Hatsuharu Soma

Hatsuharu Sohma
Fruits Basket character
White Haru
Created by	Natsuki Takaya
In-universe information
Occupation	High School student

Hatsuharu Sohma (草摩 溌春, Sōma Hatsuharu), or more simply "Haru," is a fictional character in the manga and anime series entitled Fruits Basket. He transforms into the ox of the Chinese Zodiac whenever he is hugged by the opposite gender or his body comes under a great deal of stress. Haru has a terrible sense of direction and often gets lost. His name originates from the Japanese word hatsuharu, which means 'New Year' or 'early spring'. However the Kanji in Hatsuharu's name (溌春) are not the same as the Kanji in the word hatsuharu from which it originates (初春), though the hiragana associated with both of them is still はつはる ('hatsuharu').

Role in the story

Background

Haru has something of a split personality. His darker side, 'Black Haru', revealed when annoyed or threatened, transforms the usually calm, stoic, and well-mannered boy into a brash, violent, and perverted individual. His alter ego originated from teasing when he was young; adults accused the ox of being stupid for letting the rat ride on its back during the journey to the banquet of the Chinese Zodiac. Haru bitterly blamed Yuki Sohma, the rat in the Sohma clan, but Yuki helped him realize that Haru was not at fault for the ox's actions. Since then, Haru has claimed that Yuki was his first love. He went out of his way to protect Yuki from Akito Sohma, even making a deal with Shigure Sohma, agreeing to call him 'sensei' if Shigure would rescue Yuki from Akito and let Yuki live in his house.

Hatsuharu's black and white hair is natural and is a representation of his split-personality, as well as a visual pun on the coloring of a cow. Those people who do not know about the Sohma's curse assume he dyes his hair white and lets the roots show. It is said that his hair is split black and white everywhere. It's even hinted that he, in 'Black mode' showed a student who interrogated him about his head hair being white and black his pubic hair, which should be white and black as well.

Haru is very close to Kisa Sohma. When Kisa ran away from home as a result of classmates' teasing, he, along with Kisa's mother, were the only ones who made the effort to search for her.

Haru is introduced as wanting to fight Kyo. As children, both took up martial arts in order to release anger. However, Kyo belittled Haru's fighting. It seems that defeating Kyo will prove his worth as a fighter. However, his first and only battle with Kyo in the series is cut short by Yuki fainting from an asthma attack. Though Haru tells Kyo they can continue their fight later, he never actually takes on the challenge again.In the anime, he later say that kyo actually backed down from the challenge but the challenge is never really finished.

In chapter 130, Haru is freed from the curse.

File:FB haru2.jpg

Black Haru.

Relationship with Rin

When Isuzu "Rin" Sohma was younger, she was hospitalized, and her parents refused to see her. Haru frequently visited and spent time with her; they gradually fell in love and began to date in secret. Later, Rin broke up with him, telling Haru that she didn't love him anymore, though that was not her true motive; Akito had found out about their relationship and, out of fury, pushed Rin through a window. Not wanting Haru to be injured as well, Rin isolated herself from him for, as she felt, both of their safety.

File:FB kisa-haru.jpg

Haru and Kisa Sohma

Afterward, Rin became ill and hospitalized again. Haru tried to visit her, but she drove him away, even swinging IV's at him. Though Haru did not hear much from Rin after that, he still sees her whenever he has the opportunity. Later on, Haru learns from Hiro Sohma of Akito's deed, and his anger is evident. Haru confronts Akito, who counters by forcing Haru to take partial responsibility for Rin's injuries; it was in part his desire to be with her without considering the consequences and being unable to see it was Akito who hurt her in the first place that caused it. Hiro Sohma convinces Haru that he should go see Rin, who has been hospitalized (and later runs away from the hospital), instead of trying to hurt Akito. Haru finds her and they reconcile now that he knows Rin's reasons for breaking up with him. When kagura sohma comes to visit Rin, Hatsuharu remarks that he is happy that Rin is learning about the joys of friendship. In chapter 130, both Rin and Hatsuharu are freed from the curse and they both embrace each other lovingly.

Trivia

• Hatsuharu's name has several definitions, two of which are meant to be puns about the manga. The first being that Hatusharu means beginning of spring, or first month of the new year, referring to the manga's main theme. Although the ox's lunar month is the twelfth, January, in western and most eastern societies, January is the first month of the year. The second definition is hair, which refers to Hatsuharu's odd hair color.
• Another pun is his hair, which is mostly white with black roots. This also pertains to his personality, being White Haru most of the time, but sometimes turning into Black Haru.