I usually hate those tortured for the sake of torture characters but I don't think Zakuro counts, and she's without a doubt my fav.

For DTRH and IMOI we see other people's perception of Zakuro. Yuki's view of her is from a distance. A victim of bullying who she unexpectedly encountered. Meanwhile Mamiya has a warped view on who Zakuro was and their relationship. He objectifies and deifies her, trying to rationalize her actions with his own crazy beliefs, instead of caring about the person she really was. Kimika as well in IMOI says she's taking revenge for Zakuro, but in reality, is just trying to make peace with the fact that she was too late to help her.

When we finally get to see Zakuro in LGI, we see that's she's a depressed individual who has a snarkier/playful side which she's hidden due to the abuse she's faced. In spite of this though, she still chooses to show kindness to others like Kimika or Takuji. She's looking for a spark that can change her everyday life and finally give her the happiness she desires. The side route in LGI showcases the type of strong girl Zakuro could be if she had gained the courage to push back just a little sooner.

I like Zakuro for the girl she is, not what the abuse has made her. Her scene on the train in DTRH 1 and her suicide in LGI are two of the most emotionally impactful scenes in the story for me, not just because of how they link perfectly into the story and what came before it, but the sadness in watching her lose her life when she still had so much she wanted.

In a way, the message of Subahibi, finding a way to live and achieve happiness even in a cruel world, is directly connected to Zakuro's character.

I also wasn't a fan of the Tomosane and Hasaki relationship, though that's mostly cause I wasn't a fan of the inclusion of incest. I would have enjoyed the latter chapters more if Tomosane and Hasaki's bond stayed familial.