Why Akira? Isn't he like, the villian or something? Actually, that's
one of the things I really like most about Hikago. There is no real villian, at least
not in the classic sense (ie there's no one running around twirling his mustache and
cackling.) Akira isn't some arrogant, boastful cheater, he's a kid who's worked hard to
get as good as he is. I think his side story demonstrated quite well that Akira could be
a lot different than he is. (For those who haven't read Akira's side story yet, it involves
Akira just prior to his meeting with Hikaru, when he plays a game against Isobe Hideki,
winner of the Children's Meijin Sen. Hideki seems to be a little brat -- half demanding
his allowance, refusing to drink all but a certain type of juice, etc. I consider Hideki
to be what Akira could've been.) I don't see Akira as arrogant, just someone who acknowledges
his own strength. I like how Akira is Hikaru's rival, but not some horrible person. That's
why chapters like "A Plot in the Rain" work, because you (or at least I) don't want to see
Akira lose, at least not to anyone but Hikaru. (And my shallow reason for liking Akira?
All about the hair, baby.)
You're gonna be pretty upset when Akira inevitably loses to Hikaru, aren't you? Sucker!
Yes, I am. But I've come to accept the fact that Hikaru's the title character and so he
must, inevitably, win. My personal preferred ending would be Hikaru and Akira reaching the
Hand of God together, as may happen, but failing that I'm hoping that the creators will do
justice to Akira's character and not have Hikaru totally destroy him and win every title ever
and force Akira to be number two for the rest of his life. Why will I dislike that? Barring my
obvious bias, I'd find it highly unfair if Akira, who's worked hard all his life to become
as good as he is, didn't get some reward for his determination. Hikaru's definitely going to
be rewarded in the end for his unending determination and striving to succeed, so Akira deserves
something too. I wouldn't mind an ending which suggests that Akira and Hikaru both become great,
and that after Hikaru defeats Akira, Akira trains hard and defeats Hikaru later, and then Hikaru
trains and beats Akira, and so on and so forth, both helping each other get better along the way.
It'd be a nice happy ending for everyone ^_^ (Well, except the Sai fans, but I won't get into that...)
So what about the yaoi thing? They're not gay! Says who? ^_^ Seriously, this
series is just chock full of HoYay (for the un-TWoPified, that means Homoeroticism, Yay! That
is, in layman's terms, yummy shounen ai subtext.) There's a reason Akira's often portrayed
as Hikaru's stalker in the yaoi doujinshis, you know. Plus, there is an extremely small amount of
main female characters in the cast. Akari's probably the main female character, and even she isn't
seen much once Hikaru goes pro. So what do you do when you lack female characters? You put the
boys together, of course! And if you think yaoi's gross or unnatural or something, then, uh, what
are you doing at this site again?
So why AkiHika? There are other couplings, you know. I know. I just like AkiHika
best. For one thing, Akira's obviously obsessed with Hikaru, and Hikaru's awfully focused on
Akira. When they don't have to play Go against each other, I can see them being friends. Akira's
quiet and polite, while Hikaru's loud and boisterous and altogether too genki for his own good half
the time. They'd probably complement each other nicely. And besides, they're the two lead characters,
it's fun to put them together.
But that's dumb! I like WayaHika! And OgataAkira! And--and-- Well, bully for you. I
like AkiHika, but I'm good with other couplings too. I don't mind WayaHika, but I prefer WayaIsumi, just
because that frees Hikaru up for Akira ^_^ I'm not very fond of Akira and Ogata (or any of the kid-adult
couplings. Not my thing, really. And all the Japanese Ogata x Akira sites make Ogata seem just a tad too
child molester for my tastes.) Don't even mention Hikaru x Akari. I prefer not to think about that one,.
I don't mind Akari x Mitani though, strangely enough that's one of the few Hikago straight pairings I'm
willing to get behind. I don't know why, I just don't hate it. Don't love it, but don't hate it.