When I say I like tsunderes I’m talking about characters who have actual reasons to be mean, hide their true emotions, or get ragebaited by the other in a way that’s fun and mutual. I hate tsunderes who have no reason to be mean, are just depicting “small angry woman,” and their interactions with a boring ass self insert man with no characterization. Tsundere itself means “Hostile, then reveals a loving side,” I feel like this trope can exist without feeling so unrealistic and not raw or even human.
Shadow The Hedgehog, Goro Akechi, and Hajime Hinata are all GOOD tsunderes to me. They all get annoyed by their foil counterparts in a way that’s engaging which provides reasons to be mean.
Goro Akechi has reason to hide part of himself and his emotion for the plot. He thinks that he hates Joker because he is extremely jealous of him and says it to his face. He is constantly trying to prove himself better and prove himself to Joker, and when he’s able to be a bit more himself without having to hide himself he’s less concerned with having as much of a filter and is able to be a bit harsher. So I guess he’d be more, detective prince who even then shows some hostile sides, to hostile and ruthless without his filter, to lovey and still getting annoyed by Joker’s teasing and being his ruthless self? He cares in very abstract ways it makes me want to cry.
Hajime Hinata just simply doesn’t have as much patience and isn’t as in touch with managing his emotions, mostly because when he see him he’s also going through very overwhelming wacky circumstances. Hajime Hinata is very judgmental, even judging himself resulting in insecurity, and as a result his more rude comments we see are internal ones. His harsh comments typically just come from tone and being judgmental, which in my opinion ends up being a lot of his charm. The game itself even pokes a bit fun at him using the term “tsundere,” to describe him for fun.
Shadow the Hedgehog is ruthless in action and language, he’s very goal oriented similar to Goro Akechi and will do anything to accomplish that goal and everything in his way is an obstacle to overcome or force through. Shadow has nothing to really hide, he’s definitely more introverted and extremely blunt. He has an ego due to being created as the “ultimate lifeform” and as a result a lot of comments he says has a certain tone. The tone of “I’m probably or most definitely better than you because I am the ultimate lifeform” y’know? He’s this untraditional hero, this not really a villain, nor exactly an antagonist after sa2. Shadow is just all of him, and he doesn’t really do pleasantries naturally. He’s especially pissed with Sonic who practically is constantly teasing and ragebaiting him for fun, “how is this person in par with me when I’m the ultimate lifeform?” Sonic acts as an anomaly and conflicting nature to Shadow’s ego. Plus Sonic’s generally a grinning shit eating teaser, so he’s often additionally giving Shadow extra reasons to be mad. But obviously, as the stories depict he truly does care. His motivations are powered by the wishes of his dearest friend, he does have a soft spot in the middle but that doesn’t exactly mean his roughness ever goes away at that center. But I still think it definitely applies, he’s not one to be able to admit to himself how he feels let alone others without going in circles around the topic in a blunt dismissive way.
Tsundere!Siren who lounges on the jagged rocks, glistening scales catching the moonlight as they scoff at your presence. "Hah! You again? How predictable. Are all humans this desperate for attention?" But their sharp eyes follow your every movement.
Tsundere!Siren who claims their song has no effect on you—"Tch, as if a human like you could even appreciate something so mesmerizing." Yet, when you don’t immediately swoon, their tail flicks the water in irritation. "You’re supposed to be entranced, idiot!"
Tsundere!Siren who sneers whenever you admire other sea creatures. "Why would you waste your time watching those clumsy little fish when I’m right here? They don’t even have the voice of a god." Their tone is mocking, but their claws dig just a little too deep into the rock beneath them.
Tsundere!Siren who swears they don’t care if you leave. "Hah, go ahead. I can lure a thousand others with a single note." But when you actually turn away, a low, haunting melody hums through the air, pulling you back like an unseen tide. They smirk as you stumble, pretending they didn’t just panic.
Tsundere!Siren who lets you run your fingers along their shimmering tail—only to scoff right after. "Ugh, you’re so annoying…" But they don’t pull away. Instead, their tail coils loosely around your leg, trapping you in place as they pretend it’s just the current keeping you close.
Tsundere!Siren who kisses you suddenly, fangs grazing your lips before they pull back with a smug grin. "Tch. There. Now you’re mine, land-dweller." But the way their claws cling to your wrist tells you they’re not as indifferent as they pretend to be.
I went and found some moments where Gray is clearly showing how uncomfortable he is. I think it's fitting to provide my own evidence since Author did, but I was going to add examples anyway even if I hadn't read Author's post. Anyway, in anime and manga, the mangaka always makes it clear when someone is a tsundere, always makes the little details show that the tsundere actually likes the other individual. I see no such details in these panels.
Come on, look at how his hair is standing up in the last panel. His hair is literally standing on its end, which is indicative of chills running up your spine and being completely unnerved and freaked out. He's not joking that she's scary, he's not trying to cutely cover it up that he secretly enjoys this. The voice actors do a great job of showing how distraught Gray is by this in the anime too.
Yeah, Gray's face says it all. Those vertical lines on his face are used in manga to show when someone's uncomfortable or feeling some sort of negative downer feeling. And wow just look at her language. Gray right out says he's not into this type of thing, it's not something he's comfortable with, that he doesn't have these perverted hobbies, and yet she responds with "But I doooo~", showing very clearly that she doesn't care whatsoever about what makes Gray happy or at peace of mind, just that her own fetishes and fantasies are being fulfilled. Wow. The more I investigate juvia, the more I am disgusted. I didn't think it was possible tbh, but I suppose I should've known since it's juvia we're talking about, queen of toxicity and creepiness.
Just look how disgruntled and aggrieved Gray is here. He's literally sweating bullets. No ounce of blush, no once of him trying to hide any underlying feeling, just pure unadulterated discomfort and unease. juvia's not even denying what he's saying here (her deplorable behind is actually proud of her actions, which you can see on her disgusting smug expression). He obviously didn't invite her or happily let her in; she literally barged in and would NOT leave his house, which just means that she followed him to his new home, so yeah, the stalking never ends, people!!
I don't even remember which episode this is, but Gray's expression is full of distress and absolutely freaking the heck out. He doesn't find this endearing or cute at all, and he makes it clear that he doesn't even want to be associated with her by others nor to have to deal with her.
Also don't remember which episode, but c'mon, she's a naked chick rubbing up against him, and he's STILL disgusted. Those lines of discomfort on his face and those sweat drops again. Not even juvia's superficial paltry looks can make him interested.
Ah yes, I'm pretty sure this was from an Omake after the GMG where the losing FT team had to do a punishment game or something or other. Again, juvia's naked breast has been whipped out despite no one wanting to see it, what an actual disturbing pervert.
(And no, this is not comparable to Gray's stripping habit in the slightest because juvia has full control of herself despite never using self-control, whereas Gray's stripping is sort of an instinct [I've seen some people say it might be a trauma response/coping mechanism, and I think it could very well be that] ingrained into him by his deceased mentor where he actually gets really embarrassed once he finds himself down to his boxers, as he does it unconsciously. juvia however has no shame and is actively sexually harassing Gray by doing this, not to mention just plain copying him with a complete lack of dignity, and she is showing that she literally has no personality outside of Gray and is literally amalgamating with him.)
And instead of liking the view, Gray's utterly creeped out. You might think that Gray just doesn't appreciate the female form like that, but Gray shows that to be false through him going gooey-eyed when Virgo changed Lucy in front of him, or when he was excited to check the shower for Lucy when they were looking for her, or how he fantasized about Lucy in a skimpy paper outfit, or even how he blushed really hard when Virgo was helping keep Lucy's skirt down in high winds while her own was flashing him. All in all, Gray likes the female form, just not THIS female form because it comes with a psychopath.
Again, no blush, all freaking out, despite, again, a nigh naked woman glomping onto him full force (which is sexual harassment might I add since he doesn't consent.)
Note here, what's funny is Author used the first panel in their "proof", and yet they coincidentally decided to leave out the very next panel where Gray is clearly creeped out by juvia's refusal to face reality and her refusal of acknowledging his boundaries. Again, all sweat and all seriousness. Nothing about her reaction to his rejection is funny to him, nothing is being hidden, he's genuinely creeped by her (and honestly who wouldn't be?? Pros, think about it. If someone kept pursuing you despite you not being interested and despite you telling them you're not, would you not be creeped out? Why do you support this witch again?)
This last picture is even from the 100yq, something I don't even consider to be canon thanks to Gray being completely OOC, where gr///via has been hammered into being 'canon', and even here there are still scenes where Gray is just grossed out by juvia and completely uncomfortable, in a nervous sweat to boot. You can still commit sexual harassment even if you're dating, I hope y'all know that.
I would love to post more evidence, really, I would, but the internet actually just hates all things Anti gr//////via unfortunately. Looking up anti gruvia just brings up mostly anti-anti gr///via content because of course that makes sense, and I don't feel like rewatching all their "moments" right now because I value my sanity a little bit.
Oh well. That's why I run this blog. Gotta represent.
Whenever I do my next re-watch, maybe I'll take screenshots of all the times Gray is grossed out by her. Does NOT sound fun because I don't want to have juvia's pictures on my phone, but it might just have to be done.
Anyway, all that I put into these three posts (and probably more tbh but my brain is fried from thinking about juvia so much rn) is why I think Gray is NOT a tsundere.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
Closing Notes:
I think I'll just end this trilogy of posts quite unceremoniously here. I've spent hours and hours working on it, so I really just want feedback on it at this point. I hope I don't sound too mean throughout the posts; I tried to be transparent and honest though.
Please do let me know your thoughts on the subject of Gray being or not being a tsundere, and please give me your thoughts on my post! Discussion helps get us closer to the truth! Please remain respectful even if you disagree with what I said, though.
(Also, I would like to know whether my readers like these long, in depth studies into different aspects of Pro gr///vian arguments, or if y'all like my shorter responses to asks instead. If you don't care, that's fine too. I don't do much of these longer posts anymore because I have so many actually amazing asks, so maybe that's for the better, idk, lmk.)
Anyway, thank you for your time, and I hope you enjoyed my analysis! Have a wonderful day/night!
