Ko

i think there’s something to be said about how aged ahu’az’s hand looks and how old we know the gods to be but yoriko’s description of them as children nonetheless. i think she’s right which makes this a very interesting detail to add—how large is the gap between childishness as senility? the notion that as people age, they become closer to how they were as children (more commonly in need of assistance for basics tasks, forgetfulness, dependency on caretakers, being at an extreme of sorts, (some) confusion at social norms (ie, back in my day we’d never do/have this vs a baby not knowing that they should say thank you or something)) displayed through figures that have incredible power is super cool imo. especially considering the other god we’ve seen (vollof) looking like a child’s toy, a teddy bear while ahu’az is shrivelled and weathered under all the wings. or i could be reaching and their just a bird. and that’s the talon. man

+extras

First thing I do wanna mention before i dive in is that I do firmly believe that Waka is the main character within the manga, in addition to Tokinaga too. I consider both to be the main characters and being huge driving forces of the plot, it’s just atm we’ve been mostly seeing Tokinaga’s side. And I do hugely believe we will see more of Waka from here on out.

Anyway. Even though we will eventually learn more about Waka. I shall yap and theorize about her for she has been consuming my brain for the past couple of weeks

The biggest question is. What is her relationship and views on Tokinaga?

For me. I do think they were genuinely friends within the first Cycle. And that Tokinaga does genuinely want to save Waka and Shion due to that fact. Yes, a part of it is due to his Aglophobia, thus him not wanting see people in pain even for those he doesn’t like very much. And despite Tokinaga initial dislike of Waka, he did grew to appreciate her.

The biggest hint to this is him playing video games with Waka and Shion and always listening about their dreams. Yeah, he is the type to just go along with things; however, he is shown to deeply value that time for it has helped him overcome his depression.

And while atm we don’t really know what’s Waka’s view of him during that time, I do think from what we’ve seen that she too grew to see him as a friend as well.

I would argue that their first meeting at the bus stop is Waka possibly testing him to gauge who he is and what’s his personality is like. Why Waka would resort to that? Well. I do have a possible theory on why but that’s later down the line.

Anyway. While Waka does act a bit otherworldly and definitely say things that would be abnormal for someone her age. I do think she still is just a teenager girl. Well. Maybe not necessarily physically, for she has lived 1,000 years according to Nisroca. But definitely mentally in some ways.

One, of course is through Nisroca telling us this via explaining how mentally she is 10. But also in this small moment I’ve noticed here in chapter 78:

Yeah, she did just said something that would be very disturbing and creepy for anyone to say. But when Tokinaga answered her question. She takes out a mirror to check her face, for Takinaga answered it in a way that unintentionally implied that her face isn’t beautiful.

Like that’s some teen girl stuff right there, checking out your looks after someone didn’t comment on how pretty it is.

Anyway. After Tokinaga seems to pass the test. Waka started sharing information about herself. Even though she doesn’t have to, especially since it’s very unbelievable and would normally cause people to judge her. But she’s openly saying that she’s a witch to him and even trying to prove it.

Of course this initial interaction did cause Tokinaga to be a bit irritated by her. Understandably since I don’t really want someone to pry and make assumptions about me even if they were correct. But after learning about her age, he decided to just shrug it off for she is just a kid. In turn sort of accepted this from her.

Which I think is also the reason why Waka in turn is also pretty accepting of him too. For after basically therapizing a deep aspect of him, she does genuinely tries to comfort him saying that it’s not a negative aspect to him. She even tries to take him to some sights to help get his mind off of things. And even respect his decision to just walk by himself.

Of course, these are very tiny moments but I do believe that they are also very important and tells us a lot about their relationship. It’s also would explain why Waka would also invite him to play games with her and Shion as well. To help to keep his mind off of things.

The reason why I’m putting a lot of emphasis on this is because this is much very different to how Waka would behave and treat Tokinaga after Shion’s death. How they did have a genuine bond before the immense grief has twisted Waka. And how it has made Waka to start forcefully imposing herself onto him in order to try and prove she can love and essentially move on from Shion.

Why Tokinaga? Well. It’s most likely because he is one of the small amount of people that sort of accepts her. And the one that also tries his best to help/support her too.

Yes, Tokinaga doesn’t really initially believe nor understand what Waka means when she says she’s a witch. But he never really been distance with her for it. And just get a bit confused and just try to rationalize what she means in a more grounded sense.

And I’m assuming that Shion accepted Waka being a witch thus why Waka ended up falling in love with her. So when Shion died, Waka just sort of latched onto the closest person she had left.

Now. Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The one that haunts the narrative. Whose death caused the whole plot of the manga in motion.

Shion Kirinuma and her relationship with Waka.

Of course, there’s without a doubt that Waka deeply loved Shion. It’s heavily implied that Waka has time traveled many time to try and prevent Shion’s death with no avail, especially with the recent revelations that the past interference ability was originally her’s. And thus when you put two and two together of the fact that Waka gets a new cut when using a spell. It becomes clear how many attempts she has tried.

Additionally, she even became a beautiful girl in that life to get the attention of Shion #WakaBeTransFemToMeNow lol

But the question now is. What was Waka to Shion? How did Shion view Waka?

I think that’s the tragic aspect of that is revealed. For til Cycle 8, Shion probably didn’t loved Waka the same way. Or at the very least, there’s no proof that Shion did. In fact, it is likely that Shion probably used Waka as an escape.

Why do I believe that?

Well, it’s because of this moment here within the 8th Cycle:

Of course this is me speculating now, for Cycle 1 Waka acts differently from Cycle 2 and onwards Waka. But I do think there is still the baseline similarities that they all share and experienced. Hence why Waka and Shion were able to be friends throughout all the timelines.

But anyway, this moment here shows how Shion is using Waka’s eyes to help her dissociate from her awful home life. Even Shion’s wording here of “This is Magic” could be foreshadowing to this being a possibility within the original timeline as well.

And just like how in Cycle 8, Shion knows about Waka’s eye and uses it for her own personal comfort. It’s highly plausible that Cycle 1 Shion knows about Waka’s identity as a witch and used Waka for her magic.

This holds some weight especially when it’s hinted that Shion’s home life is also awful in the OG world, as her bandages can be seen here.

My theory is that Shion, at some point within their friendship, started using Waka for her magic. And when Waka decided to stopped using her magic onto Shion. Shion threw away her life out of despair.

If that’s the case, then how ironically tragic how Waka then repeatedly used her magic to try and reverse Shion’s death.

This also could explain why Shion and Waka would always be present for dinner when Takinaga was visiting. For it could be another way for Shion to postpone going home.

Again. This is me speculating since we don’t know too much about their relationship within Cycle 1, for we only have Takinaga’s views on them atm.

Okay. So what about for everyone else? What’s Waka’s relationship with her own family? The people within her school?

Well, the school part is easy to explain. Waka was most likely considered an outcast by most. Make sense given her behavior and words. Thus why no one would believe her when she denied the rumors.

For Waka’s parents and younger brother… it’s a hit hard for me to gauge due to the little information we have atm.

But I can’t help but think about this moment that hinted the possible dynamic she has with her parents here:

Of course, this could be that the parents are reluctant due to mental health being very much a taboo thing in Japan. Thus the hesitant to take Waka to a hospital for her suicidal thoughts.

But it could also hints that the parents are aware of Waka’s magical abilities but don’t necessarily accept that aspect of her. Thus not wanting her to stand out even more if she were to go to the hospital. It would make sense for the parents’ wording were “It’s best she doesn’t stand out too much.”

Pointing to the possibility that they are knowledgeable about their daughter being a witch, or at the very least find her behavior of her claiming to be one off-putting. Like it does seem like her parents cares and love Waka. But the don’t necessarily accepts her at the same time either.

For Waka’s relationship with her Brother?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I dunno man. We just don’t know too much atm.

But if it’s true that Waka’s parents don’t really accept her, and that Waka is already an outcast in school. It would also make sense for Waka to “test” people when she first meets them to see who they are first before revealing that she’s a witch to them.

Hence why Waka’s behavior during hers and Tokinaga’s initial meeting.

Meaning that the two people that Waka only truly had was Shion and Tokinaga.

…

God. Waka makes me sick… :’)

Again. All of this are huge hugeeeee speculations and the possibility that I’m way off be immensely high.

But this was fun to yap about and I do hope to spark a conversation about this within this small fandom of a couple dozen people here lol