Why Real Bout High School?

As an aspiring author, one of the things that interests me most is a storyline that I can pick apart and characters that I can analyze. (Though I enjoy The Labyrinth or a good episode of Twin Signal just like everyone else.) There are times that I like to just sit back and go by the surface story.

However, it's the deeper story and the themes that really interest me. (Note that what follows is my own interpretation of the plot--I'm not saying that this is the way it is and that's final.)

Real Bout High School is a coming-of-age story, and the intersting thing is that it focuses on a female character instead of a male. Throughout the books, Ryoko is constantly asking herself, "What must I do to become a great woman? How do I achieve this? What kind of person do I want to be?" As the story progresses we see her process of finding herself, both through her thoughts and dialogue with other characters and the progression of her sword training.

Real Bout High School is also about the struggle of living your own beliefs. These days, nobody has even heard of the Samurai Code, and morals are severely lacking in many places. Throughout everything, Ryoko holds firmly to what some would consider outdated beliefs. This, in particular, is what appeals to me most, because I can relate it to my own battles in life to live by the Samurai Code and my religious beliefs, and to follow this thing called honor that has all but died out. This particular struggle manifests itself not only in Ryoko, but in the other members of the Shinsengumi--Aoi, especially.

I suppose I need a conclusion. I love Real Bout High School, not only for the surface plot which is interesting, but for the underlying plot and themes.