I literally jumped up and needed to walk off my anger before continuing to read.
Yuu having such severe attachment issues was fine at first, it's an interesting character trait and plot device. But the thing with character's flaws and problems is that they're supposed to outgrow and get over them.
I've always found it great that Mika and Yuu have completely opposite coping mechanisms. They have shared trauma, tho with different aftermath, but they have entirely contradicting reactions. Both of them were harmed by adults, especially vampires, so Mika figures that he shouldn't trust anyone without good reason so as to not get harmed further, while Yuu is so desperate to find someone he can trust and be loved by that he latches on to literally anyone, not caring if he gets hurt by them; he just wants to be useful because he thinks that'll gain him affection.
Mika has gotten over his trust issues by accepting Yuu's friends and understanding that they're important to Yuu. But Yuu is not showing the slightest progress.
His entire backstory is about how he lost his family. His first "parents" wanted to kill him and his orphanage family was massacred right in front of him, him being the only survivor giving him survivor's guilt and making him eternally depressed and suicidal. He wanted to take revenge against the vampires for taking his family from him, right? Then why is he, upon finding the murderers, not displaying ANY hatred or aggression?
He says because Guren is family. But does that justify ANYTHING? So many people irl struggle with their own family's abuse and whether they should forgive them or not. And now Yuu tells us that as long as they're family they can do anything with you. That is the worst advice. Yes, family is important and the key word in this manga, I get that. But it's unfortunately giving the complete opposite idea of what one is actually supposed to think. If someone has wronged you but not displayed any attempt at bettering themselves then why should you forgive them? They're just gonna harm you again and you don't deserve that. It doesn't matter who does it, if they hurt you then get away from them. Save yourself.
Now, it's already bad enough that he forgives him for killing his precious family after preaching about how he's gonna avenge them. But what's even dumber is that Mika was cut into two by Guren HIMSELF, not even Ferid or anyone else, and Yuu again immediately spiralled into suicidal behaviour but he doesn't blame Guren for even a second. Mika was Yuu's reason to live, he said so himself, there's nothing and nobody more important to him than Mika, but as soon as Guren kills him he's not even mad?? Just depressed? Forgiving him for this is imo way worse than forgiving him for having Ferid kill the other kids.
Imagine how Mika feels rn. He is watching as Yuu blindly forgives his murderer. I'd be absolutely fucking pissed.
What's even worse is, the other kids also forgive him??? Everyone agrees with Yuu? They haven't even known Guren for as long. Yuu said that he's forever grateful to Guren for getting him out of his suicidal tendencies and giving him a reason to live. But the others don't have such a connection to him. So why would they forgive him? Besides, he's the reason why they even went through all that in the first place. So there's nothing to be thankful for. (Perhaps they lied about forgiving him to ease the tension and get him to talk. And later they go back to hating him or something. Especially Yoichi and Kimizuki. That'd be interesting.)
Guren is manipulative and abusive as well as a murderer. Just as the other adults in the manga he takes advantage of the kids and uses them as tools, making them dependent on him after he killed their families.
There is no excuse for that. Even if Guren has his reasons.
The kids have been through the worst pain, Mika having died twice, so why forgive him?
That's fucking ridiculous.
What would've been better is if Yuu said he isn't ready to forgive him and perhaps never will be but he's gonna tolerate Guren for the sake of the plot and finally getting answers. That way they would've been able to still stay and work together but not be so irrationally close again.
I understand that Yuu sees Guren as some kind of adoptive parent. But again, your abuser being your family doesn't make it okay. You are worth more than being used and kicked around.
The main character is supposed to be interesting, not stupid.
A reason why the Twilight Saga is so infamous is that Edward is literally dangerous to Bella but she still stays with him cause she loves and trusts him. Edward never harmed her, tho he'd killed before, so she stays with him. Now, in ons Guren DOES harm our characters. And Yuu still stays with him. THIS IS WORSE THAN THE TWILIGHT SITUATION. (No Twilight hate tho)
Guren is also not a misunderstood badboy who suffers under his own bloodlust. He's just abusive.
Don't get me wrong, I don't despise him. He is an interesting character. I just think that I'd never be able to forgive him if I was one of the kids.
Also, I can read stories that I don't morally agree with. Ofc I can and I regularly do. So this isn't my problem here. I merely find this chapter's message horrible and emotions unrealistic.
And I doubt I have to mention that I finally want answers. We've been waiting for so long.
vaporwave
turnnoffyourmind
stormborns
pixelskylines
