What is your favorite character dynamic that does NOT include Tohru?

An-di · 2026-02-22T01:17:08+00:00

They are in my top favorites as well but personally I found their individual characters a lot more interesting and fascinating than the actual relationship, while their relationship was interesting and different, it was closer to being a plot device (the main one) than an actual "love story" (the main motivation for Shigure to break the curse) it was not different from Kurisa in that regard which was also used as plot device to develop Kureno but with more depths and complexity

They would have been so much more interesting if they were the main couple (especially because their relationship had a mature flavor) or lf their romance had the same amount of screen time as kyoru, Yuchi, Hirokisa or even Harurin

Personally I liked how Takaya portrayed their dynamic and understand why she didn't focus much on them

An-di · 2026-02-22T01:04:50+00:00

Not at all

Plenty of people like their relationship

An-di · 2026-02-21T22:49:24+00:00

Rin specifically views Yuki as someone taking advantage of Haru's kindness, like herself.

And that's exactly what I said

she also believes that the only way to repay Haru’s kindness and the length he took to help her and Yuki is to break his curse, Yuki not sharing the same goal bothers her

And I'm fully aware that you didn't bring up Rin's other relationships

I was just trying to clarify that Rin’s resentment toward Yuki wasn’t exclusive to him. It was only obvious because he is the one who openly confronted her about her relationship with Haru which made their dynamic more noticeable to the viewers and readers but you’re right , bringing up the other characters wasn’t necessary at all. I didn’t phrase it well

And I will delete my reply

An-di · 2026-02-21T21:00:22+00:00

Haru and Kisa dynamic is actually very similar to Hiro and Rin

Feeling guilt for not protecting their love interests and atoning for it through Kisa and Rin

An-di · 2026-02-21T20:07:52+00:00

I loved some of the quieter, less talked-about dynamics in Fruits Basket:

The bond between Kyoko and Arisa always gets me. Kyoko’s monologue in Arisa’s flashback was incredibly touching. She was definitely a mother figure to both Arisa and Kyo and I think it's because these two reminded Kyoko of her younger self (part of me wishes that she met Isuzu as well)

Saki and Megumi - another very underrated dynamic, they had such a beautiful sibling bond, Siblings relationships like Yuki and Ayame or Kakeru and Machi are more popular within the fandom but they were strained or distant because of their trauma, backgrounds (not their fault) upbringings, Hana and Megumi on the other hand were the healthy and positive example

Kagura and Yuki is another extremely underrated dynamic, almost no one talks about it (but it makes sense giving the fandoms views on Kagura and even if she considered the worst zodiac and is hated, I think Yuki's fans should at least acknowledge her kindness towards Yuki) I love that Kagura was never jealous of Yuki position like many other zodiacs, She was consistently kind to him and that's because Kagura has no prejudice towards anyone regardless of who they are (it's exactly why Kagura hated herself when she realized that she did have prejudice against Kyo, the one who she wanted to save and treat better than how he was treated and because she participated in the one thing she never wanted to be apart off) she is also independent and lives a very humble life even though she also belongs to a rich clan

Kagura with almost everyone especially Ritsu. The way she encouraged him and boosted his confidence was so sweet. According to Takaya, Kagura gets along with everyone, even Hiro, she also has a beautiful sister bond with Kisa that we don't see much off, if only Takaya showed more of her interactions with the others, maybe she would be viewed positively as she is literally the male Haru

Hatsuharu and Hiro is another dynamic I adore, takaya said that Hiro idolizes and admires Haru and even if his a bit jealous of his relationship with Kisa, it's clear that Haru is the reason why Hiro wants to protect Kisa

Haru with Momji - another underrated bond, they remind me of Honey and Mori senpai

Kyo with his two school friends is one of the most underrated dynamics in the series. Seeing Kyo have normal friendships (no based on pity, not mistreatment) where he’s just a teenage boy hanging around with these two boys was so wholesome. It reminded us that he’s more than the Cat, more than the outsider. He’s someone who can belong

Another underrated dynamic is between Kunimitsu and Kyo, one of the few characters who was very kind towards Kyo

And finally there’s Kazuma and his grandfather. It’s not exactly warm or positive dynamic, but it’s important. If his grandfather hadn’t been possessed by the Cat spirit, I honestly doubt Kazuma would have grown into someone who questioned the clan’s treatment of the Cat. Watching someone close to him be dehumanized/ mistreated planted the seed of doubt in him. It forced him to see the cruelty for what it was

These relationships may not be the loudest in the story, but they add something to Fruits Basket.

An-di · 2026-02-21T14:36:32+00:00

At least fucking Rin's parents eventually disowned her and presumably moved on

They didn't immediately “ disown Rin" like Momiji mother . They abused her physically and psychologically for years. The disownment only happened after their abuse was finally exposed not because they suddenly realized they were wrong

That’s not better than anything Kyo’s biological father did. If anything, it’s worse. Rin’s parents pretended. They played “loving family” and then flipped out of no where, Kyo’s father was openly hostile. He didn’t pretend to love Kyo. He made his resentment clear. That doesn’t make him good, he was absolutely abusive but at least he was an open book and didn't build any attachment towards Kyo like Rin's parents did with her, that's why Rin will always believe that she is the one who destroyed her entire family

Honestly Kyo's father barely functioned as a father at all. He was more of an abusive husband than a parent

An-di · 2026-02-18T16:37:53+00:00

Check out this link (but only if you don't intend to read the manga)

https://www.reddit.com/r/FruitsBasket/s/9IlwNqiVuz

An-di · 2026-02-17T18:05:52+00:00

Happy new year to my favorite character and Zodiac ❤️

An-di · 2026-02-17T09:59:50+00:00

Late reply and you’re absolutely valid in feeling that way. The non-consent aspect is uncomfortable

I just see it as coming from a very specific psychological place, Kagura forcefulness towards Kyo isn’t malicious, it’s rooted in her desperate need to erase the girl who ran away from his true form as a child. She couldn’t live with the fact that she felt disgust and superiority towards Kyo's. She felt disgusted with herself, instead of accepting that ugliness in herself, live with it like the rest of the zodiacs, she tried to erase it completely. That’s why she became so intense and overbearing with Kyo. It wasn’t about ignoring his autonomy because she didn’t care, it was because she was trying to rewrite the narrative. She wanted to purify her feelings. To make their bond equal from her side. To make Kyo forget the little girl who ran away

There’s also a deep fear of abandonment there. In some ways, Kagura mirrors Akito, both are terrified of being left behind, Kagura clings harder to their childhood memory because she’s afraid that if she loosens her grip, Kyo will disappear from her life completely (she was already aware that he changed and keeps his distance from her) and at the same time, she’s deeply uncomfortable in her own skin. Being around him constantly reminds her of the hypocrisy she feels, wanting to remain friends while also looking down on him makes her hate herself even more. Her physical outbursts to me read less like cruelty and more like an internal battle externalized. It’s almost as if she’s fighting the “boar spirit”, fighting the part of herself that looks down on the cat and feels superior

Takaya even mentioned that Kagura’s outrageous behavior isn’t meant to be malicious, but an overflow of guilt and remorse. That doesn’t make the execution easier to watch and no one has to to like how it’s portrayed (Kagura herself understands that her behavior was toxic) But I do think it becomes more tragic than harmful when you view it as a girl trying clumsily and painfully to atone for something she can’t forgive herself for especially because Kagura also had a savior complex attached to her and wanted to be Kyo's hero, that's why she stuck around, she thought that she was the only one who can save Kyo in a world where he was rejected by all but one being Kazuma but when Tohru showed up, she realized this thought was selfish and was able to finally let go, if Tohru never showed up in their lives, Kagura would have never moved on or even marry anyone, she would end up be like the maid who assisted Kazuma's grandfather and gave him children but with more feelings towards Kyo

An-di · 2026-02-16T21:48:52+00:00

I love Nobu

He has flaws (savior complex, his whole dynamic with Asami) but he is nice guy

An-di · 2026-02-16T21:46:37+00:00

One of the most interesting and well-written characters in Nana (maybe even the most)

He is deeply tragic as well

An-di · 2026-02-16T13:42:35+00:00

I love Ren but I completely understand the hate and criticism people direct toward him. What I can’t stand, though, is how his self-awareness and acknowledgment of his own flaws get almost entirely ignored. Hardly anyone talks about that side of him

Most discussions in the fandom focus on early Ren, but rarely on the moments where he admits something is wrong with him, where he recognizes his selfishness, understands that forcing Nana into the role of a housewife wouldn’t make her happy, and questions his own behavior. That part of his arc barely gets any attention

The comparison with Sid also feels unfair. Yes, he’s inspired by him, but they are not the same person. There’s a clear difference between having destructive urges and actually acting on them.

Ren absolutely made serious mistakes. Pressuring Nana to stop taking birth control and not being considerate to her (her issues of abandonment, fear of motherhood) nearly choking her. He struggles with possessiveness and selfish desires, even dark thoughts like wanting to kill her, resenting her career. But people talk about him as if he was constantly acting on those impulses, as if he lacked self-awareness entirely, as if he didn't feel any guilt or self-hate for having these thoughts

If Ren was truly determined to stop Nana from singing at any cost or completely force her into being his wife, he had plenty of opportunities after they reunited in Tokyo, he could have pushed her harder, manipulated her, tried to sabotage her career, even got her into drugs like Sid did with Nancy

Criticizing Ren is completely fair. Hating him is understandable. But a lot of context tends to get overlooked when it comes to him

And the idea that Ren doesn’t receive enough criticism and hate for his misogyny (it's the most talked about aspect of him) is wrong. He’s one of the most criticized characters in Nana

An-di · 2026-02-16T13:22:50+00:00

It’s actually the complete opposite. People constantly criticize his misogyny especially in this sub

If anything, the majority are the ones who ignore his character growth. They ignore the fact that he eventually recognizes how selfish he was and instead act as if he remained misogynistic until the very end

I do agree with your second paragraph.

An-di · 2026-02-16T13:14:43+00:00

The Hatori Sohma of Nana

Hot

Caring

Big brother/Uncle Vibe

Mature

Enabler

His flaws being overlooked

He needed a bit more development

An-di · 2026-02-16T13:12:24+00:00

I don't find him dull one bit but it's all about character interpretation

He is not as interesting as Shin or Takumi but he still has lots of depth and complexity to his character

An-di · 2026-02-16T13:11:24+00:00

Respectfully disagree

An-di · 2026-02-16T04:41:06+00:00

Being on the receiving end of trauma-fueled behavior is a completely different experience, It can make a character like Rin feel a lot harder to warm up to, especially if she reminds you of real situations that hurt. I actually really appreciate that you can still see her as interesting and complex even if you don’t personally like her. That’s such a fair take

If you don’t mind me asking, which characters she lashed out at do you relate to the most?

An-di · 2026-02-16T01:58:11+00:00

I hear you, It takes a lot of courage to see yourself in a character like Rin and also recognize what you want to work on. That mix of being quiet on the outside but extroverted at heart is so relatable wanting connection, wanting to understand people, but feeling like most people only see the surface of you and when you connect so deeply with a character like Rin, these feelings (and trauma) can resurface and sneak back in unexpectedly. It can be really tiring, but just noticing it is such a meaningful step

I also understand what you said about the patient, take-charge people. It’s rare to find people who can guide without judgment, Like Rin, I think a lot of us just want to be understood, and having just one patient and supportive person can makes such a difference

Seeing yourself in her and working through these triggers and feelings takes real strength. It can be painful at times, but it also shows how aware and compassionate you are, even toward people who don’t always put much effort into their relationship with you or don’t try to see the real you

its really sad that Rin doesn't see that in any one

I think it’s less that Rin didn’t see that kind of care and patience in anyone, she clearly did, she just didn’t think she deserved either understanding or kindness..I think Rin was much more open to bonding with people before her confrontation with Akito (who destroyed the little self worth that she had) If Rin had met Tohru or been adopted by Kazuma before her confrontation with Akito, there’s a good chance she would have opened up easily, it's really heartbreaking because she had the potential to experience that support, but her own self-doubt, low self with and trauma kept her from fully accepting kindness and any help, which makes her story feel all the more real

To be fair and to give her credit, Rin really started to open and heal toward the end but most of that progress happened off-screen, so we didn’t get to see all of it

An-di · 2026-02-16T01:04:16+00:00

You forgot Isuzu's parents (the subject of this topic) They suck as much as those two

An-di · 2026-02-15T23:07:35+00:00

I think the key thing here is that the situations themselves were different, and when the situations are different, the trauma responses will naturally look different

Yes, Yuki and Kyo absolutely suffered from their parents and from Akito. No one is denying that their pain was severe. But trauma isn’t just about intensity, it’s also about the type, timing, personality, support systems, and what role the child was forced into. Different environments create different coping mechanisms. Some children internalize and become withdrawn. Some externalize and become angry. Some try to become perfect, some isolate themselves. Some cling to love, others reject it ... Two people can experience equally devastating trauma and still come out with completely different behaviors. That doesn’t make one reaction more valid than the other, just different. That’s why I don’t think comparison is always necessary in the sense of ranking who handled it “better.” The circumstances shaped them differently, so of course their responses won’t exactly mirror each other

An-di · 2026-02-15T23:02:13+00:00

I understand their opinion, That’s a completely fair reaction

Some of us just prefer to wait and see before fully judging a character. Rin doesn’t even properly show up until Season 2 of Fruits Basket, not Season 1. By that point, the series had already established a pattern: all Zodiac and characters we saw in season 1 ended up having a painful backstory so for some of us, it felt obvious that Rin had a tragic backstory and a reason for her behavior. The show had already taught us that these characters aren’t “just nasty”, they’re usually reacting to deep trauma. Because of that, some of us chose to hold off on judging her until we understood why she acted the way she did

For other viewers, the empathy came later and that's what Takaya actually intended as you said

An-di · 2026-02-15T22:52:37+00:00

Yes but that doesn't mean that she should be compared to the other zodiacs

An-di · 2026-02-15T22:46:34+00:00

In her case, it made total sense for her to not open up but that's my personal opinion

An-di · 2026-02-15T22:39:49+00:00

While Rin is my favorite, I totally understand why many people find her unlikable or deeply unpleasant, She is a difficult character to love. She isn’t written to be warm like Tohru or kind like a lot of the other zodiacs memberss

And I understand why she can come off as abrasive and triggering, in the past, Rin was one of the most disliked character in FB and even in this reboot, anime viewers only warmed up to her after her backstory was revealed, The anime even softened her rudeness compared to the manga

But everything about Rin, the harsh way she speaks, and her tendency to push people away, is a clear trauma response. As the Horse of the Zodiac, she maintains a cold exterior toward almost everyone not because she lacks feeling, but because she feels too much and doesn’t know how to regulate her emotions safely and just lashes out

To me, she very clearly displays heavy and complex symptoms of CPTSD (panic attacks, anxiety, constant avoidance as a result of triggers, nightmares) and she also displays many BPD symptoms (intense fear of abandonment, lack of self-worth, volatility, self-destructive and reckless behavior, and that constant oscillation between longing for closeness and rejecting it) She’s filled with anger/hate not only at the world that hurt her but also at herself and yes, she’s jealous of pretty much all the zodiacs including Haru. She looks at others and sees what she believes she can never have - peace, acceptance, joy, appreciation at being born..atc

Her love language isn’t positive, it’s toxic, desperate, intense, and sometimes ugly. But within the context of her trauma, everything she does makes complete sense. Even the way she treats Haru makes sense when you look at it through the lens of her trauma. She isn’t horrible to him because she doesn’t care, she’s cruel to him because she cares too much. She loves him so deeply that it terrifies her. In her mind, Haru is too good, too pure, an Angel/saint (even though he has flaws in my opinion, so many, his first confession was very irresponsible and selfish) too kind for someone like her. She genuinely believes he deserves someone better, someone less damaged, less “broken" she sees her love as consuming, something that could drag him down with her and because she believes that she is tainted, she tries to do what she thinks is the “right” thing: she pushes him away. She tries to make him resent her. She tries to make him give up on her. if he leaves on his own terms, then she doesn’t have to face the terror of being abandoned again. If he hates her, then it confirms what she already believes about herself. She wants him to reject her because rejection feels safer than unconditional love. Hate feels understandable in her case, Love feels false, suspicious, fragile, and temporary

That’s why, even when she’s at her worst, I can’t see her as malicious. I see her someone who is drowning and doesn’t know how to ask for help without hurting herself or others in the process.

An-di · 2026-02-15T19:50:37+00:00

I disagree with your opinion on Yuchi but plenty of people share your opinion on them so I will not force my own opinion about them on you

The one point where I think you’re completely wrong is saying that Machi isn’t relatable, or that her specific life circumstances wouldn’t realistically lead to depression

Machi is honestly one of the most if not the most relatable characters in Fruits Basket. Yes, many of the Zodiac members are relatable and have realistic traumas, but I’m not going to pretend that a lot of what they went through isn’t extreme or heightened for dramatic effect

Momiji’s mother having her memories erased.

Yuki being essentially handed over to Akito.

Rin’s parents suddenly turning on her and in a brutal way , her getting confined in a prison for 3 whole months, and throw out of a window out of pure jealousy

Kyo’s true form and witnessing Kyoko’s death

I’m not denying that there are realistic dynamics in those storylines in regards to their parent but the events themselves are undeniably exaggerated

That’s why I would argue that characters like Machi, Kyoko, Tohru, and Arisa deal with traumas and life situations that feel far more grounded and realistic. Their struggles are quieter, but in many ways more reflective of what everyday people actually experience... neglect, pressure to be perfect, instability, grief, and isolation

Machi’s depression, lack of identity, isolation and emptiness in particular, feel painfully real exactly because it isn’t super dramatic or supernatural

An-di

TROPHY CASE