~~~Heavy SPOILERS#
I suggest to read it only if you have read the manga.
Born from the majestic pen and mind of Cocoa Fujiwara, Inu x Boku Secret Service (妖狐×僕SS) unrightfully is always compared to Inuyasha by the well-known Rumiko Takahashi. Comparing Takashi is a bit out of place, but it is undeniable that Fujiwara-sensei was a fan of the above-mentioned Queen of Manga (as she is the inspiration for everyone in the manga industry).
The inspiration can’t be denied though, absolutely corky and unique characters that are instantly lovable, and even some panels that mimic the absurd humour of works such as Ranma or Urusei Yatsura.
The plot as per Anilist is straightforward:_ "In search of independence and solitude, the sharp-tongued Ririchiyo Shirakiin moves to the Maison de Ayakashi, an apartment building full of wealthy tenants, which has its own Secret Service. Ririchiyo is eager to be alone, but upon her arrival, she is greeted by Soushi, an SS agent arranged for her by her parents. Ririchiyo tries to turn away, but Soushi's dogged devotion to his new mistress will not be deterred. The threats against the residents of the Maison de Ayakashi are not to be taken lightly, after all. And despite his puppylike demeanour, Soushi is not to be trifled with..."_
We are introduced to a world on its own, the Ayakashi Hall is the centre of it, and the surroundings are almost inexistent in the manga. Our main character (even though to a certain extent everyone is a main character), can look like an average tsundere, but she is much more than a cheap comedic trope. She is a person hurt, by the family, by the surroundings, by the hypocrisy to be treated like a rare pet.
These small details can be one of the keys to interpreting the entire manga.
We see through the course of the series that almost no Youkai is showing up. This is not an adventure tale to fight demons like in Inuyasha, here the demons are dormant, and the Youkai have lost their power. The enemy lies within.
To avoid a long and boring essay, I will not go into the details of each character but still, la vague description is necessary.
The real enemy of the entire plot is the Family and the power behind it. All our heroes and heroines are segregated and forced by human families because being blessed with the ancestor of a youkai, brings to them power. For this reason, Miketsukami is confined and treated like a beast, Ririchiyo is not allowed to go anywhere, Nobara-chan is forced into a marriage, and my beloved Karuta Roromiya is shut into her room. All of them have this sad destiny waiting for them, with the possibility of reincarnation retaining their memories in an eternal cycle, never-ending.
Shimon-sama, represents this tragedy herself. Forbidden to go out due to her foresight and the ability to predict, she is condemned for eternity to be closed in, to be born and die while staying closed into a room. In this pathetic scenario Mikoto Inugami (the main “antagonist”), becomes her only saviour, going back in time each time and providing her with corpses, so she can be entertained by “reading” their lives. The same sad destiny awaits Zange Natsumi, doomed to live a short life and the only one who always retains his memories from previous lives.
Each character has incredible development. Sorinozuka who survived them after the first Night Parade, becomes a 40 years old man, who then meets again the reincarnation of his beloved friends who are now young, while he is left behind with no family or real ambition (and apparently in love with Nobara Yukinoji, it seems despite all that she is into him too). Karuta in the new version is a 20 years old who protects a very young Banri Watanuki.
Talking about Banri; the emotional growth he has had during the narrative is impressive. He is the one who “saves the world” as his connection with Mikoto Inugami in the time skip was life-saving for all of them.
You will notice that I spent a decent length of words for the “side” characters, far from the main duo (Ririchiyo and Soushi), and the main reason is that as mentioned previously, this is a very choral manga. Forcing attention only on one would be injustice towards the others that are beautifully designed. How to forget over the top Kage-sama calling all of them “My livestock”?
Talking about comedy.
This manga delivers in all aspects, each one of them is insanely absurd and all of them put together make up a “circus” of funny abnormalities. Even with the trope repeated over and over (Nobara being a super lesbian, Soushi being the dog, Karuta being the emotionless food hole), they continuously change and grow and you cannot do anything else than love them.
But what wanted to say Fujiwara-sensei?
As art is up to interpretation (with no absolute truth), everyone can read it as he/she wants. I think she wanted to depict a beautiful fairy tale enhancing the concept of connection, love and friendship, hinting at the usual trope that in the end you shape your future, and you can break chains that are tiding you up.
Cocoa Fujiwara died at the age of 31. She dropped out of school to start a career when she was simply 16. She had left behind beautiful complete manga, some short stories and one unfinished work. She was not a genius, a powerhouse or even the most original creator out there. But she has left something behind and in a last emotional elan, the author of this modest analysis can simply tell her: Thank you.
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