A little over a year ago, a cornerstone in Gina Biggs’ web-manga Red String was knocked from the foundation of the comic when primary protagonist Miharu was dumped by her fiancé Kazuo. To my surprise, I found this actually improved the comic as a whole; looking back, I could see that the relationship between Miharu and Kazuo was built on a bed of sand, and that much with any mirage, it would shimmer and fade away when you got too close to it. While I advocated a potential end for the comic with a single happy Miharu, the growing attraction between Miharu and Makoto Yosue (who in the past had been a romantic adversary for Miharu’s attentions) is suggesting that Biggs may be going a different route than the ones I perceived a year ago.

While Miharu and Kazuo are no longer a couple, Biggs has not just tossed Kazuo to the wolves. It seems that Kazuo is starting to grow a spine; in the past, one smack from his father would have sent Kazuo scurrying for cover while begging for forgiveness (and betraying the one person who loved him for who he was, rather than what benefit or profit could be gained through him). Amusingly, it seems Miharu’s attempt to help Kazuo with the cooking contest may have reaped benefits after Miharu gave it up as a lost cause. (Though I am curious at some hints that Kazuo’s health is taking a significant downturn; if Red String were slightly darker, I’d almost think Kazuo was being set up to die from exhaustion and stress.

While I don’t see the Death card in Kazuo’s future (the Tower, perhaps, but not Death), I do suspect Biggs is setting up the endgame of Red String with a romantic conflict in the future. Miharu’s actions have forced change in Kazuo, and he has shown regret for his actions. While Miharu seems to have moved on, there’s plenty of opportunity for misunderstandings between Miharu and Makoto. He knows how much Miharu cared for Kazuo (even as he fostered a friendship with Miharu in hopes that she might see him as something more in time), and might try to step aside if he sees Kazuo vying for Miharu’s affections again in the misguided belief she’d be happier with her old love. Seeing that the other relationships in Red String have settled down, the triangle between Miharu, Kazuo, and Makoto remains the only loose ends Biggs needs to tie down; given what we’ve seen to date, I have no doubts it’ll be well worth the wait.