Takaishi Takeru » Route 29 Application
Player
Name: Justine
Livejournal Username: starlight_19
E-mail: just.one.justine@gmail.com
AIM/MSN: syaorannotenshi [aim]
Timezone: GMT +8
Current Characters in Route: n/a
Character
Name: Takaishi Takeru
Series: Digimon Adventure 02
Timeline: post-series
Canon Resource Links: Here!
Personality:
As the Chosen of Hope, it goes without saying that Takeru exemplifies the said virtue very well. Quoting a line he said in episode 37 - "I think it's important not to lose sight of the light inside you, no matter how dark it is." - we can see that he might as well be hope in human form. This is further reinforced by Qinglongmon, one of the four Digimon guarding the Digital World, when he replied that that's what it means to be the Chosen of Hope. Making this even more apparent is when he's also usually the one who will make Hikari's light shine brighter whenever it appears like she's losing it. He'd always be the first to assure her and tell her that they should do their best and that everything will turn out fine in the end.
This virtue isn't only obvious in his words, though. Transforming his hope into actions will be where his determination comes to light. Even if this might not be on par with Daisuke's undying one, Takeru's is also apparent throughout the series. During occasions wherein he and the other chosen children fall into dire situations, Takeru would still move forward. This was evident when even he and the others are slowly losing air inside the underwater oil rig they were trapped in, he urged the others to start searching for Iori's other Digimental, saying that it's better to do something while waiting. He also expressed this pertinacity when BlackWarGreymon kept on destroying the Holy Stones and told the team that they should get the help of the local Digimon to tell them the location of the other stones.
This, then, tells us that he's also one of the voices of reason in the group along with Iori. This often clashes with Daisuke's impulsive - and sometimes illogical - way of dealing with things. Before the redhead even got his Digimental of Friendship, he had an argument - with resulted to them getting physical - with Takeru since the latter's view on things was more logical than the former's own. Although, Takeru's normally calm and level-headed when dealing with situations and he'll frequently have a determined or easy smile on his gentle face. This is mostly the case except when he deals with the power of darkness and the possible loss of his precious loved ones.
In here, we can see an entirely different side to Takeru, one that only surfaces when said problems arise. Episode 19 saw this immensely angry Takeru charging towards the Digimon Kaiser (Ichijouji Ken's former self) and spoke hateful, taunting words in a cold voice and equally cold expression - a far cry from his usual mellow and genial demeanor. It actually went as far as Takeru punching him. It was because the Kaiser began to toy with the power of darkness - the same power that caused Angemon's sacrifice back in Digimon Adventure which Takeru witnessed with his own eyes. So seeing someone trying to manipulate it for their own gain is unforgivable for him. Just like how it's unforgivable the way Archnemon uses the Dark Towers to create artificial Digimon or the fact that BlackWarGreymon keeps on destroying the Holy Stones that will blur the line between the real world, the digital world and the world of darkness. He loathes the Darkness and anyone who wants to control it.
Consistently, this is what primarily happens, but since the Chosen Children are sometimes susceptible to the opposite of the values they embody (i.e. Hikari to Darkness and Ken to Cruelty), Takeru also displays despair sometimes whenever dealing with the darkness. This is apparent come episode 13 when Hikari was sucked into the Dark Ocean. He was so worried for her welfare that he was frantic. Since Hikari's the Chosen of Light, the whole abduction seemed like a symbolic way of portraying Takeru 'losing light' to the darkness when hope is all about keeping that light inside one person. Not only does this episode show us this side of Takeru, but it also ultimately manifested his genuine care for the people most important to him, if not a boy keeping his promise he made to a girl three years earlier. A promise to protect her at all costs - an evident display of unparalleled devotion.
Within Takeru is a constant battle of light and darkness, just like how it is for many people. The only difference for him is that he never lets the latter win and instead, keeps the light inside him glow brighter. This is one of the reasons why even with all his insecurities (which stemmed from his broken family), he never gives in and pushes all the negativity aside in preference to doing his best for both himself and the people he loves. He's not perfect and the darkness in him also makes him who he is.
All in all, Takeru's an ordinary boy who finds girls cute (episode 41 showed how he admired a French girl's looks) and plays great basketball (episode 22 proved that he can play the sport way better than Daisuke) with an extraordinary destiny of becoming a Chosen Child and has a diverse personality just like many of us humans (Iori expressed his confusion about the real Takeru during episode 34).
Strengths/Weaknesses: Aptly chosen as the child of hope, Takeru's own has been seen as his strength throughout the series. It's the reason for his optimism, determination and his usually smiling face that propelled him to keep the group and himself together. It's also the reason why he can think logically and rationally through situations because the light keeps him calm and assured that everything's going to turn out well. Physically, he's also not to be taken lightly as episode 22 showed how skilled he is in playing basketball. This shows us, then, that Takeru has good agility, speed and endurance. He's also good at domestic tasks since he lived with his mother.
For his major weakness, the Darkness is probably the ultimate answer since it manages to stir this negative side to Takeru. It makes him very angry (especially when someone manipulates it) to the point of being rash, cold and getting into physical fights. It also makes him frantic, worried and desperate like in the case of Hikari getting sucked into the Dark Ocean.
Pokémon Information
Affiliation: Trainer
Starter: Chikorita
Password: Taco Bell
Samples
First Person Sample:
[With a determined expression, Takeru stands his ground.] Yes, that's it, Chikorita! You're doing a good job! [The Pokemon only responds with an equally determined face, mirroring what his trainer and friend is feeling at the moment.]
Now, another Razor Leaf!
[With a pertinacious "Chika!", the green pokemon shakes its head once and out came sharp leaves that ultimately finished its enemy off. A triumphant smile, then, spreads across Takeru's lips followed by a victorious raising of his fist.]
You did it! [And with that, Chikorita tackles its trainer in glee. Takeru only lets it.] Great job! I knew you can do it if you just give it your best! See? All that training paid off. Now, we can take on even harder enemies. I'm proud of you.
[He lets go of the Pokemon and holds it out in front of him with a tender, almost wistful, smile.] You know, I'd really like you to meet a good friend of mine. His name's Patamon. I'm sure you two will get along.
Third Person Sample:
It had been almost three days since he left Cherrygrove for Violet City. The journey hadn't been easy. He had to make do with some stuff since the things he had been given could only suffice at some point. Whenever he would get dirty in between training, he had to wash his clothes in the nearby pond since he only had two sets with him. During these cases, he'd usually hit two birds with one stone by also taking a bath. Chikorita seemed to like sunbathing while he did this. This only happened whenever he was traveling from city to city, though, so it wasn't all that bad. Pokemon Centers would usually let him stay especially whenever he went to have him checked.
It still wasn't that bad a journey if he would think of roughing it. He remembered they had it worse back when they first went to the Digital World. He was so young, then, and yet he managed through just fine. Now, he was older so camping and roughing it outside was easier. Probably what made his journey then and now bearable was the fact that he had friends with him. Oniichan and the others were there before, and so was Patamon. Now, he had Chikorita and in a few days, Daisuke and the others since they agreed to meet in Violet City.
Looking down at Chikorita walking beside him with a smile, he could agree as much. Even when he knew that this world also possessed darkness in the form of Team Rocket who would stop at nothing to steal Pokemon from their original habitat or from their partners, he realized it still wasn't all that bad. Like before, he would fight this darkness and would also stop at nothing to defeat it. He managed to lose Angemon then; there was no way he'd lose Chikorita here too.
The palpable change in his features was replaced by surprise when Chikorita took notice and nudged his leg with its head. The clenched fists and his angry features softened to that of a smile and warm open hands. Seeing his new partner again, he once more remembered why this place wasn't so bad. He had his friends here, his tiny lights that glow bright within him. And even if some of his loved ones weren't here, Takaishi Takeru would make sure that he wouldn't let their refulgence wane any less.