#often i stumble into fan content where kumatora is downplayed significantly

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lucas & kumatora's friendship is everything to me. while the game doesn't flesh it out with a lot of concrete dialogue, there's loads of rich details that're so telling. how they first meet when lucas is peak traumatized-crybaby-10-year-old, but he earns her utmost respect anyways, rescuing her with the drago stunt. that he was probably inspired by kuma (and wess), to realize he could stand up and make a difference too. how when they meet again in chapter 4, he's become reserved and sullen, and she's more harsh and leery than ever. but she doesn't hesitate even a second to help him out, and as soon as they get a moment alone, they just chill the fuck out and talk. it's like they have this innate understanding that they can trust each other, even as the whole world turns treacherous around them. kumatora - who doesn't seem like the sort to defer to anyone - puts faith in this kid's leadership, just 'cause he's so goshdarn earnest and perseverant.

psi is brand new and probably kind of terrifying to lucas - thank god the most badass psychic in nowhere is here to show him the ropes. the way they can tag-team stack buffs & debuffs in battle to bring down some of the most challenging bosses. how despite her tough front she's got low hitpoints & defenses, so kiddo's there to protect her with shields and lifeup. how they alone suffer from psi fevers, sometimes concurrently. that funny bit where kuma forgets boney's name and she & lucas exchange little whispers about it. the lonely trek up snowcap mountain, where it's just the two of them (and boney), with the weight of the world on their shoulders. how he's almost definitely terribly reluctant to pull the needles, knowing what it'll do to her family - so she refuses to wallow in grief, urging him to hurry along anyways, at her own expense.

how she's probably bolstering his bravery & confidence all the way through the story, while he's reminding her that giving yourself room to be patient with your feelings is important too. that he misses his brother so fuckin' badly, but he's got another lovably brazen sibling right there to help him through it. that she loses her whole family by the end of it, but her new found family understands her like no one else ever had. it gets me right in the chest, is all i'm sayin!!!