Leo Tsukinaga/Tsukasa Suou

**Leo Tsukinaga/Tsukasa Suou** is the relationship between two members of Knights, Leo Tsukinaga and Tsukasa Suou. It's a very prominent ship in Ensemble Stars fandom.

## Relationship and notable canon moments

Leo and Tsukasa became indirectly acquainted well before Tsukasa enrolling in Yumenosaki, through Backgammon music CD’s, which were given to Tsukasa by a drunk man in a bar. Whenever Tsukasa questioned his and his family ways, he listened to those CD’s, which gave him strength to keep going on his chosen path. When he finally met the King of Knights, Leo at the time, he was frustrated, as he imagined Leo as a completely different person. However, he soon expressed his desire to know him closely, to understand him, and to be someone who Leo can rely on. Tsukasa possess understanding of Leo far exceeding anyone else’s, since he first and foremost understood Leo’s true intentions during judgement and requiem. Leo and Tsukasa also talk about each other quite often: Mitsuru told Leo, that Tsukasa talks about him all the time; Likewise, Madara said that he hears a lot about Tsukasa from Leo. Tsukasa also often expresses subtle jealousy of other’s closeness with Leo, as mentioned by Arashi in the same conversation, and is heavily expended upon in Euthanasia !! era story. Leo, in Euthanasia event story, also mentioned that he will always be on Tsukasa’s side in any questioned, and that “he doesn’t think of Tsukasa highly enough”, that being a really big statement, considering how close they got during and after events of Requiem.

Leo also considers Tsukasa his award for the right choice of returning to Yumenosaki, and his savior. If not for Tsukasa, Knights would have never return to their former glory, and Leo would not have stayed in Yumenosaki.

One of the biggest focal points of their relationship besides their closeness is that they are equals in every aspect, not being a typical senpai/kouhai relationship. Leo expressed that they are not brothers, nor father and son, but something else in Requiem. Other characters also notice this: Hiiro, in the senpai/kouhai mission event, talks that they are not a typical duo, and that they are equals covering each other’s flaws.

Tsukasa is always really caring for Leo, for example, expressing his gratitude to Madara for taking care of Leo in Double Face’s Last Mission !! era event, and wishing he was by Leo’s side during War events. Leo, on the contrary, does not want Tsukasa to burden himself, and wants him to remain pure and untouched by cruelty of these events. Leo also declined Tsukasa’s wish to learn how to compose, because he didn’t want Tsukasa to burden himself even more.

Tsukasa’s voice is one of Leo’s favorites, as mentioned in a Halloween ! era story featuring Trickstar, and that Tsukasa’s voice makes his composing flow when he listens to it.

Leo also says in Requiem that despite everything, even if Tsukasa will quit being an idol, he will always be there for him, will always love him, and will never forget him. In the same story, Tsukasa on stage questions himself if Leo wants a kiss from him.

Here are some notable moments from stories:

*(“My king! My king! How I hate you and how I love you!”)*

*(“How I’ll regret it all my life, and how I won’t! You’re the reason for all my unhappiness, but for my blessings too! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, but that’s just why I love you!”)*

*(My king, my king! O, our days of youth! I know no other way to say it: how I loathe you, and love you so much!)*

*Tsukasa: (leader keeps winking at me? what does that expectant gaze mean? does he want a kiss...?)*

*Leo: Mnn~ really? Maybe it is! But you know, I’m pretty darn good at falling in love with people! Wahahaha☆*

*I just like you! Who needs a reason?*

*On that day…when I spread my arms wide and told you to kill me, it went right over your head! Instead, you started with a self-introduction—*

*It was so funny and so precious, I was fascinated! And since then, I never got tired of watching you, not once! How could I ever hate someone like that? Tsukasa Suou, sweet child of Knights – I’m so glad I met you.*

*I’d been slowly rotting in the depths of darkness, but, unable to disappear completely, I came back in shame instead…and somehow, life rewarded me for it. Wahaha! ☆*

*Leo: it was a struggle at the very, very end, but now your blade has struck deep into my heart!*

With everything mentioned, that’s what makes them such a popular ship. They also can be viewed as Soulmates, bound by a red string of fate. They match each other perfectly with their colors too.

## Trivia

* In Ensemble Stars!! Tsukasa states that there are two kings in knights co-existing, which are him and Leo.
* Leo and Tsukasa have several cameos in each others cards.
* Tsukasa refers to Leo with the ”-san” honorific and his first name, while he refers to the rest of knights, excluding Ritsu, with their last names and “senpai”, because he sees himself and Leo as equals.
* They have the most content with each other in general.
* In the ChocoFes ! era event, Tsukasa’s card is named “Bitter chocolat”, while Leo’s card is named “Sweet chocolat”. Tsukasa’s favorite food is sweets, and Leo is known to like bitter things like Coffee.
* Leo has a 1-sm difference with Tsukasa in height, and they have exactly a 1 year 11 months 11 days age gap.
* Rinne, in the April Fools space-themed story, referred to Leo as Tsukasa’s “beloved” translated directly and “The one you love” in the official English Global Ensemble Stars!! translation.