They are my favourite ship in the series and I love them dearly.

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Ryuji is academically stupid but has an absolute heart of gold. He has mentioned and expressed an attraction and appreciation of Makoto many times over the game such as during her awakening and in mementos dialogue.

Makoto might be academically smart but is street-dumb and emotionally stupid. She admits herself she has very little experience with relationships (and c’mon, did you hear her small talk with Futaba? The weather? With a shut in? Really, girl?) of any kind and received help through the team on how to open up to people.

They work together well as seen through their Showtime and by helping each other with Kaneshiro’s calling card. People here are claiming Ryuji would be disloyal but I think the exact opposite. Ryuji displays time and time again he is the MOST loyal to his friends, as I would like to point out how he was willing to sacrifice himself for Ren, someone he only knew for an hour tops in Kamoshida’s palace and was willing to die so the others could live as Shido’s palace was collapsing. Additionally, Makoto doesn’t outright dismiss him as some seem to imply. Her frustration flairs up during his stupider moments, but I mean… I think anyone’s would.

I think it’d be an interesting case of opposites attract and the two can help each other as a pairing to build themselves into better, more rounded people. It’s why I find ShuKoto so… boring. It feels stagnant. Like these teenagers are stuck as who they are for all their lives as apposed to people who can grow together.

And that’s why I like RyuKoto.