Hunter x Hunter: Togashi knew what he was doing by giving the romance to a villain

When someone picks up Hunter x Hunter, they expect morally grey characters, brutal battles, and psychological warfare.

Yet in the middle of the most intense arc, Togashi surprised everyone by introducing one of the most touching and emotionally deep romances in all of anime. The twist is that it is not the main character who had a love interest; it was the main villain, Meruem.

It was clear since I started the series that Hunter x Hunter was different from other shonen series. While other series like Naruto, Bleach, or My Hero Academia often explore romantic subplots or at least hint at them, Hunter x Hunter remains astonishingly devoid of any traditional romance.

Also, to give Meruem a romantic interest was a risky move. He was one of the Chimera Ants, and his core personality was that he looked down on humans and considered them to be inferior. He killed without remorse and wanted to take over the world, in a sense, a perfect villain with no space for empathy.

Then Togashi introduced Komugi, a blind girl who was a nobody. The only thing she was good at was a traditional strategy board game called Gungi. Komugi is the first person to defeat Meruem at anything, and not just once, but repeatedly. Her personality and her skills made a tyrannical character mellow and curious.

Notably, their romance did not start in an instant or have any grand gestures of love. Instead, their love blooms quietly, through shared moments, conversations, and games. Komugi, unaware of the King’s power and identity, treats him with the same clumsy honesty she offers everyone. She even risks her life for him, refusing to leave his side after an attack, despite being offered safety.

With this, suddenly, Meruem, who wants to take over the world and the one who was so ruthless that he is the ultimate threat, felt empathy. Togashi juxtaposes brutal battles, such as Netero’s final stand, against tender scenes of Meruem and Komugi playing Gungi under a moonlit sky.

The creator forces us to question if someone who is seen as a monster is worthy of love and change. Ultimately, the duo does not get a happily ever after. Meruem uses his final moments not to fight, not to rage, but to play one last game of Gungi with Komugi. She joins him, knowingly sacrificing her own life, because being with him matters more than survival.

Their final conversation, as their life essence is going away, will leave everyone emotional. Interestingly, there was no music, just silence, fading breath, and two souls who found each other in the most unlikely circumstances.

What This Says About Togashi as a Creator of Hunter x Hunter

I believe that Yoshihiro Togashi always had a different way of storytelling. And as his fan since I read Yu Yu Hakusho, it was clear he was a genius for writing in the supernatural action genre. With Hunter x Hunter, he doesn’t waste time on forced romances or fanservice. In my opinion, he uses romance as a storytelling tool.

It is brought up only when it’s needed, where it makes sense, and only when it can hit the hardest. Maybe that is why I believe that Meruem and Komugi’s story lingers long after the arc ends. It wasn’t meant to entertain, it was meant to transform our viewing experience.

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In conclusion, Togashi has always been an unconventional storyteller. His series Hunter x Hunter has deconstructed the very concept of shonen. By placing a love story in the hands of a villain, he proves that he isn’t just a master of battle strategy or psychological tension. He is also capable of framing moments of profound vulnerability and grace.

This choice not only made the Chimera Ant arc one of the most memorable in anime history but also redefined what Hunter x Hunter could be.

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