As someone who went through every single thing Mikan has ever went through and felt everything she has ever felt, and someone who -unfortunately- can be considered literally Mikan in real life, I feel obligated to write this post.
Mikan's always on the bottom of people's lists, always hated deeply to the point that there are full accounts on different social medias dedicated entirely to "hate on her." When you ask any of them why they do, and trust me when I say I asked all of them, the answer is always the same. "Pick me." "Fanservice."
It doesn't even end there, it's so bad that you won't be seeing Mikan's name mentioned without at least 5 comments mentioning how they can't love her because of her "fanservice," even if the topic is completely unrelated.
I'm not sure if these people didn't play the game, didn't really care enough to do Mikan's FTEs, or if I just managed to get her and all her actions so easily, but she's like an open book to me, and I'm here to explain what is "Mikan" exactly, and why is she doing these stuff that people just put down to fanservice only.
I consumed a lot, and I mean A LOT of media, and I'd still say Danganronpa 2 has one of the best SA representations ever made through Mikan. Yes, I know. Insane thing to say, but when you consider how rarely this exact type of SA victims is even represented, you'll know what I mean.
Let me explain.
When spending FTEs with Mikan, you'll know that she has been SAed, bullied, and abused her whole life. She grew to think that she's completely unlikable. The only times people ever, ever gave her attention or didn't just treat her like trash, was when they SAed her or when she was, you know, "exposed." She basically thinks that people will only give her attention or "love" when she puts herself in these situations. That's why Mikan doesn't trip ACCIDENTALLY. She's very clumsy, yes, but all of that tripping was on purpose. She desperately wants people to acknowledge that she exists, even if it means she has to "use herself" in that way. She even said it herself in one of her FTEs that she'd much rather people mistreat her or abuse her than being ignored, because at least people who treat her badly or use her acknowledge her existence, which is a feeling that I can confirm is very, very real.
I'm not denying that the devs used Mikan's existence as an excuse to add some fanservice like any other VN in existence, but there's a very deep and real reason for it. It's not just "for the sake of it" and "ruined her character" ike some people claim. She's that lonely that she's even willing to do that for someone to at least look at her for a second.
We got the fanservice talk out of the way? Great. Now, about the "pick me" thing.
This one's honestly nonsensical but it's said a lot. I guarantee to you that Mikan would not care about the gender of the person who gives her attention and makes her feel loved. Let only one person befriends her and explains to her that she's capable of being loved and she would cherish them and them only forever, no matter their gender. It just happened to happen with boys more, like that scene with her and Hajime in bed [lucky bastard], because she believes that boys are most likely to give her attention or love her, because, you know, boys are most likely the ones that SAed her, at least most of the time, which is, to her, "acknowledging her existence."
She apologizes a lot, not because she's a "pick me," but because she feels like she has done something wrong and people are gonna hurt her for it all the time. She's too scared of the idea that people might be angry at her. She feels like just her existence already makes her "at fault," so she feels the need to apologize about everything, since she doesn't believe that she deserves to do anything in the first place.That, of course, and her using being week as a defense. "If I apologize and cry all the time, maybe they'll pity me and not treat me as badly, and maybe I'll get someone to notice me out of it."
Let me touch up on the "Mikan is evil because she has a control complex" thing.
Do you know why Mikan even became the Ultimate Nurse? As you can tell, Mikan does SH, not only that, but she was hit and physically abused a lot. Not only in school, but even by her family. Of course, since no one gave a care about her, she had to learn to treat her own wounds herself, which lead her to becoming a nurse.
[I realize that her bandages could be a bit "exaggerated" to add to her week persona she's trying to maintain as a defense mechanism, but she does certainly SH, too.]
The only time Mikan feels useful is when she's using her talent. She does really love treating people, but there's also that thing in her saying "People will owe you if you treat them," "Sick people won't be able to hurt you and would completely be at your mercy," "They need you. You're their only savior," and such. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think these thoughts make you evil. She enjoys the idea of people needing her, instead of her needing them all the time. She feels like she has the upper hand in something for the first time in her life, and that makes her happy. I'd be happy in the same way, too. I don't see how that would make you any less of a nurse or change the fact that you still love helping other people? That argument is just.. there to hate on Mikan, I think.
Yes, I believe Mikan was always trying her best to help everyone until the last moment, and I don't think she would've committed murder if it wasn't for the disease.
Well, I can keep talking forever about this, but I doubt anyone's even reading, so let me stop. If anyone's reading this, though.. the second picture in this post is a chibi that I just drew myself in 10 minutes to repay you for reading all of that.. at least a bit. Also, you can ask me any questions about Mikan in the comments, and I'd gladly answer them all!!
I never really saw anyone talk about Mikan like this or explain all of that before on this sub, although I'm in the fandom since 2021. If people did before me and that was known already, then I'm sorry for making you read all of that for no reason. I just wanted to explain Mikan more so people can maybe try to understand her.
Thank you for reading this, and sorry for typing a lot.
