YMMV / Ring Of Ouroboros

• Adorkable: Kariya has his moments, as an innocent kid or whenever Aoi is around.
• Angst? What Angst?: Kariya doesn't seem to be too bothered about being raped by the crest worms every night. At least until he reaches puberty and starts being conscious of how wrong it is.
• Heartwarming in Hindsight: In the fic Byakuya cares about Shinji, despite being an aloof father. This contradicts the canon that he was a Bitch in Sheep's Clothing that pretended to care for his son until he found the truths of the Matou family. Years later, the Heaven's Feel manga was published, revealing that Byakuya did care about Shinji at some point.....or at least wanted him to have a normal life away from magecraft.
• Heartwarming Moments:
  • 6-year old Byakuya consoling his baby brother after his night in the worm pit and continuing to do so for years. Too bad it doesn't last.
  • Kariya meeting Aoi for the first time as children.
  • Despite his selfish desire for Kariya to stay in the Matou house forever, even Byakuya doesn't want Aoi to suffer to the worms, saying she's too good for that.
  • Kariya getting his first camera and taking his first photo together with Aoi on spring.
  • When Sakura finds Byakuya's diary, she realizes how much of a crappy life he had. The only positive thing written on it? Watching his son grow up.
  • Despite all the suffering the Matous went through (some deserved and some not) at least Sakura gets a happy ending together with Shirou.
  • Sakura finally understanding why Kariya sacrificed himself for her back in Fate/Zero. And while she doesn't forgive Byakuya, she at least understand why he did what he did.
  • Finally, Sakura being consoled by Shirou and Rider as she reads the diary.
• Nightmare Fuel: The worm pit and the crest worms. Such as when they rape a 3-year old Kariya (with Byakuya bitterly thinking how he's just a baby).
  • The Matou brothers' mother being eaten alive in the first chapter. And Zouken forcing a toddler Byakuya to watch.
  • Chapter 8, a detailed description of Sakura's first days with the Matous and how she became an emotionless little girl.
• Wangst: Byakuya, who never stops whining about how unfair his life is, as he lets Zouken screw over people because he's too scared and apathetic to do anything.
• The Scrappy: Shinji. He doesn't have too many appearances due to Byakuya locking him out of the loop of the family's secrets, but those times he shows up, he establishes himself as a spoiled brat, mocking his father's alcoholism and laughing at Sakura when she eats poisoned food at dinner. Makes you wonder why Byakuya wants to protect the little shit so much.
• Too Bleak, Stopped Caring: The series is relentlessly grim, with nothing ever going well for anybody.
• The Woobie: pretty much all the Matous except Zouken and Shinji qualify.

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