As a side note, I humbly believe a song fits this chapter before starting the analysis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyoH8DtCFig
The chapter is out, many will read it, many will jump out of happiness or tears, it depends a lot on who; this analysis will be special so let’s begin with a small review. (Remember, ships within analysis and theories are not involved)
Chapter 90 - Review
The chapter starts with the sqaud,trying to reach Yu since they saw that he was crying, of course a funny scene passed before the tragedy.
Now, focusing on Yu and Mika we start to see how Mika’s physical body is slowly disappearing, he is in the process to become a demon, he’s dying as a vampire in order to become a demon; Yu of course is devastated because his last family from the first one he had on his whole life is vanishing from his hands.
We finally learn that Yu feels depressed, he’s trying to fight against every odd on his life to survive to keep finding a reason to live; in this, we finally see Ashera talking with Yu about how humans are weak but at the same time, that was fine; he reminded Yu that Mika wanted him to live, to survive, to fight; and of course, after he remembers that, he starts to cry even more.
Mika at the end, starts to lose consciousness but accepts the fact he’s dying, that he gave his everything for the person that was important for him.
Mika knew Yu would be sad and would cry for his dead, but Mika knew he’ll be fine, which is ackowledging that Yu is no longer alone; that despite both depended on each other and supported each other, they at the end found a family.
Chapter 90 - Analysis
Now, to proceed with this analysis, let’s begin with the first part of the chapter; the squad was going fast as they could to find Yu again; a curious fact was that Shinoa ackowledged the strength of the First Progenitor, she’s aware that her parter, her demon is Sika Madu which only reflects that Shinoa did learn things about The First Progenitor while she was possessed; the purpose of this is left unknown but perhaps we’ll learn about it later on.
Another thing is that, Shikama as a cursed gear is giving more power and Shinoa will eventually have to master it in order to gain control.
Now, to the part that makes everyone sad/angry/happy or however you feel guys (this is by no means to disrespect your emotions, I personally relate to the loss of a fave character, many characters I loved ended up dying). We see Mika slowly dying, and we find Yu praying to God or the Devil to save Mika; this shows that Yu can’t hold on any longer, he feels weak that he can’t protect anyone, he feels like he failed again.
Mika in the meantime starts to slowly lose his physical body, for many readers, this is the first time we’re shown how vampires become cursed gears; and, at the same time, we see a deep conversation between Ashera and Yu; Yu finally reveals how broken he feels, how he despises living but tries to live; Ashera knows very well that Yu feels empty, he had a reason to live and that reason was taken from him, his first family; his first friend and important person; and ends up wishing to die, he feels like life doesn’t make sense, that it’s useless to keep fighting but Ashera reminds him that Mika wished for Yu to live.
Mika despite having a cold attitude towards the squad except Yu, he wanted him to live, to be safe, to be happy but he was also aware that within the broken world they were living, the odds were higher than expectations.
At the end, Ashera explained to Yu that humans aren’t strong, that greed and desires are not sins as many think; in fact, desires are a point, are the source for a reason to live; living, that small word in fact is the biggest desire that any human can have within the story and perhaps for many readers as well, to prove we’re alive and exist.
Yu acknowledges that, and indeed, Ashera isn’t the first one to teach that lesson to Yu; in the past, Mahiru taught Yu to find a reason to live despite being labeled as a monster or a demon; so did Ashera; even if Yu labels himself as a monster, he has the right to live; which is why Ashera states to Yu that he needs to see with his eyes wide open Mika’s dead; to see and learn that despite losing someone important, people need to keep going, that’s the path to grow stronger as a human.
At the same time, after Yu cries more and shouts for Mika to not die; Mika barely speaks and tells Yu to not cry; Mika is aware that his life is ending but he wants Yu to grow stronger and something I loved the most is the fact that he acknowledged that the squad was their family, that Yu wasn’t alone in a destroyed world; that both of them despite being guinea pigs weren’t alone at all; that they had friends who supported them and cared for them.
That’s why Mika, instead of leaving with cries, he smiles and cries along telling Yu he loves him because Mika himself knows that Yu finally found a family he could trust.