#I strongly believe she has her own agenda which she dutifully keeps hidden from the hot headed men in her family

[merge-conflict]

When you meet Hanako after the parade, she's quite hostile and surprised (perhaps a little afraid), but at that point she is still one of the only people who knows (perhaps besides Hellman) that Saburo Arasaka had an engram made and it could be retrieved at any time. She hasn't tried to do this yet– why? Loyalty or love for Yorinobu? Her brother who she has argued for in the past, and has once again (unsuccessfully) tried to argue to her father for a chance to speak to him before that deadly confrontation?

I'm personally of the opinion that she is frightened, but is playing up her fear (I think this is a smart thing, to be clear. Never lay all your cards on the table.) But I wonder if Goro's success really does shake her, and make her wonder if Yorinobu is willing to risk her and anything else in his rage and grief. If that's the turning point where she decides she does need to do something, or if she has been quietly setting things into place and is forced to act. Because if he'll turn on her, then what else might he do?

She's a very interesting character to me because she's clearly not stupid– but she has been isolated for most of her life and clearly where she's lacking is connection or resources, especially in Night City. She relies on Takemura for being a figurehead for the loyal soldiers, but makes that offhand comment (paraphrased) "loyal to me or my money", which tells me she knows she doesn't have the charisma or trust to resist Yorinobu openly– not when everyone else seems content to follow him in his coup.

Does she want to be left alone, or does she want more power? Is her isolation her choice, or to keep her "pure" as Arasaka's heart? In some respects I think she is trapped in the conservative expectations her father placed on her (is Yorinobu really heir apparent for Saburo? or is he just the only surviving son? Would Hanako even want that responsibility? Was she ever asked or prepared for that eventuality?) but what does she want? Besides what everyone wants– a family that isn't fucked beyond mortal repair. Everything you know about her is speculation. Everything she tells you is in service of what she wants you to do. What does Hanako want?