#but fucking rei just distilling her own essence and putting it front and center

[keyofjetwolf]

These are, I assume, what the girls are looking forward to in the new year!

We begin with Usagi, who is looking forward to the first sunrise. This is actually really poetic of Usagi, and I feel I may have done her a disservice by my surprise at that. What a wonderful way to communicate Usagi’s optimism, though. Not just a new year, but a new day in the new year! The possibilities are endless, and Usagi’s excited for all the things she’ll get to see and do and hug and be. Also, thank you for making her writing literally the most basic possible WITH HEARTS. PGSM, we may not deserve you, but I am so very happy we have you.

Next is Ami, who is hilariously precise and to the point, particularly next to Usagi. She’s just looking forward to friends! Having them, hanging out with them, learning about them, maybe even making more of them! PGSM has turned the loneliness dial all the way up for Ami, and it’s one of my favourite examples of what it’s doing and how it’s doing it. This resonates so much better for me, so much more true, for the level of sadness and isolation we’re told was part of Ami’s life for so long. We haven’t visited this for a while, but I don’t believe we’re done with it as a character point for Ami yet, and I can’t WAIT for us to come back to it.

Mako is our next stop, looking forward to fortitude and vigor, to continue to be strong and resolute. BUT WAIT HOLD ON CONSIDER: would a pre-Senshi Mako have wanted that? Given what we saw of Mako, would these be things she’d look forward to? These elements of herself that made her targets for the bullies she’d then fight? These facets that made her feel no one could really love her, for all versions of love? Would they be things to look forward to, or things to want to hide away? Because I’m thinking more the latter, which makes this even more touching. Mako not only finding peace with these parts of herself, but welcoming them! Looking forward to them! Mako’s come so far and accepted so much of herself since learning she was a Senshi, and it just makes my heart smile to see her embrace how wonderful we always knew she was.

Then last we have Rei. Oh Rei. REI. Rei and her anticipation for “Youma, Be Gone”. Rei, and her certainty that they’ll win, and tell the monsters to fuck right off. Rei, and her QUOTING HERSELF ON HER OWN BANNER. Rei Hino, basically making a giant ofuda and slapping it on her wall. Rei, being Rei, always, at all times, at 1000% and I. Love her. SO. MUCH.