
Maybe I'm looking too deep into it & I'm probably babbling nonsensically
--
But I feel like Takopi's original sin wasn't that he failed to make either Marina or Shizuka happy nor that he unintentionally cause the death of either.
His sin was the loss of "childish innocence" (not d dirty kind) --> a sin for his alien race 'coz it goes against their very essence
That's why his mother wanted to erase his memory so that he'll go back to being childishly, innocently happy (default / natural mindset for a happy-an)
--
Also, it's kinda sad that the only thing he could do in the end was to "magic" the problems away by sacrificing himself
By using up his very essence ("innocence") in exchange, he forcibly returned part of Marina & Shizuka's "innocence": the ability to set aside differences & just make friends, parents' / adults' /society's version of morality be damned.
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This manga is metaphorical I guess
Takopi's the representation of that innocent child , powerless against the adults, and still at that stage where he isn't tainted yet with society's right & wrong.
Like the toddler us, his version of right & wrong was based on whether someone is happy or not.
Like us, he was powerless against a situation forced by adults we have zero influence over (esp in the Asian context) & becomes confused by what is truly right & wrong.
But unlike us, he can't grow up. He wasn't allowed to.
Hence why his mother wanted to erase his memories, 'coz part of growing up is realizing happiness and morality isn't so simple
Hence, why he fails to grasp the complexities of the situation (it isn't something an innocent child can solve while remaining *that* innocent)
'Coz paradoxically, part of our growing up involves letting go some of that "innocence".
It then becomes a question of how twisted or not twisted we become in the process.
Which was where Azuma & his brother comes in.
Azuma was at the verge of growing up twisted after letting go of his "innocence", but was saved by his brother's genuine love
(altho their happy ever after isn't guaranteed since Junya might not finish uni & we don't know what their perfectionist Mother will do, Azuma's hopeful look indicates things might turn out ok for him regardless)

*sry for being a h*rny m**therf*cker. Kinda curious how it'll look like when limp / half-*r*ct
I suppose ch 78 wrong upload is d reason we have placeholders
But that side, I DO think this isn't d time for smex tho.
What Etienne need is some spoiling and gentle cuddling....
D poor boy is going thru so much & he's practically all skin and bones.....
Also, I guess the Empress do have some *sliver* of mother instinct... she's still a bitch blinded & twisted by pride, envy, & greed.
Also, i feel like that empress aide(?) dude probs isn't fully aware of the empress heinous acts.... (d one who brought etienne back via horse) & maybe a poor 2nd ml candidate???? Idk.

Yah know, I have a sinking feeling that Lumiere's smiling face w/love is biased / just how others perceive it & it isn't how she really feels (maybe she just got stuck & have to do that to survive)
And I also feel the Empress DID love Lumiere (platonically) and ALSO hated her for being loved by the emperor....
Leading to this twisted situation & a strange obsession where she tortures Saphir, but keeps him alive and looks at him with love at the same time. Like, she should be the only one to bestow both love & torture upon him who looks so much like her beloved Lumiere (projecting her emotions for Lumiere unto Saphir)
And what's worse is, the root of all this problem isn't doing a thing (sperm donor).
I also have a feeling, the sperm donor fell in love w/the Lumiere who loved the Empress & forcefully took her away to try to receive the same attention, but soon got tired of it
(like a child who stole a treasured toy or pet, only to get rid of it when it's all worn out / after abusing it)
She received the "first kiss" didn't she?!
Gosh! Our silver moriarty is something else!
Will our non eccentric cute adorable fairy sherlock be able to keep up?!
Also! The war between dark & light magician might not be as simple as we think, given that memory in the theater!