i totally agree with you!! it’s definitely a warped sense of thinking to believe that yoshiki should just “give in.” even if, somehow, he caught himself feeling something romantic, the jarring, grating reminder that is “the lost child” in hikaru’s body reminds him constantly of his pain and his nauseating forgetfulness. we see constantly that, whenever yoshiki forgets that this false hikaru isn’t human, he’s punished severely. he fights to save his friend from a hole? his friend nearly murders a little girl “fulfilling” his wish. even indulging in the idea of their future, knowing that hikaru might hurt someone again, makes him feel guilty. of course, there’s also the fact that the more they learn, the better hikaru gets in yoshiki’s eyes. like the relief of finding out that hikaru wasn’t the one attracting the misfortune because he wasn’t the great brain snatcher after all. and that he hadn’t demanded human sacrifice. i definitely think that, once yoshiki takes her advice, he’ll force a lasting and permanent change in hikaru’s behavior, but i also don’t think it’ll be enough to suddenly fester romantic feelings. like you said, it’s not a guarantee. i can’t imagine being in his shoes, whether hikaru was my best friend, sibling, or partner. accepting the being separately might have worked, but in the package that is my best friend’s/sibling’s/partner’s body? probably not.
thank you, thank youuuu for saying this. i’m more attached to the idea of these two GROWING and that does not have to involve romance, in fact, it might be better off for both of them that it doesnt!!
why r we so upset that yoshiki doesnt exactly have romantic feelings for “hikaru”? have we for once remotely considered that the entire premise of the manga is dissecting the horrifying ordeal of having the body of your loved one stolen and transformed into something you do not know? and then you have to live literally haunted by their face, their voice, their mannerisms but KNOW that they are no longer there. yoshiki’s feelings about “hikaru” are honestly quite optimistic considering the circumstances. i think ppl r just upset their ship might not be canon. stop tunnel visioning on whatever semblance of romance there might be between “hikaru” and yoshiki and read the manga! god- please.