Who Is the Best Boy in Fruits Basket? Best Characters Ranked

It's probably not typical to put Momiji on spot number 1 since he's a side character, but we couldn't help it; he's just too wholesome.

One might initially dismiss Momiji as too cute or childish but his depth will surprise you.

When you find out his backstory, you learn that he's a character who hides a lot of pain behind a smile.

Momiji strikes a great balance between genuinely enjoying life, while also being in touch with his feelings about his childhood trauma.

Despite going through so much, he's one of the kindest characters, as if he wants to ensure that no one will go through the same pain.

By the end of the show, Momiji has achieved significant character growth, and he's much more confident and ready to tackle the future.

Kyo's character development throughout three seasons is truly amazing.

Due to a lifetime of grief and abuse as the thirteenth, scapegoated member of the zodiac cycle, Kyo was chronically angry and considered himself unloveable.

It took time and effort on his and other people's part in order for Kyo to finally start opening up and realize that he deserves happiness.

By the end of Fruits Basket, he's one of the most beloved characters.

Yuki might not be as beloved as Kyo since some fans find him a bit blunt or too perfect.

Yet, Yuki is also a three-dimensional character who deconstructs the school prince trope.

Like most Sohmas, Yuki experienced trauma at a young age, which stifled his growth and left him lonely and confused.

It takes a while for him to gain confidence and eventually develop into the person he was meant to be.

Like Momiji, Hatori is a side character with a wild arc of growth.

His backstory is heartbreaking and, in the narrative present, he's very reserved to avoid getting close to anyone and hurting them in the process.

Because of his ability to erase others' memories, he had to make some really tough choices.

Yet, despite his pain, he has maintained his integrity, which makes fans root for him and hope he gets a happy ending.

Kazuma is a bit older than the rest of the cast, but he's also one of the most wholesome characters in Fruits Basket.

Despite being a supporting character, he also gets a bit of a backstory, as his grandfather was the cat of the zodiac cycle -- the spot Kyo now occupies.

Kazuma regrets some of the things he did or did not do when he was younger, and he resolves to make up for these by becoming a father figure for Kyo.

Their relationship and the ways Kyo develops just by being with him are amazing to watch.

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Hatsuharu doesn't get as much screen time as other characters, but he's always fun to be around, and his dry tone often makes for good comic relief.

His relationship with Rin is one of the most tense and dramatic in the series, and, though we don't know him as well as some other characters, we can't help rooting for him.

Ayame doesn't have much screen time either, and he's first and foremost a comic relief character.

He's one of the few characters not to be visibly affected by Akito's abuse.

His character essentially boils down to being overconfident and outrageous.

However, deep inside, he regrets being too young to help his brother, Yuki, when he needed him, and he tries to make amends in the most ridiculous and disastrous ways.

Most of the time, he fails, but there's some development in the brothers' relationship by the end, which is heartwarming to watch.

Shigure is a popular character but he's the last in this list because "good" or "best" aren't words we'd use to describe him.

Initially, Shigure seems like a typical carefree 20-something character who isn't very mature.

Later episodes show his dark side and reveal that he's quite manipulative and dedicated to his schemes, knowingly putting Tohru in danger for the good of the Sohma family.

He still has a place on this list because his writing struggles are very relatable, but he isn't the best person.