Board Thread:Fun and Games/@comment-30241447-20190108230126/@comment-84.224.185.206-20191130163646

Very hard question. If Guren ends up as a demon, I kind of think Mahiru would have been much more stable. Although they were both in love with the other, Mahiru was able to put aside her feeling from time to time to focus on her goals - while Guren, even when he chose his friends instead of her, never actually let her go, he was absolutely obsessed with saving her. Their relationship was always a little dominated by Mahiru, so I'm quite sure, that even is he was to become a demon, Guren couldn't take control as easily, as she could with him - although I can imagine situations, where, to manipulate someone, to achieve a goal, Mahiru would willingly give up control for a while.

I don't know how her relationship would go with Shinoa. Knowing that she is posing a danger, I can imagine that they grow a little distant, but constantly look out for each other - well, Shinoa basically looked out for Guren as well, when he had Mahiru as a demon. As for the research, she would most likely be a very competent researcher, so it is possible, that under her supervision, the Cursed Gears would be more advanced than before, as stated above.

I can't really imagine her become a mother figure to Yuu, as Guren became his father figure. I'm also quite sure, she won't put such emphasis on making friends and working together, since she was always lonelier, and never formed as strong bonds as her lover - therefore Yuu's character development may go a completely different way. If he receives guidance from Mahiru at all, it's most likely that he will solely focus on Mika, and perhaps make some bonds with Shinoa, but never get a full team, like he did. Mahiru may have a friendship with Shinya, but I can't imagine it develop so much, and be as strong, as the one he had with Guren... although I see it as a possibility, that the two may get into a relationship for a while, maybe even get married, since Shinya was her fiancé... but I'm quite sure, it would be a really unhappy relationship, since Shinya would always know, even if he is not aware that Guren is in her cursed gear, that he is not whom Mahiru really wants.

These are kind of my thoughts right now on an alternate storyline with switched positions of the characters... it's an interesting concept to discover.