kaoru’s development from crossroads to where he is now post graduation is just so important to me, and not for the oooh internalized homophobia jokes, because he doesnt really mean it in that way? i’ve always seen if as him controlling the distance between him and+ https://twitter.com/kanonwrld/status/1303020568095133696

+the rest of his classmates/unitmates like rei said because his family, specifically his dad, was pretty overbearing about the whole idol thing and he didnt even know if he was going to continue being an idol for a while so after he got the motivation and drive+

+to commit to being an idol and finally graduated, he seems as if a whole burden was lifted off his shoulders and you can see it in how happy he is, how he’s willing to get closer to everyone (calling rei his partner, asking tomoya for help in acting and even complimenting him)+

+and he’s so much more than just a carefree flirty, even in his third year we see how he genuinely cares about anzu and tries to get her to relax so she doesnt overwork herself and how he cares about his juniors, esp adonis when he helped him with the radio show and with smiling+

+and helping him make steps to be more confident with himself on stage, i also love how much he cares about his family, his mom and his sister specifically, ( TW // CHARACTER DEATH MENTION) in bridal and WANTED!! we see him mentioning his sister and how he helped her with+

+her omiai even though it initially seemed like he was cutting class because he was frivolous like that but in actuality he’s such a caring and considerate boy and every time he mentions his late mother like in surfing ocean we see how much he cherished his time with her+

+and honestly i’m just rambling at this point but like kaoru??? is so comforting to me??? and i love him so much and how far he’s come and how he’s finally letting himself be loved and is being more open with affection and how much more free he is like you can just tell by+

+reading his new gacha story and his idol stories he feels so refreshed and idk i feel like a sort of lightness?? coming from him?? when he’s interacting with the other characters?? i just love hakaze kaoru a lot and he deserves all the happiness

holy shit this got hella long