I have read countless shoujo mangas with a female lead being bullied since childhood etc. But none have ever felt as realistic as Miyo to me!
I think the manga very accurately depicts the reasoning of someone with "real" lack of self-esteem, of someone who has been scolded for merely EXISTING...
Of course my childhood can't compare to hers, but I remember a time when I realized I didn't know what I liked because I was just too used to the fact that it didn't matter. My mind would blank out whenever I had to interact with people, I was even afraid to laugh in front of people. All I knew was how to study, and to be as discreet as possible to avoid being a nuisance, to even stop thinking and feeling if need be. That's all that was important to my parents at the time.
So guys, it IS possible to get to Miyo's state, even more so when you are living closed off with no means to build your character through positive interactions, other people allowing you to grow into yourself.
And her development is actually phenomenal. "Repairing" broken people is insanely hard and it takes a long time.
Watching her get more confident, doing her best in a humble way in an environment that lets her do so at her pace makes me so happy.
I have read countless shoujo mangas with a female lead being bullied since childhood etc. But none have ever felt as realistic as Miyo to me!
I think the manga very accurately depicts the reasoning of someone with "real" lack of self-esteem, of someone who has been scolded for merely EXISTING...
Of course my childhood can't compare to hers, but I remember a time when I realized I didn't know what I liked because I was just too used to the fact that it didn't matter. My mind would blank out whenever I had to interact with people, I was even afraid to laugh in front of people. All I knew was how to study, and to be as discreet as possible to avoid being a nuisance, to even stop thinking and feeling if need be.
That's all that was important to my parents at the time.
So guys, it IS possible to get to Miyo's state, even more so when you are living closed off with no means to build your character through positive interactions, other people allowing you to grow into yourself.
And her development is actually phenomenal.
"Repairing" broken people is insanely hard and it takes a long time.
Watching her get more confident, doing her best in a humble way in an environment that lets her do so at her pace makes me so happy.