Great Romantic Singles: Sister Boniface and Fujisaki-san

Tiwson (to the right) should have been kept

single--he was far more amusing.

In the romance genre, it is customary for romantic singles--who often help the leads get together--to be singles-in-waiting: that is, they are romantics who are hoping for their own chance at romance. They are not necessarily desperate--and they are often wry--but their insights and contributions are underscored by an assumption: only those invested in having a relationship can care about one. 

Another wry friend.

Every now and again, however, a series or movie gives us viewers a romantic single who loves romance and chooses to be single. The character is honestly objectively delighted by the leads' relationship. The character is also honestly objectively happy.

What is additionally notable about the following two characters is that the scriptwriters don't label them. That is, they are not something-something on a spectrum. (I've reached the point where if I pick up a book and the blurb is all about how THESE LABELS find peace and happiness, I put it down. I know from experience that the book will be about THE LABELS, not about the singular, independent, idiosyncratic, complex persons.)

With fiction, I want story and people, and I especially enjoy singular, independent, idiosyncratic, complex people. 

Two of My Favorite Romantic Singles:

Sister Boniface applauds relationships, including one between Sam and Ruth. In an episode from Season 1 (yes, there is now a Season 2!), when she hears about the "new" movie with Julie Andrews, she imagines Sam and Ruth as Captain von Trapp and Maria.

In fact, Sister Boniface is a great example of a character who goes her own way. She could have been a chess champion, a spy, a scientist, and so on... She chose to become a (detective) nun, and she chose the avocation with her eyes wide open. 

Her easy friendship with and support of the other characters is quite touching. Her love of romance is equaled only by her love of God and her love of science. 

Fujisaki from Cherry Magic entirely supports Kurosawa and Adachi's relationship. In fact, she is one of the few people to figure it out.

At one point Adachi wonders if he should ask her out (and then decides, "No, it wouldn't be any easier. I still wouldn't know what to do dating-wise"). He comes to realize that actually, she is happy being single. 

In the television series, episode 4 delivers a series of touching scenes where Adachi realizes that Fujisaki doesn't consider herself "normal" for her lack of interest in having a relationship; she "likes" Adachi (the various connotations of "like" create confusion here) because she thinks he would understand how she feels. He would accept her, being the good-natured guy that he is. 

And she is right! Adachi later offers to meet her mother, not as a potential boyfriend but as a colleague who can assure Fujisaki's mother that she is happy and fulfilled. 

Mothers are rarely that easily appeased, but the gesture means a great deal to Fujisaki. 

She and the very energetic Rokkuku later light fireworks for Kurosawa and Adachi. She is a wonderful character with a strength underlying her quiet nature.