#ons chapter 72

Hello everyone, this is the new theory season! As for the first theory, this will be tied to the special analysis that was uploaded yesterday which was related towards Shinoa’s evolution in terms of how she developed her humanity or rather how her emotions started to bloom from being a girl that didn’t have much attachment to one that cared for those who are important to her.

Analysis tied to theory: OnS Chapter 99. Shinoa Hiragi - Deep Analysis

P.S: THEORIES ARE HELD WITHIN A NEUTRAL VIEW AND SHIPS ARE EXCLUDED.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKerqp5yOGo

Shall we begin with this theory?

First of all, this theory will only touch topics related to chapter 99; and the main question is, why did Shinoa get so powerful and why “love” was the key for her to get strength?

Image taken from Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign - Chapter 99

As far as we know, Shinoa Hiragi was a girl without lingering emotions that gradually started to learn how to feel, but within that, there was something heavily attached within her, what could it be?

It was fear. 

What do I mean?

After Mahiru removed her demon from her; she taught her that demons could prey on a human if said human exposed their desires to the demon; such thing gradually turned into a numb fear; but how is that possible when she wasn’t able to feel emotions towards pain, sadness, happiness, etc?

Image taken from Seraph of the End: Guren Ichinose Catastrophe at 16 - Chapter 41

Despite what the brain makes think, there are always things the body remembers; and specially if those were shocking experiences; in Shinoa’s case, she saw how her sister gradually fell, how she gradually let loose of her demon that possessed her until she died.

Such thoughts are reflected back in the Catastrophe LNs after Shikama Doji returned to her; she didn’t allow him to prey on her heart easily, nor allowed him to get information that could be an advantage for him. But, when did this fear started to grow?

The fear started to grow after Shikama stopped possessing the main head of the Hiragi Family; she quickly detected his presence thanks to the fact of how linked they are; since she is his wielder. And of course, Shikama being an entity that doesn’t see “love” as a feeling or emotion with purity but rather as something mundane; he quickly started to make her hesitate, and insert fear within her:

Image taken from Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign - Chapter 68

In said panel, the squad was celebrating they were able to halt the summonings of the horsemen of the apocalypse by the 6th trumpet along the fact they brought him to a normal state, which means, he was no longer a seraph thanks to the Sinful Key; and then this panel came; Shinoa was at first smiling like she tends to do, but such smile vanished and became a frown, but why would she do that?

Easy. She was starting to fear what would happen next; she was worrying about how she needed to fight against the words of Shikama Doji, she believed that having an attachment or feelings of admiration towards Yu could eventually become her doom.

Hence why when they reached Shibuya and Shikama entered in contact with her, Shinoa didn’t pay mind if he was possessing Kureto; but of course, Shikama kept destroying that security she had; he started to prey on what Shinoa really wished which was seeing Yu happy; how can I state this when it is often heard that her feelings were forced to be romantic/sexual according to some within the fandom?

Image taken from Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign - Chapter 72

Within said chapter, Shinoa had a conversation between Shikama only to be taunted by him in order to make her lower the walls of her heart; within that, Shikama started to suggest an exchange; within the exchanges, both options were things Shinoa wished to see for Yu; one of them seeing Mikaela as a human again; she’s aware Yu’s wish would be to see Mika as a human again at that time; which of course, make her hesitate but nevertheless, she tried to stand strong saying she didn’t care about that; but when Shikama stated he knew a way on how to revert Yu’s curse; that’d mean that Yu would be healed instead of seeing his constant self destruction. But, what does this imply? Does this imply she wanted to feel gratitude or anything in exchange for Yu if she accepted such offers?

The answer is no.

Shinoa’s been displayed as a character that does worry of her squad, and that is something mentioned very well by @fandomsarepainful and @distinguished-slacker.

Shinoa has displayed a caring nature not only for Yu; she has shown such nature towards Mitsuba; she’s conforted her in the past due to the events and hardships Mitsuba endured after the loss of her former squad; furthermore such caring side is visible when it comes to respecting important decisions when it comes to Kimizuki and Yoichi. She doesn’t neglect their ideas, on the contraty, she wishes to learn what they think for a best solution; and such side is visible with Mikaela too after he spent 3 months with the squad after deflecting the JIDA.

Returning back to the main point of the theory, after the events that ended up getting her possessed by Shikama Doji due to her trying to save Yuichiro and Asuramaru; she was eventually rescued by Guren and later on gathered the squad with the Queen Krul Tepes.

And of course, the controvertial scene:

Image taken from Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign - Chapter 99

What’s the main reason she stated such thing? Is it because she was forced to view Yu romantically by Shikama Doji and Mahiru?

The answer is a big no.

How could I possibly state that?

The reason goes that Shinoa doesn’t see Yu within lust or obsession as I stated before but rather she sees Yu within a pure love; she wishes his well being and his happiness, that’s what she truthfully wishes for. Shinoa never knew the concept of love towards someone else or rather directed someone rather than her sister but Mahiru did what she could in order to preserve that purity from being twisted by Shikama Doji.

But overall, there’s a second reason to this, what do I mean?

Correct. A reason to live

Image taken from Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign - Chapter 99

Shinoa is tired and exhausted on how her life has gone; she’s tired that Shikama Doji had to control everything and made her lose what she treasured:

Her life

Her sister

Her sister’s happiness

Her squad’s somewhat stable life

The World

Her mother’s death

The curse her squad had to carry being guinea pigs

Her own emotions

She is tired of seeing sacrifices for small victories; she’s tired to see that those important around her have to keep losing what they treasure the most; Shinoa is a character that is aware of many things and that is heavily reflected back in chapter 97:

Image taken from Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign - Chapter 97

In said chapter she stated that she expected it was her fault that her mother died after she gave birth to her; she has been carrying so much guilt and pain within her heart to the point she finally got exhausted after seeing Shikama Doji possessing her again when she was learning from the Queen what her sister did in order to create a plan that would start operating in the future with the only hope of protecting her baby sister; the only person Mahiru considered as her family.

But then, if she found a reason to live, does this imply she’s forcing to believe she’s in love with Yu?

No. She isn’t. But why?

Shinoa in her whole life never saw a reason to live, nor exist, she didn’t see why she should keep living but she kept on going without any path; but after the squad was finally created, and after taking the responsibility of leading it; she started to grow emotions, she stated to feel attachment to them but most of all, she started to admire Yu’s kind nature of saving people and giving it all for those who matter or are important or rather being a kind person without receiving anything in exchange.

Hence why, after being possessed again and seeing that Shikama Doji was weakened due to Mahiru’s drug; she found a way to break free and within this, she accepted what her heart felt, which was a pure selfless love; but does that mean she’ll end with him?

No. Shinoa stated that she’d fight because she finally found a reason to live, nor she wants to see Shikama take away all she was able to find and protect; she doesn’t want to see everything vanish without her trying the least, she doesn’t want to be the same lonely girl nor wants to be asleep while knowing Shikama will destroy that amount of happiness she finally managed to find within her life.

That’s why she states she’d overcome him and take over him due to him being the main reason her life was cursed.

Shinoa stopped fearing what her heart felt, she no longer sees “love” as something bad that Shikama stated, but rather a pure feeling that is born with time and that is displayed with the time she spent with her squad who are her friends as well.

What do you think dear readers?

Let me know!