An interesting facet of the Izaya and Shinra dynamic is how it flips their characterizations on their heads.
Shinra’s most defining trait is his love and yearning for Celty. Although he saw the fruits of his labor relatively early in the series when Celty finally reciprocated his feelings, he had been pining for her for twenty years. Even after they get together, that isn’t enough for him. Shinra fears Celty will leave him and takes drastic measures to prevent that from happening.
Izaya, on the other hand, really couldn’t care less what most others think about him. He views most other people like lab rats in a maze; they can yield interesting results, but ultimately, he doesn’t get attached. It doesn’t matter if people love him or hate him, it’s all the same. Despite Izaya’s apathy to what others think of him, he can still read them very well. One of his defining character traits is observing others and as a result, he understands them quite well.
Shinra’s overly attached, whereas Izaya’s hardly attached at all. Then, you have their relationship with one another, where it’s the reverse. Izaya is the one yearning for more, whereas Shinra is relatively unaffected. Even from the get-go, Shinra was using Izaya to impress Celty. That’s not to say that Izaya was naive, he was fully aware of what he was getting into and had his own motives for joining the biology club. The more time he spends with Shinra, the more mystified he is. Izaya, who has spent his life observing others, cannot figure Shinra out. Even after finding out the object of his affection, Izaya continues to be perplexed by Shinra, repeatedly stating that he cannot read him. On the other hand, Shinra can easily read Izaya, whose motives are typically shrouded in mystery, like a book.
Following the stabbing incident, Izaya declares that he will make Nakura regret it for the rest of his life. Although his motives aren’t entirely clear, taking revenge on somebody for hurting a person you care about is quite the Shinra move. Interestingly, it isn’t the only time this happens either. After Adabashi attacks Shinra, Izaya has Mikage and Izumii break his legs before locking him up.
Additionally, Izaya is bothered when Shinra neglects him. After Shinra hangs up on him when he is in the hospital, he brings it up not one, not two, but three times. He complains to Celty that Shinra does not prioritize him. In various side stories, Izaya outright states that he wants Shinra to pick him over Shizuo. It’s obvious that Izaya cares about Shinra, but beyond that, it’s clear he feels overlooked. Although he’s far more subtle and resigned about it than Shinra is about Celty, Izaya wants to be chosen. This is atypical for a character whose entire worldview is based on being an impartial observer.
Shinra’s focus has always been centered on Celty and Celty alone. However, yearning is at the core of his personality. With Izaya, he can be quite callous. This isn’t to say he doesn’t care about Izaya at all, it is clear he does if he kept him around this long. Izaya isn’t exactly a great friend himself, and the fact that the two of them have sustained a relationship for over a decade implies some level of attachment from Shinra. Additionally, Shinra even defends Izaya to Celty on several occasions, which carries some weight. Shinra cares for Izaya, but he will always put Celty first.
Izaya is the one who is more attached, yearning for a deeper relationship. Shinra is the one with the upper hand, capable of being impassive about their relationship. In these ways, their core traits are swapped. That being said, it’s important to note that this isn’t exactly unusual for Shinra. While his attachment to Celty is a core trait of his, he truly is detached from most other people. Celty is the exception, or rather, the reason for his detachment. The reason he is detached is because he is so focused on Celty. For Izaya, though, Shinra is the exception. Izaya’s detachment is a core trait of his, and rather than a person being the reason for his detachment, it’s the opposite. Shinra breaks Izaya’s detachment, while ironically, being detached himself.
