Thoughts on SHugo Chara Ch 19
First off, Reo coming back with this masterminif chess player vibe. If you know the trope, you know.
Second, I like how Kokage uses her invisibility to escpae practically, but feeds into her inferiority complex because she's so unnoticeable.
Also this is literally the first lgbt villainess liking heroine love triangle where she makes an enemy of the hero that I've ever seen and didn't know I needed.
I mean I literally have a post about how much I hate poorly made love triangles, especially with women being pit against other women. Or when there's no real meaning to it.
But in THIS ONE, Amu and Ikuto both represent something to Kokage.
Ikuto is a threat to her having Yoru. Amu is someone she admires and feels an inferiority complex towards.
As a couple, she feels threatened by both of them. Kokage REALLY hates Ikuto because Yoru and Amu are his.
We also really see how Kokage is using social manipulation and putting Ikuto in a place where unfortunately grew up with: being the unlucky black cat that can't be trusted.
As usual, Ikuto doesn't defend himself, rather quickly saying you won't believe me anyway.
BUT this time, we do see a good level of critique and growth for Ikuto. Instead of being in a place, where he needs to play the bad guy/scapegoat for the sake of others, we see how this has become a behavior due to the frequency of his experience with accusations and assumptions growing up.
But this time Al is the Ran to Ikuto, pushing Ikuto to grow and be open-minded:
I love how Al is stating that Ikuto is someone who wants to be understood and then lo and behold, Amu shows up.
THEN THEIR ULTRA CUTE COUPLE MOMENTS IN BETWEEN!!!
Amu always paying attention to him and Ikuto finally confessing about his injury! (Also Ikuto is sort of a genius playing violin on the other side)
I love how the cover is Amu holding the key for Ikuto cage, and we think it's gentle, but here she is calling him an idiot.
And then how she's tells him to communicate his pain, she'll listen.
And she straight up communicates I want to know you more, understand you more...
She has unlocked his heart once more:
That he can finally Character Transform with Al!
