I actually think Ashiya could have Aoi inside of him or be Aoi. I'll write a seperate comment speaking about this in more depth but it is always referenced that hanae's ability to attract spirits around him reminds the other yokai of Aoi. Just off the top of my head I can distinctly remember Koura and the justice speak about it in completely different conversations. WHen ashiya loses his ability to see yokai and the scrub yokai is determined to help, Koura says that the way Ashiya compelled so many yokai to love him reminds her of Aoi, and later on in the story when the Justice is escorting Ashiya, many yokai gather to help Ashiya and the justice thought he was using his influence to force them to do so, but upon realizing he wasn't, he says that the only other person who yokai naturally gathered around and were friendly towards was Aoi. From a story telling point as well, hanae is the only person who doesn't know much about this Aoi. Whenever they are brought up there is always a mysterious air while the story focuses on Ashiya wondering what kind of person they were. I personally believe there has to be a connection, even just by Aoi passing down his power to him the one day he faked being hanae's dad. This could possibly have given the power in ashiya to see yokai, though it was not awakened until fuzzy. This loss of power in Aoi could also be the explanation of why they succumbed to the parasite shrub in the forest. (FORESHADOWING/SPECULATION): This could also be a serious plot development, possibly due to the death of sakae, Aoi feels extreme guilt and visits Hanaes family taking on the form of Sakae and thus giving Ashiya power. Aoi fell to the parasite shrub though normally they would have been able to withstand the pain the medecine brought to cure the shrub. This could lead to (I hope not) Abeno blaming Ashiya for Aoi's death after researching it due to the order from the underworld princess.
I actually think Ashiya could have Aoi inside of him or be Aoi. I'll write a seperate comment speaking about this in more depth but it is always referenced that hanae's ability to attract spirits around him reminds the other yokai of Aoi. Just off the top of my head I can distinctly remember Koura and the justice speak about it in completely different conversations. WHen ashiya loses his ability to see yokai and the scrub yokai is determined to help, Koura says that the way Ashiya compelled so many yokai to love him reminds her of Aoi, and later on in the story when the Justice is escorting Ashiya, many yokai gather to help Ashiya and the justice thought he was using his influence to force them to do so, but upon realizing he wasn't, he says that the only other person who yokai naturally gathered around and were friendly towards was Aoi. From a story telling point as well, hanae is the only person who doesn't know much about this Aoi. Whenever they are brought up there is always a mysterious air while the story focuses on Ashiya wondering what kind of person they were. I personally believe there has to be a connection, even just by Aoi passing down his power to him the one day he faked being hanae's dad. This could possibly have given the power in ashiya to see yokai, though it was not awakened until fuzzy. This loss of power in Aoi could also be the explanation of why they succumbed to the parasite shrub in the forest. (FORESHADOWING/SPECULATION): This could also be a serious plot development, possibly due to the death of sakae, Aoi feels extreme guilt and visits Hanaes family taking on the form of Sakae and thus giving Ashiya power. Aoi fell to the parasite shrub though normally they would have been able to withstand the pain the medecine brought to cure the shrub. This could lead to (I hope not) Abeno blaming Ashiya for Aoi's death after researching it due to the order from the underworld princess.