My Dress-Up Darling: Who is Gojo's childhood friend?

My Dress-Up Darling revolves around the relationship between Wakana Gojo, a shy and aspiring Hina doll maker, and Marin Kitagawa, an excitable gyaru cosplayer. A chance meeting brings them together, leading to a partnership that soon blossoms into something more.

Ever since the beginning of the series, most fans have been curious to know about one particular individual, Gojo's childhood friend. Despite playing a huge role in shaping the protagonist's personality, she hadn't been introduced till the very end of the manga, due to which many may be wondering about her identity.

Gojo's childhood friend in My Dress-Up Darling is called Nobara Aoyagi, the person who caused him trauma about revealing his passion for Hina dolls. Though the two harbored unaddressed and complex feelings for most of the series, they had a heartwarming reunion in the latter half.

As fans may remember, Gojo had kept his doll-making skills a secret since the beginning and was constantly anxious about being ridiculed for his hobby. He kept experiencing flashbacks about a young girl who was crying and screaming at him for liking girls’ dolls, after which she told him she hated him.

This created a lasting impression, affecting him even once he started to come out of his shell. There had been several theories about who this mysterious childhood friend of his could be, with many hypothesizing that it could be Akira or Marin herself. However, chapter 103 of My Dress-Up Darling finally introduced the enigma, and she was a new character called Nobara Aoyagi, or Non-chan.

Though most fans hated her for the fear she instilled in Gojo, right after her appearance, the manga delved into her side of the story. As a kid, Nobara was very close to Gojo, though the protagonist was still reclusive due to the sudden death of his parents. Wishing to help the sulking boy, she kept visiting him every day at his cousin Mio’s house and read books to him.

While Nobara’s friendliness was not reciprocated, she was convinced that her efforts were getting through to Gojo and that he would eventually turn cheery. Unfortunately, one day, Nobara discovered that Gojo would be moving in with his grandfather and that Hina dolls had finally gotten him to smile.

Heartbroken, she met Gojo while he was staring at the dolls. Though attempting to invite him to spend time together, she was turned down by the boy, who had become smitten by the ceramic figures in front of him. This caused Nobara to snap, having felt like she had been replaced. She broke down in tears, criticizing Gojo for liking Hina dolls and expressing her hatred for him.

Do Gojo and his childhood friend reconcile in My Dress-Up Darling?

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Thankfully, there was a happy ending to their tale in My Dress-Up Darling, as Nobara had always felt guilty for what she said to Gojo. Having matured as a teenager, she picked up the courage to meet him at his shop, though struggling to find the right words. Gojo took the initiative by firmly sharing his love for Hina dolls, stating that he would steer clear of her, still under the belief that he was hated by his childhood friend.

Nobara finally spoke up, telling Gojo how she didn’t mean what she said as a child and that she always wanted to apologize. Tearfully, she poured her heart out, though she didn’t expect to be forgiven. After hearing her perspective, Gojo forgave her, easing a burden he had been carrying for a long time.

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