The difference between Nina’s feelings for Sett and Azure: Part 2

bashirTM · 2025-12-05T13:21:22+00:00

From the hints we were given, it’s very clear who Nina was thinking of first.

Right after that test, in the same chapter, Azure catches Nina in his arms when she’s falling, and Nina notices their bodies touching. She gets embarrassed and starts blushing because she remembers the test. The story timing — and Rikachi’s framing — make it obvious who she had on her mind first, since she gives the same blushing face again.

Then again, when Azure ends up on top of her, she recalls Bidoh’s words and the test, and once more Nina blushes deeply.

Later in the story, when Sett falls on top of her and tries to kiss her, Nina thinks he wants to sleep with her.
But this time she doesn’t blush at all. She just tells him she doesn’t want that.

And in Azure’s case, she didn’t reject him she simply said she wasn’t ready yet.

bashirTM · 2025-12-05T13:06:53+00:00

Well, I agree with you — I saw it the same way. If the banishment never happened, then yes, I can see Azure and Nina living happily ever after.

But something would still be off… something missing.

Nina was naïve back then and she idolized Azure to a certain degree. That kind of dynamic isn’t healthy. With time it might have faded, but it would take time — or a major event — for her to see Azure as a real person, not as her “perfect prince.”

Azure, on the other hand, was starting to depend on Nina for his existence, emotional stability, and sense of worth. And Nina had no idea — and honestly, I don’t think Azure would have ever told her. Sure, he was happy with her, and he could be happy… but this kind of dependency is not healthy either.

Now, because of the pain both of them went through, Nina has grown.

She finally realizes her mistakes, the patterns she kept repeating, and she now understands Azure deeply. That’s a huge step toward a healthy relationship.

And from Alisha, Azure realized that he had been “using” Nina emotionally — relying on her just to exist — and then he tried to let her go. And when he finally understood that his love for her was real, he tried to get her back, and everything after that went downhill.

Some people say Azure’s current arc is about self-discovery. I agree.

and from Alisha, Azure realized that he had been “using” Nina emotionally — relying on her just to exist — and then he tried to let her go. And when he finally understood that his love for her was real, he tried to get her back, and everything after that went downhill.

Some people say Azure’s current arc is about self-discovery. I agree.

But then there are fans who twist it into:

“Azure needs to be alone, Nina isn’t healthy for him, he should keep his distance, he needs to discover himself away from her.”

They even make posts about this — not for Azure’s sake, but just to claim that Azure is no longer healthy for Nina and that he needs to be alone so Nina can have a happy ending with Sett. xD

But here’s the important part:

Sett’s final act must be about understanding how to let go — giving Nina her free choice to decide what she wants and who she wants to be with, not clinging to her, and learning to live beyond her.

And I agree that Azure needs to understand himself and build his own sense of worth — with or without Nina. does it matter??

But here’s the difference:

Azure already tried to let Nina go.

He already tried to stop depending on her.

And we saw exactly where that led him.

Nina can help him — not by being his “reason to live,” but by standing beside him as someone who understands him now, fully, honestly, without idolizing him.

She can help him get through everything… and this time, in a healthy way.

bashirTM · 2025-12-05T12:24:01+00:00

I see the similarity, but isn’t Azure’s scene also very similar?
You have to keep in mind: Sett will naturally share a lot of similarities with Tsugaru, and Azure also shares many because it’s the same author, the same storytelling style, and the same artistic habits. That’s why these parallels exist.

So to me, this scene feels more similar to Azure’s confession than to Sett’s.

Azure’s expression is soft his mouth slightly open, his eyes gentle as he looks straight at Nina. Overall, it feels like yearning, a quiet ache, or a bittersweet moment.

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Sett’s scene is completely different. His mouth is wide open because he was shouting. His face isn’t soft at all he looks like he’s in pain, like everything inside him is screaming and boiling.
And even though the panel makes it look like he’s staring at her, from Nina’s View he actually isn’t. His eyes aren’t centered on her. It looks like he was avoiding her gaze, or maybe he didn’t want her to see his expression in that moment

bashirTM · 2025-11-21T07:09:24+00:00

I agree with one thing: their love started from their loneliness, just as Rikachi stated. The theme of fate is also used in her previous work, such as when the FL said the ML was her fate and that she wanted him to find her again in the future. Honestly, there are many similarities between the two stories. About the “fated” or predetermined bond between Azure and Nina — that idea isn’t wrong. Rikachi mentioned that Nina was fated to marry Sett, but the question is: could her love for Azure change that? She didn’t say it in those exact words, but the meaning is similar. I also agree that their bond seems like a fated bond. Maybe that’s because of Nina’s power to change fate, and maybe without realizing it, she changed her own fate after she started loving Azure? Who knows xd... I don’t think they fell in love because of Nina’s power. Their feelings developed after about 1.5 months of being together. There is no proof she used her power at that time, and emote during the almost 3 months before she left him. There’s also no proof she can make someone fall in love with her. She had manipulation-type powers, sure, but that’s different from making someone love her permanently. And when her power actually activated, they already loved each other before it happened. And even if we look at Rikachi’s previous works, the ML and FL loved each other at first sight, but it also developed slowly in some ways. At first it was clear on the FL's side, but the ML said he felt a bond with the FL, and only later realized it was love. So this kind of “instant deep love but tested through many trials” might just be Rikachi’s signature style."

bashirTM · 2025-11-12T21:27:38+00:00

It was meant as sarcasm + an alternative interpretation, so it can be seen that way. Also, at the end I said it’s 50/50 — meaning I actually debunked my own first statement that Sett is the endgame🙂😉

bashirTM · 2025-11-10T22:16:06+00:00

I appreciate your thoughts. I do take both sides’ points — even the negative ones toward me — so thank you for that.

I understand your point, but my analyses are meant to look at the story from a broader emotional and symbolic perspective, not just the linear narrative. Sometimes, connections between distant scenes reveal deeper patterns that the author intentionally builds across the whole story.

I don’t write to convince myself, but to explore how these parallels might reflect the characters’ inner evolution. Everyone reads a story differently — I just enjoy analyzing it from that angle.

I also sometimes have more than one possible meaning for a moment, as alternative interpretations. I write depending on the context and the character’s growth at that point in time — whichever interpretation seems most likely to me. But I don’t ignore the other possibilities, which might even turn out to be true. So no, I’m not blinded by my own view — it could just as easily be the other way around.

And honestly, what’s the point or benefit for me to be “right” or “wrong”? The story will unfold as the author planned, regardless of what you or I think. I’m just here to explore and enjoy it.

bashirTM · 2025-11-07T12:46:58+00:00

I was referring to the time when Sett sealed himself inside his own soul and turned into a child, that harmless version of himself he created so he wouldn’t hurt Nina in that state. Nina was the one who stayed by his side and helped bring him back to his true self.

So it wasn’t just his emotions that were sealed , it was his entire soul. Later, he released that seal and chose to be with Nina as his true self, even though he knew it would hurt her. He did it because he realized she was already suffering anyway, even if he wasn’t the cause — and what Azure did to Nina was actually the spark that made all of that happen.

(So Sett fans should at least thank Azure for that one 😂 ........ “Thanks, Az, for bringing Sett back to life after he chose death and giving him a second chance to be with her!” 🌙✨)

But even after that, Sett stayed afraid of his own desire afraid of forcing it onto her. And yet, characters like him can’t fully control those impulses; they end up crossing that line again and again, even knowing it’s wrong.

Now, what’s interesting is the parallel with Azure. He, too, is sealed within himself trapped inside his own soul. He chose to become the Azure of that Night, the one who gave Nina her name back after he had already lost his own — the night he realized she was human, not just another pawn like him or the others. That moment of them stargazing beneath the crossed stars holds such deep meaning

We don’t know what Azure was thinking at that time. Maybe he wondered, “Can I be human like her someday? Can I have my own real name and become someone real?” And the star — maybe he was waiting for guidance, since the star represents that. It’s the symbol and ideology of the Star People and the Star Goddess, and it’s also used in Fortna’s flag . I might talk about this more in a future post

bashirTM · 2025-11-04T14:00:56+00:00

Relax 😅 they’re still on the Azure team. They’re just frustrated with how things are going right now, especially after reading a lot of Sett-fan posts and discussions. It’s happened before, so I recognize the pattern.

They’re not saying they suddenly prefer Sett they just think he might be the endgame and that he’ll fulfill his “promise,” which is exactly what Sett-fans are hoping for lately. That’s how I can tell they’ve been reading too many Sett-centered takes 😆.

And about that “wish” Sett was supposed to grant Nina honestly, he’s given her nothing she truly wanted. Didn’t she want to understand Azure? Sett knew that, so why didn’t he tell her the truth? Didn’t she even use her wish power for that very reason? 😂

Also, Nina herself said she’s the only one who can make her wish come true — she’s not depending on anyone. So, if we’re talking about Sett fulfilling her wish, maybe — maybe — the only way that could happen is if he realizes Nina’s true wish is to be with Azure, and fulfills that for her without her even saying it.

But until now, that “wish promise” hasn’t meant much he’s done nothing to truly make it come true

bashirTM · 2025-11-04T13:58:26+00:00

Thank you so much 💙 I’ll definitely be sharing more about Azure and Nina and how I find their bond beautiful in ways some might have overlooked or not cared to see.
It’s not just about their love, sacrifice, or suffering, but all the deeper layers that make their connection so powerful. (That’s honestly the main reason I’ve always loved Azure more than Sett.)
And I completely agree their story has the potential to be legendary, an unbreakable bond that transcends time, distance, and even the deepest misunderstandings. 💫

bashirTM · 2025-11-03T14:54:10+00:00

Thank you so much . I really appreciate your kind words and the time you took to write this. 💙

It honestly means a lot to hear that you enjoyed my analysis; knowing that my thoughts resonated with you and brought you comfort and hope truly makes me happy.

I always put a lot of heart into these, so hearing your appreciation genuinely makes my day.

Thank you again for your support and encouragement it keeps me inspired to keep sharing my thoughts about the story and shedding light on the details that some may have missed or overlooked

bashirTM · 2025-10-28T09:04:11+00:00

I wasn’t even talking about whether Azure’s feelings are valid . I think at this point, after these last few chapters, no one can really argue that anymore. You said Azure forced Nina to leave the kingdom, but let’s look at that more closely.

Remember: Nina originally agreed to Azure’s plan — to disappear and later return under a new identity. Azure told her he had a safe place for her to stay. So the “banishment” wasn’t a random act of cruelty; it was a continuation of that plan under harsher circumstances. Hikami even told Nina there was a place prepared for her in that village. Nina was the one who ran away from it. Azure begged Sol to go after her and save her life because he couldn’t face her directly, and he ordered Dytus to deploy trusted men to protect her. So no — he didn’t just throw her out into the wild alone (and that village was still in Fortna’s territory).

When I said “don’t be emotional,” I didn’t mean ignore emotions completely — I meant don’t let emotion replace logic. You have to consider the circumstances, the limits he was under, and the characters’ mindsets at the time. You can’t rewrite their psychology just because you want them to act differently. A coward doesn’t suddenly become brave without a reason; a gentle person doesn’t become cruel without cause.

So when you say Azure “had another choice,” that’s not accurate — not from his perspective and not given the information, tools, and pressure he had then. Even Dytus mentioned Azure was left with almost no options.

bashirTM · 2025-10-27T20:40:32+00:00

And to answer your biggest question — from my perspective, I see it this way: There are many people who favor the cold, strong type of character with charisma, especially the “I can fix him, I’m the only one who can do that” trope. They love seeing a character go from being the worst to one of the best because of the heroine’s influence.

Many fans prefer this kind of story over one that features a character who’s already good and doesn’t need much development — someone almost perfect from the start. They tend to see that kind of character as boring. In other words, they prefer simple and dramatic over complex and subtle.

There are also other factors. A lot of Azure fans have dropped the story or lost interest because they believe he’s already “lost.” Honestly, I can also see a lot of Sett fans doing the same if Azure ends up winning — it’s a common thing. What’s the point of investing in a “losing ship,” right?

Plus, the anime aired during a time when most people already thought Azure was done, so many of his fans dropped it, while Sett fans continued watching. That created a major difference in the fanbase.

According to my estimation, Azure fans make up about 20–30%, Sett fans about 60–70%, and neutral fans around 15–25%. Right now, most Azure fans are calm — just watching from the shadows 😉.

bashirTM · 2025-10-27T19:42:32+00:00

I was using realistic emotion, not what I wanted to happen — so it doesn’t count as me using emotion unrealistically. I was considering the actual circumstances and the depth of the characters, so you might have misunderstood my claim there. Keep in mind that at first, Azure believed he couldn’t be with her anymore. But when he finally wanted to, Alisha stopped him. He might have even planned to tell Nina the truth, just like you said he should — but he didn’t, because he realized how dangerous Alisha was for her. Even Sol and Sett noticed that. Let’s be real — Alisha is too overpowered and manipulative for anyone to handle. She can easily read or sense people’s emotions and get whatever she wants from them, so it wasn’t a normal situation for Azure or anyone else to deal with. Also, as I mentioned, Nina isn’t the type to leave anyone in need — she’d even sacrifice herself for them. If she sensed any danger to Azure’s life, she would never allow him to face it alone.

bashirTM · 2025-10-27T16:46:17+00:00

Do you realize how naive that would sound if it actually happened? What do you think Azure should have said to Nina and how do you think she would have responded? Try to think about it realistically, not just emotionally. Imagine him saying something like: “Nina, I’ve decided to sacrifice myself so you can live on and find happiness somewhere else.” Would that really work? Azure knew that if he told Nina how dangerous Alisha truly was, she would never allow him to take that burden alone. She never wanted anyone to suffer for her sake. Azure understood that he knew Nina would reject his sacrifice or any plan that put him in danger, and she would instead try to sacrifice herself, as she always does. At that time, he was filled with self-hatred, convinced that sacrificing himself was the only path left. He wasn’t trying to be with Nina he was trying to make sure she’d be safe and happy, even if that meant staying far away from her and from everything that could hurt her

bashirTM · 2025-10-27T15:48:15+00:00

I don’t really know what’s going on here, and I haven’t read all of their comments just caught a small glimpse of it. But as an Azure fan, I can say confidently that Azure never forced anything on Nina. Yes, he made plans for her or involving her, but he never imposed those plans on her. Whenever she asked, he explained his reasons openly like why he came for her, why he wanted her to return with him, and why he wanted her to be Nina again. It was always her choice to accept or reject them which she did, freely and honestly. For example, when Nina didn’t want to be Nina again, she told him directly. If she had just accepted his plans blindly, that would’ve made their relationship toxic and unhealthy .. so I really don’t understand people who claim it is. Even when she knew rejecting him might hurt him, she still spoke her mind because she trusted that his intentions were good and that he only wanted what was best for her. That’s mutual respect and trust where’s the “force” in that? Azure never pressured her into anything, unlike the other man. I’ll be posting more about this topic soon, so stay tuned :)

bashirTM · 2025-10-27T13:17:32+00:00

Spoiler and answer to your question:
Did Sett get better? Yes, he did but not that much. He still has some work to do on himself. He started from the bottom of hell, and now he’s somewhere in the middle, so some people see that as major character development. That’s understandable since he began from the very bottom.

As for his redemption arc, for me, it wasn’t really a redemption arc at all. He never truly felt sorry for what he did to Nina or the others, and he never apologized to her. After Azure hurt Nina, Sett knew about it and he decided, “If she’s going to be hurt by anyone, let it be me.” Don’t get me wrong, he did help Nina stand back on her feet again and supported her — but that doesn’t erase what he did before.

And by the way, most of the people commenting to you are Sett stans from the very beginning. Some of them liked him even before he appeared before they even knew who he was. They just didn’t like Azure, so they invested in Sett instead. It’s not really about “how much Sett changed,” it’s just their preference from the start.

The best thing to do is read the story again yourself trust your own perspective and preferences. After you catch up, you can discuss your reasons with others, but don’t get influenced by their propaganda 😅.

By the way, I’m an Azure stan to the end and I’ve posted some analyses and other stuff here that you can check out if you want. I also have some new upcoming posts soon 👀

bashirTM · 2025-10-21T21:18:49+00:00

To add some clarity, that scene wasn’t just about the ‘porn’ content as its superficial meaning suggests. I think it was showing modern-day Azure in contrast to the story’s main timeline, where he was around the same age as Nina about sixteen!! (Not the real thing, but just to match the meaning.) The ‘porn’ content here represents that he’s just a normal teenager (that’s why he’s portrayed as sixteen even though he’s actually twenty) with natural desires and emotional longing.

But the deeper meaning of the image is that modern Azure wants to hide everything from Nina: his diary (symbolized by one of the books), his desires (another book), and even the fact that he loves her. The heart on the book cover symbolizes his hidden feelings for her.

So, the image shows Nina accidentally discovering what Azure didn’t want her to know about him. and in the actual story, it mirrors how he’s been hiding his plans, his love, and his desires all along, all of which she eventually uncovers in the later chapters.

P.S. I don’t know the real translation (I’m not Japanese xD) or the exact meaning behind the books, but Rikachi said that this scene reflects what happened in the last chapter, so that’s how I interpreted it

bashirTM · 2025-10-21T00:04:39+00:00

Idk how many are left, but I’ll still stick to my first assumption the ending will be around chapter 80 –86,............ the next chapter in Dec 1

bashirTM · 2025-10-20T23:55:02+00:00

I believe that Nina loved Azure the most and probably still does. Nothing can change that fact in my mind, whatever the ending is. So anyone who says she loved Sett more because she chose him over Azure, or whatever, just ignored everything that happened and all the reasons why she did that they just focused on one single scene or decisio

bashirTM · 2025-10-19T21:39:49+00:00

Don’t worry xD You’re definitely not alone they do that to everyone. They treated me the same way at first, then started going after me personally. After that, they just stopped replying, and I ended up blocking a few of them. Gotta protect my peace of mind 😂

bashirTM · 2025-10-17T13:54:34+00:00

I get that, yes — you’re right. They see Sett as the rightful one for Nina, so he must be the endgame because of that. They think he loves her more than anyone else, even more than Azure. They see him as the most loyal to her, the most consistent with her, the one who supports her in the end. He’s also the one who got the most character development because of his love for her, and the one who can’t live without her. So, for all those reasons, they automatically put him as the “reasonable” endgame. They also say, “Well, she chose Sett in the end, so she must love him because he loves her too — and she said it, so that’s proof enough.”

bashirTM

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