Ao Haru Ride - Vol. 4 Ch. 12

[MangaDex]

 

[mvryvm]

i already love futaba so much, but one of my favorite things about her character is that she is not entirely flawed nor entirely perfect. she isn't a mary sue like many female leads, she isn't completely annoying, she makes mistakes, owns up to them, understands the things she did wrong, takes accountability for her actions, and is constantly growing as an individual and becoming a better person little by little. she's empathetic, can understand others' perspectives, is always trying her hardest, always putting in the most effort towards goals she's not even fully confident in. it's on very unstable ground that she moves forward, but she moves forward nonetheless. she is one of those characters that i just love simply because of her efforts to keep trying, keep growing, changing, understanding, learning, helping. i mean maybe i'm looking too deep into her actions, but i've read this manga a million times just for her and will continue to do so because she fuels something in me that believes that change is possible, that it is possible to live differently. something something blah blah blah breaking free from past inhibitions, believing you can be a good person regardless of the things you've done before, that your past doesn't dictate your future, that there is meaning in everything that you do if you allow yourself to give it meaning, that you are deserving of living a full and happy life, that it is okay to make mistakes, okay not to understand or stumble in the process. she's just such a hopeful character. she says she will change, and she works to change, and she does change. it's so simple but it feels groundbreaking. and it gives me hope. she's the people's princess. by the people i mean ME