Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-27713352-20160922044803/@comment-28833597-20161003195457

Eradicate Us wrote: 30325dh wrote:

Eradicate Us wrote: Just the prior year, Isayama Hajime (the guy who does the actual manga) made it clear in an official interview that for Eren, rather than a lover, Mikasa's presence is more like a mother to him. He even went fairly in depth about it, even saying that just like towards one's actual mother, Eren will eventually get to a point where he moves away from Mikasa once he grows up and becomes independent from her, and that he might draw that scene one day. Of course, Eren obviously has more growing up to do and hasn't reached that point yet. I've heard from multiple sources, even from Japanese speakers that that interview was anime centric.

As for what I think. I wouldn't doubt if they do end up together. Though, not married, I don't think they'd make it to that point. I have a feeling they'll both die before they could. And I agree, the manga's main feature is the action, which I very much like. I'd rather that stay the focus instead of half a chapter on their potential romance.

The thing is the author also talked about things in that interview that had yet to happen even in the manga, including saying something about how Eren and Armin's relationship would not remain like close childhood friends, which obviously had yet to happen not only in the anime as far as it left off, but also in the manga even as far as it got at the time. And even now, we're still not quite at that point yet, but rather, maybe it's just about to start. And Eren also obviously still has more growing up to do yet before he can be considered fully independent from Mikasa and move away from her, even as far as the manga is now, which is why the author said he "might draw that scene one day", something he obviously hasn't done yet if he's talking about something he will do in the future, which would also certainly put it past where the anime left off.

It would depend what chapter the manga was on when that interview was done. One person said it was done before chapter 50 was written, which I guess is the golden chapter or something. I personally don't know for sure so I won't push this as being true until I know for myself. They've already become pretty independent from each other in these current chapters. Well, Eren was always trying to be independent I think but Mikasa is obeying orders without bothering to be fighting with Eren right there or solving his problems every time he has a squabble with Jean. She even said Eren (and Armin too for that matter) can handle it themselves so she doesn't need to go baby them. Something she used to do all the time. And as the mentioning parts of the manga in that interview, it's not exactly uncommon for writers to hint at future events in the story.

But eh, I'm only saying what I think. I personally don't mind if everything is left vague and there's no confirmation. I like how Isayama likes to leave things open for you to fill in the blanks and I believe he will do the same in Eren and Mikasa's case. Either way is fine. I just don't agree that Mikasa's feelings are only friendship or familial or whatever. I think it's fairly obvious on Mikasa's end. As for growing up together, according to psychological studies that sense of someone being like a sibling or family in general completely sets in at 6 years old. The subjects of that study were from a kindergarten class that were studied till they were old enough to be married. Out of all those children only one pair ended up getting married. Mikasa never even knew Eren for the first 9 years of her life. Apparently in Japan, for example, it's not taboo to marry someone like your cousin you've always known. Though it isn't very common for that to happen. Probably because of that psychological bond I just mentioned. As for Eren, who knows, I have some doubts about what he's feeling at this point.

I really do hope the things like relationships and feelings are left vague at the end. For everyone in the story. I'm not exactly a fan of epilogues, they always end up sounding like fan fiction to me. They aren't necessary. Even though I was glad it was confirmed that Ichigo and Rukia didn't end up together in Bleach, I still really wish the epilogue was left out.