storing up spare change

Or, just when he thinks he’s reached the end of his understanding of Suzume…

She surprises him, time and time again

Both at first surrounded by a lonely fortress of books, until their respective partners arrive and open the door to their hearts.

Both fight to put their partners on the throne, and are willing to risk everything to that end.

Both undoubtedly hold their partners’ admiration and adoration.

Finally, both are willing to tell the ultimate lie (“I’m alright”), as their greatest sacrifice.

It allowed for so many dimensions to their relationship, without needing to necessarily define it or pin it down - so that Kiyomaro is at once a friend, a brother, a leader, a teacher, a bookkeeper, to varying degrees and at different times.

[I would even think that, given Gash’s lack of parental figures, Kiyomaro also has to take on slight aspects of this role, such as guiding and even bathing him. It’s more than what a natural older brother may be called on to do - even if the way Kiyomaro does it can’t be categorized as “parental” per se.]