#epinagi

I think it’s such an interesting choice to have Anri be the one to deny Nagi here when Ego could’ve easily taken her place, but I’m happy he didn’t because a) we have enough of him beefing with Nagi and b) even though this is a relatively short scene I love the implications and insight it gives into Anri’s character (aka I’m making it deep & overthinking because I love her 💔).

She’s been watching him linger outside for days on end through the cameras, probably hoping he would leave on his own if he was ignored long enough but when that doesn’t work, she finally chooses to speak to him without actually revealing herself. There’s no “I’m sorry” or “I/We miss you” or “I wish I could help you,” just pure rejection without any sugarcoating, PLUS a bonus threat of the police. This is probably the “cruelest” we’ve ever seen Anri be because it’s so personal, at least on Nagi’s end, but I think it’s a great example of Anri’s own ego coming into play—“out with the old, in with the new, adapt or evolve or get left behind.” Maybe she wanted to be the one to personally confront Nagi herself, because of course Ego would’ve noticed him too surely, but she’s either doing it out responsibility, guilt, remorse, or something else and I absolutely love it.

If it were up to me I would’ve made chapter 306 a couple of pages longer (right before B*ratsuta enters towards the end) to actually explore and solidify the dynamic between Anri and Nagi, which could also neatly tie back to the earlier idea of “the one who gets to choose (in this case Anri) rather than be chosen (Nagi).”

So with the way things are right now (chapter 349 is the newest released chapter at the time I'm writing this), I don't think it's a matter of if Nagi is coming back but when and when that does happen, it'd be such a good opportunity to showcase Anri's reaction and also flashback to this exact moment from her perspective behind the door.