The narrative deliberately withholds a "happy ending." Yuta gains power but loses Rika’s spectral presence. The final panel (Geto’s body being taken by Kenjaku) retroactively transforms the prequel into a tragedy for the main series’ antagonist.
| Metric | JJK 0 | Main Series (up to Shibuya) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Melancholic, romantic tragedy. | Brutal, existential horror. | | Protagonist Motivation | Save Rika’s soul. | Save innocent people (Yuji) / Find purpose (Megumi). | | Death Toll | Minimal (only Geto, villains). | Massive (Nanami, Nobara ? , civilians). | | Theme Central | Love as a curse. | Meaninglessness of virtue in a cruel system. | The narrative deliberately withholds a "happy ending