All of those things seem to speak as much or more of how Piro feels about it, or how it makes him feel. Not whatever the truth is, about Miho or anything else. But even if he is doing all those things because of or for her - and not all for himself - it still doesn't confirm that he loved her or loves her. None of it establishes what exactly he thinks about it, but we can notice he appears very reactive to things, most of which he doesn't do anything about. He's in some recon mode or something. To what end, the ink isn't there yet, much less dry.Invisigoth wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2018 5:21 pmYeah Piro totally crushed Largo's face and hospitalized him because he has absolutely no feelings at all for Miho Piro totally performed heroic levels of CPR to keep Miho alive long enough for her to make it to surgery because he feels nothing at all for Miho Piro totally charged into a mudder fusking war zone through cordons of mercenaries and mass destruction because he TOTALLY DOESN'T FEEL ANYTHING AT ALL FOR MIHO!!!!
Or something like that!
We might say that just because somebody doesn't take any action doesn't mean they don't care, and being afraid of taking the wrong action isn't the only reason they might not act. etc etc etc.
One of the questions that's been discussed was why his conscience wasn't around, hasn't returned. Budget, other concerns. Some might say this isn't an issue of his conscience any longer, so there's no need. Yet... There's this aspect where Piro is highly emotive and imaginative with some things, drawing mostly, a gifted artist, who doesn't seem to trust his own work. This seems to extend to "being too pushy" with strangers. Oh, the beer garden, he just starts moping when Kimiko gets aggressive about the rail card. Or when his only goal and desire seems to be sharing his artwork with Kimiko. But now, he can hardly be bothered to get interested in having his art go along with that game he was so stoked about with the VA he was thinking of. And she's more than interested in him; his portfolio, the laptop, calling him with updates, see disappeared especially panel 6, and helping to help Miho to including 'dying for her'. Kimiko is helping Piro now save the mystical being they've both seemingly bonded to in some way, so they can at the least work together on it, just like they've been doing all day with the rescue.
There's not much doubt Kimiko likes him a lot, to the point where she'll help him correctly lay the past down, to lay the poor thing to rest. No matter how messed up he is. Kimiko is the only one who hasn't given up, although she might eventually, depending on what Piro does. And it is his decision of course, and he can continue to not decide. But that is what has been the problem. His conscience gave up on trying to get him to take a course of action that's not somebody else making it for him. Dom has (story removed him, but like Ed and Ibara not really players, and certainly quite ineffective. Although there was that one time Dom suggested Piro wouldn't move on a body pillow and that's pretty much how it's seemed recently.) Largo hasn't, exactly, but that path is different. Actually, really, let go of the demented fantasy Largo says, Piro says Largo first - what Demented Fantasy involving ancient goddesses is Largo in? That's really kind of nonsensical. It sure made Piro angry having Largo insult him like that, but that's okay because a great violent face punch that is the most aggressive active thing Piro has done is cool to Largo, likely not just because hey broken face but because that spine was there, as Largo has mentioned and we've seen. But see Piro has this over-literal semi-imagination problem. He plays sims (dating farming ) and mmos where he does get into the flow apparently. FPS, seems as if Piro wins lots because he's being logical tactical strategic very well while Largo just runs around. But off the computer. Like seeing zillas. They're there but they're money. After umpteen times of evidence Largo is a teacher, whoa Largo really is a teacher. Largo expresses these things with a lot of over hype but seems to know the real, while Piro mostly seems to repress or ignore both. I digress maybe. Still, did Piro even see the metaphysical supranatural power form from thoughts and tear down a building while he was in it? Notice Yuki being an MG and drawing them off while appearing to be Miho? Or what was he going to do when he got to the apartment anyway, he sure didn't seem to expect anyone....
Why not here, his conscience gave up when, after his barely contained frustration at Miho's existence, he also suggested Miho's fix was just get new fans; that's not how it works at all ever. Erika and Largo gave up pretty much during that phone call on the train. Ping gave up and has moved off. Same for Miho, she is leading him around on a demonstration that he doesn't get at all, after she gives up on telling him anything multiple times. Last one to do so was Megumi; he's set on not getting it and not going along with it, she gives up. Why bother. She's like, whatever, go play checkers or something, geez.
Maybe Piro is heading for the bad ending where he doesn't win or lose because he's never chosen. Or maybe getting him there is the whole point of the Megatokyo story.