#things happen

Gods. Where to begin? First of all, I want to say this isn't criticism of this event or its writing - it works just fine from an outside perspective. Mauro's dramatic but not the type to make Drama, so I'm guessing the protag is...like this...to keep the dynamics interesting. People love drama, after all. And a story where things work out a little too well runs the risk of being boring.

But...as someone who plays at least partway immersively, this event felt like watching myself get possessed. It's one of those scenes that made me want to shout "You're not me!" at the screen Persona 4 style. And my overall reaction was sorta...aw heck not again because I felt this exact same way about Ryker's main event in 5.

And the thing that kills me is - I really was with Subaru for a minute there. His whole little speech about why he fell for Mauro was so on-point it could've been me. I was nodding along thinking MC really gets me when it just took that one sharp turn out of nowhere and derailed the entire thing.

I felt so bad for Mauro. I almost wanted to apologize for even confessing to him, because doing so put him in this difficult position and the MC is just...not understanding of it. At all. For context, when it comes down to it I feel I share a similar way of thinking with Mauro, so I really understood where he was coming from. Basically, I was very sympathetic toward him, and the MC was...not.

Gripes about the MC aside though, it was a really good Mauro event, and by the end of it I was confident I'd made the right choice with him. (Already felt the best about him, felt even better about it after the initial "I love you", and the confession just sealed it.)

I'll do my best to break down the why, so for anyone willing to stick it out with me, hopefully this will be coherent...

I don't know how common this opinion is, but I've seen some people interpret Mauro as selfish here - and I couldn't disagree more (disclaimer: everyone's free to their interpretation of course and I'm definitely not claiming any of my own as objectively correct). I greatly appreciated his straightforward honesty in all regards. He's torn. He truly, truly loves the MC, but his dream is his life. He can't have both. It is, as he says, an "impossible" decision.

And so he wishes everything had remained unsaid. If the MC hadn't confessed to him, he could have buried his own feelings and moved on...not knowing whether the MC even felt the same. The decision, in a way, would be made for him.

But once he knows for a fact that the MC does feel the same way? In his own words, he acknowledges his wish as "cruel"...and comes out in the open with his own feelings. He honors the MCs honesty with his own, effectively cutting off his "easy way out". And then he explains the inherent dilemma: that he cannot pursue both a life with the MC and his lifelong dream. He has to choose, and this choice is understandably painful.

And like. I don't know how the MC could possibly pressure him with the "me or your dream, choose now" ultimatum given the circumstances. Being an adventurer is a core part of what makes Mauro...well, Mauro. It colors his outlook, his perspective, his way of being. It's his happiness, and it's most certainly a big reason why I (and were I to hazard a guess, most people who romanced him) fell for him in the first place. MC even says this themself. How could you want to take that away from him? I dunno but...I actually thought it was the MC being selfish here.

Because the way I saw it...the relationship was something MC wanted (as in, you have to make MC confess first). And in any kind of relationship, if you really want it, you have to be willing to accept it on the other person's terms. The "solution", which Mauro calls "irresponsible" and "cowardly", was actually what I wanted from the get go - a "hey, I know adventuring is important to you, and I could never ask you to give it up; maybe this won't work out, but if you're willing then I'd still like to try. (And if not I hope we can still be friends.)"

Which is why I was so frustrated with the MC's lack of compassion. Not only do they pressure him with a cruel ultimatum, but also the whole "I'm just a burden to you then" and "tell me I'll just drag you down" stuff was literally just...putting words in his mouth. Like he didn't say any of that. It all felt...needlessly cruel to me, especially with Mauro being as softhearted as he is. He doesn't want to hurt you, yet the MC kind of just...twists his words in a way that feels almost designed to make him feel bad.

And let me tell you...I've been on the receiving end of this sort of thing before, and it sucks.

And poor Mauro just takes it. He doesn't get angry or even defensive...because he's incredibly self aware. He sees the truth in the accusations, understands where he's being selfish or unfair.

It's that same self-awareness, I think, that makes him so apprehensive to accept the MC's confession - he loves the MC dearly, perhaps more than he's loved anything before - but he knows himself. I don't think the issue is that traveling is more important, but rather that the MC is possibly just as important. If traveling meant more to him, he'd choose it in a heartbeat - Mauro follows his heart above all. The fact he can't choose is a testament to how much the MC means to him, how much he does want to be with them. But. He knows himself well, and he knows that wanderlust is likely to take him eventually. So although losing the MC to another would destroy him, he can't bring himself to commit with that chance he may selfishly leave them. He just can't do that to them. (Granted, I do think there are other factors at play. I imagine he also fears losing his dream - should he commit and choose to stay, a very important part of him will die. Even if he ends up happy with the result.)

I also think that's why he planned on leaving without saying anything about how he felt - he knows how likely he is to yield to the siren song of adventure, and so by choosing his travels, he avoids breaking any hearts. Besides his own, of course. But once the MC makes their feelings clear, this is no longer an option.

(Also...I can't imagine what it must have been like for him to sit on those feelings. Mauro's a guy who strives to let everyone know how he feels, who wears his heart on his sleeve, who can't keep a secret to save his life according to Hina. His emotions are big and intense, and his feelings for the MC are likely intense even by his own standards. It's a wonder he didn't just...explode or something. True, he's not the best at hiding it - that "worthy of worship / deep introspection" bit at the end of his Bond 6 quest was...not subtle at all. But I can't help but wonder if keeping a lid on such intense feelings isn't like. Physically painful for him or anything.)

I'd say that self-awareness is also why he didn't bring up his "irresponsible, cowardly request" at the start, and was in fact very hesitant to bring it up at all. He only does so after essentially being backed into a corner by MC. It's the scenario where he gets the best of both worlds - he gets to be with the MC but without the expectation of a long-term commitment, so that he'll be free to travel if he so chooses. If he were truly selfish, he'd have gone for this solution from the start. But he doesn't because it is, as he says, irresponsible and cowardly. It's selfish and he knows it. He's ashamed to make a request that's so blatantly unfair.

Although it's the outcome most convenient for him, he only proposes it when pressured, and he's sorry to do so.

And honestly? I don't think he set it up this way because he fully intended to leave, or that he didn't want to be serious about the relationship. It's that he didn't know how things would turn out, and he's also a man of his word. It may be irresponsible and cowardly, but I completely understand wanting to feel things out as they go rather than just...committing. Mauro's a true free spirit. Of course he'd be averse to being tied down in any way. But he also doesn't want to break any promises made to the MC and hurt them.

And ultimately, if he were truly selfish...he wouldn't even care about any of this. He's so torn up about all of this not only because of what he might lose, but because the MC's feelings are also on the line and he cares. He understands and is considerate of their feelings, of how his decisions may affect them. He doesn't want to be unfair, they deserve better than that. And the thought of rejecting or betraying the MC pains him. He wants them to be happy. He wants to make them happy.

All in all, I loved the confession for Mauro, I just wish the MC wasn't so...whatever's going on with them. I felt bad for Mauro most of the way through and the only saving grace in that regard was finally getting to the point where I could accept his proposition...and getting that big, cheery "GRAZIE YAAHOOO!" in return. Best reaction I could've asked for. He's just so very happy and full of joy and that's really all I wanted! To make him happy!

...It's probably best I stop before I think of anything more to say - I know I certainly could. So...last thing. To revisit the initial question, I actually don't think I was taken by surprise quite as much as others were in regard to Mauro himself. I won't say I expected it, but I did already have a sense that Mauro was a lot more mature and capable of seriousness than most seemed to believe by this point. (Also, I think the initial "I love you" part of the confession sets up what's to come quite well.)