Since Ocha has released subs for the episode, I assume anyone reading this post has watched it and is savvy to what went on in Toshokan Sensou 11 (yes, spoilers ahead). biankita has a summary if you want one.

A while back, biankita posted an observation spurred by her cousin about why Kasahara could possibly be crying in the OP. The now obvious answer is that it’s really a foreshadow of something unsavoury befalling (her Prince) Doujou, in particular, the possibility that Doujou might eventually die in this later part of the series. As much as I wanted to pooh pooh away that fear when I read the post, since Kasahara cries a given once per episode for various (understandable) reasons throughout the series, it actually made me realize that the possibility was more than just plausible, given the whole mood of the OP, with the flashes of events in the series that do not actually make the cause of Kasahara’s distress clear.

There’s no doubting something very bad has befallen Doujou at the end of this episode, as all the foreboding signs such as (the crazed old hag) Sugawara’s imminent breakdown and the calm before the storm that was Doujou and Kasahara viewing chamomiles together show. Though what is to become of Doujou in the upcoming finale is still anyone’s guess… Unless they took a peek at the trailer for the next episode or have read the novels.

Personally though (having not spoiled myself far enough in the novels, nor do I really want to at this point), the ‘best’ that can come out of the situation would be Doujou going some sort of limiting medical condition (like that ever convenient plot device, the coma). Perhaps not a very favourable state, but arguably better than just dying off in a blaze of (not much) glory – in which case, should a character actually die from this episode, it would be more likely to be Genda, given the severity of his scene (and despite how, as commented somewhere else, it would still be in his character to still be alive and well the next episode, shouting at medics to leave him alone *chuckles*. His melodramatic “So this is the end…” though, says otherwise… *inner fan: NOO, Live, Genda, LIIIIIVE!!!*).

But in all ‘reality’ though, what if Doujou really did die?

*serious face on*

I think it’s an assumed knowledge to any storyteller that the death of a main character isn’t something you can just toy with with no reason. Doujou can’t just die without an actual purpose in the story, especially being a major character in Toshokan Sensou who very much had a purpose as a character when alive. Taking away his life though, would force an effect (granted so would crippling him or putting him in a coma would too, but an actual death puts a on the remaining characters in the story. In this case, most notedly, Iku would be moved in a direction of deep despair, or to greater strength (or both, in turn. See Gurren Lagann). And from what little can be surmised from the next episode scenes, it does seem that Iku will manage to pick herself up and put a strong face forward. As much as her tears are apt to flow, it seems very much in line with the story for Iku remains the strong character she has been developing as.

There’s an important thing to note about Kasahara crying in the OP (whether or not you take it as an immeditate reaction to what may or may not happen to Doujou) – at the end of it, Iku realizes that the sun is shining and – to put it cheesily – has sort of a ’sees the light’ moment, while still holding on to that all important novel that serves to remind her of her first encounter with her Prince.

What I can read from this is that whatever fate awaits Doujou and ultimately Iku isn’t going to be pleasant at all, but there’s is no note of finality about it, things will move on, Iku will have the light shine upon her for her to see, and she will presumably continue to follow her path inspired by her Prince years for as long as she will. Sad as it may just turn out to be, a silver lining is ensured.

And for that I can still await the concluding episode without a massive dark cloud murking my days till then. Even if the Hottest Guy in Anime this season were not to survive in the final episode of his series…

Now if you excuse me, I’ve got an effigy of that Sugawara hag to burn from the mole down…

*This post was brought to you by the melodramatic overthinking side of issa-sa who happens to be a huge pessimist who likes to assume the worse than shit so that even when the shit happens it’s still better than I expected -_-” Do I actually want to believe Doujou would die? Hell, no. I’m sure most of you are smart enough to guess that this won’t actually happen, but I just had to flush this one out of my system since I’ve had it mulling in my mind for a while.