Thread: Eri's resolve [spoilers]

A little Flag and no-Flag thread - considering all what already happened between Eri and Harima and what happened to Eri herself, I would like to discuss about the path she might or she should take from now on.

In our reasoning let's state some facts :
- Whatever Harima will say about Eri without telling her it face-to-face is irrelevant - let's presume that Flag will happen if Eri will put more effort into it and whatever Harima says about it when Eri isn't present doesn't count, since Eri won't be affected by this
- The Flag isn't the only option, so let's not be narrow-minded

Let's return to the topic : I think I could narrow 3 paths Eri could take

1.The Path of Ojou : Eri ends her relationship with Harima right now, it was just an adventure like with other boys - this paths doesn't make her avoid Harima, but she won't thing about him more than just as a 'Hige'.

2.The Path of Burning Hearts : Eri wants to see it through - whatever Harima will reject her confession or not is not important - she just wants to be sure what are her real feeling about him and she will continue to get closer to him.

3.The Path of Wedding Dismissal : Love is not important now, she spends more time with her friends and also tries to stabilize her relationship with Harima (in other words, try to be friends, whatever that would look like between her and Harima). It's like on her omai (wedding match) - she will put those things for later occasion when she will be sure of her feelings, but she won't do anything about it.

While I personally don't believe in the 1st option, I don't say it's impossible. The second option is full-Flag path which would eventually give some answer and 3rd option is something between, leaving some gap for rivalry.. if there is such (True Odou or Onigiri look kinda weak lately and Monkey faction will most likely not happen..maybe New Daddy faction...)

..well, let's discuss

So I'm assuming that your taking into consideration that Tenma x Karasuma turns out happening (I keep mixing Oudo and True Oudo up, so whatever).

The least likely path seems to be The Path of Ojou. Back when she met Hige in the hospital she was overly flirtatious with him towards the end of the conversation, before Nakamura butted in. It doesn't seem that she wants to give up on him completely yet. I think for that to happen someone else needs to come in, take the initiative, and totally steal him away first. The only two that I can think that could possibly accomplish that are Yakumo (less likely considering her personality) and Tae. But remember, I said this was the least likely path.

The Path of Burning Hearts (how the hell did you come up with that name?) is kinda up in the air. When Harima rejected to the confession that she had yet to make, her reaction left me a little confused. Even though it's fitting with her personality, I think denying that she had those feeling for him really hurt her. That was an incredibly defensive thing to do, and from this point on she could be trying to push the relationship further, while steeling herself from getting heartbroken at the same time.

Which leads to The Path of Wedding Dismissal (good lord, these names), taking the biggest road with the smallest risks. She wants Flag to happen, but she doesn't want to put herself at the forefront to expose any vulnerability. That most of all seems to be the common theme in many of Eri's actions, so it looks like this is the path that she is taking. The problem, if you can call it that, is that it is putting everything in Harima's hands. Thus everything boils down to how Hige reacts to Tenma x Karasuma. But this lack of initiative isn't much different then what Yakumo is doing, and currently he is on better terms with Imoto-san.

Most of all I think she's afraid of getting hurt, and subconsciously she's setting herself up for failure. But that's just me and I doubt many of you feel the same way. Whatever the case, the big X-Factor is Harima's reaction to Tenma X Karasuma.

The 3rd path I deducted is the worst path, because if Eri won't strike now, Harima will himself be in 'dismissal' state. I'm not sure it's a good strategy to wait until Tenma rejects him, at least not from Eri perspective.

Trying to think like Eri :
- She was rejected, but in such confusing way no one really knows what was the conclusion of this meeting
- They went on a date - a biiiiig step forward
- Harima doesn't dislike Eri and I think she knows it
BUT
- She doesn't know if she really loves him
- She doesn't know if the story will repeat itself and she could lose her friends
- She isn't really sure of his feelings (does he like her ? does he love Tenma ? Or maybe Yakumo ? Or is he asexual).

So many questions and so many speculations and so little time. If I were Eri, I would go with 2nd one.

P.S : You might not like them, but those names are there to stay

I agree that the 2nd choice is the best for Flag, but that would require a change in Eri's attitude that may be too difficult for her. Not impossible, just difficult.

Originally Posted by Kolox

I'm not sure it's a good strategy to wait until Tenma rejects him, at least not from Eri perspective.

I don't think she has the luxury of a choice at this point. Karasuma isn't going on the walk, which is tomorrow in manga time. If he's going to confess then he's going to do it right now or later that day. Tenma will accept his confession, Harima knows this. It will take some unforeseeable circumstances to keep this from happening. I would bet the farm on Harima being in a 'dismissal' state in the near future.

A school walk is a perfect moment for Eri to check her ground - previously she was blinded by the fact that she believed Harima was totally in love with her. Now, a little more matured and knowledgeable Eri should take all necessary steps to deeper her relationship with Harima and...keep him as far from Tenma as possible.

I don't think any of these paths are going to happen, though the third seems possible enough.

1. I don't think Eri's going to give up. Kobayashi's had plenty of chances to make her give up, but none of them have been taken up.

2. Harima rejecting or accepting Eri's confession seems to be very important to Eri. That Harima does not seem to appears the be the only thing right now that's holding Eri back in Chapter 227.

3. This seems to be what Eri's doing right now (putting feelings on hold), but I don't think that this is going to really be an option for Eri. Events happen beyond her control, after all, and Harima has a way of screwing up his confessions.

After so many chapters being spent developing primarily Eri's side of this relationship, I really think that it's up to Harima now to decide the outcome for these two.

You're certainly correct that this is the perfect moment for Eri to check her ground. But I wouldn't be surprised if she finds it a bit rocky. On page 3 of 238, Harima is "Staying away from Sawachika," and that probably won't change. In this walk there are plenty of places to runaway and hide. I wonder just how far she will chase him.

Originally Posted by Kyto1984

On page 3 of 238, Harima is "Staying away from Sawachika," and that probably won't change.

This almost certainly will change. Harima's avoided her in the past, but circumstance usually brings them together, whether Harima likes it or not. For example, swimming lessons, sports festival, Mikoto's house, yearbook committee, the hospital, and so on.

I don't believe Eri is going to chase him, either. Right now, I'm thinking that Harima is going to come across her while looking for Tenma.

Harima is powerless in avoiding Sawachika - running out from her while being at school walk would just probably end up with them being in some secluded place alone far from Tenma.. as always.

Let's presume they will and that there will be good mood for that - what would Eri do ? Rebirth of love, including Ojou's unlimited jealousy or maybe trying to clear everything up by being mature (like that ever worked in that manga, but this is still a choice..).

Originally Posted by Kyto1984

On page 3 of 238, Harima is "Staying away from Sawachika," and that probably won't change.

i think that the reason why harima is staying away from eri is different from the reason that he previously had. before, harima is staying away because he doesn't want to feel ojou's wrath, like the swimming lessons and the school festival. but this time, i think, the reason that he stays away is to avoid further issues regarding the hospital incident (harima feeling eri's butt). especially when the primary witness is tenma. maybe that's why he doesn't want to get near to eri..

regarding the walking festival, this could be a perfect chance for flag to develop, since tenma wants to walk with karasuma alone. i am assuming that karasuma is going to the event, due to what happened recently between harima and karasuma. besides, we are not quite sure what karasuma's reason is. anyway, akira could plan a way to get tenma and karasuma all alone during the walk, which includes getting eri as bait for harima. this way, harima will stay away from tenma for a moment, and focus on flag development. it could also be possibe that the 2nd option will take place, since burning hearts will flare with the light of the moon..[haha, stupid phrase...sorry, really sleepy]