adults? Kiyoshi is deep into the LBGT+ scene and runs a bar suported by his rich transmasc friend Jason.
The third college AU is what I'm working on for a interactive novel. I feel like this one is a what-if Kiyoshi met as adults but younger than the second AU and Kiyoshi is a hard working (insert generation). No rich patron this time.
This brings me to the next topic, what's up with my fixation with the LBGT+ Japanese bar scene?
It's really interesting!
Reality aside, in every iteration of Kiyoshi in the modern world he's involved in the food and service industry. If he stays in Japan, then his way of being able to handle it in become part of the LBGT+ community.
I think the bar scene just joins two of Kiyoshi's interests nicely. He gets to be around non-cishetallo people and foreigners and get to work somewhere related to his career.
Kiyoshi feels a lot of anxiety living in Japan while looking like a foreigner. He's extremely sensitive about it. I think this is also a way for him to not feel so objectified if he gets to be around other foreigners.
Although in these AUs, his parents don't separate so maybe he and Miyuki go to international schools so Kiyoshi doesn't develop anxiety? I do think Kiyoshi does feel more comfortable around foreigners as he hangs out with his dad more often and gets to know his friend circle who are mostly foreigners living in Japan. HMMMMMM. Yeah I think I'll go with "it's more comfortable for him to be around LBGT+ expats" and he gets a lot of that contact by working on LBGT+ bars on 2-chōme.
Okay he can a little anxiety about his appearance outside this safe space, as a treat.