I have another. Tkdb theory.
Which is. Yk. Smth that NEVER happens with me. It's just so rare! Who coulda thunk!
Anyways, spoilers beyond the cut, one B-log thing and some source material conjecture.
Red text is background information that might be necessary to understand previous text. If you already know what I'm talking about in a text, feel free to gloss over/skip any following red text.
Blue text is entirely unnecessary for the post. It means I'm derailing entirely, and you can feel free to skip right over it.
So, I think MC is gonna become a ghoul in the next few episodes, and I think I might know what her stigma will be.
Starting off, you may ask, why do I think MC is gonna become a ghoul at all? From a narrative perspective, wouldn't it make more sense to keep the MC separated from the supporting cast?
It might, I'll give you that. But Tokyo Debunker has already, at least in my eyes, broken quite a few narrative stereotypes that one might expect.
One being that things happen off-camera a lot. We don't know what the Kyklos-Combat-Crew was talking about in the meeting in episode 21, Taiga losing the Kyklos all the way back in the Prologue, as well as why him and Haku were after it in the first place seeing as interdorm missions weren't a thing yet, the deserters getting caught and having been caught for over half a year now without us knowing what happened to them, and the entire... Ren's break in thing.
Another being that they aren't afraid to have real, in-universe mysteries. Why are ghouls different to other contract makers? They don't know. Where's Yamato? No clue. What exactly is the Sage Ring capable of? The book about it doesn't say. What was up with the Sky King? We still don't know.
Plus Kyklos genuinely getting away. Likely permanently.
They have no problem stomping on expectations. Why not stomp on one more?
So, fine, maybe they might break expectations, you might be thinking, but lunchboxe, you still haven't explained why she'd be a ghoul. Just why it'd be possible.
Well, I'm glad you asked! Y'see, there's a few reasons. First of all, assuming this next line was translated correctly, it can be seen as evidence.
This is a (hopefully accurately) translated version of a twitter preview for the next B-log.
This likely takes place next episode. Or at least in the next few. My belief is that "one of us" refers to MC becoming a ghoul. But I have more evidence, if that's not substantial enough for you.
The following are two screenshots taken from the original Kisaragi forum, (translated as is a feature on my chrome) a link I got from someone with actual access to 2ch. (2ch, or 2channel, is the website on which the original Kisaragi thread was posted. The website is usually inaccessible to those outside of Japan. In case you don't remember, Kisaragi is the name of the train MC was transported to in both the prologue and episode 21/22. The beginning of the thread creator; Hasumi's, story also aligns with MC's... Slightly.)
(Hasumi, the thread creator, while on the train she usually takes to get to work, suddenly realizes her train is taking longer than usual. By a lot. When it finally stops, she gets off to see where she is. The train leaves before she can get back on. The station she's at is unmanned, and called "Kisaragi" station. According to the above comments, Kisaragi may mean "demon". Hasumi leaves the station, eventually entering a tunnel. She hears drums. She runs through the tunnel, at one point seeing a one-legged man who "disappeared", until she finally got out of the tunnel. A kind man then appeared to help her, and called a train to the nearest station. His speech slowly devolved into nonsense, before he stopped talking entirely. They were heading towards the mountains for a while. He said the destination was "Hina". After that, Hasumi was never heard of again.)
The significance of this is the supposed meaning of Kisaragi. MC never actually leaves her train while in this "other dimension". The first time, Haku plays his flute, and they're out. The second time, it's MC's warding card that gets them out. The only people who ever actually leave the train while in what could very well be another dimension are Haru and Taiga, and while we don't get any story from Taiga about it, the one we do get from Haru isn't much better.
All it really mentions is that he "chased the Kyklos like a bloodhound, but still somehow ended up back at Lockburn Castle". That, and the fact he ended up at the top of the hill. No mentions of the landscape on the way, how far he went, or which direction.
So we're not really sure how far the seemingly different landscape of Kisaragi station goes, how much away you have to be for the moon to stop being red, or... Anything else regarding its relation to reality. Much like the original thread.
But that's not the most pressing matter here. The most pressing matter here is this:
We do not know who or what these are, and they seem to disappear when Haru follows the Kyklos through the window.
Why do I care about this? Well, Kisaragi station might mean demon station, right? What if those are demons?
Another thing I noticed is the number of figures. It matches with the number of non-MC non-Mina members of the prologue group chat.
So, we've established the possibility of MC running into a demon. Now for MC being chosen by one.
(they mention in the prologue that ghouls are handpicked by demons. Obviously, the criteria is never mentioned, but the ghouls are clearly chosen for a reason.)
I believe the main reason behind a demon choosing a subject to make a deal with is likely desperation. This isn't a controversy.
MC seems the most desperate of all. With each episode, she's only getting more desperate, to the point of crumbling to the ground in relief at any perceived breakthrough.
I believe she even has a line somewhere in the main story mentioning point-blank that, given the opportunity, she would absolutely make a deal with a demon to rid her of her curse.
She has a wish ready.
Now—this next bit isn't confirmed or even really implied, but I do believe it would make sense. I believe the difference between those who do and do not survive making a pact may be as simple as just strength of will. MC has been working all this time just to get out alive, if a failed pact means all of that goes to dust, I doubt she'd give in easily.
I also mentioned a theory about what her stigma would end up being. Well, that part's easy.
I believe in wishing for her curse to be cured, MC may become immune to curses in general. Hell, maybe even immune to all anomalous afflictions.
Why immune to curses though? Outside of her wish being to cure hers, of course.
Well, for one, she is currently residing in Clementia. Clementia was the go-to house for all things curse-related, was it not? I see many people reasoning that her supposed stigma, should she become a ghoul, would be plant related. I disagree.
In my personal opinion, I feel it would seem rather shallow writing to water her down to her curse even after it's broken.
Another reason I believe it's curse immunity is the flower at the beginning. The flower at the beginning cutscene of the game is a white lily. After some very quick research, I found that white lilies usually symbolize purity and rebirth.
Purity. It's a stretch, but assuming the flower relates back to MC, it could be purity of curses.
... Cough cough. Back on topic.
If MC becomes immune to curses, it would also mean she would be able to touch Rui.
[This post is subject to the possibility of editing post- well, post-posting. I am very tired, and may be forgetting things that I may feel like adding in the future.]