Re: xxxHolic 176 Discussion/177 Prediction Thread
Well, I think the contrast is purely intentional, and I love it. AND, there's a third dimension to it...
See, if you just read xxxholic, so many things that Watanuki does seem to be fairly insignificant. Maybe significant to his and others' lives at times, but on a worldwide scale, insignificant. And yet, so many of these small acts have meant EVERYTHING to the characters in Tsubasa. If it weren't for items Watanuki had stumbled and mumbled to get, they might all be dead by now.
To top it off, the more Watanuki grows as an individual, the more it helps affirm the others' existences. It's emphasized in both series that, when people care about you and want you to exist, it can hurt them if you don't take care of yourself. You become part of everyone else's world. And all worlds, no matter how big or small, are extremely important.
In other words, these stories display that the life of an individual, the lives of a few, and the lives of countless worlds, are ALL equal in importance. It also further emphasizes hitsuzen; we all affect each other. The smallest act by one individual can have HUGE ramifications for millions of others. By one small, delicate, heartfelt gesture from Watanuki, an entire world he's never seen and doesn't know exists can be saved. Be it by an item he helped retrieve and is sent via Mokona, a price he's paid to Yuuko, or through the dream-world connection he shares with Sakura and Syaoran.
I think it's that connection to Syaoran, as his other self, that is vital to Tsubasa. It helps Syaoran in some great silent way, to know that Watanuki is blossoming as an individual and just plain existing. Which he is doing now more than ever. These steps he has taken; tasting food, making his own decision, helping a client without Yuuko... he is truly coming into his own.
It's not boring at all. It's beautiful and profound. Just as exciting as Tsubasa's climax, but more personal and intimate. I just love it. It's basically CLAMP telling us all, "The struggles YOU go through in your everyday life, your accomplishments, your little triumphs and revelations, could change the world. YOU are as important as the entire galaxy."
Individual lives are precious. This is a reaffirmation of that fact.