sorry i missed the abortion part where was it? -.-

So far it's 100% based on sempai looking at her stomach one morning, at least from what I can see here in the comments. Because that's the main reason a woman would look at her stomach, right?

I'd prefer if the story didn't go there, but even if it does I'll keep on reading. After all, I ain't the one tellin' it.

So I'm not the only one lost thinking from where the abortion thing came out, I'm okay reading speculations but I'm amazed of what you guys build up with so little.

Well, there's a few reasons why a woman would look at her stomach, but not the way it portrayed by the artist here.

1- She thinks she's fat/gained weight -
Usually the girl will pinch her love handles, this is the "go to" way of portraying that. Plus she's lean and not fat at all.

This reason is doubtful.

2 - Period cramps - Usually the women will do some form of momentary relief via applying pressure. There's also the fact it wasn't mentioned previously in the chapter.

3 - SHIT HIT THE FAN IN YURIDOM - The way she put her hands on her belly is how most "oh baby stuff" is drawn or shown, even on TV or other medium.

There's also the ".........." ( does this have a term? ) and more than lengthy pondering by her which suggest something a lot more impactful than having a few pounds or cramps.

She also stated that was sexually active in her teenage years. This may turn out to be a lie, but right now we'll assume what she say is true.

The most compelling reason to me though is the fact thatthis manga does it's revelations in subtlety, never overtly. Like the father's alleged death. We catch small glimpse of their darker moments. So the whole stomach thing in chapter 5 is in alignment with other sinister happenings of this work.

last edited at Mar 6, 2014 2:02PM

HigaShou had already shown to have a talented hand with subtlety and privacy when it comes to relationships and personal issues, (e.g. Prism) it's something I like a lot and wish some artists would take note off when writing (kind of) serious stories.
Sure, to get invested, there need to be some infos to the reader, but stuff like that is mostly kept to oneself if it can be helped and not dumped onto the reader in exposition.

Am I the only one going to say it? This manga is horseshit without any yuri. The only positive thing about this manga is the art.

HigaShou had already shown to have a talented hand with subtlety and privacy when it comes to relationships and personal issues, (e.g. Prism) it's something I like a lot and wish some artists would take note off when writing (kind of) serious stories.
Sure, to get invested, there need to be some infos to the reader, but stuff like that is mostly kept to oneself if it can be helped and not dumped onto the reader in exposition.

Yeah, I agree with all of this. Something about his sensibility makes these situations really engaging to read, but with lasting, compelling depth that doesn't feel unearned- in Prism it was this way, at least. It's why I like this too, besides all the cute subtext.

Am I the only one going to say it? This manga is horseshit without any yuri. The only positive thing about this manga is the art.

You're free to believe

Am I the only one going to say it? This manga is horseshit without any yuri. The only positive thing about this manga is the art.

It's all subtext and intrigue masked by fluffy stretching and whatnot. Technically there isn't any yuri at all (you need some yuri goggles to see it, albeit cheap ones). I think it's something really interesting even without the great art, though the quality and subtle detail seriously help pull it all together.

This manga just gets better and better with each chapter. I'm loving the quick releases, too. THIS IS GREAT

Darn it, was hoping her "boyfriend" was really a girlfriend. Oh well, the story is still worth a read.

So new details with chapter eleven are:
--> Keiko had a fiance AND SHE broke up with him shortly after New Year (that was 3 months ago, Golden week is in last day/s April-May)
--> She used to look after Ran during their high school and her reason, "She's just so adorable . . . I couldn't help it..." albeit she defended it as meant to be like a little sister. for now, let's accept her defense
--> Something happened that's why her friend Saki was worried about her
--> Keiko is the type of person who puts a tough front, meaning she doesn't let others know her true feelings, and she always changes the topic which may be due to that
--> She has issues with her mother, AND she's not ready to FORGIVE her yet (whew, such a heavy word)

Ambiguities:
--> Was she really engaged? Was her boyfriend really a boyfriend as in a man? Or was our yuri radar right? Our yuri has still a chance, hopefully
--> What really happened to Keiko?

With these, we can now add support to our list of speculations:
--> Keiko either had an abortion pressured by her mother that's why she can't forgive her
--> Or, considering risingstar3110's wild pokemon err speculation, Keiko really had a relationship with a woman before. And to add into that, they were forcefully separated by her mother

If you still can't see why we have this abortion thing, see Evilnemesis' arguments above

This manga just gets better and better with each chapter. I'm loving the quick releases, too. THIS IS GREAT

I don't know japanese but looks like it's released monthly with some months being released twice. Looks like last chapter is #16 and was published 27/02.

I like how the chapters are turning into less instruction manual and more actual plot. There's also a ton of family drama to savour, and despite the complaints about the boyfriend, and now the most recent news about the fiance, I think there's still quite a bit of subtext going on. This is particularly the case with Ran in chapter 10, but there's also a bit from Keiko too because although she was a delinquent she treated Ran well. It's even commented on: http://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/stretch_ch11#7 (though I don't think anybody missed that one). Anyway, yuri or no yuri, I'm still eager to see how this story unfolds.

Couldn't get enough of that Saeki's bullying face. http://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/stretch_ch11#5
Anyhow, I am thinking that the story is going to get more drama and once it gets there, forget all about stretching.

So the manga ditched stretching in favor of an actual plot?

^
^Hmm... she was looking at her stomach and now cried in hospital clothes... may be you're right, and may be she even can't have child anymore.

Nah, whatever, I don't care about her past, I assume almost all highschool girls in Japan are not pure anymore, and if a girl didn't love girls from the start, that means she was with a guy before, so even if she had a fiance, or even abortion before, it's not a big deal, she's an adult after all.

last edited at Mar 7, 2014 9:16AM

Am I the only one going to say it? This manga is horseshit without any yuri. The only positive thing about this manga is the art.

I'm with you. Don't really care about the yuri tease thing anymore. It's really an outdated concept with all the real yuri manga/anime out there now. The art is nice though, so I just skim through the pages to look at it.

I still dont' really buy the abortion thing until I see solid evidence about that however, this story is taking a turn for the depressing. Can't we have some carefree and fluffy love story like Prism mr. Shou? :(

So the manga ditched stretching in favor of an actual plot?

Nah, Stretching will return.

While Keiko's sexual orientation maybe questionable, this is not yuri.

So the manga ditched stretching in favor of an actual plot?

Nah, Stretching will return.

While Keiko's sexual orientation maybe questionable, this is not yuri.

NOT YURI!!!? shocking never expected that.

Saeki knows what's about (Ch11p8, about putting a tough front) but was surprised when she heard Keiko broke with her fiancee, so I don't think it was an abortion... or at least not from a pregnancy from her fiancee.

I bet for her step father / mother's boyfriend raping her.

In the other hand in chapter 2 Keiko comments her hips are sore all the time, and Ran gives a strange look an changes the topic. Maybe an accident?

All this going on about abortion and stuff

You know... I'm here for the stretching

last edited at Mar 7, 2014 2:41PM

Yeah, it doesn't have to be an abortion she could have just had a breakdown and was in the hospital. Like she didn't want to marry her fiance and she tried to get approval from her mom but her mom yelled at her and that's why she was crying. (but then what about the stomach part... unless she found out she was infertile) I can't wait for the manga to finish so we don't have to speculate anymore xD

I agree I dislike yuri teasing so much too I hope it's not that.

I really want it to be yuri, but even if it isn't I'm still going to enjoy this manga. Love the art, love the subtlety in plot development, and, unlike an increasing number of people, I love the speculation going into this...I'm confident this is going to be a good read no matter which way it goes, especially if they keep releasing the chapters this fast

man you guys are doing the most with these theories
what if she was just like "hmm, am i losing weight cuz of those stretches?"

I really want it to be yuri, but even if it isn't I'm still going to enjoy this manga. Love the art, love the subtlety in plot development, and, unlike an increasing number of people, I love the speculation going into this...I'm confident this is going to be a good read no matter which way it goes, especially if they keep releasing the chapters this fast

I second this! ^

For all the flak that Sou gets here (or those who only drop by to complain about how much it sucks) is really interesting to see at least 3 chapters of Stretch on the 'most popular' list.

I really, really want him to either continue Prism or do another Yuri series.