More than anything else, it shows how much untapped potential these characters, and many anime characters in general, have when you take off the anime trope filters. Can a story have teenagers? Panty shots? Big guns? Sure, whatever. But how much would the OWaW story in general have lost without the adults? Not just Gryphon--the adult witches and other supporting characters, too. Adding the ability to grow, develop, and overcome limitations set by the setting and the characters' personalities is also fantastic.

The point is, not a one of these things would have been allowed by the show's original designers. Resolving sexual tension or personality flaws? Too highbrow for them. Adult protags? Fucking hell, adding anyone old enough to drink would get them laughed out of the boardroom, Misato Katsuragi notwithstanding.

I'm constantly impressed, Gryphon, by your ability to take something that was a shallow excuse for panty shots and turn it into a fun, positive, thought-provoking story. Hats off to you, sir.

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Fearless creatures, we all learn to fight the Reaper
Can't defeat Her, so instead I'll have to be Her