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?

[Shiidou Hikaru]

That's possible because her childlike genkiness (is that a word?) disappeared rather quickly in Cephiro. By the second epsiode, she is a serious young lady on a mission. The mission may have just changed Hikaru's focus. All of the sudden her boundless energy had something to focus on, making her the motivated leader of the group. Surely without Hikaru leading them, Umi and Fuu would never have become the Magic knights.

Hikaru-chan's Magic Knight Rayearth Message Board