OnS Analysis - Chapter 157. Trust, the value and meaning someone takes in someone's life
Given that I was really busy at that time; I never wrote an analysis around that chapter; furthermore, there were some issues at home that really made the mood go down.
Things have gotten better, soo, as promised, I shared my thoughts about both chapters through the emotional side of me; however this time, this will all be focused to the analytical side.
Thus let's begin!
P.S: Analysis are held within neutral view
To start with, Chapter 157 did literally dictaminate that it was all or nothing. We finally get a glimpse of Mitsuba's heart along how Yoichi's powers worked at that time. But, something that must be admired here is not just the way Yoichi uses or displays them; if anything, it's the bond and level of trust Mitsuba has with his teammates; especially with Yoichi.
For Mitsuba, for someone who was born in an important family; we finally find out why she was never taken into consideration; we found out she was the product of an affair her father had. Along this, we also discovered that, when she learnt about it, the only and one time Aoi gave her an advice, may have sounded harsh, extremely; however, there's one thing we must take into consideration, what do I mean? The place Aoi grew up in.
Thus the best advice Aoi could give, a one in a life time was this one:
"If you want the right to smile, grow powerful". True, at first glance it sounds like a silly thing to do, something without weight considering that the line before is about the incompetent; however, that phrase holds more meaning than what it might look at first glance.
The real message behind that phrase is: if you want to be happy, you have to fight. It's not a matter of physical strength, it's a matter of the heart, the mind, and the soul. It's being able to withstand the harsh reality and fight for a safe place. Even if it's not at home.
Going forward with the memories, we see that Mitsuba kept training, kept aiming to become stronger and eventually, that lead to her meeting Shinoa Hiiragi. Their friendship was a rather strange meeting but it was clear that the girls bonded right away.
Then, it eventually goes towards how she ended up bonding with the squad. But, within those panels, there was one which held all of Mitsuba's emotions towards then.
Yoichi of course finally found what Mitsuba desired the most. Given that unlike the squad, Mitsuba wasn't born to be a test subject yet, however she could, she walked at their pace even if she was the weakest of them all.
Mitsuba eventually realized that, when she was with the squad, when she was with Shinoa, Yuu, Yoichi and Kimizuki; her heart felt at ease and mostly, at home.
Mitsuba's wishes resonate deeply with Shinoa and Yoichi mostly because they're fed up of being used for a higher purpose; they simply want to walk hand by hand in peace by the rest of their lives; however, one thing is to have a goal vs fighting for that goal and achieve it.
However, considering the situation they were in; no matter how they fended up against Rigr, Yuu and Mika; ultimately, they managed to break through the Squad's defense leading to this:
The whole squad was shocked because, they were aware of the possibility, yet it was clear there was a glimpse of faith that they hoped Yuu wouldn't kill them.
And of course, the thing Mitsuba wanted the least was to make her squad suffer because of her.
As life faded from Mitsuba, there was something that still lingered deep within her heart.
Correct. The gratitude towards life; the gratitude of the chance of meeting such wonderful friends she had in her life. Despite all the struggles she faced, she met people who didn't reject her, who didn't view him as less nor viewed him just for the title she had. She was saved from all those insecurities that restrained her deep in her heart.
Yuu on the other hand, the one who thought that sacrificing things was easy talk when the 1st told him he had to make sacrifices; finally faced the harsh reality. Making sacrifices isn't as sweet as it may sound; if anything, it means hurting loved ones.
As a side note, some suggested that Mika was unusual, however, to make a point here, Mikaela tried endless times to make Yuu choose the "correct" path; ultimately, Mika resigned or gave up given that Yuu never listened to him, both as a vampire, and as a demon. And now that Yuu has blood on his hands, the blood of his friends, there's no going back.
Shinoa in the other hand, finally faced the harsh reality Guren once told her long ago. The harsh reality of losing your loved ones. Shinoa's life has been one that could be labeled as miserable; the very treasure of life she managed to find was with the creation of the squad; and the time she spent with them, that only amplified her world; when Mahiru fully died as a demon (Ch. 153) she cried, but it was the regret of not being able to spend time with Mahiru along the sacrifices her sister made for her. But now, now with Mitsuba gone, it isn't the same; it was the value and meaning Mitsuba had as a person in Shinoa's life just like the rest of the squad.
But just like Yuu had Mika to make him stand; Shinoa had Yoichi. They can no longer go backwards, they can no longer give up. If they have a goal, they must fulfill it, but why? The reason is simple. You can't throw away the meaning and life of someone who loved you like it was nothing.
Yuu trying to fix things or rather, attempting to persuade was of course a low blow; and this is not to diss him or spread hate; if anything, narrative wise, Yuu's a tyrant type of protagonist, not fully but close to one. However, within a moral insight, those kind of words in such situation aren't exactly welcomed, to which of course, Yoichi retorted:
Within all the characters that have surrounded Yuu; only Yoichi has been the one capable to tell the truth to Yuu. Or rather, hasn't hesitated to be straightfoward with him.
Yoichi is fully aware of the sins of the 1st; of how everything was made so he could recover what he lost in the past, but ultimately, who have paid the price? Humanity as a whole. Yuu aiming to bring humanity, angels, demons, vampires... it's simply way too much.
And as Yoichi mentions they're creating more victims.
The chapter itself may have been a disappointment regarding Mitsuba's utily as a character; we never got to see her shine; which is something disappointing and frustrating; however, the chapter itself navigates towards other currents.
Though, even if that's the case, I'm not saying the way everything's been managed is 100% perfect. There could have been other ways to polish them as characters but well, time is up.
What were your thoughts about this chapter? Let me know!
