Fruits Basket - Fan Book (Neko)

Hatsuharu Soma

[Don't assume. Don't assume and laugh at my worth.]

12shi - Ox

Box:
Kaibara Prefectural High School - First Year
Nickname / Haru, Ha~-kun
Living "inside" among the Sohma's, he has two personalities; black and white.
However, he doesn't have a dual personality.
Name's Origin / From the name of the month (1st month - Hatsuharu - First Spring)

Possessed by the foolish ox who'd had first place stolen by the rat, he'd been teased a lot by the adults around him, and as a result has ended up with a subservient personality that snaps easily. His parents, having difficulty dealing with him, had him learn martial arts in order to relieve his stress, however, this had little effect, and even now, when he snaps, he switches to his black personality and becomes very violent.

Normally, he's very quiet and easy going. Seemingly not listening to what people say, he's surprisingly extremely perceptive. From time to time, he says some very insightful things about Hatori and Yuki. When he was small, he was freed from a complex he'd had by Yuki, and so, Yuki is special to him. He and Isuzu, both members of the 12shi, are boyfried / girlfriend.

Personal Clothing Concept
In the beginning, he wore normal clothes like Kyo but, because of Isuzu's influence, he switched to a more flashy style. Now, he wears it because he like it but...... Like Momiji, Haru has quite the wardrobe. He doesn't stint on money for his wardrobe. He especially likes leather goods (and so likes winter).
(From the 2001 Fruits Basket Character Book)

Hatsuharu's Lines:
"If you're going to hug someone, it's better if they're cute" (-> Tohru)

"Because Yuki's my first love" (-> Tohru)

"In that case, I'll ask you, if you wear three fold socks, does that mean you won't extort from others? Unless you've pierced your ears, you won't bully others? And if you've got black hair, you won't kill someone? (-> President Takei)

"I can't help wanting to see her......" (-> Yuki)

"...In any case, I won't give up yet. For one thing, it seems like Rin doesn't understand how much I love her." (-> Yuki)

"I wish you wouldn't laugh at me... like that" (-> Akito)

"Rin thinks that she was "bad", but what about you guys. Don't you think that what you've done was "wrong"!? Having things taken out on you and being hit for it, being laughed at, or ignored, just like for you, kids would be hurt too. Why can't you understand something as simple as that!? Apologise. Apologise already...!! Apologise to Rin!! (-> Isuzu's mother)

Words to Hatsuharu:
"Ahahah, Hatsuharu... You always say the funniest things. Fufu... Ha......" (Akito)

"Hahahah... Really Haru... I can't tell if you realise and say things or not..." (Yuki)

"Haru-nii's... so kind. Really. Towards everyone, for no reason... But that kindness may have caused Rin pain..." (Hiro)

Keyword 1:
Kyo vs Hatsuharu

Hatsuharu learned martial arts at Kazuma's dojo and so his relationship with Kyo is like younger brother / pupil. He one-sidedly regards Kyo as a rival and if given the chance, challenges him to a fight but he can't seem to win. For Kyo, he might be about as bothersome as Momiji.

Caption:
In order to challenge Kyo to a fight, he'd once come to visit from the main house.

Keyword 2:
No Sense of Direction

Caption:
From the Sohma mainhouse to Shigure's took three days. Just what did he do at night? More than that, what about bathing......!?

He's got a very poor sense of direction and, when coming to pay a visit to Shigure's home in order to challenge Kyo to a fight, he spent three days wandering around in unfamiliar neighborhoods. When he was small, he would get lost going to the washroom, and so had Kyo take him.

Keyword 3:
Interesting, or rather My Pace

Caption:
When the atmosphere gets tense, his wonderfully dense comments defuses the tension.

When he's not in black mode, a certain part of him is out of focus and so he tends to make a lot of unique comments. According to Yuki "he's usually out of it". He phases out with a serious expression, so it's hard to tell if he's saying something seriously or as a joke.

Keyword 4:
Sympathises with Others

While he has a black aspect, more than worrying about himself, his base personality is very kind and tends to worry about others. With Yuki, Kisa, Kyo, and others, he's extremely sensitive to when people feel uncertain.

He sympathises naturally with others. It may be because he knows what it's like to be hurt by others words.

Two Personalities

[Yuki said what had piled up most in his heart and in doing so, released the shackles on his soul.]

Caption:
When black, he's not only violent, but also tries to make moves on girls. However, thanks to Yuki the frequency of his snapping has decreased.

Caption:
Are "you" really foolish? Thanks to Yuki's words, Hatsuharu was able to let out what had been accumulating deep in his heart.

The ox that appears in the tale of the 12shi, in the Sohma household is one that is ridiculed. While the adults were half joking, for young Hatsuharu, it became a very deep hurt. Yuki's words would change young Hatsuharu from always being irritated and snapping easily.

Caption:
Being made a fool of, and being laughed at, for Hatsuharu, that especially is very difficult, so even with Akito, he'll quietly, but firmly make his case.

Sohma Hatsuharu - Family Tree

Mother --- Father

Eldest son: Hatsuharu

Understands Yuki

Based on the image from the tale of the 12shi, Hatsuharu thought that the "rat" was a coward. But, from talking to Yuki, he realised that he'd assumed what he would be like. Since then, he visited Yuki in his isolation room, and secretly deepened their friendship.

Because you're (Yuki's) like that, I feel like there's someone out there waiting who will understand you and find you.

The Depth of His Love

Caption:
Despite being rejected, Hatsuharu's feelings for Isuzu doesn't change.

[Rin... did I understand nothing? Did I miss hearing your most important voice?]

Caption:
After being injured, Isuzu one sidedly breaks up with Hatsuharu. Just why.....?

Caption:
A sudden kiss. It was the surest way to know Isuzu's feelings.

It's Hatsuharu who'd found Isuzu after she'd collapsed from being treated cruelly. Not from one or the other, the two sympathised and this eventually turned into love. However, one day, Isuzu mysteriously suffered a serious injury and started avoiding Hatsuharu. Hatsuharu tried to get her back but......

Caption:
For Hatsuharu, Isuzu is impossible to replace, she's essential and indispensable. And for that very reason, he can't lose her......

Kind Person

Caption:
Kind people are unfortunate. Because they're clung to, leeched on, hurt, and utterly exhausted by those like herself.

[Wanting to rush out
Throw my body on that lap
And entrust my heart to her]

Even towards Tohru, ever since they first met, she felt the kindness that even Hatsuharu opened to. Despite being hit with the feelings of someone as weak as her, she's one who would take it and accept her. And so, Isuzu avoided Tohru, because she knew she'd want to cling to her if she was nearby.

Caption:
When Hatsuharu saw Vice President Kakeru, he realised he would be change Yuki.

Caption:
It's also Hatsuharu who, in exchange for calling him "Sensei", asked Shigure to get Yuki to be able to live outside.