I think they didn't die since Walter was obviously lying to Norman,, like come on it was a plan between the FBI and Sword/Sen so why would he even leak the information out to a prisoner??? And also, it wouldn't make sense if they actually had died; from what we have seen from the beginning, Sword and Sen had really sharp minds, they had been suppressing their feelings countless times to aim for bigger things throughout the story. So why would Sword lose his mind in a mere moment and actually die for such a stupid reason?? If they had gone through all that ups and downs JUST to die in a trivial situation (like I wouldn't even call it that much of a riot since there was only 1 people protesting), the story would be-sorry to say this- plain stupid. It would be like watching Titanic to see that in the end, Jack didn't die for sacrificing but for a stupid fight or food poisoning
Arghh im sorry if im annoying and stubborn in the eye but actually when they died it was quite unplanned,I mean I believe sword had a plan or something but it didn't go accordingly and instead they both died unexpectedly. Making this manga still good even when they both died.
(yes i researched to back my statement up)
Also, in page 201 of vol. 3 a statement said "EVEN UNTIL THE END,WERE ABANDONED BY THE SUN" then it follows with "RIGHT, SWORD" assuming this is Sen that's talking,so it looks like they didn't escape UGH or they didn't escape UGH alive but before that, in page 200 it says "LAST NIGHT,WE CHECKED OUT OF IT", last night being the time of their death so it looks like they didn't escape UGH but rather just left it, but we all know leaving UGH is out of the question and that whoever went to UGH will most likely never see the sun again. More so the pictures behind those words were also saying that they died. Because in the box where its supposedly says "EVEN UNTIL THE END,WERE ABANDONED BY THE SUN" the drawing behind it is a corpse bag with the cross necklace,probably it's Sen's corpse and the drawing behind the "RIGHT, SWORD" was Sword's hair assuming he was lying down DEAD on the floor,just like how it was shown on how he died. Then the the last (cause there was three things that was said on the top of that page actually) was "DONT YOU THINK SO TOO?.." with a moon behind,which is the exact opposite of the sun. just like earlier they probably planned to escape UGH but instead they left UGH in a more sad way which is death.
Then I also believe Walter or William didnt lie to Norman as they did grow a connection. It was obviously shown but I made research so im just gonna say it again. When William was still the prisoner Walter, it was shown that Norman atually liked Walter then at the end where it was revealed that Walter was actually William, Walter insisted on shaving his beard and coming back,showing that he also grew a connection to Norman. Letting us know that Walter(im just gonna call him Walter cause that fits him more) would not lie to Norman,though I dont know if they actually like each other,its kinda blurry in that area
Though at the end of the rope wether they didnt or did die doesent really matter It's that theyre happy living together. And that I SPENT A FREAKING HOUR RESEARCHING JUST FOR THIS REPLY FFFF
Just to make it clear im not the type of person who would research for hours all the time just to debate about small facts in shows/mangas/anime etc.. I just did this cause I had nothing to do heh
plus this has a tragedy tag.
I guess we have different interpretations about the ending, I wouldn't try forcing you to think the same way as I do, but I'm sticking with my view :)
(and I also did research lol)
For me it is still a plan, that Sword pretended to kill Sen, they faked their deaths to get out UGH, changed their appearances/identities and escaped to a faraway island.
1. Remember the fortune cookie Sen received? He told his mate the message was "Death", but it actually said "To unite as one. Believe in me!" That, as I believe the author was trying to express, is the signal of Sword to Sen that the plan has started, or let's start the plan. That's why Sen, which originally had been so bored and depressed, suddenly brighten his mood and looked happy. Then he requested Mutou to let him see Sword for the last time.
2. When the police fired, they stood at Sword's side and only fired 2 shots into his flanks (below his chest, above his ribs), which is considered as a non-lethal area (area that has low level of bone mass, nerve bundles and the organs in which are covered by fat/muscle). It is- to a certain extent, unlikely for someone to die from their flanks being shot. If the police really wanted Sword to die, it wouldn't be that hard for them to aim at his head or chest, considering they are specifically trained for dealing with level-3 and 4 criminals. Plus, Sen wasn't even shot, there was no reason for him to be (and the fact that the police stood at Sword's side makes it even less likely to be the case of unwanted accident), so the police's action of putting him in the bag definitely is questionable.
3. lastly, some may not notice it but pp.191-194 clearly give off a vibe that they were faking it. Their actions were so stiff and emotionless, things flowed fast but in a correct order like everything was planned. Like,, how could it be possible right after the second Sword got shot, Walter appeared and arrested Mutou? (so that Mutou wouldn't recognize their fake deaths duh). And can't you see the lines Sword was telling Sen? ("I can't just let you go", "I won't let you be out of here before me" blabla),, it was sooo cheesy and corny and completely different from his personality and normal talking style. It's like Sword was purposely TRYING TO LET EVRYONE HEAR IT and think of the situation like that rather than conveying his feelings to Sen.
And why would Sword kill Sen anyway? He had been trying hard to free him from the prison, so why on earth would he kill him when he was being moved to the 4th level?
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If the author really let them die, I'm pretty sure with her skill, she could have made those scenes longer, more intense and emotional. But compared to other scenes of the story, their "dying scene" was rushed and stiff, and she didn't even show Sen being shot. So yeah, I think their deaths are faked :)
Goshhh I'm so so sorry for this long ass post @_@ have just finished my exam so basically I have nothing to do too lmao
Like you I also thought they survived and were living under new names. If it was a heaven ending I figure there is no need for them to be living in hiding and under new names. As for the tragedy tag..I think it can still apply given the brutality of everything else..and also the tags on here are not always correct.
(๑•ㅂ•)و✧
Most reasonable comment. I agree since no need to eat (swordfish) in heaven as well.
No need for new names too.
Just felt like commenting my 2 cents. Sword and Sen aren't dead. They are living on the beach with fake names. Also I believe (since we really will never know unless the author outright says it) that Sword made a deal with the FBI to catch the Warden being the supplier for the drugs and in exchange for helping, Sword would be fully released. Sen was already going to be released due to the fact that he didn't kill the husband of his professor. So the FBI helped them fake their deaths to receive new identities. Also, I believe (I cant read Japanese) the author is coming out with a new manga featuring them: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01N6SZF2C/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_BNRLybPG7QQTZ
Oh, I just took it as they are alive with new names to protect their identity. Also I felt the ending was more of the author's homage to shawshank redemption. I know she wrote something about it being based off Oz or something to that effect, but to me it felt as if andy and red made it out together.
It's even more clear when you have read the extra after too… And if they were really dead, it would be meaningless to talk about the new names.
(I figure out than a plan were going since the moment he got the paper and "swallow" it afterward… I was just a little tense when the scene where the twos died, thinking "make it be than I saw it right and than its really the plan he did with the help of Walter". And that was the case. Btw the heaven were refering to the beach. Or like said before it was Walter who tried to hide it to Norman…)
Actually it wasn't really difficult to understand the meaning of that sentence… The first intent is sure for confuse, but when you think a little about it, you figure out… It is sarcasm. 'Cause when they finally go out it's not a sun which were here for them. But a moon. Do you see it better?
And Walter is a FBI agent. Do you really think he couldn't do somthing like fake their Death and bring them out? Walter didn't offer his help for nothing… The more influent post were the one of the warden and he get arrest, so who have the more power? The FBI. And even if it were the gards which took care of the body, remember than Sword can pay them, like when he's first intend to flee by the carbage truck with Sen. And like I said before, read the extra. The second one (because when you had read all the manga in one day like me, you see than the first one are… incoherent)
I went completely blind into this yaoi manga at 1 in the morning,i finished the whole thing at 3 am, AND I DONT REGRET A THING, this was a very interesting read. The art wasnt so bad, there was a plot that the story followed with some sense and best of all the authors knew how to do CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT gahh!!! I say the best thing about this manga is the character development,not only with sword and sen but also with the other side characters like sen and norman or sword and walter stuff like that.
On a side not I see alot of people saying that they didint die in the end, I believe they actually did, sadly... ╥﹏╥. People say that it was all planned by the FBI or something and now theyre living with different names with the help of the FBI but actually if your read one off the bubbles through the last discussion of Walter and Norman, they said something about both of them fishing and being happy together IN HEAVEN, and what were the next scenes?! THEM FISHING TOGETHER BEING HAPPY, although it was kinda blurred since they were talking about living with new names, its still clearly states that they both died together and are now fishing happily in a beautiful beach together. I also thought that the manga woudnt simply just end with them escaping UGH, I believe the authors or Sen and Swordfish was aiming for something nicer and better already, yes they tried to escape but I believe it didnt also bother them that much if they died together as long as they are HAPPY and TOGETHER.