Machi Kuragi

is one of the recurring characters of the Fruits Basket series. She is Kakeru Manabe's younger half-sister by their mutual father's wife.

Machi serves as the treasurer of the student council during Yuki Sohma’s presidency. She is depicted as a very quiet, nearly emotionless girl with an occasional destructive behavior due to hating anything that is considered too perfect. This stems from her past, as she was immensely pressured by her mother to become perfect in every single aspect, and then thrown away when she was no longer needed.

Unlike most girls at school, she does not see Yuki as a prince, but just as another boy, even seeing him as being lonely. Her different attitude and troubled behavior catch Yuki’s eye, and he makes multiple attempts at befriending her. When Yuki acknowledges her and helps her break out of her shell, Machi develops feelings for him and later begins dating him.

In Fruits Basket Another, she is married to Yuki and is the mother of Mutsuki Sohma, her son acting as one of the main characters.

Appearance
Machi is a fair-skinned teenage girl of average build and height. She has a pair of inward-tilted brown eyes, and is often seen with an expressionless face. She has straight, light-grey hair that goes right down to the middle of her back and is tucked behind her ears, with two shoulder-length loose strands of her hair laid on her shoulders. Additionally, she occasionally ties two small sections of her hair back into a ponytail, secured with a hairpin or a ribbon. She also has long, slightly messy bangs that cover her entire forehead, and an additional cowlick sticking out from the left side of her head.

Machi is often depicted in the standard naval-styled school uniform, which consists of a white and blue top with a jacket, shin-length knee black socks, and a pair of brown loafers. She also wears a blue, knee-length skirt with pleats and ruffles at the hem. This is the outfit she is most commonly seen in, although she is known for wearing long skirts and simple blouses as well.

Personality
Machi is initially depicted as a very quiet, standoffish, and emotionally detached girl. She rarely speaks up for her own wishes, is somewhat agreeable, and has great difficulty expressing herself and communicating with people in general, which sometimes results in her older half-brother Kakeru making decisions for her and fellow student-council member Kimi Toudou dragging her around. Machi is also considered to be a lone wolf who has little desire to put in any effort into meaningless disciplines or activities, and only does what she is required to do. At the same time, Machi is incredibly perceptive, as she picks up on things that no one else does, though she never expresses her thoughts. She is also secretive, as there are things about her that she doesn’t want people to learn, and she rarely ever explains her actions to others. This makes her come across as mysterious, stuck-up, strange, and frightening to others.

This behavior comes from constantly being pressured to be completely perfect for her mother’s sake, and then thrown aside by the very person she worked so hard for. As a result, Machi developed a hatred towards “perfection” and often ends up destroying things that are considered too tidy, such as wrecking the student council room, breaking a new box of chalk, and walking around in circles dozens of times in clean, unblemished snow. Her hatred of tidiness is also reflected by her apartment; she never bothers to throw out the trashbags in her room or fix the broken windows. Because Machi’s mother pressured her into dedicating all of her time to win an inheritance battle, Machi never got the chance to truly discover who she was, which contributed to the loss of her own sense of identity. During her introduction, Machi is unsure of what she likes or what she dislikes, becomes nervous when people try to get to know her, and even has trouble expressing her favorite color. She has incredibly low self-esteem and sees herself as an unnecessary existence and a void since she knows she has no particular interests or hobbies that make her interesting.

However, it is later revealed that Machi is very self-conscious about herself and tries her best to change. She is given a push thanks to Yuki’s influence and is eventually able to come into her own identity. She is later seen to have developed a stubborn personality with a “tsundere” streak. At times, she can be somewhat violent with Kakeru, and in Yuki’s presence, she tends to get easily irritated and embarrassed and rarely admits her true feelings, which is evident by the fact that she once chased Yuki all around the school just because she wanted to say hi but denied this when she caught up to him. Despite all such things, Machi grows to become a much more approachable, expressive, honest, and communicative person. She is also a deeply kind, tender, considerate, and soft girl, who tries to help out people despite her awkwardness and clumsiness in her attempts at doing so. This is especially evident by the fact that she bought a Tohru gift out of gratefulness despite never officially meeting her.

History
Machi was born to her father’s legal wife, while Kakeru was the older child but born illegitimately to their father’s former partner. Since their father is very wealthy, their mothers constantly argued over whose child would become the heir to the family fortune. Machi was forced into an inheritance rivalry against Kakeru by her mother since a young age, and thus didn’t have time for anything else. Machi was always pressured by her mother to be perfect in every single way—including having a perfect personality and a perfect academic record—because she was convinced that her father would reject her otherwise. She would also be punished for anything short of perfection. Machi described these years as feeling like she was under siege and suffocating. Even so, she was desperate to live up to her mother’s expectations, but even when she became “perfect”, Machi never earned a pat on the back from her mother.

The bitter inheritance rivalry ended when Kakeru and his mother withdrew from the competition, and when Machi’s mother bore a son. Machi’s mother was pleased to finally have a boy, whom she could name the heir. Additionally, she told her friend that she was disappointed in Machi, since she was very boring, didn’t stand out, and that excelling in school couldn’t save her plain personality. When Machi argued that she was simply trying to live up to her mother’s expectations and always did what she asked of her, her mother was even further disappointed in Machi, deemed that she had raised Machi in the wrong way, and continued to treat her coldly. This made Machi completely lost, because she didn’t know what to do besides being perfect and please her mother.

One day, Machi saw her younger brother taking a nap on the floor and, thinking that he might be cold, was covering him with a blanket. Her mother entered the room and convicted Machi of attempting to kill him, an accusation she did not contest even though it is false. Her parents, believing she resents her younger brother and is a danger to him, quickly threw her out of the house and set her to live in a small apartment apparently financed by the family. Machi had no choice but to consent to this, and her parents claimed they acted out of Machi’s best interest, because they thought that Machi herself would prefer to live apart from her family. This left Machi heartbroken, leaving her to become quiet, removed from society, and despising anything she considered “perfect”. While Kakeru was able to recover, Machi still suffered from the after-effects of it.

Second Year Arc
During Kakeru’s second school year, Machi enrolls at the school. At some point, she is appointed as the treasurer of the student council by Makoto Takei, being deemed fit for that position. A short while after Yuki’s appointment as the student council president, Machi and Kakeru pass by him, and while Kakeru seems to take an interest in him, Machi cuts herself off before saying anything about him.

When Yuki sees Machi for the first time, she has trashed the student council room and is surrounded by papers cluttered around the room. Yuki asks if she is okay, but Machi retreats and insists that she is fine. She tells him that she will clean up the mess and thereafter calls for Kakeru who was sleeping in a nearby room. Kakeru then introduces himself and Machi as the new vice-president and treasurer respectively. When Kakeru drags Yuki along outside, he bids farewell to Machi and she continues cleaning up. Later, when Yuki comes back to the student council room, he notes how her method of cleaning up is rather odd. Yuki thereafter tells Tohru Honda how he thinks that both of them weird people.

After summer vacation, Machi attends the first student council meeting, though she doesn’t say much. At a later date, during one of the student council meetings, Kakeru starts a discussion about what “colors” everyone would like. Yuki asks Machi what her favorite color is and what color she would like to be, but Machi is shocked to receive such a question and is unable to answer. Then, at Kakeru and Kimi Toudou's request, Yuki starts to call her “Machi” instead of “Kuragi-san”. When Yuki and his class go on a school trip, he asks both Machi and Naohito Sakuragi what they would want as a souvenir. Both of them are unfazed and reply that they don’t want anything. Despite this, Yuki brings Machi back a red maple-leaf, which she seems to like.

During the next student council meeting, Yuki and Kakeru witness Machi trashing the student council room again. She seems to be very distressed when they enter the room, and Kakeru quickly reassures the rest of the members that he will help Machi clean up. When Yuki and the others return, Kakeru informs that Machi left when he asked her if it was his fault. Yuki wonders about their connection, and Kakeru finally reveals that they are half-siblings.

For the following days, Machi is absent from school due to feeling unwell. She later returns to school with Kimi, and she apologizes and promises to never do it again. Yuki, however, tells Machi that putting it that way will only put more pressure on her and that it will not solve any of her problems. He also explains that both sides need to understand why she does things like that, though Machi is unable to answer. At a later time, Machi ends up breaking the student council door with a chair where Yuki was locked up in, because she felt like he might not like being alone and helpless. Yuki gives his thanks to her.

As Yuki’s class is preparing for their Cinderella-ish play, Machi accompanies Mio Yamagishi to prepare for their class event during the school festival and they suddenly run into Yuki. Mio remarks that Yuki would suit much better as the prince in the second year’s Cinderella-ish play as opposed to the Fairy Godmother considering how “princely” he is. When she asks Machi if she agrees, however, Machi denies this and remarks that Yuki isn’t prince-like at all. Because of these remarks, Machi is later confronted by Yuki’s fan club. When they demand to know which way Machi views Yuki, she ends up admitting that she thinks Yuki is air-headed, but most of all, that despite being surrounded by people and despite being called a “prince”, he seems to be so very lonely. Before the girls are able to escalate the fight, they are interrupted by Kakeru speaking into the school’s microphone. Yuki, who witnessed the entire scene, is greatly touched by Machi’s words.

After finishing all of their student council duties, Kimi suggests for all the members to go out together. Even though Machi is uninterested, Yuki invites her and admits that he is curious in which way she views the world around her. Later at home, Machi gets a call from her mother, who asks her about her current situation and if she is getting along with Kakeru. Machi’s trauma is triggered by this question and she goes silent, which leads to her mother berating her before hanging up. Machi thinks to herself that she doesn’t understand anything about herself and is thus a meaningless existence. She looks at a bookmark and thinks about Yuki, who she knew felt incredibly lonely before, but now looks like he has changed and is genuinely enjoying himself, unlike herself.

Machi eventually decides to go the gathering, but wonders if she really is needed in the world on her way there. Just then, she sees Yuki, who is happily calling out to her. This touches Machi to such an extent that she falls down and drops all of her things. When Yuki helps her pick up her things, he sees that Machi has kept the maple leaf he gifted her and turned it into a bookmark. Yuki thanks her for treasuring his gift, which leads to Machi becoming flustered and arguing with him that she does not like it all, and even attempts to give it back. By the time Kakeru arrives, they calm down and Yuki finally realizes that Machi’s favorite color is red, a reference to the question he asked before, which touches her. Later, when all members are having a meal at the restaurant, Kakeru mentions that Machi “likes red”, prompting her to angrily and embarrassingly hit the table.

When the school is preparing for the graduation ceremony, Machi is seen making paper flowers. She suddenly sees Yuki patrolling around at school and then runs through the whole school to meet with him. Although initially unwilling to explain why, she admits it’s because she saw him and just wanted to say hi. Yuki blushes and is filled with a quiet happiness, and he pats her head as he thanks her. Machi embarrassedly throws the paper flower she made at his face in response.

As spring arrives, a rumor that Machi was kicked out of her house for trying to kill her little brother starts swirling around at school. When Kakeru and Yuki goes to Machi’s apartment to find out the truth, Kakeru says that he once saw Machi walking around without saying a word, making footprints in the snow like her life depended on it. When the two boys arrive at her apartment, Machi is very embarrassed, both because of Yuki’s presence and because her apartment is a mess. After kicking out Kakeru to take out the trash after he handed Yuki one of Machi’s bras, Machi tells Yuki that he is free to believe the rumors about her or not. Instead, Yuki asks her if she hates things that are “perfect”, and Machi replies that she does, especially since she was left deeply scarred by her mother’s abuse. Yuki praises her for giving it her all after going through so much and expresses his gratitude that she’s here with him now.Machi breaks down sobbing and finally confesses the truth; she was never jealous of her younger brother and the thought of hurting him never even crossed her mind, but her parents had already made up their minds about her feelings. Yuki tells her that he believes her, and, knowing about her hatred towards perfect things, promises to walk in the snow with her the next time it snows. During their student council meeting, Yuki silently breaks a piece of chalk and thus creates an imperfection in the room to make Machi comfortable. Machi is surprised, but is touched and deeply appreciates the gesture.

Third Year Arc
Over time, Yuki and Machi grow closer; such as Machi running visiting Ayame Sohma and Mine Kuramae’s shop with Kakeru and Yuki, receiving a small Mogeta figurine from Yuki, discussing their preferred gifts, and making plans to meet up during summer vacation. When Tohru is in the hospital, Yuki is shocked to realize that he hasn’t really been struggling that much with her absence, since he has people like Machi and Kakeru supporting him. At the student council room, Machi is surprised when she overhears Kakeru explaining to Kimi that Tohru is like a mother figure for Yuki rather than a lover, and that she has protected him all this time.

After school, Machi calls Yuki up for a little impromptu gift exchange. It is revealed that Machi got a get-well present for Tohru, and asks Yuki to give it to her. She then gives him a bag of fertilizer, which Machi remembers that he wanted. In return, Yuki gifts her a Mogeta figurine, and both of them appreciates the gifts they have been given. Machi then starts to explain that she has wanted to thank Tohru, since she is grateful that she has been protecting Yuki, who in turn always tried to reach out to her. When Machi confesses that she is thankful that Yuki has always been there for her, Yuki realizes that Machi is the one for him, since both of them are able to recognize one another’s weaknesses and kindness. Both Yuki and Machi cries out of happiness over the fact that they found each other, and then continues their “date”, hand in hand.

As Yuki becomes more aware of his feelings towards Machi, he also starts expressing a desire to tell her about the Sohma Curse and his own history as the Rat. Despite the risks and the fact that he could only hope that she would accept him, he also admits that he wanted to be with her forever. At a later date, Yuki calls Machi and asks her to meet him at a certain spot. As Yuki is getting ready to tell Machi the truth, his curse breaks unexpectedly, so he instead embraces and confesses his feelings towards her. Machi asks him if she can call him by his first name, to which Yuki happily accepts and kisses her.

Afterward, Machi and Yuki begins dating. It is implied that Machi is one of the first people who hears from Yuki that he will be moving away to study at university, which she is okay with. At some point, she visits Kakeru and his girlfriend Komaki Nakao together and gives her meat as a present. Yuki is happy to see her since she wasn’t too keen on visiting Kakeru when he asked her about it. When Kakeru jokes about that Machi would have rather been alone with Yuki and that she has “ascended the stairs to adulthood”, she punches him in the face.

Epilogue
After Yuki graduates from high school, he gives Machi the key to the apartment he will be staying in while he attends college, so that she can visit him anytime and so that she won’t think that he will be unfaithful. When she rejects it, he jokingly attempts to throw it out of the window. This makes Machi flustered and she is forced to embarrassingly accept the key. Jokes aside, Machi then asks Yuki if he will miss his life here before he moves away to attend college. He replies that he will, and Machi also expresses that she will be lonely as they will not be able to see one another as often. However, she has made up her mind to catch up to him, which Yuki happily replies with that he will be waiting for her.

The Three Musketeers Arc
Sometime before Yuki's graduation, Machi is shown hand in hand with Yuki while they are on a date. During their date, Yuki gets a phone call from Ayame, where he tells him to "lay down in his eternal slumber", comically distressing Machi.

Fruits Basket Another
At some point, Machi married Yuki, having one son named Mutsuki Sohma between them. Mutsuki mentions that Machi and Yuki are very loving parents, and that they have a family tradition of waking up early whenever the snow would pile up, and then make trails of footprints in the snow. Thereafter, they would have breakfast together as a family.

When Mutsuki entered middle school, Yuki told him about the Sohma family and its former Curse, as well as his own history as the Rat. Mutsuki then expressed how he was glad that he and Machi were his parents, that he is glad that he lives with them, and lastly that their home is the place he always wants to come home to, since it was always fun and warm. Upon hearing this, Yuki broke down in tears and Machi comforted him. This confirms that Machi was told about the curse too. Machi is also seen in a memory flashback as silhouettes with Yuki, Kyo, Tohru, and Hajime's unknown younger brother as Mutsuki played with Hajime when they were younger.

As stated by Mutsuki, he lived with his parents in town until he moved from home to attend the school they attended; Kaibara High. Mutsuki mentions that even though their home is very clean now (as opposed to both Yuki and Machi's messy rooms during their teenage years), they have a "secret" that no one knows about. Mutsuki is also very messy and proudly admits that he takes after his parents in that aspect.

Mutsuki also mentions that Machi has faced many hardships, even after so many years. He adds that her parents still tediously tells her off and that the problems surrounding her family matters will presumably not get better.

Appellation
Family= Friends=

Trivia

 * Machi (with her face covered by her bangs) makes her first cameo appearance Chapter 42 (or Episode 25) along with Kakeru. She makes her official appearance in Chapter 49 (or Season 2, Episode 1, when she meets Yuki.
 * She is in the same class as Hatsuharu Sohma and Momiji Sohma. It is mentioned that she sits behind Momiji in class, and thinks his rabbit backpack is cute.
 * Machi's favorite color appears to be red. Since Yuki’s “color” in the student council is red, Kakeru teases Machi by saying that she likes red (as in, she likes Yuki).
 * As stated by Ayame, Machi’s “color” is yellow in the student council.
 * She likes the fictional anime Mogeta, and treasures the two Mogeta figurines Yuki gifted her.
 * Her son, Mutsuki, also inherited a love for Mogeta.
 * She has a habit of lifting things up in the air, especially if she loves them.
 * As Yuki noted, Machi and Kakeru are similar in the way that whenever they don’t know what to give someone as a present, they pick out something they would like themselves.
 * She likes bath sets that are good for lower back pain and stiff shoulders, and even gave Tohru such a set when she was recovering in the hospital.
 * Knowing Yuki's fondness of gardening, she gave him a bag of fertilizer. The salesman said that she should pick a fresh one since it can expire, and she believed him.

Machi Kuragi Machi Kuragi Machi Kuragi pt-br:Machi Kuragi