The Misunderstood: Nao Yuuki

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This will hopefully be the start of a series of threads that will level with characters that rubbed fans the wrong way. *cough* *cough* This is not an analysis thread per se, we have those. This is a chance to understand characters you don't feel much for. It is also a chance for fans of topic character to leave their opinions too; shedding some light on the lost soul. The topic character of choice for this thread is Nao Yuuki, the 'spider queen'. My overall idea for this 'misunderstood' thread started with Lerena's post where she mentioned how she compared herself to Miss Yuuki.

As I've stated in the past, Nao always struck a raw nerve with me. She strongly hates men, isn't a team player and played the role of 'Temptation' with Mikoto. Someone didn't watch Disney's Pinocchio as a child. ;p In any case, Nao's actions did have reasons behind them. None more apparent than when Duran injured her eye, to which she automatically blamed the HiME, mainly Natsuki and Mai. This was shortly after the announcement of the Carnival, paranoia swept the entire Academy, not to mention deception...*stares at Sister Yukariko*. Granted, her attacks on Mai have failed, but the capture of Natsuki Kuga (someone she finds pleasure in capturing) proved successful for a while.

Orphan Nao grew up living with the fact that the men away with what they did, even though they're locked up (?). Ironically, it was a misguided Shizuru Fujino who also felt Nao didn't pay for the sin she committed. Nobody harms Natsuki and gets away with it...I was very proud of Natsuki for protecting Nao at that moment. I'd like to believe she represented what the viewers were thinking at that moment. "Sure, Nao is a loose cannon about her eye, but she doesn't deserve a death sentence." Despite her feelings on men and her fellow HiME teammates at the time, I did start to feel for her and my heart did go out to her when Mashiro healed her eye. That was a beautiful moment, albeit short. In the same way Shizuru shed her honest tears in front of Natsuki was beautiful.

Zhang all the way but Yuuki is no longer on my hate list like she was seven years ago. So share your thoughts, hopefully people who dislike her will post anything positive about her or express a level of understanding.

Yay, a Nao topic, nice Luu.
I don't see why so many people dislike Nao, she's never really done anything wrong, unless you count stealing from pedo pervs "wrong" (which I don't ) and it's not like Nao didn't need to steal from them(I dunno if she's old enough for a job..) She probably felt pretty terrible too after she was betrayed, I mean, for the other Hime to believe Sister Yukariko over her so quickly, that probably had to hurt a little ^_^;

And you never really know if she definitely would have gone through with killing Takumi or Natsuki, maybe hurt them, but I doubt she was really going to kill them(she doesn't even kill her victims if you think about it, she just ties em up) personally I doubt she'd have killed Natsuki, I mean, she did have her claws at Natsuki's eye at one point, and didn't do anything, I think if she wasn't stopped she would have hurt Natsuki a little..maybe, but not killed..it really just depends on if you wanna give her the benefit of the doubt(same as with Shizuru imo)

On a side note, I just seen the manga a little, I don't like manga Nao, only anime Nao

Wohoo for the Nao topic. She deserves it. I was recently rewatching Mai HiME and have to say that I felt really sorry for Nao. Things just went wrong. She had just as much trusting issues as Natsuki and in my opinion she didn't hate Natsuki. I believe in fact the she looked up to the cool biker-girl. But of course she would never admit that. I guess that's why she loves to pick on Natsuki (see the cake-war episode). She's not good in expressing her feelings and I think that's the only way she can communicate with other people in the beginning. She tries to acts all hard but she is in fact just a high-school that likes to have fun (karaoke). When they fight against Searrs Nao helps out the HiME-Rangers and does her job and I don't think that she would have ever started the carnival. I felt really sorry that she was tricked by that devilish sister. I mean she grew up all by herself in the orphange and had nothing, not a single friend and after she was just about to learn what friendship means she gets tricked and even injured by the person she looked up to. And all for a thing she never did and nobody is even asking. All of them just believed Yukariko without considering Nao's opinion. And to top things off, she gets beaten up by Shizuru (which for me was an extreme act of jealousy). I was deligthed that Natsuki rescued Nao from psycho Shizuru. I feel sorry until the very end. Even after she got beaten by Fujino we see how Nao gets cornered by all her victims and even though her most important person comes back, her mother might still be in a coma. And to top things off she has to fight along with Shizuru, who gets away with a ridiculous "Kannin na!"

To me she and Natsuki are really similar. Only that Nao never gets a real chance

HollowPoint wrote:And you never really know if she definitely would have gone through with killing Takumi or Natsuki, maybe hurt them, but I doubt she was really going to kill them(she doesn't even kill her victims if you think about it, she just ties em up) personally I doubt she'd have killed Natsuki, I mean, she did have her claws at Natsuki's eye at one point, and didn't do anything, I think if she wasn't stopped she would have hurt Natsuki a little..maybe, but not killed..it really just depends on if you wanna give her the benefit of the doubt(same as with Shizuru imo)

You have a point there...Point. >:3 (that was bad). There is really no concrete evidence that Nao is capable of murder, let alone mass murder...

: Fufufu~


...she could just be all bark and not bite. Did she not threaten to kill Takumi during her call with Mai? Probably just wanted to scare her. As for Natsuki, Nao wanted her as a trophy. It just adds to her alluring creep factor, rather than paint her with blood. :)

Amaya wrote:Wohoo for the Nao topic. She deserves it. I was recently rewatching Mai HiME and have to say that I felt really sorry for Nao. Things just went wrong. She had just as much trusting issues as Natsuki and in my opinion she didn't hate Natsuki. I believe in fact the she looked up to the cool biker-girl. But of course she would never admit that. I guess that's why she loves to pick on Natsuki (see the cake-war episode). She's not good in expressing her feelings and I think that's the only way she can communicate with other people in the beginning. She tries to acts all hard but she is in fact just a high-school that likes to have fun (karaoke). When they fight against Searrs Nao helps out the HiME-Rangers and does her job and I don't think that she would have ever started the carnival. I felt really sorry that she was tricked by that devilish sister. I mean she grew up all by herself in the orphange and had nothing, not a single friend and after she was just about to learn what friendship means she gets tricked and even injured by the person she looked up to. And all for a thing she never did and nobody is even asking. All of them just believed Yukariko without considering Nao's opinion. And to top things off, she gets beaten up by Shizuru (which for me was an extreme act of jealousy). I was deligthed that Natsuki rescued Nao from psycho Shizuru. I feel sorry until the very end. Even after she got beaten by Fujino we see how Nao gets cornered by all her victims and even though her most important person comes back, her mother might still be in a coma.

When you put it that way, I have to bring up Mai-HiME Episode 16's karaoke jam where Nao, whether she'd admit it or not, had a great time with Natsuki. I never seen Nao laugh so hard before, it gives you a sense that she's fond of the blue haired lone wolf in some way. Thus why I don't dismiss NatNao shippers completely. The chemistry is there.

In the case of the HiME believing Yukariko, can you blame them? Nao hasn't been the greatest defender of justice throughout the series (save the SEARRS war) up until that point (being a heroine isn't her style lol), her actions with Mikoto a while back, and her cynical views on the stipulations of the OL's Carnival. In retrospect, they should of given her a chance, that I strongly agree with. Things aren't always what they seem and nobody suspects the Holy penguin. ^_~

I feel Nao yearns for friendship and acceptance, it's just a difficult process for her considering all she's been through. You aren't the only one with trusting issues, Natsuki. ;3

Amaya wrote:And to top things off she has to fight along with Shizuru, who gets away with a ridiculous "Kannin na!"

What can I say? Shizuru is Shizuru.

there is nothing that i can say that hasn't already been said.

i'm currently rewatching Mai HiME and the image of Nao i have in my head now is different from after my first watching of the series. i thought she was a bit of an evil biatch the first time, but now i kinda feel a bit bad for her. and i wish they'd given her a chance or 2. although everyone acted with good reasons, Nao did deserve more. she's a pretty cool chick after all

Sergay Wáng wrote:there is nothing that i can say that hasn't already been said.

i'm currently rewatching Mai HiME and the image of Nao i have in my head now is different from after my first watching of the series. i thought she was a bit of an evil biatch the first time, but now i kinda feel a bit bad for her. and i wish they'd given her a chance or 2. although everyone acted with good reasons, Nao did deserve more. she's a pretty cool chick after all

She did and it all goes back to the sheer human emotions of these characters. Even when I strongly disliked her during my first time watching the series, I knew she wasn't volatile for shits and giggles, there had to be a good reason behind it.

Like many, I truly didn't like or care much for Nao when I was first introduced to her, and that dislike didn't change for quite a while after that.

Now she's one of my absolute fave charrys~

That change happened mostly through reading other writer's fanfiction interpretations of her. Slowly but surely, I grew a deep appreciation of her character, to the point that I now thoroughly enjoy seeing/reading about her~

Nao = win in my book...nao =p

I probably relate to Nao as much as I do, because I long for acceptance and friendship (and if we're arguing that she wants that, then I am just like her). Not many people give me a chance, because they only see the negatives about me. This has been a bit toned down since I'm a lot older, but I still don't feel that accepted. My trust issues aren't always obvious, but they are there.

So, while I have nothing to offer about Nao herself, I can indeed relate to her and what she may actually want.

Luu Sky Sapphire wrote:

Sergay Wáng wrote:there is nothing that i can say that hasn't already been said.

i'm currently rewatching Mai HiME and the image of Nao i have in my head now is different from after my first watching of the series. i thought she was a bit of an evil biatch the first time, but now i kinda feel a bit bad for her. and i wish they'd given her a chance or 2. although everyone acted with good reasons, Nao did deserve more. she's a pretty cool chick after all

She did and it all goes back to the sheer human emotions of these characters. Even when I strongly disliked her during my first time watching the series, I knew she wasn't volatile for shits and giggles, there had to be a good reason behind it.

yeah it took me a little while to really start understanding her, but i think do now.

@ Lerena, i hear that. i am the same, but as with you it's lessened with age. that's another reason why i started seeing where Nao was coming from. and out of all the girls, i probably understand her and Mai the most.

[quote="Luu Sky Sapphire

What can I say? Shizuru is Shizuru.
[/quote]

And now that was so Shizuru too Luu^^

Yuri-hime wrote:Like many, I truly didn't like or care much for Nao when I was first introduced to her, and that dislike didn't change for quite a while after that.

Now she's one of my absolute fave charrys~

That change happened mostly through reading other writer's fanfiction interpretations of her. Slowly but surely, I grew a deep appreciation of her character, to the point that I now thoroughly enjoy seeing/reading about her~

Nao = win in my book...nao =p

good girl =) another victim for my fanfics


I just wanted to mention something that HollowPoint pointed out the other night.(Q_Q too much points here)
HollowPoint: "I seen the scene where Shizuru and Nao fight recently, it does have Shizuru specifically destroy Nao's phone(that has the pic of Natsuki on it) I can't help myself, I see Shizuru doing that as a sort of "you can't have her, she's mine" kind of thing(poor Nao isn't allowed to keep her pics)"

Somehow true and it underlines the thought of jealousy. I neber really thought about Nao being actually a killer but I doubt that she would have been able to injure Natsuki badly or to kill Takumi. After all she's not as merciless as a certain Kaichou

Amaya wrote:
good girl =) another victim for my fanfics

Lol, hai! ^^

Amaya wrote:Somehow true and it underlines the thought of jealousy. I neber really thought about Nao being actually a killer but I doubt that she would have been able to injure Natsuki badly or to kill Takumi. After all she's not as merciless as a certain Kaichou

The jealousy thing is quite accurate. This was before Shizuru was influenced further by Reito, her possessive nature was there from the start. It's a shame Nao didn't love Natsuki in THAT way too, otherwise it would of been an interesting love triangle subplot. ^^; Even so, Nao would of quickly jobbed to Shizuru anyway. If only Julia was Godzilla sized...

Nao was my favorite character episode 7-26 she is misunderstood you saw how she cried in 26

Kiyohime8 wrote:Nao was my favorite character episode 7-26 she is misunderstood you saw how she cried in 26

She kept a lot of pain hidden deep within that eye injury, no doubt. She just couldn't bring herself to ask for emotional support from anyone. Yeah, Mai could of been her support pillow, but Nao hated the kind of person Mai was. Believing Mai was a fraud with her "I'm such a good girl who puts others ahead of myself" act. Ironically, Nao was somewhat right, it was a forced act so Mai can have a sense of worth, despite wanting a life of her own.

Still, Mai was better at putting away her pain and personal anguish better than Nao. Even if she wasn't being honest with herself, she is capable of being a voice. Nao was just like, "Nope. Fuck the world and Sugiura's wild parties that I somehow end up waking up in."

Sounds like the Nao-chan I know

Bump

I wonder what would become of Nao after the carnival? I know the characters revived but their issues still linger and there is always room for growth.

GAP wrote:Bump

I wonder what would become of Nao after the carnival? I know the characters revived but their issues still linger and there is always room for growth.

We do know that the novelty of working as one of Yukariko's apprentice nuns must of wore out fast for Nao. The issues are still there, as seen in Kuro no Mai Saigo no Bansan.




Nao implying a certain someone she needs to get revenge on. Clearly Natsuki wasn't born yesterday, because her girlfriend immediately came to mind. As someone who dabbles in NatNao, it's awesome knowing how well Natsuki knows Nao. That's why I never have a problem with fans who ship them.

I some things just never change even with Nao.

GAP wrote:I some things just never change even with Nao.

She's one of those girls who can hold grudges for an eternity. XD I wish she wouldn't resort to that, since it only makes her sick. Mentally, anyway. Shizuru on the other hand, has a clear conscience, even if she committed genocide a year prior...*ahem*

Agreed mostly.