Line #8 Headscratchers/SchoolMermaid


1	* It's pretty nitpicky, but are there really ''no'' mer''men?'' It seems unlikely that ''only'' girls would be desperate enough to try this...
2	** Maybe there's an alternate equivalent spell for guys. The incantation specifically summoned mermaids.
3	** It's possible the spell causes a GenderBender for males that use it and fail.
4	** Or maybe boys simply weren't desperate enough to try some voodoo hax instead of simply trying to be with girls normally.
5	** One of the chapters of ''School Mermaid 2'' gives us the answer to this one. The chapter "Shinobu and Shuutarou" parts one and two has Shinobu cast the spell with her classmate Shuutarou, who is implied to be a closeted trans girl. The spell is said to not work for boys, but it does work for Shuutarou, who is elated over the spell recognizing her heart as a woman's. [[spoiler: However, it doesn't end so well for her, since she ultimately fails to eat the flesh or drink the blood of one of the mermaids she was targetting, leading to Shuutarou becoming a mermaid herself. So, this chapter clarifies there are no mermen as the spell doesn't work for boys. It also shows that if a trans girl uses the spell and fails, the transformation into a mermaid [[GenderBender also modifies their bodies into a female form]].]]
6	* If the mermaids are capable of floating and passing through walls, why don't they just hide on the exterior of the school, along the upper floors, away from any windows? It would be hard for anyone to notice them, and even if they did, they would probably have to climb along the exterior and risk their own deaths to get at the mermaids.
7	** Also if they're intangible to the walls and stuff, how come thay're tangible for their hunters?
8	** Now where's the fun in that? It's easier to understand if you think of the mermaids as predators (er, of the animal variety) and the concept of 'toying with your prey'.
9	* So if by any chance some other person wandered into the school during the hunt would they see the mermaids too or would they just see crazed schoolgirls supposedly pursuing imaginary prey? That'd actually look pretty funny though.
10	** It actually is implied that's true in one chapter, someone snuck into the school and saw no mermaids, just the girl chasing them.
11	* Why do certain mermaids show humanity when others don't? Everyone who performed the ritual was arguably brave enough to do so and their strong desires partially lead to them discovering the journal explaining it. You'd think all of them would express certain aspects of their former selves. Does the transformation just brainwash everyone completely?
12	** It's the opposite. The girls who cast the spell are shown to be selfish and cowardly and it's implied for many that their love is ultimately shallow. After all, they are willing to kill someone in order to get their love (which is selfish) but not properly confess to their crush and work towards a real relationship (which is cowardly). The few times we see a mermaid keep their personality, it's due to a real selfless love/friendship.
13	* Mariko and Kaori's story is confusing when considered against the established lore. It's stated that mermaids will attack someone whose love is reciprocated. But Kaori loves Mariko who loves her back. So how was she able to kill a mermaid without being attacked? And how did she turn into a mermaid when Hidemi didn't? How does Mariko turn into a mermaid as well when it's shown that Kaori still loves her?

Context Headscratchers / SchoolMermaid