I think there isn’t much narrative point to killing off Yusa at this point! If Hirako didn’t learn child soldiers r a bad idea from the deaths of Shio and Rikai I don’t think he would learn from the death of Yusa. Seeing Shio and Rikai–or even just Arima and Hairu–quinques on the other hand? That might do it.
Because the reality is, Shio, Rikai, Arima, Hairu, and Yusa were all bred to become weapons in a war and then eventually to be consumed. But using their dead bodies (Hairu I consider a guarantee, Arima likely, the others… not so likely but it’s possible) makes it very, very obvious what they’ve been doing all along, and that it’s a cycle Hirako has not broken. That might give him the motivation he needs to say Yusa go home.
The thing is I actually do believe it’s true, and it’s a stupid reason, and that’s the point. I believe Arima’s “I don’t want to be scolded” probably meant that Arima didn’t want to answer hard questions. Hirako parallels Juuzou. He worships Arima to the point where Arima said “don’t tell Ui” and after he’s gone, even though reaching out to Ui would almost certainly be beneficial and if he’d done that Shio and Rikai could still be alive, Hirako can’t bring himself to break out of Arima’s shadow.
Arima didn’t mention telling Kaneki, so Hirako didn’t. And the thing is Hirako’s view of ghouls isn’t any different than Kaneki’s. It’s not good.
Hajime is right. Lol to this Hirako. “Stop fighting like he’s a human”=you’re righting for ghouls, Hirako, Shio is a part ghoul, stop this. (I understand there’s a practicality aspect to how he’s telling Shio to fight, but there’s also a thematic uhhhhhh I’m concerned aspect to this.)
And then after, we see that Hirako has been basically functioning like Juuzou. He’s a puppet trying to act out Arima’s wishes, but Arima is dead as Shinohara is in a coma.
And the question remains. Was this the world Arima wanted?
Hirako isn’t really making his own decisions here.
And he knew it was coming, but he isn’t certain this is the world Arima wanted, or the world he should want. Hirako should consider on his own. Is this the world he wants? What type of world should he fight for?
Arima is Hirako and Ui’s father figure, and they’re both still clinging to him.
They gotta overcome him to finish their arcs, and by overcome I mean respect and love the man Arima was, but move on in their own ways, create their own paths, their own decisions. Hirako in particular I think needs to be a parent to Yusa, and protect him. And I think he will.
He’s fine! I promise you lol. Ui might lose an arm, but Juuzou, Ui, Yusa, Urie, Mutsuki, and Hirako are 100% not going to die, I promise you. Takeomi and the new Qs are like… 95% fine. Kuramoto like 75%. Gori, Mougan, Hogi? Those are the ones you should be worried for.
There’s nothing to be narratively gained from killing them. Here you go:
Ui: hs to be alive for resurrected Hairu, and to recognize her, and to lose that arm.
Hirako: has to be alive to realize it’s wrong to use child soldiers an he and Ui are 100% going to both live, that panel of foreshadowing doesn’t die.
Yusa: has to be alive so Hirako has someone to protect or else should’ve died with Shio and Rikai. Also lived in the panel of foreshadowing.
Urie & Mutsuki: have to live for Shirazombie & also there’s no point in killing them off after what they just went through.
Juuzou: has to live to grow past Shinohara as that’s a dangling plot thread. Killing him would offer what? Nothing at all to the plot or narrative his squad isn’t developed enough to have it affect them and have that matter to us.
Takeomi: killing him could force Yoriko to want to confront Touka but his dad just died so killing him now is pointless because it adds nothing to Urie’s arc that Shirazombie doesn’t. Injuring him is more likely.
New Qs: killing them wouldn’t offer anything Shirazombie wouldn’t.
Kuramoto & others: have no plot armor but Kuramoto has more focus hence why I feel better about him.
Some of Suzuya’s squad could die but I like with Kuramoto I’m not that worried.
Ehhhh I think like Aura w Mutsuki and Hsiao w Saiko and Hige w Urie, Yusa’s arc has been grafted onto Hirako’s. I don’t think he will get an individual one it’s just too late for that. But he is dealing with Arima’a legacy as he quite literally bears Arima’s name and he asked Hirako whether this world was what Arima really wanted in 146. Hirako needs to create the world he wants, whether or not that was the world Arima wanted, and do it for Yusa’s sake as he needs to actually protect the kids.
chosen not to let them fight they would still be alive, but also if A
had chosen to fight for what he believed him instead of becoming a
martyr for it and to actively protect the children they may have
survived. I think that the fact that the first 2 died offscreen while we
were clearly shonw R and S’s bodies has to do with the Moon arc and the
passage to the Sun arc where all the horrors and what the ch were
trying not to see is brought to the Surface. Actually except this
particular R and cont
S’s dead weren’t at all that different from the ones of the other 2
nameless children: we didn’t see any reaction from H or the survivor
kid(s). It’s as if they are completely forgotten once they die in an
almost automatic way. Also we are building towards a climax in the
characterization of the kids: first 2 nameless, S and R were sketched
out and now A is given more focus. I also saw a theory were the other 2
were left with Et by K and helped her survive. Meta anon
Ah, thank you Meta Anon! It’s interesting also that Hirako and Yusa contrast Ui in a similar sense to how Shuu does: whereas Ui clings to his every memory of Hairu and Arima, Hirako clings to what Arima told him but doesn’t honor the memories of the dead kids and neither does Yusa, and Shuu clings to Kaneki without remembering Karren and Matsumae.
(I know some people take issue with the claim that Shuu’s forgotten Karren but every other person who’s lost someone in this series–Urie with Shirazu, Ui with Hairu, Akira and Amon with Mado, Naki w Yamori, and on and on–always brings them up. Like, always. Shuu hasn’t since Rushima and that’s gotta be deliberate).
Also, did you see the “et” on Hairu’s back in the newest drawing of Ishida’s? -__-
without a head to guide them. So having the quinques cutting through their respective arms may be a reference not only to some physical wound, but also to finally cutting their dependence from Arima, so that they can stop being a “part” of him and become their own people. Also Ishida seems to be doing a lot of meaningful art lately as we approach the climax of the battle: Sh and U, the 0 squad, Shuu. Meta anon
Yessssssss that’s very true! I’m super excited for this haha. Ishida knows what he’s doing…
I think people are upset that he’s having Yusa fight instead of being a dad and saying hell no you’re 15 go to your room Yusa. It’s really a bad decision and condemned storywise (having lost Shio and Rikai) but he’s not like, evil for it, and it is true that other characters should speak up too and aren’t. As the “dad” figure I blame Hirako more but he’s not like intentionally inflicting harm.
“offers Ishida my soul* Hirako and Ui volume cover?
Also, Yomo? Your goth boyfriend is siccing a giant monster on your coffee shop boyfriend, please intervene.
He might get hurt worst case scenario, but then I think Hirako will protect him and take him away. That’s where Hirako’s arc seems to be going: learning how to protect the Garden kids instead of simply being their hope, but hope that conflated with death like Arima (this isn’t dissing Arima it’s just saying that Hirako’s role is different thanks to Arima’s actions). Yusa is necessary for that part of Hirako’s arc even if he doesn’t get injured.
Hi First Anon! I am sorry, I should have assumed the best of your intentions instead of assuming the worst, and thank you for writing back because I was worried.
For the record I love Hirako too 😀 and tbh I think the man is going to get some serious character growth here and learn to protect Yusa. Both Hirako and Ui will be okay.
hamliet 