#if there's anything i don't like is overly symplifying jujutsu kaisen which is a very rich story that speaks and demonstrates very

[torgawl]

i definitely agree with you. i think everything you said is accurate. nevertheless, i also believe we're just referring to things by different names and that what you wrote, what i intentionally meant and how this post has been interpretated so far aren't necesseraly mutually exclusive.

first of all, i think it was very clear that when i used the word "love" it was in a very broad definition and not directly romantic and/or platonic towards people. i meant towards ideals, life itself and whatnot. it really comes to personal choice and interpretation here but what isn't about love? one can say love is in everything in this world and one can debate it's not. and well, clearly i created this post with the former in mind. it was never meant to devalue the impact of tragic hapoenings or unjust circumstances in everyone. and it was never exclusively about interpersonal relationships. so, again, i think it's safe to say your opinion is very much a fact. it just happens my original thought was almost using love and humanity interchangeably. but of course, you don't have to agree with linguistic choices like that.

in the end of the day i do believe geto and gojo's connection was important in jjk and that their care for each other was shown for each other throughout the series despite the moral duty of the task gojo was assigned with. and even in that specific scene it's safe to say they both expressed it. i do think geto's unwillingness to convince gojo to join his path despite explaining to him the position he was in and gojo's overall disappointment and desire to continue to be together demonstrate fondness. and although in that moment in front of kfc it was probably not the time or place to procede with this duty to kill geto, he had 10 years to do so. but he never did. one can arguable discuss why. if fondness for the other is an option? maybe. if gojo obviously has a reason to be so shocked in shibuya seeing his dead best friend's body appear in front of him? oh, definitely. how trauma triggering must it have been?! but is it not affection when he addresses suguru directly and asks him how he allows this stranger to use his body? is it not affection when he revives all those moments he spent with suguru in his head? when he recognizes that person isn't his best friend but someone else ignoring even the thing he relies on the most which is his power? i personally believe it is. and i don't think it has to be romantic or the exclusive and main driver of the story to be appreciated.

regarding yuuta and rika, i think you're correct. rika is a projection. their story is incredibly complex. and their interpersonal relationship is too. but why does this curse exist in the first place? it's not even a stretch to use love to describe yuuta and rika's connection when it's exactly the word used by the characters to talk about it. and again, it doesn't have to be romantic. they are, or they were, kids after all.

yaga's death wasn't pretty or beautiful or a love act itself. i think that's obvious and no one really claimed that. but didn't he show care for panda? which he treats like his own son? doesn't panda mourn this loss? doesn't yaga have ideals he wants to preserve and something he was fighting for? didn't he learn from the tragic situation with geto and decided to fight with the little power he has to better prepare and support the students of that school? he did. it's not a deviation to say those are things he values. and again, something we value can be extrapolated to be something we love. but as i mentioned, that's a personal linguistic and interpretative choice. yet, the common theme found in these moments can't really be denied. in my view, at least. even if it isn't the sole and lone motivator behind them.

"jujutsu kaisen isn't a story about love" then explain why everything that happens and each person's strength and/or weakness is derived from this mundane and very specific feeling one can have for another or something else. i'll wait.