A look at canonically plausible ships for Reno based on the explicit (chemistry).
Cause this kind of stuff makes me emotionally warm & fuzzy + it's useful as an anchor into canon & their vibes. Thought I'd post it as public, maybe somebody will find it enjoyable or/and useful as well. But the "fav moments" part is a bit unpolished, might tweak it asp or use some of its content in separate posts (likely for KafReno, as I want to post more fluff for them).
EXTRA NOTES BEFORE THE ACTUAL PART
"Canonically plausible based on chemistry" means "with the characters Reno is shown or implied in the manga (also even taking the anime & the side content by Matsumoto into account) to have any close relationship/chemistry with".
Meanwhile, both the explicit (chemistry) & especially the implicit (compatibility) are taken into account here: https://www.tumblr.com/neverstopwoandering/794144637654859776/ihareno-as-the-ship-in-kn8?source=share. So it includes other canonically plausible ships for Reno (& some other characters): ones based on compatibility & chemistry, not just on chemistry.
KAFKA
• what he means to Reno/what role he plays in Reno's life: his role model, inspiration, his goal, an embodiment (in the heroic part) of who Reno is & strives to become. As stated in ch 101.
• who he is to Reno: his close friend + his love interest (Understanding Reno & his bonds). The only other person outside of Iharu with whom Reno has any close relationship. Likely became close while working at Monster Sweeper Inc, before joining JAKDF; but that period was barely shown (the manga states it's three months between the "Kafka becomes a kaiju" incident & the day they pass their first JAKDF exam).
• their relationship on the daily basis: more of a comedic pair, it seems, with Reno being responsible and composed & Kafka being primarily an emotional goof. They do have purely serious moments though (e.g. ch 129 or during the raid on the 3rd division's base).
• other notes: while Kafka saves & inspires Reno but isn't much about him, Reno is all about him. His entire character is made for Kafka, pretty much all he is, is "save Kafka, protect Kafka, get stronger for Kafka, so he can stay safe & fulfill his dream". He's obsessively loyal to Kafka (w/o the rose glasses effect: he'll tell him off etc, if need be), his biggest supporter. He's also crucial to Kafka's story: saves his life (ch 1) & pushes him (from a safe distance, since they're still kind of strangers) to chase his dream (joining JAKDF).
• side note: my fav moment/s in the manga: this one comes to mind (ch 129):
I find it particularly beautiful, a wrap-up of both of their arcs: Reno's "I'll be waiting for you, I'll get stronger so you can be safe & fulfilled" & Kafka's "I want to be in the 3rd Division & keep the promise I made to my friend".
Also their entire exchange in ch 100. Classic KafReno vibe, except Reno is more confident as an officer, teaching Kafka that same lesson Iharu has taught him in ch 63.
But especially this part of ch 100:
Because it shows how much it means to Reno to be acknowledged by him — his role model, his hero — as a partner. He's not a braindead fanboy, but he does respect & admire Kafka deeply. Also very romance vibe on Reno's side.
It's one of those rare moments in the manga when Reno blushes. Aside from this one (ch 1), where Reno shows care in that deflective way one would when they do care but don't want to suffer cause of vulnerability.
Kafka shares Reno's ambition (to join JAKDF), & Reno notices he looked sad about giving up. So it resonates with him, & he tries to push but at a distance. (And then, after Kafka saves him in that heroic way he used to only read about in shonen mangas (one of his favorites for a reason, presumably: fantasies of heroes coming to save lives, soothing the pain of no one having come to save Reno's family from death), he becomes obsessively loyal & devoted. The layers people have).
The way he gets happy for Kafka when he gets accepted or becomes an officer.
Or when Kafka feels pumped before their first mission.
And this little moment.
Imagine having somebody so devoted to you (but not blindly). Somebody who supports you so ardently & unconditionally (despite his initial "we're rivals from now on"). Both in practice & emotionally. And Kafka does recognize it.
This scene (ch 1) always gets me. Looks even more cheeky in the anime. Domestic/casual interactions that show their daily characters & dynamics. When they're BOTH, in a way, being silly & lighthearted, not just Kafka (Kafka is still the primary goof here, but).
There's also an anime-extra moment (but it's one of those that do follow the manga's characterizations/dynamics, hence I'm even mentioning it) I particularly love: the one from the "Scream" scene (s1 e5 or 6, idr), where they're jogging/whatever & Reno hands him a bottle of water. A domestic, heartwarming moment. The warm smile...
...and the gesture itself. A simple & practical act of love; very much Reno's style (he doesn't speak his feelings (& when he does, he gets flustered, see below), he shows them through actions). (Fun fact: it's one of the scenes the anime includes in Kafka's memories when he's being escorted away in ch 33).
A sort of anime-extra that I also love is the phone call scene from s2e9. Not exclusive to the anime but the anime adds a tiny element — a blush — that could be a romantic element (& it'd be interpreted as such w/ no questions if this was a different-sex relationship) or something else, fits with the manga's portrayal either way.
The whole scene is another one of those "KafReno in a nutshell", with Reno being this caring, somewhat nagging guy who ends up flustered about how much he cares. It's just so good.
Overall, with their chemistry, it's fair to say them not ending up together is a wasted potential (even though this is shonen, so why would one even expect romance. Still, a little wouldn't hurt). Truthfully, it's a more convincing love story potential than any explicit romance I've seen so far (though I don't consume much pop-culture at all). *
* More would acknowledge that if they weren't so hung up on the age gap thing. Or labeling them as father-son / etc; which, though, shouldn't get in the way anyway, as many ship characters with no chemistry at all. Objectivity is hard though; getting stuck in habits, double standards, & self-indulgent/serving interpretations is easy, more or less, depending on our relationship to the topic (including how attached we are to certain interpretations, are we able to look beyond our identification to the people/characters involved & how that identification influences our perception of them & their relationships, etc), how normalized certain views of the topic are in our environment, our personality, how much we've trained more objective takes & were they encouraged, etc.
IHARU
• what he means to Reno/what role he plays in Reno's life: his biggest supporter. Always there for him, cheering him on (ch 101), & the one who can ground Reno (ch 63). Also, essentially the one who made Reno as the No. 6 user — something so important to Reno, as part of his "I need to be as strong as possible, so I can protect Kafka and Iharu and everybody else" — possible (ch 63).
• who he is to Reno: his close friend. The only other person outside of Kafka with whom Reno has any close relationship. Became close before their first mission (see their comfortable interactions in the bathroom in ch 11), despite Iharu's targeted competetiveness.
• their relationship on the daily basis: we don't see them much (Reno is all about Kafka), but from what's implied in canon (e.g. ch 11): they like to compete in a friendly way (though Reno is not nearly as competitive as Iharu. E.g. in ch 34 he doesn't respond to Iharu's "I'm not losing to you" sentiment in any competitive way, instead asking him to keep the fighting to killing kaiju). Also, while not explicitly shown either, based on their respective personalities & the interactions we do see (e.g. in ch 34) Iharu seems to be the "sun" that pulls the fun side of Reno out, warms Reno out of his serious, somewhat stiff tendencies (& in the anime, they've added a scene that expands on that, in s2e1. Here's my little analysis of it: https://www.tumblr.com/neverstopwoandering/797850093652983808/the-anime-extra-scene-in-s2e1-with-iharu-pulling?source=share).
• other notes: (1) While to Reno, Iharu is a grounding presence that helps him push forward (as acknowledged by Reno in ch 63), to Iharu, Reno is his main rival/inspiration to get stronger (since he started off below Iharu & quickly surpassed him, & others, at an unmatched speed), including being the catalyst to Iharu discovering his flash adapter ability (in ch 62/63). (2) Iharu is pretty much made for Reno (his name refers to spring & Reno was born in spring. Iharu is the one who saves Reno from his No. 6 crashout, breaking his ice in the process).
• side note: my fav moment/s in the manga: they don't get many, but they get a bunch of beautiful ones in Reno's No. 6 trial arc (ch 60-64). It's full of important, powerful moments for both Iharu and Reno respectively, as well as their relationship. E.g. this one (ch 64 / s2e8)...
...shows how much Iharu's support means to Reno; not just because he helped him get No. 6 — & therefore, the pathway to really becoming stronger — but also because he's there for him, supporting him, bringing him back when he's lost himself, helping him break through any wall. Showing Reno he's not alone.
Or this one (ch 63 / s2e7):
Showing how Reno actually sees/experiences Iharu: as this hopeful, comforting presence. Iharu's name refers to spring, spring is a season of hope; Iharu is Reno's spring: his hope, his warmth. And that particular scene captures that perfectly. (I've used the anime frame instead of the manga panel just because the anime draws Iharu a bit softer, so it fits the vibe better here).
The high-five (ch 64 / s2e8) (that for no reason is not a hug *squints at the author questioningly*)...
...where Reno is his happiest in the entire series.
And outside of the No. 6 trial arc, a fragment of the bath scene (ch 11).
Early on into their relationship, showing them in a more domestic, upbeat vibe (aspects of the rest of that scene feel a bit ooc to me. But regardless whether they are or aren't, it is true authors don't always manage to keep everything about their own characters consistent at all times).
There's also an anime-extra scene (again, one of those that do follow the manga's characterizations/dynamics) in s2e1 that I find really well-done in terms of respecting the manga's characterizations and dynamics & meaningful for their relationship, as I've shared here: https://www.tumblr.com/neverstopwoandering/797850093652983808/the-anime-extra-scene-in-s2e1-with-iharu-pulling?source=share.
And this is not an anime-extra but they did flesh the scene out in the anime (added more frames) (s2e8).
Iharu is so excited & happy their mission — & in that, his efforts to help Reno get the permission to use No. 6 — turned out a success. It's contagious. Almost like he's spilled that joy onto Reno, making Reno really relish the moment (after all, Iharu was the first one to express it, while Reno was sitting there all serious as he tends to). Imagine having such a ball of sunshine in your life. Reno needs him, with his lowkey stiff, serious vibe.
(Looking at all these "side by side" like that makes one notice how inconsistently they draw them. True though that the manga was going for ~5 years, so it makes sense).
OTHER FUN FACTS
• a cool parallel: Kafka is Reno's inspiration/role model, Iharu is Reno's biggest supporter. Reno is Kafka's biggest supporter, and Iharu's inspiration/motivation.
• Iharu & Kafka — the two characters Reno is close with in canon — are the same zodiac sign in western astrology (which might be relevant, as noted here https://www.tumblr.com/neverstopwoandering/797583152432431104/ihareno-is-one-of-those-ships-that-dont-need-what?source=share. In fact, having looked into how the other characters' western zodiac signs fit them, I'm now convinced the author did indeed choose them intentionally): leo. Reno is a fire sign, too (aries). It's actually kind of funny, because they are 🔥the fire trio🔥 of kn8 (the other characters (I've looked at Hoshina, Haruichi, Aoi, Shinomya, Ashiro) are different elements). Kn8's OT3, in that silly-yet-not-so-silly sense among others. It seems the author has intended for Kafka to be shipped with Shinomya (because: https://www.tumblr.com/neverstopwoandering/798487678148591616/when-it-comes-to-the-chemistry-between-shinomya?source=share), but ended up selling KafReno better (maybe also intentionally) (e.g. Reno is the one obsessed with Kafka).
• Reno's battles alongside both Iharu (ch 15-17 & ch 63-64) and Kafka (ch 99-102) are actually meaningful to the plot & to Reno himself: filled with character development (those alongside Iharu also with Iharu's character development), relevant to Reno's arc, or deepening Reno's bond with either of the two.
• both Iharu and Kafka have saved Reno's life (and vice versa): Iharu in ch 16, Kafka in ch 1 & 17.
• this is irrelevant in terms of romance, but: both Kafka's and Iharu's (among other characters, e.g. Hoshina) combat styles are close-range, thus complementary to Reno's (long-range). Iharu & Reno also make a parallel to Ogata & Hikari (Iharu is a flash adapter, Reno is a numbers weapon user).
• kn8 has a funny dynamic pattern: Reno is Kafka's biggest supporter, Iharu is Reno's biggest supporter — yet respectively Kafka's & Reno's appreciation towards respectively Reno & Iharu seems humble throughout the series, with a moment or two of a dramatic appreciation to sort of make up for that. Might just be me but it feels a bit sad.
I'll add more if I find more.
EXTRA NOTE/CONCLUSION of sorts
I wrote all that because one, I like Reno BUT two, I'm one of those serious, boring ones who need their understanding to be canon-compliant & don't click with self-indulgent takes. (Been realizing that's a minority. But minority =\= worthless; maybe someone else out there is in that same boat, so, this content is for them :D). E.g. shipping I like to do based on canon (what ships are actually rooted in canonical chemistries & compatibilities), not based on what I like; or rather, if I like a ship that's because it's canon-compliant. And so e.g. if a character has more than one ship potential in canon, I like to explore how that could plausibly play out, could the ships exist in the same continuity or do they seem mutually exclusive.
When it comes to Reno, while emotionally speaking I find both ships I think equally stunning & compelling, rationally speaking (actual realistic potential, looking at their personalities etc) it seems that Iharu might, perhaps, work just a little bit better for Reno — & I've explained why I think that, exactly, (by looking at both (& other) ships from the angle of chemistry & compatibility) here: https://www.tumblr.com/neverstopwoandering/794144637654859776/ihareno-as-the-ship-in-kn8?source=share. So in my impression, it seems most likely to go like this: a deep crush on Kafka, later on joined & maybe overpowered by romantic love towards Iharu. That said, it's just my interpretation; it's not like I've put the data into some computer & calculated the most likely outcome (not even original authors go about things like that anyway). And the last thing I want is to baselessly criticize/etc a ship. So if you disagree with my interpretation, I'm very much happy to explore that (as, again, what motivates me here is canon compliance, not self-indulgence. I'm a weirdo like that).
OT3
They could also work well as a trio (polyamory), as:
both are the closest characters with Reno, of course; so, chemistry is very much high here. Compatibility was discussed in the post linked in the intro. And then as for the Iharu-Kafka part:
compatibility-wise, Iharu & Kafka seem very well-matched: both are e.g. sociable, extraverted, joyful, etc.
chemistry-wise, while Iharu is not among the characters who are the closest with Kafka, they do have a solid chemistry with each other, in other words, they do seem to like each other & vibe with each other quite well (see e.g. the phone call scene in ch 67, or the way Iharu greets Kafka in ch 129).
In fact:
they seem to be the trio of kn8: all three characters have actual solid or even great chemistry with each other, they all like each other.
and obviously, they are the trio for Reno: the two characters Reno has actual chemistry with in canon. Also (though this is irrelevant for the relationship & instead more a storytelling standpoint), Reno's mutual influence with them is profound for their story/development (Reno pushes Kafka to join JAKDF, saves his life in ch 1, & is his biggest supporter. Kafka saves Reno's life & becomes his role model & obsession. Reno is Iharu's main rival & motivation to becoming stronger. Iharu is Reno's biggest supporter & plays a crucial part in his No. 6 trial arc) (adding Ashiro to the mix, meanwhile, would work for Kafka & one-sidedly for Iharu, but not for Reno).
It seems likely, though, that Iharu would carry the relationship, balancing out the potential mismatch between Reno's responsibility and somewhat stiff tendencies & Kafka's selective emotional immaturity. Because Iharu is both goofy & extraverted, and more emotionally mature than Kafka; a mix of Reno & Kafka, with his own unique vibe (crazy etc).