>>58282678In Pokemon, Ash doesn't pick up on Serena's interest in him because it's already an established character trait that he has very little emotional intelligence when it comes to love. The cases of Misty (Vague and exaggerated by the dub) Anabel, Angie ect demonstrate that Ash is simply not good at reading the more mature emotions girls might have.
Ash not realizing anything until she kisses him ultimately makes sense and is also good for the show's genre. One that rarely focuses on romance.
Let's not mind that Dinosaur King is basically the exact same show but allowed onscreen kisses. People frequently compare Naruto and Hinata's dynamc to Ash and Serena. Just like Ash and Serena it has a contentious relationship with another, non-canon pairing that is popular among people who dropped the series.
Just like Ash and Serena it features a sqeet girl who is in love with a boisterous but good-natured boy. They both feature the childhood meeting trope. Serena debutes shortly before Naruto and Hinata become official and have children. These pairings are intrinsically tied.
But Amour > NaruHina. It's not even close.
The things holding Amour "Back" in the canon are realistic and practical. Young boys don't often presume that a girl likes them, and Ash RARELY ever showed any interest in romance at all.
Naruto on the other hand was openly perverted, yet ignored the bustiest girl in the village. Naruto had psychic empath abilities, but didn't KNOW that Hinata was in love with him? Naruto once READ HINATA'S PSYCHE and did not pick up on this fact? Naruto had to be shown Hinata's entire life story from her perspective in order to get the message. Naruto got Jean Gray'd into love. Naruto is a horrible version of this trope. Amour is a hopeful version of this trope.
Hinata deserved better than what the writing gave her. Naruto shouldn't have continued to pursue Sakura after her confession. Naruto shouldn't have needed a genjutsu mindfuck to get it.
