I'm mightily curious as to how and when Mai and Naru end up together. It's also pretty complicated as well, considering Naru's aversion to touch as a Psychometrist could prove to be a hindrance if they were to pursue a relationship -- how do you think they could work around this? I'm also curious about things on Naru's, I can't really see him in relationship because of the way he is. What are your thoughts on this on Naru developing feelings for Mai? And how would Mai move past the Eugene issue?
For one thing, Naru’s trust in Mai is strong and vice versa. Slowly but surely he has come to trust her with certain duties and also her judgment & abilities. Except the few instances (Kenji’s story, wherein he avoids catching Mai) wherein he avoids touching Mai, there’s a lot more instances wherein he’s initiating the touching towards Mai (though it’s often to save her, he doesn’t hesitate touching her nevertheless). Mai, on the other hand, doesn’t force physical contact on Naru, so I think it’s safe to say that he’s comfortable around Mai because she respects his space and he trusts that she won’t invade it if he doesn’t want her to. The times Mai gets closer to Naru in the novels is usually when she’s afraid and needs someone to hold onto, but even then, Naru doesn’t shy away from her touch/presence. Whatever future intimacy they will have, it will be built by their mutual trust and respect, so I think Naru can learn to let Mai touch him and may even desire for her touch just as Mai will learn when and where to touch him.
I always have the thought of Naru and Mai’s relationship being built by friendship, trust, and respect. They both have a connection to Gene that only the two of them share. Naru reminds Mai of Gene, and Mai hopes to love someone who’s kind (like Gene) and also to feel the type of love that she’s bereft of—a love from a family. In order for Mai to move on from Gene, she will have to get past her own prejudices and learn that there’s no total black and white in people—that Naru, despite his “bad” personality, can also be kind, and that Gene, though usually kind, isn’t perfect either. Mai actually knows less about Gene than she does about Naru, and Gene, sadly, is simply a dream for her. I think Mai loves Gene for his kindness and not for himself (his overall being, sides, thoughts/views, etc.), and for Mai to move on, she will also have to realize that loving someone means loving him for who he is and not what he can give or do for her. She will realize that her perception of Gene as an image of kindness and familial love is an illusion she built for herself out of her own desires. Mai is still young, so sooner or later, she will realize her real feelings and that Gene might not be the person she wants him to be and the person she truly loves.
On a different note, Naru seems to like Mai well enough as herself. He teases her and listens to her, and he converses with her quite well. They fight, but they make up. He gives way to her demands quite often, in fact. There’s no dull moment between them. I think, rather than Naru developing feelings for Mai, an intensification of Naru’s feelings for Mai precludes to a strong bond or love. Naru already has feelings for Mai—a certain fondness, friendship, or camaraderie—and it gets stronger the more they are together and stay together. Naru is a workaholic, and he has his own priorities too in terms of writing or buying a new good camera. One can say he has no time or interest for love, but love just comes naturally to people. It’s not something that’s forced, and I think when Naru falls in love with Mai, it’s going to be the same. Mai is a good companion to Naru, but more than that, she’s a good partner. They’re equals, and again there’s respect between them besides chemistry. This relationship they have can strengthen in a way that both can’t simply live without the other. It all comes down to realization as well. Oftentimes we don’t know we love someone or something a priori. We realize as we experience it. I think this is the same as with Naru when he falls in love. He will know when his feelings are already in full bloom without him noticing, I think.
Naru and Mai’s friendship continues despite Gene’s connection in between them, but the former two’s friendship, trust, and respect for each other didn’t happen because of Gene. Mai and Naru built and grew their own relationship with each other even without the influence of Gene. They continuously make compromises and adapt and learn from each other everyday, and I think that’s the difference with Gene. Mai sees Naru for who he is everyday, but she doesn’t see Gene as Gene because she perceives him as a paragon of kindness and warmth. Therefore, Mai willingly preserves her own image/perception of Gene because it’s kind of a comfort zone for her, but once she’s not able to, once she sees Gene for who he is, she will realize that it isn’t right to continue holding onto him as her dream. There’s no telling what will happen to Mai’s stagnant feelings/perception for Gene once she finally sees the truth, but I feel like this is exactly what Fuyumi Ono left for us to decipher. Naru and Mai’s relationship continues even with the test of time, experiences, fights, etc., but can Mai and Gene’s relationship do the same?
Another strength of Mai and Naru’s relationship is that it’s built in the real world. The illusions, though few, that Mai had of Naru are pretty much eliminated at this point. Naru too sees Mai for who she is. He’s observant and knows her moods just as Mai does towards Naru. I honestly feel like it’s just a matter of time for Naru and Mai to be together, but what will hold them back the most is their guilt towards Gene—beside their pride and prejudices. So Mai and Naru being in a (romantic) relationship is not impossible. It may take time to work out some things, but that isn’t something new to them either; Mai and Naru are always cultivating their relationship and that’s how their relationship can last and commitment works. ^_^
