Nai Muhinyi (无?) is one of the main characters of Karneval. He is one of the first characters to appear in the story and meets Gareki during one of his thefts, beginning the pair's journey together.
Appearance[]
Nai is a small, thin boy of indeterminate age with a rounded face, large scarlet eyes, and pale features. Due to him being an albino, Nai's hair is white say for the bangs framing his face, which are lavender. It's later confirmed that Nai is a rare animal known as a "Niji", much to Gareki's embarrassment.
Personality[]
The Niji
Nai is a very kind-hearted, pure, and innocent person, albeit a bit on the naïve side. Due to his dependence on Karoku, Nai tends to rely on those around him who are willing to lend him help; this often leads to him getting in trouble. Nai does not know much about the world around him and is confused by very simple terms, not understanding the compliments he often receives due to his other-worldliness. When Gareki first discovers him, he didn't know what blood was; referring to it as "red water".[1] Despite this, he is also quite brave as he dove to save an endangered animal and defended Karoku when they're being attacked.[2] Nai is also eager to help and incredibly loyal to those he considers his friends.
History[]
After Karoku moved to Niji Forest with his mother and father he went out to take a look around Niji Forest. At some point, he fell asleep on the grass. Nai, a mere niji, was wandering around with a wound from being attacked by another animal. He then stumbled upon Karoku.
Karoku awoke to find Nai nibbling at his hair, mistaking it for water. Karoku took Nai to his home in Niji Forest and showed him to his mother and father. Karoku worked with his parents to take care of Nai and nurse him back to health.
When Nai fully recovered, Karoku took him outside with his parents, and Nai was already jumping high and moving around without any trouble. Soon enough Karoku released Nai back into the forest so he could live freely again since he was completely healed.
It is shown that Nai grew an attachment to Karoku even after he released him back into the forest. Nai constantly showed up outside where he was. Nai often cuddled up to Karoku like the teen was his father. Every day when Karoku showed up, Nai would be waiting for him in a certain spot. So every day Karoku went outside to the same spot and met Nai there. Karoku eventually gave him his name.
Sometime after these events, Karoku's dad went on a journey back to a town to get supplies. He was caught up in a lovers quarrel between an abusive man and a woman, which caused him to be stabbed multiple times. Karoku and his mom found out about his father's death shortly after this. His mom began to lose herself and her mind. She kept herself locked away in the lab they had worked in together for years.
One day, Karoku went out to visit Nai. When he saw him, Karoku ran to him and cried with Nai in his arms, muttering that he hoped Nai would never leave him. From afar it is shown that his mom was watching them. Suddenly Karoku's mom began acting normal again, saying she would make dinner, and that she was only locked away because she was supposedly working on something. It is revealed that she kept Karoku in a sleep-like state for a long time; possibly months.
Karoku woke up to find that his nails were longer and he had needle markings on his arms. He was dizzy and could barely walk. After realizing what had taken place, Karoku ran around trying to find Nai. Neither Nai nor his mom were nowhere to be found. However, Karoku heard noises coming from inside the lab. Breaking open the door, he found his dad's head in a preserved container. Then he saw Nai's horns on a plate with pieces of his hair and blood on it. Karoku immediately thought the worst; that his mom had killed Nai. He heard the noises again. Running to where a lump lay under a sheet, at first he thought it was his mom. Then he realized it didn't sound like her, and he wondered who was there.
Removing the sheet, Nai lay there in a sudden human form; he was shaking with fear, and his hands wrapped up with bandages. He saw Karoku and his eyes lit up with relief. But Nai didn't know how to speak; he just made noises and tried to reach for Karoku. Karoku sat there shocked and couldn't believe what he saw. But he recognized Nai even in human form. Reaching for a notebook, Karoku saw notes on DNA and cell splicing. He found out that his mom had used different cells from his dad's head, and different cells from Nai's body. She then brought them together trying to save his father.
Then his mom walks in, saying that she was able to create a new living being. After seeing that his mom had lost her mind, he yelled at her. He asked her why she did this and stated that Nai had nothing to do with it. Karoku's mom said that his father was more important and that he should know how she feels. That he must've felt the pain of knowing his father was dead- that he should be able to understand her feelings. Karoku pretended to agree with his mom and she fell for it. Saying he was going to get supplies for dinner, he ran out and began searching for somewhere to hide himself and Nai.He then found a cave.
Karoku decided to hide and raise Nai in the cave and went about making it inhabitable. Later, he drugged his mother the same way she had drugged him earlier and took Nai away. He took him to the cave and vowed to protect him. He asked Nai to trust him again because he won't let anything harm him. After a while, Karoku had managed to teach Nai human language, while maintaining his mother in a drugged state. However, the drugs started wearing off quicker and one day, she escaped before Karoku could up her dosage. It turned out his mother had turned into a varuga and Kafka had arrived on scene and put her down. As Karoku chased after her, he ran right into Keshiki. Fearing Keshiki would take Nai to Kafka and experiment on him, Karoku went along with Keshiki, claiming that there was nothing else here and that he wished to return to Kafka. As Karoku left Nai all alone in the forest, he thought that Nai was strong enough to survive on his own and that this was the only way he could protect him.
Skills & Abilities[]
Hearing[]
Due to being a half-Niji, Nai's ears are incredibly sensitive to sound, allowing him to pick up noises that are inaudible to normal people.
Empathy[]
Although not fully explained, Nai possesses the ability to sense the emotions of others which can be seen through the series as he was able to notice the change in Yogi when he became Silver Yogi as well as when he could sense Gareki's mood while he was asleep. He was able to sense "A lot of warm things swirling around Gareki".[3]
Relationships[]
Gareki[]
Gareki and Nai have a very complex relationship, with Gareki seemingly being annoyed by Nai but at the same time concerned for him. Although Gareki originally protected and provided for Nai purely for selfish reasons, he soon begins to take care of Nai and becomes his surrogate older brother. Nai also shows that he cares for Gareki when Nai tries to distance himself from him because Karoku asked him, "You don't want him to break, do you?" Because of this, Nai ended up pushing Gareki away in order to protect him. Gareki, not knowing Nai's true intentions, reacted negatively to this which resulted in Nai breaking out into an outburst of tears.[4] However, the conflict was later resolved and Gareki and Nai were able to become close again.[5]
In the manga, Nai is described as 'attached to' Gareki. An example of this is shown when Gareki wanted to visit Karasuna and Nai insisted to come along, even after Gareki said he couldn't.[6] Yogi mentioned that Nai was probably scared of being away from Gareki, which lead him to saying yes. Gareki described his relationship with Nai as "a reluctant relationship."[7] Gareki has also described Nai as his lucky charm.
Gareki has a dream that the ghosts of Tsubaki and Yotaka are leading him somewhere. However, Nai appears in the dream and tries to lead him the other way, saying, "This way, Gareki," and "Tsubaki and Yotaka aren't there. Do your best in school and come back soon." The dream is interrupted as Shishi enters the room and wakes him. Earlier in the same chapter, Nai is seen having fallen asleep at Karoku's feet calling out, "Gareki, over here!"[8]
Their relationship is further explored in later chapters when Gareki decides to leave the school to go find Nai, who has mysteriously disappeared from the ship along with Karoku, even when he was warned that he wouldn't be able to return to the Circus course if he leaves. Soon after, Gareki was mysteriously teleported to a town where he spends his time searching for Nai. He eventually found Nai in a forest close to the town. While this is still unexplained, it shows that Nai and Gareki have a special connection as Gareki was teleported to a place close to Nai. Nai revealed to Gareki that he knew the real reason for why Gareki has left the school and while Nai was happy to know that Gareki came to save him, he was sad that he interfered with Gareki's studies. Gareki, trying to not make Nai feel guilty, said that he leaving the school and looking for him has no relation and that he won't do something that has no profit for him.[9]
Yogi[]
Yogi and Nai are good friends. Yogi is very protective of Nai and treats him like like a brother. Due to Yogi's childish and bubbly personality, he makes a wonderful playmate for Nai. He also protects Nai from any potential threats and/or danger. Nai is also a fan of Nyanperona, along with Yogi. It is also hinted that Nai enjoys eating Yogi's "Star Prince Homemade Yogurt".
Before Gareki left for Kuronomei, Yogi told Nai and Tsukumo both how lonely he always felt aboard the Second Ship before Nai and Gareki came along, stating that he always loved making friends with the children when he put on his Nyanperona costume, but always felt sad when it was time for the children to leave. After Gareki leaves, he is often shown feeling lonely. During one such instance, after an upsetting moment with Karoku, Yogi sees Nai leaving Karoku's room and asks if he's alright. He then tells Nai that if he ever needs anything, to come and talk to him, which Nai promises to do so. However, Nai manages to sense Yogi is unhappy and asks if he's hurt, to which Yogi assures him he's fine. The interaction cheers both of them up.[10]
Tsukumo[]
Tsukumo is Nai's tutor and teaches him about the things that he is still unsure of. She is extremely kind and caring towards him and has a relationship with him that is similar to Yogi, as she always watches out for his safety and tries to keep him unharmed. Nai treasures Tsukumo, which is shown when she was being held at Smokey Mansion for a short time. During that time, Nai was extremely worried about her and was ecstatic when she finally returned.
Tsukumo gives Nai a stuffed Koketokage (Moss Frog) that she sewed together for him to remind him of the Moss Lizard he had become friends with in Vinto. Tsukumo worried Nai wouldn't recognize what it was meant to be, but he instantly called out what it was, and thanked her for it.[11]
Karoku[]
All the information we have about their relationship through the anime is that they're somehow connected from their past. Nai used to live with Karoku on the Niji forest, and it is believed Karoku created him. Nai keeps looking for him, but does so with difficulty, as all he left behind was an old Circus ID. Circus eventually rescues Karoku from Kafka and is watched over and taken care of by Nai while he is comatose. In the manga, the relationship is shown more in-depth as Karoku wakes up with no memory of Nai and is cruel to him, but Nai does not give up. After his memories come back, Karoku is extremely protective over Nai and the two are practically inseparable.
Trivia[]
- Nai's name literally means "nothing" or "not existing" in Japanese.
- He seems to be able to tell whenever Yogi turns into his silver counterpart.
- He likes to bask in the sun and play hide-and-seek with the sheep.
- His favorite food is mochi onigiri, and he doesn't like lamb (because of the sheep in Circus).
- He dislikes studying lessons without Tsukumo as can't understand the material when she is not there to help him.
- He likes to eat Yogi's "Star Prince Home-Made Yogurt".
- His first kiss was a sheep which jumped out at him from a passage.
References[]
- ↑ Karneval manga, Volume 1 (omnibus), Score 2: "Wanted"
- ↑ Karneval manga, Volume 5 (omnibus), Score 50: "Nai"
- ↑ Karneval manga, Volume 7 (omnibus), Score 76: "Lockdown"
- ↑ Karneval manga, Volume 1 (omnibus), Score 7: "Tears"
- ↑ Karneval manga, Volume 1 (omnibus), Score 8: "Your Body"
- ↑ Karneval anime, Episode 4, "Opus 4: Evening Swallow"
- ↑ Karneval manga, Volume 3 (omnibus), Score 27: "Kidnappers"
- ↑ Karneval manga, Volume 4 (omnibus), Score 46: "Beautiful Girl"
- ↑ Karneval manga, Volume 7 (omnibus), Score 74: "A Place to Return"
- ↑ Karneval manga, Volume 4 (omnibus), Score 40: "Until I Reach You"
- ↑ Karneval manga, Volume 4 (omnibus), Score 45: "Meeting Underway"