#uzuki sei

[murasaki-cha]

Once again Tetsu is a victim of fate. Seriously my guy can't catch a break🤣

[dailykot]

Happy Birthday, Uzuki! (24.12.23)

[choujinx]

KONO OTO TOMARE! (2012-?) by sakura amyuu

[kotos-and-smiles]

Earned Second Chances

Looking back through kot chapters the other day, realizing this idea that Chika has had with Uzuki about having to move on from the past, that the past won’t disappear so all we can do is act from where we are right now, all that is the same attitude we saw Satowa have in ch.104 towards herself, when she expressed her regret over the way she treated Chika in the past, and came to the realization that there was nothing she could do about that past treatment, all she can do is act in the here and now and never let go of his hand again (a promise she’s kept). Like these panels are near paralleling what people’s attitudes have been to Uzuki lately, and something that Uzuki himself seems to be trying to take in and believe himself worthy of. This also honestly could relate quite well to Tomoe, though on a very different scale as it has for Satowa and Uzuki. Also an interesting difference is that this is something Satowa took on entirely herself, this feeling of responsibility and realization that it was up to her to change her current actions and be better now and in the future despite the past, because there’s nothing she can do about the past. Whereas Uzuki has to be told that he doesn’t just have to wallow in self-hatred, not even he deserves that, and that he and Chika both need to move on because that’s all they can do now. That’s really all there is to do. Chika is the one with enough maturity and desire to not let this have power over him anymore to be able to say that to Uzuki. So interesting that in some ways, both Chika and Satowa have realized this about certain situations, while Uzuki is in a very different place to them. 

Of course, this isn’t the first time redemption has been explored in this manga. Not nearly. Hiro, Akira, and Chiharu (Satowa’s mom) have all had similar treatment. It isn’t really about righting past wrongs, cuz sometimes you can’t, it’s all about moving forward and treating each other better now with the acknowledgment that the past happened but doesn’t have to determine their future.

As Isaki mentioned in ch.124, it really does take great strength to be able to face what you’ve done to people in the past, and also great strength to give people second chances. But it is also extremely powerful to decide to act differently now than you did in the past. It is powerful that Chika and Satowa can both realize and be in a place to not let the past hold the reins on their present life and try to move on from it, with the people who have wronged them and with themselves. And both Chika and satowa have had to find ways of forgiving themselves and moving forward for their mistakes in the past for a better future, and knowing they deserve that which was a hard journey for both, as well as having to do that with other people.

I think this is what makes characters getting second chances so believable. They aren’t just given a free pass and forgiven. Their past actions are acknowledged by both parties, it just doesn’t stop either of them from moving forward and deciding a better future. Slates aren’t wiped clean, a conscious decision is made to move beyond the past. This also involves in depth understanding of the characters on both sides, has to be mutual, and forgiveness and second chances feel so earned. It’s not perfect, but it doesn’t have to be, both parties just have to put in the work and open to doing so. And again, it just feels so earned. It’s not that the characters who made mistakes aren’t at fault, it’s that the people they wronged are able and willing to move on from the past together with them.

Anyway, this was far longer of a ramble than I intended and I kinda lost focus, but there are a lot of mistakes made and redemption to be earned in this manga, and it works so incredibly well.

[tokisehighkotoclub]

From Amyuu-Sensei’s Instagram

[maryroses]

Spoilers for Kono Oto Tomare! Chapter 107

I love that Chika's head pat from a few chapters ago is seen again with Uzuki in the 107 flashback. A small detail to show how Chika hasn't changed, and that Momoya is in the place Uzuki lost, but still desires. A sad and soft detail at that.

[tessenpai]

Uzuki and the reason of his actions and obsession

Uzuki is a kid that grew up out of touch with his emotions. He has very clear psychopath tendencies. His parents did not provide any kind of emotional support, and he didn't get to develop any kind of genuine affectionate relationship with anyone. Moreover, for him, all people do is lie and hurt other people in order to gain something.

So, when Chika first saves him, he thinks he did it for money. Why else would he have stepped up for him? And so, he was puzzled when Chika just frowned at the money Uzuki offered and walked away.

The second time he sees him, when he saves that child from getting burnt with the cigarrette, and again, he just walks away without expecting a thanks, Uzuki is incredibly touched, cause he realizes Chika's kindness doesn't have a prize, or is for any kind of profit.

He goes meet him to thank him for saving him (and out of curiosity), and Chika once again tries to help Uzuki, by driving him away because that place is dangerous and Uzuki, looking like a guy from a good school and good family, could actually get hurt.

And then Uzuki's obsession starts

For the first time, someone is sincerely worried about him, just out of kindness.

And he wants that for himself.

And so he joins the gang, where he can be with Chika

But the Chika that was in the gang was not the true Chika. He was a boy hurting and desperate for his voice to be heard

And when his gramps hears that voice (and then the koto club), Chika has no need for the fights or the gang. He now has a place to go home to, where he doesn't have to shout out with his whole being by throwing out fists.

But Uzuki has no place in that new life

And he resents and attacks what "took Chika away"

The way I see it, Uzuki created who Chika is as a person, and if Chika changes from that, then that's not the "true" Chika. So when Chika DOES change, and as a result steps away from the gang life, Uzuki is desperately trying to bring him back to who thinks Chika really is.

The Chika he could be with, and whose life he could be part of

And he thinks by "showing" how Chika does not belong to the koto club, he can make him come back

But of course Chika says: "Even so, I still wanna be with them. I don't want to ever come back."

And Uzuki snaps. And is trying to get Chika banned from the club

And Abiko is plain psycho and trying to make him physically unable to play.

Until Satowa has enough and steps in.

I get why Uzuki is doing what he is doing. Chika was his only source of sincere kindness, and he found the contradiction Chika was quite beautiful.

He hit people, but he was the kindest person he ever met. And hitting people was how Uzuki saw Chika's real emotions

In a way, Chika's voice did reach Uzuki, but he didn't interpret it as the shout out for help that it really was. And he won't listen to the real meaning of his shouting out.

But here comes the quote Takinami said in ch 104: "There's people who just won't listen, no matter how much you talk to them"

That's just life.

Because Uzuki is out of touch with his emotions, he tries to just label everything using his own logic and rationality. In his mind, Chika was who he was "Covered in blood and mud, loved by no one and unable to trust nobody". To him, Chika was in the wrong by changing. By going to a place that "didn't fit him", turning into someone that, according to Uzuki, was a lie.

Uzuki is incredibly possessive and arrogant.

He is intelligent, and knows this. He also thinks he knows better than anyone.

In reality, he is unable to understand the real emotions that drove Chika away from the gang and the fights, or his need to be in a place where his voice was heard

He can't understand it, because the place where Uzuki's needs (or one of them) were fulfilled was precisely with gang Chika

So he doesn't get how that Chika is not the "true" Chika. Someone else is turning Chika into a fake version of who he really is.

And he thinks he cannot be wrong thinking that

He is trying to "correct" those wrongs

All and all, Uzuki is darn interesting to analyze. As messed up as he is...

[spacklefritz]

Eclipsing Sun

Fandom: Kono Oto Tomare!

Rating: G

Summary: Life was always a monotonous grey, until he came along. Cross-posted to AO3 here

A/N: An Uzuki centric piece set somewhere around chpt 101.

It didn’t take long for Uzuki to notice that this world was a farcical display of people and their selfish wants. People were less smart than they believed, disguising their avarice under a thin cover of altruism. It made life tedious. He supposed it could be said his outlook was because of his upbringing, growing up in a household of liars who held nothing sacrosanct. But that was simply not the case. He saw through to the heart of things, that humans were liars. They were simple. And they were boring. Everyone he met lent truth to his theory, and it seemed he was the only one aware.

Emotions were a tool to get what you wanted, it was proved time and time again and sometimes he wished he could do away with it all and shatter the perfectly constructed lie. No one seemed to understand this, except, perhaps his brother. He was surprised when he realised he wasn’t alone in his thinking. Siblings were truly a wonder.

Still, time passed interminably slow.

Until, he came.

Fierce and stupid looking. Just another stupid, empty can. That was his first impression. Uzuki thought he was like the rest. Until he saved him. He saved him without wanting a reward. What human did that?

Six days later he found his answer. A human who was not like the others. A human who was rough, yet selfless. There was no artifice in his actions. He just was. The boy had willingly put himself in harm’s way for another with no thought or reason. Uzuki’s world shifted on its axis finding a new centre of gravity.

A golden light that seemed to pierce through the muck of this world.

‘More, more, more,’ he thought. He needed to learn more about him, this boy that touched his emotions like nothing else could. It didn’t take long. He was smart. Chika. Kudou Chika. His light.

He met him again. He had to. He had to know more about him. This selfless creature who yet again tried to protect him!

“It’s dangerous.” Chika told him. It was too dangerous and he tried to protect him, warning Uzuki away from coming back. But Chika didn’t realise, with his words, with his actions, that only made him want to be closer. To him, Chika was like no other, and if he couldn’t be with him as is, then he would change himself to fit him. Be more like his brash personality. He could do it. So long as he could see Chika again.

Chika was worried about him after all.

He wanted to be friends with him. And he did! The days he spent his days with him were fun. Something he didn’t think possible, but his Chika brought colour to the monotonous grey of his world. His Chika was unlike any other pulling emotions from him that he once thought weren’t possible. It was remarkable.

Until it wasn’t.

Chika began pulling away. Why was he pulling away? What was he doing wrong? Where was Chika going.

Where? Where? There!

That damn Old Man, luring Chika in with his smiles. He was taking Chika away. Didn’t Chika realise? Light only shone brightest in the dark! Why was he doing this? Uzuki needed him. No. He would not lose Chika. He only needed to show him where he belonged.

He would make it so Chika knew where he belonged. With him, in this dark place.

Chika would come home.

But he didn’t.

And he was alone again. Alone with all the idiots of this world. Alone with the lies, and the monotone.

Alone, alone, alone.

****

He clicked on the link Abiko sent him, not really caring what it was. Some club interview, smiling faces appeared and Uzuki scoffed. They didn’t know just how thin those bonds were. Every bond could be broken. He hovered his hand over the exit icon.

He paused.

Heart in his throat. He expanded the window. Fingers hovered over a face. It was smiling against a backdrop of light.

His hands clenched but he couldn’t tear his gaze away. Tears fell.

Chika. Chika was there. But why? He forced himself to take in the bigger picture. Who were those people around him? They were smiling. They were all smiling. With him. With his Chika.

What kind of bullshit was this?! He flung his phone against the wall. No, no, no. He shouldn’t have done that. It was his only link to Chika. At least for now. He needed to examine the video. Needed to take it all in.

And then, then he would remind Chika of his place.

The light couldn’t shine in the bright.