#renokaf

...and how Reno reacted when he thought Kafka is about to get killed (by Hoshina) (ch 19 / s1e7(?))...

...and then how dejected & determined to become stronger he became after Kafka was captured (ch 34 / s1e11(?) & 62 / s2e7)...

...how profoundly guilty he felt for not having been strong enough to protect Kafka and Iharu (ch 62 / s2e7)...

...it makes one wonder what would emotionally happen to Reno if Kafka at some point died. And not just at all but specifically in a way that would make it remotely understandable for Reno to blame himself. Or what would Iharu dying like that do to him. He likely wouldn't become morbidly obsessive, given he doesn't spiral when Kafka is captured + he seems an earned-secure type. But it could potentially influence his ability to control his desire for power in order to protect, in the context of using No. 6. Maybe he'd struggle with losing himself, again, and Iharu would have to save him again.

(Afair, Kafka hasn't suffered the exact kind of personal losses as did Reno; maybe if he did, his relationship to killing kaiju & protecting his loved ones would be about as intense as Reno's. Then we have e.g. Narumi, whose past is very similar to Reno's (explored in b-side), & his dedication to fighting kaiju seems closer to Reno's. Personality definitely plays a role, though, so those with the same kind of experiences don't grow into the same kind of people).

Iharu has almost experienced that exact kind of situation (ch 17 / s1e7).

Which makes one wonder how he would have carried on if Reno did end up dying there. He'd probably feel immense guilt as well, having tried to protect him (even if the motivation might not have been entirely selfless). Perhaps even shame, given his insecurities around killing kaiju.

It would have been interesting to see whether that moment has left a scar, or has Reno ending up okay entirely patched up any guilt or feeling of failure he might have had.

Either way, with Iharu being Reno's only other close friend, he'd probably step in if something like that happened to Reno. Similar to how he tries to humor him in ch 34 / s1e11(?).

And then the anime expands on that a tiny bit, in s2e1. https://www.tumblr.com/neverstopwoandering/797850093652983808/the-anime-extra-scene-in-s2e1-with-iharu-pulling?source=share.

After what happened during their first mission (again: ch 17 / s1e7), Iharu does understand what kind of emotional turmoil Reno would be going through; what kind of emotional turmoil Reno has gone through.

He might seem like a brash goof, but scenes such as his self-reflection during Reno's No. 6 arc (ch 60 & 61 / s2e7) or the phone call with Kafka in ch 67 / s2e9 demonstrate he really is emotionally intelligent. Even if his competitive side can make him come off as abrasive at times (e.g. how throughout half the series his primary motivation seems to be to beat Reno. Though he still drops that when it matters & helps him however he can. And he is self-aware about it (ch 60):

Iharu is honest, not just with others but also with himself), or his extroverted personality can sometimes get in the way & make him look silly or inconsiderate (e.g. how he greets Kafka in ch 129). People have layers.

Either way.

It seems tentatively more likely for Reno to die sooner than Kafka or Iharu, though, given he's the No. 6 user. If he is indeed intended to die young then at least he's gotten to find people he became close with. We can only assume — based on his current personality & behavior — what his life had been like before he met Kafka; maybe fairly lonely. Regardless, it seems that finding those two joyful guys (the two leos of kn8, too. I'm not into astrology but it does seem that the author chose their western astrological signs intentionally, looking at how all different characters fit their own. Fun fact: with Reno, Iharu and Kafka make the fire trio of kn8, since Reno is an aries) is what he's been needing. (ch 64 / s2e8, ch 22 / s1e8(?)).

Wonder why there are 3 human hands. Reno has a hitaikakushi on his forehead, plus this pale kimono which apparently is a burial kimono (kyokatabira/shinishozoku), so he might either supposed to be dead or be a yūrei (幽霊) which is a japanese analogy to the western ghosts (but ig they don't have 3 hands, so idk).

And then Kafka is some kind of zombie thingy(?). Bc they're at a graveyard. During full moon; which apparently signifies this art references Obon (お盆), a japanese buddhist lunar summer holiday honoring the dead, supposedly akin to e.g. a mix of thanksgiving and the day of the dead, or some other death-related holidays like e.g. russian ones in spring and fall. Depending on the region, it falls on 13-16 of august or of july; the art was published in the magazine on august 14th (https://shonenjumpplus.com/episode/3269754496443150547).

Then the blue flame (青炎) is supposedly a thing in japanese folklore. Linked to hitodama (人魂) which are floating phosphorescent light phenomena appearing at night at e.g. graveyards that are supposed to be the soul/spirit of newly deceased or dying humans. Blue cause the cold of deadness, apparently; kind of funny bc Reno - ice - cold (though it's only the surface). And on that art he lowkey looks like his soul (fire/joy/etc) has just left him.

Idk what's with the rod. Lmk if you do.

With Reno being the voice of reason / etc type, he could be going "ghosts don't exist" (and maybe "relax"'s (which isn't by Matsumoto tho) idea of Reno having a fear of ghosts is supposed to be a looking glass reference to his rationality). Or maybe it's a "even after becoming a ghost, Reno still has to keep it down-to-earth" (yūrei are often depicted w/o legs/feet, floating above the ground). Maybe the rod thingy references his tsukko vibe: catching the boke's goofiness to stop them from spiraling too far off track, by pointing out the absurdity/etc. Would fit if it's a fishing rod. Or maybe Kafka is supposed to be some soul-eating monster, and Reno is giving him food (souls) cuz he loves cooking. OOOOORRRRR...

...Reno has died and is giving his soul up to Kafka, because he is, after all, very devoted to him. "Senpai, I'm giving you my freaking SOUL, would you at least look at it?! I swear to god", bc in the manga, Reno is pining after Kafka (see), bless him, but Kafka won't shut up about Ashiro (there's even this moment in ch 3).

Imagine that tongue playing with Reno's [redacted] soul. Must feel brill.

Which is very similar to what Ashiro says to Kafka in ch 33.

Kind of meaningless (or is it), especially as in canon there's nothing romantic going on between Kafka & Ashiro, but if one sees said two as romantic, there's that.

And then Reno's aspiration to stand alongside Kafka is at least as ardent (if not more) than Kafka's — or any other character's who have expressed this, for that matter — aspiration to stand alongside Ashiro. Which, again, if one reads the latter as anything close to romantic (some do, some don't), the former reads as even closer to romantic. Moreover, Reno has been written as actually in love with Kafka, see section "Kafka x Reno" in Understanding Reno & his bonds.

(ch 1) Kafka knows how to break the ice (pun half-intended).

(ch 2) Even when in utter shock, Reno is still so dry and matter-of-fact. That man has a talent.

(ch 2) Reno casually crushing Kafka's secret aspirations.

(ch 3) To be fair, him YELLING attracts more attention, so... Understandable though: he's terrified Kafka will get killed if spotted like that.

(ch 4) Reno's wrath is so traumatizing he scares Kafka even though what would he actually do, y'know.

(ch 5) Even the little things. Lol the drone behind Kafka. These two are a free comedy show for Hoshina & co.

(ch 6) Kafka is actually so lucky. Not every day you find a man who lets you embarrass both of you at your new workplace and only complains a little, despite being about the most serious person on the planet. That's how you know true love. The cringe this guy stomachs for his man tho. He really is such a keeper.

(ch 8) Reno does not hold back when his man's safety is at stake. Whether in risking his own life or in beating the shit out of him scolding him for risking his own.

(ch 22) Kafka really wanted to get him back for that scene during the exam, didn't he. But c'mon dude, that guy has just woken up after nearly dying.

(ch 31) Imagine this: watching a sad movie together, Kafka bawling his eyes out. Reno calmly teasing the shit out of him while handing him tissues.

(ch 67) That's what you get when you forget about your loyal kouhai and make him feel unloved for two whole months. *hugs for Reno*

(ch 100) Establishing equality and mutual respect in the relationship, Reno style. He does not fuck around. I mean, see even just ch 1: https://www.tumblr.com/neverstopwoandering/811210061466697728/renos-arc-in-a-nutshell.

Reno literally be sitting there like a seasoned boyfriend, fondly watching his man struggle with daily functioning. (Originally posted as separate bc I felt like it. But belongs here, too).

And I mean:

• he's not uncomfortable with photos. There's that other art by Matsumoto that's a group selfie by Iharu — and from it it's clear Reno does know how to perform for a camera. He's genuine and kind of uptight, but he does have a playful side to him (e.g. ch 11 where he's snickering at Iharu's joke, ch 31 where he teases Kafka about his crying face). Which suggests on that pier his discomfort is NOT about disliking faking a smile, feeling uncomfortable with photos, etc.

• what makes the difference is: that other photo is a group one, with Kafka and friends, while this one is a pair photo. So, the tension doesn't have space to breathe, it's just the two of them.

On that pair photo, Kafka is being his cheerful self, oblivious. Reno is looking rather bothered. Because from the perspective of somebody posing with their unreciprocated romantic interest, it isn't just a nice touristy pic: it's a casual moment — not battle etc where he can comfortably express worry etc (in those settings, he is comfortable even directly/verbally expressing worry: his words to Kafka over comms in ch 25) — and it's being captured on a photo. So he's probably feeling very self-conscious about how he looks next to Kafka there, does his expression tell anything about his feelings, etc.

He's private but not shy or uncomfortable with emotional vulnerability (e.g. ch 63). We never see him self-conscious — except in moments of romantic vulnerability: moments with Kafka where the depth of his attachment is showing (ch 1, 67, ch 100 a little bit, and this art). Even slightly more casual moments with Kafka make him flustered, see ch 67 (admitting worry in a more casual context vs on the battlefield like in ch 25). This is a completely casual moment, where all he has to do is exist next to Kafka, one on one, for a pic.

(ch 25, 1, 100, 67. Btw: on that last one, the Japanese original apparently isn't specifying "I" or "we", because Japanese often omits subjects when they're understood from context. From said context, "I" might be more apt, and that's how the english sub and dub of the anime adaptation translates that line, if that's any clue).

• also, isn't Shinko Pier No. 8 a sort of romantic location? Scenic and all. Idk, share if you do. But if it does count as such, it'd only make it more awkward in Reno's head: it kind of feels like a couples photo, but they're not a couple ...but Reno wants them to be a couple.

So, Reno's discomfort there isn't about having a photo taken, it maybe being a romantic sort of spot, etc. If he was with a friend instead, he'd not be uncomfortable like that. It's an illustration, too, not a photo of real people, so things might be clues even more so than irl.

As a result, that art gives a neat glimpse into Reno's outside-hours, personal side — where he's not working, protecting, etc but just exists, one on one, with his romantic interest.

Except that it's a very specific context: exposed (photo) + perhaps romantically backdropped (the location). So he's likely more awkward on that art than he is just hanging out with Kafka, iow, if he has something to do with him rather than posing for a cute pic in a nice location, he's likely less flustered. Same like...

...if you only knew him from e.g. that blushing moment in ch 100, you'd think he's a flustered mess all the time. But that's not the case: his baseline is "composed and inconspicuous", he only gets flustered occasionally — in moments of romantic exposure: being entrusted by his romantic interest (ch 100), posing with him for a pair pic, etc.

That said, since he most realistically never dated (given what we know about his personality etc and japanese trends) + struggles with romantic vulnerability (also common) (see his awkward pursue in ch 1, or his fluster in ch 100, or his awkwardness when admitting worry in ch 67 because it's not a battle context like in ch 25) = one can expect that in those casual moments with Kafka he might get awkward at times, too. Realistically speaking, just-existing with the man he likes, if said man doesn't seem to reciprocate his feelings, is awkward — even if he accepts the situation, doesn't read reciprocation into random stuff, etc (which seems the case, based on his behavior in the manga + the apparent (from his manga behavior and what is known about his past) fact his attachment style is earned-secure rather than e.g. anxious).

(This is basically a mini supplement for Understanding Reno & his bonds).