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RANDOM DISCLAIMER: This is an opinionated piece of work. None of this is fact and is merely a take on a character that you are free to interpret in a variety of ways. With that out of the way, let us proceed.
Ameri is, at her core, a good character. She has ambition (kind of we'll get to that), she's powerful, and overall just funny in both her interactions with other characters and her own internal thoughts. But when looking beyond that I find I am met with disappointment. Why? Well unfortunately, Ameri is not much more than what I just described. She is very one-dimensional, it seems to me that her only purpose is to progress Iruma's character. She is vastly disconnected to the rest of the story and main cast especially, despite being a love interest she lacks chemistry because her morals and beliefs clash so heavily with Iruma's, and worst of all she falls victim to the very tropes she tries to parody.
First off she's one-dimensional. One could make an argument she has ambition. She wants to follow in her father's footstep, improve Babyls, and be with Iruma. I would agree for the most part, her ambition to be with Iruma is strong and set up from almost the beginning of the manga, but what of the first two? Why does she want that? the manga never really establishes why because all other ambitions are dwarfed by her desire to be with him. (The best we get is this sort of vague idea that she wants to because she can or that she feels that its her responsibility to as a demon) During the events of Walter Park she considers abandoning her want to go into Demon Border Patrol altogether in favor of working under Sullivan simply to be closer to Iruma. This is further cemented by chapter 455 where she does not hesitate to say she would betray her father if he does not help her rescue Iruma (which like why wouldn’t he? Why would Henri would want his daughter to become an enemy of the state and endanger herself? He might understand because of his memories of Merize but he told her that story as a warning not as something to imitate).
From the very start Ameri has been crucial to Iruma's story. She was the one who helped him find a goal, she encourages him to keep improving, and gives him a reason to. without her Iruma would not be where he is now. But the thing about character interaction is that when one character helps another progress they should also be progressing along with them. If not progressing actively than we at least need to learn more about them, their history, their beliefs, their motivations, etc. If not, than the character ends up feeling static. Ameri feels static.
Since we were first introduced to her to now, the only thing that has changed about her is how attracted she is to Iruma. We know (for the most part) 5 things about her that don't have to do with Iruma: She is proud to be a demon, she loves and admires her father, she likes romance stories, she has a very strong will, and she wants to help Babyl's students achive their ambitions. Most of these facts were introduced near the beginning of the series and since then we have learned... nothing. The ambitions do not change or shift, nor do we learn more about the root of these characteristics. No. Rather, they are shifted over in favor of her becoming more and more obsessed with Iruma. Even the few new things we get to learn about her do almost nothing for her character. In the museum arc we had a very good opportunity to learn about Ameri outside of Iruma. We could have found out more about what she's like outside of school as a Demon Border Patrol officer, how she treats non students who violate rules, so much to learn about her morals! But because of Irumas presence it stops any chance of us hearing anything from her other than how she feels about him.
Iruma actively serves as a foil to her progression and advancement, and I do mean this quite literally. If Iruma was not involved in the story Babyls and its inhabitants would we worse off. Clara would still be without friends, Alice would never have learned to be more than his achivements, the entire Misfit Class would never had gotten to the Royal One or been encouraged to advance as far as they did. This idea can be applied to almost any main character in the manga. Keyword "almost". Because of course Ameri does not follow this rule. Quite the opposite really, she would actually be—in my opinion—better off without Iruma. Throughout the story he has been at best a hindrance to Ameri and at worst a detriment (though not at any fault of his own). He consistently interrupts and complicates her goals and progression. From the start when she was afflicted with the potion that turned her into a damsel-in-distress stereotype, to now when she possible fails her Scala. All of these things would be far easier for her if Iruma was not involved at all.
On the same vein—without Iruma she would have no relevance at all. She's not really involved in any of the major arcs and in the ones she is included in she has little to no impact on them at all (except for the mesuem arc. even that I would say she doesn't matter to the story till the very end) she never talks to a majority of the Misfit Class outside of the girl's meetings (which is just filler I love it but its filler plus there is only one meeting where she talks about something that isn't Iruma) and even her relationship with the other student council members is an afterthought at best. We don't see her going to class, or doing hobbies and the such. It's almost like when she's not thinking about, or talking to Iruma she might as well not exist at all.
And lets talk about her thoughts and attraction to Iruma. It is... unhealthy to say the least. We know that she is enamored with First Love Memories and as such she has built up this idea of Iruma in her head based on that. On what she thinks a relationship with him should look like. She is obsessed with this idea to the point that it deludes her thoughts and actions. She doesn't particularly try to learn more about Iruma, or consider any new info that may contest this idea at any point because why would she? In her eyes she knows all she needs to know. Iruma is destined to be with her and she is destined to be with him. She’s delusional is what I'm trying to say. It makes sense if you think about it. Ameri's whole thing is she is meant to parody a generic shojo protaganist but in that parody she ends up failing in many of the same ways that shojo protagonist often do (they don't have much character outside their attraction to the male lead).
But why write her this way? If it was any other author the answer would be obvious—misogyny. But when it comes to Nishi and Welcome To Demon School specifically I just don't think that's correct. Clara, Keroli, Elizabetta, and Silvia are all examples of well written female characters that play (or have played) an important role in the story. Is Ameri just a glaring flaw in this mostly great series? A mishap in an otherwise pretty solid cast of characters? No. at least I don't think so. That doesn't feel like a satisfying conclusion for me and frankly doesn't seem like the kind of thing Nishi would write either. The manga isn't over yet, and there is still a prediction that—if true—could save Ameri's character for me. What if this isn't bad writing? What if its all intentional.
Ameri is delusional that, I think, is a fact. Her idea of who Iruma is does not fit with his actual beliefs and actions. She wants Iruma to fit this perfect mold she has constructed based upon First Love Memories and she holds onto this no matter what. She doesn’t just want any romantic relationship with Iruma she wants this one specific type of romantic relationship. She will push out and ignore or misinterpret any person, event, or what-have-you if it threatens that idea. When her father tells her about the story of him and her mother it is as a warning. He does not want his daughter to suffer the same heartbreak he did. What is her response to that? “Demons and humans can fall in love!” And that makes perfect sense if we consider the little we know about her, in particular her bloodline ability Romanticist. Which is also know as “King of Delusion”
In the Walter Park arc Opera says it them self, that to use Romanticist one cannot doubt themselves or it would fail and hurt the user. As such to use it effectively Ameri possess an “iron will” she does not doubt herself; she cannot doubt herself as doing so during combat with Romanticist could potentially result in her death. It follows that this so called “iron will” doesn’t cease when shes not using Romanticist. It is a part of her everyday life. If she says “I am strong” then she is strong, if she says “I am swift” then she is swift, and if she says “Iruma is what I in-vision him to be” then in her eyes, he is.
But the thing is he isn’t! Iruma directly opposes the caste system of the netherworld; he would rather it be done away with entirely, we see this in his conversation with Kiriwo as well as his Scala with the Many-Ears. Ameri on the other hand, supports and encourages people to participate in it she behaves within and reinforces the rules it sets up. (for example in the museum arc she forces herself onto Iruma to try to kiss him and she doesn’t do this because shes some kind of psycho who doesn’t respect boundaries. She does it ‘cause according to the rank system she has the right to; she is a higher rank and more powerful than Iruma. That’s just the culture and society she and many other demons are raised in.) Ameri wants Iruma to become equals with her in the “proper way” through the ranking system. This would mean Iruma has to give up something to do that, his previous goals to circumvent these restrictions to create a Netherworld for all. So Ameri’s vision requires Iruma to give things up, but that just doesn’t work; Iruma is greedy he wants everything. I just cannot see a world in which Ameri gets what she wants and Iruma be satisfied. I also cannot see a world in which Nishi does not know this.
So its intentional? Now what? If the author really did plan this from the start than what comes next? To fix her character Ameri must face the reality of the situation sometime in the future. Ideally by direct rejection from Iruma. Do not misconstrue me, I don’t say this because I hate IrumAmeri I say this because it is in my opinion the healthiest option for her. She should be faced with a scenario in which she must pick between Iruma and her own safety. When she invitably chooses him over her own good Iruma is (hopefully)smart enough to know that this is foolish and realize that Ameri’s feelings for him—not only exist—but also are very unhealthy. The kind and correct thing to do would be to let her know how he feels. This would unshackle Ameri from the metaphorical chains holding her character back.
So that’s it. My issues with Ameri and what I think would fix it. Maybe this all gets proven wrong next Wednesday and I just look like a hopeful idiot or maybe I’m the greatest oracle to ever hit the internet. Either way thank you for taking the time to read this rambling and I hope you enjoyed. Constructive criticism is welcome and if you disagree with me and want to write a rebuttal essay that’s twice as long with cited sources and footnotes? Go ahead nothing would make me happier, seriously. This manga is my greatest joy right now and getting to discuss it in length with someone just as passionate would be an honor.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
My darling sister who inspired me to write this along with most of the ideas in it. This would not exist without you. Thanks
MariumaFanatic for sharing their thoughts on Ameri with me some of which I use in this essay. Also sorry because the end is me basically saying why IrumAmeri shouldn’t be canon
All the people who interact with and follow my
Tumblr for giving me an audience to present this to.