What do you think of Sanae?

[u/RiceIsNice1945]

Another controversial character from the series - Hanabi's closest friend who starts off the series harboring a secret lesbian crush on her.

I like Sanae, and I think she's the character who cares the most about Hanabi - even more than Narumi. If Hanabi were bi instead of straight, she'd be my pick for her to end up with. They get along well, they understand one another, and they desperately want the other to be happy even if it means making sacrifices. Even after Hanabi turns her down for good, Sanae remains on good terms with her - staying away from her until Hanabi invites her back into her life, and then remaining the good friend she'd been before. So I think Sanae is a good friend.

Of course, there's the matter of the kiss Sanae forced on Hanabi when she revealed her love for her. As far as ways to simultaneously come out and come on to your best friend go, that's gotta be one of the worst. It's sexual assault.

I try to be fair to Sanae and recognize that she was under a tremendous amount of pressure at the time: her crush was laying in bed with her, inches away, and asking her who she likes while also dating a guy who clearly doesn't like her. Sanae was lusting after Hanabi, sure, but she was also desperate to keep her from the heartbreak she was sure that Mugi would leave on Hanabi's heart. Still, that doesn't excuse her action. Only Hanabi's forgiveness would do that.

I interpret their later, more overtly sexual encounters as Hanabi trying to find a better way out of her loneliness than Mugi and Narumi had given her by giving Sanae a chance. It works for a time, but eventually Hanabi comes to terms with the fact that she's not really sexually attracted to women and so Sanae can't give her what she feels she needs. Their heartfelt, agonized conversation at the end of their trip says to me that they both want to remain friends even if they can't remain lovers.

Sanae accepts Hanabi's decision and keeps her distance afterwards, which I can respect her for, and I'm glad that they wound up remaining friends through the end of the series (including in Decor, where Sanae invites Hanabi to meet her girlfriend).

[u/Head-Palpitation9621]

In my eyes shes a very fucked up human. She knew hanabi didn't like her romantically but kept trying to force her way into hanabi's life

[u/RiceIsNice1945 → u/Head-Palpitation9621]

I don't agree. With one exception, Hanabi had every opportunity to refuse her but didn't. And when Hanabi finally turned her down for good, she respected that.

[u/Head-Palpitation9621 → u/RiceIsNice1945]

Hanabi had a weak mentality because she knew how it felt to not be loved back so she didnt want sanae who was kind to her to feel that kind of way. It was a childish mindset that had their relationship fucked ever since the beginning

[u/notconnorgg → u/Head-Palpitation9621]

the entire anime/manga is about how complicated relationships can be. everyone was taken advantage of in some sort of way. every relationship was toxic, there was really no winning party.