Series & First Appearance
Hanabi Yasuraoka is the main female protagonist in the anime and manga series Scum’s Wish (Kuzu no Honkai), created by Mengo Yokoyari. The series first premiered in January 2017. The anime adaptation was produced by the studio Lerche. Hanabi is known for her striking character design, which has drawn considerable attention from fans.
Profile at a Glance
Hanabi Yasuraoka is a high school student who is around 16 years old during the events of Scum’s Wish. She serves as the primary female protagonist, navigating complex emotional relationships and unrequited love. Hanabi’s signature traits include her stunning beauty and her ability to express brutally honest opinions, making her both attractive and controversial among her peers.
Personality & Motivations
Hanabi showcases a dual nature in her personality. With her closest friend, Sanae Ebato, she is outgoing and cheerful. However, she often feels timid in the presence of her love interest, Narumi Kanai, which leads her to appear hostile at times. This contrasts sharply with the openness she displays around Mugi Awaya, her confidant, where she reveals her vulnerabilities and insecurities. Hanabi’s sarcasm and brutal honesty can be perceived as arrogance. Her motivations are largely driven by her unrequited feelings for Kanai and her deep emotional connection with Mugi, who understands her inner struggles. A notable quirk is her jealousy; she becomes envious when Mugi engages with other girls, which adds layers to her character dynamics.
Abilities / Powers
Hanabi does not possess supernatural powers but exhibits strong observational skills and analytical thinking. She is able to read people well, often deducing their inner feelings and complexities. This ability enables her to recognize that Akane Minagawa, another character, is not just a clumsy persona but has deeper layers, much like herself. Hanabi’s emotional intelligence serves as both a strength and a vulnerability, as it often leads her to confront difficult truths about her own feelings and relationships.
Major Story Arcs & Growth
Throughout Scum’s Wish, Hanabi’s journey includes pivotal arcs centered around her romantic aspirations and personal growth. Her initial fixation on Kanai is a driving force, but as the narrative unfolds, Hanabi starts to grapple with the concept of love and the realities of relationships. In particular, her relationship with Mugi acts as a turning point—while both characters are initially bound by their loves for others, their bond deepens, leading to emotional revelations. A significant moment is when Hanabi begins to question her feelings and the authenticity of her affection for Mugi, highlighting her internal conflict between desire and societal expectations.
Notable Relationships
- Sanae Ebato: Hanabi’s closest friend, who provides companionship and a safe space for her to express herself.
- Mugi Awaya: Hanabi’s confidant and emotional anchor, he is the only person she can fully open up to, and their relationship evolves into a complex friendship laced with romantic tension.
- Narumi Kanai: Hanabi’s love interest; her feelings for him are unrequited, leading Hanabi to experience inner turmoil and jealousy.
- Akane Minagawa: A teacher whose complexity resonates with Hanabi, prompting her to engage in self-reflection.
Iconic Moments & Quotes
One of Hanabi’s memorable moments occurs when she confronts her feelings for Mugi during a poignant scene in Episode 6, where she expresses the struggle between her desires and reality. Another impactful moment is in Episode 9, when she bluntly tells Noriko Kamomebata that she finds her annoying, showcasing her brutal honesty and its repercussions on her relationships. Quotes like “Love isn’t supposed to be easy,” resonate with fans by encapsulating the series’ themes of complicated relationships and emotional pain.
Trivia & Behind-the-Scenes
Hanabi Yasuraoka has become a fan favorite, with 2,550 member favorites noted in popularity rankings. In the original Japanese version of the anime, Hanabi is voiced by Kana Hanazawa, known for her roles in various popular anime series, enhancing Hanabi’s emotional depth. In the English dub, she is voiced by Megan Shipman, who brings a different nuanced interpretation to the character. The complexities of Hanabi’s character reflect common themes in shoujo narratives, encapsulating the tangled emotions of youth. Hanabi’s design has drawn attention, not only for her beauty but for the emotional gravitas she brings to the series.
In conclusion, Hanabi Yasuraoka is a deeply layered character whose journey through love and self-discovery resonates with many fans. Her relationships and emotional landscape form the backbone of Scum’s Wish, making her an integral part of the story’s allure.
