#it's just that ichigo's 'reputation' stops revolving around his hair

[recurring-polynya]

this is a pretty half-formed thought at the moment but i really appreciate the way in early bleach, ichigo's image at school is something that is very important to him and something he is extremely intentional about maintaining

and rukia

just doesn't

give a shit

and there's some humor in this, of course, and the fact that she is a grim reaper why would she care what some teens think of her etc etc and then a few volumes later we find out that she did. in fact. care very much.

and that in fact, keeping up proper appearances at school (and/or the inability to) is in some ways what drove her apart from her best friend

except that in the long run, it was nothing. it didn't matter. it never mattered. trying to fit in ruined her relationship with renji and for what

anyway bleach is cool because you can read it when you're a teen and then read it again when you're an adult and it will emotionally devastate you, thank you tite kubo

#rukia kuchiki #ichigo kurosaki #renji abarai #this theme never really disappears either #it's just that ichigo's 'reputation' stops revolving around his hair #and becomes about his power #and his principals #and what he is and is not willing to do in a fight #i just watched the part where dordoni tells him that if he only fights to protect his friends it will make people go after his friends #this stupid show and its stupid themes about the masks we present to the world and how they do and do not serve us!!!!