Mai-HiME: Nao's Tangled Web

Nao Yuuki (voiced by Yuuka Nanri, vocalist for Chariot of Dawn) is one of my three favourite characters (besides Shizuru and Miyu) from the very entertaining Mai HiME so this post is a bit of a character shrine. Short note on the ending first. Kabitzin of Sea Slugs! anime blog has reported, in his typically succinct and witty style, on Ep 1-24. Fencedude has many screencaps and summaries for Ep 25-26. On the ending, I agree with a lot of what Fencedude has said so logically and eloquently. A few minor quibbles here and there but it was a good and satisfying ending.

On the surface, Nao looks like a cute, sweet young girl and she actively cultivates this image among the gullible (usually guys), helped by her beauty and her intelligence. But she's a survivor - mentally tough, resourceful and cunning. I do agree with Kabitzin that she gets a rather raw deal in the series - she gets framed, injured, picked on and nearly killed in cold blood at her nadir.

Nao is a victim of her own efforts to secure herself against the outside world. She trusts no one else, resulting in everyone else having little trust in her. She's easily framed as the prime suspect when things go wrong. Her pride, anger and bitterness then further compound the problem by ruling out any effort at rapproachment. She fights hard and employs strategems but her powers are simply too weak against HiMEs like Shizuru (who is also in my top three). Lesson: Everyone needs friends.

Interesting character also because of her backstory. Around primary school, her whole world was turned upside down when her family home was burgled and only her mother survived albeit severely incapacitated. She was packed off to an orphanage and probably only could continue schooling because the HiME scholarship. As a result, she has an extremely cynical view of the world and coupled with her intelligence, she makes the most accurate, cutting and politically incorrect remarks about the heroine, Mai - about her non-altruistic motivations in taking care of Takumi and the very real threat of Kagutsuchi if it came to a HiME battle royale. But the truth always hurts most.

In the end, I was really glad that she got a happy ending. Good to see that she was still up to her scams and had the wit to persuade Alyssa and Miyu to help her. With her mother returned sans injuries, she definitely has one less thing to worry about. She might also be starting to become friends with Natsuki whose empathy and mercy saved her life in Ep 24. Not sure if Shizuru will see her as competition! Haha! - Zyl

Related posts:

1. Mai HiME 04
2. Mai HiME 26
3. Mai HiME 05