Talk:Ken Kaneki/@comment-26316510-20150425160036/@comment-24494906-20150426003755

I'd interpret these numbers to be an expression of the character's current role in the story. As such, it can (and will) change depending on the situation.

The Anteiku arc was "Death", so the one who took on the corresponding role was Arima.

"Temperance" was not a role. It was a stage of the story.

The "7" on Kaneki also appears on TG's last cover (but you can only recognize it on the clean version of the cover that was uploaded on the YJ website back then, because the 7 is covered by text on the official magazine cover.)

"7" makes sense in conjunction with "Temperance". "The Chariot" refers to opposite forces (ghoul nature, human nature) that are controlled through force and willpower. "Temperance" then stands for the mediation, finding balance between these opposite forces, uniting them. Also, "7" implies victory in the end after a hard-fought battle - it was a hint that Kaneki really survived.