A deep tragedy has shocked Turkey and resonated unexpectedly in the anime community. On April 15, 2026, a 14-year-old student, identified as İsa Aras Mersinli, carried out a deadly armed attack at Ayser Çalık high school in the province of Kahramanmaraş. After the horrific event, authorities found a disturbing manifesto on his computer where the attacker made direct references to the protagonist of Re:Zero (Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu).

“Lonely like Natsuki Subaru”

According to official reports, the attack left multiple victims before school staff and a parent managed to stop the teenager, who later died from his injuries. During the investigation, police found a manifesto written in English and dated April 11. In the text, the perpetrator detailed his deep feelings of isolation, the rejection he felt from his family, and his inability to connect with his peers.

What caught the attention of the otaku community and media was a specific line where the youth compared his emotional situation with the protagonist of the popular isekai anime, writing word-for-word: “Just like Natsuki Subaru, I also felt very lonely”. In the series, Subaru is initially presented as a hikikomori (someone who socially isolates themselves and stops attending school), a trait with which the attacker seemed to deeply identify. Additionally, investigators noted that the wallpaper on his computer showed Konata, a character from the anime Lucky Star.

Isolation and disconnection from reality

The manifesto revealed a mind filled with serious contradictions. On one hand, the youth justified his isolation by claiming a high IQ and showing deep contempt for both his peers and the educational system, stating that school contributed nothing to his development. On the other hand, he tried to deny that his drastic actions were directly motivated by his immense loneliness, despite devoting much of the text to complaining about it.

While reports and experts do not suggest in any way that Re:Zero or other animes caused the attack, the case has reopened the psychological debate about how young people suffering from severe social isolation seek refuge or justification for their emotions in fictional characters who also deal with rejection and social disconnection. As of April 17, 2026, Turkish authorities continue their ongoing investigation into what is already considered the worst school shooting in the country’s history.