Everything At Once

It sometimes takes me a while to 'warm up' to characters in shows that I watch, but for Kikoru, it was very quick.

I liked the fact that she acknowledged Kafka, mainly because she went into the qualifying exam looking for a worthy rival to compete against, someone who's strength she could recognize as parallel to her own. Her taunts could seem mocking at a very superficial level, but beneath it, she's WAITING for him to show his hand.

Where she REALLY got me, though, was when Kafka didn't reveal his strength, but she revealed hers. When he's badly injured, almost forced to drop out of the exam, Kikoru comes through with the line that solidified her as a character I was 100% rooting for.

"Nobody dies when I am present!"

WHAT a badass.

That single line reveals so much, her care, passion for duty and the value she places on people's lives, a soldier's heart through and through, so very similar to her parents in retrospect.

Kikoru isn't showboating. She has the skills to back up everything she says, and her eyes never waver from her guiding principle: to save as many lives as possible.

Yes, she has been driven to some extreme (and unhealthy) lengths to prove herself, but as the story progresses, Kikoru heals those rifts within herself by the bonds she forms.

Kafka: What I love about her friendship with Kafka is that it's one based on mutual respect, deep trust and compassion. Kafka's selflessness, bravery and kindness serves as a glowing example to Kikoru, who receives affirmation and encouragement, and praise that is delivered from a warm and genuine place.

Kikoru, like Reno, aims to be even stronger to stand by Kafka's side when he needs them most. When Kafka cannot transform, held back by his own fears, it's Kikoru who reminds him to rely on his comrades, because they're fighting with all that they have too. The iconic fistbump gave me goosebumps in the best way, because it was a symbol of that solidified trust, built on a foundation of understanding.

Kafka serves as a beacon for Kikoru, who instinctively comprehends the sacrifices he is willing to make to save others, and wants to act as one of his unshakeable pillars, someone who he can rely on to have his back when he needs to play his vital role. He also represents the heart and soul of their division, someone who Kikoru cares for very deeply, and returns the protection he so willingly gives.

Narumi: There's no doubt in my mind that Narumi provides a space for Kikoru to be free. Without going too far into his character, Narumi's bond with Kikoru is twofold: she is the manifestation of his promise to Isao to protect and lead, and who better to begin with than his own protégé. She is also the future of the First Division, someone he can place faith in as well.

Kikoru loves the freedom that Narumi gives her to grow her already formidable strength, a whetstone to sharpen he abilities against, to always keep her battle ready and never stagnant in her desire to reach new heights.

There is also that undercurrent of commonality between them, the distance they have maintained from others in their early lives in that endless striving for some unspoken acknowledgement. They've both craved it, in some form, someone to tell them that they've done well.

Minase and Hakua: Although we don't get much exposition of their friendship in the main series (unfortunately) it's also clear that these simple friendships that Kikoru forms with her batch mates play a large role in the way she learns to form connections with others.

Kikoru receives this from Narumi, in his own subtle understanding of her desire to make her parents proud, and the way he openly acknowledges her as his understudy. It's pretty heartwarming to see the outwardly irresponsible and lackadaisical Captain take on the mentor role.

Hoshina: Like Hakua and Minase, there's probably a lot of interactions that happen off-screen, and Hoshina also represents an open-armed acceptance and acknowledgement of Kikoru's talent.

The warmth and natural energy that comes from her friends, the fact that they hang out in their downtime, visit cafes, laugh, argue, fight side by side, is one of the facets of military life that Kikoru also comes to learn. There is comfort in companionship, and it can ignite a desire to protect and serve even further.

For someone as straight-laced and single-minded as Kikoru, Hoshina as a superior officer is a great contrast. He is their constant reminder that fun, mischief and chaos can be balanced with the strict protocols of duty, and no matter how talented the recruit, he is always ready to tease or discipline them.

Both Hoshina and Ashiro entrust Kikoru with that new weapon, one that becomes her trademark, and truly encapsulates her power, speed and ferocity on the battlefield.

The Side B manga comes to mind, where Hoshina asks Kikoru if she "likes crabs" before throwing her into a training exercise with a prototype weapon she's never used before, against a giant crab kaiju that's bound to give her some trouble.

Hoshina is part of what made the Third Division feel like home for Kikoru, a place where she could grow as a soldier and have her skills polished and honed.

****

While these connections played a huge role in how Kikoru develops through the series, the pivotal change comes from within herself.

It's never more clear than in her battle with Kaiju no. 15.

Without spoiling any of the story, the battle pushes her to her physical limits, but goes so far beyond that. Kikoru is also forced to confront the fact that the most powerful officers are not indestructible, a lesson she learned all too harshly with her own father.

What really gave me a sense of deep pride and affection for her character was how she faced down the existential fear the battle gave, the kind that only comes from facing an opponent much stronger than yourself. She is confronted with both her physical and mental weaknesses, with what makes her human, and faces it with maturity, dignity and her overwhelming desire to protect others.

For someone comparatively young, Kikoru shows promise that exceeds both her parents, and most others in the defence force.

While no story or character can be perfect, what I do appreciate about the way she's written is that she's given the space to find her footing and spread her wings, that she forms all of these connections through her own choices, and that she has reliable friends and comrades who will always support her.

Kikoru's physical and mental abilities are indeed astonishing, but she's so much more than a prodigy. She has the potential to be the strongest soldier ever produced by the defence force, both in body, and in heart.

First and foremost, it's a normal world where kaiju don't exist. Reno probably still lives with his grandma after losing his immediate family in an accident. Rather than intentionally aiming for showbiz, I think Reno would have been scouted for auditions on the street. While unsure at first, he decides to go ahead with it in hopes of earning money to give his grandma a more comfortable life.

He has a cold 'Ice Prince' persona on stage, but is more warm and caring off the clock.

While his insecurities aren't nearly as pronounced as Tamon's, I think he might suffer from a bit of imposter syndrome now and then. Unlike his teammates who all entered the idol scene with passion for the craft (or so he assumes), his main motivations were much more materialistic - so I think he may worry a bit about being insincere or 'fake' in a way, or that he's not responding to his fans' passion in a way they deserve. Having to put up an icy wall on stage instead of expressing his true feelings just makes it worse.

To add even more layers to this, it's possible that Reno's older brother was aiming to be an idol himself before passing away - so while the trigger for Reno to become one was monetary, he may also struggle with thoughts of 'replacing his brother' VS 'carrying on his brother's dream' deep down, which is something he'd need a lot more time to work through...!

As for Kikoru...

I can't imagine her openly fangirling about anyone, tsundere that she is - so more than anyone else, she's the one with a huge hidden side. No one could know just how far she'd fallen for the ice cold Ichikawa Reno, screaming internally all the way down.

While coming from a rich household, Kikoru decides to get a part-time job to spend her own money in secret instead of burning through her allowance at a suspicious rate. Narumi is almost certainly her adoptive brother in this scenario and a part of Reno's idol group himself, so Kikoru is all the more cagey about her secret passions. To think Thee Shinomiya Kikoru was a diehard idol fan... and not rooting for her big brother!? She'd never hear the end of it!!!

So Kikoru's fangirl side is a closely guarded secret. She might let it slip around Akari and Hakua, after many, many months of denial on the topic... but telling them the exact details of her newfound cleaning career is another matter entirely.

Being completely unfamiliar with household chores, Kikoru takes a 'fake it 'till you make it' approach for the first few weeks of her employment, determined to do the job despite not knowing which product is best suited to removing tile grime or how to clean the inside of an oven. She will destroy every speck of dust there is, damn it!! And while there may have been few bleach scares here and there, she does start to get a handle on it eventually... after receiving a few helpful tips from the grandson of one of her most endearing clients.

Reno is very good at cooking and cleaning, so I doubt he'd agree to having a housekeeper. He continues handle those tasks himself even after moving to his agency-approved apartment building. But this means his grandma is now by herself, without anyone to help her...

And so, Kikoru isn't hired to be Reno's housekeeper. She's hired to be Grandma Ichikawa's housekeeper.

When the elderly woman first mentioned her grandson would be stopping by, Kikoru thought little of it. So long as he stayed out of her way it made no difference. But just as she's muscling her way through cleaning the bathtub, a voice interrupts her.

"...Um. It'd be easier if you used a sponge for that. It's better for scrubbing."

Kikoru whips her head towards the unwanted critique in an instant. "Huh!? Of course I know that! I was just-"

And then she chokes for a second - that's already too long for her liking - as she finds Ichikawa Reno, her secret crush, the prince to her princess, love of her life, husband-to-be (calm down girl!!!) standing a mere meter away from her.

"-giving it a quick once-over before really getting started!!" she spits out at last, keeping her tone as firm as possible.

Calm. Stay calm. This is fine. Nothing is on fire. Certainly not herself. Don't you dARE BLUSH, SHINOMIYA KIKORUUU!!!

...?

Shinomiya Kikoru is completely bewildered when the normally frosty idol puts a hand to his neck, eyes shifting away from her still-crouched form awkwardly. "Ah... right. Pardon me."

And then he left.

...Huh?

Was this a dream? A hallucination? Had the fumes finally gotten to her??

Kikoru blinks several times before putting a soapy hand to her eyes.

"AH, FU—"

...Like this, I think her and Reno would start interacting more and more. Reno comes by on his days off now and then, finding comfort in being himself around a girl that has no interest in idols (so Grandma tells him.) Kikoru starts visiting his apartment too, showing up to deliver some of his grandma's home cooking and various other items. He gives her things to take back in turn - supplies he noticed they were running low on or some specialty treat he was able to get through the agency.

"You two can share them." Reno says while handing her a pack of luxury cookies - the kind that goes perfectly with her favorite black tea.

Kikoru huffs and insists she'd never eat a client's food on the clock, but ends up having Tea Time With Grandma Ichikawa anyways. It becomes a habit.

And then, sooner or later, even the capable Reno gets overwhelmed. While he's normally on top of everything, Kikoru arrives to find the idol crashed out on his couch and the apartment in disarray. He's been pushing himself too hard. So Kikoru ends up lending him a hand here and there after all, insisting that his grandma wouldn't want him overworking himself when he tries to protest. He convinces her to at least let him wash the dishes. She can dry.

In regards to his insecurities, I think Kikoru would be a big help in pushing him through it. So what if he's motivated by money? If he's decided to become an amazing idol then that's just was he needs to do! Rather, he already is amazing. All the loving fans he's earned proves it, don't they? (Not that she's one of them! Definitely not!!)

Reno admires this confidence of hers, valuing her unbiased opinion of him... which makes it all the more difficult for Kikoru to be open about just how much she likes him. She adored him as an idol, but his natural self is just as charming!! Then Reno catches feelings too, trying more and more to subtly (or not so subtly) win her over - meanwhile Kikoru is fighting tooth and nail to hide how it affects her. She's so scared he'll be disappointed to know she was a fangirl to start - that he'll think she'd snuck into his life for some ulterior motive, even befriending his precious grandma and praying at his family's alter as part of some fanatic delusion...

And, well! I could go on and on, but I better stop here ^^;;;