Though I’ve tried to have an open mind about Yuki x Machi…well, first let me clarify that Yuki is my favorite character in Fruits Basket – meaning I really like him, because I like almost every character in FB. Machi, though, is just…meh. She’s okay…but I thought Yuki could do better.
Their relationship doesn’t strike me as one that would last. What would they talk about? When I first read the manga, I thought Yuki was trying to find a replacement of Tohru in Machi after he recognized Tohru’s feelings for Kyo. Tohru and Machi have a similar appearance, though Machi has none of Tohru’s warmth or charm.
This interpretation would add another layer of tragedy to Yuki’s character, which may not be as satisfying as seeing him find true love. But I think it would be more realistic than Yuki thinking of Tohru as a mother figure. That seems odd to me, like an excuse to make way for Kyoru without disappointing the Yukiru crowd. However, Yuki’s relationship with Machi feels less genuine than his interactions with Tohru.
Throughout the manga, Yuki shows every indication of attraction to Tohru. When he notices romance developing between her and Kyo, Yuki’s feelings seem to me as if they take on the bittersweet flavor of unrequited love. At first I thought his spiel about looking for a mother in Tohru was a rationalization to help him deal with the pain of her choosing Kyo. Like Aesop’s fox with the sour grapes: “Oh, I only thought of her as a mother anyway.” Sorry, I am not convinced.
In that same conversation with Kakeru, Yuki says something along the lines that dating Tohru would be lonely, because he wants a give and take relationship with someone “on his level.” But the problem is Machi is not on his level. She and Yuki remind me of a somewhat typical high school couple, based on puppy love rather than genuine friendship. And if I’m supposed to believe Yuki is emotionally and intellectually mature enough to realize he has an Oedipus complex of sorts, I can’t also believe that he would be satisfied in his relatively shallow relationship with Machi. (She knows nothing about his traumatic past or the curse.) Besides, why should Yuki suddenly become “lonely” if his friendship with Tohru transformed into romantic love? The best romantic couples start off as friends, imo.
To the contrary, Yuki x Machi epitomizes loneliness. The only reason I can imagine Yuki having any interest in Machi (besides her being a consolation) is because she reminds him of his “old self” – shy, troubled, insecure. But that isn’t the basis of give and take; Yuki does all of the “giving,” trying to coax Machi out of her traumatized behavior. While that’s sweet in a sense, is it the foundation of a healthy romantic relationship?
On the other hand, Tohru is in fact on Yuki’s level, and their relationship does have a natural, healthy give and take dynamic…or am I missing something here? There’s a disconnect between what Yuki says he feels and what actually happens when he interacts with Machi and Tohru. That’s why I initially thought Yuki either wasn’t entirely genuine in his conversation with Kakeru, or he was trying to convince himself that he didn’t like Tohru “that way,” despite the indications that he does.
Yuki isn’t the type who would actively look for a replacement of someone, so looking for Tohru in Machi would be a subconscious action. Later on, of course, he would be disappointed because their personalities are so different – opposite, even, as Machi is a bit of a cold fish. In my headcanon, they break up after Yuki realizes his true motivation. Personally I would find that more interesting than the canon version, since rebounding is a common problem that FB never addresses. However, there is no indication in the text that Yuki connects Machi and Tohru in his mind at all, despite their obvious outward resemblance. We are supposed to believe their puppy love is profound.
This scene with Machi is quite reminiscent of the scene above, where Yuki considers his “bittersweet” feelings for Tohru. Why would he feel that way about a mother figure? On the other hand, what is more bittersweet than unrequited love? Here, with Machi, he frankly seems to be trying to ease the loneliness of losing Tohru to Kyo. Consider the context; Yuki kisses her for the first time after she calls him by his first name. That is significant because Yuki still hasn’t called Tohru by her first name, indicating a boundary between them. In the words of Adele, he is trying to “find someone like you.”
Maybe Yuki is supposed to be emotionally dense and not notice their physical similarity, but then again he is one of the most insightful characters in the story. In truth, I think the author had to whip up a romantic interest so Yuki wouldn’t end up alone, which of course would be disappointing…though maybe not as disappointing as him ending up with Machi (sorry). The development of their relationship felt rushed and forced. The empathy and genuine friendship between Yuki and Tohru that built up naturally and gradually just isn’t there with Machi. Maybe that’s why Yuki x Machi seems a bit empty and unsatisfying to me, like something is missing.
Yeah…so, obviously Yukiru is my favorite pairing. Though I truly appreciate the platonic love theme that the author was going for, I don’t think it was handled convincingly. To this day I believe Yukiru would be a more healthy and mature relationship than Kyoru. Or maybe I just overanalyze fictional characters, I don’t know.
Sophisticated Innocence 