SAO Pride Week 2021 Day 5: Kirito x Eugeo
Interestingly enough, in terms of the original Light Novel version alone, I don’t think Kirito x Eugeo has the kind of concrete evidences to be considered as queer as much as Asuna’s consideration of Yuuki’s marriage proposal or Dakira’s canon love for Fanatio, aside from Kirito’s genuine thoughts & appreciation for Eugeo in his life (which all are removed in the anime adaptations) or Eugeo’s blushes whenever Kirito is being touchy-feely skinship around him. Yet it’s very much the 2nd popular ship in SAO Japanese fandom and also most popular non-canon ship among Japanese fans with a lot contributed fanarts on twitter & pixiv. From some old discussions on Japanese twitter back when the anime adaptation of Alicization Human Empire sub-arc aired, there are a few queer symbols attached to these 2 male characters which attracted some more “serious” mlm fans too:
1. In Japanese, a duel-wielding slang 両刀使い (ryoutou tsukai) also means “bisexual”:
Source: jisho dictionary, though you can search the word in any Japanese dictionaries and it will give the bisexual meaning.
Of course, this is not a firm statement that Kirito is bi or anything since there are other duel-wielding characters in other series who I don't think are bi. Though from a various viewpoints of Kirito’s bisexual fans whom I know personally, from canon story he usually treats his special skill very awkwardly instead of spamming it all over the series. He hides it a lot, he's awkward whenever someone asks him about it (Klein & Alice), he only uses it when it's truly necessary. But when Eugeo gave him the Red Rose Sword he's finally so determined to use it, adding with his LN monologue as how after a lot of denial, that’s when he's finally accept "Kirito the Black Swordman" and "Kazuto the mortal human" are the same person.
2. Rose (薔薇 - ”bara”) is a symbolic flower for gay relationships in Japanese culture (with Lily (”yuri”) as the equivalent symbol for lesbian relationships). In a number of anime, when two boys have rose background featured in their scene together, that interpretation might very likely show up in the Japanese audience’s head.
Source: japanesewithanime
First of all, blue rose is Eugeo’s flower motif.
Technically blue rose in Japanese language of flower means: 「夢かなう」(Dreams come true),「不可能」(Impossible),「奇跡」(Miracle),「神の祝福」(Blessing)
and usually Japanese media uses red roses more for the gay implication as red rose means 「あなたを愛してます」(I love you),「愛情」(Romantic love),「美」( Beauty )「情熱」 (Passion) 「熱烈な恋」(Feverish Love)
personally I think the technical meaning of blue rose fits Eugeo more and not the official implication of sexuality.
However, we do have a scene with Kirito & Eugeo being together in a red rose garden as the background. At first when I saw this scene I kind of found it very odd, surely rose flowers in UW are top magical and they can't just be grown anywhere besides the Church, but the scene had Eugeo specifically point out roses, and zoomed in the red roses, even though the rose itself wasn't used as magical items or anything in later fights and had no importance in the plot. Then when I read discussions on Japanese twitter I was reminded that red rose is the symbolism of male homosexual, the implication might fly over foreigners' head and casual viewers but Japanese fans of course noticed it. In fact, it's exactly after that episode that many new YujiKiri/KiriYuji Japanese fans and artists appeared.
In episode 24 (LN volume 14), Eugeo used his willpower to mend his broken sword with his blood, and the Blue Rose Sword turned into Red Rose Sword, which Eugeo gave to Kirito as a half of Kirito’s duel blades, Kirito accepted it and continued to use it in Underworld. Given that duel-wielding is also a Japanese slang for bisexuality, it gives a probable interpretation of deeper romantic symbolic layer than just what was shown on-screen as the act of a dying boy’s push to the living boy to move forward.
3. Merchandise tribute:
On August 25th, 2020, the official team released an official pair ring necklace that composed of 2 rings with designs based on Kirito’s Night Sky Sword & Eugeo’s Blue Rose Sword.
4. Game adaptations tribute:
- SAO Gameverse: After Alicization novel was published Eugeo is the only male character who keeps getting bed scenes with Kirito in SAO console games accompanied with CGs. You can watch the bed scenes here: Hollow Realization || Fatal Bullet || Alicization Lycoris
- Alicization Rising Steel: In this semi-canon game, there are a few events that give out very intimate or even Unresolved Sexual Tension vibe between Kirito & Eugeo. You can watch these events here: Giving Back || The Bond Residing in My Sword || An Odd Feeling
