Tbhk Ch120 Analysis:
(Warning: Spoilers)
#1: Teru did not kill Kou on accident or by reflex.
I’ve seen this take on tumblr and Twitter and I disagree. As much as I like the poetic irony of Teru’s violence towards supernaturals causing him to hurt whose he’s sworn to protect from them, I think it’s wrong.
As Teru blasts Kou, Teru is already upset.
Comedy moments in the manga aside, this is the 1st time we’ve ever seen Teru visibly devestated. Prior to this he has always, consistently approached supernatural danger with whimsy and lighthearted cheer. Even when there were dire stakes:
Teru after realizing Aoi was essentially dead after coming getting kidnapped by Number 6. (Ch70)
Teru in ch79, after learning his baby brother went into the notably deadly Red House. (Ch79)
Teru after getting betrayed and apprehended in the Clock Keepers’ boundary. Where they’re supposed to be “undefeatable.” (Ch109)
The uniting factor is that Teru had some level of control. That there wasn’t any true danger/death. He’s gonna get Aoi back, he had faith in Kou to not succumb to the house’s wishes, and you can’t die in boundaries (applies to when the gang got jumped by Num 6 too).
Here, Teru is devastated — not bc Teru is sacred that Kou may get hurt (active threat) but bc Teru knows Kou is already dead.
Look at how Teru walks to the well immediately.
Teru isn’t falling to his knees like “Wait, I didn’t mean to kill him. What have I done?“
He walked there immediately. With intent.
He’s not acting like someone who’s killed his brother on accident. On reflex. He’s acting like someone who knows. Who’s already grieving. Who’s checking for confirmation.
Confirmation that his little brother died in that well. Has been dead.
This isn’t a boundary or fictional world. That is the real Kou — just of a different timeline — and in this one he died. No control, no games, no convenient truth. And Teru couldn’t protect him.