Ten Questions "Nana" Fans Worldwide Hope Ai Yazawa Will Answer In 2016

When Ai Yazawa (known largely for her best-selling manga, Paradise Kiss ) fell ill in June of 2009, her award-winning manga of sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll, Nana, was placed on indefinite hiatus, and for over six years, fans around the world have patiently waited for any hint that the series would resume once more. With the release of the series' newest calendar comes the hope that Nana resumes in 2016, and finally sheds a little light on the questions fans have been left to ponder for over six, long years:

1. Why Did Nana Osaki Leave?

Yazawa, Shueisha

In glimpses of the future scattered throughout the series, one noticeable change is Nana Osaki's complete absence. Nana O. is later revealed to have abruptly left with only one, cryptic remark as to where she was gong: "I want to go to the sea..." (or, "I want to see Ren..." depending on the translation). She is later declared dead; implying suicide as the cause. Several years later, she is found alive in London, and making a living by singing in a pub. She sports significantly longer locks, and is identified by her engagement ring, as well as her signature lotus tattoo. Fans are left to speculate on the catalyst(s) that led to her departure.

2. Nobu or Takumi: Who Fathered Ren (Ichinose)?

Yazawa, Shueisha

Even before Nana's hiatus, fans were chomping at the bit, trying to figure out who fathered Nana ("Hachi") Komatsu's son, Ren (named after Trapnest's bassist and Nana Osaki's late fiance). Because Hachi herself is so unsure, she decides the child is Takumi's (as he is clearly in a better position financially, as opposed to Nobu, who Hachi believes isn't "mature enough" to be a father). Let's hope that if Yazawa does continue the series, she can finally bring this Maury-esque mystery to a close.

3. Is Satsuki the Daughter of Hachi and Takumi...Or Is She the Daughter of Nana O. and Her (late) fiance, Ren Honjo?

Yazawa, Shueisha

One of the more popular fan theories suggests Satsuki isn't Hachi's daughter;she's Nana O's daughter, fathered by Ren H. just a short time before his death. The biggest evidence to support this reveals itself within minutes prior to learning about the death of her fiance: Nana O. laments over feeling sick from the champagne--and silently hopes it isn't because she took her birth control pill late.

Another indication points to Satsuki's name: before his death, Ren H. gave a then-pregnant Hachi a book on flower-related names and their meanings. He suggests "Satsuki" if the baby is a girl, later confessing to Nobu about wanting a daughter with a "flower name" like his own. A reoccurring point of contention in Ren and Nana O's relationship is Nana's unwillingness to have a child (as opposed to Ren, who strongly felt ready to start a family), leading some fans to believe her disappearance after his death could possibly be tied to Satsuki.

4. What Happened To Nobu and Asami?

Yazawa, Shueisha

To help ease the pain from Hachi's pregnancy/marriage to Takumi, Nobu begins dating the beautiful and popular porn star, Yuri Kosaka (Real name: Asami Matsumoto). However, in glimpses of the future, she too is noticeably absent and never mentioned in later chapters. The series ends with Asami, jealous over Nobu's constant worrying about Hachi when she comes to live temporarily in the same dorms as Nobu (to care for Nana O. in the wake of Ren H's death) curtly asks Nana O,"then maybe you don't need Takumi's wife (Hachi) by your side anymore?" Nobu is quick to remove Asami from the room entirely to speak with her privately, leaving fans to ponder over the nature of their conversation, and how it affected their relationship in the future.

5. And What Becomes Of Shin and Layla (Reira)'s (#fiftyshadesofillegal) Relationship?

Yazawa, Shueisha

Reira and Shin's relationship was incredibly complicated. Despite Reira being twenty-three and obsessively in unrequited love with her childhood friend/bandmate, Takumi, she falls in love with Shin, the Sweden-born sixteen-year-old, male prostitute-turned-bassist of the rival band, Blast. The platinum diva reluctantly breaks off their relationship for fear of being caught by the paparazzi, comes to regret her decision, and makes an attempt to reconcile, only to be met with rejection. In future chapters, Reira is last seen lamenting over wanting to learn Swedish; hinting at a reconciliation with Shin over the years, or the possibility of a future one.

6. Why Did Takumi Really Move To London and Why Did He Take Ren (Jr)?

Yazawa, Shueisha

In future chapters, Takumi is seen living in London with his son, Ren; separate from his wife Hachi and their daughter, Satsuki, whom still reside in Tokyo. While it's never officially confirmed, it's speculated amongst the other characters that he went to London to find Nana O. What's in the air is his reasoning behind taking Ren with him. Satsuki states it's so her father won't be lonely in London. Meanwhile, some fans have theorized that Ren's biological mother isn't Hachi at all, but a product of Takumi's ongoing affair with Reira.

(Speaking of...)

7. WTF Is Reira Doing In London?

Yazawa, Shueisha

As stated above, the future shows Reira having joined Takumi and Ren in London. Takumi comments on how Reira won't sing unless Ren is playing the guitar. If the Takumi/Reira love-child theory holds any water, it could provide another reason as to not only why Takumi separated from Hachi and moved to London, but Reira's reasoning for being there as well.

8. Did Nana Osaki's Mother, Misuzu, Ever Contact Her?

Yazawa, Shueisha

At the core of Nana O's emotional and psychological turmoil is the promiscuous mother who abandoned her as a child (to be with a man who hated children), and the infinite number of men who could have possibly fathered her daughter. When Nana O's. rapid fame sends the paparazzi digging into her past, the media (and cast) discover that Nana O's mother is not only alive and well, she has a new family of her own (that knows nothing of her scandalous past until it's published in a press magazine). However, Misuzu adamantly refuses to see or even acknowledge her daughter. Near the end of the series, it is revealed that Misuzu finally wants to meet with her. Could Nana O's disappearance have something to do with finally facing the woman who abandoned her on that fateful, snowy night?

9. What Was Ren's Final Birthday Present To Nana?

Yazawa, Shueisha

Tragically (and because Yazawa clearly doesn't give One. Single. Fuck. about your feelings), Ren Honjo, Nana O's fiance, meets with a horrible and untimely end in a plot-twist that left devoted fans across the globe in mourning. Ren H. dies just hours before Nana's O's 21st birthday. At his funeral (which takes place on her birthday), Nana O. is tearfully presented with a wrapped gift found in Ren H.'s trunk at the time of his death. Nana O. refuses to open it; leaving it on the table where it remains unopened for the rest of the series.

10. Will Nana Osaki Ever Return To Apartment 707?

Yazawa, Shueisha

True to her namesame, Hachi waits patiently, faithfully, for the day when Nana O. walks through the door of their beloved apartment 707, and for six, long years, fans around the world have waited with her. We can only hope 2016 is the year that Yazawa finally reunites Nana Osaki and Nana "Hachi" Komatsu once more.

(Fun Fact: Should Nana resume in 2016, it will have marked seven years since it's hiatus back in 2009. Coincidence...?)