Sawako could be a real character, I actually used be like Sawako when I was child, until I changed...
She is one of those few & unique characters that would scarcely exist in the real world, there's millions of people out there, why could there not be a "Sawako?" What's not realistic in Kimi ni Todoke is that poor Sawako would actually get eaten alive in "the real world," people aren't that nice & innocent...
Anyways, she grew up naive & innocent because she didn't experience certain stuff that most teens & children do.
And Sawako probably grew up with protective parents that didn't tell her about the cruelties of the world, they probably never told her about sex! She's living almost like a hermit & she's the way she is because since her parents haven't shown her the cruelties & stuff of the world or she hasn't experience such "bad" things herself. She sees it still the world beautiful, like a born child does. She's just not... "experienced," she's not yet... "tainted." She's still pure, & I'm very attractive to purity so I guess that's why I like Sawako very much. ♥
And I can totally relate to Sawako, though we aren't 100% alike, I know why she is the way she is, & hope she doesn't change because she is beautiful, kind, & pure. And I bet she could probably kick a** if her friends were in trouble.
So, yeah, there could be a "Sawako" out there or someone similar to her. I have a friend who's 16 & she's very kind, but naive & innocent (really she is, if you'd ask her a rhetorical question she'd actually answer & everyone says she has the mind of a child & other stuff), like Sawako, because of her overly protective & strict parents. She's not a lot like Sawako but she's similar in a way.
Now, anwyays, I like how sweet & refreshing this manga can be, it makes me smile when I read/watch Kimi ni Todoke because of Sawako's good heart. Not only do I obviously like Sawako, but I like her friends as well, especially Kurumi, not actually a friend but I like her, who I find more realistic than the bunch. The art is good & the story's alright. The sweetness, innocence, & happiness that obviously seeps through the pages is what I love most. ♥
Alright, now, time to get back to reality.