Winter 2023, The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten highlights how Mahiru is healing her inner child after a mysterious but lonely past.
Kodoani.com – The following contains spoilers up to Episode 4 of The Angel Next Door Spoils Me.
The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten is one of the standout romantic comedies that aired in this Winter 2023 anime season. The film follows Mahiru and Amane, two neighbors and classmates who were previously unknown but grow closer after their borrowed umbrella is turned into weeks of delicious food and house cleaning. Mahiru is the most popular girl in school. Everyone admires her for her top of the class, excellent athleticism and undeniable charm. Mahiru’s reputation has earned her the nickname “angel”, even though she absolutely hates it.
Mahiru resented being put on a pedestal because other people’s perception of her couldn’t be further from the truth. Although she only talks to other female students, she is not close to any of them. She even blatantly lied to avoid others discovering the truth about her life. Despite being admired, Mahiru is inherently lonely. If she hadn’t been isolated from her peers, Amane would probably never have seen her cry alone in the rain. Independent and somewhat mysterious to her classmates, it is heavily implied that Mahiru’s parents have neglected or even abandoned her. Episode 2 begins to unravel the lasting impact of her implied sad story. Mahiru has a hurt inner child, but her relationship with Amane can help her recover.
Mahiru’s truth is obscured by how others see her
Many anime characters have tragic backstories or complicated relationships with their parents, but seeing them recover from abuse or neglect is pretty rare in this medium. Some characters live with resentment and rage simmering within them for years, while others fall victim to self-pity. In the case of My Hero Academia’s Dabi, his hatred for his father Endeavor turned him into a villain. However, characters like Mahiru in The Angel Next Door are a different case because their handling of trauma is significantly more realistic. Her journey is comparable to Yuki’s in Fruits Basket, as her sad truth is a lot different from how people perceive her.
In fact, people placing her with such lofty expectations may have delayed the healing process even further as being placed on a pedestal further exacerbated her sense of isolation. Mahiru’s childhood can be defined by isolation, abandonment or possibly even parental abandonment. She was clearly uncomfortable with the idea of celebrating her own birthday, but was nonetheless moved when Amane gave her a teddy bear. She also felt confused when Amane and his mother called her by her first name, since even her parents didn’t call her that. Viewers know that Mahiru spends most of her time with a housekeeper, but it’s currently unclear why her relationship with her parents is so strained.
Even so, it clearly left Mahiru very mentally and emotionally distressed. However, perhaps she feels like rubbing salt in the wound every time her friends treat her like an idealized angel instead of a human. Being placed on such a high pedestal is making Mahiru isolated, especially since no one who treats her like that really wants to get closer to her than who she was at school. Mahiru doesn’t even want that, as she deliberately keeps her distance from everyone. However, she needs to heal from trauma at some point — and Amane may be the most important player in starting that process.
Mahiru’s inner child is slowly recovering by letting others in
For someone who is constantly pushing others away and establishing impenetrable walls between themselves and others, letting others in is the hardest thing imaginable. However, it is also the most important step they can take to cure the disease. In The Angel Next Door, Mahiru caught off guard with Amane perhaps feeling like spitting out this trouble at first. However, she realizes he is not a threat and that he will not abandon her like the others did. Plus, he’s the only one who never looks down on her and respects that she hates being called an “angel”.
Amane may not look like it, but he is extremely sensitive and understands that Mahiru’s childhood was probably not the best. He also recognizes her loneliness, and Episode 2 works wonders in helping their relationship progress. Although Mahiru was embarrassed by the idea of celebrating her birthday, Amane turned it around to make it look like he gave her a cake to celebrate getting a good grade. He also bought her several gifts, one practical and one sentimental. Although Mahiru appreciated the practicality of hand cream, she had an emotional reaction when she received a teddy bear.
Similarly, episode 4 shows Amane taking care of Mahiru when she is sick. Considering what is currently known about her upbringing, this probably feels rather alien to the always-independent Mahiru. Although she enjoys taking care of others, she is not used to the feeling of being taken care of herself. Being able to accept the help and kindness of others is one of the most important developments Mahiru has made in healing her inner child. As The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten progresses, fans can’t wait to see the next steps in her healing journey — and her heartwarming romance with Amane.
