#this saga is actually killing me does this happen often and we're just seeing it now bc theyre doing the front cams

[phoenix-downer]

So, I've been thinking lately that one exciting thing about SoKai in the next saga... is that in a lot of Japanese media, you don't see relationships depicted. You MAYBE see up to when a ship becomes a couple by admitting their feelings, but that's usually it. With SxK--even though part of it is going to be them trying to find a way together again, and fight fate keeping them apart--we're probably going to actually see their relationship (some), now that they're official. And that intrigues me.

Yes, this is an excellent point! 

In a lot of anime shows, manga, JRPGs, etc. you’ll see all the slowburn buildup to the couple getting together, but often by the time they do, the story is ending. And this slowburn romance will usually be with the same two characters the whole time (exceptions exist, of course, but I’m generalizing here). Sora and Kairi are a pretty good example of this type of romance - they’ve been teased at since KH1, and we’ve seen their relationship develop and build and change over time until they finally took that next step together in KH3. 

US media tends to approach romance differently. A lot of movies don’t go past the happily ever point and don’t usually have the time to focus on more than one romance for the main character(s). In TV shows, things are different. You tend to see the characters date the “wrong” people for several seasons before they end up with the “right” person. Or they date the “right” person early on but then break up, maybe date other people before getting back together with the “right” person at the end.

The end result for both approaches is the same, though: we don’t get to see much beyond the “happily ever after” a lot of the time. And honestly? I’d like to see more media that tackles what happens after the couple gets together. 

So I’m with you. I am all for Nomura exploring Sora and Kairi’s relationship more post the paopu sharing stuff. I want to see what comes after all that, how they make it work, how they navigate being in a relationship and all the things that come along with that. And I think we might see it - they’ll probably be more open and less awkward, now that they know how the other person feels.

I hope Nomura doesn’t do the easy thing and keep them separated indefinitely, because it’s more unique and groundbreaking, in light of other media, to show what happens AFTER they get together. And if there needs to be conflict, it doesn’t need to come from them having personal drama with each other or stupid forced fights over dumb things either (looking at you, certain CW shows I have tried to watch - thank goodness KH is smart enough not to go that route! There is a way to handle conflict between a couple effectively, and it’s to show they’re both genuinely trying to communicate and make things work but just don’t see eye-to-eye on everything and have to learn how and when to compromise, but I digress). 

But anyway, conflict can arise from outside sources and put pressure on Sora and Kairi’s relationship as they figure out how to navigate their new relationship. Which is kind of what’s happening with it already, actually. And there is still a lot more Nomura could explore, like...

How do they handle being apart, really? How do they make a relationship work when they don’t get to see each other for months at a time? And with no end date as to when they can be together for good? How do they work through the trauma of seeing their beloved get hurt and killed? How do they handle all the stress and scars and PTSD that comes from fighting and fighting and fighting? How do they deal with the fact that the other person is in constant danger? Does Sora blame himself for Kairi’s death? Does Kairi blame herself for Sora’s death? Do they ever talk about it? 

And when they’re older, do they think about getting married? Starting a family? Do either of them think it’s too dangerous to have a family? Too irresponsible? Do they worry they’ll be bad parents because they might be called to fight at the drop of a hat? If one of them wants kids and the other doesn’t, how do they handle that? 

Do either of them ever get tired of fighting? Do they want to quit? Do they want normal lives but feel guilted into fighting because they feel like it’s their duty? What if the other person disagrees? What if one of them quits and the other feels like they have to keep fighting?

Granted, for a lot of these, this is more in the realm of fanfiction and fanart to explore. KH probably isn’t going to go into the nitty gritty of wartime trauma and PTSD and the road to recovery, and I will be surprised if we ever see Sora and Kairi when they’re adults, unless the games jump to the future and have them mentoring a new generation of Keyblade wielders. But I went on and on to illustrate how much potential their relationship does have.

Future KH games, of course, will still be focused on friendship and visiting Disney worlds, but even just a cutscene here and there focusing on how Sora and Kairi’s relationship has changed would do wonders. Their relationship has been there since Day 1, after all, as KH has always had that touch of romance, and I hope we continue to see how they navigate it as it develops and grows and they continue to develop and grow.

Thanks for the ask!

Edit: the “keep reading” link isn’t working, my apologies to anyone scrolling through this, especially on mobile. Feel free to blacklist “long post” if you don’t want to see posts this long from me.