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NaoMai is the family ship between Mai Zenin and Naoya Zenin from the Jujutsu Kaisen fandom.
Canon[]
Naoya and Mai have not interacted with each other in the manga/anime but they do know each other. Naoya was the heir of the Zenin clan from a young age and Mai was expected to be a servant to the heir. Both characters are part of one of the Three Great Sorcerer Families: they belong to the Zenin clan. The Three Great Sorcerer Families are very proud to be distinguished from other sorcerers. The Zenin believe that if you're not a Zenin you're not worthy as a Jujutsu Sorcerer and if you're not a Jujutsu Sorcerer you're not worthy as a human being[1].
Naoya was a special grade 1 sorcerer and the heir, as he was quuite strong from a young age, he believed he was a genius[2]. Mai was a grade 3 sorcerer, as she was quite weak she was regarded as a failure by her own family[3][4]. Moreover, as Mai was a woman, in her patriarchal clan, more was expected from her than if she was a man[5][6]. Mai was content with just being a servant to the heir as she never wanted to become become a sorcerer[7] or become stronger[8]. Her sister Maki believes, as it now, there is no place for Mai in the Zenin clan[9].
Itadori Extermination Arc[]
After the event of Shibuya, Naoya asks Mai's mother if Mai is dead. He then goes on to say that, contrary to Maki, Mai knows how to support a man and as she knows how to "walk three steps behind a man". He goes on to say that she is pretty, buxom and knows that she is a woman despite acting tough[10].
Perfect Preparation Arc[]
While talking to him at the Zenin residence, Maki tells Naoya that she didn't know he could recognize women by their faces as she thought he only looked at their asses. Later, Naoya learns that the clan is planning to have Mai and Maki killed by their father, Ogi Zenin, for planning to unseal Gojo. He laughs and comments that Ogi killing his own daughters will give him more crediblity[11]. Mai sacrifices her own life to save Maki and allow her to become stronger[12]. In doing so, she asks her sister to destroy every thing. Noaya is defeated by Maki and killed by Mai's mother[13][14].
Culling Game Arc[]
Naoya is reborn as a vengeful spirit hellbent on killing Maki. Whilst fighting her, Naoya throws Maki to the ground and she asks him if he ever was an adult. To which he responds that she should ask Mai which enrages Maki[15]. After Naoya is killed by Maki, Mai ackowledges that Maki did as she asked and destroyed everything[16].
Fanon[]
NaoMai is Naoya's sixth most popular ship, behind ships like TojiNao or GoNao. It is also Mai's fourth most popular ship, behind ships like NobaMai or MakiMai. The platonic tag has 7 fanfictions under it on Archive of our Own and the romantic tag has 27. Despite Naoya and Mai never having interacted in canon, NaoMai is very close in popularity to NaoMaki. Fans debate the true meaning of Naoya's words about Mai to Maki in chapter 194. Many believe he raped her as "reaching aldulthood" can sometimes mean to have had sex for the first time. However, many fans believe he was just taunting Maki by saying she dies before reaching 18 years of age.
Fandom[]
FAN FICTION
- Mai & Naoya tag on AO3
- Mai/Naoya tag on AO3
