Ship Rant: HoYo’s Dan Heng/March 7th (from “Honkai”)
Disclaimer: Toxic “fans” DNI (do not interact). Queerphobes included.
Let’s talk about an elephant on the Astral Express (Dan Heng/March 7th). Every fandom has that 1 “default” ship people cling to because it happens to be conveniently heteronormative and consists of the first 2 characters you meet. Just because they’re “opposites attract” on paper doesn’t mean they belong in a romance. In fact, if you really look at their dynamic (especially after March’s “Hunt” path and Evernight revelations), shipping said pair feels like a step backward for both her and Dan.
1. The “Opposites Attract” Trap
The trope is classic; stoic, traumatized scholar and bubbly, amnesiac girl. In Dan/March, this doesn’t manifest as romantic tension (more so sibling-like exhaustion). Dan Heng doesn’t look at March with “pining” eyes; he looks at her like a brother who is 1 “check out” away from a migraine. Their bickering isn’t flirtatious-it’s the functional friction of 2 people who have been stuck on a train together for too long. Forcing a romance here ruins the “found family” vibe, which is among the most sacred things the Express has.
2. The Evernight Shift Barely Changed Anything
Even after March took up the sword and we start peeling back the layers of her past (or lack thereof), the romantic chemistry didn’t magically appear. If anything, seeing March grow into a more capable version of herself only highlights how much she needs peers (not a babysitter). Dan Heng is carrying the weight of the High Elder’s sins; March is a blank slate trying to write her own future. They’re walking in completely different directions.
3. Better Suitors for March 7th
If we have to ship the pinkette mascot with someone, there are options that actually create a spark instead of a wet firework:
*The Trailblazer (Stelle/Caelus): They are among the better Express suitors for March. Why? Because they’e both “newborns” in this world. They share the trauma of not knowing their origins and are partners-in-crime who enable each other’s chaos. Whereas Dan Heng just tries to suppress it.
*Sunday: Despite the currently nascent dynamic between him and March, the potential is there. You have the ultimate symbol of “Order & Control” vs a girl who is literally defined by the “Remembrance” and chaos of being unfixed in time. The narrative friction between Sunday’s heavy, philosophical burden and March’s forced optimism is much more interesting than the “he’s quiet, she’s loud” trope with Dan.
Also, can’t the pinkette at least be paired with someone that isn’t really part of nor have a long history with the Express? Preferably those who are legal and better match her overall vibe/energy (especially in a romantic sense)?
Bottom Line: Romantically shipping Dan/March 7th is the path of least resistance. It’s safe, easy, and kind of boring. Let Danny have his peace and quiet; March can find someone who doesn’t treat her like a chore to be managed.
Why I'm Not a Fan (The “Hot Take” Conclusion)
As someone who isn’t even a huge fan of March’s “main character energy” to begin with, the ships often feel like they’re trying to make her more interesting than she actually is. If we’re going to do it, at least choose the ships that challenge her character rather than ones that just feel like a default setting.
Seriously, keep most of the Astral Express (minus certain ships) strictly platonic/familial. The “found family” is already full as it is.
P.S. I’m neither the 1st nor last with such sentiments, but felt the need to express them in a blog post. Also, platonic content for Dan Heng/March 7th is still fairly limited.
