I've loved shu for 3 years and i have more than just a basic understanding of his character, which motivated me to write this! I'll try to explain his actions and character as best as I can because he's a really complex character that sadly got misunderstood along the way
Please excuse any grammar mistakes as English is not my first language
While shu got his redemption arc in repayfes event of 2018, it was only after that point that people started considering him a "good person" and most moved on without really looking back at the kind of person shu was before and why he was like that
Shu first appeared in "Reminiscence ＊ Marionette" event as a second-year student and at first glance would be briefly described as arrogant, selfish, inconsiderate, with the unrealistic idea that valkyrie will always be at the top, dedicated to making them perfect all by himself with his ways.
It's undeniable that his treatment towards nazuna and mika was harsh. The huge difference is that.. it wasn't because he had bad intentions or wanted to hurt them. Not at all. In fact it was the exact opposite of it
The most important thing to note about shu's character is that he's ridiculously dishonest with both his feelings and while talking to others. So that makes it even harder for people to see through him and understand what he really thinks. However in stories, while other characters are talking to him they imply his true thoughts before he puts up his defense and tries to quickly prove them wrong out of fear . Mademoiselle also helps immensely with portraying shu's honest thoughts
Despite making it seem like he was putting the unit itself and his work above the member's own feelings, shu loved both of them deeply even if his ways were questionable
It was because shu himself didn't get a grasp of how people should be treated right or showing affection when he was growing up. His childhood was sadly filled with more bad memories than good and it's merely the only reason of his eccentricity, bad behavior and antisocial personality.
Shu was in love with dolls even as a kid. But he was repeatedly emotionally and physically abused by other people his age for having such harmless interests, talking to and playing with dolls.
It's also heavily implied that his own family was unsupportive, that they thought he was strange for talking to dolls alone and he got scolded very often in his home, which most likely resulted in his obsession with perfection but also the fact he manifested his obsessions into his relationship with valkyrie, as in his mind he thought that's what affection is and his judgement as well as insults towards them a learned behavior from his environment in the past that he thought was normal.
He was completely oblivious and unaware that his treatment towards them was wrong.
More about shu's childhood:
Kuro's mom was actually the most remarkable person in shu's childhood. He even saw her as a second mother, as he mentions she was often worried for shu and she was the only one who accepted shu for who he is and his interest for dolls and needlework. Shu claims to love her deeply and still holds her in the highest regard even after she passed away, she is still kept in his heart (writing this felt like a sword pierced through my heart)
Moreover the only person he loved in his family was his grandpa, he was the only one who scolded shu's parents for treating him badly (one more implication that his family wasn't treating him right)
The core of this is that shu genuinely didn't mean any harm. He did not want to hurt anyone in valkyrie either. What he did and the way he did it was purely because he didn't learn how to express his feelings and his thoughts.
He's a pure person at heart, and that's because he realized his mistakes. It takes a lot of strength to realize them and even more to try and fix them. He did it because he wanted the best for them
However he only started to realize his wrongings and immaturity after quite a bit of time. Because Valkyrie's fall and Fine winning took a huge toll on him and his mental state. and depression up to Milky way shu had isolated himself in his room.
As mentioned by Mika he only started speaking as mademoiselle after Marionette. That's because shu had developed a dissociative identity disorder(DID) to which he created mademoiselle but projected kuro's mom through her hence why when he reminisces about his past and when he said he was jealous of the relationship kuro and her had, he was talking directly to mademoiselle. Mademoiselle(french courtesy title meaning "lady") is "a yet unnamed doll" because shu also doesn't refer to kuro's mom by name
(basically confirming everything I said)
Mademoiselle has played a huge part in shu's life. He talked to her even when he was a child and his parents thought he was a freak bc of that I will nuke them. She's shu's protector and as many seemed to believe she would go away after repayfes, no! DID is a long term illness meaning she wouldn't go away and will never, she's part of shu so please love her and appreciate her! As you can see in enstars point 2 she is still there with him to help him cope with loneliness.
Moving forward to tanabata festival(milky way) that was also part of shu's development, he started slowly getting better and valkyrie started doing activities after their hiatus. While this isn't the event where he realized his past mistakes it's remarkable to mention this is where he realized Valkyrie's true position. The irrational thought that valkyrie would always be the best unit and always perfect and that he was the sovereign of the academy was no longer there. He also had the courage to face fine again, to snap at eichi and curse him for what he did to the oddballs for the sake of his friends. He was strong enough now to accept his defeat knowing how unfair it was because fine was more popular.
It was also where he started realizing and accepting the reasons why nazuna left valkyrie after seeing him lead Ra*bits. He felt very betrayed and even called him a traitor but his true feelings for it were different
(shu fang)
What follows after that is shu's realization to Mika's role in his life. To where he realized Mika's true potential and saw him as a human and no longer a doll. Despite calling him a failure and a doll multiple times until repayfes it wasn't just to insult the fuck outta him. In shu's eyes he saw Mika as a failure because he wasn't able to think for himself, because he didn't have a passion and a dream, he was only there to devote himself to shu and not be his equal. Shu didn't want Mika to ruin himself because of him. Which why in repayfes he finally made him understand that with some rather questionable actions and a huge philosophy talk where Mika didn't understand shit about (shu basically talks about how if someone has no will of their own and the desire to create they're nothing but an animal, he also says how he doesn't need another doll(Mika) Because he already has ton of dolls which idk why I found that smart) BASICALLY, shu tries his hardest to make Mika let go of his unhealthy mindset
In repayfes shu is shown to have forgiven nazuna and not calling him a traitor. He's rather calm towards him and facing him like a normal human. Later in their performance Shu realizes Ra*bits' true potential and even said it was art.
Shu started to soften and opened his heart to those around him. He made less spiteful remarks over time, got more honest with his feelings and he started being considerate of others, asking Mika for his opinions on things when he didn't before, started appreciating his company more and more, pushed him into the right path and himself as well. In enstars 2.0 he is understanding towards Mika's feelings and gives him genuine advice and comfort, something past shu wouldn't do willingly
(We stan an understanding and soft husband)
To him the world was black and white full of pessimism and darkness before and it had reached a point where he claimed that as long as he created a masterpiece he's satisfied with then nothing else would matter and ending his life after it would be ideal. But during repayfes he expressed his desire to create art until he isn't able to create anymore, alongside with Mika. A sign of shu developing a healthier mindset
Needless to say he is still improving and developing!! It didn't stop in repayfes, he still has a long way to go but this is as far as it goes. Shu is a well-written, humanly complex character that deserves to be understood and acknowledged for everything he's been through. As I'm finishing this there's a lot of things about him that come to mind that I didn't mention
and this could be way longer but no essay is perfect. So im sorry if this is super messy, I tried my best !! I have more shu stuff in my highlights about individual subjects
And yes I didn't talk about my personal feelings for him because that needs another essay. But writing an essay just to help people understand him is my way of saying "I genuinely love you" to him
