hmm… the thought about whether the Almagest’s aim is really Rin, crossed my mind before… but I’m not sure if it’s really the case. Although… now that I think about it, there’s a possibility that Wernhard (and / or the Almagest) has been toying with Kazuma even before. Perhaps everything that happened is part of their plans or what… I hope the author gets back into working on the main arc of the novel and give us a good ending! :p

Certainly Ayano and Rin are two different people and have to remember Kazuma isn’t exactly the same person before and after the loss of Rin.

Handling the Ayano only got interested in Kazuma because of his power. Well obviously, if he didn’t have any he wouldn’t even be in Japan and they wouldn’t have met. And I do agree it has to do as well with his personality and character that drew her towards him not just ‘wow this guy is so powerful, I wanna be with him.’ Having power is part of this Kazuma as well as the burdens of his past and his personality.

In terms of Kazuma and Almagest I always had imagined his connection had more to do with their interest in Rin than him. Call it one of those weird coincidences that this would happen. Felt she was sacrificed somehow (I really want info here) he got power and that contract from the Wind King and went after them for revenge thus making him their enemy.

@quittinganimesoon: (first of all, I’m hoping your nick doesn’t represent your true feelings :p)

you are certainly right about the age gap, which is really apparent in the younger years (this is indeed the case with 12-yr old Ayano and 18-yr old Kazuma). In terms of abilities as an elemental user, as well in other aspects, Ayano certainly is trying to catch up with Kazuma. Not to mention the fact that Kazuma has this really scarred past, which he keeps a secret from everyone… I believe this causes Ayano to want to strive to be the special person whom Kazuma will confide with in terms of these problems. She wants to support Kazuma, and be his partner, in the truest sense of the word… but what Kazuma has been showing doesn’t make her feel how she’s living up to that (this will be something to anticipate in the next episodes~ ^^)

and with regards to how we now see Rin x Kazuma in their ‘official couple’ stage, I certainly agree. It’s what I was actually trying to point out as well, when I mentioned about how we see now see Tsuoi Rin as she is, after all that time she spent with Kazuma.

@briar: yup, Ayano FTW still, IMO. Nothing much has been shown about Rin yet at this point, just a little of the time when she and Kazuma were together… which is the reason why I also mentioned that it’s quite unfair to compare them simply with what’s shown. Lapis is indeed a three-dimensional character (or that, she will be), once we get to see the developments that will happen to her (hand in hand with the other characters :3)

@Fried: Hmm… with regards to Ayano’s first meeting (or reunion?) with Kazuma, I think we have to look at the situation between these two when this happened. Back then, Ayano was carrying this hatred (of some sort) with Kazuma, thinking that he was behind the killing of the other Kannagi members. Hath Tsuoi Rin met Kazuma in such a circumstance, I believe there’s a great chance she’ll act the same way as well. I mean, it’s but natural to have this hatred on the person who killed someone you love (or on the person who you think did it).

But all that changed when she was proved wrong… and I believe that what Ayano admired in Kazuma isn’t just the fact that he’s strong per se (with his powers and all), but rather she saw the strength of his character (the ability to reprimand her for her actions, and keep her mind focused on what she should be doing). And besides, taking aside this strength that he has, Kazuma has become worse in certain ways actually… like the fact that he’s become even more lazy, callous, and sarcastic… and it can be said that Ayano accepts Kazuma for who he is, despite these flaws he has.

Let’s try to imagine Tsuoi Rin’s situation… she met Kazuma, as a complete stranger. She met him in the state where he’s still a drunkard, and easily gets into fights (I think that can be considered some ’strength’ actually). Let’s suppose that all these fights and drunkenness happened in Rin’s restaurant… I’m thinking that she certainly reprimanded his actions. Like other cliche love stories, such events will lead to the hero to set his eyes on the girl. The girl on the other hand will most likely have this interest to get to know the guy better, seeing how he seems to be like a lost sheep whose life doesn’t have any direction. All this is attributed to the fact that the girl doesn’t know much about the person yet, and well, eventually loves the guy after seeing the depth of his personality. What was first a simple act of kindness, turned to sparks, since of course, Kazuma is pretty much vulnerable and soft (?) that time, being the lost sheep as he was (and most likely responded to Tsuoi Rin’s kindness positively).

And so, it can be said that both Tsuoi and Ayano has come to love Kazuma after seeing the depth of his personality. Just like how Tsuoi Rin was able to notice Kazuma amongst other guys with the events that probably happened in her restaurant (fights and all), the same can be said with Ayano who noticed Kazuma after seeing he’s far more than who she first thought he was. When Ayano saw how Kazuma is cool and strong, that was simply a form of admiration (crush, infatuation or what), which made her notice how he’s different from all the guys she has met… but after having this same feeling (which even grew actually) after seeing all of Kazuma’s flaws, that’s where we can see how this love even grew.

I’m not really convincing all people to turn into the Ayano x Kazuma side… but if we look at the situations of Rin x Kazuma, and Ayano x Kazuma, we can certainly see the similarities in all this. I just think that people has to explore all these aspects, before really deciding on Tsuoi Rin and Ayano (actually though… I really don’t think such a decision is necessary). And more importantly, you have to put Kazuma in the picture when you compare the situation between Tsuoi Rin and Ayano… because remember, a different Kazuma met Tsuoi Rin, as well as Ayano.

Honestly, I’m not choosing one over the other between these two girls. Tsuoi Rin x Kazuma before, but the present is already Ayano x Kazuma (and I am thankful that Kazuma is now who he is, with what happened between him and Rin). but of course, I accept both this couple as they are. What I want to show is not how Ayano is the better pair for Kazuma, but for people to accept the Ayano x Kazuma pairing (I think that makes a big difference). Simply put, the comparison / competition here would rather be Kazuma x Tsuoi Rin (the past couple) vs Kazuma x Ayano (the present couple). That’s all (wow that was long… I think I made a post already. I certainly hope I made my point clear >.>)

oh, and I do agree that the fact that Tsuoi Rin takes care of herself well and the restaurant shows that she’s not a spineless girl, but nevertheless, she’ll still a damsel in distress (obviously, I was referring to how she needs protection against Erwin Leszars(?) and youmas, because she’s just an ordinary girl (not the kickass kind)).

@rOninZz: hehe… I’m pretty sure what makes you watch the show is your love for it, which drives you to want to read more about what other people think about it as well :3

similarly, the Ayano x Kazuma antics are what makes me really want to watch this, up until now

Well maybe not entirely true although Gonzo has really butchered the series imo. Crappy fighting scenes and sometimes I think the scenes just dont flow well. The Ayano x Kazuma and now x Tsuoi Rin scenes are probably the main reasons I keep watching the show.

Looking forward to more of the deep frying stuff.

And especially about how Ayano is going to snap Kazuma out of his berserk mode.

Also, thanks for pointing out that it’s not exactly fair to compare KazumaxRin and KazumaxAyano, since the two met him at different stages of his life. Another difference between KazumaxRin and KazumaxAyano is the age gap – there’s a rather big one between Kazuma and Ayano, so she wouldn’t have been interested in him when she was twelve, and even now, it’s still part of the problem, since Ayano is still a teenager, and it shows. Rin was probably older than Ayano is now when she met Kazuma (or at least, Kazuma and Rin were probably closer in age), so her maturity level and how she related to Kazuma would be different.

I’m not putting Ayano down when I mentioned that she is still a teenager – I find it realistic that she wavers between being bratty and being mature. I also think that it makes her relationship with Kazuma more realistic, because while six years is nothing if you’re both in your twenties, six years is a lot if you’re in your teens.

Another difference between KazumaxRin and KazumaxAyano is that we were shown KazumaxRin when their relationship was “official,” while Kazuma and Ayano are still at the beginning stage. Who knows, KazumaxRin might have also been rocky at first.

I wish I could read the novels. But since I can’t, I really look forward to your deep frying. Keep it up!

I can’t believe I missed the significance of her name (Lapis Lazuli…..it was obvious)