Happy Birthday nijimi！

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(THIS IS OUTDATED AND NEEDS AN UPDATE, i don’t stand by some of the vocabulary i used here and i know i could write this better as an adult, please take it with a grain of salt)

Hi there, I'm Otori!

Here we go with another analysis, this time about Kaname Asagiri from Mahou Shoujo Site.

This will obviously have spoilers of both the anime and the manga, so please read/watch it fully before proceeding.

I will begin saying that Kaname is not only my favorite Mahou Shoujo Site character, but also one of my all time favorite characters as well. Still, I don’t even like Mahou Shoujo Site as a whole, but I found him to be very interesting and well-written, so here we go.

The structure for the analysis will be:

 Character overview

Trajectory & development through the manga

Additional info and symbolisms

1. Character overview

I would like to talk about the general aspects of him first. The most obvious thing about Kaname is that he is a sociopath, which is, to be short, someone who tends to disrespect others and has little to no empathy. Statistics show that one of every 25 people is a sociopath, and it’s a mental illness also called antisocial personality disorder. They usually hurt people or animals, are unfair and don't respect other people. So, great. The first thing to point out about the character is that he is mentally ill. Looks good.

Moving to the next point, another main characteristic in Kaname is him being misanthropic. Misanthropy is a general hatred and distrust towards humans. This plus Kaname being a sociopath gives up the perfect image of who he is. But he is much more than an mentally ill boy, and I want to prove that and make people understand this character. Of course, I will never try to justify his actions. I will just try to give you a different point of view so that you can get to know him better.

Lastly, I'd also like to point something about Kaname being portrayed as one of the main antagonists. In the wikia, for most part of the manga he was labeled as the main antagonist, even if later this was changed by the admins. Which is interesting considering that he’s nor a Site Admin nor a ‘’mahou shoujo’’, and he ends up helping the main characters. In fact, at the beginning I completely thought that Kaname would be a secondary character, whose purpose was to serve as one of the reasons for Aya’s misfortune. I think that Kaname being first shown as a ''secondary character'' made people be quick to judge and hate him.

2. Trajectory & development through the manga

From the beginning we see that Kaname looks and behaves like a kind, polite boy, which is obviously a facade. He is in fact manipulative and cruel, and he hits and belittles his sister Aya every day. Why does he beat her? Well, it's said that it's to relieve stress, but I'm pretty sure that this isn't the only reason. There are a million other ways to relieve stress other than this one. First of all, Aya is weak and can't speak up. Even if she did, her parents wouldn't believe her, since Kaname is a cheerful and good boy who obeys all of their orders with a smile; the complete opposite from her, in the outside at least. Kaname tends to feel superior to others and enjoys that superiority, so beating someone like Aya boosts this. This is also the main reason behind general real life bullying too, and Kaname's treatment towards Aya is pretty similar. Also, since Kaname works hard and studies every day, while Aya doesn't, he thinks that it is unfair and that she has to pay for it enduring the pain. While he is totally wrong at this, I can understand his feelings because he works very hard and gets beaten because of a 98 in an exam, while no matter what Aya does or where she is her parents don't care. It IS unfair, for both of them, and the amount of pressure Kaname goes through is by no means normal. 

At chapter 12 we get a bit more of introspection in Kaname’s mentality. Basically, more proof of his misanthropy and sociopathy, combined with his narcissism. These three make an awful combination, honestly. Kaname Asagiri is elite, and he's praised constantly by teachers, family and classmates, and he truly believes himself to be superior to all of them by far. To the point of coming to the conclusion that everyone else is worthless.

However, what is Kaname’s conception of ‘’worth’’? Meaning, what makes a person worthy by his standards? What qualities does a person need to not be ‘’shit’’?

Incompetent and dumb people are shit for him, so people who aren’t intelligent are out. Which is a rather common idea, especially for (obviously) smart people, including historical figures, and especifically many ancient greek philosophers.

People who are shallow on the inside and superficial people are also shit for him — which is interesting because in the Mahou Shoujo Site universe there’s a lot of people like this. No need to even mention Nijimi, but their city seems to be full of this kind of people.

Weak, cowardly and unrealistic people are shit too, which adds weight to his hate against Aya. His sister has all of those characteristics, so even if Kaname’s abuse is of course too much, his hate for her makes sense with his general mentality.

However, some pages later all of this is reduced to a single sentence.

All of the qualities that defines somebody’s worth for Kaname are not important anymore when it comes to his mother: He loves her because she’s nice to him. This quote is so simple and almost child-like that it makes a great gap with the rest of Kaname’s inner monologue in the chapter, but not without a reason. Despite of Kaname's way of thinking, the only thing he truly needed was someone to be nice and understanding to him, and that person was his mother. She is the only truly gentle person with him, who doesn't love him by his looks or intelligence but for who he is, and Kaname is grateful for this and likes her back. Plus, he knows that she's a victim to his father's abuse too, so he might feel empathy towards her in this regard.

Moving on, let’s go to Nijimi and their relationship. Nijimi is 14 years old and, being so young, she would obviously fall for a handsome, older boy. However, Nijimi is not a perfect character like the fandom likes to think. She is mentally ill too, and she explicitly said that she wanted to kill Aya quite a few times for hiding things from her. Yes, she had good reasons, but that doesn't change the fact that Nijimi is insane too and not perfect and pure. And thinking objectively it's logical that Kaname would take profit of her. I mean, Nijimi is crazy for him, would do anything for him, and from his eyes she’s just a dumb teenager who can easily be manipulated. It was intelligent from Kaname to use her considering his goals.

Next, let’s go to Naoto's death. This time, Kaname only defended himself, as Naoto wanted to kill him in the first place, and he took the chance to test his new powers too. Yes, maybe Kaname went overboard and this chapter shows just how crazy he is, but it is logical, and he had already had many thoughts of wanting Naoto to die, since by his standards, Naoto is a completely worthless person.

Kaname doesn't feel remorse at all after killing Naoto. This is a typical feature of sociopaths, and it also makes sense because Naoto is a worthless person by his standards. 

Aya, after seeing how Kaname ordered Naoto to die, tried to hide it because she didn't want her friends to kill Kaname. Honestly I know that Aya is like this, but it’s so confusing. Even if he is her brother, he is a really horrible person who hurts her and threatens her day after day. Wanting to protect him is stupid. Later we learn that Aya was aware of Kaname’s stress and the fact that he received abuse from his father, which only makes it more weird. Think about it: she knew about this and yet never tried to help Kaname, only quietly receiving the abuse. And yet she tries to help Kaname here? And yet, in chapter 40, she says that she will never forgive him, when it was pretty obvious that he wasn’t going to use the powers for a good cause. Pretty inconsistent of her, but we will leave it aside, as we will talk more about it later.

Moving to the part in which Kaname shows his true self to Nijimi for the first time, in her apartment (chapter 259. Even after Kaname told Nijimi that he was only using her, Nijimi tried to deny by all ways that he didn't need her anymore and say that she would do anything for him. Knowing that he manipulated her and sealing her later fate. 

Also I'd like to point how Kaname doesn't care about losing lifespan because of the stick. First of all, Kaname is not happy. He never is truly happy through the entire manga except from the last chapter, but he thinks that gaining power and controlling others can become happiness. Because the control his father puts on him brings him unhappiness, he believes that if he is the one in control instead, he would be happy. And in fact, the scenes where he laughs most and seems to have more fun is when he is controlling someone through the stick.

Let's talk about Nijimi's death. Kaname first of all tries to gather all the sticks. He wants even more power. When Kiyoharu explains to Nijimi all about Kaname, she decides to kill him. She doesn't even listen to Kiyoharu anymore since the anger took over her senses, which is absolutely logical but also the reason why she died. And again, Kaname defended himself when killing her. Yes, there where a million other ways to stop her, but he was clearly surprised and reacted as he could in the little time he had. Kaname didn't even know all about the Mahou Shoujo Site yet so maybe he didn't want to risk his life in learning if Nijimi had a way to kill him or not. 

Just before dying, Nijimi attacked Kaname one last time, cutting his throat (honestly the fact that Kaname survived to that makes me lose my mind but this is Mahou Shoujo Site we're talking about). This has many interpretations and maybe it doesn't hold any deep meaning but I like to think that it does. Of course, she was trying to aim a fatal blow so aimed for his neck, but it also makes me think that  Nijimi wanted to shut Kaname for good. She didn't want to hear those words coming out from his mouth; to aknowledge that she had been used by him. 

For Kaname, not being able to speak becomes a real shock and he looses his cool completely. He hates losing his freedom and this is shown through all the manga. Because of his father, he can't stand being controlled and he hates to be deprived from anything. His thinkings about being God also intensify here. Him believing that he's God is honestly a very interesting feature from my point of view, showing that he really wants and does feel superior from others. 

Next is Kaname and Misumi arc. Misumi raped Kaname just because he likes to rape younger boys. That's all the reason or explanation we got, and he didn't just rape him. He confined him, treated him poorly, to the point that Kaname got to call him Master and treat him with respect. The same Kaname who thought of himself as a God. The same Kaname who called all the rest of humans meats with no brains. To see such an arrogant and prideful character in such a pitiful and horrible state is really shocking. Not even Kaname deserved this.

But this is Kaname we are talking about, and there's no way he would just accept the situation and follow Misumi's will like that. Maybe he was waiting for the best chance but after some time, he finally decides to kill Misumi and steals his fork to attack him. Being able to want to break free even in that situation is frankly incredible and his will to survive while also taking revenge is amazing. He was even able to think about it thoroughly and come with a plan, which little people could do if they were in his place.

After finally escaping and going to the hospital, Kaname starts behaving strangely docile due to the traumatic experience, and calm Kaname acts, even when talking to Nana and getting angry he doesn't shout or anything, which he would do in normal conditions.

What’s the first thing Kaname gets once he goes home? His father saying that he must study hard to recover the lost time. This shows just how obsessed his dad is with Kaname making it to the Tokyo university because it's his frustrated dream.  Kaname warns him about someone being after them and the father hits him on the face when Kaname literally has a bullet injury. It’s so messed up.

The admins enter the home and what does Kaname's father do? Order him to study. Priorities are priorities: studying goes first, living is second. And as soon as Kaname is free from his control, he punches him to death, which with all honestity is understandable. 

Later, when Aya tells him that she endured the pain so that Kaname wouldn't mentally break, Kaname yells to her saying that he doesn't want any pity. He probably felt like she was looking down on him, and can't understand why she would protect him with all the things he did. This is where Kaname starts truly developing as a character.

There’s many scenes in which we can appreciate Kaname’s development from there on. The next time Asahi tells Kaname to shut up, he doesn't talk back or punch her, which is something he'd totally do (and actually did) a couple episodes before. This is already a change. Maybe not a big one, but it's a first step.

When his mother becomes sperm (haha) he totally loses it and starts yelling. He shows anger instead of sadness because that's just how he is used to show his emotions, because he’s never been allowed to show his emotions in any other way, and also because he couldn’t stand looking vulnerable. His mother was the only person who treated him truly well and the only person he could love.

Kaname cooperates with Aya's friends and Nana to recover his mother and save the world, even lying to give Aya an opportunity to use her stick. This is too a very big change on his character. He is willing to lose all of his lifespan to save his mother and the world, and even casted a spell on Aya so that she couldn't end up being the only one unhappy. 

And finally, jumping tothe final episode, Kaname's development is fully shown. He shows his very first true smile, his very first free and happy expression.

He goes to the beach with Aya and her friends. He smiles to his parents. His father tells him to relax out there and Kaname replies with a smile. He doesn't hide his emotions anymore. He doesn't lie. He doesn't smile fake nor obey to everything his father says.  Usually, characters like him end up either dead or shown as the worst people ever, but Kaname doesn't. He has a proper development and has the final he deserves.

In the anime is much harder to come to like him, which is normal since in the anime we don't see so much of his backstory and his development, while in the manga we got lots of it. 

3. Additional info and symbolisms

I want to talk about is Kaname's name. Asagiri means morning fog/mist. Mist (霧) is supposed to cover or hide something, in this case the morning (朝). Every morning is said to be a new beginning and a new hope. Morning depicts brightness, freshness, new beginning, new opportunities, freedom, new hope and transformations. This is exactly what Kaname needed through all his life, and didn't have. He didn't have freedom, he didn't have brightness. Anyhow, morning is meant to represent something bright and light, totally contrary to Kaname. That's why the mist in his name hides the brightness. Because there is some brightness inside Kaname as shown in the end of the manga, but it remains hidden due to his father's abuse.

Later, it's revealed that Aya isn't Kaname's real sister, and thus her real family name isn't Asagiri. Aya in this part of the manga, after learning that Yatsumura is her sister and getting over her death, crying for the first time since long, seems to fit the meaning of morning and a new beginning. That's why she isn't an Asagiri; she can't allow mist (Kaname and her bullies in her case) to hide her morning, and thus forgives Kaname and Sarina to find her path and hope.

In the end of the manga, when Kaname finally gets rid of his problems and makes friends and also smiles to his family, the Asagiri name in the door frame is zoomed. And in this scene it's morning and the sun shines upon Kaname. This definitely means something, as Kaname finally found his new opportunity and freedom.

Kaname, on the other hand, means keystone. He is the center; the mechanism that makes it all work. Just as he saved the world in the end and how he is the main "antagonist". Kaname can also mean need, main point or pivot. Kaname may not be the main character nor the main villain, but he is a vital character for the plot.

Next, spades, which are the symbols of Nijimi’s stick, represent nobility and are a symbol of elite— that elite which Kaname is, and that superiority he wants to achieve.

And lastly, the color blue that is very representative of Kaname, symbolizes power, freedom and elegance. Power and freedom are characteristics that really fit him and his whole character. The power and freedom he wanted but that was forbidden for him, until the end in which he could finally find it.

The Okuyasu Tarot 0-8

The Fool: Original Okuyasu

The Magician: Oe Ysise

The High Priestess: Nicho

The Empress: Nijimi

The Emperor: NYPD Blue

The HIerophant: KH Oku

The Lovers: Okuyasu and @occasional-koichi

The Chariot: Okaya “Otis” Hobbs (SBR AU)

Justice: Teeyah Hanada

❝ nijimi anazawa // mahou shoujo site