kyoko sakura character rant
Kyoko is inherently one of the most selfless characters in the holy quintet—despite how it seems on the surface that she is the least selfless out of the 5. Kyoko steals food, she talks down on all the girl and acts with hostility all throughout the show. While I'd say it's just the direct result of the death of her family, I believe Kyoko from the start of her life was selfless. When Mami and Kyoko first meet in "A Different Story" Manga, when Kyoko first starts out as a magical girl, she clearly still has her confident assurance she has in the anime. But when her final blow fails and Mami steps in to save her, she immediately thanks her and happily agrees to help Mami defeat the witch. Thats dependency is something I'd find odd and ooc when I had only finished the anime. Kyoko in the anime is constantly on guard and unwilling to work with Sayaka, Homura or Madoka until after she finds out the truth of magical girls.
However this doesnt mean there isnt any signs that Kyoko wasn't as independent as she tried to appear in the main anime. Kyoko very quickly opens up to Sayaka, like, almost suddenly. When she visits Sayaka when Sayaka was contemplating talking to Kyosuke, she (poorly) tries to "comfort her" by telling Sayaka too basically go beat Kyosukes ass if he makes her feel bad. And after that she opens up to her about her past unprovoked. Did Sayaka give a shit? No, not really. But Kyoko still clinged to her, seeing Sayaka's avoidance and growing distance from everyone she knows as a reflection of her own bad habits. Thats all it took for Kyoko to be ready to give everything up for her. I think this is partly because of her learning of Mami's death. Mami and her were close friends, hell she had dinner with her a Kyoko's family. Kyoko felt INFERIOR to Mami. Mami was the only one who also knew of Kyoko's past, and now that she was gone I think Kyoko wanted at least someone to know about her pain. She knows nothing will change the past but she still holds her father and past close, even if not positively.
Eventually, after Sayaka transforms to a witch, Kyoko seeing Madoka's grief immediately comes to Madoka's defense when Homura acts coldly to the situation. Kyoko decided to again, devote her time to another girl she barely even seen before because she sees herself in her. Kyoko at this point of the story is desperate, that cool, fierce vibe she had before dwindling away as she sacrificed more of her mental and physical state to saving at least someone. (Sayaka)
When Kyoko and Madoka go into Oktavia's labyrinth to attempt to save Sayaka. She saves Madoka from getting hurt, taking many of the blows head on. At this point she loses any will in her left to fight. Not for Sayaka or herself. She's completely and tragically drained of all her urges and feelings. She then ultimately ended her own life in order to free Sayaka.
This is not at all where Kyoko's story ends, however. In the rebellion movie she returns. But this time, she's much happier and closer with Sayaka. In the movie, they build on Kyoko and Homura's bond. Kyoko and Homura are very alike in the sense they would do anything to save Sayaka/Madoka. They're both self-sacraficing but in very different ways. Homura's focus lies solely on Madoka, with her obsession to her. Kyoko, however, still sees the value in saving the other girls in the group. She's shown she cares for the other girls even when it doesnt exactly involve Sayaka.
I think a big reason shes so dependant on Sayaka and saving her is because she's the most vulnerable out of the other girls. (Sayaka is honestly easier to break than Madoka tbh) Though if Kyoko was also given the chance to also go back in time aswell, I think at some point she'd wear herself so thin she would prioritize Sayaka like Homura prioritizes Madoka. The difference is I think it'd take her longer to get to that point. Unlike Homura, Kyoko knows what its like to truly lose all meaning in her life. Kyoko's wish basically was all for nothing, she lost her family, her home, her mentor, everything. If she started time-looping, it'd be because she had no meaning left in life, not because saving Sayaka or the rest of the girls was her meaning. Kyoko is selfless. Or maybe she's just really desperate and dependant. Maybe both
RANT OVER!!! Im currently reading A Different Story. Pretty good so far! Just wanted to share my thoughts on my goat Kyoko cuz i love her
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