So I just finished reading The Song of Achilles, and forgive me if I'm stating the obvious but . . .
About two thirds of the way in, Thetis tells the boys that there is a new prophecy, that "the best of Myrmidons will die before two more years have passed." And at first they're afraid that it's Achilles, but then Thetis tells them that he will be alive when it happens
The first time I read this, I didn't understand. It was only when I read that passage again, after knowing what happens, that I realized the prophecy was about Patroclus
The book even acknowledges it later on, when Briseis is saying goodbye to him . . . "'Best of men. Best of Myrmidons.' She places her fingers to my lips, stopping my objection. 'It is truth,' she says. 'Let it stand for once.'"
In the first half of the book, a lot of Patroclus's pov is dedicated to describing how beautiful and amazing Achilles is. And when you see how ordinary and pathetic Patroclus makes himself look in comparison, you almost start to wonder why Achilles loves him in the first place
But Patroclus was the best of all of them, even better than Achilles. No one else had his kindness, his tenderness, his unwavering care for others
And Achilles knew this. Further on, Briseis says that Patroclus was worth ten of him, and Achilles doesn't disagree
i like to think that our blogs are just our own little personal museums of all the things we like, and we can visit each other’s museums and leave nice notes at the reception.
Well, this is quite possibly the most terrifying panel in this manga, and I'm including the time Kaguya was seriously considering murdering Chika over a bento.
It's been so long since I last had the opportunity to be there for a romcom manga's final developments (the last that comes to mind is Kamisama Hajimemashita's, but there were no uncertainties there), as my manga reading style is usually waiting for it all to be over and binging later unless it's something I was previously invested in or known the author for, so I 've been really excited about everything these past couple of months.
Given we're having a break this week and because of the "final arc announcement", I wanted to take the time to say I'm glad I gave "Kaguya-sama" a chance. I'm really thankful to Aka, I'll follow Oshi no Ko and give him support on whatever he wants to do next (ib: reload? hehe).
It's not fair to criticize a person brave enough to put their own feelings into his characters and that is taking the time to deliver the story he believes is best for them. We're all complex beings and have different expectations, feelings and experiences that make us relate to fictional works differently in accordance to our own wishes - "A book read by a thousand different people is a thousand different books".
I can't say I'd write everything the same way if it were mine. But I'm touched/fascinated by what he has given us. I'll be sure to keep all of those feelings and his characters in my mind to play with the "what ifs" for a long time.
I swear I have a life and a job and other ships lmao In fact, right now I have a pesky backache like the broken adult I am. But I wanted to ride that high in real time!!! Aka got my little heart pounding!!!
I thank everyone who's been reading my ramblings and while I will probably still come up with more silly analysis/headcanon posts (it's so much fun....lol) in the future, I felt like I had to say something to sort out these conflicting feelings of having the ending in sight.
I already have the "plot" part of the manga out of my chest with my messy, but sincere "suitor theory" post. So...THAT SAID...
TO ABSOLUTELY MAKE A FOOL (OR GENIUS...not really lol) OF MYSELF BEFORE IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE.
I, THE SELF-PROCLAIMED LOVE STORY CONNOISSEUR, BRING...
MY CONFESSION RUSSIAN ROULETTE/ WILD MASS GUESSING FOR ISHIMIKO. TIME TO REALLY PUT MY SANITY/IMAGE ON THE LINE!
(danganronpa trial music playing on the distance)
# 1: Bullet AKA Gunshot
BANG! Instant bullet lololol. For the pessimists, and to get this out of the way as soon as possible: one of the worst possible outcomes for Ishimiko is cutting off the story after the last chapter's dance. I don't find this one likely (this isn't some DIRTY SHONEN - just kidding, Horimiya is a shonen after all), but if you want to avoid getting hurt at all, like A LITTLE WUSSY, this is THE SHOT for your safest bet. Either that, or #2 below.
But hey, don't worry! If that happens, we'll have your back. Everyone will rage-write and rage-draw fix it fanworks. It's alright.
Trivia: One of my favorite Prezguya moments ever is chapter 8 of the manga or episode 3 (where the screeenshot up there comes from) of the anime, the "20 questions" game. I love how they are literally shooting each question, that was really a perfect case of an anime adaptation making the original shine even brighter *swoons*. It's no exaggeration to say if the manga ended right there, I'd have been content with that confession and still call Kaguya-sama one of my favorite romance manga ever.
But the Fireworks chapter, of course, was when I could tell I was witnessing a masterpiece. And I won't ever forgive anyone for messing with Aka's art, the anime has its moments, but I love his art most of all.
# 2: Open Ending
Ah, yes...The natural enemy of romance. You have the perfect build up. You watch the little, timid flame of slowburn come to life and stay at the edge of your seat, to finally see your long long suffering couple FINALLY kis....
Wait a minute, is that the end credits?! Why are you showing the school?? What's with those text boxes...? Where are they??
Yeah, to some, this is an even worse fate than a non-ending. It cruelly rips off your security blanket and doesn't even let you know if an ending is in sight, at all. Will they kiss in that next scene? Will they have a hot, steamy making out session?! WILL THEY PART WAYS AND MEET 10 YEARS LATER AT A HIGH SCHOOL REUNION WITH WEDDING BANDS IN THEIR HANDS AND KIDS FROM OTHER RANDOM PEOPLE? (Oh god, the Digimon memories...)
Who knows? You won't!
Yup, this definitely feels even worse than a gunshot...
Could this happen? Yes...but again, doesn't sound like Aka at all. If we do get an open ending, it'll be at least in the vein of a call back to Miyuki and Kaguya in the first chapter: a war of love and brains between Vice-president Ishigami and President Miko to make the other confess. That, I can accept instead.
If you think about it, PrezKagu weren't so different in their timeline. It just so happens the story starts narrating from their second school year (curiously, after Ishigami joins the council. I used to have a theory that he is the intended narrator of the series, though that theory is a bit wonky since there are POVs he couldn't possibly know of. Still, good fanfic fodder, huh?)
Not gonna lie, this is the sort of ending manga usually have. Not ideal, but if it is the intended one...we'll cry, but we'll manage!
# 3: Ishigami Confesses First
NOW IT GETS JUICY. NOW I'LL TAKE MY RISKS AND BET IT ALL. I won't speak in terms of pure meta anymore, since whatever the hell is on Aka's mind now, only he knows. But I'll speak of what I want:
I want Ishigami to be the one to initiate confessing.
I'll go even further. This wish has two different hypotheses surrounding it - and while I can see and advocate for either, I have a clear favorite.
A. Ishigami confesses, and the conclusion is that he started to see Miko as a potential partner / in a romantic light after getting over his heartbreak.
B. Ishigami confesses, and it turns out he already liked Miko all along, but couldn't put it into words or muster the courage to let it grow into love. PLEASE.
I envision that, in his mind, his feelings for her would sound a lot like Okarin's "How many times have we fought over these past 20 days? To me, Makise Kurisu was..." monologue in Stein's Gate.
NOW, NOW, NOW. I'm not saying all love has to be the "all along" kind, nor that "first sight" is an absolute condition for a pairing to be AWESOME.
But given the tools we have at hand...given everything they have suffered and gone through, it would be a huge WASTE, WASTE I SAY, not to take the setup that Ishigami liked Miko all along and not run wild with it. Given their running theme of longing for true love, wanting to be believed in by someone and hard work paying off, this would be GODLY.
It doesn't have to mean he loved her the most all along or that the sutera letter first meant more than admiration or support.
I'm doing my best not to project and speak objectively of Ishigami's feelings, but I believe anyone that's been in love or had a break up or got back together with the same person or that fell out of love can relate to the feeling of the heart not being something we can control. There are many types of love and they can co-exist and change.
I agree with Aka/Papagane that love is not simply feeling, it's brains. It isn't just letting your heart go aflutter. That's passion, that's crushes, that's fickle. Love takes choosing, realizing, acknowledging and putting in work.
The reason I say so confidently I love Ishimiko so much is that no matter the execution, everything that was built as a foundation for the two characters and their relationship makes me absolutely sure I want to see them together. It reminds me of other ships I like, it's relatable to my own romantic experiences and it's something to aspire for - they're THE CUTEST.
Kaguya confessed first and Ishigami is her representative in the pairing (as in, he's the Kaguya to Miko's Shirogane), so I'm feeling a good hunch here folks.
Ishigami has expressed before a liking for indirect confessions, but I have the feeling this won't save him this time. Even if he leaves her another letter or something, he'll have to at least speak up to follow through with it. Bwahahahaha.
# 4: Miko Confesses First
Given her personality, how much pain she kept inside for this story's run and how much Miko loves Ishigami SILLY, I fully expect her confession to be very honest and straightforward, even if she tries to go tsundere about it.
I suspect Aka is a Boarding School Juliet fan, and this confession from the anime in particular looks a whole, whole lot like what I'd expect an "accidental" Miko confession to look like if she is in tsuntsun mode (heck, even Inuzuka's reaction seems like something plausible for Ishigami to do. It definitely inspired me to take notes).
Given her penchant for writing poetry, I also can't help but imagine a possible confession for them being like the poem in 10 things I hate about you. But that one would fit better for Ishimiko if you were to write it as them growing closer from the sport's festival (GODDAMIT PREZ AND CHIKA). That would be a good fanfic AU for them, too...keep taking notes.
As a "reaction confession", mentioning Stein's Gate again given Okabe and Kurisu's similar freenemies relationship, Kurisu's response to Okarin's confession also works well here.
Miko-chan has put in so much work for Ishigami's love and suffered so much that I can't help the feeling that I want to throw her the bone of making Ishigami do most of the work this time, and at least initiate the confession for them. But, I wouldn't mind seeing her take the fist step either, of course.
I'm sure it'll be adorable regardless and kill me instantly. Just her gentle smile did funny things to my heart...I can understand Ishigami...
# 5: Both Confess at the "same time"
Now that I've shared my ideal confessions and Ishigami's/Miko's possible individual styles, it's my turn to confess - this alternative isn't exactly the MOST LIKELY given Aka's style, but is THE ONE I dream of.
They're both very stubborn and have been bottling up a lot of feelings, so I have a mighty NEED to see the both of them running their mouths to convey their feelings. Yeah, one side confessing and the other accepting it is great and all but...I won't elaborate and let it speak for itself.
Here you go, have fun: " Last dance aka Miko Iino Cannot Love, part 6 / And Thus, Yu Ishigami Closed His Eyes, part 4" - by me.
I'm such shiptrash I'm writing a fanfic on how this would play out. I plan to share the final version eventually if it all goes to hell, or just as an alternate take I'll polish with canon info after it's all over.
Disclaimer: it is meant to be fluffy, cute and self indulgent. I'm not sure Ishigami would talk for that long or that in detail in canon, but that's what we write for amirite
Yes, as you probably can tell, I've been deeply hurt by manga endings/non-endings in the past...
#6: Election Confession
Oh, the election. How nostalgic. It's where it all began, the climax of Miko's DREAM.......
As I advocated for in my Miko meta, the way to Ishigami's heart is the same road to being the best Stuco President ever (sorry Prez).
THAT SAID. Can you picture a public confession of sorts?
An incredibly embarrassing, honest speech from Ishigami shyly reflecting on all his time with Miko as he confesses in-between the lines to her?
And Miko straight up saying something like "It's different this time. I understand what I need to lead Shuchiin down a brighter road, BECAUSE I FELL IN LOVE. And thanks to that, I've learned how important communication, kindness and counting on each other can be (...)"
This is my most delusional delusion ever. I'm nosebleeding. I've finally done it...Karen and Erika would be so proud. IT'S THE PROMISED LAND...(and it can also happen in combination to #3, #4 and #5 or be it's own initiation to a confession in private! Heaven!)
# 7: Something else entirely
AKA AKASAKA. THE "GENIUS MANGAKA." What goes on inside his mind?
IDK.
He's a very sincere writer that isn't afraid to tug at our hearts with very fresh emotions he seems to draw from his life experiences. If he has anything else in store I can't predict, I'll enjoy seeing it no matter what!
And a small addition now that I reflected on this possibility: Aka likes long internal monologues but the resolution is often simple. So of course, while from a romantic/headcanon/writer perspective I wanna see either of them embarrassingly Spit It Out in detail, there's a chance it'll be simple and short and elaborated on through other actions. Kaguya's confession was like that, at least. But dreaming is free so I'll go nuts with it! You'll have to pry my headcanon/AU of Ishigami rant-confessing out of my cold dead hands
It's worth noting 90% of this post and even my AU fanfic assume Miko doesn't know about the sutera sender or that Ishigami doesn't know she kept it. If Aka were to come out and say Miko knows, however...BOOM! A whole new universe of possibilites.
Now that I've shared my deepest wishes and wild guesses...
Let's goooooo!!!
I love you Chika and Rei for being team Ishimiko all along, queens
This is what happens when someone who writes SRS SCIENCE PAPERS sometimes applies it to fandom lol.
I'm hyped for what's coming up next, and once again hope to enjoy it with y'all. Feel free to squee with me and don't be afraid to be a mess, I love reading up people's thoughts.
Get a load of what my desktop looks like right now. I'm not hyped or invested at all, nope. Hahaha...ha.
" I'm afraid of getting older. I'm afraid of getting married. Spare me from cooking three meals a day - spare me from the rent less cage of routine and rote. I want to be free.... I want, I want to think, to be omniscient."
Shout out to all the notes-app poems, love letters, secrets, novels, diary entries, bucket lists and lyrics that were hurredly typed into people’s phones at 3am and then hidden from the world and forgotten. Maybe one day you’ll open the app and laugh at how pretentious you were, or maybe you’ll smile at that part of yourself that noone else saw
I don’t want to “date” I want to discover your name in the back of every library book I’ve ever read, become convinced you’re my soulmate, have you insult my writing, become convinced you couldn’t be my soulmate, learn about our shared pursuit of perfection in the luthier’s workshop in your grandpa’s cliffside antique store, perform Take Me Home Country Roads with your grandpa’s group of friends (you learned the song just for me), discover you definitely are my soulmate (how horrible!), express my simultaneous admiration and insecurity surrounding your talent and direction in life, have you reveal you don’t remember insulting me at all, gain encouragement to pursue my dreams, discover you checked out all sorts of books just to get your name on the cards before me (bad timing—you’re leaving for Italy), write the first draft of a novel in your absence, weep into a bowl of noodles when it’s not perfect (your grandpa reveals you’ve done the same), meet you in the wee hours of the morning for a bicycle ride (I sense your return in my soul), find out you’re proud of me I’m proud of you love is not earned it doesn’t wait for perfection, insult your marriage proposal (it’s corny, after all you’re a violin maker, not a writer)
