moon and stars

I had this idea about Arajin and Matakara floating around in my head recently, so I couldn't help but go into it a little more and wanted to share it here too, it's kind of short

When they were kids Matakara sleeps over at Arajin's house and asks him "How does it feel to have a mom?" but his friend had fallen asleep…

Some time after they had reconciled, Matakara sleeps over at Arajin's house and can't help but ask him that same question again. Arajin, knowing what that means to him, answers him…

Arajin: She can be annoying at times, it seems like she's always watching every step you take, she asks you questions out of place and even behaves in an embarrassing way. But… she's also the one who welcomes you home with a smile and a plate of freshly made food, she's always happy to see you, she teaches you many things saying that it's for your own good, or she'll tell you that you look handsome even if you don't think so.

Matakara: Yes… I think that's it, actually... I'd forgotten. I should thank your mother for reminding me, it was nice.

Arajin: So that's what it was about… well, she's always been like that (She became very insistent about that after telling her about Matakara's parents).

Matakara: She's been very kind to me, I really appreciate it.

Arajin: It's not so strange if you think about it.… you're my best friend after all… in some way that makes you part of the family, doesn't it? Besides... since she raised me well, I don't need so much attention anymore.

bisexuality

Confession~Love and Youth at Ichizu High School~

A special short story included with the 4th Bucchigiri?! DVD/Blu-ray

Description from the official site:

Worried about how to "confess his love," Arajin asks his best friend Matakara for advice on how to convey his feelings to Mahoro, but...?!

Story by Kishimoto Taku/ Supervision by Utsumi Hiroko

(NOTE: I'm an amateur when it comes to translation so there's unfortunately going to be mistakes here and there. I do plan on uploading clean scans of the original material sometime in the future for those who are more capable. I just wanted to share my own take on this little story.)

MORE THAN A STONE

This is not such an extensive topic (or at least that's what I thought when I started), but I found it interesting enough to comment on it.

Rewatching Bucchigiri, I eventually came across the scene in which Arajin offers the "love forever stone" to Mahoro and although the tone with which everything happens is comedy, you can tell that they were already sending us a message with this, because It's not only about Mahoro's rejection, but also what that stone symbolized.

These stones have a special meaning for Arajin, we know that it's something that he only shares with those who are special to him, and it's no coincidence, stones and rocks are usually associated with durability and resistance over time. In this case, the stone represents the love he says he feels for her and the desire for it to last.

But the moment Mahoro receives the stone she immediately drops it, making it VERY clear that she's not interested, not only that, the stone is completely shattered to the point of being irreparable, and although this may seem to be intended to be a comic effect (which it is), it could also be a "clue" disguised as a joke, representing that in reality Arajin's feelings are not strong enough, or as genuine as they seem (and it's not the only occasion in which that this is pointed out)

It's no coincidence that this occurs in the same episode that we see Matakara's "best friend stone", being a complete contrast with Mahoro, not only because of the great happiness that he evidently felt at the moment he received it, but also because it's an object which he has treasured for years with great affection, being one of his most valuable possessions, which helps him feel safe in difficult times.

In addition, there is another key element here, we already said that the stone for Mahoro is not supported (so to speak) by a strong feeling, in the case of Matakara, we are talking about affection, a promise between the two. In addition, Arajin also has his, which we eventually found out about, was significant enough that even after having distanced himself, Arajin doesn't dare to get rid of it, even despite being part of a past that he prefers to leave behind. To this we must also add that the fact that each one has a stone tells us about a shared feeling, so in this case, the affection is not unilateral.

This is something that continues to be pointed out during the second half. In episode 9, Arajin is preparing a new stone for Mahoro, and he doesn't know how to give it to her. Senya demeans the value of the gift, asking him who would want something like that, to which Arajin immediately thinks of Matakara. Considering how the situation was at this point, I think it was about making it clear that even when Matakara idealized Arajin, his feelings were always sincere, something that was also alluded to before in the Nyan Nyaight Love segment, making a clear parallel with the situation between Arajin and Matakara.

And this escalates to a new level in the final episode....

Despite his efforts, Matakara begins to be slowly consumed by the shadows, accompanied only by his most valuable treasures. The photo with his brother and his stone, both broken, completely alone and abandoned by his two most loved people, even after having gained the strength he so desperately sought, showing us how until what seemed like his last moments, Arajin was still important to him, despite everything that had happened.

Fortunately, what we have all been waiting for arrives, Arajin finally fills up the courage to save his friend. Let's get to the point...

The anime had already shown us previously through Mahoro that being Honki it was never about strength, at least not in a physical sense, although I do believe that it's something that each person manages to achieve in their own way, because it should be noted that Arajin doesn't becomes a Honki person when he decides to save Matakara, it happens when he recognize not only how he really felt, but also accepts that he hurt Matakara, and it's from there that his honest desire to face and fixing what he had been running from all this time manifests in the form of the stone seal on Arajin's hand to deliver the final blow, because again, it's not just the stone itself, it's what it represents, because the bond they share transcends the object. Closing with a flourish when Arajin reaffirms the promise between the two, and he does it with HIS stone, the one that even Matakara himself was sure he no longer had, showing that no matter how hard he tried, Arajin (ironically?) was never able to leave his memory behind, no longer with ink, but with blood, symbolizing that their bond will only get stronger from now on.

Cooking, love and home(1.5)

I shared an updated version of this analysis in a Twitter thread. I had my doubts about doing it here too, but I want to avoid misunderstandings, and I also notice that new people are slowly joining in, so maybe it's not such a bad idea. Also, I feel indebted to this community

This new version is focused on Arajin and Matakara, to adding a couple of extra things(It's not exactly the same as the previous one), after all, Bucchigiri had not yet finished when I shared the first analysis. If you prefer the previous version, don't worry, it's still there

Many surely know that cooking and everything that it implies along with food and sharing the table is a whole language that lends itself to multiple interpretations, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that Bucchigiri knows how to speak it unexpectedly well.

One of the things that cooking is usually associated with is maturity and independence, since we are talking about a skill that is considered important for adult life.

Curiously, this is something that we can notice a little in Arajin, who, although he's still someone with questionable behavior, also has the responsibility of helping his mother with the restaurant, which he fulfills diligently, being one of the few occasions in which we can see the character in a more positive light, showing us in a subtle way that there are redeemable things in him

It's also important to mention that his ability to cook is something that his mother has taught him, showing her love through her guidance, it may not seem like a big deal, but we will see that it says more than it seems.

This is a complete contrast to Matakara, who despite living with his relatives, seems to have had no such support, It could be argued that he had his brother, but let's remember that the age gap between the two is not too much, so it's normal that despite his efforts, Mitsukini didn't have enough tools to properly guide his younger brother.

Knowing this, we can talk about the scene in which both friends cook together, since it is where we can really appreciate this contrast more, represented by the gyoza, seeing how Arajin makes them with ease and skill, while Matakara fails every attempt, showing us how there is a gap between the two, not only in their friendship, but also in the availability of tools to be able to move forward with their lives, as well as the support received from their family environment and an important clue about Matakara's background.

It's from this that we can address the next point. Cooking and eating are also associated with a deep and sincere gesture of affection, few examples are as evident as Arajin's lunches, it is simply impossible to deny his mother's love in each dish, again contrasting with Matakara who simply buys his lunch, and in both cases, it's something the show goes to great lengths to highlight.

However, in the particular case of Matakara, there is much more to say in this area, because if we pay some attention, for him, cooking is deeply linked to the people he loves most, Arajin and his brother, even having a scene with each one of them.

Which doesn't happen with his friends in Minato kai, with whom although he shares lunch in his room, again, they are purchased lunches. It could mean that although he appreciates them, it's a friendship that is not yet strong enough, something we will see later.

This love is also reflected in the party he wants to prepare to welcome Mitsukuni, where he wants to make sure he eats something he made, which is why it makes him so happy that Arajin suggests that he be the one to teach his brother how to make gyoza.

All this opens the door to another topic, cooking and the warmth of a home. I think it's obvious what I want to point out with this. I already said it before, Arajin's lunches are a clear sign of his mother's love, or to be more precise, that Arajin comes from a home where he is loved.

Matakara on the other hand, we know how to cook is intimately linked to those he loves, and we NEVER see him have that kind of interaction with his relatives, neither cooking, nor even eating together, nor any other significant appearance, basically telling us that Matakara doesn't share any real bond with them, or even worse, that he doesn't feel loved in that house.

And I put emphasis on the word "home" because that is for him, it's just the place where he sleeps, it's not his home, and that's extremely important, because that feeling of home translates into safety, and we see that when he looks for Arajin after what happened with his brother. He goes with him because he feels safe at his side.

Much of this were clues that the anime left through how both protagonists relate to cooking, and it's no coincidence, because just like fighting, cooking is also a way of relating.

In fact, it's not for nothing that the last scene that both friends share after the final battle is cooking together, and although everything happens too quickly, there are things that we can notice if we look carefully.

Arajin and Matakara are cooking to welcome the two gangs and their leaders. They are preparing gyoza again, but we can notice that Matakara has finally managed to make one, and not only that, unlike the last time, they are close to each other

and they both look happy, clearly showing that the gap between them has fallen. Furthermore, it is evident that Arajin has been teaching his friend, representing how from now on he will be there for him.

Another extremely important element is that Matakara is cooking for others for the first time, showing how he is finally willing to open his heart.