Really mad at the author for thinking they can get away with "blaming a 5-6 year old for not doing something about rape" as a plot point beyond a cliffhanger and fake out, because what exactly the fuck is a child who possibly doesn't even understand what sex is (at best) or is being viciously raped and brutalized themselves (at worst) supposed to do about that?
We know Sumire and the big bro are shitty people, and they're the only ones who currently seem to be blaming Shiika. So I wouldn't say the author is actually blaming her. That said, having Sumire blame her currently seems forced, perhaps because we don't yet have all the context. Big bro is just a gaslighter.
There's a distinct possibility she isn't even a teenager yet.
I'll try to work this out in my head real quick.
Final pages suggests Yuri's in year one middle school, as the photo shows her at an entrance ceremony. Those students are 12yrs old at minimum.
We know mc is released from prison after 7 years; if Shiika and Yuri were the same age, then Shiika would be 18+. Since Shiika lives in an orphanage and can be adopted, she's probably not 18... so she'd be younger than Yuri.
I assume that the girls met by going to the same elementary school, where the minimum age is 6-7yrs old. 7 years later, Shiika would be 13-14 yrs at minimum— and a teenager. But minimum ES age would also mean Shiika was half Yuri's age lol.
I'm basing this off of the JP schooling system, and my estimates might be wrong, or other factors are at play in the story.
If nothing else, this at least explains how her "big brother" is old enough to be an adult and adopt her despite often looking like a child, as I'd estimate Shiika to be between 13 and 16, and he's presumably older.
I do agree there's a distinct possibility that she somehow isn't a teen. Anything is possible with this story, really.
