#ch213

[uwusayssnake]

KUROSPOILERS

Chapter 213: cover

[abybweisse]

Ch213, Spoilers part 3

They get to the resort hotel, and as they exit the carriage, they are greeted by a bellhop.

Someone else is greeting them, too, but Sebastian looks around, not seeing the person the voice is coming from.

Then he looks over and down to see this very short man in a suit and top hat, looking for all the world like a fancier version of Milburn Pennybags (the Monopoly™️ guy).

There's an odd grin on his face as he bows...

...and when he looks up again and speaks, both our earl and Sebastian look shocked. It could be that he recognizes them -- perhaps even addresses them by name -- and still invites them in. It reminds me of how Joker answers the door at Kelvin's and says they were expecting them.

And this place -- The Nectar Springs -- doesn't look like the place we saw at the waterfront before.

Now it's giving me Mother3 vibes, comparing it to Empire Porky Building, where the lobby includes hot springs.

I tried to find this building and have not, though I did find Queen's Hotel and Spa:

And the Royal Albion seaside hotel:

Elements of these Brighton resort hotels might have been included in the manga, but neither one matches the grandeur of The Nectar Springs' height and balconies. I'll keep looking. Let me know if you find any good contenders.

[abybweisse]

This is true. 😂

DUMBASSES WHY ARE YOU SURPRISED, YOU DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO DISGUISE PROPERLY

[gradelstuff]

Mva I’m almost there 😭

[chasiufan]

In disguise…..

I wanted to draw fem sebby but he’s already a beautiful wide eyed girl to me (esp in cloverworks art style) so barely anything changed

[5iceroy]

if anyones wondering why i havent been posting abt motorsports or alternatively ferrari teammates kissing each other with tongue it's bc i have somehow developed an incurable obsession with a korean webnovel / webtoon series abt a 29yr old guy who dies, time-travels 3 yrs into the past, body swaps with a (seemingly) random 20yr old, is forced via system reincarnation to become a kpop idol trainee, and spends 644 chapters uncovering why while simultaneously destroying billboard charts/uncovering industry corruption/gaining the trust of his teammates/winning at being the Most Celebrity.

it is exactly insane as it sounds (im on ch213 and i need to get to the punchline abt his missing kimchi refrigerator)

[onomatopagu-et-cie]

Again some other personal notes on D. Gray-Man (Link, part. 1)

First impressions after re-reading DGM Some theories and observations

And here's the part 2: Notes on Link, part 2!

A thought led to another, then another and then questions brought no answers and more questions… So here I am again, writing kilometers of notes hahaha!

I wrote A LOT so I tried regrouping some notes thematically, this post will be Link-centric along with another one!

Note: I’m sorry for the awkward lengthy english and name localizations!!

Have a nice week!

(SPOILERS UP TO CH247!!!!)

▶ Link, Mana & Cross

MANA AND LINK I’ll quote what I wrote in the previous post.

« Funny how Link and Mana can be associated in the manga: -> ch137, « Orphan and Clown », introduces Link to Allen when he’s still trying to figure out why the Ark’s partition uses the signs Mana taught him and is questioned by Link about it. It is later revealed in the manga Link was an orphan before joining the Crow. -> in ch183, Allen inadvertently voices his memories of Mana to Link. -> in ch212, « Searching for A.W.: Calling You », as Allen loses consciousness, fighting Neah’s awakening, he calls out to Link but instead is greeted by a vision of a young Mana, calling out to Neah. This chapter also introduces the importance of Allen’s name to save him from Neah’s dreams. The original version for ‘Calling You’ is ‘’君を呼ぶ ‘ (kimi wo yobu). ‘Kimi’ is the pronoun both Mana and Link use in the manga ; past!Allen also seemed to use it with Neah. Johnny and Kanda both use omae for Allen. EDIT: Allen also uses ‘kimi’ so the chapter’s title works both ways (in French, the title was translated as « Écoute ma voix » which is « Listen to my voice », I like the way the calling works interchangeably!)! -> in ch213, Link faces a mirror shirtless like Mana does later in volume 25.

-> in ch220, « Searching for A.W.: He Closes His Eyes Tighter in a Vortex », Neah recalls the Earl he’s Mana but remains in denial and Link admits being conflicted over Allen and Neah. »

I also missed this when I was looking at this beautiful illustration of Mana and Red in Lost Fragment of Snow:

CROSS AND LINK The original title for ch234 (« Observer »), in which we learn more on Cross’s protection and monitoring of Mana, is 監視者 (‘kanshisha’). Link is introduced by Luberrier as Allen’s observer in volume 14 when he’s being investigated, and ‘kanshi’ is also used.

His role of an observer is reaffirmed by Luberrier in ch220. He also uses ‘kanshisha’, but gives a whole new meaning to this observation: Link is meant to protect the Fourteenth from everyone because he's the key to end this war. This strongly parallels Cross’s part of the promise to Neah: when Neah died, he was to protect Mana, observing him to that end so that Neah would return to Mana’s side one day. The verb ‘守る’ (mamoru, to protect) is used in both cases.

Their observing behavior was ridiculed in the same manner by Kanda and Red (my handwriting is terrible i’m sorry):

Link and Cross both have a morally ambiguous role they had no choice but to accept (in the CharaGray! fanbook, Hoshino said Cross got involved with Neah "unwillingly") but despite it all, Allen still cares for them:

*in the bottom right panel it would be more « Perhaps that’s how it should be [Allen merging with Apocryphos to get rid of Neah] but [Apocryphos] destroyed what was dear to me. »

When Allen leaves the Order and thinks in anguish of what he’s about to lose, Cross and Link are grouped in the same panel.

When Allen learnt Cross and Link’s ‘death’ (and the two of them are revealed alive chapters later), a similar framing is used, focusing on his blank expression and his eyes especially, highlighted in the shadow:

Just as Link’s profile is separated from the Central Administration from volume 25, I didn’t notice Cross’s is too in the same volume:

This could be explained by the fact both characters are shown conflicted over the path they’ve taken and still root for Allen in volume 25.

Their character designs (with the rosary and all the equipments and straps on their legs, hidden by their robe/coat) share similar aspects:

(Also bonus point, Timcampy is shown caring about them a lot and both are owners of out of ordinary golems)

▶ Future developments for Link

Apocryphos got from Kanda’s memories that Link was still alive… ? Hope he won’t escape the Noah and ambush Johnny, Allen and Link at the mansion (especially since the Saying Farewell to A.W. Arc has been going on for 21 chapters)!

Allen was able to remember, with a long delay, Johnny calling his name when it was Neah that was dreaming about Mana and Katerina and awakened: will he somehow catch fragments of Neah’s meeting with Link?

Will he find out about Cross and Luberrier’s secret agreement and Atuuda this way? He knows Atuuda heals with the life force since Zuu used it on him once, but he doesn't know 1) Zuu gave Link Atuuda & 2) it irremediably is fatal to the user's life. Kanda is hiding from Allen and Johnny that he’s becoming a Fallen One (not to burden them further, as he hid the fact that Link was alive until now), so it’s not that unlikely that Link also hides the toll Atuuda is taking on his life.

Why would Luberrier be hell-bent on needing Link, and nobody else, to ‘save’ (read: use lol) Neah?

Ever since Luberrier met Cross in secret after the Level 4 attack, he did everything to isolate Allen from the Order:

1) Around the same time, he pushed the 3rd generation project in secret for it to be conveniently blown away by the Noah, resulting in Allen also conveniently being confined for rebellion. This leaves him even more alone to fight against the Fourteenth’s memory, which falls right into his plan.

2) He made Allen’s identity as the Fourteenth’s host public to the exorcists, HQ executives and the Central, to officially ‘antagonize’ him. By leaving his exorcist title intact, this clears him from any suspicion of the real plan he carries on behind the scenes.

3) He reorganized the scientists sections and transferred a lot of Central scientists to the HQ to supposedly gain more control. I guess that’s how Reever and others were not granted permission to examine Allen’s state ever since the attack on the North-American branch.

Not to mention the story Cross told Allen was incomplete or even false (eg. Neah and Mana being biological brothers while he knew about the truth): he never told Allen the extent of Neah’s powers and role, that Luberrier, on the other hand, is aware of. I guess it was more to give the Order an official story without going into the real details: he must have reserved the truth to Luberrier.

And in volume 22, Luberrier asks Zuu to save Link because he seems indispensable to his plan.

How special is Link in Luberrier’s pov?

1) His infallible devotion to him: he is aware of it and exploits it, ch213 shows it fairly enough.

2) He would lay down his life for the sake of his mission/Luberrier without questioning it (eg. he was determined to use Apocryphos’ arm to pierce through his chest if it meant leaving a clue to identify the culprit). This could come from the extreme training to become a Crow and how he became Luberrier's 'personal Crow'.

3) His skills: based on Allen’s memories, Neah remembers he’s one of the most powerful of the Crows elite (eg. he’s strong enough to immobilize the Earl, face a Noah alone and hold his own against Level 4) even though he doesn’t have an Innocence

4) His mission to keep watch over Allen ; we don’t really know if he’s aware that Link wants Allen to overcome his fate as the host

« With Malcolm’s plans I thought I saw a ray of light for humanity’s dark future. The light of victory. But (…) I made you the Fourteenth’s— » This suggests that Link was vital for Luberrier’s plan to work: its success was made possible at the cost of Link’s involvement in it. In the original version, Zuu uses the adverb まんまと (manmato), ‘successfully, completely, thoroughly, nicely, fairly, artfully’ (‘I’ve successfully made you the Fourteenth’s—‘).

And the only thing we know he has done to Link was to leave him Atuuda: entrusting Atuuda to Link made him special enough to the Fourteenth somehow, other than simply aiding him. And this suggests that Zuu was himself aware of what was required to qualify as this special role at least.

Luberrier swiftly cut him off before he could finish his sentence, so in addition to the fatal burden of Atuuda, there must be something even crueler in line for him in how he and Atuuda could work with Neah.

Becoming the final host for Neah would be logical: Allen synchronizing with an Innocence, which was something neither Cross nor Neah expected (and they never wanted it), is an obstacle to Neah. When Apocryphos attacked, only Luberrier was aware that he was targeting Allen at that time and seemed to be pretty much aware of his nature. So of course « saving Neah » could mean securing him, his memory, in somebody else.

And if Luberrier knew Link’s conflict, I can totally picture him using that to his advantage eg. persuading Link to become the new host because 1) it’s Luberrier’s order and it’s helping him and 2) Allen would be free. (Could the Phantom Thief G arc possessed!Link vs. Allen and Kanda be a silly little foreshadowing for what’s to come?? haha)

He must’ve had at least an inkling, especially if he’s known to obey every single order without batting an eye:

1)

(I expect this moment to be paralleled later in the manga, since trust and devotion is one of Link’s main themes, it’d be interesting!)

2)

3)

Before learning anything from Jerry, Luberrier was probably unaware that Link asked for a meal that Allen would finally eat and brought it to him.

▶ The rosary and Atuuda

I find it interesting that Luberrier’s rosary overlaps the scar left on Link’s torso after Atuuda was passed on to him. The scar is also cross-shaped.

While Luberrier loathes ‘God’/the Innocence, he deeply believes in Neah’s powers: he could bring an end to this war and Luberrier is determined to make it happen, no matter the atrocities.

It is strongly motivated by his desire to regain agency over his fate, controlled all this time by 'greater' entities: Innocence, God, the Pope, the Earl, Noah, as his confrontation with Hevlaska and the Destruction of the Black Order imply.

Interestingly, in ch221, Link is genuflecting on his right knee in front of Allen/Neah:

Genuflection on the right knee is strongly associated to God, signifying worship (eg. before the Blessed Sacrament as you pass a tabernacle), while genuflection on the left knee used to be to honor political authorities, kings, emperors.

He trusts Link with this crucial mission and reiterates Link’s devotion to him.

Putting on Link his own rosary, what you usually can say prayers with, he entrusts his ‘faith’ and set of beliefs to him. He places in words and act his trust in Link, sealed with the rosary.

It’s also a display of the power he holds over him: when Luberrier says Neah is now isolated (meaning it’s now time to help him), the reader’s eye path is also directed at the rosary he’s just given to Link.

The screentones highlight like a halo the rosary handled by Luberrier: he ardently wishes to have Neah’s power that he covets literally as ‘his’, and in doing so, the fate of the world in the palm of his hand, claiming it is for the sake of humanity.

(If it wasn’t already a projection of his own hidden desire for power since he seemed to keep close tabs on the subject without even Cross knowing in volume 14, this was at least a foreshadowing of Luberrier’s future plan!)

And just like Allen before regrouping with Johnny and Kanda, Link is completely alone: he’s lost his official position as a Crow as he’s been publically declared dead. Now more than ever, Luberrier stands as his sole figure of authority and devotion.

The rosary falls over the scar Link got from his fight against Apocryphos. It would’ve been fatal if he wasn’t given Atuuda at that time: if cross shapes can be associated to salvation, it’s a poisoned gift here that eats away at his life, defining his new special role he has no choice but to accept.

His soul, body and life are all sacrificed to Luberrier and by extension to Neah, Luberrier's personal ‘God’:

(If anyone has the answer, I wonder if there’s a tradition for members of the church to gift their rosary to another member, I’m really curious!)

Also in this panel in ch213 Kanda uses ご主人様 (goshujinsama) for Luberrier:

In French it was translated as « husband »: you can use ご主人様 as ‘husband’ if you talk about sb else’s husband and in polite situations. (I did a double take when I first read the French version haha)

Kanda is far from being polite here so this could be read with biting sarcasm, since he specifically calls him out on his obsessive devotion (that even Apocryphos picks on after damn). The ambivalence of this word was probably a very deliberate choice haha

[cc-electronic]

Darren Harper - 2009 - Seasons within

[ch213][Darren Harper – 2009 – Seasons within]El Sol surt entreles branques nues i la pluja ve de l’est.https://earthmantra.bandcamp.com/album/earth-mantra-archive#ambient #minimalism #ccmusic

[atalkingrat]

A few people responded to this post pointing out that Izuku had good reasons in each of these instances, and that things are different after the Bakugou Rising chapter.

AND I AGREE WITH Y'ALL.

I just thought it was funny how many people were saying Izuku can’t bear the thought of hurting Kacchan when they throw down more than anyone. But I love talking about this manga, so I’ll use everyone’s comments as a jumping off point to do that:

IZUKU'S LOVE:

To clarify, Izuku obviously does not want to hurt Kacchan. While he DEFINITELY gets a thrill out of going head to head, Kacchan always throws the first punch, and fighting is mostly a form of communication for them (or at least it used to be before Bakugou Rising).

SO: Izuku doesn’t want to hurt the person he loves. Izuku doesn't want to hurt ANYONE he loves.  This applies to all his friends, mentors, and mother, who he leaves UA to protect. We see him regret physically hurting loved ones twice in the manga (that I can recall):

(ch118) To Bakugou (ch213) To Uraraka

So the sentiment is not uniquely attached to one person.

Context of his statement on love:

While Izuku makes his statement during a conversation on romance, he seems unable to connect to the concept of romantic love, speaking instead of his admiration for All Might. I believe this comes down to his inexperience, and him being preoccupied with fighting in this scene, which is clear through the strategising he does mentally between the dialogue and the fact that he’s in constant motion as he answers. 

If for this particular line, he is suddenly talking about romantic love, it's not an idea he is drawing from experience or deep thought. It reads more as a hypothetical, an inference based on his basic characteristics; he would never want to hurt anyone he cares about, so of course he wouldn’t want to hurt the person he loves. 

(ch 348)

So, what does Izuku’s love look like? What would he feel for his closest person. 

"The only thing about you... that catches my interest...is how...you're closer to Izuku Midoriya than anyone else."

(Shigaraki to Bakugou, ch 359)

(ch 82) (ch 83)

(Ch 285)  (Ch367) 

I mean, it’s all right there in the source material.

I don’t think Izuku is aware of any romantic love (or is even ready to feel anything like that), but Kacchan clearly inspires unique and powerful emotions, born from a deep attachment that I don't think the osananajimi relationship, their rivalry, or mutual admiration can fully explain.

So what does Izuku's love look like? Well, it is not the simple, reasonable idea he describes, or a shared crepe at an amusement park. It is consuming, explosive, extreme. 

Izuku does everything important with intensity, and I believe his love is no different.

People keep linking Izuku saying he doesn't want to hurt the person he loves back to him not being able to use blackwhip on Kacchan but like...

😭😭😭

[every-sanji]

His past is catching up to him

[shysheeperz]

Angel u dummy

[opbackgrounds]

I always forget how funny and lighthearted these post-arc chapters are. I love the bit of levity before the tension ratchets up again

[abybweisse]

Ch213, Spoiler: the resort hotel

The resort hotel The Nectar Springs might be loosely based off The Grand Brighton.

Yes, I think I've found it. The height. The undulating balconies, the shape of the top....

[rosecaffelatte]

Shiratorizawa Fun Fact that’s not even in the HQ fan wikia

Goshiki was not only the ace of his middle school team but also the captain!

[iiloffy]

[kannra21]

Sneaky duo✨