Been seeing a lot of people saying Ichigo and Orihime have no 'chemistry' lately; don't know of you've debunked that already, but I always like seeing your analysis! Even if the issue is completely subjective lol
Yeah, it is pretty subjective because it kind of comes down to preference or what 'type' of ships people like. For example, some people are really into the bickering couples trope, or enemies to lovers, rivals to lovers, etc. and tropes like that don't apply to ichihime, so for people who typically like those kinds of pairings, ichihime would probably seem boring or just not their cup of tea, and therefore appear to have no chemistry, in their opinion, according to their preference.
But to me, chemistry is something that happens between two characters that is special and unique to them. They can be in a room full of the rest of their other 'just friends,' but the way they treat each other stands out as something different, as special.
What really draws me to Ichigo and Orihime is how gentle he is with her compared to his other friends. Particularly in the beginning of Bleach, he gave off this rough, tough guy "I don't give a fuck," exterior, but yet we see his attentive, protective side come out when he fusses over Orihime and her injuries (x) (x), and admits that he wears himself out worrying about her (x)
And the moments when he offers to walk her home, while she cutely stammers and blushes. You don't get interactions like this between Ichigo and anyone else.
Once again, Orihime cutely blushing and stammering while Ichigo is oblivious as to why, but yet still gentle with her. I've seen people argue that moments like this only seem shoujo-esque because of Orihime's feelings/blushing and that there's nothing coming from Ichigo's side, but I disagree. The usual scowl on his face is gone when he speaks to her. That furrow between his brows is gone. He's not sarcastic or scowling, he doesn't seem impatient or annoyed or "prickly" as Ichigo can sometimes come across--instead, he's gentle with her, even reassures her when she gets insecure about something. "Don't worry," he tells her. It's just sweet. I can't imagine Ichigo acting like this with Ishida, or Tatsuki, or Keigo, etc.
Apparently tumblr only lets you add 10 images per post now, so I'm going to have to link to some of these in reference, but:
This (x) and this (x) has always been so adorable to me, the fact that these two things happened only six chapters apart. Ichigo is the one to check on Orihime while she's healing Jidanbo, not Chad or Ishida, but Ichigo. As if he was watching her, knew she must be getting tired, and so he brought her a drink. He's caring, thoughtful and attentive with her.
And then what does Orihime do just six chapters later? Even though her stomach is literally still growling, she still sets some of her own portion of food aside to save for Ichigo because she knows he hasn't eaten yet and must be getting hungry.
This is what couples do! They're so thoughtful and considerate of each other, they take care of each other, naturally, without having to be told to do so, and without expecting anything in return. Did the other 'just friends' bring Orihime a drink? Did the other 'just friends' save their food for Ichigo? You see what I mean? It's just all so tender and sweet and "coupley" to me.
And god, the angst. The kneeling at her bedside, the intensity in his eyes. And here's some more intense looks:
"Inoue...please."
"Sorry I'm late, Inoue."
"Their gazes cross paths."
"Inoue....you're okay?" (Ichigo 'I had a gaping hole in my chest two seconds ago, but I'm still gonna make sure Orihime is okay 🤷♂️' Kurosaki).
"Stop, Inoue...Don't heal his arm, he's..."
The painful eye contact!!! The looks he gives her, the looks she gives him right back!! It's emotionally charged, it's intense, it's chemistry.
He stops in the middle of a fight to reassure her, because he knows she's scared and confused. "sorry...are you scared? Since I look like this, you'd probably have a hard time listening if I told you to relax, but let me say it anyway."
He's in the middle of battling the guy that killed his mother, and yet he still takes the time to stop and reassure Orihime because he knows she has past trauma with hollows, and seeing him like that in the lust arc. "Relax, Inoue...This time, I'm still me."
Like he's just so??? Gentle?? So considerate of her feelings and sweet with her and this is a side of Ichigo you don't always get to see. But it's not rare in the slightest when it comes to Orihime. It's the norm with her.
That gentle dynamic he has with her stands out, it's different, it's special.
And this?? He looks like he melted into a puddle at the sight of her crying and worrying over him! Even Rukia cuts herself off in the middle of a sentence when she realizes how emotional Orihime is, and Rukia sighs, her face softening as she admires such a sweet moment between Ichigo and Orihime. Clearly, she can feel the chemistry in the air between them. All of the nakama are standing around together, but only Orihime gets this soft, cute moment with Ichigo. And once again, he doesn't scowl or look annoyed or recoil in disgust at such a strong display of her emotions and feelings, it touches his heart!!! It makes him smile, makes him happy! He turns into such a boyfriend when it comes to her!!! He does not act like this with the other 'just friends.'
They have so many cute and funny moments together, too, like:
Spying on Ishida together. "Sew...?" "...ing!!!"
"Are you sure?" "Of course! Because I made the decision myself!" "I see," Ichigo says, smiling. He's so endeared by her.
That time he lost his concentration because Orihime was cheering him on. God, they're so cute.
And the other headbump from the final arc. Kubo remembered :)
That time Ichigo was pissed and started yelling at Kon and Orihime's like "heheh, but it was my fault, too." But Ichigo doesn't get mad at her :) Not in the slightest. Only Kon. heheeheh.
Ichigo teases Orihime about her bread, Orihime sasses him right back :)
Ichigo and Orihime in chapter 589. Sweating, flustered, blushing, teenagers who are trying like hell to hide their feelings for each other. Making it the one and only scene of mutual blushing/attraction involving either Ichigo or Orihime in the entire manga, while their friends and mentors are basically shouting, "just kiss, already!!!" because they're still too awkward and embarrassed to admit their feelings...But everyone else can sense it, apparently. That's chemistry.
The way Orihime is the FIRST person Ichigo ever felt comfortable with enough to ask her to fight side-by-side with him in battle. And the way they communicated a strategy without words--just a look.
Seriously, just look at this this page and tell me they don't have chemistry. The way Kubo keeps narrowing in closer and closer on their mouths. The way they're both sweating and panting and almost kind of smiling in the middle of this life or death battle because they know they just effectively communicated a plan to each other without speaking and it's pretty cool how in synch they are and they're both kinda diggin' it? Yeah. (If I didn't know any better, I'd think they were doing *something else* here, if you know what I mean lmao).
And one of my FAVORITE things about IchiHime, is how whenever Ichigo gets into one of his "funks," what is it that most people do for him?
Rukia. Renji. Isshin. Chad. ...?
They hit him. They slap him. They kick him. They throw him. They use some sort of violence. And hey, that's cool! It clearly works.
...But you wanna know what else works?
Orihime, crying out to him. No violence, no hitting. Just gentle words. Once again, their dynamic is different from what he has with all the other 'just friends.' It's so much more gentle, and tender, and soft. That's what sets it apart, makes it special. You can't say that Renji or Rukia or Chad has a special, unique way of getting Ichigo out of his funks, because they all do basically the same thing: call him an idiot, make a big speech, kick him in the head, etc.
But with Orihime, it is special, it is unique. He has a different chemistry with her. It's her wearing her heart on her sleeve for him, a tearful request for him to not get hurt anymore. And that's all it takes to completely revive him, and restore his resolve, when he was about to lose during the Grimmjow battle. THIS is the kind of effect she has on him.
And of course, as we know, he tells Grimmjow he's not allowed to get hurt anymore....because Orihime said so.
And that's his future wife up there, so you better fuckin' believe he's gonna listen lmao.
The dynamic he has with her is different than the other 'just friends.' The way they treat each other is different from the other 'just friends.' Because they're not just friends. They're in love with each other. Don't believe me?
Oh well. THEY'RE MARRIED.
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