about yasaka
the existence of characters like yasaka is exactly why this story works so well. her perspective validates the feeling that nothing is ever straightforward; simply having good intentions doesn't mean your feelings are automatically validated. mitsumi has flaws, too. she slowly realizes that she isn't the center of the universe, that what you mean to do isn't always what you actually do. the reality is, even if you are the 'star' of your own life, that narrative doesn't really dictate the reality of others. people aren't props in your story; they are living their own complex lives, often untouched by your optimism.
the world does not revolve around you, harshly, and it is unchangeable. intent is usually not impact. even if you are the sun, you cannot force a flower to bloom if it isn't ready. the world doesn’t pause just because you mean well, and that your light usually cannot penetrate everyone’s darkness.
in my opinion, optimism only really works when the other person is already starting to fall apart. you can offer all the light in the world, but it won’t matter if they aren't ready to let their guard down. tbh, our influence on others is usually pretty small. people don’t take advice because they know it isn't based on their reality. they just look at that 'help' and silently think, "you don’t understand my life enough to have an opinion on it."
