What are your thoughts on chapter 283-288 , would you consider there to be romantic connotations for ichigo and orehime would you consider this the comparison to rukia's saving chapter , I only ask because I found the interaction unusual altought it hard to base anything on this do to the history between ichigo and rukia so wanted to know what you think
I’ve been wondering if I wouldn’t make a whole post for that, but eh, this will do. My thought is that those chapters are pretty anti-IchiOri.
In chapter 283 you have Orihime who thinks “I can’t see myself reflected anywhere in his eyes”. And having a flashback of her brother who attacked her as a hollow. The meaning is pretty straightforward there: Ichigo is not fighting for her and is in battle mode. There is also a sort of double entendre because Japaneses like to point out how they see themselves in their lovers’ eyes (meaning they can feel that they are loved, and the other is paying attention to them). Cue, Ichigo is simply not attracted to Orihime in that way (on the other hand, you have several occasion where Kubo actually DREW Ichigo and Rukia reflecting in each others’ eyes, eh).
In the same chapter, to worsen the shame, you have an actual KID who is able to sense Ichigo needing SUPPORT from his friends because hey, he’s fighting with his mask on and doesn’t want them to think he’s gross. And Orihime HAS TO BE REMINDED THAT. I don’t even know how anyone cannot think it’s shameful for a potential girlfriend to be reminded of that.
On this occasion, you can see her disgusting trail of thoughts “and I thought, maybe he didn’t come to rescue me”. Yes, he did come to fight and rescuing is part of it. We already know that, it’s been pointed out by Grimmjow that he wants to fight him. That is Ichigo’s problem in the HM arc, that he wants to fight more than he wants to rescue. Which kinda is the point. And even then her cheer was half-arsed (I despised it; “don’t die”, really? He’s having a life & death threat situation there, what exactly are you doing?).
If there had been any romantic subtext to Orihime’s cheer in chapter 283, it would have been enough for the guy to win. Except, it wasn’t. In chapter 284, the battle goes on. Chapter 285 comes by and has Ichigo actually saying out of loud that he came specifically to fight and defeat Grimmjow. Why is that? We know why. Ichigo has actual history with Grimmjow. Because he hurt Rukia twice (remember in chapter 212 when Ichigo was brooding because he lost? Yeah). Compare this to the SS arc where Ichigo claims here and there that he came to save Rukia. Even when he fought Byakuya, who had beaten him down like a pulp, he claimed to have gained bankai for Rukia’s sake. I don’t even know where the IchiOri romance is supposed to be because it REALLY SUCKS so far with the guy not paying attention to the girl.
Then Ichigo goes on about how he’ll beat Ulquiorra and Aizen, and save everyone. To be honest, him mentioning Orihime at the end was necessary for Orihime, because she didn’t believe that he wanted to save her. Which is stupid because, this is Ichigo. Of course he’d save everyone, he is not such a shitty friend. However it was made clear that it’s not special like it used to be when he saved Rukia.
Allow me to rant there, because the main problem I have with Orihime in the HM arc is that she always showed that she wanted to be saved the way Ichigo saved Rukia during the SS arc. She wanted him to be devoted to her and that was part of her disappointment and why she kept doing nothing; it was the only way he’d have to pay attention to her and have to save her. That’s why her development was so backward. And that’s why it could never work, because Ichigo really isn’t interested by a damsel in distress, despite him telling Rukia during the SS arc to act like one. Ichigo not being interested in Orihime is exactly why she kept sucking throughout the arc.
Chapter 286 and Ichigo and Orihime finally talk. And we have the same revulsing thoughts from Orihime “he’s back to normal” - NO Orihime, he’s never lost control of himself, you are unable to accept that Ichigo is not the prince you imagine in him. If anything that SHOWS ALONE that Orihime can never love Ichigo for who he is. Her love is a fake arsed one. It needs to see Ichigo in a prince-like aura to exist (hence why the dome shattered her, but as she dismissed it, you can bet that this kind of problem hasn’t been resolved yet; and when it’ll be, bet ya it will be the end of her “love”).
Ichigo’s looking a bit sorry there, because he knows that he scared her. Nel is here to lighten up the mood - and oh, for this chapter, IchiOri fans actually hoped to see Ichigo taking Orihime down the bridal/princess-style way. Too bad he actually didn’t care and implied that he thought she was fat heavy. How romantic *snickers* And Ichigo is already business mode “I’m going to rescue Chad and Rukia” while Orihime is flustered. He’s got her ARSE NEXT TO HIS FACE AND JUST CAN’T CARE LESS. Which boy who is interested in a girl in a romantic way acts like this? None.
Compare the way he took Orihime on his shoulder to the way he took Rukia under his arm to save her! He was very conscious when he caught Rukia (which he had no other way to take but under his arm, given he was above her) - you can actually see the slow motion drawn by Kubo in several frames, and it has a whole page + a repeated one next chapter. Orihime, he’s like, “ok, time to go” lol.
Chapter 287, I see nothing except Ichigo saying to let Orihime go when Tesla took her? But it’s a tiny frame and it’s really…. expected? There’s more concern from Ichigo for Grimmjow in this chapter, so I find this pretty hilarious, presonally.
Chapter 288, there is absolutely nothing either, except some Orihime -> Ichigo, but that’s absolutely natural, it’s just concern because he’s getting beaten up, so any of the nakama would actually react that way. Unless you want to pretend they are shitty characters with shitty personalities.
Sorry, this was very long, hopefully it’ll have answered your question thoroughly.