Fruits Basket, Tome 4

Fruits Basket's characters feel so real and layered—I'm curious whether the author planned their growth from the start or evolved them organically as the story progressed.

The manga seamlessly shifts from lighthearted moments to emotional depth, which really kept me engaged. Was this a deliberate tone choice by Takaya?

The curse adds such a unique layer to the story—I'm wondering if it was inspired by any specific cultural myths or if it evolved from Takaya's personal ideas.