Willow’s Reading Corner

people make a lot of jokes about the sadistic streak she shows in mementos but i think that this is a side of her she rarely ever gets to express due to the expectations placed on her growing up. i think her cruel side speaks more to the sheer amount of anger at her situation she probably has hidden underneath the surface. i don't think haru is the kind of person to take these feelings out on the people around her (we saw how easily she showed grace to akechi, despite the role he had in her situation) so they show up in her hobbies and her tendencies.

the way she interacts with the others, how much she apologizes and sees taking up any semblance of space as a bad thing are pretty clear signs of emotional abuse and neglect. not to state the obvious, of course, i think we all know that her father wasn't the best to her (tried to traffic her, for fucks sake). i honestly believe that she might have even suffered physical abuse as well. how she was raised taught her that she was an inconvenience unless she was being quiet and obedient. negative emotions are often reinforced as a bad thing that you shouldn't express, especially as a child. when you're being abused or neglected and not having your emotional needs met this is dialed up to 11. haru was probably punished for expressing negative emotion and that led to her becoming more reserved with how she expresses herself. this can be seen in the difficulties she has trusting people, and the way she becomes more withdrawn after her father's death.

also

she apologizes

so damn much