Before we get on with things, I created a community/archive for this series as we've come a long way and, as a result, our Glossary was taking up quite a bit of space in each post. At some point, I will also archive some of my other posts that related to this series so they'll be easier to find without having to wade through my, err...5...? 6...? Posts of me simping for Meltryllis.
On another note, I plan on updating some of my older files that are either a bit outdated, contain some errors, or simply could use a bit of reformatting.
With that out of the way, let's get started filling this newly empty space!

A Flower by the Name: Atsuko

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What is hope? To most of us, hope is that guiding light that shines brightly as we move past our various burdens and can take many forms, be it a person or something more abstract but inspirational all the same.
Such is the case with Atsuko, a girl who, to the Arius Squad, was a sumptuous flower in the middle of a concrete jungle, but, to Beatrice, a light that must be urgently shaded. This analysis will discuss a character who covers a pretty unique topic based on language and communication as they impact those around Atsuko without her speaking a word.

A Princess's Aura

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Atsuko is a princess. I don't mean that in a sentimental way, at least not now, Atsuko is actually of royal lineage, or at least is stated as being a descendant of the former Arius President. For those without context, this may come as a surprise, as it's not every day you have someone on the Internet show you a girl in combat gear and make such a claim, but that is indeed the case here.
Like every other district, Arius passes its presidency different from Trinity, Gehenna, and Red Winter, in that it is inherited through blood relations. With that in mind, Atsuko should have been next in line to be the Arius president, which, as we know, wouldn't come to be.
Atsuko's get-up is, of course, by design. You see, Atsuko isn't exactly the type of princess who is seated on a throne, rather, she is one who would be used as fodder and, more specifically, as a sacrifice to further Beatrice's plans.
Now I've already done my share of Beatrice-hating, but to continue that for just a minute, Atsuko stands as a threat to everything Beatrice stands for. While such a monster designed Arius students to see nothing but despair and emptiness, Atsuko has an awe-inspiring presence that would outmatch any bit of charisma Beatrice could pretend to have. Of course, I'm not just stating such a fact to shit on Beatrice, let's recall back to the flashback the rest of Arius Squad had when remembering their first encounter with Atsuko:
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To elaborate, Saori, Misaki, and Hiyori made their living as petty thieves in order to survive. One day, they witnessed and, for a short while, had plans to steal from Atsuko as she was being escorted, but ceased after becoming awe-stricken by her presence. As seen in the above conversation, even Misaki was enamored and filled with hope upon seeing Atsuko's face.
In this regard, Atsuko was a flower that stood above the ruins of Arius District--and that's exactly why Beatrice desired to pluck her by the roots. Going back in the Eden Treaty, it was stated that, not just Azusa, but Atsuko received the worst punishments Arius Squad had witnessed. On Azusa's end, we can expect this, given her stern and unfaltering personality, as she taunted the guards who were beating her. But...why Atsuko, a girl who rarely speaks and has certainly not a hostile bone in her body?
As stated before, Atsuko is a threat on-par with Sensei to Beatrice, and while Beatrice sought to cast hopelessness on Arius, Atsuko stood as evidence that there was hope for even those who were so broken. This leads back to Atsuko's wardrobe, given all this, we can infer that Beatrice sought to dehumanize Atsuko, as is the case by veiling her face with a mask and even going as far as restricting her from speaking. To Beatrice, this would be like blanketing a flower out-of-sight...
...but like most her plots, we know this to be a feeble attempt and the hope that Atsuko provided Arius Squad would only be the fuel to Beatrice's downfall.

The Language of Flowers

The most subtle thing about Atsuko is also the most interesting part of her character, or at least to me. If you take time to go to her MomoTalk profile, you'll see her comment:
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Now, it's directly stated that Atsuko is fond of flowers and seeks to grow her own flower garden, something that's a bit of a reference to her kind personality that inspires hope in those around her. However, here we learn, specifically, that Atsuko has been studying the language of flowers.
The language of flowers, or Floriology is the study of flowers as they are used in communication. Not to be mistaken with Anthology, which is more of a study of flowers' anatomy, physiology, and all that other sciency-nerdy stuff, Floriology deals more with sentimentality and is quite interesting...but also very broad and with many interpretations.
Some of you might raise an eyebrow if I told you that we could communicate with just flowers, but hear me out on this one. We already are well familiar that giving flowers is associated with acts of kindness, be it giving it to a loved one or as a congratulatory gift for someone's successful performance. Howeve, Floriology goes even further than that.
Some flowers are interpreted based on stories and myths associated, as we know the narcissus flower to represent the Greek Narcissus, a man who was so enamored with his own reflection, he would stare down at it in the water until he, himself, became a flower. Hence, the flower's bulb droops as if it were staring in the same fashion as Narcissus. Jasmine, on the other hand, is popular for its sweet scent and, as such, represents the purity and newness of a newlywed couple.
Those are some of the easy examples, as we go further, there are so many interpretations per flower that it'd be impossible for me to go through all of them. So, instead, we'll be covering the flowers that appear in Atsuko's L2D and Valentines scene.
Starting with the latter, we have the blue rose Atsuko gifts Sensei:
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Sadly, I don't have access to Atsuko's gift, so we'll have to make do with this stock image.
Despite what Animal Crossing taught us, blue roses are not a natural type of rose and cannot be grown in the same natural way as normal roses. Rather, they're from genetic modifications using the white rose as a basis. Roses are most popular for showing affection, and in the case of the blue rose, there are several interpretations that differ based on context.
In some cases, blue roses represent a gift to one's true love, although this tends to be a message sent by a couple who are already in a romantic relationship. Due to the unnatural nature of blue roses and solemn color, darker variants represent love this is unrequited, hence the sadness associated with the color and association roses have with love. Light blue roses, however, refer to sentimental love, a message that tends to be platonic in nature and more used to show a strong appreciation for a distant loved one.
Atsuko, of course, doesn't reveal her message, stating that a princess should be allowed to keep her secrets.
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The above is the scene in which Sensei gifts Atsuko a bouquet of flowers. For those who have never been to a bouquet store, the people working there are nothing short of phenomenal, to the point where they may as well be compared to artists. They don't simply grab a dozen of flowers and mash them together, rather, they arrange them based on the intended message their customer has with them.
Now, I'll admit that this is not my profession, so, grain of salt and all, but I will attempt to decipher the message Sensei had with this bouquet.
Starting off easy, we have a set of white roses. Given the association with roses, we have, of course, admiration, while white is a color that represents purity and youthfulness. This is actually very clear, as these roses are very popular as gifts from parents to children or mentors to students.
Orange roses, on the other hand, have an extremely bright color and tend to be a show of enthusiasm, as one would proudly cheer a loved one for their accomplishments. Similar to white roses, pink roses are a popular gift from an older person to a younger person as a show of appreciation.
Cosmos are a symbol of the control one has over their life, as it is named after the Greek word for 'order', and unfortunately, I can't recognize the large blue cluster of flowers in the center.
As a nice bit of attention to detail, the bouquet is wrapped in an orange ribbon similar to what Atsuko ties her hair with.

At the End of it All

Atsuko, or Hime, is Atsuko. Something important to realize is that Atsuko never hails herself as a savior, every bit of inspiration she gives is done so naturally and quite possibly without her even realizing it. This is best highlighted in the beginning chapters of Atsuko's bond stories, where she simply wants to enjoy replicating being a normal student and even the thrill of mischief as she and Sensei were chases outside a private building.
Atsuko's power isn't that of being in a line of royalty, rather, a bit of charisma that requires no spoken words.
This won't be the only time I talk about princesses, but until then, I'll be going back to the Rabbit Squad with Saki on deck.

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Riding electric scooters is becoming more popular daily, and we can already see how this could revolutionize how we travel in cities. It is not only practical, but it helps reduce traffic congestion. Riding an e-scooter isn't all rosy and colorful despite all the potential. Just in the US alone, 39.113 people were hurt while riding them in a span of four years. Making it more alarming - throughout this time, 365% more hospital admissions were connected to e-scooters (from 313 to 1374), as reported by two researchers from the University of California, San Francisco. So, in this article, we will cover the top safety tips and practices when riding an adult electric scooter.
- Why should you Adopt Safety Practices when riding an Electric Scooter
- Top Safety Practices for Daily Commuting on Electric Scooters

1. Always wear a Helmet
   
2. Do not Multitask during a Commute
   
3. Decelerate when Turning
   
4. Inspect the Scooter every Morning with Emphasis on the Brakes
   
5. Install Lights if you Ride After Dark
   

- Parting Remarks
Why should you Adopt Safety Practices when riding an Electric Scooter?
Almost 80.2% of injuries related to using e-scooters were caused by falls, according to a study from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) – one of the most revered research institutions in the US. It is reasonable to believe that the riders were at fault in most of these incidents. There will always be external factors (like cars and motorbikes) that you cannot influence, but doing your best to maximize what you can, will go a long way.
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Data Source: Injuries Associated With Standing Electric Scooter Use. JAMA Netw Open. 2019​​
Top Safety Practices for Daily Commuting on Electric Scooters
1. Always wear a Helmet
There are always factors beyond your control when riding a powerful electric scooter for adults. Human mistakes and inattentive driving are constant problems. While not all accidents can be avoided, how you position yourself in the case of one is essential. The answer is safety gadgets and, most importantly - helmets. The difference can be as stark as life and death. The most crucial safety gear is a suitable helmet, which should always be worn. According to the UCLA study, the most common injury was head trauma at 40.2% of the sampled riders who did not wear safety helmets.
2. Do not Multitask during a Commute
When users of electric scooters become overconfident, they may believe that as long as one hand is on the throttle, they can simply use the other hand to browse their phone or perform another task. This is a severe error. Instead of slowing down, simply stop and take out your phone to text or do something else if you must. We regularly alter our balance points while riding by using both hands to make tiny modifications. We only have one hand to correct when one (or both) hands are removed from the situation, making it difficult if the lightweight electric scooter tints in the wrong direction. So always stay focused with both hands on your electric scooter.
3. Decelerate when Turning
Looking back over one's shoulder is one of the situations in which a lot of accidents occur. It is a frequent practice to check to see if any vehicles are following you before a turn. The problem is that you may quickly lose equilibrium when your body weight and focal point change. When your body is out of balance, and you're gazing behind, it's nearly impossible to make all the minor balancing adjustments you do when riding a lightweight electric scooter. Always slow down when glancing back to reduce the risk. Keeping balance on the electric scooter will be much simpler, and if you fall, the blow to the ground won't likely be as severe. We advise stopping and taking a position if you are looking back to cross the street because a speeding car close by could easily throw you off balance.
4. Inspect the Scooter every Morning with Emphasis on the Brakes
Due to wear and tear from use, electric scooters occasionally need maintenance, much like any other motorized vehicle. Although your scooter could be ready to use right out of the box, it will eventually require some tender loving care to function properly. Hence, it's crucial to regularly inspect your scooter and familiarize yourself with it before riding. The most crucial things to check for are:
Are the brakes working fine?
Are the tires properly inflated?
Is the folding function nice and tight?
Of all three, brakes save lives almost every other day in the grand scheme of things. This is not just sound advice, but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) CPSC itself officially recommends testing your brakes before an electric scooter commutes and knowing how much length and time it takes to come to a complete stop.
5. Install Lights if you Ride After Dark
One thing we want to suggest right off the bat is to try to avoid riding in the dark after sunset anyway. This is because you may have taken all precautions, but other vehicles around you can be not as responsible and cause you harm. We at SmooSat, consider safety a paramount attribute. Still, if you have to ride in the dark, we have a few recommendations and tips. For visibility in low-light conditions, external lighting is essential. In addition to being able to see the road ahead when you're out at night, you want other people to be able to see you. Most lightweight electric scooters’ front lights (if available) lack the wattage necessary to illuminate the path in front of you adequately. Thus, we strongly advise getting an external one with higher lumens and mounting it on your handlebar. As taillights indicate your position, they don't need to be as bright as headlights to illuminate the road ahead. The lights on your e-scooter are frequently bright enough, but their low position close to the ground can be an issue. You might want to consider purchasing something to fasten to your shirt or backpack.
Parting Remarks
In the hands of a careless or dangerous rider, no vehicle is secure, including a lightweight electric scooter. What makes things complicated is where and how you ride, at what speeds, as well as the lack of safety equipment. This is why we at SmooSat design our lightweight electric scooters for adults like the SA3 Prime and extremely powerful electric scooters like our SmooSat MAX with the highest priority in safety with zero compromises to brakes and other safety components. If you are interested, we welcome you to read through our entire catalog in a comprehensive guide for a broader understanding of safety measures taken from the brand’s side and what the venerable media platforms are saying about us.
Concluding Remarks
According to one research team, a high-capacity battery electric scooter with a 93-mile range costs around $0.45 to charge fully. With typical usage, this comes to roughly $7.30 annually, significantly less expensive than even filling up one gas tank. All of this adds up to an estimate that one dollar of electricity can go between 350 and 900 miles, which is unfathomable to owners of cars. Most of the staff at our company use the SmooSat SA3 Prime adult scooter, purchased for one-twentieth the price of a vehicle. Hence, electric scooters make perfect sense in city commuting. Additionally, there are astronomical combined expenditures of parking, tax, and car insurance as opposed to electric scooters.