The Emperor and The Magician
i love them sfm im gonna die
Eiwata Songs (with relevant lyrics): Manten & Red Moon by Kalafina
A lot of discourse has come to light that suggests that the relationship between Eichi Tenshouin and Wataru Hibiki is abusive. The ship, known under the name of Eiwata or Wataei, is one of the most popular ones in Ensemble Stars, hence the appreciable amount of conflict within the fandom.
This dissertation, based on research and thorough analysis, argues that their complex bond falls under the concept of friendship, deep and mutual admiration, perhaps even a romantic relationship.
In order to understand this essay, a better understanding of each character's background and personality is needed.
Eichi Tenshouin is an eighteen-year-old boy, broken both psychologically and physically by a disease, which nature is still unknown thus far. This had led him to a very poor health, a fear of death and a strong will of power.
Moreover, Eichi comes from a wealthy family and has always been reminded that he didn't have much time left to live, not to mention the number of funerals and deaths he had to endure. He started locking himself up and life has never been something he could enjoy like a normal kid would. Instead, he was a spoiled and selfish child, throwing tantrums all over the place, making his surroundings' life a disaster. He developed some sort of god complex because of all the praises he used to get from his servants. The reason behind this terrible behavior was also a conflict with himself: he wanted to prove to himself (and probably to everyone around him as well) that he still had control and power over something, anything. He despised everyone anyway and it was the only way he found to go against his sad fate.
« But I felt empty. My fear of death never once abated. »
—Eichi, in Quarrel Festival
Keito was his childhood friend and meeting him undoubtedly changed his way of seeing and enjoying life. Despite all the lectures he gives to Eichi, Keito was the first person he could count on and who taught him "It's in the shadow of death that life shines brightest".Their relationship has always been a bit complicated, as they haven't talked for quite a long while besides family's business matters. Nevertheless, Keito is truly the one who saved Eichi and made him feel loved in his life. Indeed, his own parents don't seem to care much about him although they are quite overprotective toward their son. It is because Eichi is their only heir; "It's not love, or even concern", he said. As a result, he didn't know what Friendship or Love really meant.
As a matter of fact, Eichi's family's business is in the entertainment industry, which explains his duty, as the future heir, to enter Yumenosaki Academy. What was at first an obligation became a dream, thus becoming an idol was something he had decided of his own free will. Being an idol was the only thing that has ever made him feel Alive and he knew it was exactly what he wanted to be, no matter what he had to endure to succeed and no matter what his body's limits were. Even though he had to work up to ten times harder than everyone else, he was determined to do it. This is also the reason why he's so ruthless towards other idols, as seen in many Ensemble Stars' chapters: he doesn't accept the fact that gifted people could waste their talent by being so lazy when their body allows them to fully exploit their potential. Eichi couldn't accept this unfairness, which had led him to become Yumenosaki's tyrant president.
« A life lived in peace is one where a person’s will to fight is robbed from them. If that is the case, then I do not desire such advancement. »
—Eichi, in his Substory
Eichi Tenshouin is a complex character that holds a grudge against an unfair life. Stubborn and ambitious, he denies all obstacles and would do anything to reach his goals, no matter how many dreams he has to crush. This is why it seems like he doesn't make any difference between good and evil, yet he is well aware of all the sacrifice he had to do in order to change his beloved school and to become the infamous person he is today.
« As a producer, I'm sure that it's a problem if you let an idol of weak constitution overwork himself, but. This is my absolute top priority. As long as I can see it through to the end, I don't mind dying. So please, don't interfere. »
—Eichi, in Quarrel Festival
Wataru Hibiki is the same age as Eichi but has a whole different background and personality. He was adopted and has always received a lot of love from his parents. This is why he always wants to fill the whole world with love in return and, unlike Eichi, has no interest in conquering it. He doesn't seek power, he only wishes for a future where everyone can love each other and walk hand in hand together. Thus, he started dancing, singing and did many magic tricks and voice mimics to give people joy and happiness.
Wataru holds a strong desire for attention and love: he doesn't only want to spread it, but he also wants to receive it. He then entered some sort of vicious circle where the more he saw people being happy thanks to him, the more he got praised and the more he wanted to do better tricks, to make them even happier. He became trapped in an endless greedy circle. People wanted to be even more impressed and Wataru never failed to fulfill their wish, as his purpose in life is to surprise others. Indeed, by working his hardest to entertain them, he didn't realize that he was actually encouraging them to see him as nothing more than a clown or a "mask freak".
« However, while Hibiki Wataru was a genius, everybody around him was not. Such “normal” people surprisingly become bored quite easily... They are greedy, and cruel. Once shown a trick, they desire more and more. »
—Wataru, in Phantom Thieves
Therefore, he was terrified of losing people's love. What was more terrible than losing the love of people you wanted to get from the most? He started working even harder in order to create and master the most wonderful trick he could ever do. However, it didn't turn out as expected: it was so complicated no one understood it. Even though Wataru listened to their wishes and made even better tricks, it was hopeless because not only did they complain about it but they also lost interest in him. He was betrayed by his own purpose: the love he wanted to give wasn't returned anymore. In Flower Festival, Shu described him as "a pathetic clown that continues to shed tears beneath a smiling mask". Wataru actually did admit that he wears a mask as well, adding that under that accessory lies the truth of humans.
« Wearing a mask does not mean you should "conceal and erase yourself", but instead become a "new version of yourself".... ☆ »
— Wataru's Substory
Since then, Wataru has become cautious of who he trusts, which never prevented him from spreading love wherever he goes and even making friends on the way. Contrary to what it seems, he actually distanced himself from people even though he still does tricks that keep entertaining them. He is alright with giving love without expecting anything in return, although his will of attention and trust from others is still strongly present. He always sees the good in people rather than the evil.
Thus, Wataru is a rather lonely and versatile character. He stopped trusting people too easily and actually treats everyone equally, that's why one can never know who he holds dearly or, on the contrary, who he despises. It is not known what he dislikes exactly but it was revealed that he doesn't enjoy being held in a single place. He describes himself as a "wild animal that cannot be tamed".
« My "normal" is usually implemented as "abnormal" to others. It's also the same with the opposite. What I think of "abnormal" is usually implemented as "normal" to others. »
— Wataru, in Dream Travel
Nevertheless, he keeps showing a lot of love to everyone. Even though he sometimes doesn't get it back, Wataru continues spreading affection, which led him to be called "pervert" or "weirdo". After all, he is an oddball and throwing flowers and doves as well as going around the school in a hot air balloon won't avoid people's judgment.
His extra behavior can be seen as embarrassing or creepy from some people's point of view, but he doesn't change the way he is because he knows that his main purpose is to fill the world with love. His way of doing so might not please everyone, but as long as people keep smiling thanks to him, he will be the happiest. He has learned to accept the fact that it is impossible for everyone to accept him and has learned to deal with it, not to let it get to him.
Even when being treated harshly by some people who don't accept his behavior, Wataru still wears a smile on his face as if he didn't care about people's opinion. He seems to be living in his own world, one that no one can enter.
« Hibiki-san is a character who has a very unique world-view, unfathomable to others. (...) It’s like Hibiki-san is completely absorbed in the sound of his own words. It's as if he only speaks for himself, without caring much about the other person's reaction. »
—Takuya Eguchi's Interview 15/03/27
Furthermore, since Wataru keeps saying things such as "Let us fill the world with love!", it is hard for some people to understand what he truly means and what he intends to do. However, he does worry about people he cares about, although he rarely shows any sign of concern. He's the kind of person who would stay in the shadows to check if everything is going well, which is surprising from someone who's so flamboyant. He actually cares and worries way more than he seems to.
Wataru Hibiki is someone who's thankful to life. He's a genius who seems free to do anything he likes and whose main purpose is to make everyone happy. He doesn't want to hurt people and to conquer the world. The fact he only sees the good in people made him fall many times as he was always considered as a clown and was never taken seriously. He's got the ability to read people's faces and intentions very easily yet no one is able to tell what he's thinking. Yet, Wataru is someone with a lot of feelings that he cannot contain; craving the love he keeps giving to people who see him as a clown rather than as a human.
« - I shall merrily tell you the tale of the time that I, too, was a seeker of the light of the sun, a story from within my long journey.....☆
- You've gone through some dreadfully terrible things, haven't you.....? »
—Wataru & Sai, in Yume100 collaboration
It is obvious that Wataru and Eichi are completely opposite characters. However, they have found each other in their loneliness. Just like night and day, like yin and yang, they are complementary and cannot exist without each other.
In order to understand the evolution of the relationship, it is necessary to get to the roots of it, which is back when they were still in 2nd year[1].
Eichi has always admired Wataru, from his looks to his talent both as an idol and as a magician. Wataru has always been Eichi's hero, a model to him. Indeed, Eichi knew he was weak and seeing Wataru being so strong, so talented, so hard-working and so beautiful truly gave him strength to work even harder and become as amazing as him.
Their first interaction, though they didn't exchange words, was when Eichi saw Wataru in the middle of rehearsing near the school's fountain.
« Wow, he noticed me? And he's waving at me too? Even though there's quite the distance between us... even though I'm so far away from him right now.»
—Eichi, in Magicians Assemble
At that time, they weren't close at all. They used to call each other "Tenshouin Eichi-kun" and "Hibiki-kun". Even Eichi was moved because Wataru, "him, who was always on the other side of the television screen", called him by his name. However, Eichi did show a strong will to close the gap between them, no matter what and how long it'd take. It is true that at the beginning, Eichi saw Wataru as the being he wanted to be, to the point he was almost worshiping him.
It was conflicting because Wataru was one of the Five Oddballs and Eichi's plan was to break them down despite being the one who initially put them together. Wataru was the last one to battle against (ex-)fine and contrary to his former battles against other oddballs, Eichi didn't want Wataru, his hero and idol, to lose this battle.
« But you know, Hibiki-kun...? To me, you losing is just— »
—Eichi, in Magicians Assemble
Nevertheless, they did have the final live and Eichi succeeded in defeating the Five Oddballs. After this "war", all of them quit and Wataru joined the new fine. The exact reason behind this is still unclear but Wataru himself said that he took this decision out of his interest in Eichi and not in fine. Indeed, he had no intention to participate in their activities as a member. This whole post-war situation was surprising for everyone in a rather negative way, as many people considered Wataru as a traitor.
However, Eichi's admiration for Wataru never stopped motivating him to work harder and become the idol he had always dreamed of. This is the reason why Eichi doesn't want others to criticize Wataru in any way, as he considers his strength essential to fine.
On top of that, Eichi sees himself as a loser. He has an inferiority complex that makes him feel "pathetic, shameful and undignified[2]". Indeed, he admitted that he was lacking a lot as an idol and Wataru perfectly made up for it. It almost sounded like Eichi didn't see any flaws in Wataru, as if he was blinded by his admiration.
« He possesses an infinite arsenal of skills and techniques. And he has such a colorful personality too; I never get bored of watching him. I have no reason to get rid of Wataru Hibiki of the "Three Oddballs"... »
—Eichi, in Yumenosaki Circus
Moreover, there are many things they have yet to discover about each other and it is exactly what makes them so interested in each other. Wataru wonders what Eichi had endured in the past to use such dirty manners to destroy people but he also appreciates Eichi's ability to keep him in one place, him who is so difficult to "tame". On the other side, Eichi, whose affinity for Wataru was clear from the beginning, was sure that the latter hated him to death. Yet, Wataru did say that he would leave as soon as he loses interest in something and at the moment, he doesn't feel like leaving Eichi's side anytime soon. He himself doesn't really know the exact reason behind this strange feeling but he knows for sure that His Majesty is "worthy of his service".
In Addition, Wataru doesn't understand why Eichi keeps being on his side and feels delighted every time the latter says he never gets tired of watching him. Usually, people would get bored of all his tricks or annoyed by his behavior that can be described as "pervert" at first glance. Yet, Eichi is still there.
« However, if that is how Eichi wants to offer his love, I shall gladly receive it...☆ »
—Wataru, in Restaurant
One might think that their relationship is purely based on admiration and curiosity. Yet, there are many details that prove otherwise.
Indeed, Eichi and Wataru's relationship started out of admiration and curiosity, respectively. In Magicians Assemble, Eichi's admiration was so intense he went as far as telling Wataru he didn't want him to lose and was almost confessing to him[3]. But throughout the story, one can notice the considerable evolution simply by the way Eichi responds to Wataru's habits and behavior: he has got more casual with time. Eichi's admiration for Wataru has never faded away but his “worship” did, leading to a closer relationship filled with mutual respect and understanding. They have become very close as time goes by, treating each other as equals rather than keeping the idol-fan relationship they started off with.
Nevertheless, admiration is actually often the missing ingredient when a relationship doesn't work. It is the feeling that prevents people from getting tired of each other and this is exactly what Wataru and Eichi have. Admiration is a very personal matter and is considered as a sign of intimate respect, different from the one towards strangers or elders and far beyond the purely emotional state. Just like love, someone who admires also wants it to be reciprocated and as mentioned previously, Eichi has always wanted to become someone that can be admired by Wataru. He wanted to be seen as an idol and not treated as a child. He wanted to become like the one he had always admired from afar but never realised that Wataru already considered him as a successful idol and that his long time admiration has already been reciprocated. Also, when a person admires someone, they always want to impress even more, which proves once again Wataru's admiration for Eichi and the fact he sometimes overdoes it.
« How enviable, Eichi...Ahh, you have become an idol, haven't you... ♪ »
—Wataru, Flower Festival
It should be noted that Wataru's strong desire for attention from others is the main argument of the Eiwata discourse. Apparently, Wataru does need Eichi's validation and his crave for attention limits him to his tricks only and nothing else. Indeed, Wataru did admit a few times that he felt lonely, hence his usual way to show himself off in addition to his admiration for Eichi and his will to impress him. He is anxious about his relationship with His Majesty he swore loyalty to, thinking that one day, Eichi would get bored and throw him away like people did in the past if he doesn’t come up with something elaborate to keep him entertained. Wataru's anxiety is obvious and appears in several stories: his sudden show-off when Eichi stopped paying attention to him, when he asked Eichi to be closer in the future whereas the latter said they were already close, when he said he'd meddle by all sorts of tricks if Eichi left him out, and so on.
« Despite his outward appearance, Wataru sure is a lonely person, and yet he likes to gain public attention by doing a large-scale magic. »
— Eichi, in Dream Travel
Plus, Wataru often says that he is "a clown, after all” and "a fool"; which is quite pejorative as he keeps limiting himself as being just a clown who is forbidden from speaking his mind and only allowed to show off magic tricks. However, Eichi is undoubtedly aware of this contradictory behavior. For instance, he often specifies that he appreciates everything Wataru does to entertain him and that he doesn't need to do all this to get his attention. Eichi never fails to reassure him, saying that he will never get bored of Wataru nor forget him, and that he doesn't need to worry about that. Another thing to note is that Eichi actually used to call Wataru "a foolish clown" in Daydream but has changed since then.
« Aren't "fools" for entertaining people? Rather than a fool, I think that you, Wataru, are a "magician." »
—Eichi, in Opera
Wataru and Eichi both respect each other's differences and neither of them tries to force the other to "fix" himself or to become someone else. They accept all of each other's flaws and respect each other as a unique human being. Indeed, in Starry Night, Wataru did give a white rose for Eichi as a sign of great respect.
« I don't intend to criticize you on your manners or whatnot though. After all, you're known for appearing in unexpected places at unexpected times. » —Eichi, in Toyland
Moreover, Eichi isn't afraid to tell Wataru when he's going overboard. He did admit that even though he never get tired of looking at him, Wataru's excessive performances can get a little disconcerting. However, he usually says it in a gentle way because he is aware of how lonely Wataru feels despite his flamboyant personality. Nevertheless, Eichi is still human and sometimes cannot hold himself back when Wataru is going too far such as throwing roses in inappropriate times or treating him like a child. As an honest person, he doesn't hesitate to tell him off when needed and the fact he sometimes uses the harsh way to do it proves how close they are.
« Wataru. If you keep spreading the rose petals all over the place, there'll be no room to stand. Do you have nothing to do or something? »
—Eichi, in Dream Travel
Contrary to popular belief, Eichi isn't the only one talking to Wataru this way. The latter also does the same, out of anxiety, after he sees Eichi's condition getting worse. Indeed, Wataru notices it right away and his theatrical speech then disappears, giving way to a surprisingly serious tone that almost sounds out of character. His anxiety and concern about Eichi's health is considerable and led him to write "Praying for Eichi's Health" on his tanzaku[4] in Milky Way.
In this same event, Eichi ran off right after the festival ended, without saying anything to anyone. Yet, during the live against Valkyrie, Eichi had used all his stamina and was expected to collapse like he usually does after performing. This is why Wataru got worried and went to look for him. After finding him on the school's rooftop, he didn't hesitate to tell him how worried everyone was and asked him not to do it again without prior notice. Eichi was too excited about the live to reply to his "lecture" and went on a rant instead. Wataru tried to interrupt him in the middle of his excitement by calling his name but Eichi didn't seem to notice. He had to call him out again to bring him back to reality. Eichi admitted his mistake as he apologized to Wataru for being too agitated. As much as he wanted to be excited and happy for Eichi, his concern couldn't bring him to do so.
Their close relationship has allowed them to speak to each other in a casual way. Although Wataru's usual speech makes it seem like he treats everyone the same way, he has rarely interrupted anyone like this, let alone His Majesty "The Emperor". In comparison, Wataru once dared to speak out to Eichi and apologized right away, as "a clown mustn’t voice such remarks”[5]. Now, he doesn't hesitate to tell Eichi when he agrees as well as when he doesn't. They both know that it is normal and perfectly fine to agree or disagree. Once again, this change reflects the depth of a relationship that gives way to communication where feelings are shared honestly and openly.
« I agree with you on that, but if you continue to stand here exposed to the wind without even wiping your sweat off, you will catch a cold you know? Aah, look, you are staggering. »
— Wataru, in Milky Way
This relationship is so precious to him it actually leads him to do and say things that might not be really appropriate to the situation, making Eichi mad when he's not in the mood. But these hard times are part of any ups and downs in all relationships. Everything cannot be perfect forever and going through some difficulties makes people grow in a healthier relationship. Because despite Eichi's bad mood caused by his weak condition and Wataru's misreading the atmosphere, they still can read each other’s thoughts quite well. They definitely know when the other is not his usual self and they can anticipate each other's move as well. They are close enough to be able to overcome any obstacle because conflict is an opportunity to learn and grow; it is a natural part of life.
« You, Eichi, are one of the few who would hold out their hand to a clown such as myself. »
—Wataru, in Restaurant
If Eichi is one of the few who would hold out his hand to Wataru then the opposite is true as well. In Circus, Eichi said he had always been on that tightrope called life and that he was so scared to fall. He expected no one to catch him, no one. Yet, Wataru caught him when he was falling and Eichi told him he knew that he would.
« He's — Eichi-sama's archenemy...But now he's his partner, closer to him than anybody else. »
—Tori, Flower Festival
In addition, Eichi often thinks of Wataru when the latter isn't there. He wants to be always by his side and accompany him. One might say that Eichi is abusive because he only wants to keep Wataru for himself without caring about what the latter actually wants. And yet, Eichi often thinks of Wataru in moments he believes his friend would like to be there too. He even thinks about him for the most futile details such as the somen reminding him of Wataru's hair or the fact Wataru's tea is so delicious he would like him to join the Tea Club. He cherishes those moments they share together and wants to have even more of them.
It is actually the same on Wataru's side as well. In Flower Festival, he said Tori was adorable and thought of Eichi, assuming that he "must have been like this when he was young as well".
« Fufu. I thought I was just going to help out with making the story, but to think we ended up doing some improvisational theatre... This is really fun — I should've called Wataru over too ♪ »
—Eichi, in Continuation of The Dream
Eichi and Wataru truly want each other's happiness and fully support each other. Although Eichi is an honest and straightforward person, he rarely expresses his deep feelings. He does think a lot, though. In Lost Legends, he showed his support to Wataru in his thoughts, “Wherever you make your stage, the school or the world, I will always be looking forward to and supporting your performances… Wataru ♪”. As for the magician, he never forces his personal definition of happiness on Eichi but only wants to help him in the way he thinks is the best for him. Rather than only enjoying things at the moment, he would like him to enjoy them to the fullest and to be happy forever.
« Eichi...... Aren't you living a little too recklessly? That which is ephemeral is not admirable, even if it is said that a flower on the brink of scattering its petals is beautiful? Rather than a firework that sparkles for a mere moment, I would rather have you experience the value of a diamond that is glittering for eternity! »
—Wataru, in Quarrel Festival
In Flower Festival, Wataru told Tori that Eichi would be able to see the stage from the window of his hospital room and that he will cheer up as soon as he sees their performance. Wataru really wants him to enjoy life and he never expected himself to be the source of Eichi's happiness. In fine's Drama CD, Wataru said that if Eichi were not to become the world's top idol, then everything is meaningless to him. This means that he knows what Eichi's dream is and would do anything he can to help him fulfill it. Knowing that they are ultimately responsible for their own happiness and well-being as individuals is one of the characteristics of a healthy relationship and they both care about each other in this way.
« If it is the wish of Your Majesty the "Emperor", I would even go to the other side of the world, you know. ☆ »
—Wataru, in Opera
Also, in the Chinese version of the game, it is revealed that Eichi wanted to prepare a present for Wataru's birthday. Considering how wealthy Eichi is, he could have directly bought a gift for him but instead, he wanted to prepare something. The fact he was nervous about this shows how much he wanted to do well and how much he cares about Wataru.
« Today is the day Wataru came to this world. What kind of present should I prepare? Seems like I'm a bit nervous ♪ »
—Eichi, in CN Ensemble Stars
Eichi doesn't see Wataru as a clown. He sees Wataru as a human, as a precious person he's thankful for for staying by his side no matter what.
Yet, Wataru has stopped trusting people after what happened to him, to the point he didn't want to remember others' names too much. He didn't want to rely on or get too deeply with anyone anymore and has withdrawn into himself.
« It seems like you are getting along nicely with the members of fine. Were you no disinterested in other people? »
—Shu, in Flower Festival
Wataru then replied that those who could recognize him as "human", those who he was able to have an interest in have nearly disappeared. He was undoubtedly talking about The Five Oddballs, his only friends until Eichi broke them down. Wataru's versatility made him change, as "constantly continuing to change is what it means to live", he said.
This is why no one seems to understand him: he made it so no one would. However, he did get close to Eichi on his own will, which surprised him the most. Wataru truly appreciates Eichi's presence in his life.
« Whoops, pardon me. Speaking with you was so much fun, Eichi, I thoughtlessly forgot about your condition»
—Wataru, in Opera
Furthermore, Wataru described himself as a versatile person and even compared himself with a wild animal. He is glad to be standing with both feet in one place and he really appreciates that someone like Eichi would appear in front of him, giving him a place he can call home. The fact he lives in his own world, a world full of dreams and magic has been keeping him distant from the people around him. This probably resulted from his fear of being betrayed once again. The one who brought him back to reality and who taught him how beautiful it can be is none other than Eichi.
« Since Eichi is the one who kept me in this world, taking my leave without providing enjoyment would be disrespectful, yes? »
—Wataru, in Toyland
There are moments that show how much Wataru actually cares about Eichi: the time he came to invite him to lunch or his multiple visits during Eichi's hospitalisation, for example . He would stay until late only to talk with Eichi as the latter calls these moments "Wataru's bedtime stories". They really do want to be together for the sake of being together because they genuinely care about each other.
« If the President is eager to take part in the live, Hibiki-sama wouldn't refuse either, would he? »
—Yuzuru, in Toyland
Indeed, Eichi and Wataru really enjoy those moments where they can just talk about anything without caring about the time or anyone around them. It feels like they are both in their own world, in their own dream and whoever interrupts their moment brings them back to reality. Wataru has always thought dreams could only be seen with eyes closed but he said in Milky Way that the person who taught him otherwise was Eichi himself. They have that kind of relationship where a mutual admiration allows them to grow as individuals and learn even more about life and each other. Wataru, a person full of surprises who can usually read people the most ends up being the surprised one because he "has no understanding of how the great Emperor thinks". This is exactly what makes Eichi so interesting to Wataru.
They spend so much time together Eichi actually starts talking a bit like Wataru, using a theatrical tone. It is known that when an individual spends a lot of time with someone, they end up talking like that person without even noticing it.
« Umm. You’re gradually saying more and more theatre-like things……Were Tenshouin and Wataru-chin close? Is that why you say such grandiose things in detail, maybe~? »
—Nazuna, in Starry Night
In fact, Eichi always wants to accompany Wataru and walk alongside with him, as mentioned in Milky Way. Beside the enjoyment the latter's presence gives him, Eichi also wants to feel as free as Wataru. However, Eichi was described as a jealous person by Wataru himself and there were a few moments when his jealousy was quite noticeable. In Supernova, Eichi did say he was jealous and envious of Tori for getting a one-on-one instruction from Wataru. Even Anzu noticed this trait of his and described it in the novel, when Wataru did something apparently unnecessary with Hokuto and Eichi wasn't too happy about it...
« He lightly runs his fingertips through Wataru-san's long silver hair and, like a child throwing a temper tantrum, suddenly grabs it. With a grip so tight that Wataru-san's hair could possibly tear, Eichi-san brings his face so close that they look like they are about to kiss. He's like a woman who has gone mad with jealousy. (...) With a little distance between them, Wataru-san gazes at Eichi-san fondly. Rei-san appears with a rather astonished look on his face as he complains to the other two, who look like lovers murmuring sweet nothings to each other.»
—Anzu, in the novel
Afterwards, Wataru managed to get away from Eichi's grip and appeared right behind him. It was surprising and incredible because it was impossible for him to even move from where he was held. He then gave Eichi a white rose just like he did in Starry Night, as a sign of respect.
This part of the novel brought a lot of discourse as a big part of the fandom argued that it was very abusive from Eichi. Indeed, grabbing one's hair in such violence isn't a very appropriate way to treat people. But Wataru knew all about that. He has always known that Eichi was, as he said in Milky Way, "Arrogant and filled with jealousy, lazy and thus greedy, indulging in lust and controlled by anger”. He already knew each of these personality traits. Nonetheless, he keeps thinking of Eichi as "tremendously precious".
It is important to specify that Eichi has always been a spoiled child. Despite knowing it too well and even admitting it, this part of his has never changed. The only difference from his past and his present is that instead of expecting things to naturally come to him, he has learned that he can only count on himself in order to reach his own goals and get what he wants. He hates being treated like a child but, after all, he is still a childish person, as Wataru said in Milky Way. The way he gets as excited as a spoiled kid and how Wataru had to scold him to bring him back to reality proves it.
« Aah, I can't stop drooling! Ending after just one time is such a waste! You think so too, don't you Wataru?! My Wataru! More-I have to satisfy myself more and more.......☆»
—Eichi, in Milky Way
Moreover, Wataru is not a weak person. He is a genius, with a strong personality and he would not let anyone step on him. He is intelligent enough to know what he wants and what he does not. For example, he did know that he would lose and already anticipated what would happen after his battle against Eichi in Magicians Assemble. Yet, he let it happen because it was what he wanted. Wataru is not a child that has to be taken care of; Eichi is. This is why Keito constantly needs to keep an eye on the latter, despite his personal concern about Eichi's health. This argues that Wataru knows way too much about his own decisions and about Eichi’s personality to just be a victim. As mentioned previously, he would not hesitate to leave as soon as he gets bored and did say that he did not plan to leave Eichi's side anytime soon.
In conclusion, Eichi and Wataru's relationship is based on mutual admiration, trust and deep respect. When something is wrong or when one of them disagrees, he speaks up and they always find a way to solve the rare conflicts they have very quickly because they adapt to each other. Also, disagreements are a natural part of any close relationships.
They love spending time together, whether it be at school or not. They admire each other to the point they never get tired and would spend the night talking about anything if they could. Knowing the smallest details about each other allows them to anticipate the other's moves and words, as well as what would make him happy.
They are very supportive of each other and though one is not the source of his friend’s happiness, he does contribute and helps him with all he has. They both know that they are different, unique and therefore, have different dreams and goals in life. Yet, they never try to put the other down and never try to change the other no matter how many flaws he has.
Eichi accepts everything about Wataru, he accepts how flamboyant he is and how attention-demanding he is. Eichi knows about Wataru's loneliness and although it might have broken the image of The Flawless Idol he had always had about him, nothing has changed and he still admires Wataru just like the first day. He is one of the few people who see Wataru as a human rather than only a foolish clown and given Wataru's fear, it is probably the best gift he could ever give him.
Wataru joined Fine only out of interest in Eichi because even though he can read people the best, there are still a lot of things Wataru cannot figure out about Eichi. He worries about the latter a lot, to the point he gets anxious and does not behave like he would usually do. Wataru gives Eichi the warmth he has never received and the excitement that makes him feel alive.
Wataru and Eichi are two opposite characters that complete perfectly and give each other what they secretly seek and undoubtedly need. They accept each other for what they truly are and stay by each other's side for the sake of being together.
- UPDATE 17/05/12: some more stuff have yet to be added when my brain finally decides to cooperate with me. i’ve realized i didnt write a very important part to explain what eiwata was lacking as a ship and what truly bothers me sometimes. they obviously aren’t perfect and are kind of problematic actually. please wait for it to be added i’ll try to do it asap!!!
- UPDATE 17/06/30: 4:30am. 1,4k extra words. You’re welcome. (see next page) Please note that again, it’s my own opinion. It’s pretty late right now so i’ll add other things later if anything comes to mind.
But,
Eichi is one of the most problematic characters of this game. Surely, no one could believe that his ships would be all fluff and pure. Well, Eiwata makes no exception.
I've spent hours talking about the negative side of this ship and trust me, as much as I love them (you bet I do), there are a few things that rub me off the wrong way. It's not bad at all, actually. Imperfection is good. It's what leaves room for development and it's exactly what makes me love this ship even more.
Let's go back to the past...to when Wataru "betrayed" the oddballs to join the new fine (See Magicians Assemble). Suspicious, isn't it? How come someone who was your "enemy" decides to join you after such a battle? After you've literally crushed his dear friends? Why would someone go so far as to be called a "traitor" by said friends? Only this point in the story gives the relationship a complicated start. Yet, Wataru behaves as if he "swore loyalty" to Eichi. He, who once was The Emperor's biggest idol...became his partner.
Since then, their relationship has grown and they came to trust each other deeply. I'm going to point out a few personality traits of theirs to explain the main problem of this ship.
The reason why Eichi has always admired Wataru so much is probably because this latter is strong, free and able to do anything he wants in his life. Meanwhile, Eichi is weak, caged in many ways and therefore, cannot do all the things he wants. One would expect him to be lonely and innocent like a caged bird but Eichi actually uses that loneliness to turn it into a cold hard motivation that pushes him forward. This explains why he's so ruthless: he has no time to waste. He wants to reach his goal no matter what and it's much easier to use the harsh way to do so.
Eichi is more calculating, while Wataru is more passionate.
Eichi tends to release his grudges even at the cost of others, while Wataru tends to bottle up his emotions and sadness.
It's interesting to note that, contrary to popular belief, Eichi's the one who's more strongly bound to his emotions. Wataru, no matter how frivolous and eccentric he is, actually hides them all most of the time. It's probably one of his ways of distancing himself from people.
This is exactly the problem. The fact that Wataru constantly keeps his emotions for himself is an obstacle to a proper and further communication. In fact, there's a terrible lack of communication between them. As much as they can talk about anything for hours, it’s interesting to note that they barely talk about their thoughts on each other. Eichi's actually more honest about Wataru when he speaks to others and Wataru's honest about Eichi when the latter's asleep and can't hear a single thing... It's true that a strong relationship doesn't need sweet words as long as both people show that they love and care about each other through actions and through their presence when the other needs help. But words and communication are important too. As pointed out in the dissertation, they do have a good communication, but it's not enough. Definitely not enough. Calling each other out when one of them doesn't agree with the other is one thing, but showing emotions is another stage of a strong relationship. It shows that the person trusts the other enough to show them their weaknesses as well as other parts of their personality that they wouldn't show to anyone else, and it's actually what lacks the most in eiwata.
There are several stages in a relationship:
1. The Romance Stage: the blinded/biased stage, the person believe that the other one is perfect and doesn't even see a single flaw in them. They literally see them as the Love Of Your Life.
2. The Power Struggle Stage: Their eyes start opening and they see that the other person has flaws. They focus on their differences rather than their similarities. The relationship either breaks or survives here.
3. The Stability Stage: it becomes clear that the person can't change and doesn't even want to change the other. They have accepted the other completely, with mutual respect.
4. The Commitment Stage: They see their partner as human and experience a balance of love, belonging, fun, power and freedom. The person can honestly say to their partner "I don't need you. I choose you knowing all I know about you, good and bad."
5. The Co-Creation or Bliss Stage: Both people decide to be a team moving out into the world. They move beyond the relationship and often work on a project together.
Eiwata are somewhere around Stage 4. It's clear that they are not necessary to each other. Wataru is strong, independent and free enough to fly with his own wings. Eichi is determined enough to know what he wants and reach his goals without anyone's help. Yet, they both chose each other.
Another thing to note is that it's normal to return to Stage 2 over and over again throughout the relationship. Main problem is, Eiwata never has a real struggle stage. Of course, I'm not talking about having a fight, here. A relationship doesn't need a fight to work better. I'm talking about opening up, showing each other's emotions even more.
Also, they're both paranoid and anxious about the fact that the other might leave. Eichi has a terrible way to show it (this is actually why a lot of people think he's abusive) (this is only my own interpretation), for example when he pulled Wataru's hair and wanted to punish him because he did something behind his back "again". I believe that Eichi's really anxious that Wataru might betray him since he's still lowkey suspicious about the fact the latter joined him "too easily". He must've thought that "it's too incredible to be real", something like that.
On the other hand, as said in the dissertation, Wataru feels anxious because he's scared that Eichi might get tired of him someday.
What I want to point out here is that they really aren't honest to each other, about what they think and how they feel about each other. What's lacking here is a proper conversation, where they'd talk it out, talk about their concerns, their anxiety, everything. Be an open book to each other. (Imagine them doing this during one of Wataru's numerous visits when Eichi's hospitalized).
What happened in Magicians Assemble gave their relationship an unstable start. I personally don't think Wataru would leave Eichi any time soon as he stated he was fascinated by Eichi and he himself doesn't think he'll leave but...despite Wataru's loyalty, I believe that both are quite unstable characters and many things can influence them to change.
I also believe that they don't need each other. They are not soulmates. They're both strong individuals in a way that they can stand for themselves without anyone's help. This brings them to Stage 4. They don't need each other; they choose each other for who they really are.
BUT (again), Eichi's still a greedy and spoiled kid. Another big problem is that Wataru, although he accepts all of Eichi's flaws, doesn't show enough opposition. Maybe he truly accepts everything but...It's actually quite annoying to see that at the end, Eichi always gets what he wants. It's a very good point that Wataru actually disobeys Eichi. It proves once again that he truly is a free spirit and isn't used by Eichi or anything. He's free to do whatever he wants and even though Eichi acts like he's mad and angry at his actions, I believe that a part of him longs for it. He might show his disapproval to show how powerful he is but he also lowkey wants someone to oppose him properly. Someone who wants to reach the top always looks for more competition, more obstacles, more challenges. Especially Eichi. Remember how bored he was playing chess until Leo comes and is the only one able to beat him? Eichi loves and wants to find people strong enough to beat him, it's the only way for him to fight even more and reach the top.
Still, Eichi needs a bigger slap in the face. Wataru should oppose him even harder and give him a proper lesson. This is the only way for Eichi to grow as a character and learn even more. It also gives their relationship an opportunity to grow as well. In other words, they need a quarrel. They need to be honest with each other, tell their thoughts to each other's face instead of hiding and saying sweet things to other people. Damn you kids.
THANK YOU FOR READING!!
if you’ve got here and survived these 12 pages and 6,4k words of me crying hard over my #1 otp then congratulations and please know that it means a lot to me! (i’ll give you all my love and consideration as well as a croissant)
i did spend a hella lot of time and tears to write this because not only did a friend of mine request it but i also felt like it was an opportunity for me to show everyone that their relationship is Not an abusive relationship, no matter how you look at it, no matter if you ship them or not. i didn't write this dissertation to make people ship them as much as i do, i did it as a way to show how much they mean to me (though no one cares but yeah well i do) as well as to help people understand their dynamics a bit more because they're SO interesting and SO complex as individuals and AMAZINGLY well written characters. if i had to describe them individually it would take another 12 pages for each of them so i tried my best to describe them as clearly as possible in the introduction as well as throughout the dissertation.
please know that i didn't write this to go against other eichi/wataru ships nor to say that “my otp is better than yours”... this is definitely not my point. i just want to spread the eiwata love to whoever wants to know more about them or to whoever wants to die and cry with me lol
i really did my best to look for resources on the wikia as well as the novels/cn enstars translations and drama cd to gather as much information as possible. i also looked for articles about healthy and abusive relationships in order to write these and i'm sorry if i did it wrong, if there are mistakes or if this dissertation didn't reach your expectations...
i'll also put a bibliography below with all the links!
Feel free to @ or dm me on twitter (@duhzai) for questions or reactions!
Have a good day/night and thank you SO MUCH again for reading.
eichi: lets sing together wataru
SPECIAL THANKS TO: shii for requesting me this, lois for dealing with me and my eiwata breakdowns + giving me these wonderful kalafina songs that are So Beautiful, wivi the eiwata master for her precious help when i was dying and doubting my own otp, ama for all our deep eiwata conversations digging into their dynamics and emo side, kate for cheering me up every day @ uni, everyone who gave me lots of support and who motivated me to write this dissertation, i hope you guys like it!
One cannot end an eiwata dissertation without Milky Way's epilogue.
status: crying over the fact ecchi fucking fell asleep on hibibi wat are u and didn't get to hear this
Links/Resources
Events & Gachas (in chronological order)
Mall Live > not mentioned in the dissertation but Eichi says there that the "shop's tea is absolutely exquisite - the quality is neck and neck with the tea Wataru brews" so i thought it was important.png
Substories
Wataru's substory: Resounding Love
Enstars x Yume100 Collaboration > happened between Circus and Supernova
Novels
Daydream > happened at the same time than Magician Assemble
Misc.
Takuya Eguchi's Interview 15/03/27
Eichi in CN Enstars on Wataru's birthday
Understanding the dynamics of abusive relationships
10 characteristics of a healthy relationship (don't judge pls)
[1] See Magicians Assemble event story
[2] See Daydream: Short story from the novel, Victory Song of the Revolutionaries by Akira-sensei. It's from Eichi's point of view and occurs during Magicians Assemble.
[3] See Ash Returns to the Sky - 6's translator's notes
[4] a thin strips of paper used to write one's fondest wish during Tanabata Festival.
[5] See Restaurant gacha story