#Kiyoi is actually quite a sweetheart despite his role

[lumilasi]

Update: I really want to try and make more comic strips like this, but I’m still kinda unsure how to do them to make sure I’ll actually finish them. Anyway, I decided to color this one after all as I felt the grayscale one was boring looking, given how simplistic I’d left the lineart. 

Grayscale only really works for my style if I put effort in the lineart IMO lol

More in-depth explanation about all the layers of hurt going on here below:

What Konjou is referring to here, is the fact his mother - a witch - wanted a child to pass on her power and knowledge. Unfortunately, Konjou was born extremely sickly and without magic power (common for male children of witches in this world) so she attempted to basically artificially give him powers on top of saving his life - without ever considering if Konjou actually wanted them. As a result, he had to endure lot of painful and difficult experiments, making him very bitter towards his mother. It got to the point where he became openly hostile towards her, "forcing" her to shrink him into a tiny, harmless spirit form that doesn't remember he is Konjou. (in quotations because she could've done so many other things that would've been better, but Belladonna/Seiko's NOT a good mother, although she doesn't realize it consciously. She's one of those people who thinks she knows better, when she doesn't)

When Kiyoi lost his family after his mum (a witch) got murdered by paranoid townsfolk - and he accidentally killed both his mayor dad and the rest of the town's people as his power lashed out in defense, as they also tried to kill him - Belladonna adopted him and essentially replaced Konjou with Kiyoi in a sense, as Kiyoi in fact, does have magic powers. However, Kiyoi is aware that she only cares because of said magic, and feels very paranoid/upset about the fact the only supposed family he has left doesn't really care about him for him. Another layer to this argument is the fact that since Konjou is another member of his direct family, Kiyoi hates the idea that his cousin despises him. (Now, Konjou actually doesn't. Yes, because of his slightly immature nature he does lash out at Kiyoi out of jealousy, but he always regrets it, because he knows it's not Kiyoi's fault things are the way they are.)

In case this doesn't make it clear, Belladonna is one of the villains of this character set. technically both Kiyoi and Konjou are antagonists too, but they are basically the ones who aren't really "evil," and would be 'redeemed' during the story. (or in Kiyoi's case, simply realize he doesn't have to cling to his blood family for companionship/love, there are better people out there for him)