One of my fav and most impactful lines from TSHD is when Tanaka asks "why go through all this trouble for a complete stranger?" - chapter 27
It's so disconcerting that it left Yoshiki speechless. I said months ago that i'd like to see him answer that question bravely, perhaps with the question coming from Satou's mouth this time... but in this post i'll explain why this bold question only makes sense coming from ➡️ Tanaka
One peculiar thing about yoshikaru's relationship is they both see each other as very naive to the world, thus possessing a love that can be seen as a kind of parental love, with them seeing themselves as the responsible one
Since most of the story takes place in the human world, we mostly see Yoshiki fulfilling that role, with Hikaru being his precious baby 🧑🍼
• "Why go through all this trouble for a complete stranger?"
This is exactly what parents do for their children. This creature who arrived so recently and can barely adapt to the world, receives love and care from their caregivers. It's a responsibility that many see as a heavy burden and others as a great happiness that fills them
Tanaka said Yoshiki reminds him of himself, but with this question i have no doubt he also sees his mom in this 17 year old boy
He sees someone happily making a sacrifice and he doesn't understand. Risking their own integrity and sanity for someone who seemingly will give nothing in return, someone who may actually bring even more problems...
Tanaka decides to leave home at a very young age for precisely this reason
He felt as if he was destroying his mother's life. Not only because she was dividing her attention between two children without any help, but also because he needed even more attention due to a disability
• "Why go through all this trouble for a complete stranger?"
Just like that he projects himself onto Hikaru. A flawed child. Being loved and protected by a boy who knows very little about life, who hides who he is from the world, and who doesn't care how difficult their life together can become
A flawed child loved by someone exactly like Rie. It's totally giving him PTSD lol
I never imagined that a short phrase could come from such an intimate place. Even his greatest fear stems from that same place (making a sacrifice for nothing)
Mokmok absolutely nailed in the composition of this personality, it's insane how everything connects... Satou could NEVER ask a question like that because it wouldn't fit her at all
