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femme-malewife · 1 year

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The Beauty of Parallels and Storytelling

I talked about in this post why Aizou and Yujiro are each other’s most important people, why their non-idol songs (or, rather at least just Yume Fanfare) is theirs and how they help each other overcome each other’s trauma, and I mentioned that I wholeheartedly support Nagisa/Hiyori.

Well I wanna go into deeper detail on that right now.

The Red Herring

Hiyori has 2 novels that were written and released that made people ship the ship for Yujiro/Hiyori- being Nonfantasy and Heroine Development Plan. But I, however, think that it was a red herring. Especially since most of Hiyori’s second novel, which I have translated here, is about her falling in love with the (discontinued) character Kaido Asuka. However, after she writes him a letter and goes to confess (which goes horribly wrong), she is rejected (albeit kindly) and, despite being obviously heartbroken, she moves on.

Though, since Nagisa was still in development since 2020, he was not included in the novel, leaving many to assume that Yujiro would be her love interest. After all, it was after Hiyori was rejected that Yujiro genuinely comforted her, walked her home, and helped her stop crying, and it was Hiyori who saved Yujiro from being seriously injured by a thief at a LIPxLIP event.

Not to mention, she and Aizou both went to pick him up from his home to go with him to a New Years shrine.

While I do not believe that Yujiro was meant to be the love interest for her, it is understandable that many people leaped to the conclusion.

I fully believe, especially thanks to the lack of actual thoughts of romance with them and there was a lack of romantic chemistry between the two, that we were supposed to be shown that Hiyori didn’t need a boyfriend to feel like a heroine- rather, she has her friends who she can rely on, and who rely on her.

The Love Series has a certain way of writing characters who fall in love- even characters who are similar to Yujiro and Hiyori- like Natsuki and Yuu or even Arisa, who is arguably the direct parallel character of Yujiro. (See that post here). They have a couple good moments together, but it’s not nearly enough to conclude that they’ll be endgame.

The Parallels

When Nagisa’s intro song Gamushara released, it was revealed that they- Nagisa and Hiyori, are childhood friends, and they were both in track together in middle school.

If you notice something about Nagisa and Hiyori, and the other canon couple Kotaro and Hina, you’ll recognize that there are strikingly similar parallels.

For one, both Hina and Hiyori fell in love with a light haired and blue eyed male who is out of their reach (for Koyuki being because he was in love with someone else, and Asuka because he was aiming to become an idol with Kanata). They both wrote their crushes a letter. They both got rejected. They’re both sporty and in track, and they both have songs that sing of their love for their failed first love. (Senpai and Heroine Dev)

While Kotaro and Nagisa have both loved the girls since childhood, both talk about how they grew much taller (Nagisa sang a line about it in his song Suki na Ko ni Uso Tsuita) and how they want to be the ones that their crushes can rely on, and both always defend their crushes when one seems to be put down or is insecure. Hell, they even both tell the girls something that leads to them blushing.

“To me, you’re the cutest in the world.” - Kotaro (Hanipre)

“You are a heroine, Hiyori. To me, ya always are.” - Nagisa (Herotaru)

The Anime

“But Lisian! You hate the anime! You say that we shouldn’t consider it canon! Isn’t it hypocritical to use that to say Nagihiyo is canon when you say such things?”

You’re 100% right. I did say not to count the anime as canon. And tbh, I still think that we shouldn’t use it as the baseline for the story. And if Nagisa was an anime-only character, I would continue saying that.

HOWEVER!

I feel like the Asuka events happen early on in the story, and then the Nagisa events happen later on, given that they’re both different and both supposedly canon.

Since Nagisa and Hiyori both have songs in the Koishiteru album (released in summer of 2022) that refer to the episode (Ep 7) that Nagisa makes his full appearance in, I have to begrudgingly admit there are some things in the anime that happened or were just expanded on from the MVs. Not everything- like the Yappa Saikyou/Yume Fanfare concerts, since they already all have context and the anime changed that.

If Nagisa and Hiyori did not have songs addressing what happened from the anime, then I would say that they have a lack of foundation, just another character obstacle for Hiyori to overcome.

Endgame?

However, there’s something interesting about the songs.

Back to the whole “parallels with kotahina/nagihiyo” thing.

Both Hina and Hiyori have songs that sing of their (growing) feelings for their childhood friends. For Hina, it’s Daikiraina Hazudatta (which is also a duet with Kotaro tbf) and for Hiyori, it’s A Below Average Heroine (which doesn’t have an MV yet and it doesn’t appear to be translated yet, but the song is, essentially, her wondering how someone can like her like that, being insecure, and wondering of her own feelings about her childhood friend)

Also, it is revealed in the novels that Kotaro and Hina are hinted to get together in their university days. And here, in the Erande MV, they are obviously adults, in uni, and Hina confirms that they’re dating to her friend.

Now, as of right now, there is no other MV or anything else for Nagisa and Hiyori, HOWEVER! This does not mean that there won’t be.

Shito himself teased that there will be a university arc between Nagisa and Hiyori. When and where?!

In a twitter post, of course!

And who else got together in their uni days? Their parallels, Kotaro and Hina.

This way, Hiyori won’t be so focused on track, but she’ll be doing her own thing and have time for dating, while Nagisa attends a university in Tokyo as promised in his episode, so that he can be with Hiyori.

Will they be endgame? It definitely appears that way, since they’re following the Kotahina story almost to a tea.

The Childhood Friends Trope

In Honeyworks, the childhood friends trope always ends up reigning supreme- with the only exception being for Fuuma/Kazuki, but for Fuuma, he doesn’t end up with anyone. The only Dolce member who is canonically confirmed to be dating anyone is Sara with Uru. (Fuuma’s novel I have translated here and Sara’s novel I have translated here, if you wanna know more!)

There’s Yuu and Natsuki, Kotaro and Hina, and now, Nagisa and Hiyori.

(Bonus: here’s a really cute Fan MV for the three couples!)

So...why the childhood friend trope??

Well, aside from the trope being one of the most popular tropes in Japan, it is, simply put, because when you have a childhood friend, they know absolutely everything about you- your personality, your flaws, your insecurities, your home life, everything.

In the case of Nagisa and Hiyori, the two of them know each other’s goals- Hiyori knows and truly believes that Nagisa will be able to inherit his father’s restaurant, while Nagisa supports Hiyori in everything she does.

Hell, part of the reason why he came to Tokyo to visit her was because he was concerned about her after she failed the track prelims in the anime.

The two have absolute faith in each other and speak as though it’s simply a matter of “when” they meet their goals, never “if”.

While we don’t know Hiyori’s plans for what she’ll be doing after high school, we know that Nagisa is fully ready to support her- otherwise, he wouldn’t be so keen on coming to Tokyo come when he arrives for university.

While Hiyori has talked about Nagisa inheriting his father’s restaurant even when they were little kids, with her defending Nagisa from bullies.

While it’s true that Nagisa is very well-liked and popular at his high school and Hiyori has LIPxLIP who do support her and her dreams, it’s not quite the same as simply and genuinely standing by one’s side, unwavering support, even when you know all of your partner’s life problems and struggles.

There’s a level of intimacy that Nagisa and Hiyori share- to the point where Hiyori is desperate for Nagisa’s approval on even the most minor of things- such as looking cute, and Nagisa is so desperate to show his appreciation for Hiyori that he traveled god-knows-how-far to get to her and cook her at least one meal, something he’s wanted to do since they were little kids.

The two of them make each other happy in ways that others cannot, and stand by each other with complete trust and support- and growing feelings of love, just like Kotaro and Hina’s love story did. It’s a love story that has been unfolding ever since their childhood.

Conclusion

I wholly believe that Nagisa and Hiyori’s story, like Aizou and Yujiro’s story is with Ken and Arisa, are meant to mirror Kotaro and Hina’s.

Even if we do have to wait a while on that promised University Arc, meaning we’ll have to wait for more content for Nagisa and Hiyori, we will eventually have a beautiful closing arc that can only end with another generation opening for the supporting viewers to have and appreciate.

#suzumi hiyori #shiranami nagisa #enomoto kotarou #setoguchi hina #nagihiyo #kotahina #parallels? parallels #someya yuujirou #shibasaki aizou #lipxlip #long post warning #honeyworks #confession executive committee #heroine tarumono/heroines run the show #herotaru

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nightrae13 · 1 year

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Totally out of the blue, but I can’t be the only one who loves Hana ni Akai Ito with burning passion, right?

I was listening to my own HW playlist while I’m doing my schoolworks (I want to pass out bc I have deadline tomorrow at the afternoon, but I’m barely in half at making it lol) then this song played which made me stop for a moment.

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“That day when I only said it once, and today when I could no longer say it - I’m glad it was you. Thank you for being my first love, and for being the first person I’ve ever said ‘I love you’ to.”

THIS.

This is probably one of the best, heart wrenching and most relatable lines in all of their discography, and the way Momo Asakura sings it is freakin’ perfect!!! There’s just that sense of sadness at first when it slowed down, but then it paced up again as if she’s happy now. Even if there’s the little regret inside, to her, his presence in her life is more than enough and she would never change it! Like, I relate to that!!

Even if I love how it went for KoyuRyou and KotaHina, and I really love how KoyuHina’s story is so beautiful as a realistic and relatable tragedy I would never trade for, I still love their story and the growth Hina went through nonetheless 😭😭. This song captured what I love about KoyuHina (like, she genuinely loves him, but she accepts their fates with a smile is just- !!! Real love and a great love story aren’t measured by being endgame!)

I love how this song is just full of gratitude because even if she did cry and got broken, it was never Koyuki’s fault and she knows that. All Koyuki did for her was great things. He couldn’t love her back, but I love how she was thankful she fell in love with such a kind soul! This gives me the message that she doesn’t think she fell in love with the wrong person just because they didn’t end up together. She knew it was right love as it still gave her happiness and led to her growth as a person. In real life, I believe everything happens for a reason and those we meet have a purpose in our lives that God designed whether they’d stick till the end or remain as a simple one-shot in your story.

I might have been repetitive, but I’m honest when I say this song comforted me so much in my own acceptance stage to my unrequited first love because I see my self as Hina, and we basically have the same story by being in love in a young age to a feminine smart and kind guy for three years. I love this song in another level because it helped me heal. Having a character I relate to finally find closure comforts me. Not to mention, the lines in this song are so relatable and well-written (truly underrated!!). The melody is just heart wrenching but still wants to make you dance, and Momo Asakura is just perfect as Hina. This song is truly the perfect conclusion to KoyuHina, and I’m so blessed for it!!

#honeywroks #yo I should be working for school projects but I settled for this XD #this is procrastination in another level lol #Hina Setoguchi #koyuki ayase #ayase koyuki #setoguchi hina #momo asakura #Kokuhaku Jikkou Iinkai #hworks #just another haniwa rambling lol #I just love this song okay??#koyuhina #commentary #Confession Executive Committee #the moment you fall in love #Honeyworks #this and 1% Kobito are the songs that were so beautifully heart-wrenching it punches you in the guts yk?

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