It is rather funny how so many things in a writer's vast range of interest can become connected together. While working on my novel, My Kingdom for a Horse, the fact my character, Kylie, has such a huge brother complex began to intrigue me so I decided to research the psychological effects of sibling complexes. I went to Google and typed in "brother complex" and what did my search lead me to? Listed on the first page of results was a link to Wikipedia about the anime Koi Kaze.
Koi Kaze is an emotionally and psychologically charged anime about two siblings who meet up with each other after being separated for around thirteen years after their parents divorced. Koshiro, at 27 years old has just recently broken up with his girlfriend and seems indifferent towards life, working at a matchmaking company and cohabitating with his father.
One day, he meets a young, bright girl schoolgirl on the train after she drops her school name tag. The blooming cherry blossoms, which float past them as he returns the girl’s pass is a symbolism of the fleeting happiness he feels in that moment. Coincidentally, or perhaps by fate, they run into each other later that day by an amusement park and offers her the tickets he won. The girl in her innocence invites him to join her. While they are riding the Ferris wheel, the two make a connection as they comfort each other over their ruined relationships. Koshiro begins to develop romantic feelings for the girl and is crushed when he discovers the girl, Nanoka, is his own sister who has come to live with him and their father.
Their complex relationship is beautifully captured in small moments in which a single word or action causes one of them to break the next barrier. The barriers society has placed on them.
Nanoka strives to form a relationship with her brother whom seems to have no interest at her at first. He is brusque with her and even yells at her to stop calling him "Onii-chan" (older brother). The truth is, Koshiro is smoldering with romantic feelings towards his little sister and is taking out his frustration on her. He verbally abuses her after she empties his trash in which he hid the evidence of his growing feelings. He tries in vain to remain uninterested in his sister's affairs but ultimately displays his jealousy when he tells her she "cannot have a boyfriend for another ten years" after Nanoka is walked home by a classmate. He even tells her she is “cute” which results in uneasiness in Nanoka, who is starting to develop feeling for Koshiro, and avoids him the next morning.
Nanoka becomes known for having a “brother complex” at school, and is constantly picked on by her friends for her immense interest in her brother. One of her friends senses something is amiss in her Nanoka’s life and keeps asking what he matter is, to which Nanoka replies to her that she would never understand.
Nanoka a few days later brings an envelope with documents to Koshiro’s work and waits for him so they can go home together. Walking home, he embraces her on the bridge, where is suspecting coworker, Chidori, sees them. Later that night, he asks his sister if she would like to sleep in his bed. Nanoka tells her brother she loves him and that she must be abnormal for telling him such a thing. She then tries to run out of his room. Koshiro, although he has vowed to be nothing more than her brother, embraces her. Nanoka becomes afraid and runs back to her own bedroom.
Koshiro moves two days later after he Nanoka sleep in the same bed, where Koshiro tells her they must never meet up again. Nanoka makes her brother a sweater for Christmas, and goes to his apartment to deliver it when Koshiro sees her. He hides in an ally with Chidori, who was planning on sleeping at his house because “his place was closer to work”. Chidori confronts him and calls him a pervert after learning about his feelings towards Nanoka.
In the package his sister left was a letter in which she wrote she still loved her brother and wanted to see him. Koshiro spends the next day in bed crying, “I want to see you to”. Nanoka shows up to his house later that day and when her brother opens the door, she falls on top of him, spilling the contents of her grocery bag.
Koshiro attends to his sister’s scraped knee, and goes out to buy things so they can make dinner. While he is gone, Chidori goes the apartment and tries to convince Nanoka Koshiro is dating her. Nanoka yells at Chidori and tells her to leave and that she wants her brother for herself. Chidori passes by Koshiro, and asks why he did not send Nanoka away. Chidori sees they are both serious about each other and warns Koshiro “it will cut your parents to the quick”.
The siblings end up spending the night as lovers together, which included Koshiro making a midnight call to their unsuspecting father. The next day, they visit their mother, who is pleased to see her children together for the first time in over a decade. That same night, Nanoka asks her brother if they should commit a “lover’s suicide” together and it doesn’t matter as long as she is with him.
In the last episode they carve their names into a cherry tree and promise to meet up their every spring. Nanoka returns to her father’s house and Koshiro whispers, "I love you" as cherry blossoms drift by him.
So what did I learn about sibling complexes? That perhaps a deep sibling complex can result in romantic feelings and a mutually consenting sexual relationship. Society likes to look away from incest and pretend it does not exist, but it happens. Sometimes it is a consensual relationship between two adults. I do not condone incest, but from a psychological perspective I am able to understand why it may occur.
Koi Kaze honestly gives its viewers a taste of the feelings incestuous siblings may feel for each other. This complicated and somewhat incomprehensible relationship will drive viewers to feel both anger, sadness, happiness, and sorrow for Koshiro and Nanoka.
My characters do have brother-sister complex but it is not of a sexual nature. However, I was just given fodder for a new story because of my interest in what was driving Kylie.
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