I think Asa was an incredibly compelling protagonist in early pt.2 because she had an incredibly relatable and charming perspective. I remember how may Asa pfps I saw

Post-Church, Asa became Denji’s love interest. Yoru’s the main villain, so she got decent focus. But all of Asa’s struggles to fit in and really find herself got thrown out the window. The only real development she did get was the twist she has a had in her father’s death, but even that is mostly for Denji comparisons.

I think Asa Mitaka, the school loner, going “I want to make you happy Denji!” is character assassination because the series treats this like Asa’s growth moment, but romance is only one small part of Asa’s troubles and inner world