Actually, now that I'm not caged by a small word limit, I do want to talk about Yuu and Shinoa’s relationship because I actually really really love their relationship. And the similarities and discrepancies, how their characters are adjacent to each other. Opposites, but so similar. Similarities between characters (be it personality wise, backstory wise, or ambition wise) do not only occur between Yuu and Mika, but there are actually a lot of similarities between Yuu and Shinoa.
I had mentioned this once before in a tweet, that Yuu and Shinoa are two sides of the same coin. Where Yuu is aware he is being manipulated and used (and we know this because he himself has directly said this) and he does not care. Not in the way a normal person would, at least. He feels rewarded, a sense of usefulness. He likes being useful to someone (in this case, it would be Guren), he is being needed and wanted, and that’s what Yuu yearns for and desires. He wants to be wanted, he wants to be needed. In consequence, he allows himself to be used, because it means that someone wants him. And even if it is for their own benefit, it still means someone wants him.
Not to mention, this feeling was what kept him alive, his whole reason for living. When Yuu was at his lowest, at his most vulnerable and easily manipulated state, Guren had told him: “It doesn’t matter if you don’t live to be happy, live to serve my purpose. My desires. I need you, want you, and that is why you should keep living. Live, because I want you to kill vampires.” (this part is excluding Yuu’s thoughts about Mikaela on the matter, but I do believe he did it not only for that, but yes, out of spite and to avenge Mika.)
And so Yuu, from the beginning, he was aware he was being used. He’s been used in his entire life, in general. The vampires used him as livestock, being used was nothing new to Yuu.
And then we have Shinoa, on the other hand, who is not as socially aware as Yuu is, because she did not grow up in that environment. She is quite the opposite to Yuu, and is pretty socially inept when it comes to people. Shinoa also puts up a front. But her’s is not as carefully and meticulously built as Yuu’s. It’s actually quite easy to see through. Because Yuu’s is so good, some of the readers (us) don’t even realize he has it.
The way Shinoa was raised in a way that she never really got that socialization, she never got the opportunity to read into and analyze the people around her, because that was what they were doing to her instead. She was the one being used. Not only that, but she never really got to see anybody outside that circle. The few times she did, it was people who were already aware of others, and it was her sister literally beating her emotions out of her.
But unlike Yuu, Shinoa wants the opposite. She wants to have her own agency. She wants to have her own will, and make her own choices, not influenced or manipulated by anyone. She wants it to be her. And this is why she confronts Guren so many times. She is aware enough to realize that Guren is using her against Yuu. Not only her, but their whole “family” against him. But, she is not fully aware of just how deep Guren’s influence runs.
For example, her declaration of love to Yuu. The reason Yuu rejected her confession was because he knew it wasn’t real. That is why he didn’t give her too many words, or try to be kinder about it. He didn’t seem to think that something not real, needed to be treated in such a way.
But back to Shinoa, there is a thread out there (I don’t have the link but if you do pls dm it to me) and that Shinoa was manipulated into falling in “love” with Yuu. The topic of love in Seraph of the End is treated differently, in a much deeper manner, than what Shinoa feels for Yuu. It’s more surface level, than anything.
At every waking moment, Guren kept making discreet remarks to Shinoa, almost like accusations, of her liking him. Guren had basically told her “you like Yuu.” And, psychologically, joking about speaking about something at a constant enough rate, you will start to feel that way. It’s why many therapists and psychiatrists will tell people to have positive affirmations, because the brain reacts to the words we speak, and incorporates them into our thoughts until we unconsciously believe them. The first few times we saw it happen, she fervently denied the feelings. But the thought kept getting forced onto her, over and over, until she simply accepted it. “I like Yuu.” She believed it, because other people say that she does.
And that’s one of the biggest things about Shinoa. She is Shinoa, because people tell her she is Shinoa. She behaves a certain way because that’s just how “Shinoa” behaves. She is a squad leader because they tell her she is a squad leader. And why do you think she's the squad leader? Because she listens. She obeys, she’s obedient. Mitsuba has shown to not blindly follow every order, Yoichi and Kimizuki were new; the JIDA weren’t sure what they are capable of, and Yuu also had a reputation for ignoring orders.
But Shinoa was an obedient dog. She listens, and obeys. (Even though she was an outcast from the Hiiragi’s, she never complained. She’s complacent. Even when she found out what had happened with Guren, and Yuu. She still obeyed him. Still does.) You tell her “jump” she says “how high.”
But, once again, in contrast to Yuu, Shinoa doesn’t realize just how much influence people have on her. Just how easily she is manipulated. She thinks that making her own choices, being squad leader, means she’s “out” and “free”, she isn’t. Shinoa is very easily influenced by people around her. (It is simply human nature to want to be validated, and recognized. But for someone who did not have that, they will go through terrifying measures to gain their acceptance. Whether it means hurting themselves, or others. Just look at Yuu, for example.)
While I do not doubt she feels a sense of affection for Yuu, (and I try to be as non biased here for the sake of analysis, but it is impossible to be completely objective) I personally believe that Shinoa does not love Yuu, and that she has been manipulated to think this way, given what I said earlier.
I do not want to disregard her feelings, because she absolutely does feel affection towards Yuu, but I do not believe that it is love. I think her feelings for Yuu border the same feelings she has for the rest of the squad. (Specifically, Shinoa idolizes him. Having such respect and admiration and desire to be like someone, could easily be misinterpreted as love. Especially with someone as out of tune with their emotions like Shinoa.)
Shinoa has a special type of affection for Yuu. Because Yuu is everything she could possibly hope to be. He is doing what she could not. He has his own stubborn, unwavering will, his own agency. And she has said this before, as her reason for loving him.
Shinoa idolizes Yuu. And they knew she would, they made her idolize him. They put those two in the same squad together for a reason. It was not a coincidence. She was literally assigned to him by Guren. But why?
Because they want Yuu to choose somebody other than Mika.
What I believe they hoped to achieve was to get Yuu attached to his “new family.” Guren knew these two, Yuu and Mika, would eventually see each other again. So he wanted to make sure Yuu would choose his new family over Mika. (And it did, sort of work. Like when Mika asked Yuu to run away with him, Yuu told him they had to save his family first. Although, nowadays, he just calls them his ‘friends’ instead. Has anyone else noticed that?)
Anyway, Guren is a smart asshole bitch fuckface (lighthearted I love him). He wanted Yuu to have multiple options. It’s easy to choose when it’s only two people. Like, between Mika and Shinoa, Yuu would choose Shinoa. But Guren is aware that no matter how dark and hurt Yuu gets, he has a pure heart. He knew it would be harder for Yuu to choose Mika over multiple people. And we do see that happen when Mika tries to…kidnap him. He goes back for them. (Although it was all thrown out the window the moment they ‘betrayed’ Yuu, lol.)
But, Shinoa doesn’t understand, nor is aware of this, because she doesn’t have the social intelligence for that. Not that it’s bad, it’s simply from the way she was raised. Honestly, I do hope Shinoa can come to realize that herself, that she slowly learns and realizes what’s going on.
And this is why I love Shinoa so much, she is such a complex character. Her character is the complete opposite of Yuu, in juxtaposition, since they are also quite similar. They are in a similar, if not the same, situation, but flipped. In which you have a person, who has been used his entire life, willingly allowing himself to be used, and aware of it; and someone who has been used her entire life, and doesn’t want that anymore, but is not aware that she is still being used. I say that because at this point in time, many if not all her decisions are being influenced by external factors.
Shinoa lets things get to her very easily, and Yuu does not. Because over the time, he has learned to cultivate a strong will. His will is strong enough that for FOUR YEARS he has never once given up on Mika. (And Yuu knew Mika the same amount of time he knew Guren…interesting, right? Is there a meaning to that?) For four years, Mika has been his pinnacle, his priority. His goal.
Shinoa does not have that. She does not have a priority, nor a goal. She doesn’t even know herself. She cannot find her priorities, morals, standards, etc. until she finds herself first. Yuu knows who he is, and that is why he is not afraid to let himself be used. Because nothing can change who he is fundamentally, because he’s made sure to cement it into himself. (You can really tell with how calm and relaxed he was when Angel Mika and eyeYuu were introduced. He did not falter, because Yuu is sure of himself, and his identity. The past does not change who he is now.)
And I genuinely hope that Kagami gives Shinoa her deserved good character development, because she is, and could be much more, of an amazing character.
Anyway that's the entire rant on my thoughts about them thanks for coming to my ted talk.
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