Nidienne posted:
The "You're no longer he person I initially fell in love with"-style of development is extremely common in romantic relationships - fictional or otherwise - and it doesn't always have to be a bad thing. But in the context of this particular story, it certainly isn't a good one.
I'd argue while it's not necessarily good it doesn't mean no good can come from it at least. Even though their relationship has had that sort of development she's decided to stay with her. So even if she no longer currently feels anything for her other than an obligation or duty it's still possible for her to find something she loves regardless.
I don't hold out hope for sensei finding a new reason to love Maho. The memory of what she had fallen in love with will stay with her, and it will dull any other romantic interest that she may try to develop for Maho down the line.
I'm with telamon: the relationship is incredibly unhealthy and will only get worse over time. The best course of action for both of them would be to end it as soon as possible. Breaking up now would still go badly, but it would be less bad than kicking the can down the road.
However a breakup would have to be initiated by sensei, and her ending monologue has her specifically stating she won't do that. So the relationship will sustain itself on nothing but intertia until Maho catches on to sensei's feelings - or lack thereof - and one way or another it will come to an ugly, unpleasant end.
Maho wanted a lover and needed a parent. Sensei couldn't decide which one she wanted to be, and in trying to become both she ended up becoming neither.
last edited at Sep 10, 2016 3:05PM