Wind Breaker manga spoilers ch 189
When I read Momijikawa saying "What's an outsider doing here?" to Sakura, it was me who wanted to punch his face. I was being quite emotional, yes, but I really don't like that word said to Sakura, given everything that has happened. But Sakura can answer to such taunt calmly instead of blowing up like he'd do in earlier chapters. He didn't even strike Momijikawa first and just took his punch defensively. I wanted to cry lmao, my boy has grown up :')
Sakura just gives him a "Yeah, so?" look the entire time then cooly, without wavering, states his goal "to win my place on the top." I think it really showcases how his self-esteem has quite improved compared to when he first came to Furin. And that improvement comes from learning to trust other people, helping and being helped by them. In short, it comes from not being alone.
Earlier Sakura would've just started yelling and throwing punch to prove his point. His self-worth was abysmal, and he was cocky about his fighting capabilities because he literally didn't have anything else in his life. Now after letting other people into his life and learning that fighting is not all that he is worth of, he is not as loudly arrogant as he was. He is still pretty confident, maybe even remaining cocky, but that confidence is built upon something more solid and healthy.
I just love that the lone wolf fighting monster Momijikawa is a parallel to earlier Sakura. Or rather, he is like a what-if version of Sakura that didn't come to Furin—incredibly strong, but alone.
