A THREAD FOR WALL OF TEXT

The entire Sharin no Kuni series tells his story, motivation, actions and consequences, and resolutions.

Ugh catalyst is an agent that propels an reaction. Houzuki didn't propel anything. He directly CAUSED the scenarios in the story.

It doesn't explore (as deeply) his motives or the resolution after the story other than generic romance endings tacked on in the fandisc.

You have to realize that Sharin no Kuni is more about exploring systems and ideals more so than characters. None of the characters in the story really gets developed beyond what is necessary to fully realize these ideas. Think back on any of the memorable quotes in the story. How many of them describe the system and philosophy, and how many of them speak out on each character's individuality and personality? I also guarantee that most of these quotes come from Houzuki. That is because Looseboy chose Houzuki as the primary medium to carry his ideas across.

Houzuki couldn't have done anything any earlier than he did at the end of the fandisc. In fact, Morita IS the reason that Houzuki sought closure in the end. Houzuki tested him to reaffirm his belief that the wheel of the system does indeed reign above any personal beliefs he held as demonstrated in the fandisc by the events decades ago. Houzuki is surprised not because of any direct result of Morita's action, but the fact that Kenichi confirmed his thoughts and feelings from decades ago. In fact, I would call it relief more so than surprise or shock. That is why he pushed Morita to the extreme not once, but 3 times, to see whether the system reigns supreme without exception, the very idea he challenged and failed to disprove years ago. It's not hard to feel his unease and anticipation as he stands on top of that well waiting for Morita to climbs up, step by step.

As I said, I think the cliffhanger is as intended. It lets people concentrate on the ideal each of the character represents as opposed to any individual results as the result from holding on to those beliefs.

I guess one of the difference is that I saw the entire Sharin no Kuni series as one story. The original one had no closure - Kenichi climbed to the top of the well just to find the "antagonist" waiting.... and he just lets him go? No story is complete without climax, falling action, and a resolution, and the original was just a roller coaster ride to the top without any of the three.

Houzuki may not be as firm in his belief as it seems. If he is, there is no point in pushing Kenichi to such extremes as to make him go through what Houzuki himself went through not once but 3 times, as clearly demonstrated at the beginning of the story when he finished off the girl that went to help save the criminal. In each of the three case, Kenichi clear bent, twisted, and broke the system in order to "defeat" it. If Houzuki is really so resolute in his belief in the system, why bother letting Kenichi go so lightly or at all?

I use the term "cliffhanger" loosely and should probably replace it with something better. I meant that the fact that Looseboy did not give a concrete ending is to make the readers concentrate on the implications behind the actions and not the consequences.

I'd write more but yea I got less than 2 hours to cover the 120 miles between my parent's house and my work place so I'm basically already late lol...

edit: I find it very hard to see it any other way regarding why Houzuki let Kenichi go in the end, especially after finishing the fandisc. Perhaps try reading it back to back might make the relation between the two clearer?

ok last edit before I become REALLY late. As much as you'd like to associate Masaomi with the system, he is still a human. He assumed the role of Houzuki, but he is first and foremost Masaomi. I feel like he did the things he did to Kenichi to reaffirm what he believed to be right all along, and the "ending" ending did not take away or invalidate anything at all. I guess I shouldn't have used the names interchangeably. That is all.

Well, from what I remembered reading on some random magazine, Looseboy wrote the "main story" with no ending as a way to milk some extra cash for the fandisc, so the two is in essence one game split in two parts. While it made sense after reading the whole thing, letting Kenichi go in the end of the main game is totally uncharacteristic of Houzuki, made no sense whatsoever, and was one of the biggest complaints until the fandisc came out.

Yes, exactly, Sachi and Touka was preparation for Natsumi (obstacle wise). Which is why I said Houzuki pushed Kenichi to the extreme, to confirm his deeply buried belief that when pushed to an absurd limit, individuals can break free of the wheels of the society and the chains of rules.

Yea I really need to use quotes. When I said that Looseboy did not give a "concrete" ending, I was referring to Masaomi's last stunt and confrontation at the very end of the entire series.

The reading back to back comment was meant for you. As I said, I believe that he let Kenichi go due to the relief he felt and the decision he made at that point which led to his eventual confrontation with Ari.

I meant reaffirming his belief as in the same belief Masaomi shares with Kenichi deep down inside. To me, it wasn't simply a "reset button." The main storyline in Kenichi was the catalyst that propelled Masaomi's change of heart. Saying it's simply a reset button is denying his decades of denial; the agony he had to go through with Kenichi's father; the reason he raised, pushed, and confronted Kenichi; and the closure he sought after Kenichi's actions strengthened his own resolve that he was right all along.