Other self

An "other self" is an alternate counterpart to a human character that resides in the Otherworld. Very little is known about them, but it is presumed that huke's characters are of this type.

Black★Rock Shooter (OVA)


An "other self" has some sort of connection or personality similar to that of their human counterpart. When their goals become the same, presumably the "other selves" can create a connection to their counterpart and make a deal with him/her to "merge" or "fuse". The only people who have been seen to do this are Kuroi Mato and her "other self" Black★Rock Shooter, but it can be assumed Takanashi Yomi and the Dead Master did the same as well.

It is possible that an "other self" cannot even materialize without merging or taking a body, as Black★Rock Shooter's lips do not move when she talks before she merges, and the Dead Master dissolves immediately upon leaving Yomi's body. However, this may be because Black★Rock Shooter could be dead (it is possible Black★Gold Saw killed her instead of just giving her scars).

How much control each party has when merged is also unknown. When merged/possessing Yomi, the Dead Master was behaving in a violent, cruel manner, much unlike Yomi; however, it is possible Yomi had lost control or was sharing the Dead Master's angry instincts. However, Black★Rock Shooter seemed to be empathetically reacting to the Dead Master/Yomi in a way Mato would be likely to.

It is also unknown whether there are beings other than "other selves" in the Otherworld; for instance, whom Strength or Black★Gold Saw would correspond to is unknown (although Strength is implied to be the "other self" of Yuu). It is unknown if Black★Gold Saw is an "other self" at all, and if she is, whom she is one for and how she relates to Black★Rock Shooter or Kuroi Mato.



Visual cues that an "other self" is one to a human counterpart is similar eye color (Mato and Black★Rock Shooter both have blue eyes, and Yomi and the Dead Master green) and similar hairstyle (Mato and Black★Rock Shooter's pigtails and bangs, Yomi and the Dead Master's halfcut). These cues imply Strength to be an "other self to Yuu, as both have the same choppy hairstyle and hazel eyes. In addition, there is a girl on the train (unrelated to Mato in any way) in the beginning of the OVA with a similar hairstyle (although the eye color is unclear) to Black★Gold Saw's, making her Black★Gold Saw's possible human counterpart.

Black★Rock Shooter (Anime)
In addition to Black★Rock Shooter, a new "other self" is introduced named Chariot. Not only does she look almost identical to Kagari, she is seen throwing macaroons (a favorite food of Kagari's) at B★RS, and waves her hand to Kagari's chant of "Go away!".

In the Black★Rock Shooter anime, Saya Irino implies that there is someone out there who takes a person's pain from their hearts so that they will never feel physical pain when the are hurt. The "other selves" are implied to be this, as Black★Rock Shooter is seen screaming in pain while Mato goes through emotional turmoil.

Noted Other Selves

 * Black★Rock Shooter (of Mato Kuroi)
 * Dead Master (of Yomi Takanashi)
 * Strength (implied to be of Yuu)
 * Chariot (heavily implied to be of Kagari Izuriha)
 * Black★Gold Saw (unknown)