#it parallels

both are regarded as prodigies and have those underdog vibes to them, of appearing out of nowhere and gaining attention as soldiers with abnormally rapid growth and skill

reno and mina

they perform at their best when someone (iharu and hoshina) clears the path for them

they have an intense, focused attitude that both intimidates and garners respect

they both inspired kafka to join the jakdf

reno's introduction probably hit kafka hard because it reminded him of mina

this: "why did you give up on joining the jakdf? i'm the type of person to never give up on my goals, so i will never understand why you did" combined with reno's mina-coded facial expressions

reno having absolute faith in kafka v.s. mina losing her faith in him, but having it slowly restored

(and kafka being afraid to lose reno's faith the way he lost mina's)

again, both are prodigies, except molded by family expectations and what seems like a generational/ancestral affiliation with anti-kaiju defense

kikoru and hoshina

they are strongly motivated by their family, to live up to their expectations or escape them entirely

they both want to be recognised for their abilities - not necessarily by their families, as they found that respect in others

they're used to never feeling enough and pushing themselves to prove otherwise

they tease the shit out of kafka LMAO

they have the same kind of smug humor that gets on others' nerves

they might come across as stern or harsh but both look out for their comrades; leading the charge and taking on the biggest threat

kafka and iharu

they are goofy goobers

LMAO not that being my first point--

they constantly want to improve, to be worthy of standing beside the people whose strength they admire (mina and reno)

"can i still aspire to stand by your side?" and "go on ahead and wait for me!" have the same vibes

(except reno doesn't even know iharu wants that. meanwhile, kafka hesitates to talk with mina because he feels he's not yet her equal. same communication style braincell)

they both brighten up any environment they're in and can be counted on to break the tension

they get insecure about their strength, doubting their ability to catch up to others and forever in awe of those stronger than them

iharu's current insecurities mirror how kafka must've felt in the past the first time he tried to join the jakdf