Why Ichigo/Orihime is completely unconvincing
Thereβs just so much wrong with Ichigo and Orihime ending up together, I canβt understand how IchiHime fans are completely fine with how their story played out.Β
1- Ichigo never shows feelings for Orihime that are beyond friendship, right until the very end of the manga.
There has never been a moment in the manga that shows on Ichigoβs side that he cares for Orihime as more than a friend. He cares for her, but whatβs disappointing to see is that thereβs no special place that Orihime holds. She doesnβt have that inseparable emotional bond with him like Rukia does, sheβs not the rival that still sacrifices everything to help him like Ishida, she never made a pact with Ichigo to protect him tilβ the very end like Chad.Β
The fact that Kubo himself never included any insight on Ichigoβs feelings for Orihime is what makes me feel like he never planned it out properly; he has Orihime and Ishida discussing howΒ βto Kurosaki, Rukia isnβt just a friend. Sheβs a very special person to him,β as well as countless little poems in Ichigoβs perspectiveΒ βI wonder if I can keep up with the speed of the world without you in itβ,Β βthatβs right, nothing else can change my worldβ.Β
β Iβm not saying that Orihime needs to do something extraordinary or sacrifice herself further for Ichigo, sheβs a wonderful companion and Ichigo cares for her, but to be the main characters love interest? Thereβs nothing that allows the readers to see through Ichigoβs eyes and what he sees in her, no moment that makes us goΒ βAh, he really values her, sheβs special to himβ. Which brings me on to my next point:
2- Rukia and Ichigoβs relationship and emotional bond set the bar too high for Ichigo and Orihime.
What I think is that Kubo really, really loved Ichigo and Rukiaβs relationship. He loved their moments of connection, their talks, their sacrifice for each other. He loves Rukia to death as a character, and I think he just felt really good writing and expanding Rukia and Ichigoβs moments and lines. I donβt think he realised how deep he made their bond seem, how inseparable, and when he tried to include the aspect of Orihimeβs feelings for Ichigo, it didnβt work too well because it felt so bland and insubstantial compared to this thing Ichigo has for Rukia.
Every single emotional scene for Ichigo, his powers, wanting to protect people, his motherβs death (!!!) has always been with Rukia. He talks to her, which I think is so, so freaking important. She listens, understands, and I cannot get over Memories in the Rain. It was so difficult for Ichigo to explain his motherβs death and Rukia handles it beautifully, makes it a moment he remembers ages later. I think that was the chapter that did it for me - they share such deep, personal moments together that just arenβt there for Ichigo and Orihime.
Itβs plain to see that Rukia is literally someone he canβt live without, their bond is so much deeper than friendship or romance - their souls are connected. She understands whatβs going through his mind without words, she makes him happy, Orihime says it herself. She chases his fears away, with words. They have their dramatic moments but what I love is that they build each other up through words. Ichigo talks to her when he tries to save her in Soul Society, tells her that he is going to rescue her, no matter what. He sees her afterwards, tells her itβs fine if she wants to stay, she can, he smiles at her, thinksΒ βlooking at her now, I remember exactly why I wanted to save her so much,β - not because she gave him his powers, or because he owed her, but because he just wants to see her happy.Β
I could go on and on about Rukiaβs importance in Ichigoβs life, but the bottom line is that Rukia is and will always be the focal point in Ichigoβs life. Itβs always Rukia. Orihime notices it herself, it brings her to tears because she canβt replace Rukia, she doesnβt know how to give strength to Ichigo.
Itβs just such a strange, sad dynamic to have Orihime so infatuated with Ichigo, only for him to have such a deep, emotional bond with someone else. Itβs unfair and terribly cruel to her. Kubo should have either limited the interactions between Ichigo and Rukia or included more emotional ones with Orihime and Ichigo.
3 - Orihime is not close to Ichigo at all.
By that I mean that she knows so little about him. Their interactions beyond fighting and saving are so minimal and emotionally disconnected that itβs impossible to see these two actually have a conversation about something. The things that Orihime knows about Ichigo are always second hand (Ichigoβs motherβs death from Tatsuki, him getting his Shinigami powers from Rukia, his desire to get his powers back from the Fullbringers. Sheβs never at the forefront of anything when Ichigo needs help.Β
4 - Orihime admires/idolises Ichigo too much to get close to him.
She sees him as her protector, someone strong and brave and I guess thatβs why she likes him? Itβs never really clear. Why is she so in love with this grumpy orange-haired highschool kid that sheβs willing to give her life away to help him?She says she wants to heal all his pain, but she doesnβt know what pains him in the first place?
Theyβre not close at the beginning, Ichigo refers to her as Tatsukiβs best friend, and Orihime is always seen to have funny fantasies and dreams about him. Later on, their interactions are very stilted and awkward. She bumbles and flushes around him, which is fine, thereβs nothing wrong with that, and Ichigo kind of justβ¦ignores it? To me, they donβt fit well at all, at least now how Kubo shows the sides to their characters.
Orihime is so bright and caring, why canβt she really talk to Ichigo about his worries outside of battle? Why do their interactions have to be comic relief (her dress, which was extremely awkward)? Does Ichigo even know anything about her beyond her family situation? Does he even bother to talk to her about something casual?Β
Ichigo is not always strong, he canβt always play the protector for her. The Hueco Mundo arc was a great example - she screamed out for his help, he had to rise to help her. Earlier on, when the Arrancars invaded, he couldnβt protect his friends and he had to apologise to her for failing to protect her. It just screams power imbalance - she couldnβt protect him either, when her powers are more suited to it. Why didnβt she apologise, too?
Maybe it was supposed to be romantic, it didnβt work for me. Itβs just funny how the stark comparison to Rukia and Ichigo, where she gives him strength and hope through her words, where heβs comfortable showing her his weakness with the hollow mask is so much more natural.Β
5 - She feels jealous of Rukiaβs relationship with Ichigo.
Not just her breakdown, but panels that Kubo drew which show her watching Ichigo looking down at Rukia while sheβs healing, emotion so clearly in his eyes, and turning away. Itβs just β why make her jealous of Rukia if Rukia and Ichigo are supposed to be just friendship? It complicates everything and it makes the readers thinkΒ βOh, Rukia and Ichigo must have something going on if Orihime is jealous of her. Ichigo must really care about Rukia.βΒ
6 - Ichigo is not good for Orihime.
The fact that her insecurities are never cleared makes me laugh. She ends up marrying this dude who still sees Rukia on the daily - sheβs still facing those feelings of jealousy. Rukia is so clearly his kindred soul, if he wants to marry someone else and have them sit through watching their husband share such a deep connection with another person, then thatβs absolute shitty of Kubo.
He makes her feelΒ βinadequateβ, literally, because she can never compare to Rukia. Itβs just. Why. So cruel to her, thereβs literally nothing she can do about it. Heβs always pushing her to the back, never facing her full on like a normal person. Itβs always over his shoulderΒ βStay here, Inoueβ and I justβ ugh. Sheβs so wonderful. Beautiful, happy. She deserves someone who will laugh at her jokes, taste her funny food (come on, Kubo. You could have had like a two-page spread where she feeds Ichigo something weird and they have a laugh over it, something natural), makes her clothes (ahh, Ishida.)
Iβm not here to promote Ishida/Orihime, but sheβs so natural around him. He thinks about her, considers her feelings. She protects him with her shield, fights beside him as an equal, notΒ βInoue, youβre on defence. Iβm counting on you.βΒ
7 - Thereβs no development for Orihime.
I donβt know what she got out of Bleach, tbh. She went in infatuated with this image of Ichigo in her head, came out in the same position. Sheβs endured painful feelings of jealousy, helplessness, meeting other people. She made bonds with people, like Ishida, or Ulquiorra, who could have developed her character in some way. Made her think that hey, Iβm worth someone directing all their attention and feelings towards me, too. Iβm worth being thought about, considered. Ichigo literally does not have the time of day to notice her feelings for him, her jealousy. Heβs oblivious or preoccupied and unforgiving about it.Β
Sheβs forced to wear some seriously provocative clothing by Urahara, in which she is clearly uncomfortable, just to get his attention. He doesnβt even say anything to her. Chad has to say,Β βYo, Ichigo. What do you think of Inoueβs clothes?β. Itβs so freaking embarrassing and awkward for her that I really want her to leave Ichigo behind. Heβs not worth it.
I know that Bleach is a Shounen manga, but seriously. Kubo tried to incorporate some romance when he really didnβt have the right idea of how to go about it and ended up butchering Orihimeβs character, Ichigo and Orihimeβs pretty solid friendship, and left the reader feeling baited with Rukia/Ichigo. In his head, friendships are sacrifice, you changed my world, for her Iβll go through a thousand blades, thatβs the man you are in my heart, show them that despair canβt stop you while romantic love is Orihime pouring her heart out to the guy that still doesnβt know how to pronounce her first name.
Whatever floats your boat, shippers.Β
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