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| “ | 'Why are we born as human beings?' 'What's our reason for living?' Everyone thinks about the meaning of their own existence at least once in a while... Some people say that there is no meaning. The reason you're born into the world is to be happy. That's one of the very first things I can remember my mother saying to me. I don't think I've ever diverged from that belief. And of course, you can't just focus on your own happiness. You have to make the others around you happy too, she said... | ” |
— Mirai on his belief in the relationship between happiness and the reason to live[1] | ||
Mirai Kakehashi (架橋明日, Kakehashi Mirai?) was the protagonist of the Platinum End manga series. He was the chosen God candidate of the angel Nasse in the competition to become the next God.
Wounded by his abrasive upbringing, Mirai wished to end his life by jumping off a building.[2] However, he was abruptly caught midair by Nasse, who came to tell him of his special mission as a handpicked candidate in the God choosing process, a paramount event that would determine the fate of humanity through the replacement of the current God.[3]
With the help of the special abilities of the Wings and the Red and White Arrows, Mirai gained various allies to defeat Metropoliman, and later on, Gaku Yoneda in the selection process. Throughout the event, Mirai would come to realize the ultimate meaning of happiness and the sublime reasons for living.[4]
Appearance[]
Mirai was a tall adolescent male with red eyes and straight red-brown hair that fell just above his shoulders. He was most often seen wearing his high school uniform consisting of a necktie wrapped around the collar of a white button-up, a black hoodie underneath the school blazer, plaid pants for lower garments, and a pair of rubber shoes for footwear. Mirai would occasionally dress in an all-black attire with the hood of his jacket on.
Upon encountering Metropoliman, Mirai began wearing a predominantly red motorsport costume with both the dust mask and hood on to conceal his identity. After the competition to become God, Mirai had significantly short ear-length hair. He wore the Flower shop KAKEHASHI uniform when on duty.
Personality[]
Before meeting the angel Nasse, Mirai was incredibly depressed and was in the process of killing himself. After recovering from the shock and conversing with Nasse, Mirari decided to try and live happily according to what his mother taught him.
Despite suffering constant abuse as a child, Mirai did not hate anyone nor hold any grudges as his father once told him doing so wouldn't only prevent him from achieving happiness but also those around him.
Unlike a majority of the God Candidates, Mirari has no interest in becoming God and only wishes to put a stop to Metropoliman so as to protect himself and Saki.
He also a strong moral compass, believing that not just anybody should be allowed to become God, especially if that person doesn't feel remorse or have problems killing others for their goals.
Mirai has been quite reluctance to use the Red Arrow on people to fulfill his own desires and refuses to use the White Arrow. He enjoys flying however, and has no problem using the Wings.
He claims that he will do nothing should he ascend to become God.
History[]
As a young child, Mirai lived happily with his parents and younger brother Akira Kakehashi. When he was seven years old, Mirai's family died in an apparent accident and he was taken in by his closest relatives; his father's sister and her family. Although they were kind and treated him like a member of their family at first, they soon abuse him.
After meeting Nasse, she reveals to Mirai that his family's death was not an accident. His aunt and uncle plotted the whole incident to get his family's money. They sabotaged the family's car, causing it to blow up with Mirai's family inside. They treated him nicely until they got the insurance money and then started treating him like a slave.
Plot[]
1st Series[]
Mirai saved by Nasse
Mirai is introduced sitting in class with his head on the desk, hearing his classmates talking. After finishing school, he goes to a convenience store where he considers stealing a food item, but he returns it before leaving. Upon heading towards a large building, he enters it and goes to the rooftop. Standing on the edge of the roof, Mirai decides to jump, and as he plummets, thinks about his only desire: to be happy. As he falls, Mirai closes his eyes, and begins to wonder where he will go in the afterlife, and if Celestial realm or Hell even exist. Opening his eyes he sees an angel holding him.
The angel reveals she saved him and that she's his guardian. Mirai asks to be dropped, but she refuses and tells him she came to make him happy. Claiming to have given up on happiness, Mirai asks again to be dropped. Refusing to do so, she reveals she knows about his history of abuse after moving in with his aunt and uncle due to the deaths of his parents and younger brother, and that's why she came to give him hope to live. Nasse reveals to Mirai that she ha the ability to give him one of two things: Wings or Arrows. Nasse explains that if Mirai wants freedom, he can choose the wings and travel anywhere he wants and that if he wants to be loved, he can choose the arrow, which causes anyone who is hit by it to fall in love with him for thirty-three days. Mirai takes a moment to think, then tells Nasse that he will only accept her offer if she gives him both. To his surprise, Nasse agrees, revealing that her asking him to choose was only tradition. When mysterious circles appear on his body, she explains they can summon his abilities.
Mirai uses his wings.
The two land on a nearby building, and Nasse insists that Mirai practice using his Wings to fly. Although Mirai doesn't want to, he eventually agrees, and tries using his Wings. However, Mirai is unprepared for the Wing's speed, and momentarily loses control. As he regains control of his ability, Mirai marvels at his newfound power, noting that he has always wanted to fly.
Flying across various landmarks all over the world, Mirai eventually lands, and is joined by Nasse, who is amazed to see that he has already mastered his wings. Nasse suggests, to Mirai's surprise, that he could use his Wings to steal anything he wants. Mirai points out the Nasse's suggestion sounds like something a Devil would suggest, but Nasse reveals that Devils do not exist, except inside the hearts of men. To Mirai's shock, Nasse reveals that she knows of his desire to murder his aunt and uncle, and states that this wish could mean that he has a devil in his heart too. In response to Mirai's shock, Nasse reveals to him that his aunt and uncle were responsible for his parents' deaths. Mirai is horrified, and Nasse suggests that, if he doesn't believe her, he can use his arrow to force them to confess.
Arriving at his aunt's home, Mirai uses shoots his aunt with the arrow, causing her to instantly fall in love with him. As his aunt begins to flirt with him, Mirai demands to know if she murdered his family. Horrified, Mirai's aunt insists that she did not want to murder Mirai's family, but that her husband insisted on killing them. As Mirai's uncle enters, Mirai's aunt, in tears, turns on him, revealing that he had convinced her to kill Mirai's family in order to take their money. As his uncle tries to silent his aunt, Mirai, in a stupor, asks why he was the only one they did not kill. Mirai's aunt reveals that they did not kill him so that they could receive insurance for taking care of him.
Mirai causes his aunt to kill herself.
Devastated, Mirai angrily begins screaming that people like his aunt and uncle should die. His aunt, hearing Mirai, immediately takes a butcher knife and slits her own throat, much to the shock of Mirai and his uncle. Horrified, Mirai wonders what is happening and Nasse explains to him that it is because he his aunt she should go die after shooting her with his arrow. Mirai begins to suggest calling an ambulance, but Nasse reveals that Mirai's aunt is already dead and points out another angel arriving to take her soul. Watching his aunt's body, Mirai begins to recall conversations he had with his mother before her death and, in tears, realizes that he wants to continue living, and try to find his own happiness in life.
Three days after his aunt's death, Mirai awakes from a nightmare inside a hotel room that he used his arrow to acquire. Nasse is worried, but Mirai assures her that he is okay. While Nasse tries to convince him to go outside and find happiness, Mirai takes out all of the money he has, and shows it to her, reminding her that he is only staying in the hotel room because of his arrow. Mirai reminds Nasse of her suggestion to use his new abilities to steal what he wants, but insists that he would never find happiness in such things. Nasse is puzzled to learn that Mirai doesn't find happiness in stealing, noting that she thought he would like it even more if he had become God so that he could use the powers freely. Mirai, confused, asks what she means by "God."
Mirai is shocked to learn that twelve other humans have been selected to potentially become the next God along with their Angel. Although he insists that he believes Nasse, he reveals that he has no desire, or ability, to become God. Nasse reveals that if Mirai does not become an angel, his powers will be taken away, but Mirai tells her that he does not care, and only wants to gain "normal happiness". Mirai admits, however, that he will need money for his plans, and that he may use his arrow to get a job. He is horrified, however, when Nasse suggests that he use his arrow to kill his uncle and cousins in order to inherit their money. Mirai insists that if he did such a thing, he would be no different than them, but Nasse points out that his uncle's money was his parents' originally, and he would only be taking back what was originally his. Nasse reveals to Mirai a second, white arrow, which immediately kills anyone who is shot with it. Despite Nasse's encouragement, Mirai insists that he will not kill anyone else, and will simply use his red arrow to force his uncle to admit to murdering his parents. Nasse excitedly begins to drag Mirai to the door, announcing that they will make his uncle confess to the murders, but Mirai stops her, telling her that he will go after his high school entrance exams in the morning.
As he turns on the TV, Mirai is shocked to see another angel floating above the head of Tonma Rodriguez, a famous actor who is in the middle of being interviewed. Nasse confirms to Mirai that the presence of the angel means that Tonma is another contender to be God. Mirai is disgusted to learn that Tonma has been using his arrows to force numerous women to fall in love with him, but Nasse tells him Tonma's actions won't affect his eligibility to become God. Nasse also reveals to Mirai that the red arrow can only be used on a person once, and that if he wants them to continue to love him after the effects of the arrow have worn off, he must get the person to truly fall in love with him. Mirai begins to take pity on the women under his influence, and asks Nasse if there is any way to avoid the arrows. Nasse reveals to him that it is possible him to avoid an arrow using his wings, as they allow the user to move faster than the arrow, but that there is no way for normal humans to avoid them.
The next day, as Mirai leaves his entrance exams, Nasse complains that he could gain entrance with his arrow, Mirai insists that he wants gain entrance to the school on his own merits. As they walk, Nasse reveals that she knows that Mirai chose to apply to a specific high school because it is where his childhood friend, whom he has a crush on, is attending, but informs Nasse that he will not be using his red arrow t gain her affections. As leaves the high school campus, Mirai overhears a group of girls talking about the mysterious death of Rodriguez.
After using his red arrow to force his uncle to confess to the murder of his parents, Mirai obtained all of his parents' money, and bought himself an apartment. While out shopping for groceries, Nasse attempted to compliment him for successfully gaining entrance into the high school of his choice, and for coming up with the idea to force a confession out of his uncle, but Mirai tells her that he can't feel happy about any of it, after hearing about Tonma Rodriguez getting murdered. Their conversation is interrupted by a nearby news broadcast, which is running an interview with the real-life superhero Metropoliman. While watching footage of Metropoliman's exploits, Mirai is stunned to see that Metropoliman using wings and arrows, realizing that Metropoliman is also a god candidate. He is even more stunned when Metropoliman declares that his mission on Earth is to defeat his twelve enemies from Celestial realm, realizing that Metropoliman was the one who killed Tonma. Realizing that having Nasse near him will alert any nearby god candidates to his identity, Mirai orders Nasse to leave his side immediately.
After re-watching Metropoliman's interview in his apartment, Mirai decides to ask Nasse to take him off of the list of god candidates, but Nasse reveals that he will die if he drops out of the running. Changing the subject, Mirai asks about the different Angel rankings, and Nasse explains to him the difference between Special, Level One, and Level Two Angels. Mirai notes that Metropoliman will likely target Special Angels and their candidates first, but decides to attend his first day of high school anyway, rationalizing that he won't achieve happiness (as Nasse wishes) by hiding in his apartment.
Mirai prepares for school.
As he prepares for school, Mirai reminds Nasse to stay away from him, so that the sight of her won't reveal his identity to any other Candidates. Nasse suggests, once again, that he use his red arrow on his crush, Saki Hanakago, revealing that using it for such purposes is considered "correct" by Angels. Mirai insists, however, that after seeing the arrows being used by Metropoliman to kill others, and even using the arrow to kill his own aunt, that he cannot use however he wants. He also reminds Nasse that using the arrow in public might alert Metropoliman to his identity, but assures her that he will use the red arrow without hesitation if he ever encounters the superhero.
Arriving at the school, Mirai's excitement for his new school life is replaced by horror at the sight of an angel flying above the school. Although he tries to pretend that he doesn't see him, the Angel startles him, causing him to reveal his identity as a god candidate. Mirai, panicked, asks if the angel's candidate is nearby, and the Angel confirms that his Candidate is also a student at Mirai's school, and that she is standing behind him. Terrified, Mirai turns around to find Saki standing behind him.
Abilities[]
- Wings – The Wings Nasse gives Mirai lets him have the "freedom" to fly anywhere in the world.
- Red Arrow – The Red Arrow has the power to force anyone who is shot with it to fall in love with the user for 33 days.
- White Arrow – The White Arrow has the power to instantly kill anyone who is shot with it.
- Intelligence – Mirai is an intelligent teenager gifted with great powers (including the ability to kill) by an amoral supernatural being.
- Extreme Pacifist - Adheres a philosophy of nonviolence to such an extraordinary degree that he abstain from causing harm or engaging in any form of physical conflict, even when confronted with dire circumstances. This commitment to non-aggression extends beyond personal safety and can encompass refusing to harm others even in situations where self-defense or protection of loved ones would conventionally warrant a forceful response.
Relationships[]
Nasse[]
Nasse was Mirai's angel who rescued him from jumping off a building. Through her guidance in the competition to identify the future God, Mirai became more determined to seek authentic happiness and generally live a happy life.
Unnamed aunt[]
Mirai heavily disliked his aunt for killing his family when he was younger and abusing him until his adolescent years. After using the red arrow to manipulate her in killing herself, Mirai deeply showed regret in his actions, succumbing to a guilty state that brought him to tears.
Unnamed uncle[]
Alongside his aunt, Mirai disliked his uncle for advising his aunt to kill his family, robbing his father of finances, and abusing him. For these reasons, they had a constrained relationship which reflected on his initially headstrong will to end himself. After officially becoming a god candidate, Mirai was told to kill his uncle by his angel Nasse. However, he declined Nasse's suggestion and instead chose to use his red arrows to manipulate him into confessing his crimes to the police, an affirmation of his empathy and humane feelings toward him.
Saki Hanakago[]
Mirai and Saki initially had a complicated relationship. As old friends who frequently bonded with each other over the course of their childhood, Mirai developed a romantic liking to her that continued on to his high school years. However, he merely admired her from afar and did not plan on reconciling his feelings until he had been shot with one of Saki's red arrows, controlling him entirely to the point of confession. Saki was unsettled by the admission of his feelings; she had been known to be a bystander to his grave bullying in school after he had been unintentionally orphaned, but she was eventually forgiven by Mirai once the power of the arrow had worn off.
Etymology[]
- The name Mirai means "tomorrow" (明日).
- Mirai's name is written as the kanji 明日 (Ashita, "tomorrow", but read Mirai) instead of 未来 (Mirai, "future").
- Likewise, Mirai’s Japanese anime voice actor Miyu Irino's first name 自由 is often read as jiyu or "freedom".
- Mirai's surname Kakehashi means "crosslink, bridge building" (架橋).
- It can also mean "rack, erect, frame, mount, support, shelf, construct" (架) (kake) and "bridge" (橋) (hashi) separately.
References[]
- ↑ Platinum End manga: Chapter 57 (pp. 12 & 13)
- ↑ Platinum End manga: Chapter 1 (pp. 5 - 8)
- ↑ Platinum End manga: Chapter 1 (pp. 9 - 13)
- ↑ Platinum End manga: Chapter 57 (pp. 12 & 13)
See also[]
| Civilians | |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan Police Department | Masaya Hoshi · Manami Yumiki · Tanaka |
| Joso Academy | Sayuri · Noguchi · Mizukiyo Minamikawa |
| Tokyo University | Gaku Yoneda · Yuri Temari · Naoi |
| Family | |
| Kakehashi family | Mirai Kakehashi · Saki Hanakago · Mirai's aunt · Mirai's uncle |
| Mukaido family | Nanato Mukaido · Aya Mukaido · Nanaka Mukaido |
| Uryu family | Kanade Uryu · Rea Uryu |
| God candidates | |
|---|---|
| Special rank | Mirai Kakehashi† · Kanade Uryu† · Gaku Yoneda† |
| First rank | Saki Hanakago† · Nanato Mukaido† · Saburo Tabuchi† · Shogo Hatakeyama† · Hajime Sokotani† · Susumu Yuito† · Shuji Nakaumi† |
| Second rank | Chiyo Nakayama† · Tonma Rodriguez† · Yuri Temari† |