Earthlings

This section advances the novel’s critique of societal structures by externalizing the ideological conflict, moving it from internal monologue and theoretical discussion between Natsuki and Tomoya into direct confrontation with outside forces. Tomoya’s character is instrumental in this escalation, evolving from a passive partner into the primary theorist of the Popinpobopian worldview. His desire to systematically dismantle his social conditioning by violating taboos embodies the theme of Deconstructing the Logic of Human Norms. Tomoya’s proposal to have sex with his brother is presented not as a socially taboo desire but as a logical experiment, a methodical effort “to discard [his] humanity before [he’s] dragged back to the Factory” (169). By framing incest as a tool for liberation from “brainwashing,” the narrative juxtaposes his dispassionate logic against Yuu’s horrified, socially-conditioned reaction, thereby questioning the inherent rationality of the norms Yuu defends. Tomoya’s quest transforms a private coping strategy into an active philosophical project aimed at achieving a state untethered from human convention.

The chapter deepens its exploration of conformity through the foils of Yuu and Tomoya, who represent two divergent responses to societal pressure. While Tomoya embraces the Popinpobopian identity with increasing fervor, Yuu retreats into the perceived safety of social norms. His interactions with other family members reveal a man desperate for the validation of conventionality. When a cousin expresses disgust over Yuu and Natsuki’s childhood past, Yuu looks “pleased, even though he was being told he himself was disgusting” (179), finding comfort in a shared, normative judgment. His reaction demonstrates the seductive power of belonging, even when it requires self-condemnation. Yuu’s insistence that he and Natsuki cannot be alone and his immediate acceptance of judgment highlight his reabsorption into the Factory’s logic. His character arc illustrates the difficulty of sustaining a rebellious identity, showing how “normality” can provide a powerful, if hollow, sense of order. In contrast, Tomoya’s radicalization serves as a direct challenge to this worldview, positioning him as the agent pushing the trio toward their ultimate break from humanity.

Through a series of flashbacks, the narrative structure reframes the protagonists’ present extremism as a direct consequence of society’s past failures. Natsuki’s memories of attempting to disclose Mr. Igasaki’s abuse to her mother and friends serve as crucial context, illustrating the “normal” world’s complicity in silencing victims. These recollections function as a causal argument, demonstrating why Natsuki was forced to construct an alternate reality. This structural juxtaposition validates her assumed “alien” identity as a necessary tool for Survival as an Act of Radical Rebellion. The world of the Baby Factory offered no recourse, leaving dissociation and the creation of a private cosmology as her only viable means of enduring trauma. The narrative thereby posits that the trio’s conclusions about their need to completely retreat from society are their responses to the pressures and dehumanization they face in that world.

The symbolism of Akishina and the recurring representations of society’s tolls on the characters’ bodies coalesce to underscore the physical cost of ideological warfare against the Factory. Akishina is not a pure sanctuary but is described as an “abandoned factory,” a space where societal expectation still lingers. The arrival of Kise, an “envoy from the Factory” (182), and the violent intrusion of Tomoya’s father confirm that this refuge is permeable. This vulnerability culminates in a moment of visceral, symbolic violence: the dislodging of Tomoya’s tooth, which occurs when his father viciously beats him. This act physically manifests the brutality of the conformist system, which resorts to force when ideological pressure fails. Natsuki’s quiet decision to pocket the bloody tooth is a pivotal gesture. The tooth becomes a relic of their struggle, a tangible piece of the physical price paid for their rebellion. It is simultaneously a memento of the Factory’s violence and a symbol of their shared commitment, foreshadowing greater bodily transgressions.

Ultimately, the chapter dramatizes The Destructive Nature of Societal Conformity by rendering its violence literal. The climactic scene, in which Tomoya’s father beats him for his non-conformist thinking, is the thematic core of this section. Natsuki’s detached observation of the event as a “TV drama” highlights her profound dissociation, a conditioned response to trauma, while simultaneously functioning as a commentary on the performative nature of patriarchal rage. The father is not just an individual; he is an actor playing a role prescribed by the Factory—the patriarch enforcing social order. His violence is the logical endpoint of a system that cannot tolerate deviation. Yuu, too, becomes an actor, playing the part of the concerned mediator and assimilating himself completely into the scene. By staging this confrontation, the narrative asserts that the “normal” world is an aggressive force that will physically punish those who attempt to escape its logic, building toward the extreme measures the trio will later take.