WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Love of Kill Episode 12, "My Name," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
In previous episodes of Love of Kill, the haunted heroine Chateau Dankworth recalled her violent past with the original Ryang-Ha Song and his mysterious imposter, and flashbacks finally shed some light on how she and the two of them are connected. Now in the Season 1 finale, Chateau must do something about the strained emotions inside her.
Chateau and the new Ryang-Ha are currently hiding from the vicious Mr. Donny and his young assassins, but she's not in the clear just yet. She cannot bear the guilt of having shot the original Ryang-Ha in a moment of panic but the new one is here to help, and the two unlikely allies may find a way to move on from the past and face the future together.
Ryang-Ha brings Chateau to one of his safe houses in the attic of a small apartment. There she awakens from many hours of sleep, with her troubled past still on her mind. She admits to remembering everything about the fateful night when she shot the original Ryang-Ha by accident, and admits these memories are why she cannot push her yandere-style lover away in the present day. Chateau and the new Ryang-Ha have a strong connection thanks to the original's sacrifice, and Episode 12 makes it clear that this bond is more wholesome than Ryang-Ha's earlier antics might have suggested.
Earlier in Love of Kill, the current Ryang-Ha was an obnoxious yandere who pestered Chateau nonstop as her self-appointed guardian. She simply couldn't get rid of this pest, even aboard the Artemisia cruise ship. At the time, it wasn't clear if Ryang-Ha was acting out of genuine affection or jealous self-interest, and his mysterious background didn't help. Now, recent episodes assure viewers that Ryang-Ha always truly had Chateau's best interests at heart.
The guardian feels responsible for Chateau after the original Ryang-Ha Song's death, and protecting her after all these years is his way of paying tribute to the original's memory. In the present day, Chateau understands and accepts this, and once she processes her guilt, she and Ryang-Ha get ready for the next step.
Once Chateau finishes working through her difficult emotions, she settles down and helps Ryang-Ha clean up the dusty safe house -- and requests to formally hire him as her agent. He refuses to be paid any money, however, and specifies that he wants something different from her. Chateau is stumped, but he's most likely asking for her genuine affection, possibly as his girlfriend.
Ryang-Ha has been an obnoxious but well-meaning Mr. Romance since the start in Love of Kill, and with everything quiet again, he has the chance to express that side of him once more. He's enamored with Chateau, allowing the shojo side of this seinen-style thriller series to shine forth. The two of them may actually become a couple in a possible Season 2, or at least take the first steps in that direction. There's no longer anyone or anything to get in the way.
As Season 1 concludes, Chateau and Ryang-Ha are on the roof when a helicopter arrives and they whip out their pistols, ready for action. By now, they both have a deeper and more respectful understanding of one another and their relationship. Chateau accepts Ryang-Ha as her lovestruck bodyguard while he acknowledges her as his true equal and partner, and not just someone who needs protection. Despite being the shojo heroine since the start, Chateau relied heavily on Ryang-Ha and other characters for survival and purpose. Now she has truly blossomed, and Ryang-Ha is clearly happy for her. They can face the future and its dangers side by side as co-stars of the winter anime season's bloodiest shojo adventure.
