i def see your point but I think that the way it ended should symbolize how once you’re born into something, you never get out. In ash’s case he literally had to deal with loads of devastating topics, one of the main being him as a literal mafia leader from a very young age on. You CANNOT just escape from your fate.
I think it’s completely obvious that he could have stopped the bleeding/was able to reach out for help but rather chose not to as he understood how much of a burden he was being to eiji.
The library was always his safe space, where he was at peace and was able to spend time doing what he really wanted. This is why he “used this last strength” to go there.
I really like the point you made about him literally coming back from the death in order to Safe his best friend (multiple times before). As I mentioned above, his last stabbing was the clearest explanations of them all: I guess that’s the point where he finally realized that it didn’t matter how often he would try to fight back, there would always be something coming in their way. He let his guard down bc he finally saw some light in his future but DIRECTLY got put into place again. This is my explanation of why he could not protect eiji anymore but rather needed to be protected himself.
eiji literally got pulled into his life and his health was at risk so many times, that’s why I think that he tried to distance himself more (by dying) so that eiji could live a safer life. (The Gang shit wouldn’t have ended, even if they would have gone to Japan together!!!!)
This is (a very very short explanation of what I think the symbolism is behind his death) why I completely loved the ending. He literally sacrificed himself so that his lover, best friend and s/o could finally be safe.
And if we’re completely honest- if it had a happy ending the whole story would have been for nothing and not realistic at all. Banana fish literally portrays the every day life of some children/teenagers in New York RIGHT NOW. Ash’s story is a representation of those. It is a dramatic life, the literal American Nightmare.
I’m really sorry for this long response and for my poor grammar, English is only my third language your point is completely valid tho, just wanted to give my impression! Stay safe <3
Spoiler alert// warning: essay
Absolutely love Ash but totally hate the ending. The ED totally doesn't make sense at all. He literally TANKED gunshots, had multiple stab wounds, was drugged, was dragged around, was severely beaten, fell from high places. He even gad combination of what I mentioned but died in a single stab????
He bled but was able to casually go in a busy library?? He's losing blood but no one noticed a thing??
He literally devoted his life for Eiji. He kept getting back from the dead to find and protect Eiji so this is a more reason why he should've lived longer because the dangers can still be imminent. (Yut Lung was still unpredictable).
That ending felt forced, was made to mess up with our emotions. I'm sorry for the rant 'cuz I never felt so betrayed and at the same time, still love this manga.