Warnings: 18+ content, unhealthy relationships, typical canon violence, threats, toxic behavior, manipulation, all characters in this work are portrayed as 18 or older.
Important:This analysis is my own and is not intended to dismiss others. Throughout the headcanon, I provide certain personality descriptions that attempt to be vague or broad enough to appeal to all types of readers. I apologize in advance if I haven't succeeded. It's important to mention that, unlike the relationship analysis I did with Slashers, I didn't take any creative liberties here. Everything I put here is what I genuinely believe would happen with each character. Finally, remember that fiction is fiction, and these dynamics should never be replicated in real life.
Characters: Mikey (Manjiro Sano), Kazutora Hanemiya, Sanzu Haruchiyo, Ran Haitani, Rindou Haitani, Tetta Kisaki, Shuji Hanma.
Only adult versions of Mikey. I would describe each one, but it's better to provide the most general version possible because they all share common traits.
Mikey and his "dark impulses" act like an iron wall when it comes to relationships. In a purely realistic characterization, we could assume that affective/sexual relationships would be closed off because he locked himself away to avoid hurting anyone else. This version makes perfect sense. But for the sake of the analysis, we will continue.
Mikey, in all his versions, would be terribly distant. He would have conflicting feelings about you: on one hand, you might consciously annoy him, but you wouldn't be to blame for it. In reality, the fact that you have "too human" reactions (crying, laughing, getting excited) would remind him of everything he lost—and everything lost by those who stayed by his side and risked themselves to help him. That would make him colder, more evasive, and cruel. He would hate that you constantly remind him of those he lost, and at times, you would believe the void in his gaze is pure hatred.
If we go deeper into the analysis—without intending to romanticize him through his trauma—we could think that this surface-level hatred hides something much darker: he is cold and evasive because he believes he will lose you too. It is a way of protecting himself to cushion the blow. It’s not something he can mediate or control; it’s just a fucked-up defense strategy developed so he could survive in hostile environments with no future. It might sound terrifying that Mikey, in every version, carries deep within him the idea that you will also die and he will be unable to stop it.
Even so, on the surface, he won't realize this. He will convince you, everyone else, and himself that he only uses you because you are compliant. On the other hand, being with Mikey means you have to bite your tongue. He is not someone you can joke with or treat as an equal; he is not your partner, he is your superior. Any lack of respect will be punished to the extreme. Mikey, for most of his adulthood, is apathetic and empty. He can make cruel decisions with the justification that "everything ends this way eventually," while ignoring that black hole in his chest that drives him to act that way.
I don't mean to ignore that he is just a broken man whose life conditions, interests, and skills forced him into a high-risk environment where he had to endure the death of his loved ones. But unfortunately, this doesn't turn him into a clingy boyfriend who holds onto you as his anchor. In fact, contradictorily, him pulling away and being cold most of the time is the greatest act of affection he could give you. If he didn't care about you, he would let you cling to him, because he wouldn't suffer internally if something bad happened to you.
Finally, what is indisputable is that you would have great security, and if resources allow, you will have everything you need. You will be constantly at risk because his life will never cease to be dangerous. In reality, he could be quite functional at keeping you safe, at the cost of your freedom and ability to choose. He won't ask if you agree; he will simply decide for you. He would have high levels of control, coldness, and evasion. He will order you not to be a traitor; he will tell you exactly what will happen to you if you decide it's a good idea to sleep with someone else or open your mouth to anyone about his business—and you will understand and do nothing to anger him.
Beyond that, I don’t see much. He won't be overtly jealous, possessive, or obsessive. He is what he is at this point: a man capable of locking you up because your presence generates something in him that he cannot, and will not, put a name to at that moment. His "care" will be protecting you while evading your emotions and attachments with a coldness that could hurt you if you are emotionally vulnerable. And that distant, seemingly disinterested attitude is what would make you realize he is trying to protect himself from your inevitable end by his side.
In his adult version, he carries a heavy load of guilt and self-loathing. No matter how much therapy he takes, his structural intensity will make it very difficult for him to rid himself of his destructive self-perception. Deep down, he will always feel like a traitor who has a life he doesn't deserve—one obtained through deception at the cost of his mistakes and the pain of others. He will try to rehabilitate himself and succeed. He will do things better and be quite decent. But a part of him died with his teenage mistakes. He would have to reframe that part in a healthy way for it to coexist with his new growth.
I don't think a toxic or healthy relationship makes a difference for him; the problem is that he is a candidate for both. Listen to me: he isn't easily manipulated, but if you touch a large part of his traumatic core, he could momentarily fall into destructive relationships. This is my headcanon because I think it would be ideal for him to simply follow the "good relationship manual" to the letter, but reality is different. His intensity is repressed by guilt, but it’s still there. He is a very intense person; it’s part of his nature.
And with that comes the other story: a healthy relationship. I used to think this was the ideal scenario—that a person would help him heal his sorrows, accompany him in his process, and be excessively empathetic. This would make him let go and start believing again that he can, in fact, be happy. Fatal error. I realized I wasn't thinking it through. Kazutora is so intense and obsessive that forgiving and understanding isn't enough; he has to remedy the error. That will always be the thorn in his side.
Whether you are toxic or healthy, he will try to do it right. He will set boundaries, talk about what bothers him, and walk with you at night like a normal couple. But his mind will always be fixed on the mistakes he committed and what he could do to mitigate them. It doesn't matter if you are a very good manipulator or a person who helps him improve; his mind will always be elsewhere. That’s just how he is; his obsession and intensity aren't hidden, they just changed direction. And it’s not exactly directed at you.
I couldn't tell you if the relationship would end or not, but I can tell you that you would be with a man who will never be with you entirely. His guilt is too big. He is ashamed of who he is. There will be days when he will be distant and won't want you to look at him too much. Other days, you’ll eat under the starlight and feel like things are resolved. It will be full of highs and lows where you genuinely might want to escape. If you ever have a massive fight, he will completely overflow. He doesn't want to be that impulsive and aggressive Kazutora. The downside is that he sees any hint of a fight as a future "overflow" that could lead to bad decisions. Because of this, it will be exhausting; depending on his state, your words could make him sad or angry.
Even too much understanding on your part could make him uncomfortable. He wouldn't understand how you can accept his "deplorable" actions; he’ll think you’re being manipulative or, at best, too naive. He’ll think you don't see the whole picture or the gravity of what he did. At the same time, if you make him feel too guilty, you don't win either. It’s hard to win with Kazutora.
On the bright side, you could have nice afternoons and conversations when he is stable. A fairly decent and loving sexuality. He will put effort into dates, and you will love it when he is soft and calm. You could be in the same room without speaking—you doing your thing and him, with his melancholy beauty transformed by grief, doing his, his gaze lost and guilty. You’ll sigh quietly. It saddens you that you can't make him forget.
Oh, this man. You’re not going to like me here, and you won't agree with me. Still, I’ll take the risk.
Yes, first and foremost, his loyalty to Mikey is monolithic and unquestionable. He would undoubtedly hurt you if Mikey said so. But this isn't surprising; we all expected it. Mikey will always be his priority. However, compared to other analyses, I don't think Mikey would ever order that. Not because he loves you or likes you, but because Sanzu would remain just as functional and faithful to him even if Mikey didn't care about your existence. He knows that if he calls Sanzu, Sanzu would leave you alone without hesitation to help him. Killing you would be useless, and he doesn't do things that don't matter. So, little masochist, that won't be your problem here. You’ll have worse (and more entertaining) ones, haha.
Sanzu doesn't need to divide his obsessions. What I mean is that Mikey will always be his greatest obsession, but that doesn't negate other fixations—much less important than Mikey, but present nonetheless. He is sadistic; he gets bored. Mikey is everything, but he will indulge in personal pleasures that don't harm the leader. Mainly because he can. Having a person at his disposal who he can keep quiet and compliant doesn't cost him much money or logistics. And betraying Mikey wouldn't be on your agenda, because he wouldn't find a woman who knows how to navigate the underworld. He would find someone normal who has no idea how the hell to get out of his web. That would be his perverse pleasure. And that pleasure would be you.
From here on, there’s a lot of analysis that only makes sense if you understand his personality as a whole and not as an archetype. Sanzu would be abusive, degrading, and sadistic. It would be terrible. It would be the most traumatic relationship of your life. At the same time, he wouldn't let you go and would be terribly obsessive. How do I justify this? No matter who you are or what the hell you whisper in his ear, Sanzu is obsessive by nature. Mikey will always be first, but if he has someone he sleeps with every day, who cries in his ear and whom he can destroy, he will inevitably become hooked. If he keeps you, it’s because he likes you. You will end up enchanting him; it’s inevitable. He is like a parasitic host that feeds on your vitality. He is needy and, at the same time, sadistic and violent.
Let’s move to the next point. In Bonten, he takes a pill. There is an idea that he is a drug addict and would be very unfaithful because of this. Or, in more optimistic analyses, they say he would be faithful except when under the influence. Respectfully, I disagree. In my opinion, Sanzu would never "black out." He is the number two of the most powerful criminal organization. Mikey’s mad dog and right hand. If he loses control, he becomes a risk. There are women and cunning assets there waiting for any moment of weakness. He would probably do drugs, sometimes, using a stimulant that would make him hyper-alert and more functional. He would see everyone else's intentions before they even act, and that would probably lower his libido because he would see in those women's body language that they don't actually want him—that they might even despise him or be secretly afraid. Going out to sleep around repulses him because he always feels like someone is going to stab him in the back. He lives in a state of paranoia.
This is where you win, because he comes home and sees you there—monitored, with indelible marks on your body, your makeup smeared, and your hair a mess. Exactly how he left you. He would feel your racing heart, your sweat, your genuine and messy moans. Your lost gaze. That damn "I love you" about to leave your mouth, a prisoner of his toxicity and intensity. And he would see that it’s all real. So fucking real. And you would be so easy to lock away (in his luxury home) that, for logistics and obsession, he will want to keep breaking you. Always. He is not a man of flings. He is a man who plays and becomes fixed forever when he loves something. You decide if enchanting him is a good or bad thing. (Only I could make this man's fidelity sound terrifying, haha).
Here we go, disagreeing again. If I only looked at Ran's aesthetic, the "fandom" version makes sense. But I’m going to look deeper into the logic of everything he’s lived through.
Ran is Rindou's older brother. They both grew up practically alone in the world. I know being a good brother doesn't mean you're a good man—you can be a good brother and a bad guy. Those can coexist. However, while Ran and Rindou like the gang lifestyle and fighting, they didn't seem emotionally connected to the problems that arose (except with Izana in Tenjiku). Afterward, they didn't seem to care much. This leads me to believe his sadism stems from the concept of being a "show." And at the same time, as a survival strategy. It’s not a structural sadism like Sanzu’s.
This is complemented by the fact that Ran is Rindou's provider. His younger brother follows him and respects him with a hint of fear—the kind you have for an older brother who had to play a role that wasn't his. Ran is very good at reading people and environments; you develop those skills when you look after someone younger. He’s had to move in hostile environments since forever. He likely had no one but himself and his brother. That ability to read environments and the fact that he isn't a "sadist by nature" (meaning ruthless and cold just because) makes him a man who would notice your sorrows and your sadness.
Since we take out the idea that he makes others suffer for no reason—that his sadism doesn't feed on unconsciousness but rather the premise of "it's them or us, we’ll win with style"—it makes no sense for him to make you suffer just because through infidelities. You aren't a rival or an enemy; you aren't a potential traitor and you’re nothing like the people Ran has had to deal with. Why would he do that to you? For a "low-class" sadism? Who do you think he is? Hanma?
In reality, I see him as a normal guy who is very social and can enter social circles easily. It’s likely he’s had a couple of relationships that didn't work for other reasons, not because he decided overnight to cheat on the person he chose. I can't say much about Bonten Ran because there’s no info, but his status as a dangerous man doesn't change my analysis. I see him as a guy with sporadic relationships that might progress or not. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Period.
If it does, that’s when he would protect you and teach you how to move in his world so nothing happens to you. But the idea of him being a relentless cheater and extremely cruel doesn't fit with who he actually is beyond the "vibes." He wouldn't be the "best" boyfriend because I think he’d be very passive; I’m not saying he wouldn't try, but he wouldn't put all his effort into the relationship. He’d just let it flow. That fits his usual calm and his ability to lighten the mood. He’s worked hard for everything for Rindou; that’s why I think with a partner, he’d allow himself to be more passive. I also don't think he’d be very picky. That’s why I think Rindou actually makes for a "better" boyfriend (by extension, since Ran is more of a "lukewarm" option). Lukewarm can be good or bad. Ran will know things about you, your reactions, everything. That doesn't change the fact that some of your dates might just be for sleeping (some, not all, haha).
Here we can reconcile. Rindou is the second-best boyfriend in the Tokyo Revengers character book on the Tenjiku scale (referring to adult Rindou), below Kakucho and above Kokonoi.
First, I don't see him as "the best of the worst" because Kakucho would objectively be a good boyfriend and Kokonoi has shown a capacity for attachment. I assume Rindou would be functional, though that doesn't mean he’s a walking green flag—no one is. At the same time, Rindou drinks a lot, likes parties, and his world is generally chaos. I think his functionality as a boyfriend doesn't lie in his personality, but rather in the friction caused by his environment. I don't think he is a "bad option" because he himself would make you suffer, but rather because his routine would make things difficult.
Like Ran, his violence is aesthetic. He enjoys it, but I think he could live without it (his dream is to be a DJ). In my view, you’d have to connect with him, and that would be harder than with Ran because he’s likely less social than his brother (though everyone is compared to Ran's charisma). Once you connect, I think he’d try to distance you because of his lifestyle. The gang/mafia life is no place for just anyone. You’d have to be insistent, but he wouldn't change his routines for you. You could approach him while he’s with friends in the park drinking; he’d look at you seriously but wouldn't kick you out to avoid looking weak in front of others.
You get closer like that, little by little, and he might start opening up. It’s likely most of the time you’d have to approach while Ran is there, and since Ran is pure charisma, he’d make you feel comfortable (while teasing). If you were very insistent, they’d talk between themselves, mocking you a bit; as long as you aren't a stalker, you’ll have opportunities.
In the relationship itself, I think he’d take you to places that don't imply risk for you (like a gang fight). They’d be dates just for the two of you. Often you’ll hang out with both brothers. It would be a fairly "normal" relationship within the realm of possibility. The problem arises when he’s with his friends all day or wakes up drinking and you want more time. In that case, there would be friction—not because he wants to be a heartless idiot, but because he is a man with an ego, used to winning and having the last word. That would clash with your demands, mostly because he isn't used to them. He also wouldn't want to be seen as "soft."
This would cause real problems, but could be easily overlooked because he’ll take you on outings where the risk is low and you can be seen without being harmed. I see it as one of those typical relationships where each has their free time and respects the other's, so that when they meet up, they share a fun time. I see him keeping things superficial. I don't think you could talk about very deep feelings with him. Ran and Rindou are a team with a specific context; that makes them interesting. I rule out them being sadistic idiots to people who haven't done anything to them. But they are interested in aesthetics, recognition, and survival. Talking about deep topics might clash with his need to disconnect and have a good time (justified by the parties, heavy drinking, and impulsivity). In short: a decent boyfriend who buys you what you want, gives you fun moments, and protects you, but with the risk of not having a very deep relationship in terms of complexity.
With Hanma and Kisaki, we’ll definitely agree because they have the clearest profiles in the manga. Both react to attachments and bonds.
Let’s set Hina aside. Pretend he never noticed her, or that his obsession ended, or this happens after. Or pretend she doesn't exist. If you don't reject him, it's a "better" scenario—but very lethal for you.
If he wants to marry you and you don't want to get married in general, that is a rejection to him. He hates feeling rejected. If he wants you not to work, and you do, you’re rejecting him. You see the pattern, right? Yes, it's fun to imagine he’ll give you every luxury and be devoted and compliant. But rejecting him is not something you can do. He will take control of everything. And the worst part is that in his twisted mind, if you reject things like marriage or staying home, it’s just "temporary friction." You aren't rejecting him, but ideas external to him. He is smart; he’ll know how to separate the two. The difference is he will force things until they fit his desires.
He won't give you freedom of choice because you will inevitably be "less intelligent" than him in his eyes. If you were as smart as him, he wouldn't accept you because he doesn't understand love without control. If you were an equal, you’d know where to bend him, and he can't risk that. So he will minimize you and make decisions for you. He’ll keep you away from the gang/mafia world because he’d want to keep you "clean" so you don't develop cunning. He doesn't need you to be quick or witty.
If you’ve lived a life where you’ve had to prove your skills and you’re tired of it and want to turn your brain off, Kisaki is your man. He needs you to be his breather and to feel like he can control you. He doesn't function any other way. He doesn't need constant mental stimulation; he gets that from his business. Plus, he couldn't stand you giving him lessons on what to do. Surprisingly, he would caress your cheek softly. He is obsessive, though always calculating. Both coexist. He’ll want to be soft with you because he’s obsessed, but every word is calculated to trap you in his web.
His fixation would keep you hooked. If you are attracted to him, you are attracted to the darkness. That means you’d love knowing that if you say no, he’ll ruin your life. When you sit and cry because of his control, he will kneel, touch your cheek softly, and tell you to marry him, to live with him. He’ll say he doesn't want to see you stressed, that he’ll give you everything you need. He will be so fucking sweet—this man is a total danger, but so addictive.
Never touch his ego. Never. The difference with other obsessives is that he would go from one extreme to the other: either you obey him or he hurts you because you rejected him. The only thing that would calm him is you saying "yes." He loves the "yes" blooming from your lips. He doesn't need you to be a challenge. He’s not the type to lose interest if you’re clingy; for him, it's better if you’re "easy." It makes it easier to mold you.
It’s likely that if you say yes to this man, you’ll never stop. You’ll live for years in his luxury house with zero freedom and a life you never wanted. He will convince you that this is the best life for both of you. This man is a perfect candidate for those relationships that survive the years but where the other person is totally consumed, constantly thinking, "What if...?" He won't make you shut up, but you will learn not to disappoint or anger him. An obsessive you will love because he’ll see you as perfect, finding no flaws—and at the same time, you’ll hate him for stealing your life and identity.
Hanma bores me because he’s predictable. He’s the typical adrenaline seeker. As long as you are entertaining, you’ll have him in the clouds. That won't stop him from seeing other girls from time to time or having reckless behavior. He seeks instant gratification, so all his decisions are based on that. You’ll suffer a lot if you take him too seriously. He’s perfect for a relationship where you just want to live and lose yourself in chaos for a bit. Nothing more. Risk-taking and self-destructive behaviors will be frequent.
He prefers someone he can share the chaos with. This is the only profile where contrast wouldn't be attractive to him. Let me explain: with Mikey, Kazutora, Sanzu, Ran, Rindou, and Kisaki, the fact that you are different from them would be very appealing. With Hanma, he wouldn't accept that contrast. He needs chaos, speed, and madness. If you are the opposite, he might be fascinated by the idea of "corrupting" you (like Sanzu), but Hanma doesn't have an obsessive personality, so it would be a failure and he’d discard you quickly.
In the case that you are like him and provide constant stimulation, it gets interesting. This is where I stop being bored. Now, this is a theory of mine: Hanma can feel attachment. We see it with Kisaki. That means in his twisted way, he can appreciate certain dynamics. My more cynical self would say that just because he felt attachment to Kisaki doesn't mean he’d feel it for a partner. But I’d respond that the capacity for attachment/fixation means the person isn't "dead" inside.
There is a space in his capacity for attachment where you could fit as a "constant" that he doesn't dare eliminate. That’s why being like him—or as close as possible—will help you. Follow him in his chaos; build it and tear it down. Be unpredictable. Become that constant that fits so well into his chaos that he feels particularly naked when you're gone. If he hits a rival gang, insult them intelligently, hit them in a way that makes him laugh, or be crude and jokey with them. Doesn't matter, but do something he wants to preserve and that amuses him enormously.
He is an addict to those who give him chaos and fun. If you make him believe you are his equal, any woman who approaches him for money or power will just be a one-night stand, and in the morning he’ll come back to you. Over time, he might think you are part of his brutal escapades and simply add you as if it were a natural state. He’ll call you excitedly to tell you what you’re doing that day, and you, of course, will be just as excited as he is, and he’ll love it.
At the end of the game, he would go crazy if his "constant" was gone one day. He would search for you by sea, land, and sky—not out of "love," but because he got used to hearing you, seeing you, and having you participate with him. In his world of instant dopamine, this is the most real form of attachment for Hanma. A bit mediocre, yes. But very much his style.
