Ya’ll what got me in today’s Furaba episode was the parallel between Tohru trying to ‘teach’ herself to smile and laugh for Kyo’s sake and her teaching herself to speak politely like her dad when she was young for Kyoko’s sake.
Young Tohru was SOO scared of losing her mom to her dad’s death, she pushed down all her feelings and changed her character ENTIRELY to keep her mom happy. But now, even though she tried SO HARD to change again, she couldn’t contain those feelings. Her hurt was shown to not only to Kyo, but to all her friends, despite her best efforts.
It really is a subtle, but perfect cherry on top to not only Tohru’s love for Kyo outgrowing her love for Kyoko, but in turn, Tohru’s character development, as she didn’t need to change or hide her feelings to receive love from her important people. She got it by being her true, honest self.
I feel like no one is talking about how not only is this scene important for Tohru’s and Kyo’s relationship overall, but Tohru’s development herself. For once, we finally see Tohru be selfish. It’s not “Shisho-san doesn’t want you to go away,” or “your friends don’t want you to go away,” it’s “I don’t want you to go away.” Tohru is personally saying she, SHE, doesn’t want Kyo to go away. Of course because that would be a traumatizing thing to happen for him, but also because she loves him and wants him to be by her side. I think Tohru can’t accept the fact that her love is selfish. It’s selfish and raw and beautiful but she just can’t accept it because she doesn’t even want to think about the fact that she’s doing something for herself since she has no regard for her own personal feelings or wants whatsoever. She thinks so low of herself that she believes she doesn’t even deserve to love. I’ve been thinking about this a lot and it makes the scene 10x sadder. Tohru is such a tragically complex character. Ugh I love her so much🤧
Hey everyone! I hope you are all well. Now that the series of Fruits Basket has ended, it’s really difficult for many of the anime viewers to say goodbye to this masterpiece of work by Natsuki Takaya. But somehow, we have to get over it. Remember, this will always remain as a special work in your heart.
Although this is a character analysis, I have included my thanks for the Furaba team now that it has ended.
Read Part 1
[Spoilers ahead! Read at your own risk. Also a disclaimer, I am a Yukiru fan, love Kyoru and Yuchi and I don’t want to hurt anyone. If you have different theories, let me know. ^^]
(Look at this guy from this...
to this! He looks so mature here... T^T)
Moving on to the topic in hand, I was sobbing at the last Yukiru conversation in the anime. That short scene was the most important scene from the episode. Ah, I didn’t watch the whole season 3, just some snippets but I was compelled by my curiosity to watch the last episode at least to say them goodbye. I don’t have much to write now, as I had mentioned many scenes in the first part, so just grab a cup of coffee or tea while listening to my thoughts.
Let’s start today from something different from the anime. I was reading about Yuki’s character from the fandom website, and here are some screenshots which piqued my interest-
1. Comparing 2001 and 2019 Yuki (Kyo’s revealation of his True form)
So 2001 airing of Fruits Basket had a little bit different plot from the 2019 one(which followed the manga). As you can see, when Kyo runs from Tohru after being transformed into his true form, Yuki chases after them in order to help them. In my opinion this was really a good thinking, but not the best. We can figure out by now how much Yuki was confused about his feelings regarding Tohru in reboot series. Since there was not much content in the former series, so the action taken by Yuki was appropriate. Otherwise, fans would have felt that he didn’t care about all this, which is not true. On the contrary, in the reboot, Yuki stays in the house and just watches Tohru running after Kyo. And in this version, he was also not convinced by Kagura to chase after them, because both of them were uncertain about their feelings. The result of staying silents ends up in Yuki starting to distant himself from Tohru in the next episode.
Sometimes I don’t understand why viewers say that Yuki just flirts with Tohru. You can see how much care he harbors for her, and that’s not in a romantic way, but as a good friend. He is consistent with his behaviour towards her from the start to end(that is how dear she is to him).
2. Former Conclusions which are excluded in the reboot
In 2001 anime, since not much plot was there, it was easy to imply that Yuki also had somehow developed romantic feelings towards Tohru. (When I first read this, I couldn’t believe it as I am just an anime viewer who has not read the manga nor watched the 2001 anime T^T). So, it’s general for some viewers to imply the same thing by the end of season 1 reboot (which was my case). It’s easy to shape this relationship as love at first, but after thorough thinking, like Yuki did, it is to be concluded that their bond is not love at all, but something much more pure.
3. Author’s information on their relationship
The last point is regarding the ribbon that Yuki gave Tohru on White Day. One can see how much both care for each other. Yuki started to distance himself from her for both of their sakes, and so does Tohru when she realises how much Yuki has changed gradually as the time has passed. I can consider Yuki as a small child leaving his nest (his home) and finally becoming a full fledged responsible guy.
4. Why Yuki didn’t call Tohru by her first name (Season 2 episode 4)
This is really a short scene but has its own importance. When Haru turns into his dark form and is about to attack Tohru, both Yuki and Kyo along with Momiji get shocked, but Kyo is the first one to punch him and save her. At that time, Yuki’s face is overshadowed with his bangs, and in my opinion, I guess he was about to extend his hand before Kyo came.
Fruits Basket has amazing imagery throughout the series. Here you can see Haru asking Yuki to call Tohru by her first name, to which Yuki first gets shocked, then seems tensed about it. Haru is looking out of the window through broken glass which represents the confusion of Yuki’s feelings, now gradually breaking apart. And the multiple images shown refer to the multiple possibilities he thought about his relationship with Tohru, but that all got compiled to a single answer; his one and only true answer to the problem.
Yuki realises how selfish he has been about this thing, while there were much more problems going on in their house. He learns to be like Tohru and Haru, worrying for everyone and helping everyone out. So he takes a bold step afterward to visit Haru in the Sohma estate as the later had been suspended. When Tohru asks to accompany him, he firmly says no and proceeds to go by himself. In other words, he didn’t want to lose what he learnt from Tohru, that is; caring for others.
But, in the last episode, he has gathered enough courage and feelings that he can now return to her. Tohru as well as Haru cared so much about him, and now that he has reached the finish line to happiness, he wants to thank the ones who made him feel that he was also important; that he was needed by them. Shimazaki Nobunaga-san, you are really fantastic! The way Yuki says her first name is so heartwarming. And one can see Tohru smiling in the end. Even though he was slower than Kyo for this, still he did it. (So proud of you Yuki!)
We can also see how Yuki transforms with the help of Tohru. And this can also be seen by the change of his dressing style at the end of graduation. Earlier, he used to wear collared buttoned up shirts with dark hues, like blue, white, which represented how much tied down he was to the Sohma clan and the curse. But with the help of Tohru, he was able to change. This can be seen by the way he dresses, with loose fitting clothes and little bit vibrant color added to it by the time the curse breaks.
(I loved the transformation he went through... Aww.)
5. Yuki’s ‘Confession’ in the Beach Arc (Season 2 episode 7)
I knew that I couldn’t cool myself off till I get to know about the true meaning behind this scene. And so I did.
Yuki and Tohru are great as friends, their dynamics are so pure, enjoyable, but one can actually figure out that they are not meant to be for each other. One instance is in season 2 episode 7. Tohru was in inner conflict about her dad but didn’t let it show on her face. No one actually pointed out her gloom either, except for Kyo. And we can’t blame Yuki for not noticing this, because he was suffering internally at that time too.
In a particular scene where Tohru was covering sleeping Momiji, Kisa and Hiro with a blanket, a smile blossoms on Yuki’s face. But upon seeing Kyo being with Tohru, he gets a little jealous and makes an excuse to Haru to leave the spot. But this is not defined as him being ‘romantically’ jealous. He was confused about his actual feeling for Tohru, and just to not get any misunderstanding, he takes this step. The reason being, Kyo had more interactions with Tohru because he genuinely understood her. And after Tohru running after Kyo, which Yuki considered more of a womanly step, he couldn’t stand seeing him getting more distanced from someone he cared about.
There’s a great imagery when Yuki returns from the Sohma meeting. Tohru was waiting for him by the beach, and she sees him coming from far in pitch dark night. This sky covered with clouds is his past traumas that he has been dealing with. But when Yuki sees Tohru, the clouds slowly start to dissipate and moonlight shines, which implies the way Tohru helped him out in his hard times.
Remember when he said about the closed lid to his feelings? Let me tell you what do I think of that concept. Yuki didn’t actually know what he wanted or what were his exact feelings for Tohru. He had a little bit hint about the ‘motherly’ feeling, because she always listened to him, worried for him and cared for him. (Although in my point of view, this is more like a close friend helping another, not motherly affection). But he didn’t want this possibility to be the answer to his confusion. That’s why he kept distancing himself from her, trying to see her in a romantic light, but he couldn’t see the affection that she had for Kyo, for others. By this episode, he has already come to the conclusion about his true relationship with Tohru. Even though he didn’t want to accept it, but he couldn’t refuse it either. That’s why he said that he was sad. She was like a vast expanse of sky, and that meant that Yuki couldn’t have her all to himself. Thinking of this situation as goodbye to his former feelings and the beginning of a new feeling, he cries on her shoulder. (And thinking about he strong he must have been at that scene makes my tears well up too T~T).
About all the things he said in that scene, be it comparing her to the sky or how she was dear to him, I think that he didn’t say it out loud. That’s because he just silently kisses her forehead and leans on her shoulder. If he had tried to say all that, then Tohru must have been confused. (and she was even confused when he didn’t say anything.) So, in that prospect also, Yuki took the decision perfectly. And that change in him which he accepts is seen when he shares such a warm relationship with Kakeru and student council, and his developing feelings for Machi.
6. Why their ending up together would have been difficult to understand.
I was thinking at some point that how similar Tohru and Yuki are to each other. Which is another reason why they didn’t end up together, and it’s for the best.
Tohru was raised by Kyoko to such a sweet girl. Similarly, Yuki was changed by Tohru and was able to find his true self.
Both their partners, i.e. Kyo and Machi were helped by both of them to get over their traumas and to grab to the joy that they were both providing.
Both wish for the happiness of others.
Both are selfless.
That’s why one can see that their dynamics are so good, yet they are unable to complete each other, because they are similar. Both are nice to others, but have lot of pent up emotions inside. These hidden emotions can only be seen by Kyo in case of Tohru and Machi in case of Yuki. So I loved how it turned out.
(Both Kyo’s and Yuki’s expressions are so soft!)
7. The essence of the last conversation of Yuki and Tohru
Ah, so we have reached the end, huh? Anyway, at some point we had to say goodbye to this, and now is the time.
I absolutely loved how this made it end in a complete circle. The series started with Yuki and Shigure discovering Tohru in the woods, giving her shelter in their house, and Yuki taking care of her fever with Tohru thanking him the next day. And the series ends with Yuki now thanking Tohru for being a part of their family, and helping every Sohma member. The change that she brought to them is something which makes her irreplaceable in their hearts. Even though she will leave with Kyo, but everyone will remember her everyday, if she has been doing well and whether she is happy or not.
Yuki further says that he will be sad, now that no one will be there to say him ‘welcome home’. But he will also be happy because he was able to meet her, who had the vital role in making him realize his importance. Yuki’s dialogues with Shimazaki-san’s voice will bring anyone to tears. Yuki also reveals that she is like a mother to him.
Now I know that many readers might ask me why I am not accepting the fact that she was like a mother to him, even though he himself said that. The reason is, I just don’t know how to digest this. After all the beautiful moments that they shared, him helping her with every little chore, their conversations, I just can’t. It feels more as what a close friend would do for him/her. And I never found any scene which truly depicted that they are related just like a mother and child. In fact, this relationship they have is something more.
Tell me, if he saw her as a mother, then why did he profusely blush when she called him by his first name (he didn’t even blush that much when Machi said it), or Shigure asking him about his rushing along with Kyo to bring her back from her relatives? Or many other short moments? You can see the same deep blush of Tohru when she is with Kyo. Yuki’s this cute side changes by the second half of the second season, with his blush now accompanied by a happy face, which makes us understand how much he values her as a friend. Honestly, some bonds have no words to define them. They are just bonds, but they will always be special to the ones who have it. It will reflect selflessness, care, worry and each one wishing happiness to the other.
(Tohru helping him with his tie.)
(When Shigure asks Yuki about his unusual behavior.)
(His eyes were shining with joy... HNGH, so beautiful!)
The last part when he extends his hand to her for a handshake has again such a pretty touch to it. In the manga, it is seen that Yuki and Tohru handshake with their right hands, but the same scene here is with their left hands. Actually, left hand is close to the heart right? Handshaking with left hand symbolises the deep friendship that both the sides have, which will always remain close to their heart.
(Darn you Furaba team, you really want me to sob, don’t you... Also, look how beautiful they look! Yuki and Tohru look so much more mature and their blushing is like a cherry on the cake ^^)
And this series is brought to an end with our female protagonist saying “I will see you again” which again implies that they are just getting separated from the family due to change in their environment and situation, but they will make sure to see each other once again.
(Team, you won... *sobs*)
One thing I want to add is how Kyo and Yuki became friends too... It’s so precious! I really liked how Yuki helped Kyo to move on and leave negative thoughts behind when he was not visiting Tohru in the hospital. That scene portrayed how much both idolise and adore each other. The last conversation that they share is Yuki addressing him as stupid cat and Kyo addressing him as stupid rat, which is so sweet in itself.
(I wish all of you happiness.)
Also, I felt so bad for Momiji and Kagura with their unrequited love... Please let them have a great significant other!
All in all, I enjoyed the moments and the values that the anime inculcated in me, and this will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the creators, team, and of course, all the characters. Good bye, Fruits Basket,
and thank you for giving me such a great time.
~Lys
P.S. Dear Yuki, thank you so much for letting us know about such a sweet and kind character, that’s you. You deserve all the happiness in the world.
