Okay idk if this is a safe space for healthy criticism because I've not yet seen anyone criticise anything in wbk writing when I think healthy, normal criticism and discussion and acceptance of different opinions is a good thing in fandoms and one of the reasons why fandoms exist in the first place (as long as you're polite and respectful about it). Anw I'm still taking the plunge and letting it out cuz the "we're all shocked but sakura has it worse" line kinda.. irritated? or like frustrated? me. Because their suffering shouldn't be about "who's suffering more" when they're all going through it but maybe it's just me? also I feel like nirei really just got used as a plot device to move the story to break the suo news and info through endo and then got left at the side. As if he isn't suffering a lot too as someone who had to emotionally+physically get hurt when facing suo *sob* /gen/ I just think it could've been written better... I've been hoping for this arc to center around the trio focusing on each of them as much as the other and to me personally, this arc is the most important one so it's worrying me like this... I think the furin 5's side wasn't explored properly and just got brushed off really quick. I completely understand why it focused on sakura but I think it would've felt better if we could delve in them more and THEN move on to that. So I think that line was really not needed cuz it kind of. Invalidates everyone else's suffering. I feel it would've been much better if even just that one line was erased, for instance. One more thing I find weird was the fact that kotoha had to explain why sakura was hurting and nirei asked her "what do you mean" as if he didnt understand why sakura would be hurt...when nirei is his first friend and knows him much better... It felt like that shouldve been his role which kind of.. upset me
I think sensei writes sakura beautifully and I like the depth he gives him and it makes him relatable in ways but also. Sometimes it ends up with him getting too focused on while the others who should ALSO get focused on, don't get the proper amount of attention and relevance needed which. HUGELY tips the ratio off balance and that if it was even slightly more balanced, wbk would be even better. If we're taking this arc, for instance, nirei got kind of brushed aside after his face off with suo which I think, if had been explored further would've made future chapters even better. He's the type who always puts his feelings and suffering aside to steel himself to help his friends all the time. He tends to bottle things up to appear strong to help his friends and even after that, still has very low self esteem and self worth+ very concerning insecurities and I wish that issue was addressed and developed so that he could heal cuz it's getting worse in this arc. Let's be real, he's hurting just as much and their pain isn't a competition of who's hurting more. I feel like sakunirei need to get through this together. So the "worried about just that one person" or "that person has it worse" isn't.. needed. Or at least I feel so. I understand why it's focusing on sakura and why he's very hurt, he's literally my son. But. I think nirei and sakura's pain are of different forms but not any lesser than the other.
Like nirei and sakura's pain is different. Theyre both pained but. This must've not been nirei's first time feeling "loss". Because anyone with a family and friends and social interactions in their life experiences it at some point in their life, in one way or the other. It isn't furin 5's first time experiencing it. But for SAKURA. IT IS. I specifically say not nirei's first time feeling loss cuz he must've suffered loss of friendships and a loss of a lot of things in the past when he was bullied. I cry. Thank you. As much as the manga focuses on sakura's pain and I understand that *crying* I believe both of them are suffering. In very bad ways. (Suo is too. The trio is literally hurting. When I read the chapter title "hole in the heart", I personally interpreted it as a "hole" in the FURIN TRIO because the three of them are each hurting in different, concerning ways while trying to live through it. They're each other's heart. The heart of 1-1. And they're falling apart atm hence the hole in the HEART *BAWLING my eyes out*)
The forms of pain nirei and sakura are dealing with respectively:
📝Nirei: suo forcefully pushing him away, lying, not opening up, laughing in his face but later showing he's suffering. watching both of his most important people suffering and in pain, unable to help, feeling their trio fall apart. already low self esteem crumbling even further because he thinks it's his fault he couldn't do anything. Couldn't stop suo. Couldn't help suo when he was suffering. Couldn't offer sakura the words he needed. Thinks he couldn't save the trio. Keeps apologising throughout all recent chapters "I'm sorry I couldn't stop suo san" "I'm sorry sakura san" "I'm sorry I couldn't do anything". IM SORRY.
🌸Sakura: Experiencing a loss and betrayal (of sorts) for the first time. Suo being his second friend in life, a part of their trio. Opening up to everyone and feeling needed but only for one of his closest friends to disappear. Doesn't know how to deal with loss unlike other people who know and then the feeling of having never noticed everything past suo's smiles and closed off self. Opening up but realising he actually knew nothing about one of the friends he cared sm about. The guilt of not having noticed too...
I've got a lot more to say cuz I feel like this chapter and 217 were honestly pretty lacking. but I'll leave it at this. Just in case, this is my feeling about the chapter and it's okay if you don't agree. Everything is /gen not neg/ and is up for healthy discussion. After all, you only criticise a story to see it become better because you like it! /Spelling it all out cuz some people on here dont like to take different opinions😭 and I dont want to get misunderstood😭/ anw if anyone reads this and agrees then thank you! And if you don't, it's totally okay! Everyone has the right to their feelings! Obviously the mc will get focus, but I just think sensei needs to try focusing on other charas more, genuinely. Also just in case, I'm not mad over anything! Im waiting to see how everything turns out later, it is a normal discussion post^^' Im just feeling a bit worried atm and thought talking about it is okay, that's all! I hope for healthy non toxic discussions!
P.S. I wrote everything in one go so if there's any typos or grammatical errors, I apologise in advance! This is open for respectful discussion and I'll be glad if I'm not the only one who felt so!
