Line #41 Webcomic/HesHarmlessISwear


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hesharmlessiswear_02.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350: [[NiceGirl Tammy]] and [[{{Yandere}} Tomoya]]]]
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4	''He's Harmless I Swear!'' is an English-language webcomic by Basil the Bear. It can be read on Platform/{{Webtoons}}. The story is currently in progress, and is being updated every Friday at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
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6	The story stars a young woman named Thomasina "Tammy" Walker, who harbors a crush on her adorable next door neighbor, Tomoya Akamine. Her dream of being his girlfriend comes true when Tomoya's sweet but shy little dog, Nala, brings them together. However, Tomoya turns out to be hiding a past that he clearly doesn't want to share immediately. But as their relationship grows, Tammy can't help but notice a side to Tomoya that is a little...odd, to say the least.
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8	The original version is [[https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/hes-harmless-i-swear-old-version/list?title_no=199577 here]]. The remake is [[https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/hes-harmless-i-swear/list?title_no=543881 here]].
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10	!!This work contains examples of:
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12	* AbusiveParents: Tomoya's dad was abusive to his mom, as well as him and Soya.
13	%%* BathtubScene: Tomoya gets one.
14	* BewareTheNiceOnes: [[ShrinkingViolet Tomoya]] might be sweet and shy, not to mention [[BreakTheCutie traumatized]] due to the [[DomesticAbuse abuse]] he suffered at the hands of [[ClingyJealousGirl Olivia]], but he has a dark and murderous side that comes out when he, [[MoralityChain Tammy]], or [[PreciousPuppy Nala]] is in danger. He even carries a taser around, precisely for this purpose.
15	* BigBrotherInstinct: Inverted, Soya is a little girl, but she is extremely protective of Tomoya because she believes that Tammy will abuse him the same way Olivia did. It's exactly why she doesn't like her...at least, at first.
16	* BigBrotherWorship: Soya very greatly admires Tomoya. It's exactly why she's heartbroken at the fact that he never comes to her violin recitals, all because of his [[ClingyJealousGirl possessive girlfriend, Olivia]].
17	* BreakTheCutie: Poor Tomoya. Not only was he abused at home by his father, which led to him developing a {{split personality}}. He then entered a relationship with [[ClingyJealousGirl Olivia]], which turned out to be abusive as well. As a result, he has no clue what a proper and non-toxic relationship feels like by the time he moves on to [[NiceGirl Tammy]]. He even gives Tammy full permission to go through all of his calls and social media just because she gave the impression that she thought he was going back to Olivia.
18	* ClingyJealousGirl: Olivia, when she was in a relationship with Tomoya, brutally attacks him for things such as talking to other women, even if those women are his coworkers or boss. This is despite her [[DoubleStandard dating other men herself]].
19	* CoolBigSis: Although not a biological one, Tammy is slowly becoming this to Soya. Her mom even describes her as a "mature young lady".
20	* CrushBlush: Tomoya's cheeks go bright red around his crush Tammy.
21	* CurlyHairIsUgly: Tammy is Black and her parents demand that she straighten her hair every time she meets up with them for a business dinner, which she is clearly upset about. Tomoya at least thinks [[AvertedTrope her naturally kinky hair is cute!]]
22	* TheCutie: Tomoya, despite being a fully grown adult. He's still an adorable guy who's been through so much abuse in his life that you just want to give him a hug. Tammy also, to a lesser extent.
23	* DomesticAbuse: Tomoya's dad abused both the kids and his own wife. Later on, Olivia does this to Tomoya as well.
24	* DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale: Hard aversion. Tomoya at first thinks that Tammy will laugh at the fact that a man like him was abused by a tiny woman like Olivia. Tammy angrily responds that it is not laughable in the slightest, that male domestic abuse victims are actually quite common, and that society should take them more seriously. Tomoya feels comforted after that, and the story takes Tammy's side as well.
25	* EvilRedhead: "Evil" is a stretch, but Tomoya has red hair, and is capable of turning violent when confronted with a threat, or when Tammy or Nala are. Tammy senses that there's something off about him but she doesn't know what. [[spoiler:What's actually wrong is that he has a [[SplitPersonality Split Personality]] named Sam, who happens to be a {{Yandere}}.]]
26	* EyeScream: Poor Tomoya has a scar crossing his right eye because of Olivia.
27	* TheFashionista: Tammy sure does like to dress in style!
28	* FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse: It's revealed in later chapters that Olivia's father is abusive and controlling, constantly threatening to take away custody of her son, Dillan, and even forced Olivia [[spoiler: to sabotage her relationship with Tomoya]]. This ''in no way'' excuses her actions,the pain she put Tomoya through, or the fact that she neglects her son often and even tried to use him to manipulate Tomoya. Olivia herself even admits that her father was only "40% responsible" for her actions, and that she actually enjoyed abusing Tomoya because she like the feeling of control it gave her.
29	%%* GirlishPigtails: Tammy sprouts Afro-puffs at one point. Tomoya compliments her on them as well.
30	* HarmfulToMinors: Tomoya and Soya were abused by their father from an early age. And then Soya becomes jaded as Tomoya moves on to Olivia, who abuses him.
31	* ImportantHaircut: Right before meeting Tammy's parents, Tomoya cuts his hair, saying that he can't hide behind it any longer.
32	* LadyInRed: Tammy wears a simple, sleek, and elegant red dress when taking Tomoya to visit her parents.
33	* LightFeminineAndDarkFeminine: Tammy is sweet, kind, friendly, and helps Tomoya out with his trauma as a result of his abuse. Olivia, on the other hand, is brash, rude, violent, and the one who gave Tomoya that trauma in the first place.
34	* LoveAtFirstSight: Tammy fell in love with Tomoya the moment she saw him.
35	%%* MrFanservice: Tomoya, he even gets a BathtubScene!
36	%%* MsFanservice: Tammy, to a lesser extent.
37	%%* NiceGirl: Tammy, the perfect change of pace for Tomoya after his breakup with the [[DomesticAbuse abusive]] and [[ClingyJealousGirl jealous]] Olivia.
38	* PinkMeansFeminine: This seems to be Olivia's main color. Her type of femininity revolves around [[DecoyDamsel playing the damsel]] so as to [[WoundedGazelleGambit lay the police off her trail]], and she takes pride in the fact that, due to her being a [[WomenAreDelicate woman]], she can [[DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale get "away" with abuse]].
39	%%* PreciousPuppy: Nala. Tomoya has to take extra good care of her, especially since, due to Olivia's abuse, she lost a leg. Unfortunately, she's just as traumatized by her as Tomoya is.
40	%%* PsychoPink: Olivia. Beneath the sweet and loving facade is an abusive monster who batters Tomoya for daring to talk to other girls, even if nothing romantic is going on between them.
41	* RedEyesTakeWarning: Tomoya when he goes {{Yandere}}-mode [[spoiler:as Sam]] has red eyes. Although it's likely not in-universe.
42	* RedIsViolent: Red is the color [[{{Yandere}} Tomoya]] is associated with the most, due to his red hair and warning-sign eyes. He also has a hidden murderous side [[spoiler:due to his [[SplitPersonality Split Personality]], Sam, a protective alter born to cope with his childhood abuse]], although he's only violent when necessary.
43	* RedOniBlueOni: Tomoya is the Red to Tammy's Blue. He may seem sweet on the outside, and for the most part, [[TheCutie he is!]] But he's also a {{Yandere}} who will do anything to protect Tammy and will even kill for her. Tammy, meanwhile, is more cool and levelheaded, helps Tomoya out with his issues with a soothing touch, and even says she'll [[MoralityChain reign him in before he kills anyone]] when he's feeling particularly murderous.
44	* SanitySlippage: [[BreakTheCutie Tomoya]] undergoes this multiple times throughout the webcomic. [[spoiler:Most of the time, it's actually Sam.]]
45	* ScarsAreForever: Olivia gave Tomoya a scar [[EyeScream on his right eye]] during one particularly [[DomesticAbuse abusive]] fit. It's still there to this day.
46	* ShowWithinAShow: "D Adventures", which Tomoya, Ichirou, and Olivia liked when they were little kids. [[spoiler:It's where Tomoya got [[SplitPersonality the name Sam]] from.]]
47	* ShoutOut: Nala is named after the character from ''WesternAnimation/{{The Lion King\|1994}}''.
48	* ShrinkingViolet: Tomoya, and [[DomesticAbuse can you]] [[EyeScream blame]] [[BreakTheCutie him?]]
49	* SplitPersonality: It turns out that [[spoiler:Tomoya has one named Sam. Named after [[ShowWithinAShow a child's cartoon character]], he serves to protect Tomoya and all that he loves. Deconstructed since this turns out to be the result of [[HarmfulToMinors childhood trauma]] and [[DomesticAbuse domestic abuse]]. Due to accusations that the writer could be [[TheMentallyDisturbed demonizing DID by portraying Sam as a murderer]], Basil is careful to show him in as accurate a light as possible. The only reason he kills his father is [[SympatheticMurderer to save his family from his abuse]]. Tammy even lampshades this by saying that he's not the stereotypical depiction of Multiple Personality Disorder, because he actually has a purpose: to protect his host and the people he loves.]]
50	* UncattyResemblance: {{Discussed\|Trope}}. When Tomoya says that his dog Nala is a fighter, Tammy brings up the idea that a dog reflects their owner and says she bets that Nala learned it from him, though after she leaves, Tomoya privately disagrees, since he doesn't see himself as brave.
51	%%* UnlimitedWardrobe: Tammy.
52	* ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend: Tammy makes it no secret that she will pop [[ClingyJealousGirl Olivia]] in the kisser if she comes for Tomoya again.
53	* WolfWhistle: While walking through the dark city streets during her date with Tomoya, Tammy is subjected to one of these by a male stranger. Tomoya finds it disrespectful, but Tammy says it's ''[[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming just what's bound to happen when you're a pretty lady in New York]]''. Tomoya then expresses displeasure that women have to go through that.
54	* {{Yandere}}: Tomoya is a unique depiction of this. He doesn't ACTUALLY [[MurderTheHypotenuse Murder the Hypotenuse]], but he does have a hidden dark and murderous side that comes out when Tammy is threatened. He even says he'd [[AxCrazy kill for Tammy if she just said the word!]] [[spoiler:This is because of his [[SplitPersonality Split Personality]], Sam, who he created to protect him from abuse.]] What makes him unique from other examples(aside from being [[AlwaysFemale male]], that is) is that he doesn't actually abuse Tammy, he is fully accepting if Tammy wants to break up with him, even saying he won't force her or beg her to stay because he doesn't want to chain her to him out of fear nor pity, and he understands if Tammy were to want to break up with him. [[spoiler:He even admits to Tammy that the existence of Sam could be a dealbreaker. It's exactly why he didn't tell her about it, because they like her.]]

Context Webcomic / HesHarmlessISwear