ohh my god when you mentioned madoka magica
Damn. While I agree with this, I also think it's because Dan-I realized that Yeo is loyal to a fault, that she dismisses any sort of opportunity just to be beside Dan-I. So the existential horror would apply to both of them with the added fear that Dan-I is dragging Yeo with her
True.
The real tragedy is that Yeo-ryeong doesn’t even mean harm. If I were Dan-I, I’d be frustrated. She’s been grinding through pressure, fear, and doubt, while Yeo just says she’ll give up her spot like it’s nothing. That kind of gesture, even if meant kindly, feels dismissive. It makes all your effort feel worthless.
Because Yeo is genuinely kind, you can’t even be mad at her. So you blame yourself instead. You start thinking I’m the problem, not her—when in fact, your feelings are valid. Your dignity took a hit.
And Dan-I’s parents are just making it worse by clearly saying she’s in the wrong. I’ve heard it’s very typical for Asian parents to compare their kids with others', but here, it feels like those parents don’t even know their daughter. I’m even wondering if Dan-I was adopted, given how estranged they are from her feelings.
That’s not jealousy — that’s ontological (existential) threat.
Dan-I’s “jealousy” is such an oversimplification and a misdiagnosis. It reminds me more of: - Shadow syndrome: She’s not jealous of Yeo. She’s haunted by the self she becomes next to her. - Identity erosion: Her role, her presence, her meaning — all consumed by this “parasitic friendship.” For Dan-I, being near Yeo isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s identity-deforming. - Emotional claustrophobia: The kind where you’re not allowed to leave, not allowed to speak it, and not allowed to even feel wronged without sounding petty.
Her parents — and others — label this as “just jealousy” because it’s neater. Easier. But what Dan-I’s going through is the existential horror of being overwritten while still alive. So stepping away from Yeo isn’t some basic tantrum. It’s evasion. Escape. Self-preservation. Dan-I doesn’t hate Yeo. She fears her. Not for what Yeo does — but for what Yeo makes her feel like: a mere shadow.
Dan-I is the Madoka of side characters. Just as Madoka Magica deconstructs the magical girl genre, Inso’s Law deconstructs the role of the “side character.”