Hello. I hope you enjoy this Black Rock Shooter story. Black Rock Shooter has been a very special anime to me. Even though there hasn't been much news about it, I'm sure the franchise will spring back up again. After all, we still love Black Rock Shooter. Someday, her fire will reignite...someday...
Disclaimer: I do not own Black Rock Shooter. I only own my OC William.
What's the first anime you ever watched? Or at least, considered to be your first "real" anime? Did you ever remember it? Is it still special to you? Do you still love it? Or did you forget about it? Did you toss it to the side in favor of newer and more popular anime?
It's natural, I guess. We change tastes as we get older. Yet, I don't think we ever truly forget our first anime.
My first anime was Black Rock Shooter.
I will admit, I wasn't exactly a fan of the anime at first. I couldn't even really tolerate it with the different stories that were happening all at once. The only parts in the anime that I ever cared about were the parts where I got to see Black Rock Shooter. She's the only character that I loved in the entire show. I didn't really care about Mato, Yomi or the other girls.
Don't get me wrong. I'm sure they are good characters…I just cared more about Black Rock Shooter. After all, the show was supposed to be about her. So, it got annoying when these other characters showed up. It got even more complicated with the whole Other Self drama thing where somehow Black Rock Shooter was Mato's Other Self. That didn't sit well with me…or the other fact that when Black Rock Shooter and the other characters clashed, they represented the emotions that Mato and the others were feeling towards one another. It just threw everything off course which probably explained why some people weren't fond of the anime.
The fight scenes tried to make it up for it. They were awesome and I think people can agree to that. However, it seems people just can't get the story. It was told in a very difficult way to understand and that seemed to discourage many people from enjoying the show.
The game and the Soul Innocence manga didn't exactly help either. While it's true that Black Rock Shooter was treated as her own being in the two universes, her storylines also got confusing in there as well.
The Innocent Soul manga had its lots of problems in it. There were, however, small compared to one thing about the manga that I had a huge problem with: RON. That little black snake thing with the ability to transform into Rock's weapons and a teenage boy. The guy with a foul mouth and bad temper.
Yeah. No. I don't like him in the slightest. Period. Enough said. It explains why it was a terrible manga. Case closed. That…and things tend to get a little too creepy for me in that manga…Ram can be absolutely terrifying when she wants to be.
Unfortunately, the game was also a bit difficult to understand at times as well. Don't get me wrong: It was absolutely epic that they put White Rock Shooter as the final boss. The final battle between Black Rock Shooter and White Rock Shooter was awesome. Not to mention it had nice battle music. The problems with the game, however, was that the characters felt flat. Nana kind of just freaked me out in the game. White Rock Shooter acted like the stereotypical bored villain who does things for their own amusement. The rest of the aliens and people were easily forgettable. It doesn't help that their names were all weird and hard to remember.
I've heard that the game's manga gives more depth to characters like White Rock Shooter, but I've never been able to get my hands on it. So, I can only make my judgement based on the game and that is by watching playthroughs online.
Anyway, back to the Black Rock Shooter anime. Unfortunately, I've only recently heard that people didn't really like the anime to a huge degree. There were people who even claimed that the Black Rock Shooter anime was the worst anime of 2012! Not even joking! It made my jaw drop and I still have a hard time believing it.
Well, not entirely. I mean, I understand where they are coming from, considering the points I said earlier. Still. Calling it the worst anime of 2012 is a bit too much. There were positive things about it. It's not like everything about it was bad.
Despite all that though, I still love Black Rock Shooter. The character herself, not so much her franchise as a whole. What's not to like about Black Rock Shooter? She's pretty. She's strong and can take on anyone. She doesn't back down from a challenge and is always willing to protect Mato, no matter how much pain she is in.
…Honestly, I wish Black Rock Shooter was my girlfriend. I mean, who in the right mind, wouldn't want to have Black Rock Shooter as their girlfriend?
Okay. Okay. So, she doesn't really talk a lot in the anime which doesn't really give people a good perception about her personality. The writers probably decided the whole actions speak louder than words convey that message.
There are things that we do know though. She is savage in battle. Also, Black Rock Shooter is shown to be kind…uh, at least to Mato. Not really sure how she or any of the Other Selves for that matter would interact with other people besides their respective human counterparts.
Not to mention that there is a lack of any kind of boy and girl interaction, which I am extremely thankful for since I don't want Black Rock Shooter getting a boyfriend. That seat is reserved for me…in my dreams anyway.
I look out my college dorm's window and almost laughed out loud. I could almost imagine what any Black Rock Shooter fan would say to my face if they knew what I was thinking: Get in line.
Yeah. Yeah. I get it. I better get in line because there are a whole bunch of other people better than me who have a higher chance in being in a relationship with Black Rock Shooter. Whether it's Dead Master (despite the fact she's been trying to kill Black Rock Shooter multiple times – both in OVA and anime), Strength (for some reason?), even Mato (which…how would that even work?) or some other character like Ron or another fan.
Basically, people or characters with strength and true connection with Black Rock Shooter would have a better time at getting a relationship with her rather than some guy with glasses who probably couldn't do anything to help her due to the lack of those two requirements.
I get it. I can't really fight. Yes, I don't have some sort of superpowers. I'm only human. Obviously, this puts me at a disadvantage right away. Black Rock Shooter's world revolves around fighting and lacking fighting skills is an easy way to get killed.
But, even if I couldn't fight, I would do the best I can to help out Black Rock Shooter. Isn't it more important for someone to be able to support you by being who they are instead of being someone they can't be?
…I'm starting to think my philosophy class actually had some kind of impact on me… That's scary.
I sigh. I take one look around my small dorm room and then look back to my small laptop on my desk. I click on the next question the quiz asks me. I watch as in it transits to the next question, the white bar slowly filling itself up blue with each answer I select in the quiz. I scratch my head.
Anyway, it's not like I'll ever know the answer if I can become a great boyfriend to Black Rock Shooter or not. After all, I can't even meet Black Rock Shooter in person. So, it's just going to stay as wishful thinking.
Besides, I'm pretty sure I would be a good boyfriend...
I frowned as I glance at the title of the quiz I was on.
Which Black Rock Shooter character loves you?
…I just need some justification that I am right and I would be a good boyfriend. That's all. Just going to take it with a grain of salt…Let's see my result…
Your girlfriend in the Black Rock Shooter Universe would be….
Come on. Say Black Rock Shooter. Say Black Rock Shooter. I'm not accepting anyone else other than Black Rock Shooter. Not Dead Master. Not Black Gold Saw. Not Chariot or Strength. Just Black Rock Shooter.
NONE OF THEM! Sorry…
What? That's-That's mean! Why not?
I quickly look under the bolded text. There is nothing but a blank page.
They didn't even leave a reason as to why. It just says none of them and that's it. This quiz is terrible! Is it because the quiz owner though boys had to be muscular giants? Boys don't have to be the spitting image of superheroes or muscular men!
Okay. Calm down. Maybe this person was just making a quiz for the first time. No need to get worked up on something like this.
Let's just try another quiz.
A Black Rock Shooter Quiz by ?
Have you ever wondered how you would do in Black Rock Shooter's world? Who you would meet and see? Who could possibly be your girlfriend? If so, then this is the quiz that is right for you!
The description of the quiz sounds nice. The username is a bit weird though. I get it that the person probably doesn't want to put their real name online, but why call yourself '?'? You could call yourself anything, even Black Rock Shooter fan.
Whatever. I'm not here to judge someone's username. Maybe this quiz is more reasonable than the other quizzes.
Question#1: What is your favorite color?
Options: Black, Blue, Yellow, Green, Gray
Oh, this question. This question really annoys me. What does it matter if I like a certain color? How is that supposed to impact how I'm going to do in Black Rock Shooter's world? That if I like the color blue, I will automatically get Black Rock Shooter as a friend or something?
Whatever. I'm going to pick blue to stay on the safe side. I could've gone for black but I think blue would work. After all, blue is the eye color of Black Rock Shooter's flame and her eyes.
Answered: Blue
Question#2: Morning, Midday or Midnight?
Well…that's a random question as well. I'm used to seeing the color question, but I didn't think I would get a question in regards to the time of day.
Um…I guess I'll go with morning? I mean, it's the start of the day. Plus, Black Rock Shooter is sort of like the hero who triumphs over evil. So morning seems like a good idea.
Answered: Morning
Question#3: How would you fight in the Otherself world?
Options: Giant sword, a machine gun, scythe, super strength, sorcery, or don't know?
Answered: Don't know
What? I'm not going to lie; I don't think I would be getting any of those things anytime soon. Plus, even if I did, it's not like I'm going to be super-skilled automatically. It would take time for me to learn and improve my skills with any weapon. Plus, even if I did become super experienced, it wouldn't do me any good in a fight against the Otherselfs. I would probably go down in one or two hits from an attack by an Otherself. Meanwhile, characters like Dead Master and Black Rock Shooter could take multiple hits and still keep fighting.
In reality, I would fail, no matter what weapon I would use against them.
…That's a bit of a depressing thought. I'll just go onto the next question…Hopefully the next question is reasonable.
Question#4: Fire, Ice or Electricity?
I lied apparently. The next question doesn't make sense. What kind of quiz is this?
I guess fire? I mean, Black Rock Shooter does have a blue flame coming out of her eye. So, I'll go with that.
Answered: Fire
Final Question: Who do you want to get as your girlfriend? What would you plan to do with her?
Finally! A question that makes sense!
Wow. There's an actually type in your answer response on this quiz. That's easy. I'm just going to type down my response right now.
Answered: I would get Black Rock Shooter as my girlfriend. I would take care of her and love her very much and help her the best way I can. Then we could get married and someday start a family together.
I mean, it's true. That would be a dream come true.
Aw. Cute.
Why thank you.
But pretty stupid William.
Ouch! Excuse me! No one needed your opinion! I had enough from the previous quiz! Plus, what was stupid about that? It's perfectly normal to have a girlfriend, eventually marry and start a family! All I'm saying is that I would like it to be Black Rock Shooter! Geez!
Wait a minute.
Wait a second.
Since when could quizzes reply to your answers? Since when could a quiz owner know my name? I never put my name in the quiz!
I rub my eyes and take another look at the screen. To my surprise, the reply was gone. Like gone as in not there anymore. Instead, it said this:
Thank you for taking the quiz! How you would do in the Otherworld is anyone's guess. You might find the answer to that question a lot sooner than you expect...Have a good day!
I exit out of the quiz. I can feel the frustration rising up inside me. What kind of quiz was that? I want to know if Black Rock Shooter could be my girlfriend! You didn't answer anything! You-
Ow!
Ow…Ow...my head. My head hurts. It feels like my head's going to split open. It's so painful. Forget it. I'm going to bed now. It's past 1 am anyway.
I shut down my computer and walk over to my small bed. I lie down on stiff, small bed the dorm provided. The headache's gotten worse, to the point where it was hurting my eyes as well.
I'll probably feel better tomorrow morning. Thankfully it's a Friday so I don't have classes tomorrow.
I lie down on my bed. My head continues to pound mercilessly. I'm too tired to even take my glasses off. I can't escape sleep's embrace.
"...A lot sooner than you expect..."
What...what was...that...No...I'm...probably...just...dreaming...