YatoYota

"And because I've been pursuing art, I like you, Yotasuke-kun."

- Yatora, on New Years Eve.

YatoYota is the slash ship between Yatora Yaguchi and Yotasuke Takahashi from the Blue Period fandom.

Canon
In general, Yatora and Yotasuke are in friendly terms although Takahashi still tends to feel uncomfortable while being around Yaguchi. Still, despite all the moments both went through, they could manage become friends, and also friendly rivals at art. Intially they didn't get along well, atleast in Yotasuke's part. Because of Takahashi's antisocial personality, he tended on staying away from Yatora, still, with the time he spends with him, he starts to be a bit more open to him, although still insecure with him.

Yaguchi and Yuka both arrive at Tokyo Art Academy (Tobi) for their summer cram school sessions. His first assignment was to draw a sculpture, and Takahashi asks if he only needed to draw what he saw. Yaguchi assumes Yotasuke is a beginner to dessin, and offers him his eraser. Yotasuke gives him a cold glare, harshly asks him if they were familiar, and picks up his own eraser from the ground. Yaguchi makes note of how art students are pretty weird. When they begin, Yaguchi takes notice of how Yotasuke holds his brush weirdly.

After finishing the sculpture, Yaguchi is embarrassed by his own work, so he starts viewing the others' works. He then looks at Yotasuke's art only to be shocked by the amazing art. He describes the feeling as a "silent cry that lashed out from himself". Understanding that Yotasuke wasn't a newbie at all, he starts analyzing his art, concluiding that the most impressive thing about the art was how accurate the shape and shadows were, despite showing traces of Yotasuke's fixes. After leaving Tobi, Yaguchi meets up with Yuka who tells him about Yotasuke; how he was placed 7th in the language portion of the national mock-exam. The latter brings Yaguchi back to the world only to him to say: "Guess that's what you call a "genius"...". This caused him to believe that even if he felt talented because 6-month improvement, he was only a normal human. Yuka, then, tells him;

"People never try to compare themselves against God. Back there, most people blocked themselves out the equation when they praised him. That's how you view Mori-senpai, right? But it was different for Takahashi-kun. If you're upset, that means you're willing to fight."

Next day, Yaguchi, moved from Yuka's words, began to come to terms with the fact that he had only been doing art for 6 months, and that his fight was still beginning. That day, their assignment was oil panting, and when the time came to rank the pieces, Yaguchi wondered where Yotasuke's art was. He assumed the boy's piece would be stunning, but it just happened to be average-looking and not stand out. Yuka meets up with Yaguchi again after class and asks after Yotasuke's oil painting. Yaguchi says the composition was good, but didn't stand out.

After Yuka parts ways with Yaguchi in the train station, Yaguchi unexpectedly found himself standing next to Yotasuke. Yaguchi takes initiative and salutes him, which surprises Yotasuke who seemingly didn't notice him there. He compliments Yotasuke, calling him the "guy that's amazing from Tobi". The shorter takes the compliments with an uncomfortable look, replying with an "I guess". Yaguchi guesses that Yotasuke didn't have many friends, but also notes how Yotasuke was an artistic genius while he himself was a normal person. Between the monologuing, Yaguchi asks Yotasuke if he was applying to Geidai, to which latter only agrees insecurely. When they're about to part ways, he apologizes to Yotasuke for annoying him and waves goodbye. Yotasuke hesitantly returns the salute, cheering up Yaguchi so he blushes and salutes him back happily.

In a new cram school session, Yaguchi notices how there were a lot of people that he didn't know. He sees Yotasuke and happily waves, only to be ignored. Yaguchi is a bit hurt, but he's interrupted when his new instructor, Ooba, arrives.

While looking through shelves for something to inspire himself to draw, he finds two discount tickets for a museum entry. Seeing Yotasuke next to him, he offers to go to the Museum together with a slightly blush, but Yotasuke flinches and asks why with a disgusted expression. Hashida intervenes and asks if he could tag along.

Yotasuke enters the meeting room the next day, where an unexpected person; Yaguchi, who was wondering why something felt off about his artwork. He sees Yaguchi, who turns around and is about to happily greet Yotasuke. Yaguchi describes his problem; that he couldn't figure out what was wrong with his piece, even though he tried to replicate a famous artists' style. Yotasuke explains to him that he had only added in the superficial part of the piece, missing the actual point of the original art. Though Yaguchi is shocked, they're interrupted by Ooba who calls Yaguchi in for a one-on-one meeting. Yaguchi retells what Yotasuke had told him earlier, and she laughs.

Once again while Yaguchi monologues that although this time he was ranked the highest, he couldn't do dessin as good as Yotasuke nor have a keen eye like Hashida. Yotasuke suddenly runs past him, angrily saying that he would quit, as he was sick of them forcing him to make those "stupid" exam pieces. Yotasuke then declares that he would be quitting the cram school.

At the cultural festival at Tobi, Yaguchi bumps into Yotasuke who is walking around with his mother. She convinces Yotasuke to go along with Yaguchi, who she considers as one of Yotasuke's only friends. They walk around for a bit. As they're leaving, Yotasuke suddenly bursts out in anger, saying that he couldn't stand Yaguchi because he already had "everything". Yaguchi gets frustrated, and becomes even more motivated to create a great piece of art.

While the New Year quickly approaches, Yotasuke calls Yaguchi on the phone once, but hangs up before they can really start a conversation. Yaguchi ends up assuming it was a prank call. Soon after, Yaguchi receives yet another call from Yotasuke. The antisocial boy invites Yaguchi to Hatsumode, who takes him up on the offer. They arrive, with Yaguchi being surprised Yotasuke even bothered to show up at all. He thanks Yotasuke, who dismisses it casually. Yotasuke is implied to not come to these events often, asking why there is so many people. Quietly, Yotasuke apologizes for the first call, and Yaguchi looks widely in surprise. He had assumed that because Yaguchi had many friends, he would turn down the offer and then Yotasuke wouldn't need to go anywhere for New Years. Apparently, the only possibly-friend people in his contacts were Yaguchi and Hashida. Upon hearing this, Yaguchi is extremely surprised. When he tries to get the reason for Yotasuke actually being there, he becomes stubborn and doesn't tell.

As the countdown begins, Yaguchi asks Yotasuke why he hates him so much. Yaguchi smiles sheepishly and says that although he loves art, if he hadn't pursued it, he might've liked Yotasuke more. The shorter boy is visibly surprised. Just as the countdown reaches ONE, Yaguchi confesses that he likes talented people, namely, Yotasuke, although he also hates him with a burning passion. Afterwards, the blond wishes him a Happy New Year, to which Yotasuke just stares at him with a blank expression. Finally sighing, Yotasuke admits to not caring about people, but somehow constantly being annoyed by Yaguchi as well. Yaguchi gasps, blushing with his hands over his mouth. With this show of emotion, Yotasuke looks at him awkwardly and calls him a weirdo. He starts pushing Yaguchi away towards the temple. Together, they pray while Yaguchi has a ecstatic expression on his face, happily noting that "a genius" [Yotasuke] thinks he's special. At the end, Yaguchi tells Yotasuke that they should do this again next year, even if none of them/both of them/one of them get into Geidai. Yotasuke agrees, as long as he remembers.

Yaguchi and Yotasuke meet each other at the first Geidai Entrance Exam again. They greet each other, while Yotasuke replies in his usual quiet manner. Yaguchi sees Yotasuke grip tightly onto his jacket, so he attempts to cheer him up. On the stairs, Yaguchi fist-bumps him lightly, promising to see him later.

Both end up passing the first exam, and when Yaguchi hears, Ooba points out how he always acts weird whenever Yotasuke is mentioned. At the second exam, Yaguchi suddenly collapses on the stairs from exhaustion. He sees Mori come towards him, asking if he needed a doctor. Yaguchi, in an attempt to keep his composure, rejects the idea, but asks if he could borrow her shoulder for a moment. Looking closer, he realizes it was Yotasuke that he was talking to, who was looking at him with a confused expression. He apologizes while Yotasuke wonders who "Mori-senpai" was. Again, he expresses regret over bothering Yotasuke and Kuwana, but Yotasuke says he doesn't mind too much.

The day after, Yaguchi comes with glasses and a fever reducer on his forehead, covered by a beanie. He sees Yotasuke again, who greets him normally and asks how he was now. Yaguchi replies positively, smiling. While they're waiting in line, Yotasuke strictly stops Yaguchi when he begins to unconsciously scratch his arm. Yotasuke tells him to give it his all on this day. When they go into the exam room, Yaguchi looks around and notes how there was only one person that had an almost-done piece. He's extremely surprised to see Yotasuke take his spot there, impressed. During the lunch break for the second day, Yotasuke and Yaguchi sit together. While Yaguchi is contemplating the theme of his art, Yotasuke suddenly begins choking on his food. Yaguchi frantically hands him a cup of tea and Yotasuke thanks him. Yaguchi begins wondering how he had ever mistaken Yotasuke for Mori. At the end of the second day, the two walk to the train station together. Yaguchi shocks upwards for a second when Yotasuke calls his name, although it was just to remind him his fever patch was visible. Yaguchi sighs and congratulates Yotasuke on his great art. Yotasuke abruptly stops and says that he wasn't confident at all, stating that his art was good, and it was a fact. To him, Yaguchi is the one that seems confident. Before he can say any more, his train comes, and he leaves.

On the lunch for the third day, the two artists sit together again. When Yotasuke arrives, he has an annoyed expression on his face. Yaguchi worries if he's going to say something insulting again, but tries to dismiss the thought. Yotasuke finally begins by describing Yaguchi's artwork, then calls it irritating that Yaguchi had gotten so good in a short while. Hearing this, Yaguchi gets extremely worked up, blushing intensely and curling into a ball on the floor from Yotasuke's praise. During this, Yotasuke is remembering how Yaguchi was a weird guy who got happy when he got angry at him. With his head in his hands, Yaguchi is euphoric, almost to the point of crying because Yotasuke had acknowledged him. He thanks him profusely, and promises to do their best.

Fanon
It's quite loved in the fandom due Yaguchi's flustered behavior while being around Yotasuke, which can read as Yaguchi having a crush on him. Yaguchi's behavior around Yotasuke also made people believe he was bisexual, and the theory was strengthen when Yaguchi had mistaken Yotasuke for Mori (whom Yaguchi is implied on having a crush on), due to his fever and couldn't actually tell who he was talking with it until his numbness had dissipated a bit. Not only that, it's also because the ship it's main-focused in the fandom. Although the fandom isn't popular enough for YatoYota being massively known, it's really appreciated for the spectators of the anime and readers of the manga. It remains as the most written ship in the Blue Period's fandom in AO3, with there being 83+ works available. Though it's more popular in the manga's side, it still has fans in the anime.

But, even if the anime has gotten an adaptation, there were fans who were disappointed on how it was made as. Due to the "poor-quality" image and changes, most of the scenes from the anime has and comparing to the manga are really different, it offended fans since there were parts that were actually important for the manga, and not only that, but the ship too, as how it was drawn. For example being Yatora bumping Yotasuke's fist before the art exam, there is a difference of the drawing between those, with the manga actually leaving emotion, and the anime being only "plain" image and also the way the way the fists were bump as, while Yaguchi's "bump" in the anime was only with the back of the hand. Other example would be how the anime made Yotasuke a bit taller though not as much as Yaguchi, but still was enough for it being noticeable to fans as in the manga Yotasuke's height was different, barely managing to reach Yaguchi's neck, while in the anime he was tall enough for reaching Yaguchi's eyes. Though, the anime didn't remove the tension between both characters, although it did hurt the fans since those moments were meant to them. It also caused to fans believe the developers of the anime being homophobic, although it wasn't a big part. However, despite of all of it, there were others that actually accepted how it was, being chill as long as moments between them were included and not ignored.

In a manga short, Yotasuke is monologuing about his inability to share food with others. Yaguchi offers to bring him a cup of amazake (sweet sake), but Yotasuke refuses. He guesses that it's because people needed a certain degree of trust in order to share food with each other, and Yaguchi arrives just at the moment. Again, he suggests a sip, so Yotasuke finally relents. He takes a drink, but suddenly finds it disgusting and spits it out. This moment implied that Yaguchi and Yotasuke have this "certain degree of trust" that even he himself was thinking about.

Because of their relationship being "angsty" through the manga, it made some believe the ship being actually good-developed, and though it still remains at it being a headcanon of an one-sided ship (on Yaguchi's side) by fans, there are those who actually could interpret it was mutual and tend to think Yotasuke is a "tsundere". The opposites attract, plus the rivals to friends to lovers tropes are also included in the ship, which two mentioned are really popular in ships, making it really likeable.

It can be shipped alongside with YukaMori, which is the ship between Ryuji Ayukawa and Maru Mori, for those who don't like viewing a romantic relationship between Yaguchi and Yuka, and prefer shipping them with other people, ultimately leaving the ship as friendship. Later in the manga, Yotasuke meets a new friend, creating the rival ship OkaYota (Okamoto and Yotasuke).

Quotes
"See you, Yaguchi-san."

- Yotasuke, chapter 4, after Yaguchi parted ways with him and thought Takashi wouldn't say anything to him as thinking he annoyed him enough.

"See ya Yotasuke-kun!"

- Chapter 4, Yaguchi happily returning the salute.

"I like you, Yotasuke-kun, but I also hate you so much that it makes me sick."

- Chapter 12, Yatora for Yotasuke.

"Shoot, I'm really happy right now. I'm just a normal human. But, for this genius, I'm special."

- Yatora monologuing about Yotasuke.


 * Hashida – "By the way, seems like Sekai-kun passed too. He's also taking the second exam."
 * Ooba – "Wow, that's awesome!"
 * Yatora – "..."
 * Yatora – "Really..."
 * Hashida – "What's with that face?"
 * Yatora – "I mean, of course I'm happy! I just never doubted he'd pass, but still!"
 * Ooba – "Yaguchi, you get so weird whenever someone mentions Takahashi."
 * — Chapter 18.

"Even if no words get exchanged, seeing Yotasuke-kun's eyes dyed in blue is enough to make me happy."

- Chapter 41, Yatora seeing the Shibuya's sunrise with Yotasuke.

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Trivia

 * The name "Toyota" comes from Yatora's two middle letters from his name (Yatora), while the rest is from Yotasuke's first four letters (Yotasuke), although Toyota is actually a car brand, it doesn't seem to bother fans at all, instead, the name is mostly used as a joke by them.
 * Also, if the ship "YatoYota" is searched, first results will be corrected as "Toyota", being the car brand.
 * According to Yotasuke's profile, he goes to the same school as Yatora. It also says how he provokes Yatora with his genius art skills and antisocial personality.


 * Of the four times Tsubasa Yamaguchi illustrated the cover of Monthly Afternoon magazine, the only character to appear on the cover besides Yatora was Yotasuke.




 * In an illustration for one of the Blue Period chapters, it is possible to see a probable painting of Yotasuke made by Yatora.