solar_gelato

if we’re comparing new tl sousuke to old tl no3 mitsuba then yeah i see what ur saying !!!

minor disclaimer !! i haven’t reread tbhk in a bit. i’m probably going to misinterpret stuff. this is slightly unedited. halfway thru writing this i realized how broad the analysis was coming out. so yeah!

i’ll be color coding their names for anyone who gets confused. new timeline sousuke mitsuba is in pink, old timeline number 3 mitsuba is in red.

new tl sousuke vs old tl no3 mitsuba — maturity

maturity is a state where someone has developed physically, emotionally, and intellectually. maturity comes with age and or experience. so it’s obvious that there is already a difference between sousuke and mitsuba in this field.

new tl sousuke has a whole life of experience (actually going to school, being friends w kou) vs old tl no3 mitsuba was created by tsukasa as a pure supernatural (only sees memories through the mirrors, but never experienced it himself).

ch40 and ppa shows pretty well how mitsuba doesn’t have the same experiences as either version of sousuke once had, and he likely never will. he’s never gna have a childhood, a middle school experience, or ever growing up with kou.

ignore that i can’t find any eng translations for the earlier chapters lol

because of their differences in experience, their will be differences in maturity.

past experiences — always needed?

some people are naturally born with an initiative, and don’t always need experience to back that up. whether it’s in their personality or their fight or flight, both sousuke and mitsuba know when to take action. both mature roles.

in alterations, sousuke (even if he’s frightened) knows to trust kou’s ideas when dealing with supernaturals. he even rips a yorishiro. in ppa, mitsuba knows how to snap kou back to reality. he can balance what’s realistic and what’s not.

past experiences — might be needed?

despite personalities and such, sometimes past experiences are needed to shape a person’s motivation.

new tl sousuke pursues his goals, maybe because this timeline gives him the chance to do so. he’s the president of the photography club, he’s an inspiring upperclassman to others, he’s literally living the dream og sousuke wanted. no3 mitsuba is a supernatural. supernaturals, especially the 7 mysteries, are known for giving up quickly. they have such big goals, yet the second it seems out of reach, they give up.

so is there a difference?

i’m gna be broad and it depends on the aspect. both sousuke and mitsuba are just as caring for people close to them. they know what they need to do in times of trouble and will take action when they need to.

when it comes to their individual goals, experience creates maturity. backgrounds do too—sousuke got to live a whole life (and didn’t die the way og sousuke did) vs mitsuba is a pure supernatural. sousuke got to pursue his goals, mitsuba’s mindset as a school mystery is to give up easily.