Out of all the Bleach characters, Byakuya holds a special place in my heart. This is simply because I never expected a character like him to completely surrender himself to someone else. His introduction showed us how he was more than willing to sacrifice his sister for the greater good and the ideologies he strictly believed in.
Seeing a stern shinigami like that put aside his pride to ask for help or retrospect was simply like a dream. Tite Kubo made Byakuya’s transformation not only convincing but also impactful.
There were multiple instances where Byakuya acknowledged Ichigo, someone he was ready to kill a few arcs ago. His character arc was executed so well that I’m afraid nothing can overthrow the change of heart I experienced with Byakuya.
Tite Kubo went all out with Byakuya’s character development
Byakuya started out as an antagonist and he was hell bent on going through with Rukia’s execution. Ichigo changed his mind and physically forced him to see the world through a new lens. That felt like something no one had dared to do before that moment. After that fight, Byakuya started to both respect and care for Ichigo.
From that point onwards, Ichigo became his go-to person for everything. In the Fullbringer Arc, Ichigo was stripped of everything. His powers, friends, and his family suddenly became Tsukishima’s family. The only person who stood by his side during that time was Byakuya. A Reddit comment explained how this scene was a portrayal of Byakuya’s true feelings towards Ichigo.
Comment
byu/EitherSwimming5886 from discussion
inbleach
Even though the things that Byakuya believed in changed, he was still the same person who held his ideologies in high regard. This time around, he chose to place the bet on Ichigo Kurosaki, and was ready to betray Tsukishima to ensure that Ichigo achieves what he wants.
Where do we go from here?
Throughout the story, there were two moments when my heart ached for Ichigo. First, during the Fullbringer Arc and second when Yhwach revealed the truth to him. Seeing Byakuya hold Ichigo’s hand at a time when all the forces were against him was a declaration that Byakuya would do anything for him.
He played a role that’s reserved for the protagonists, who risk their lives for their loved ones. Having Ichigo at the receiving end of that love and care was something new, fresh, and heartwarming. The cherry on the top was their next interaction where Byakuya asked Ichigo to save the Soul Society, seeing Ichigo wreathing with anger.
All these moments were the peak of bromance, and seeing my two favorite boys relying on each other through the worst was all I needed. Changing a man like Byakuya is a phenomenon straight out of some wild dreams, and doing so convincingly? Tite Kubo deserves more praise for Byakuya’s characterization, but I’m scared that nothing can ever top this bromance for me.
Bleach is available to read on the MangaPlus app and website.
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