#mairuma meta

[creator-chaos]

Iruma & Kirio as foils, or: Why does Iruma still want Kirio?

TLDR: they want to own each other, mind your business

This won the poll of which meta to write up first, so let’s get into it. I’ve seen plenty of fan complaints about Iruma being “too forgiving” towards Kirio or blinded by love, and I think that misses the actual point of Iruma’s experience here, which is grounded in the way he and Kirio are not only foils, but fundamentally opposing forces. 

(Disclaimer that I’m not saying “Kirio did nothing wrong” “uwu poor little meow meow” etc. I’m fundamentally not interested in whether a character “deserves” redemption, I don’t believe in punitive justice, justice is not even a major theme in Mairuma, and I think if any sort of justice is being brought into the interpretation, Kirio is most compelling when considered through a lens of transformative justice and societal-level questions.) 

General Parallels & Kirio’s Side

We see them start from similar places: most highlighted is the way they are both basically disabled in terms of their magical ability, and rely on assistive devices provided by a “guardian figure” (loosely interpreted for Baal). What is highlighted less, but I think can be inferred from narrative framing, is the ways in which their ambitions are mirrored, based on their trauma/fears. We see in the Harvest Festival that Iruma’s trauma centers on his loneliness–that people will leave him, particularly if he can’t live up to the role he’s been given (more on that when I write up how psychological dehumanization plays into the story, but the narrative is quite explicit on Iruma’s trauma & abuse/neglect). 

Extrapolating, we can see how loneliness is also at the root of Kirio’s choices. He’s been shunned by everyone, especially his own family, for his weakness. His mental break comes when the one person who would “smile at him” looks at him in despair. He explicitly approaches Baal “to look for those who are the same as me”--interesting that he seems to be reinterpreting his isolation as due to his “twisted nature” rather than his weakness now.   

So, both Iruma and Kirio are given a place to belong from a “guardian figure”. During this time, Iruma begins to unlearn some of the unhealthy ways he coped with loneliness (doing anything for anyone for any ounce of positive attention), while Kirio is encouraged to deepen his (seeking others’ despair, pulling them down to his level; more on this and Baal’s manipulation in another essay). 

Moving on, we can see how Iruma is antithetical to Kirio’s ambitions. Iruma is evidence that people can resist despair. He needs to make Iruma despair–it's not just "I want to see people despair and he won't give it to me"--for Kirio, despair is the organization of his life, explicitly stated as his “reason for living”. Kirio approaches Baal for community, says "I am broken," and Baal tells him that he is not a mistake, he is not alone, that the way he is is natural. Iruma calls all that into question. If despair is a choice people can avoid, then his identity collapses. It's not everyone's true nature--it's just him, he is alone, and he is a mistake. He could have chosen to resist despair, but he was either too weak or too twisted (either way, too broken) to manage it. The fandom gets distracted by the eroticism of cannibalism, but it is Iruma’s despair that is Kirio’s real goal. Whether Kirio realizes it or not, he needs Iruma to despair to justify his very existence.

Iruma’s Side and Existential Conflict

It may seem like Iruma cares so much about Kirio because of his issues prioritizing others over himself, but I believe his desire for Kirio is when he is at his most self-assured, and most selfish. After all, Iruma's ambitions are also impossible without Kirio returning to his side. 

Iruma wants to belong in the netherworld, wants to remain by his friends’ sides, and ultimately wants to create a kind netherworld where people are encouraged to grow–basically, to protect and spread the love and opportunity that he was given. Meeting Kirio is his first real glimpse at these ambitions (@naoke666 has a great tongue-in-cheek analysis of this), and also the first time he must confront the true opposition to this ambition. 

Here, I believe Kirio comes to represent the ultimate reality of demons for Iruma. He was warned about demons eating him from the beginning, but Kirio is his first actual exposure to the potential evils of the world that would make it uninhabitable for him. 

Kirio wants a cruel world. Sure, he's not the only one, but the others are adults who have chosen this path again and again. It's not just what Kirio does or wants, but the idea that he represents demon nature. So it’s not that Iruma wants Kirio back because he doesn’t see how fucked up Kirio is–Iruma needs Kirio back specifically because of that. If Kirio really is what he says he is–fundamentally and naturally sadistic–if demons really will always naturally be like him, then Iruma existing in the demon world he wants is impossible. Sure, he could become strong enough to fight them off, but that wouldn't be a kind world. Iruma could kill Kirio, but that would only prove that Iruma must kill to survive. If Kirio is right, then even if Iruma defeats him in terms of power, Iruma still won't have the world he wants. If Iruma gives up on Kirio, he will admit that there are times he will have to give up, and he declared in their first conflict that he wouldn’t give anything up.

For both of them, it's not enough to defeat each other--each one needs to prove the other wrong to survive on the path they've chosen. They are locked in a tug-of-war, trying to pull each other to their side because that is the only way their "side" can continue to coherently exist. If they don't pull the other to their side, then the new world they want to create can't come to be. While Kirio needs to pull Iruma down to him, to feel the same despair he does, Iruma needs to pull Kirio up with him to be able to create the kind netherworld he wants. 

I think it’s very narratively interesting to acknowledge that they are both epistemic/existential threats to each other. Obviously, Iruma’s is the happy outcome, but their desires for each other are still paralleled. In Kirio’s mind, Iruma “winning” would destroy him just as much as he plans to destroy Iruma–after all, Kirio believes that he can’t be anything other than what he is now, and if that were true, there would be no place for him in Iruma’s world.

Ultimately, though, I don't think this is a story that believes a child can just be fundamentally evil, and despite what we’re told about demon nature, what we’re consistently shown is that demons and humans aren’t very different–we all want to be loved, want to be acknowledged, want to strive. And even if you don’t buy any of this, Mairuma is a story about Iruma getting what he wants, and he wants Kirio. After all, Iruma declares that he loves demons, loves the demon world–Kirio, as the first person he truly recognizes as a demon, has to be there as well. (@mx-88 just posted a good Kirio redemption analysis you should check out as well.)

Anyway, that’s one Mairu-meta essay down. Hope to hear your thoughts/additions/polite contradictions!

[demonking-propaganda]

About chapters 365-366

I just find it so, so, so interesting to see another member of the Amy family, especially in this context!!! It gives us some insight into the wider relationships between families in the Netherworld.

I find it particularly fitting that the Naberius and the Amy families are allies. While at first I was surprised to see another Amy demon, it actually makes so much sense that they are both in the "demonazi" faction represented by Naberius Narnia.

1. Both families are affluent, distinguished, and feared by others. This clearly makes them favorable towards the status quo: the powerful on top, the "weak" on the bottom.

2. Related to the point above, both families have a role in the current functioning of the Netherworld, and specifically they have the role of protectors. The Amy Clan because of their Barrier bloodline ability, and the Naberius Clan because they're guard dogs. Not only any major change would be an existential threat to their families, but "protection" (as in being conservative) is literally their job.

3. Both clans are known for being gifted in terms of magic. While this is a natural characteristic based on mostly luck (and maybe eugenics via marriage, but this is my speculation), they treat it as something that makes them better than other families, and deserving of their social standing.

4. They force this vision of the world into their children, and have high expectations for them, to the point of being violent if they do not conform and/or causing suffering to them in the process of confirming that they are worthy.

And I find it so interesting to then think about the reaction of their younger members. Kiriwo, having been rejected, rejected in turn the Amy Clan's hierarchical ideals and became an active anarchist (a chaotic evil one, but still an anarchist). Kalego seemed to accept the status quo, but as we saw in chapter 319, his priority is now Babyls, not his family, so he's ready to clash with them. I honestly had never thought of those two as somewhat parallels before...

I'm so hyped about the next chapters!!!

[marisandini-chu-blog]

Is it just me? Or is the latest arc of Mairuma is the best damn yet?

Because I've got to say; that's one of the best damn arc in the series which is already a hard bar to cross. Not only did it dive deeper into worldbuilding and explore the political impact of connection with powerful figures (something most shounens VERY rarely ever explore) but Nova has been one of the best highlight of that arc.

Many times, Shounen mangas has cover stories of dreams, goals, wishes based on desire, passion, revenge to move a plot forward. However, I don't think there's ever a one like Nova; a child who see himself in the future black-ears child and was thinking of their future and the path he could carve for them as much as he wants to carve for himself.

Yes, there are stories of a character who sees flaws in a system and tries to correct or make it better. But what makes this arc more unique is the fact Nova was never implied to be mistreated (again, something very different from other shounen. Though it's a strech because the many-ears as a whole has been mistreated). The Chief is shown to love Nova and Nova LOVES his tribe in return. But it is implied that Nova's disability made him be infatilized by the tribe. Thus, alliniating him in the process. They don't hate him for being different, they pity him. And the author manage to make that a tragedy.

Yet, Nova not only see he has worth more than the tribe's says, he saw worth in his race more than the tribe can see. Making him the most inspiring character in the series. Heck, he inspire even Iruma.

Which makes this why this is the best goddamn arc; writing about a goal to incite change for a flawed system or belief, and also to carve a path not just for the general future generation, but also for disabled or margianalized people who will have more choices open in the future.

And I think that's the most compeling reason written in a most beautifully executed arc in the whole damn shounen series I've ever read and I will never get over this.

[its-cocaine]

Why did Kalego put Caim on a team with two beautiful women?? The Heartbreaker is to knock the misfits down a peg, right? Shouldn't he have put Caim with two boys instead, then?

[godzas]

whats in my tabs? tabs i have to have open or else!

idol.st

bandori.party

waifu2x

given manga

mairuma manga

blue exorcist manga

school idol tomodachi

list of yuri reccs

orv webcomic

sylveon popsocket i want to buy

wha manga

pandora hearts manga

sssrh webcomic

sssrh webnovel

mhyk main story

tumblr boombox

otp ptompt generator

tcf webnovel

my husband hides his beauty webcomic

a3 event story list

guee webnovel

the editor is the novels extra webnovel (i shld close this one)

picrew

the legendary moonlight sculptor (ill also close this one)

bestdori song meta

bandori event list

asobi asobase google search (ill close this one)

kelpie article

soyo ff im reading (i know. ill close it its not even good)

sssrh webnovel reread

your throne webcomic home page

kimi ni wa todokanai manga

[creator-chaos]

God gives his most obscure fandom hyperfixations to their most mentally ill warriors

[demonking-propaganda]

Hey @100-gar, sorry to take this out of the tags, but I want to reply to the criticism haha - don't take this as an attack or shade, I just think it's important to discuss these points (I actually forgot to add some to the main post)

Spoilers for the series ahead, if you're new to the fandom!

#the girls all being sidelined to go clothes shopping when they're at the amusement park was a little. you know

Hm, actually I disagree with this. I think we should distinguish between girls liking shopping and clothes, and the stereotype of it. If all girls in the manga were characterized like that, all the time, I would agree. But they are not. Just here: 1. while 3 out of 4 (Elizabetta, Clara, Keroli) wanted to go shopping, they all had different implied reasons - yes, Elizabetta likes clothes in the "stereotypical" way, especially when romance is involved, but Clara likes dressing up in general because it's fun, and Keroli was pushed by her inner perfectionist businesswoman. Like, "Ameri could look better with a dress, so she should put on a dress (gotta maximize cuteness)"; and 2. Ameri is just pushed around/is not enthusiastic.

IMO this alone lets you see that, for Nishi, girls are as complex and diverse as any other group. If you add the plethora of other feminine characters, I think it's even clearer (think: Bachiko, Sylvia, Marnie... All of them defy classical femininity in some way, and they're just the first three I thought about).

Finally, I believe this, together with the "Girls Talk" chapters, is a tribute to femininity by Nishi. Girls who like shopping and clothes exist. It's fair to acknowledge it, instead of erasing them, don't you think? Especially in a shounen manga, whose target demographic is technically adolescent boys. I know M!IK became a manga for the girls, the gays and the theys, but it's still a shounen. I low-key love that Nishi shows that femininity is okay too.

and kamui is icky but not as bad as mineta at least

This is what I forgot to add to my main post. I'll even add: I find/found Lead pretty icky too. However, I think it's important to note that both of them are somehow punished for it. Again: it's a fact of life that slimy men exist - the point is what the author decides to do with it. Kamui is shameless, but people around him react pretty badly to it, and Kalego as the Misfits' home teacher repeats several times that he should change his ways. It's never shown as an okay behavior. Something similar happens to Lead, who learns empathy when he's literally put in a girl's shoes (after the Evidol Games). As readers, we are never led to justify them.

#and i would be uncomfortable with how every girl immediately falls for iruma IF NOT FOR TWO THINGS #1. he's actually worth it his rizz is genuinely off the charts #2. the guys do it too

I see your caveats, I just want to specify:

it's simply not true that every girl immediately falls for Iruma; this is my interpretation but I think that "actual crushes" (from girls) are only 4 for now: Ameri, Clara, Eiko, and Chima. Some girls are shown blushing (like Keroli or Marnie), but it's more being flustered in front of Iruma's charisma and kindness than actually falling for him (worth mentioning that Eiko has a crush on Ameri too);

Given the crushes from boys (Asmodeus of course, and our icon-in-denial Vine Garson), I think this already counts as a subversion of the hetero harem trope;

The whole harem thing is a joke to make fun of the trope itself. Iruma has no idea of anything I've written above, he barely suspects something from Ameri - and they had TWO AND A HALF (OFFICIAL) DATES (I love his obliviousness).

#oh and it makes sense in context but high schoolers being taught how to seduce people is a little. you know.

Hm, let me put it this way.

It was a reference to succubi. You can't really say "in context but", the context IS the point here. I don't think teaching torture or other forms of violence to high schoolers is fine, too, but it's a demon school :)

It was an elective class, so it wasn't anything forced on anyone who didn't want to learn those topics;

Raim explicitly said that anything sexual was for "the advanced courses", so it was basically affective education.

Now, do I have some issues with chapter 17? Yes, mainly the strict binarism and heteronormativity of "only girls, no boys allowed", and the assumption that "all boys like ... (no male demon alive would turn down a demoness touch, etc.)".

My current opinion is that this reflects more on Raim's character than Nishi's, especially given the constant queer representation. Moreover, it was still volume 3, I believe some of these mishaps have been corrected with the development of the manga itself, as it gained more fame and Nishi was less forced into "stereotypical" content. Which we know she considered: think about the doubts about Clara's and Asmodeus's hair color.

Okay I'll stop yapping :D

13 spoiler-free reasons why you should read Mairimashita! Iruma-kun

...if you haven't done so already 👀 (With "spoiler-free" I mean I'm not describing plot points or characters, but under the cut I'll discuss the overarching themes, so be warned if that's too much for you. The first 7 reasons may be enough lol)

It's both funny AND wholesome. I literally can't read it without laughing out loud, and there are a bunch of chapters that make me cry every time I read them.

It's clever! The Japanese version contains several puns based on the kanji "魔" (read "ma", = devil, demon), starting from the title, but it's a recurring pun. The English translation adapts them pretty well. Plus, there are some of the best plot twists in recorded history (IMO). And the names and characteristics of most characters are based on real-life demonology.

It's queer AF. Like, really gay. There are explicitly homoromantic relationships and several nonbinary and gender non-conforming characters. One of these is the best unashamedly nonbinary character ever written. Plus, the manga premise can be seen as an allegory of hiding in the closet. The only thing that made me uncomfortable because of cisnormativity (boys in drag as a joke) is completely fixed in later chapters, and very well so.

It's feminist, without being preachy or paternalistic. Simply put, the women/girls are three-dimensional, complex characters, as the norm should be. And there are lots of them, without it being a harem (...the harem trope is actually used as a joke).

It's spooky and adorable, imagine Halloween vibes all year round. Both main and background characters are super diverse, and if you like monsters there is stuff for you.

Most characters are neurodivergent-coded. It's basically the autistic/ADHD manga.

The art is phenomenal. It's especially good to see the improvement of the art style over the years (the first chapter was published in 2017 and the manga is ongoing). Some panels are really breathtaking.

8. The story is about personal growth - like most shounen manga, fair enough. But the protagonist, Iruma, is so far from toxic masculinity I dare say he's the antidote to it.

9. It's also about found family, the discovery of unconditional love, and trust, and healing from familial trauma.

10. It's about finding a group of friends you belong to, and transforming your weirdness into a strength, identifying and cultivating what you're good at instead of fitting into a mold.

11. It's about the beauty of learning in your own way, and the importance of education and the shaping of future generations.

12. And the reason why I opened this blog: it's about fascism and fighting against it. I mean real fascism, as in "a powerful individual/group wants society to be hierarchical and oppress certain minorities, elevating a specific subset of the population based on intrinsic characteristics which are being misleadingly treated as merits". Ethno-nationalistic stuff. More specifically, it's about being a somewhat politically illiterate person, who learns about systems of oppression beyond personal injustices. It's about questioning what is the best way to arrange society.

13. Most importantly, this manga gives you hope about the future, something I find harder and harder to have. Hopelessness is dangerous - as people without hope stop fighting. This manga makes me actively feel better. Since it's ongoing I can't ensure it will always remain that way, but I've come to trust the author enough that I expect it to.

[seeesame]

!!Fan Character Festival!!

Hello demons and demon enjoyers! I have an announcement to make, so please keep reading til the end ♡

First of all, for anyone who hasn’t heard— Mairuma has finally been licensed for an English release. You'll be able to get the first volume in print in Spring 2023. In the spirit of this announcement, and of July; OC Month to all the artfighters out there, I've decided to host a Mairimashita! Fan Character festival!

Plenty of creative fans have made characters in or inspired by the Mairuniverse, with their own designs, bloodline magic, and purpose, whether they're students, teachers, or plotting to destroy the netherworld. (muahaha)

All you have to do to participate is post on tumblr using the tag #mairufc!

Art, fic, meta, lore, picrew versions of characters, a super rough sketch you did in five minutes, oc-shipping, sona-shipping— any type of content is welcome. Please note that you can absolutely reblog your older art using the tag, or just use it to promote your character's artfight page if they have one. Or tell me about your character. Please tell me about your character.（（●´∧｀●）） 

I'll do my best to promote everyone and comment on your work!

The festival officially runs from July 23rd-July 31st, so you have time to design or rework a character or... content. A content. Today’s banner is hosted by Nen’eki, @mangopie​’s devi-slime character. :>

[marisandini-chu-blog]

I can't believe I have more to say to this just to give MHA salt but my brain cannot shut up because THIS little arc could have been a waaaaaaaaay better and sympathetic premise for Deku.

Because yeah, there's nothing wrong with wanting to become a the best hero for selfless idealistic reason, but it's not something I personally resonate with – even Naruto has the selfish reason of just wanting love and acceptance.

Because if I have to choose a story of a boy who wants something for his dream, and a boy who wants something for the dream of margianalize people like him. I would have definitely be interested with the latter.

Chosen One stories is great and all, but we could have had Deku finding an avenue in the midst of his studies for quirkless people like him to be able to achieve what was once an impossible dream. One for All shouldn't be the only thing keeping Deku from being a hero. Deku should not have been the only quirkless hero at the end of the story. Quirkless people should have had the option and avenue for jobs that would have been impossible for them beforehand as a sign of support. But even Deku offers reasurance to someone with a quirk, as weak as it was. Quirkless was also mention to be treated with kindness by civilians... and was never mention again to be empowered or anything else. Simply asking society as a whole to have basic fucking decency and kindness to people in need as if it was the most revolutionary thing that Deku's fight had given impact (and maybe it is for a japanese conservative society, but I don't think they're that bad).

Where's the fucking support for the Quirkless, Horikoshi!!! Where are they now? Why should they not have the agency to fight for a better life? Why is their voice not heard or mention?!?!

Look at Nova — THAT'S HOW YOU WRITE AN EMPOWERING MARGIANALIZE PERSON!

Even if we never see any other black-ear child, Nova's narrative make it so his success would be the success of future black ears and his tribe as a whole. It doesn't just impact him, and him alone. That's how impactful a single character could be when done right.

Alright, rant end.

Is it just me? Or is the latest arc of Mairuma is the best damn yet?

Because I've got to say; that's one of the best damn arc in the series which is already a hard bar to cross. Not only did it dive deeper into worldbuilding and explore the political impact of connection with powerful figures (something most shounens VERY rarely ever explore) but Nova has been one of the best highlight of that arc.

Many times, Shounen mangas has cover stories of dreams, goals, wishes based on desire, passion, revenge to move a plot forward. However, I don't think there's ever a one like Nova; a child who see himself in the future black-ears child and was thinking of their future and the path he could carve for them as much as he wants to carve for himself.

Yes, there are stories of a character who sees flaws in a system and tries to correct or make it better. But what makes this arc more unique is the fact Nova was never implied to be mistreated (again, something very different from other shounen. Though it's a strech because the many-ears as a whole has been mistreated). The Chief is shown to love Nova and Nova LOVES his tribe in return. But it is implied that Nova's disability made him be infatilized by the tribe. Thus, alliniating him in the process. They don't hate him for being different, they pity him. And the author manage to make that a tragedy.

Yet, Nova not only see he has worth more than the tribe's says, he saw worth in his race more than the tribe can see. Making him the most inspiring character in the series. Heck, he inspire even Iruma.

Which makes this why this is the best goddamn arc; writing about a goal to incite change for a flawed system or belief, and also to carve a path not just for the general future generation, but also for disabled or margianalized people who will have more choices open in the future.

And I think that's the most compeling reason written in a most beautifully executed arc in the whole damn shounen series I've ever read and I will never get over this.

[demonking-propaganda]

I'm sorry my response made you uncomfortable, it was not my intention as I enjoy discussions. Plus, of course, you can dislike a scene, I wasn't and I'm not trying to police your taste. We can agree to disagree.

I understand your point, I just think the "grouped together by chance" is a plot device that can be ignored - being realistic wasn't the most important thing, because it wasn't really chance. Nishi formed the groups with precise intents in mind, and one of these was to show all the girls together, separated from Iruma (Clara and Ameri wouldn't separate from him intentionally, hence the "casual choice" device; same for Agares and Gaap, and Shax/Camui and the girls).

The girls go shopping as a first thing, they are not shown doing much else (they're shown eating sweets in ch. 74) because of the attacks, and because Nishi had to show the other two groups as well, and couldn't drag out the "fun" scenes too much. Re: the boys going shopping too, they do a similar thing later, when they go dressing up (ch. 74-75). It's not the same, but it isn't stereotypically masculine either IMO.

The chosen three-group subdivision should be interpreted as a prelude to the Harvest Festival and the Music Festival arcs. Asmodeus and Sabro "ended up" with Balam so that they would see his powers and ask him to mentor them - which then happened. Kalego's group showed us (and Kalego himself) the four boys' capabilities, which were amped up during the HF. Elizabetta was changed by seeing Kuromu, as we see 81 chapters later (compare chapter 80 with 161). Other things that happened (the reveal of Agares' face, the characterization of the Six Fingers, the coming back of Ronove, Ameri's Romanticist shown to Opera...) were all linked to the subdivision in those specific groups.

As I said, we can agree to disagree, to each their own, etc. I'll admit that I didn't like the subdivision at first, too, because "of course they had to put together the girls (eye-roll)". After reading/watching those arcs several times, though, I understood the reasoning behind it and the complexity in narration, so I've come to like Walters Park as it is.

13 spoiler-free reasons why you should read Mairimashita! Iruma-kun

...if you haven't done so already 👀 (With "spoiler-free" I mean I'm not describing plot points or characters, but under the cut I'll discuss the overarching themes, so be warned if that's too much for you. The first 7 reasons may be enough lol)

It's both funny AND wholesome. I literally can't read it without laughing out loud, and there are a bunch of chapters that make me cry every time I read them.

It's clever! The Japanese version contains several puns based on the kanji "魔" (read "ma", = devil, demon), starting from the title, but it's a recurring pun. The English translation adapts them pretty well. Plus, there are some of the best plot twists in recorded history (IMO). And the names and characteristics of most characters are based on real-life demonology.

It's queer AF. Like, really gay. There are explicitly homoromantic relationships and several nonbinary and gender non-conforming characters. One of these is the best unashamedly nonbinary character ever written. Plus, the manga premise can be seen as an allegory of hiding in the closet. The only thing that made me uncomfortable because of cisnormativity (boys in drag as a joke) is completely fixed in later chapters, and very well so.

It's feminist, without being preachy or paternalistic. Simply put, the women/girls are three-dimensional, complex characters, as the norm should be. And there are lots of them, without it being a harem (...the harem trope is actually used as a joke).

It's spooky and adorable, imagine Halloween vibes all year round. Both main and background characters are super diverse, and if you like monsters there is stuff for you.

Most characters are neurodivergent-coded. It's basically the autistic/ADHD manga.

The art is phenomenal. It's especially good to see the improvement of the art style over the years (the first chapter was published in 2017 and the manga is ongoing). Some panels are really breathtaking.

8. The story is about personal growth - like most shounen manga, fair enough. But the protagonist, Iruma, is so far from toxic masculinity I dare say he's the antidote to it.

9. It's also about found family, the discovery of unconditional love, and trust, and healing from familial trauma.

10. It's about finding a group of friends you belong to, and transforming your weirdness into a strength, identifying and cultivating what you're good at instead of fitting into a mold.

11. It's about the beauty of learning in your own way, and the importance of education and the shaping of future generations.

12. And the reason why I opened this blog: it's about fascism and fighting against it. I mean real fascism, as in "a powerful individual/group wants society to be hierarchical and oppress certain minorities, elevating a specific subset of the population based on intrinsic characteristics which are being misleadingly treated as merits". Ethno-nationalistic stuff. More specifically, it's about being a somewhat politically illiterate person, who learns about systems of oppression beyond personal injustices. It's about questioning what is the best way to arrange society.

13. Most importantly, this manga gives you hope about the future, something I find harder and harder to have. Hopelessness is dangerous - as people without hope stop fighting. This manga makes me actively feel better. Since it's ongoing I can't ensure it will always remain that way, but I've come to trust the author enough that I expect it to.