[Warning: spoilers for Kujira No Kora wa Saijyou ni Utau aka Children of the Whale manga]
What we know so far about Orca’s character:
• Trauma from having his emotions denied, being a boy soldier, being both mentally & physically abused and being forced to kill his own friends caused him to develop a dissociative identity disorder. He is said to have splited into two distinct personalities. Orca has currently two alters, one allowing him to be the vulnerable and kind boy he was not allowed to be, the other, created as a coping mechanism in order for him to take back control, to fight for his ideals and accomplish any vile actions the other persona is too empathic to do. It is important to note however that no alter is truly the real Orca as both are important parts within him (even if his kind nature preceded).
• What Leodari thought was foul manipulation was genuine. Orca’s interest in fostering crippled and mentally & emotionally damaged children/youngsters stems from his empathetic nature. When Orca cries meeting the kids he later on recruits as his personal guard, when he rescues Itia and offers Suoh to save him, he is not pretending. In fact, it is extremely likely that the visual image of the abused young triggers his empathetic alter and also brings back PTSD.
• Lykos is certainly the person Orca cares about the most. While kept away from his sister, at war or exiled on the island, he keeps thinking of her, wishing they could live together in a happier place. The interesting thing is that he cannot picture himself being happy without her but nonetheless never mentions how he feels about Lykos. At the end of his backstory, he finally formulates the wish to shape a world which would enable them all to feel happiness and where he could meet every love one he lost on the way. Interestingly enough, Orca feels reluctance to hurt the ones he loves, but still considers it a duty to achieve his final dream world, even if it means he must hurt and kill them. The same goes for young innocent people he sometimes barely knows. He firmly believes that that all will be saved nevertheless in the aftermath.
• His relationship with Itia is remarkably complex. It seems Orca notices her first for her youth and for the fact that The Empire destroyed her life and her wellbeing. We’re unsure if Orca always had that objective in mind which is proposing to Itia, but the proposal came soon enough that it is suspicious and that his true intentions can be questioned. He supports his demand with the explanation of sarx; if Itia bonds herself to him, she could legally eat sarx. Again, did Orca sincerely wished for her to regain some semblance of emotions or was there anything else to it? It is still unclear if Orca did it out of love or interest. Orca says on repeated occasions that he appreciates her honesty coupled with a look he rarely adresses anyone and in the latest chapters, they look close enough. What might have been interest could have turned into love, however, even Itia doubts Orca’s love as she feels as though she’s a mere replacement for his sister. Is it true?
• Orca’s goal never was to take over the Mud Whale. It has recently been revealed that it was the wish of the Prince child of the Empire. The two of them made a deal which comprised Orca declaring war on the Mud Whale and bringing it back on the Prince’s request. But what exactly did Orca ask in return? The Prince has listened to his story and claims to favour persons he considers interesting such as Orca. If the commander truly disclosed his story, it is probable that he requested a way to create his goal world. But the Prince is untrustworthy and we see him asking commander Atsali to attack him. We still don’t know what he has in mind for the Mud Whale but his actions show he has little care for the lives of innocent people and that he likely used Orca as a toy to satisfy his games. Has Orca told him the truth? After all, on what basis would he put his trust in the Prince, who is above all else, a man of the very Empire which destroyed his life?
