Climbing the Adachi.

ohmygod it's happening. oh tarumi you poor girl

Oh Tarumi.
You just know a part of her is going to think "If only I'd confessed first!" for the rest of her life.

But really I think Shimamura's line on pg 24 sums it up the best. Adachi would sooner die than say something like "Let's stay friends" she'd go all out constantly.
Shimamura's type is clingy girls I think, and Tarumi just doesn't fit.

Adachi’s got that greed of biblical proportions.

Poor Tarumi she needs to find herself someone.

At least Tarumi tried, which is better than a lot of people IRL.

Oh Tarumi.
You just know a part of her is going to think "If only I'd confessed first!" for the rest of her life.

But really I think Shimamura's line on pg 24 sums it up the best. Adachi would sooner die than say something like "Let's stay friends" she'd go all out constantly.
Shimamura's type is clingy girls I think, and Tarumi just doesn't fit.

Yea Adachi’s intensity and relentlessness, even though she’s extremely clumsy about it, were necessary to break through Shima’s shell. Tarumi was a good friend but never could muster the same initiative, and I don’t think confessing would really break down the barrier in the same way that everything Adachi has done

last edited at Jul 22, 2026 5:23PM

Honestly, Tarumi just showing up out of nowhere and is now in love with Shimamura too feels so weird too me.
You two haven't seen each other in years... Also what did she expect? For Shimamura to just leave Adachi?
I like this manga, but it's honestly very frustrating at times

i liked this chapter even though it was short and some see it as "unnecessary". i definitely agree when they say the confession is pointless, but hey, at least she did it! i would too. and Shima's silent response is god, i loved when she said "oh, you too?". i can't wait for what comes next :D

Dog girl mentioned?
Also, "Because in the end, I like Adachi more than her." Damn she's giving it straight, at least to the audience.

RIP Tarumi...You have joined the hundreds of childhood friends that have lost in the romance battles (Very rare for the childhood friend to win, only like 10-16% win rate in rom-coms).

Tarumi tried her best to act casual and stuff but couldn't help but cry...Which was obvious big huge signs to even our MC here that Tarumi has or had feelings for Shimamura. Went too slow and careful, didn't scout out the competition when it was still early on. Hopefully Tarumi will be able to move on after a few months-1 year later, find someone else nice and great for her.

I've never been very fond of Tarumi, but those chapters really made me empathize for her. But the inner thoughts of Shimamura were particularly on point. It's easy to think we can hold on to relationships, once something have been broken (in this case, Tarumi's heart), but most of times, it's better to move on.

Every few chapters, I'm telling to myself I should read the LN. One day, one day!

Honestly, Tarumi just showing up out of nowhere and is now in love with Shimamura too feels so weird too me.
You two haven't seen each other in years... Also what did she expect? For Shimamura to just leave Adachi?
I like this manga, but it's honestly very frustrating at times

Hardly out of nowhere, this has been building throughout the series. She clearly loved Shimamura when they were little, now that she's old enough it's not remotely weird for those feelings to turn romantic. Meeting her again must've felt like kismet, and she's clearly been falling harder each time they've met, and there have been a number of such meetings at this point, plus phone calls and texts.

Hell, when I was her age, I had crushes on girls I basically never talked to. That's just part of being a kid. But the ones where you actually do know them well and love what you see from them? Man, that's where you feel like it's just true love, and at the time you think you'll never get over it.

She didn't expect Shimamura to leave Adachi. She doesn't know anything about their relationship, and I don't think she's got enough entitlement to expect anything. She was probably hoping Shimamura would be like "Oh, my girlfriend? I dunno, I'm not that into her." so that she could feel justified making a move of her own, but Shimamura's feelings are deeper than even Shima thought they were, so when Taru saw that, it just shattered her. Hell, she might even have been hoping to just give up gracefully, leave Shimamura with something to remember her by (the drawing) and step away, maybe even maintain their friendship. But it's not that easy once the person is in front of you.

I always felt bad for Tarumi, because I know how rough it is having a crush on somebody that's into somebody else, but man this chapter really drove home the pain of it.

I've never been very fond of Tarumi, but those chapters really made me empathize for her. But the inner thoughts of Shimamura were particularly on point. It's easy to think we can hold on to relationships, once something have been broken (in this case, Tarumi's heart), but most of times, it's better to move on.

Every few chapters, I'm telling to myself I should read the LN. One day, one day!

I do recommend the audiobooks if you don't have time to read. I prefer the Japanese narration but it's also out in English.

last edited at Jul 23, 2026 2:30AM

I've never been very fond of Tarumi, but those chapters really made me empathize for her. But the inner thoughts of Shimamura were particularly on point. It's easy to think we can hold on to relationships, once something have been broken (in this case, Tarumi's heart), but most of times, it's better to move on.

Every few chapters, I'm telling to myself I should read the LN. One day, one day!

I do recommend the audiobooks if you don't have time to read. I prefer the Japanese narration but it's also out in English.

Thanks for the recommendation. I have trouble listing to audiobooks though. I'm not used to it, so I find it hard to focus. I generally only listen to them once I've read the novel version, that way it's ok if I'm not focused all along. Talking about that, the audiobooks of Otherside picnic are fantastic. The voice actresses are really great, especially the one for Toriko, if you ever get the chance.

Honestly, Tarumi just showing up out of nowhere and is now in love with Shimamura too feels so weird too me.
You two haven't seen each other in years... Also what did she expect? For Shimamura to just leave Adachi?
I like this manga, but it's honestly very frustrating at times

Hardly out of nowhere, this has been building throughout the series. She clearly loved Shimamura when they were little, now that she's old enough it's not remotely weird for those feelings to turn romantic. Meeting her again must've felt like kismet, and she's clearly been falling harder each time they've met, and there have been a number of such meetings at this point, plus phone calls and texts.

Hell, when I was her age, I had crushes on girls I basically never talked to. That's just part of being a kid. But the ones where you actually do know them well and love what you see from them? Man, that's where you feel like it's just true love, and at the time you think you'll never get over it.

She didn't expect Shimamura to leave Adachi. She doesn't know anything about their relationship, and I don't think she's got enough entitlement to expect anything. She was probably hoping Shimamura would be like "Oh, my girlfriend? I dunno, I'm not that into her." so that she could feel justified making a move of her own, but Shimamura's feelings are deeper than even Shima thought they were, so when Taru saw that, it just shattered her. Hell, she might even have been hoping to just give up gracefully, leave Shimamura with something to remember her by (the drawing) and step away, maybe even maintain their friendship. But it's not that easy once the person is in front of you.

I always felt bad for Tarumi, because I know how rough it is having a crush on somebody that's into somebody else, but man this chapter really drove home the pain of it.

It's especially hard if you are gay. Because the chances that the person that you are in love with is also gay are pretty slim to begin with, so when it happens that that person is gay, but not for you, it hits even harder. It doesn't mean you had a chance to begin with, but at least, when you think that this person is straight, you can console yourself in some way...

They have audio books?!!

They have audio books?!!

yeah! i think all the novels have been adapted now, or at least up to volume 12. worth listening to imo

I was looking forward to whatever spicy drama Tarumi was gonna bring to the story but this is just sad :,) . Especially sad since the reformed Shimamura is now a person who tries to cherish relationships. I went back to read chapter 28 where Tarumi draws Shimamura for the first time. This page is extra sad..

Wow that series is a lot more ... unhealthy in its dynamic than I thought. I only read the first 2 chapters or so to get an idea of where it's going, and I thought it would just be a cutesy series with some angst here and there, but it seems that the core of the relationship is bound for angst and misunderstanding: someone desperate for love and someone who just seems so detached from other people. I guess the point is that they will both change in the course of the series, but man it seems like a slow burn.
Can anyone say what they love about this? (no intention of reading the LN)

Edit: Decided to read from the confession (chap 38) onwards. I was wrong to say that the series is angst, but the relationship is definitely not healthy either because man, Adachi is such a bundle of anxiety and possessiveness. Again I assume that the point is that they will both, over time, work through their issues (as Shimamura is doing it) but it's a bit over the top with Adachi, though I can see why some people would enjoy this overall.

last edited at Jul 23, 2026 8:53AM

Wow that series is a lot more ... unhealthy in its dynamic than I thought. I only read the first 2 chapters or so to get an idea of where it's going, and I thought it would just be a cutesy series with some angst here and there, but it seems that the core of the relationship is bound for angst and misunderstanding: someone desperate for love and someone who just seems so detached from other people. I guess the point is that they will both change in the course of the series, but man it seems like a slow burn.
Can anyone say what they love about this? (no intention of reading the LN)

Welcome to Hitoma Iruma. This is his least toxic novel.

I love messy relationships, they're complex and full of all the contradictory emotions that are part of being a person.

Wow that series is a lot more ... unhealthy in its dynamic than I thought. I only read the first 2 chapters or so to get an idea of where it's going, and I thought it would just be a cutesy series with some angst here and there, but it seems that the core of the relationship is bound for angst and misunderstanding: someone desperate for love and someone who just seems so detached from other people. I guess the point is that they will both change in the course of the series, but man it seems like a slow burn.
Can anyone say what they love about this? (no intention of reading the LN)

I like it for what you have seen from the main characters. Don't we all have a bit (or a lot) of Adachi and Shimamura in ourselves haha. Despite it's characters and the themes it explores, this manga isn't too angsty. It's mostly chill and cute. Yeah the story development is slow.

RIP Tarumi...You have joined the hundreds of childhood friends that have lost in the romance battles (Very rare for the childhood friend to win, only like 10-16% win rate in rom-coms).

I'm sad for Tarumi, but not too much. She's had her chance, and she wasted it (like all damn childhood friends do, always so passive until it's too late).

Wow that series is a lot more ... unhealthy in its dynamic than I thought. I only read the first 2 chapters or so to get an idea of where it's going, and I thought it would just be a cutesy series with some angst here and there, but it seems that the core of the relationship is bound for angst and misunderstanding: someone desperate for love and someone who just seems so detached from other people. I guess the point is that they will both change in the course of the series, but man it seems like a slow burn.
Can anyone say what they love about this? (no intention of reading the LN)

Edit: Decided to read from the confession (chap 38) onwards. I was wrong to say that the series is angst, but the relationship is definitely not healthy either because man, Adachi is such a bundle of anxiety and possessiveness. Again I assume that the point is that they will both, over time, work through their issues (as Shimamura is doing it) but it's a bit over the top with Adachi, though I can see why some people would enjoy this overall.

While I do agree that we see a lot of progress on Shimamura's side, I actually don't think Adachi changes much throughout lol. This is probably why I much prefer Shimamura's chapters. While Adachi has some interesting moments (like the breakdown in chapter 30), her thoughts get kind of repetitive, because she basically just obsesses over Shimamura all the time. But I really enjoy how introspective this series is, it truly feels like you get into the characters head when you read it (even more so in the novels). What actually ruined my enjoyment of the novels waw the over-the-top exploration of what-if and AU scenarios, which thankfully seem to have been reduced in the manga(?).

Shima is a good girl. ^_^

And that smooch was smooooooth...

Very tempting...