Hello, Proxies! It's been 10 days since Version 1.4 dropped and some of us may have already learned about the story of a certain cat-like genius slacking archer. My first impression of Harumasa is that of a normal goofy field agent. The moment he opened his mouth, I knew that I would love him. As a Japanese dub user, I knew it was Kakihara Tetsuya-san who voices him, especially as a Wanderer fan. His coolness went up especially since he uses both a bow and dual blades. I'm a fan of Kaiju No. 8 and as a Hoshina fan, my love for him shot up. The more we interact with him, the more I find reasons to love him because he's just like me fr.

These are just initial impressions based on what I remember so I might add more once I've fully taken in everything and have more time to process the stories in v1.4.

Harumasa's History

When Asaba Harumasa was first diagnosed with the rare illness Ether Aptitude Regression Syndrome, his parents took him to the best hospital in the city. He was too little to even speak properly when his parents abandoned him. After that, his master took him in and taught him all sorts of things. He lived majority of his life confined to a hospital room where he regularly takes medicines and gets shots. These shots were not for the sake of curing him, but rather to take his spinal fluid which was used to create an Ether Booster drug. At some point, his master chose to find a cure for him and was targeted. We never learn much about what happened to Harumasa after his master fled but we do know that Harumasa attended the same academy as Seth and his brother, before ending up at a division in Hollow Special Operations, then specifically to Section 6.

Possible References

John Keats

John Keats was an English Romantic poet known for his vivid imagery and great sensuous appeal. His reputation grew after his early death, and he was greatly admired in the Victorian Age. His poems had been in publication for less than four years when he died of tuberculosis at the age of 25. Before he died, his last request was to be placed under a tombstone bearing no name or date, only the words "Here lies One Whose Name was writ in Water." In a letter, he wrote to Fanny Brawne in February 1820, "I have left no immortal work behind me – nothing to make my friends proud of my memory – but I have lov'd the principle of beauty in all things, and if I had had time I would have made myself remember'd."[1]

The Chinese title of Harumasa's Agent Story is "此地长眠者"

The title of Harumasa's Agent Story is the first line of the Chinese translated version of Keats' epitaph. These words can be interpreted as one would like. In a way that it could express the ephemerality of life. Once we die, we might end up being forgotten and none of our achievements are remembered.

Those who suffer under the same illness as Harumasa do not live long. The record of the longest-lived person with the Ether Aptitude Regression Syndrome died at 26. We also know that his disease is targeted on his lungs and heart. He mentioned having his ashes scattered on the ocean and having the Proxy to promise about killing him if he ever turned into an Ethereal.

Okita Souji

Okita Souji was a Japanese samurai and the captain of the first unit of the Shinsengumi, a special police force in Kyoto during the late shogunate period. He was also considered as one of the best swordsmen of the Shinsengumi.[2] He was born Okita Sōjirō Fujiwara no Harumasa (沖田宗次郎藤原春政). He was proved to be a prodigy as he mastered all the techniques and attained the Menkyo Kaiden scroll (license of total transmission) in the ryū around the age of eighteen or later.[3] He became the vice-commander's assistant of the Shinsengumi and was involved in several assassinations. Much like Keats, he died due to tuberculosis at around the age of 24-26 on July 19, 1868.

Although it may be a reach, it's also a possibility since Harumasa was deemed a prodigy at a young age who works as an Executive Officer under Hollow Special Operations Section 6. He is one of the people that Hoshimi Miyabi handpicked, believing that he is a strong candidate. Okita Souji's 春政 is written differently from Asaba's 悠真, though both can be read in the same way.

Personal Highlights

Don't you guys ever get tired of people shouting "Stay strong!" and "You've gotta keep going!" like they're selling some self-help course? It gets annoying, right?

Since we play as the Proxy who aids Harumasa, I was put in the position of the one who listens and comforts. I have a fair share of experiences where I play this part but I honestly think I'm not good at it. As someone who struggles with personal problems that no one else can solve and someone driven by rationality, I can't really refute Harumasa's words. It's a statement that hits too deep because hearing optimistic words do get tiring. What's the point of such words if there's no solid solution to a problem? Without a believable solution, it sometimes seem like empty words.

But no matter what, being a survivor in your own heart is better than just being a victim, right?

I really appreciate this part because it's a way of changing perspective. It's better for them to know that they were survivors who despite not having long to live, still exists in this world. While they were truly victims of circumstances, what they could do right now is move forward. Sometimes, we have no control of our situation which leads us to encountering negative consequences. This leads to pessimistic outlook and self-pity, yet despite that we can still take control even if a small part of our life.

In this messed-up, wounded, yet so brilliantly beautiful world.

I'm a cynical nihilist, but I'm sometimes still moved by the words of those who believe they can change the story the way they want. When I heard this line, my mind played Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai ("This Beautiful Cruel World"), the 1st ED of Attack on Titan, and remembered Honkai Impact 3rd's core and tagline "Fighting for All That is Beautiful in the World." At the end of his story, I am both proud and happy that he still has a somewhat positive outlook in the future despite the unfairness of life.

Other Thoughts

Child experimentation and drug involvement are by no means a new trope, but one that is definitely present across HoYoverse games. When I was reading through Harumasa's story, the first one to appear in my mind was Tears of Themis. Because it's such a major theme that I cannot help but see parallels of it though they are not exactly the same. Major parts of the story is tied with investigating a certain drug.

An important character was exposed to such a drug (due to contaminated medicine) when he was being treated after being injured during a mission. He was diagnosed to have three years and two months left to live (I have heard last time that they found clues to extend his life or maybe cure him). He suffers from a degenerative condition affecting his nervous system (loss control of his arm), organs (bouts of coughing and severe pain), and mental state (paranoia).

Since these are typical drug effects, we've seen it on Harumasa during his Character Demo and his Agent Story. i really love him and his story moved me. Hopefully we'll be able to help him find a cure in the future and have him live for a long, long time~! Funnily, I played his story while I'm struggling with a depressive episode so of course, it's a bit bittersweet and sad. I haven't had this kind of feeling ever since I played Elysian Realm (and I've also been struggling really bad that time lol)

If you've read this far, what do you think of Harumasa and his story? Did your impression of him changed to a more positive or negative stance?

References:

[1] John-Keats.com - Letters

[2] Lun, Stephanie. (2021). A Guide on Shinsengumi: the background and management.

[3] Mori, Makiko. (1999). Okita Sōji Feature. Tokyo: Shin Jinbutsu Oraisha, pp. 9–11