wat u say

Wow, I honestly can’t remember the last time I wrote about Toradora. I probably haven’t posted about it since around episode 14, when the festival ended. I didn’t really like Kitamura’s arc and I’ve kinda been lazy about posting about Toradora, because honestly I have trouble finding words for it. But, I’m going to try to change that now. It will probably all end in failure, as I’m pretty terrible at analysis. Also, I’m starting this at 1 in the morning, which means this entire post has the potential to be totally incomprehensible. In the worst case, it’ll end up with me rambling on and on without actually saying anything of consequence. But still, for some reason I feel compelled to write about Toradora and I won’t be able to sleep unless I get this out of my head anyway, so I may as well get it all out now. Plus I’m getting a weird high off of listening to the OP/ED on repeat.

So, it never really occurred to me until now, but since Minori can’t see what’s in the handbook, she must be thinking that what they’re referring to is that Taiga loves Ryuuji. Yes, I’m just realizing that now, shut up and leave me alone. But then this makes Ami’s comment about guilt seem somewhat misplaced.

Am I misinterpreting what Ami is trying to say? I figured she was telling Minori to stop feeling guilty about liking her best friend’s (Taiga’s) ’special someone’ (Ryuuji). But after hearing something like “She really does love him.” wouldn’t that make her feel even more guilty? Unless Ami is actually trying to make Minori feel even more guilty in a sly way, which could explain her grimace as she walks away, being angry with herself for stooping that low. But I’m not sure I can really convince myself of that either. In any case, it does look like Minori harbors some feelings for Ryuuji after all, but is confused as to what she should do. She thinks Taiga likes Ryuuji and she probably thinks Ryuuji likes Taiga too, which would explain why she was purposely distancing herself from Ryuuji.

This seems to contradict my idea that Ami was just trying to make Minori feel worse, unless she’s being even more devilish. I suppose that’s possible too, because she seems to rather openly provoke Minori and just kinda watches her walk away. However, I have to think that Ami is actually trying to help them out. What she says later on in episode 18 makes me think she’s given up on Ryuuji, no matter how much she wants to cling to that hope. But I suppose I can’t say for certain that she’s entirely out to help Ryuuji and Minori get together.

That’s a very good question Kihara! Ryuuji doesn’t seem to understand it himself. His reaction when she asks him about Kitamura and Taiga getting together says it loud and clear though. He doesn’t want to let go of Taiga.

Really, thank goodness for Ami. Also, koda is a brilliant prophet. Well, that or I’m the only retard who didn’t really see the relationship in that way. Although, it seems to be that it’s Ryuuji that has grown attached to Taiga, not really that Taiga has become attached to Ryuuji. Then again, what Taiga said way back in episode 9 about it being so easy to be around Ryuuji is telling of Taiga’s feelings as well.

If he were her father, it would probably be a lot easier to let her go, as it’d only be natural to let her go. But since he’s not her father and not even related to her at all, it’s a lot harder. I wonder if that’s because he really loves her romantically or if he just doesn’t want her to date Kitamura because he doesn’t want the relationship they have to change, as it undoubtedly would if she started dating Kitamura.

Taiga is, as Ami says, the most important person to Ryuuji. Yet, he doesn’t seem to have any romantic interest in her. At least, he hasn’t shown it yet. He’s still chasing after Minori and helping Taiga hook up with Kitamura.

Wow, what a turn around. I’m actually feeling bad for Ami. If you had told me, after I watched episode 5, that I’d really like Ami and feel bad for her and root for her, I’d have told you to get your head checked. But here I am, somewhat hoping that she has a chance, even though she believes that chance has already passed her by. I’m not sure if she’s saying that to try to convince herself to give up on Ryuuji or if she really does think she doesn’t have a chance with Ryuuji and has to give up on him.

So true. It’s funny, Ami seems to be taking the place of the ‘mentor’ of the series. She points characters in the right direction, telling them what they need to do, and then lets them choose on their own whether to walk the path or not. And yet, Ami is still looking for her own path, so she’s simultaneously a mentor and an apprentice. A weird dynamic, but I think it works well for Ami.

This is why I love Toradora. It has so much going on that you’re never really certain where they’ll go next. Perhaps I’m naive or just plain stupid, but I still feel like they could go any way with this, and I’m not sure which I want and which I think will happen. I think it might end up with Ryuuji confessing that he really does have feelings for Taiga, but he could just as easily decide not to act on his feelings and let Taiga get together with Kitamura. As for what I want, I really can’t tell anymore. It’s a really tough decision, and I think the fact that an anime has me so undecided about what I want is a good thing. It means that all the options would be fun and interesting, so no matter what happens, I can expect a fantastic finish. Whatever the case, I’ll enjoy this anime until the bitter end.