As a cis-dude I feel like this anime wants me to identify with another character but I keep seeing myself in Shizuka. I don’t understands why but I kinda like it.
I can see plenty people relating to Shizuka, regardless of sex and gender: she’s pragmatic, a bit over-analytical, hides her emotions under a façade of coldness, and she gets deep into what she wants/needs to know. If you have a few of those, it’s only natural to relate to her.
I guess that IRL I’m a bit of a middle ground between Akira and Shizuka. I’m not working in a black company but I follow the rule of cool, like him; but I also tend to hide emotions, like her.
I appreciate the perspective. You’re totally right. I often feel pressured to be fearless or lead like Akira. I am sometimes supposed to be the badass warrior like the samurai chick. I’m sometimes supposed to be whatever sort of masculine Akira’s best friend is. But I relate to Shizuka… maybe that’s why nobody pressures me to be like her.
