Takayuki, Regression, Virtual On and 2001

[Perishthethought]

Takayuki's a bit of a games fan in the series. In fact, they preoccupy him to the extent that he stays up all night playing them instead of studying and preparing for his dates. They characterise a particular period in his life, that of his childhood, his innocence, and his lack of direction. He's a chronic procrastinator, a non-mover and a coaster. "The future's so scary" he tells Haruka as he gets on the train as their date is beginning. He also mentions games to her in their first 'real' conversation as they walk home together for the first time after he has agreed to date her, and he and his friends mention a newly opened games centre, that he abandons to walk home with her.

He has a Virtual On poster on his wall, and is a fan of Sega games. How do I know this? In the mid period of the series, Takayuki regresses back to the childhood he 'lost' out on when he grew up in a hurry following Haruka's accident, the one he shared with her. Don't forget, Takayuki lost his childhood innocence to an extent by being devastated and coping with the pain of loss. His deep depression robbed him of the period of his life in which most people would argue are their most formative years. He's right on the cusp of adulthood, moving out of childhood, and he had to make the leap far too early, eventually getting a job at Mitsuki's behest. When Haruka awakes, Takayuki becomes more and more childlike the more he spends time with her. When Mitsuki tries to stop him seeing her in episode 8, he goes out and does 'anything' but spend time with her. To that end, he attempts to regain his childhood, a childhood he is now reminded of and had lost. So we get a series of situations, a montage, of Takayuki's night as a child, to the tune of Mitsuki's 'lost cat' song.

In this night, Takayuki goes and grabs a burger from the fast-food restaraunt featured alrady twice from his childhood (once with Shinji, once with all the gang on the failed 'Haruka date'), spends time in a playground, tries his hand at smoking somewhat childishly, and also goes back to an arcade to play some games, despite being possibly the oldest person there. He plays Scud Race (which is barely disguised) and a collection of other mid-90s arcade games. Scud Race came out in 1996, probably one of Takayuki's favourites in his childhood (and anyone who played it will remember it was the spiritual successor to Daytona USA, and criminally never ported to consoles). Remember, we're now in 2001 (according to Taka's wall mounted callendar). Which places his original fling with Haruka, if it was 'three summers ago' in 1998. Scud Race, if I recall correctly, came out in late '96. I think this speaks for itself - Takayuki is reliving his childhood, in one night, the one he somewhat misses. Being with Haruka is like a refresher course in a time he was once a part of. (Incidently, Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram, a sequel to the original, was released in '98, and was the BIG arcade game to come out of Sega's stable, unfortunately never seeing a widespread release outside of Japan. Still, Takayuki's poster of it is consistent with his interest in arcade games at the point at which it was probably put up - and significantly remains there until he moves out with Mitsuki).

Even the time of year, the fact that Haruka has awoken and is 'courting' him over the course of the summer, is a re-run of that earlier summer when they originally got together three years prior. Haruka awakens in spring (we see the cherry blossom, which Akane references), and has been awake, according to Akane, for one month before Takayuki sees her. Which places his courtship with her within the same part of the year that it happened previously. Not only that, but look at Takayuki's outfits over the course of the series. While with Mitsuki, and moving on with his life, Taka dresses appropriately like a young adult, whereas when he starts 'dating' Haruka again, he starts wearing the old 'shirt with a t-shirt underneath' combo, similar to that of his school wear (obviously lacking the schoolshirt style now he's an adult). He gets close back to the 'look' of his childhood, and now he has the 'feel' of it. It is this return to childhood that makes his decisions over Haruka, his past, and his future, with Mitsuki, so difficult. He has a chance to relive the past with Haruka, or make a future with Mitsuki. He chooses the future.

The outfits people wear also somewhat indicate their state of mind, and some characters like Mitsuki and Shinji, demonstrate a desire to 'go back'. Notice how Shinji is displayed in a suit (well, a leisure suit) in his final scene whereas beforehand he had always dressed in the shirt and combats combo, a typical student (for 2001!). He looks much more adult in this scene, drinking coffee while waiting for Mika, demonstrating the fact that he has moved on from Mitsuki, got over her and is looking forward to a new life with Mika (who he is pictured with in the 'few years later' DVD ending). That notwithstanding, he is in the combats and shirt again at Haruka's coming out party... But I think the suit was more for illustrative purposes in the scene with Mika, as we never see him in anything like it beforehand or even after.

As an in-joke, if you have the DVD of the series, there is a short 'Gundam Parody' sequence tacked onto the end of the last episode, like the Ayu-Mayu theatre of old. It recounts the story with a pseudo-mech-battle spin (this is NOT Muvluv alternate, by the way). Take a look at the mech Takayuki pilots in this short. It is Temjin, one of the main robot characters from Virtual On. The colouring, the headshape, the weapon... It's Temjin, no doubt. A nice little easter egg for those who recognise it.