LazyIconStarlight

They've had this conversation and I can't be convinced otherwise

No, but imagine coming out like this fr:

Sorry boss, can't come in, I just came down with another case of **✨️🌈✨️The Gay✨️🌈✨️** that's been going around, but this time it's permanent. 😷

- gun nut insists 6 year olds getting shot in elementary school are a necessary sacrifice so that we can all have the 2nd amendment *gets shot at a school

- gun nut literally advocated for public executions to make kids stronger *gets shot in public in front of a bunch of students

- gun nut was an open racist, who constantly tried to incite race wars *got shot by a white guy in the whitest state in america

- gun nut insists empathy is fake *no empathy for him online, except from the same people who gleefully mock the deaths of trans people and Democrat politicians and anyone they don't like on a daily basis

From Gojo’s POV, he’s the social outcast loser who fell hard for the gorgeous, popular, cool girl at school. He can’t fathom why this super cool girl wants to hang out with him, but he’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep their friendship going. Even though he’s crushing hard on her, he thinks he doesn’t have a chance with her, thus his focus is just to maintain their friendship.

From Marin’s POV, she’s the weird, lovable nerd who is a klutz and constantly embarrasses herself. She then falls hard for this sensitive, handsome artist who takes care of her needs (like cooking her delicious, healthy meals). The artist also agrees to make her dreams come true - cosplaying - by designing clothes for her FOR FREE, which makes her fall even harder for the artist.

This is also why I believe the story really gets going after the Shizuka arc. Once you start seeing the story more from Marin’s POV, Marin starts coming off as more of the “average” person while Gojo becomes more of the dreamboat. It’s fascinating because both perspectives work. Marin IS super cool and a klutz. Gojo IS a social outcast and a handsome, sensitive artist. It makes for a fun dynamic, especially when the story switches POVs.

Also, this helps flesh the characters out. I feel like MDUD would not be anywhere near as successful if it didn’t do the switches to Marin’s POV. If the story didn’t, then Marin would just be another manic pixie dream girl there for Gojo’s development, which would be lame. Ironically, Marin’s character becomes more lovable and interesting when the story starts letting her be more flawed, accident-prone and flustered.

Gojo’s character also becomes more lovable because making him the out-of-their-league person from Marin’s perspective feels like a natural progression. I mean…he’s a handsome artist who is an amazing cook, designs 5-star level cosplays for free, and is a subconscious smooth talker (the “beautiful” line). In any other story, he’d be the object of affection.