Theories
Kuse | Sotetsu | Future
Kuse
Shimotsuki Kuse, the keeper of the key, Snow's theory... Not much is known about Kuse, the chairperson. She is young but well respected. She allows students who are useful to the academy to stay in the dormitory and her family is very rich and powerful, so rich and powerful that Bekko would do a lot for her. She even helped Michiru out of trouble when we are first introduced to Yomi.
In the manga when she first shows up in the Z-Loan office Bekko treats her with respect, is polite, and seems to throw out his "don't waste money" attitude. For Kuse only the best is offered. Kuse also talks Bekko into taking the Z-Loan group on vacation when Chika is depressed.
Our question is what kind of person has this much power over the ferryman? Obviously she is extremely powerful spiritually as she has the ability to unlock the doors to a person's soul. She can help people be who they once were. Her powers are not spoken of in depth, but I have a theory as to why she is so respected and to what she holds the key.
In Greek Mythology all souls went to the Underworld. There was no key and Hermes led souls to the gate where they would go to Charon, the ferryman. Charon's boss was Hades. So in this line of thinking perhaps Kuse is the keeper of the Underworld. At the very least her power allows her to give Bekko orders. If her power is linked to something greater, say the Underworld where all the souls go, it would make sense that she could unlock the truths of the souls.
In Greek Mythology, Hestia was referred to as the keeper of the key, in which she oversaw all supplies and was able to run large households. Kuse is very similar to this, she is rich and she makes sure students have a place to stay when there is nowhere else. Again Kuse's character is shown to be more divine, although it is subtle, Bekko shows her great respect. Hestia was also considered central or very balanced and while she is not seen much, Kuse really is in the center of the Z-Loan group.
The goddess Hestia gave security, peace, and comfort and I do not believe the Z-Loan group could have any of this without Kuse. Another comparison between Kuse and Hestia is that the goddess was simply there. She was and she always is. Kuse, while not a central part of the story, she is. She is exactly there and it seems she will always be.
In the manga when she first shows up in the Z-Loan office Bekko treats her with respect, is polite, and seems to throw out his "don't waste money" attitude. For Kuse only the best is offered. Kuse also talks Bekko into taking the Z-Loan group on vacation when Chika is depressed.
Our question is what kind of person has this much power over the ferryman? Obviously she is extremely powerful spiritually as she has the ability to unlock the doors to a person's soul. She can help people be who they once were. Her powers are not spoken of in depth, but I have a theory as to why she is so respected and to what she holds the key.
In Greek Mythology all souls went to the Underworld. There was no key and Hermes led souls to the gate where they would go to Charon, the ferryman. Charon's boss was Hades. So in this line of thinking perhaps Kuse is the keeper of the Underworld. At the very least her power allows her to give Bekko orders. If her power is linked to something greater, say the Underworld where all the souls go, it would make sense that she could unlock the truths of the souls.
In Greek Mythology, Hestia was referred to as the keeper of the key, in which she oversaw all supplies and was able to run large households. Kuse is very similar to this, she is rich and she makes sure students have a place to stay when there is nowhere else. Again Kuse's character is shown to be more divine, although it is subtle, Bekko shows her great respect. Hestia was also considered central or very balanced and while she is not seen much, Kuse really is in the center of the Z-Loan group.
The goddess Hestia gave security, peace, and comfort and I do not believe the Z-Loan group could have any of this without Kuse. Another comparison between Kuse and Hestia is that the goddess was simply there. She was and she always is. Kuse, while not a central part of the story, she is. She is exactly there and it seems she will always be.
Sotetsu
Sotetsu, more than meets the eye, Mikari's theory... In episode 12 we learn a little more about Sotetsu and Koyomi's past. Koyomi explains that she got drunk on Fantan, started flirting with Sotetsu and later woke up in bed with him. She doesn't know what happened and is too embarrassed to ask him since he continued treating her as if nothing had changed.
When Koyomi is drunk, Yomi sometimes comes out. This makes me wonder if the one who was with Sotetsu was actually Yomi. But as far as we know, Yomi doesn't really like men, the question is why? Did she have a past relationship with Sotetsu that ended in a break up which made her stop liking men?
Sotetsu acts normally towards Koyomi, as she said, which brings up another question. Was Sotetsu also drunk and doesn't remember what happen? Or does he know exactly what's going on and simply thinks it's best to keep quiet? Does he understand the differences between Koyomi and Yomi?
That same flashback brings up another theory, though on a completely different line. From the start, Sotetsu has been seen wearing an eye patch, yet no explanation has been given as to how he apparently lost his right eye. If you look closely at the 2nd picture, Sotetsu is not wearing his eye patch and has no visible scars in the area.
Is he really missing an eye? Does he wear the eye patch simply because he thinks it's cool? Or is there something special about the eye he hides? Okay, so I came up with more questions than theories, but here's something to think about.
When Koyomi is drunk, Yomi sometimes comes out. This makes me wonder if the one who was with Sotetsu was actually Yomi. But as far as we know, Yomi doesn't really like men, the question is why? Did she have a past relationship with Sotetsu that ended in a break up which made her stop liking men?
Sotetsu acts normally towards Koyomi, as she said, which brings up another question. Was Sotetsu also drunk and doesn't remember what happen? Or does he know exactly what's going on and simply thinks it's best to keep quiet? Does he understand the differences between Koyomi and Yomi?
That same flashback brings up another theory, though on a completely different line. From the start, Sotetsu has been seen wearing an eye patch, yet no explanation has been given as to how he apparently lost his right eye. If you look closely at the 2nd picture, Sotetsu is not wearing his eye patch and has no visible scars in the area.
Is he really missing an eye? Does he wear the eye patch simply because he thinks it's cool? Or is there something special about the eye he hides? Okay, so I came up with more questions than theories, but here's something to think about.
Future
Here are Mikari's general theories of what's to come. Some are closer to the realm of possibilities than other. Some have been hinted at, others are speculation, and others are just for amusement.
I think Bekko switched Chika and Shito's hands on purpose. Sure he said it was a mistake, but considering Shito's past and his origins, Bekko could have been trying to find an excuse to keep Shito in Japan and make him works towards his revival, thus freeing him of being an eternal zombie. Maybe Bekko just thought the Xu Fu, a gang of humans presumably, had gone too far and decided to "confiscate" Shito. If the shore men had anything to do with the accident that ended up with Chika as Shito's zombie partner, or if it was only a coincidence, that is yet to be seen. I can't imagine Bekko being the on to blame, I think he just saw an opportunity and took it.
The question still remains, can Shito be revived? He was born dead. He mentions that if a corpse gets pregnant it gives birth to a corpse, which means his mother must have been a zombie when she had him. If Shito is revived along with Chika, Toho would lose his "perfect monster" since I don't think the mafia would have much use for Shito as a normal living being. What actions the Xu Fu may take in the future to prevent this are yet to be seen, but I think Toho will be a more active antagonist later.
Moving on to another topic, Michiru might be a reaper and not know it. She could be trapped in a mortal body and the seal was nearly undone when she came close to dying at the beginning of the series, her neck even marked by a black ring.
Another possibility, which I think is more likely than the first, could be that Michiru is the descendant of a reaper. Maybe she got her reaper blood from a grandparent and one of her parents also secretly had reaper eyes. That parent saw their lives would end and arranged things with the inheritance so that Michiru would not be homeless when they died. On another possibility, maybe the parents Michiru grew up with are adoptive parents and one of her biological parents is a reaper.
This reminds me of the girl at the newspaper stand, Koume, who brought chibi Zarame before the group when they were searching for Shito. Obviously she was no ordinary human, if at all human. Maybe Michiru and that girl are in similar situations.
Koume is the one who presents Chibi Zarame to the Z-Loan group after his core is stolen. She can understand Zarame and is surprised when she realizes that Michiru can also understand him. In theory it's possible that she can also see the black rings, maybe she's even some kind of reaper in training, or Zarame's little sister since their hair color is similar. Maybe she's he's half human little sister, which would add the theories of Michiru's origin.
Let's go back to Michiru and the way she survived. Bekko mentions altering her fate but what does that mean? I suspect that the Akashic Record was modified for Michiru's sake, though the record itself is still a mystery. On that same line, Bekko looks like he knows more than he lets on. Maybe he is much closer to the Akashic Record than the ARRC imagines.
I think Bekko switched Chika and Shito's hands on purpose. Sure he said it was a mistake, but considering Shito's past and his origins, Bekko could have been trying to find an excuse to keep Shito in Japan and make him works towards his revival, thus freeing him of being an eternal zombie. Maybe Bekko just thought the Xu Fu, a gang of humans presumably, had gone too far and decided to "confiscate" Shito. If the shore men had anything to do with the accident that ended up with Chika as Shito's zombie partner, or if it was only a coincidence, that is yet to be seen. I can't imagine Bekko being the on to blame, I think he just saw an opportunity and took it.
The question still remains, can Shito be revived? He was born dead. He mentions that if a corpse gets pregnant it gives birth to a corpse, which means his mother must have been a zombie when she had him. If Shito is revived along with Chika, Toho would lose his "perfect monster" since I don't think the mafia would have much use for Shito as a normal living being. What actions the Xu Fu may take in the future to prevent this are yet to be seen, but I think Toho will be a more active antagonist later.
Moving on to another topic, Michiru might be a reaper and not know it. She could be trapped in a mortal body and the seal was nearly undone when she came close to dying at the beginning of the series, her neck even marked by a black ring.
Another possibility, which I think is more likely than the first, could be that Michiru is the descendant of a reaper. Maybe she got her reaper blood from a grandparent and one of her parents also secretly had reaper eyes. That parent saw their lives would end and arranged things with the inheritance so that Michiru would not be homeless when they died. On another possibility, maybe the parents Michiru grew up with are adoptive parents and one of her biological parents is a reaper.
This reminds me of the girl at the newspaper stand, Koume, who brought chibi Zarame before the group when they were searching for Shito. Obviously she was no ordinary human, if at all human. Maybe Michiru and that girl are in similar situations.
Koume is the one who presents Chibi Zarame to the Z-Loan group after his core is stolen. She can understand Zarame and is surprised when she realizes that Michiru can also understand him. In theory it's possible that she can also see the black rings, maybe she's even some kind of reaper in training, or Zarame's little sister since their hair color is similar. Maybe she's he's half human little sister, which would add the theories of Michiru's origin.
Let's go back to Michiru and the way she survived. Bekko mentions altering her fate but what does that mean? I suspect that the Akashic Record was modified for Michiru's sake, though the record itself is still a mystery. On that same line, Bekko looks like he knows more than he lets on. Maybe he is much closer to the Akashic Record than the ARRC imagines.