“However, what happens next depends on us. As long as we do not kill anyone, this will all be fine.”
Sonia is an optimistic girl by nature. Throughout she always tries her hardest to keep a calm appearance, finding that her experience as a princess means that she should act as an inspiration for her classmates when things turn dire. That isn't to say she doesn't ever show fear or concern, but she is perhaps one of the most equipped to keep their trauma to a minimum in front of others. In chapter 4 Hinata even remarks that he hasn't seen her emotions waver in the slightest and in response she asks him if he thinks of her as a "cold woman". To her, it is a necessity as a princess even if it seems like she is keeping a distance from people. It isn't the case, however, her feelings for the others are sincere, she just won't allow anyone to fall into despair over what she considers to be human "destiny". She believes that no matter how hard they might try, if it is to be that a person is to die at a certain time--even her--then it will happen. It's one of the main reasons she keeps her head held high. To Sonia, even if she were to die in this killing game, to her it must mean that it held importance to her country. That her death would be meaningful. Her country comes first and foremost, but by the end, her friends are very close to that level.
Despite her trying so hard, in her fifth free time event with Hinata, he noticed her hands were shaking. Then finally in her sixth free time event he notices that she isn't being her usual self because he's more used to her behaviour. She finally breaks down and cries on him. She yells that she just wants to go home to her family and people. She stops trying so hard because it finally feels like she can be a normal person and rely on a friend as they've finally had the time to get to know each other. Sonia mentions that she's never had a friend her age that is equal in status, so coming to Japan to Hope's Peak Academy was like a dream. She had hoped to live as a normal, regular girl. To make friends. Go out and socialise, but sadly tells Hinata that it's impossible: "But in the end, no matter where I go...I am nothing but a princess." This comes from her unease with being unable to relax and be herself. Her secret love of studying Freemasonry, for example, is forbidden for a princess and she knows people will judge her for liking it. She only opens up to Hinata much later about this because she worries about what he will think. Image, for all intents and purposes, causes her to be afraid to let people know about her own desires and passions in life.
This doesn't only concern her emotions, either. After staying up all night worrying about Fuyuhiko after he is injured, she tells Hinata that her face looks terrible and that she must re-wash it in the hope that she improves her appearance. The whole thing is ridiculous and probably due to pressure of looking good at all times, as Hinata states he honestly thinks she just looks the same as normal.
One of the reasons she chose Japan as a destination for her studies is due to Japanese Dramas, to which she has almost an unhealthy obsession. She fantasies to Hinata about all the cliche stories and plots, seems starry eyed and emotional over the contents and even tells him that she couldn't turn away as everything unfolded in what became one of her favourites. It's safe to say that she's probably had a very lonely life in that she had her family and citizens, but no one to truly open up to. She sat and watched countless of Japanese Dramas instead of going out. Read books to study and to learn about occults, cults and different cultures.
Yet, she doesn't understand everything that happens in these dramas either. There are often a lot of mis-translations that occur by her due to her being from a different place. It can make her seem gullable, especially at the start when Teruteru would make obscene comments that she didn't quite understand. For example, one instance of this is when Teruteru asks her to help him by sucking out poison. She definitely is suspicious because it's easy to see how much of a creep he is, but doesn't realise he's likely trying to trick her into a blow job... (Thanks Danganronpa...) Alongside this, she also frequently uses slang she's heard, though it isn't always accurate. This includes calling her femininity "hella boss", using "fo' sho" in response to something and even using a metaphor that really never made any sense when following Hinata's claims he didn't understand why she was asking him if he knew about occults ("You are hopeless... Since I have already sailed this far, I shall sink you into the ocean."). She does this because she wants to fit in and seem normal, plus it also goes back to things she's probably heard in dramas. On the other hand, it is because of her translating information about "Jabberwock Island" and noting that there had been a huge Administration building in Jabberwock Park that they come to realise something is Very Off about the islands in general. She's the one who studies the information and tells Hinata her findings.
Even though Sonia is well read and has a high academic level, she has been incredibly sheltered. In her free time event she tells Hinata that it took her a while to understand how to use the shower, even admitting she hadn't realised you have to turn it off once you're finished. She accidentally flooded her bathroom because of this, which just goes to show how taken care of she had been back in Novoselic Kingdom. It's likely she had a maid who would tend to her every need because she hadn't known how to set up her own bathing area, had said she had never cleaned and often remarks on other things that would be deemed "common" by a normal person.
Of course her culture also helps shape her personality. Sonia tells Hinata a number of things as they get to know each other. One thing is about how if a couple wishes to marry, they must first show each other their Makangos. This isn't actually anything rude, a Makango is actually a type of animal in her country. Another tradition her country apparently has is that to be considered an adult, they must consume a Skong--another type of animal from her Kingdom. Sonia, however, is too good natured and worries about the long term effects such a ritual will have on these animals. She tells Hinata that when she is Queen, she will banish this tradition and try to harness their energy instead.
In the game, Hinata isn't the only person she is close to. By chapter four in the game she is often said to have left with Gundham Tanaka to go exploring. She has a great interest in what he has to say due to his links with the occult. She also takes great pleasure in seeing his four hamsters, and after his death the producer said she probably adopted them to ensure they were cared for. By this point, if anyone says a bad word about him, she immediately steps in to shut them down, no matter if there is any truth in their words. In turn, at one point, he refers to her as the "Dark Queen" and even says that there's a dark power sleeping within her. Additionally, when Gundham is found guilty, Sonia begs Monokuma to spare his life. Gundham tells her that her reaction isn't fitting of her status which makes her quieten, but even with her keep quiet it's obvious that it truly upset her.
In comparison to how Sonia acts with Gundham, she treats Kazuichi Souda coldly. This is because she sees him as a creep who won't leave her alone. She isn't wrong, really. Souda slithers after her like a sad puppy and constantly offers to do anything for her. She has sometimes used that to her advantage, but for the most part she tries to ignore him, even asking him if he said something after he tried to deliver an uplifting pep talk to the group.
Sonia also arranges a get together at the beach for the girls before it ends up cancelled due to Koizumi's murder. She tries to help Hiyoko when she struggles with her obi after Koizumi's death by telling her to try using a full length mirror. With all the girls, actually, she seems to maintain a caring attitude, while being able to be stern when it counts. This means getting people into motion when they have investigating or exploring to do. While she might not have been as supportive as Koizumi who stuck up for both Mikan and Hiyoko, she would not say bad words either.
She also wonders about the way they treat Nagito Komaeda when the others insist on trying to capture him before he does anything bad again. In Sonia's opinion, war or fights do not solve anything, she'd much rather try and solve issues diplomatically. In fact, it may be that she had been right and that them trying to trick Nagito made the situation worse overall.
Furthermore, her loyalty is unshakable. Despite the murders actually happening, Sonia insists it's hard to believe that any of their friends could do something so grave. Over and over, when they're forced to take more trials, she insists that she's tired of doubting everyone when she desperately wants to believe in them. In chapter five when Chiaki Nanami is finally revealed as the "traitor", Sonia insists that she forgives her and that no matter what they are still friends. When Gundham is found guilty she tells the others they should live on, just as he expected them to.
Not all is sunshine and daisies, however, as the group learned that they had in fact been part of the group Ultimate Despairs. After learning that they're currently in a program meant to amend their memories to before Junko Enoshima brainwashed them, Sonia is distraught that it would have all been for nothing. Leaving the program gave them very little chance that they'd remember the events in game, and instead would wake up as their old selves--still Ultimate Despairs. She, alongside Hinata and the others left standing, regain courage to do the right thing, and hope that when they awaken all of this won't be in vain. In fact, it actually ends with them deciding to stay on the island to help their friends who stay comatose after being killed in the "game" world. Despite everything they've been through, it's proof that they really did grow as people, and there is a chance that they are on their way to recovery - as a group, and as individuals as well.
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