Shigure is a tall, handsome man with a lean build, nape-length straight gray hair parted in the middle, and light-gray eyes, often seen behind oval-shaped glasses. He typically dresses in traditional Japanese clothing, favoring a dark green kimono with a light-green obi, as he believes it inspires his writing. When handling business matters, he opts for dark suits and slicked-back hair. In *Fruits Basket Another*, he appears to have adopted a more modern and casual style, moving away from his traditional attire.

Before the events of Fruits Basket, Rin was a sweet and kind girl who initially lived a relatively happy life. However, as she grew older, her parents began to abuse and eventually abandon her, shattering her sense of self-worth and trust in others. The only person she could rely on was Hatsuharu Sohma, with whom she developed a close bond. Although she blamed herself for her misfortunes and believed her parents’ rejection stemmed from her being a “bad” child, Haru’s kindness helped her retain a fragment of her gentle nature. When Rin and Haru eventually began a romantic relationship, Rin chose to confess the truth to Akito in an attempt to protect Haru from potential harm. Enraged, Akito lashed out at Rin, telling her she was unworthy of love and ultimately pushing her out of a second story window, which left her physically and emotionally scarred.

Following this traumatic incident, along with being hospitalized and subsequently disowned by her parents, Rin’s personality underwent a drastic change. Once warm and affectionate, she became guarded, abrasive, and emotionally distant. Her pain turned into anger and mistrust, and she often used harsh words as a defense mechanism. Haru observed that while Rin didn’t hesitate to hurt others with her words, she also never spoke up to protect herself. Determined to break the Sohma curse on her own, Rin distanced herself from everyone, especially outsiders like Tohru Honda, believing she had to depend solely on herself. Despite her cold demeanor, Rin’s motives were deeply selfless: she sought freedom from the curse not for her own sake, but to ensure Haru could live happily, even if it meant she would be left with nothing.

Over time, Rin began to open her heart again, particularly after breaking down in front of both Tohru and Haru. Though she remained distant and struggled to express her emotions, she grew more protective of Tohru, softer in demeanor, and more willing to depend on others. Rin is notably dishonest with her feelings and displays traits of a tsundere personality, especially toward Tohru, whom she both respects and envies for her kindness. After the curse was finally broken, Rin admitted that she could not forgive Akito for the pain she had caused her and the entire Sohma family. She also confessed that, despite her hopes, the end of the curse did not erase her trauma or emotional struggles, but she continued to move forward, slowly learning how to heal.

Rin Sohma was born possessed by the spirit of the Horse and was the only child of her parents. Although they initially appeared loving and kind, assuring Rin that they were a happy family, their affection was only a facade. Rin began to sense the artificial nature of their behavior and innocently questioned if they were truly happy, which triggered her mother’s breakdown. From then on, Rin’s parents began to abuse and resent her, seeing her as a burden and blaming her for their misery. Despite the constant emotional and physical abuse, Rin still longed for the warmth of her family and blamed herself for their unhappiness. One day, weakened by trauma and mistreatment, Rin collapsed in the streets and was rescued by Hatsuharu Sohma, who took her to the hospital. There, her mother cruelly disowned her, claiming she no longer knew how to love her daughter. Haru confronted Rin’s mother, demanding she apologize, and his compassion moved Rin to tears. With her family gone, Rin was placed under the care of Kagura Sohma’s family, but she found it painful to live in a functioning household and instead sought refuge in visiting Kazuma Sohma, though her presence made Kyo feel threatened and insecure.

Over time, Rin grew increasingly isolated and depressed, often locking herself away from others. However, Haru became her greatest source of comfort, taking her out on walks, visiting her in the hospital, and staying by her side whenever she felt lost. Through his unwavering support, Rin slowly fell in love with him, and when she entered high school, they began a secret romantic relationship. Despite their deep affection, Rin feared Akito Sohma discovering their love, knowing how dangerous it would be. Her fears became reality when Akito confronted her, demanding to know who had seduced whom. Rin, in an act of self-sacrifice, took all the blame to protect Haru. Enraged, Akito physically and emotionally attacked Rin, exploiting her insecurities and convincing her she was unworthy of love, before pushing her out of a second story window. As Rin lay bloodied and broken, she made a silent vow to free Haru from herself, from Akito, and from the curse, even if it meant losing everything in the process.

• The nameShiguremeans “purple, violet” (紫) (shi) and “living” (暮) (kure/gure).