#randulph

I don’t know if it was posted here already, but will put my take about Nol as it’s getting on my curiosity. I was rereading the earlier chapters and came across Nol/Yeong-gi’s grandma (or Nana, as he calls her). During the scene where Kousuke tries to pick Nol to “meet” with Shin-Ae (ep16), we see for the first time the grandma. She had the same eye colour as Nol so I’m going to rule out her as being simply a nanny, also Nana is a common term for grandmas for the Europeans. We can aslo notice how courteous Kousuke was for Mrs. Lochlainn, the Nana. Now, this name is quite Irish, I even spelt it wrong when I was looking it up (typed loghlann), if we note Nol’s appearance, green eyes + ginger head (more likely natural hair colour bc his eyebrows were of the same shade), it spells IRISH. I’m not sure if it was fan art or by quimchee herself, but I think there were posts of Nol also having freckles. Kousuke also teases Nol about tea and potatoes which are surefly a common item in the table for the Irish (also Europeans).

My guess on Nol’s biological mother is that (1) it’s not Yui Hirahara (Yuri, i forgot w/c one), (2) his mom is an Irishwoman and that the Nana is Nol’s maternal grandmother. (3) that she is likely dead prior to the story line in w/c after that Randulph had taken Nol in his home, and has, probably officially listed him under his family roster/as one of his children.. yes, I am alluding that Randulph most likely had an affair/cheated to Yui when Kousuke was younger....err if his currently 26, then when he was bout 7-8 yrs old. (4) or Nol’s biological mom was actually alive and was off to a different country or that they were forcefully separated by Yui/Randulph in exchange for Nol to be taken in the family, w/c would be traumatic for a young child. I posted bout this bit b4 on a panel about Nol’s allergic reaction to Yui/Yuri. ** tbh, this does not make sense if the nana was his maternal grandma bc if the purpose of the separation is to not be in contact anymore, then Nol’s living with his maternal granny, there surely will be contact between mother and son.

I also find it hard for Mrs. Lochlainn to be blood related to Randulph Hirahara  (to be his mom) considering that Kousuke never adresses him as his grandmother, say if they were really a Japanese Family, he’s more likely to call her the proper honorifics.

There’s also the name thing, his name was probably officially changed when Randulph had taken him in. His reason for not wanting to be called Nol anymore is bc it reminds him of his mother (separation event) let’s also just assume that his mom raised him alone (or with the grandma) in his earlier years and that Randulph was not aware of Nol’s existence until they (Nol’s mom) met again or that when she died and was contacted by Mrs. Lochlainn.

I am also assuming that Randulph is not an actual Hirahara, that he had taken the family name during marriage (he married to Yui’s family) as is common practice in Japan, especially in a Zaibatsu of little male family members/heirs.

SOooo there’s that.

I feel like Etiquette Classes is some small way of Kousuke showing great affection. Like he wants Shin-Ae to succeed.