青い炎 • 遠い夜明け

7. What kind of bird is each character in Saezuru and why?

I don't understand much about birds to be honest... I think there's an old post on Tumblr that explained the symbology of all birds appearing on covers pre time-skip, primarily in association with Yashiro and Doumeki. I couldn't find it again, but it's either here or it was a post from @saezuru-another-tampopo's website (now closed).

The main disclosure from the manga is Yashiro being associated with an owl, while Doumeki is related to a sparrow. I agree with this comparison pre time-skip, but not for the events post time-skip. In fact, there's no symbolic association with birds from that point going forward (the bird in Yashiro's cassino might still represent something, but it doesn't look like it so far).

I read this shift as a reflex to the closure phrase from vol. 6: "flying birds speak no words" in contrast with the title "twittering birds never fly". One phrase excludes the other. One excludes another.

And then, four years after, Yashiro and Doumeki restart from square one, neither "flying or twittering" but deceiving.

6. Favourite non Doumeki/Yashiro pairing?

Ryuuzaki/Yashiro. We don't have variations in the plot apart from Kageyama/Kuga, and since I disagree with this pairing, Ryuuzaki is the character I sympathise the most with Yashiro.

5. Favourite non main character?

It would be Kuga, but because that was the answer for the last question, I will go to the following character, and that is Amou.

If he was one of my favourites before chapter 66, after that there's no question about it. Amou is the smartest and most sensible character in the plot and it shows. We were led to not have much information about him disclosed throughout the story, which made all his interactions with other characters to become speculative and intriguing.

4. Who you can relate to the most?

Kuga. 100%.

I briefly mentioned that in another post, but it's based on how he represents "light" in many aspects. He refuses to conform with a future designed by the influence of the environment he came from −or by others. His perseverance and strength allow him to create a positive path for himself. He is resilient and doesn't let a history of abuse dictate who he is or who he will become. He doesn't accept being objectified nor misled. In summary, he doesn't exchange anything for his dignity and integrity.

As for other similarities, like Kuga, I can be super hot headed despite being primarily kind and reasonable −especially when facing any kind of injustice. I was a bit of a rebel as a teenager, and I still have the same style Kuga does −akin to what people in a motorcycle club would wear. I also have good observation skills to read people and situations ahead.

The only counterpoint is that I would never be involved with or give a second chance to someone like Kageyama. Kuga deserved better in this respect.

I can as well relate with a few traits of Yashiro, Ryuuzaki, and Kamiya's personalities.

Just a side note I would like to bring: something I find really interesting is that the interactions between Yashiro and Kuga (after Don't Stay Gold) happen as a kind of banter. The same can be pointed to the brief interaction Yashiro has with Aoi. I'm not sure if Sensei was intentional about this, but sometimes there's a "psychic" understanding between people who were abused in their childhood, to the point that a certain camaraderie gets embedded in it.