sharp bittersweet pinpricks of time

So first of all let me put this out there. I love Neji. I think his plays are pretty solid. I do not think Neji hates woman. That's not the conclusion I'm getting to when I say "hey isn't the way Neji writes female characters a little weird" or "hey whenever Neji's plays more feminine Jeanne characters they're more cartoonish than the less feminine ones." This is NOT a Neji Cancellation post!!!

So with that disclaimer out of the way here's some of the takes I have.

Neji has Issues with Women

I stated it before and I'll say it again, I don't think Neji hates women. In fact I don't even think he even dislikes women. Dare I say, he might even respect women, which is better than a lot of high school boys! The issue here isn't him disliking women, it's his fear of engaging with women seriously. It's the imagined woman who his dad had an affair with in the back of his mind that prevents him from taking his roles as feminine Jeannes seriously.

That's not to say he doesn't know how to write Jeannes...but Jeannes are not just female characters in a vacuum. They're female roles meant to be played by boys. Neji has written these characters with the intention that they're all played by boys, from Fumi to Kisa* to Mitsuki. And some of his best Jeannes are great because of the great boys* surrounding him that inspires these characters. He takes no input from girls for these roles, and this isn't an accident. He went to Univeil partially because it's a boys only school, where he can both avoid engaging with girls and still write both male and female roles. Like, I feel like he said this in the 3rd event, but I was told this wasn't it? Again think of this as a draft version rather than a peer-reviewed product.

*The irony obviously being that one of them is actually a girl disguised as a boy, which unintentionally changes some of the characters he's written in compelling ways. Biggest example being Chicchi, a mysterious, talented and desired woman who he wrote to be played and is inspired by a mysterious, talented and desired boy. He's shocked at the transformation because he didn't realize Kisa was a lot more connected to Chicchi, giving her even more depth than either directed or written. It was a real "oh shit" moment for him, and even in the routes that aren't his I think this moment shaped how he then wrote Sissia, someone who also has a secret but still fights for their dream tooth and nail. It's interesting how for all his trouble-making the worst things he does are not out of maliciousness or even really intending to, but simple lack of knowledge. The parts where I want to shake him the most are less because of him and more because he doesn't knooooooooow....!!!

Neji Takes Inspiration From His Friends

As stated above a lot of the great Jeannes he writes are due to inspiration from his classmates. In fact that goes for all* of the roles he's written. He might be a genius, but I'd argue the real reason his stories are so compelling is because of the people he likes and is inspired by. That's why even when he "lost" his talent he was able to overcome it because of the class he constantly loves and is inspired by, and who in turn support and love him with or without his talent. Sappy as it sounds it wasn't the Genius Gene he inherited from his dad that makes his plays great, it's love. That also goes for his earnest and adorable junior Chui, when he made "I am Death" specifically for him, and even after leaving Amber he continues to want to give him things to succeed...except for Kisa, Kisa stays. That was another "oopsie" moment when he made someone for Chui who was meant to be impossible to find only to turn out they exist.

*The exception to this is...well...the roles he plays himself.

Neji Has Issues With Himself

Now to reiterate again, Neji doesn't hate women. In fact I think Neji is very aware he has Issues with women. He knows it's bad and that it interferes with how he writes and plays women. But do you know what would help with this? Neji looking inward. Looking himself in the mirror. Actually figuring out what's going on in him that makes him this way. But no! That's scary! So he ignores it.

Neji doesn't dislike women, but you know the one person he does dislike? Himself. He wants to engage with himself even less than he does with girls.

Neji and Value

This is the part I intentionally skipped in the part of my analysis about Objectification and Value, because it's a major spoiler to Neji's character. And that's the reason for him claiming this:

But people are given value just like objects sometimes. Especially in this world…People who aren’t seen to have value are in fact the ones that are ended up treated like objects. That’s why I think giving people a high value and making others desire Tachibana is quite an honorable thing.

And yeah, if you haven't guessed, part of the reason why he believes this is because of how he views himself! Neji believes the only valuable thing about himself is his talent. He thinks to be valued is good because he doesn't know how else to be loved other than for his talent. And if he loses his talent he'll lose his value, and then he'll be treated like an object to be thrown away. It's one of the reasons he's so afraid of losing said talent.

This bleeds into how he shows care for his friends. It's why he writes a story where Kanna sets up the competition to be her best friend's dance partner, because yeah its objectifying but isn't it also romantic to be fought over? And that's also part of why Neji set up the competition for Kisa's place in school. Because yeah it's objectifying but also isn't it giving his talented junior a high reputation? Isn't it good to be desired? Don't you want to be valued, even if it comes with being objectified and put on a pedestal?

If he spoke to girls seriously before this he might have understood why this could be problematic to some...

It's Neji Disliking Himself and Not Engaging with Woman Combined That Leads to...

Employee A and Domina before Mikki chewed him out. In the most "mature" stories, one about a company in the big city with grown-up problems, the other about a city shrouded in sin with adult themes, these two stand out as cartoony. Like, more cartoony than his roles in newcomers' and fall with less feminine characteristics.

For Employee A I ask you to look at this image of Employee A & B side by side. Both have goofy outfits, glasses and hairstyles, but do you notice something about Employee A that B doesn't have?

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Look again and be real with yourself.

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The bobs. It's the bobs! A's body is used as a joke in a way B's clearly isn't. There is an unequal amount of silly between these two. The joke is a woman's body in a way the man's isn't.

And if Neji didn't redevelop Domina into a more complex character her body would've been part of the joke too! It's thanks to Mitsuki, who for the first time accepted his role wholeheartedly instead of only focusing on the singing, being up to chewing Neji out for not putting the same amount of effort in his role. Domina still has her rocking bod, but thanks to Neji finally taken a glimpse inwards and realizing a new perspective from a girl for once (disguised as a boy who he doesn't know is a girl but shhhhh) Domina became a real star in her own right beyond the silly. You only have to watch the Intense Confession at the Confessional music video to see why Neji got silver that season. She went from a cartoonish shallow villain to being another character I'm going to scream and cry and vom over when I get to the winter analysis.

And no I don't think The Fortune Teller being a Jeanne disproves this fact, because it didn't matter whether The Fortune Teller was a Jack or Jeanne. What mattered was their sick crystal mask that could change color. Femininity wasn't even in the equation, it was all in the crystals and apricots! Plus as it was newcomers' Neji's focus was giving the freshman the spotlight, which probably made him tone himself down slightly.

It did surprise me that the Fortune Teller was a Jeanne though. Quickly had to correct my newcomers' post for that one.

And before you say it we'll get to Takihime in sec!!!!

To Be Fair It's Not Just Neji

There's other factors to the issues with female characters here. One kind of copout answer is, you know,

S o c i e t y .

Without engaging with girls seriously and directly he's left with the boys around him, research, literature and plays to give him the secondhand material needed to write Jeannes. Can you tell me a famous scriptwriter or author that didn't have a complicated relationship with women? Because I can't think of any. There's so many ways women's bodies have been used comedically that men's bodies just...haven't. And the ways they are is probably going to be deemed inappropriate by high school standards the hypocrites. And for these writers the audience or reader is often assumed to be men too. And this is set in a school for boys only, regardless of the fact that some of them play female roles. It's a wonder this place is so progressive, in part because of its unique structure. You would not have a Jeanne acting like Employee A in Rhodolite that's for sure.

The other factor is the other Jeannes in his plays. Because Neji's not the only one with Issues that effect their roles in Weekend Lesson.

There's Souchan as Kanna. In the script Kanna was still a troublemaker who spoke without thinking and dragged her friend into being competed over, but she was also fun! If Neji had the capability to both take his roles seriously and specifically take his female roles seriously I'm certain he would have been better as Kanna. But I think he gave Souchan the role in order to help his career. Which as stated in my analysis...didn't work!

Sou is clearly uncomfortable. He can't move right. And part of the reason is his lack of confidence, which translates directly to the discomfort he feels in a way that's visible to the audience. It was the same with Kisa. She became so uncomfortable in her own skin because she wasn't confident as a Jack, and kept comparing her body to her taller classmates. Sou was going through the same thing! Not just with Fumi, but with Kisa too, because he knows she's a girl! He'll never have a body like Kisa, and he'll never have a body like Suzu either, nor the talent like Fumi...he was really struggling on all sides here!

There's also...another reason, but I'm already spoiling Neji and Fumi's route in this one so let's set that reason aside for now shhhhh....

And unlike Kisa who overcame her uncertainty, Sou wasn't able to. And unlike Neji he doesn't have the obvious talent nor the eccentricity to hide behind. Because of this Kanna as a character suffered, becoming a shallower version of what she could have been. So when Sou discovers a newfound will to continue his dream in fall and practiced as Kanna afterwards, he was finally able to give her role justice.

Then there's Mitsuki. While he doesn't have the same self-loathing issues to impede his acting like Sou and Neji do, he doesn't need those issues to not do his best. Because at this moment he just doesn't care about his role as a Jeanne or even as an actor beyond his singing. The slow increase in his involvement with the class hasn't yet translated to how he engages with theater. Which is to only do the minimum of what's required of him so he can focus on singing.

In fact he was more passionate as the Cook in newcomers' than he was as Shiroma! But that was because of Kisa who willingly sought out his help and put it into motion, just like the Maiden showed gratitude to the Cook, connecting something that kinda sorta maybe made him feel something. In Weekend Lesson though most of his scenes...he doesn't even say the few lines Shiroma actually has! She was completely silent during the scene when the competition was set. Most of the time during the play she's just standing around...like a decoration. It's sad, especially after reading the script and seeing the few scenes that would've humanized her character being skipped completely.

Of course this is flipped on its head in winter. While Neji accepted Mikki's lack of enthusiasm in summer, he forced him into the spotlight in winter. Because of this the minimum effort Mitsuki was comfortable with before won't cut it, and he actually had to do some soul-searching. Skipping to the end though he did it! And part of the reason he succeeded is that he accepted Rukiora as his own role, rather than one he's only playing temporarily so he can focus on singing. He put his whole heart on the stage for the first time, something Neji never could, not even all the way in winter. He put part of his heart there, but I don't thing Neji went all the way until his own route, where when he lost his talent all that's really left is his heart.

Then There's Fumi

With three of the four Jeannes during Weekend Lessons not at their best, the only one left to take the mantle is Fumi. It good then that Fumi is the best Al Jeanne in the entire school, even stronger than Tsukasa in Rhodolite, and has the talent to stand toe-to-toe with even Chui.

You only have to look at Ando to see the sheer confidence, elegance and beauty Fumi carries with him both on stage and off. And this is a somewhat gentle role, before he really goes all out as Mary Jane. Because unlike basically all the other cast, Fumi has always been comfortable in his own skin. He knows who he is and where he stands. In fact it's not just self-assuredness, it's an unwavering determination. His body is the weapon he's sharpened since childhood, towards goals he set for himself. He has to be confident.

Plus in stark contrast to Neji, Fumi doesn't hide from himself. He knows what he wants and what he's going to do. He might act fine when he's not for the sake of others, but he doesn't lie to himself. And this transfers into his acting, putting his all and then some into every role he does. During winter he's the only one who didn't need a push from Mitsuki or direction from Neji, because he was already aware of what he was missing and actively searched for it.

Fumi's like, really cool. It's unfair how cool he is. Every time I think about him I think it's unfair how cool he is.

And this also goes for his events in his route. When he realized he liked Kisa he immediately accepted it. There was zero hesitation there. He was like "Wait I like you? Yeah...Yeah! I like you!" Zero struggle or doubt, no trying to sugarcoat it. He realized he liked Kisa and didn't fight it, and was even happy to realize it. Imagine that! Being happy to discover things about yourself.

Compare that to Neji who because of only liking himself in terms of his talent can't fully understand his feelings toward Kisa during the 4th event. Like he knows he feels something, but can't put it into the necessary words. Oh he knows! It must be love...of her talent! That's right, her talent! So he kind of love bombs her...talent to try to show his feelings. After all Kisa should value herself her talent just as he values himself? his talent! Just...completely misses the mark there because of his own lack of self-worth and inability to be honest with himself.

Not to say Fumi doesn't have Issues. He does, and is aware of them. In fact one of them relates to what Neji said about being valued. During that scene it should be noted that he never corrected Neji...he only said he should be more considerate of Soshi and Kisa's feelings. He has his own complicated relationship with being valued...but this is already too long and I haven't even gotten to Takihime!

Okay Let's Talk Takihime

Takihime was Neji's best role before this year. "But you just said he has Issues with Jeannes!" Yeah, I did, and I think Takihime is also an example of that!

Now I'm going to say firstly I loooooooove Takihime. I do support women's wrongs, especially in the version we see that matched Neji's vision the most in the game. But before we get to why Takihime succeeded while his other Jeanne haven't until Domina, let's talk about how she relate to his Issues

Takihime is a vicious, venomous woman who leaves a mountain of corpses in her wake for the sake of her goals. She used the love of a man for the sake of those goals and in the end it kills them both.

Sound...sound a little familiar?

Like the idea of a terrifying alluring woman who "temps" a man into an affair and "steals" his talent and leaves him nothing that a certain someone imagined?

The idea that a woman could cause such destruction to a country? Or a family? Isn't there a line in Sissia in Neji's route that directly compares country to family?

...

...And also the bobs if you've seen the oneshots? Yeah he has a pattern when it comes to the bobs.

So how did Takihime work? Well there's what I stated earlier: She was created for his cute junior Chui. Made especially to make him shine. So despite placing his Issues into her, he had to take the role seriously for Chui's sake. And in the process he unintentional gave part of himself into the role. It's not a coincidence that Takihime's goal is vengeance for her father.

But then it goes back to his other Issues. He was able to handle Takihime seriously...but not for long. Because the thing that made his Takihime good was also the thing he fears: parts of his heart leaking out that he was not ready to face yet. Not to mention what Chui desired out of Takihime was a vessel, someone dedicated completely to theater and himself alone. Someone who would put their entire heart on the stage. And Neji just wasn't able to do that, refused to do that. He could neither pour his open heart onto the stage nor earnestly place his heart in another's hands. So he left Takihime behind.

And the ironic thing is the Takihime that matched his vision, that was able to complete what he couldn't, was not a vessel. He poured his heart on the stage in a way Neji couldn't yes, but also he didn't do it for Chui. He did it for himself. He became a flower. He gave his role autonomy in his selfishness, gave Takihime autonomy. Takihime didn't do what she did for the Gashadoro, nor her father. She did it for herself.

I'm just so proud of this horrible brat I'm not biased I SWEAR-

So Yeah...

I think I've stated what I wanted to say. Did it make any sense? No idea, I'm still in The Pain and this is incomplete because I haven't replayed Neji's route recently enough. But as it stands this is how I feel. Neji has Issues and I think there's good reason to believe that. If you disagree tell me why! Give me the screenshots, the essays! In fact the essays are not optional, hand them over!

Of course, at the end, some of these Issues are resolved. There's Sissia. Takihime was a woman who's hatred destroyed an old country. In his route Sissia was a woman who's love created a new country. There was death, sure, and it won't be the same. The old world shattered, and new things are scary. But still. It'll be exciting.

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Okay now here's a bad joke I can't get out of my head since I started writing this.