Wanna hear your thoughts Raven, what impact did the MC make to the characters of Twisted Wonderland? Like for example, did they help them in their character development?
It honestly doesn’t feel like a lot 🧍♂️ One glaring fault of Yuu’s writing is that the narrative sets them up as the one who will teach the NRC boys to cooperate, but in practice, it’s lacking a lot :/ Yuu just seems there, but not to a meaningful degree in the boys’ journeys. They have moments where they do things, yes—but the issue is that, for the majority of the main story, Yuu isn’t the one facilitating character change in the students. It feels like the situation was manufactured to give Yuu an excuse to interact with the main cast, but then Yuu doesn’t actually interact with them in a way that counts for most of the story.
(And before anyone says “you missed this specific vignette/event”, please note that I’m only going to be speaking about Yuu’s impact in the main story; everything else that happens is NOT canon to the main story timeline and therefore will not be considered.)
Prologue — Yuu is able to help Grim fight off ghosts. They also formulate and execute a plan with Grim + Adeuce, who were previously fighting and unable to get along.
Book 1 — Yuu gives Ace a place to stay when he’s collared and seems to sympathize with Heartslayul students. Yuu also talks to Deuce when he regressed back to his delinquent self during the smashed egg scene. They occasionally pitch in on Adeuce’s arguments, but ultimately don’t interact with Cater, Trey, or Riddle in a way that pushes them to change. The most Yuu does is just agree with the sentiments already being expressed by other characters, rather than express any thoughts independent of them. Ace is doing the majority of calling Riddle out, Trey comforts Riddle after the OB, and Cater is inspired by Trey and Ace standing up to Riddle. Trey coaxes Riddle to apologize, not Yuu.
Book 2 — Yuu and co. try to warn Jack that he's being targeted, but this isn't that helpful because Jack refuses to cooperate with them and already seems to be aware of what his dorm is scheming by this point. If I recall correctly, it's also Jack that changes his mind on his own and approaches us with a changed heart. It doesn't feel like Yuu did or said anything to influence that. They don't say anything to Leona after his OB; the students he injured (like Trey and Jamil) are the ones to step in and challenge him anyway instead of allowing Crowley to outright disqualify Savanaclaw. Maybe we can count Yuu playing magift/spelldrive with Adeuce here???? Although this is more of an assumption rather than there being dialogue showing that Yuu is showing those two how to get along in the game.
Book 3 — Yuu does actively try to help out Adeuce and Grim, who have been roped into a contract they can't get out of. This helps to strengthen their friendship in the long run, as Yuu's putting their only housing up as collateral in order to rescue those three. Yuu shares their bind with Malleus, and, in turn, Malleus advises them and it's from there that Yuu is able to come up with a way to beat Azul at his own game. At the end of the book, Yuu is able to have a heart-to-heart with Azul in the museum and helps Azul come to the conclusion that he was rejecting his past self and how that isn't healthy.
Book 4 — Yuu is used as a vehicle for Jamil's machinations here, as he's counting on them to report how unreasonable Kalim is being. However, in terms of actually intervening with the issues in Scarabia, Yuu just... doesn't. Octavinelle essentially seizes the reigns of the operation (including taking charge of plotting a counterattack to expose Jamil + aiding Scarabia with their winter break training) while Yuu stands there and participates or watches rather than leading. Jamil and Kalim don't really reconcile at the end, and Yuu doesn't do or say anything to suggest that they attempt to rekindle the relationship. Yuu does tell Kalim that Jamil is actually a bad guy, but then the twins intervene and basically seize control of the conversation. Even then, I don’t know if this helped change Kalim too much because he still tries to be friends with Jamil after his OB.
Book 5 — I guess they… manage the group??? But Yuu doesn’t get to do or say much to influence Vil at all. It’s mostly Vil giving Yuu orders. No involvement in Epel or Deuce’s development either; it’s more like they helped one another via their moment on the beach. Rook doesn’t change much through this ordeal. Kalim and Jamil mostly act on their own. There’s the moment where Kalim shares his frustrations with Yuu, but Yuu doesn’t really have a conversation with him about it. Vil apologies in the next book of his own accord; it’s not like Yuu had to convince him to.
Book 6 — Yuu makes the decision to go and rescue Grim from Styx HQ, but it’s Epel that encourages Yuu when they’re doubtful, not the other way around. It’s really the OB boys who do the bulk of the work to save the day. I guess Yuu leads the group huddle, but it’s like a single line + the boys don’t react to it and are not portrayed as being enthusiastic about the huddle. They split off into their own groups and manage to overcome internal issues without Yuu’s presence. Vil is the one who confronts Idia, and everyone joyously and openly reunites with their dorm members upon returning to NRC. Yuu isn’t encouraging them to; they’re caught up in their own reunion with Adeuce and Grim. I guess we could potentially count Yuu hosting everyone for a video gaming session at Ramshackle in the end…? But it’s not clear if Yuu arranged for it or if it’s more like everyone decided to crash just for the lols. Idia surprisingly manages to apologize on his own as well.
Book 7 — Yuu does not contribute for most of this long ass book. No fighting, no begging Malleus to come to his senses, no technical knowledge, not even employing the knowledge they have of every student to try and wake them. Yuu is, however, able to coax Ace through the first use of his UM. Malleus apologizes on his own and gets the idea for Silver’s birthday party on his own too.
Book 7.5 — Not a lot happens here, it’s mostly catching up with the characters. Yuu isn’t all too helpful; they stand around observing the first years advise Ace on UM.
Yuu's best moments are honestly back in book 3 (the conversation with Azul) and talking Ace through his UM in book 7. The problem is that we needed many more of these kinds of moments where Yuu is able to sit down and have meaningful dialogue with the characters to talk them through their issues and gently nudge them in the right direction. As it currently stands, Yuu does little to positively influence the boys and most of the character growth we observe occurs as a result of the boys supporting one another and learning to do it with little help from Yuu. The characters Yuu most consistently influences to improve themselves are honestly Grim and Adeuce.
