Board Thread:Fun and Games/@comment-24187738-20170416093415/@comment-31775834-20170419085526

           My best girl is Watanabe You. As someone who joined the fandom late, it was hard to decide on an answer to this question. I entered the Love Live community around November 2016 and started acquainting myself with the  Sunshine!!  characters around December. By then, µ's had disbanded and the first season of  ''Love Live! Sunshine!!''  had already aired. Because both franchises were already present, I was able to jump from the original  Love Live!  Series to  Sunshine!!  quickly. However around that time, I was still just getting to explore the µ's characters and their seiyuu. I had just gotten attached to them when I had to watch  Sunshine!!  soon after. Due to this, I wasn’t able to get much of an impact from the  Sunshine!!  cast as I was able to get from µ's. Ten episodes in, and no one still appealed to me. I couldn’t decide on who I liked best.



That is, until Episode 11.



Throughout the series, You never really stood out to me as a character. The other characters’ stronger personalities overshadowed hers and she was always just there supporting Chika. After episode 11, something just changed that for me. I was able to look at things from her point of view and see that there was more to her character than I thought. I did not even realize she was harboring feelings like insecurity and envy towards Riko. She felt that she was going to be replaced in the “best friend” position because she herself wasn’t good enough to make Chika happy. Needless to say, I found myself relating to those feelings. I had always felt that I wasn’t good enough for anyone despite the things I was able to achieve, so that episode sort of hit home for me.



As time progressed, I got to know You more. I watched Aqours’ first single release event where I saw Shukashuu for the first time. Her charming, energetic personality drew me in completely. Before I knew it, watching Shukashuu had led me to truly love her character in turn. What used to be a rather ‘plain’ character design for me turned beautiful and appealing. Being ‘supportive’ was no longer bad but one of her biggest charms. Let’s not even forget to mention her singing voice! For someone who has little to no background in singing, Shuka easily places herself as one of the best singing voices in Aqours.



Even besides all these, You is in a sense, perfect. She’s class rep, a promising high-diver and a school idol. She’s beautiful, and can sing, dance, cook, sew, draw, swim, and handle people. Most of all, she’s a loving and supportive friend. Her kindness often goes underappreciated, so that’s why I feel I must shower her with all the love and appreciation she doesn’t usually get in the anime. I’m looking forward to seeing her development in Season 2.



Given all these points, You is, and always will undoubtedly be, my best girl. Yousoro!



Twitter: @camilladerie

Email: reluctant.persona@gmail.com