Coming of age? Options

[Shiidou Hikaru]

When Hikaru is first presented to us at the beginning of episode 1, we see a cute, playful, even childish little girl. Even Umi and Fuu were surprised to find out that she was the same age as they were. However, these elements of Hikaru's character vanished very quickly. After the battle with the mud monster in episode 2, Hikaru becomes a determined young lady on a mission, and never returns to being that playful little girl in the first scene of episode 1. I've always wondered if that part of her character was lost forever. Maybe it's an expression of her coming of age?

[1004 sAkUrA]

Tragic events can really turn people around. I doubt that the whole childish character was really a permanent part of Hikaru in the first place. I have this theory that says that she used this image to bring happiness to others. She realized how much her brothers loved her and needed to protect her, so she presented a guise of just being a bright, sunny, and happy-go-lucky type of person, but once she experienced Cephiro, it overwhelmed her to the point where she knew that she couldn't keep up the act anymore.