Oof that was hard to read, seeing everyone act normal around Yuzu but knowing she's still devastated. I'm surprised Yuzu saw the letter and didn't attempt a way to get Mei out of the situation. Or maybe she did and we just won't get to see it for a while.

I have the feeling she didn't because she's too kind. Perhaps, not in the same fashion than Mei, since she has little self-confidence, she didn't want to imposer herself on Mei and didn't want to hinder her project, no matter how hard it hurt her.

I have a feeling Matsuri is going to be a major player in getting things back to normal. Although it'd be kind of cheesy, I wonder if she, Harumin and the others are going to step up and help Yuzu out this time instead of it being the other way around for once. Since this chapter focused on them secretly hurting from watching Yuzu pretend things were okay rather than Yuzu herself.

I thought so too, but I kinda want Harumin to be the one ultimately helping Yuzu. It would be like the ultimate proof that their friendship is definitely something special. That said, I think Matsuri kind of give up helping them when she heard about the engagement, so I don't know if she'll do something to make things up again; perhaps I'm wrong.

They were in the story just to cause some rucks, not make it go forward or anything. A Citrus classic, if I must say.

I read on reddit in the anime comments somebody saying that SU could have replaced this story line with any other kind of drama. So the thing we can accuse them of is being kind of generic and forgettable. But they did made thing go forward, in addition to make Yuzu realise she had to consider Mei's feelings, they gave us one of the cutest confession ever.

[...] Mei isn't the only one who Yuzu has change for the better with her warm personality. I really want to see where Harumin stand on her bestfriend's situation. we do have a hunch that she is just playing dumb because as Matsuri said that Harumin is the type of person who doesn't want to be personally involve with other people's problem. but I don't think she will just watch in silent and lowkey help Yuzu just like before.

I can't agree more.

but I really admire Yuzu for respecting Mei's decision even though she was head over heels in love with her. that's effing true love right there. imo Yuzu is just a really great character.

When you love someone, you need to be able to let them go... Yuzu is indeed a very good protagonist of a melodrama - will it become a tragedy at this point?

I do wonder...does this even have a purpose for this chapter? It's super depressing and I'm kinda wondering what Saburota is planning. Is she planning something awful to the end? Or is there going to be a good ending? Cause this right here...I don't know what to say about it.

Ehhhh autor say Citrus will have happy ending..

I do wonder...does this even have a purpose for this chapter?

To make the intrigue go forward and make people feel bad. To make Yuzu suffer, perhaps. Or to show to Mei that going the way everybody expects you to go isn't the best way for you or your loved ones.

Unless SU goes back on her words, an happy-end is to be expected, but otherwise, it could be a good lesson on how hating on yourself ends up hurting everybody close to you as well.

Re-reading volume 8 to soothe my heart... Knowing what happens later makes it a bit more painful, though.

last edited at Feb 19, 2018 1:31PM

Mei must realize she deserves Yuzu's love. Question, will this epiphany, about erasing her self-hate, happen by herself or with the help of someone?

One way or another, even if the marriage was decided by Mei or their tradition, Udagawa-san can still back out if he feels like it (if he's the fiancé). I didn't think there's a possibility of Citrus going over them being high schoolers but now I kinda want to see how this would be laid out.

I don't think it matters if fiance backs out. The point is its an ingrained tradition - this fiance backs out, no worries, Gramps has got 3 more waiting in the wings! It's probably part of why I enjoy the fiance subplot a lot more than most people around here do lol, because imo it forces character progression. First fiance was a copout because dude was just a creepy sexual harasser, but by bringing in 2nd fiance it confirms the only way to break this cycle is if MEI herself takes action and wants to break the cycle. Clearly, we're not there yet, but I'm looking forward to how it shakes out

last edited at Feb 19, 2018 2:21PM

Flip it around and you notice that Mei is misunderstood, she loves Yuzu, you cannot deny that she does

Yes, you can. Shou left the school and his family to live the life that he wanted. Mei can't even leave the shitty school to be with the girl she loves, only explanation is that she never actually loved her in the first place.

Yes, because humans never have conflicting feelings and motivations. Humans never want multiple, different things that are sometimes diagonally opposed to each other. Humans are simple, uncomplicated creatures that only ever operate with one single motivation in mind. And obviously, love is the most important motivation of all. Therefore, if you are not prepared to drop your own family (whom you love) and all other dreams you might have (like running the academy) like hot potatoes the moment love enters the picture, then the only possible explanation is that it was not love in the first place. You nailed it. As usual.

Let's not forget that Shou leaving the school is arguably what triggered this whole process, throwing Mei under the bus in the first place. Mei is positioned to understand the burdens of responsibility, moreso because she was fucked over by her dad ignoring his, and likely saw how her gramps was affected by Shou leaving too. Maybe this is an East/West perspective thing, but I have a lot of sympathy for Mei's almost tragic dedication to duty and filial piety. It's easy to say Mei should just choose love and fuck all, but from an Asian perspective that's fucking irresponsible and careless (i.e Shou), and lbr she quite literally hasn't reached that at this point in the story anyway, and its pretty understandable why.

Wow, I haven't been this depressed since I watched Yamibou. =(

Dude you overreacting.

I'm just going to copy and paste an excellent analysis of previous volumes and how they tie with Mei's letter made by an insightful anon at /u/

Volume 1 - Had Harumin explain how relationships between girls worked at their school and established the deal with fiances. Also had Mei's grandfather as a huge influence on Mei.

Volume 2 - Yuzu learned of Mei's troubled upbringing and dedication to the school from Himeko. Then Shou shows up and we're given the message that there's no one way to live your life.

Volume 3 - Matsuri is there to trigger Mei's jealousy to get her to pursue Yuzu. And while the reader is made to doubt Matsuri's observations, most of them about Mei do ring true to some extent in hindsight.

Volume 4 - Shows that Mei is willing to try to run away from her problems.

Volume 5 - Mitsuko forces Yuzu and Mei to make hard choices, but also introduces the concept of creating your own path with a strong will. Volume also showed how much Mei loved the school, even having to hide her grandpa's photo when kissing Yuzu in his office.

Volume 6 - Yuzu and Mei's relationship intensifies and the ring is given to Mei, which triggers her deeper feelings. Mei acting awkward while comforting Yuzu in the library now has a more negative meaning in hindsight.

Volume 7 - Mei starts actively trying to figure out if she loves Yuzu. By the end of the volume she realizes that she does.

Volume 8 - Sexual tension reaches its peak and is really the "calm before the storm" of volume 9.

Volume 9 - Everything starts to go to hell when Matsuri learns of Mei's engagement. Their friends worry and ponder their future, Yuzu is oblivious to why Mei is acting weird, while Mei is obviously torn. Eventually the guilt overwhelms Mei when Yuzu is thinking of their future together, so timeskip to after Mei bails in order to fulfill her duties. We get a short "where are they now" of the rest of the cast.

Honestly I'm confused as why people are taking these development this hard or assuming this will only end in a het, loveless marriage. I mean, if this were an het story and Yuzu were an idealistic if commoner guy, everyone would be confident on this being just another obstacle to be solved by true love~

Oh, and nothing is really know about Saburota's personal life beyond what she shared on that German interview.

last edited at Feb 19, 2018 4:51PM

Honestly I'm confused as why people are taking these development this hard [...].

That I can explain for my part and I think it makes sense if you're invested in the characters, or if you place yourself in Yuzu's place (or even in Mei's). As many people said, it's not the destination but how you get there that counts. Of course, if you read the afterwords, you know the author is wishing for a happy ending (meaning she will do it), that doesn't remove the fact that the road towards that happy ending is filled with drawbacks and suffering.

And damn this break-up is suffering. I said I wasn't completely surprised by this chapter because there were still some surprise. I would have thought we'd actually see Mei struggle to make her choice and finally choose Yuzu after some stuff happened that made her realise Yuzu was, for her, the most important thing of all (or I hope she would realise this). So having them break-up and Mei actually making the choice without consulting Yuzu is actually similar to Mei making her choice without consulting us either. We don't see her process of thoughts, nor do we see her struggle (except for one chapter and the previous ones if you know what's coming), so in a way, the time skip SU did is almost on the same scale of betrayal than Mei breaking up with Yuzu through a letter; Yuzu's reaction being our own reactions after SU said betrayal. We were promised that they'd get over everything, but they didn't.

Of course, she just postponed the resolution to an ulterior moment, but it still hurt. The more I think about it, the more this chapter makes sense, the more I find it well done and that it fit in the story - and perhaps I'll think of it as one of the best chapter she did (but I may be pushing it, I didn't think favourite chapters yet); those expressions are maybe some of the best she did as well. The only thing I mad at is the (most likely) wait of two months...

Edit This reminds me, about the arranged marriage, everything is explained in Chapter 33 already. Well, I guess the discussion's over now, anyway.

Mei must realize she deserves Yuzu's love. Question, will this epiphany, about erasing her self-hate, happen by herself or with the help of someone?

Yes! The wait will be too long to have that answer...

last edited at Feb 20, 2018 7:57AM

Some simple things dont necessarily have to be explained.

Except its not simple, if it were then Yuzu would have seen it coming. I guess she just isn't as keen on traditional Japanese culture like you guys.

She didnt see it come because shes naiive and in her first love phase. Has nothing to do with knowing "Japanese culture like you guys."

wow the feels.
Well done on the authors part. The atmosphere weighs a tonne.

@Dark_Tzitzimine

why wouldn't everyone not be shocked with this sudden turn of events? when the latest chapters before chapter 36 are all about Mei falling in love with Yuzu and reciprocating her advances that we were all convinced that this would be the time, she'd actually fight to be with Yuzu. it's like Mei just throw away five volumes worth of her character development.

After everything Mei and Yuzu went through as a couple. Who the f*ck would thought that Mei would actually choose to marry some random guy and inherit the academy over Yuzu? LOL it's like a f*cking sick joke from Sabuoro Uta.

Well, Mei has just become the antagonist of her own love story with Yuzu. so I guess it's all right to hate her for now. what a b*tch.

last edited at Feb 19, 2018 11:42PM

It’s so damn generic and uninteresting, that’s why we’re pissed. Do people have no crativity over there in Japan?

@Dark_Tzitzimine

why wouldn't everyone not be shocked with this sudden turn of events? when the latest chapters before chapter 36 are all about Mei falling in love with Yuzu and reciprocating her advances that we were all convinced that this would be the time, she'd actually fight to be with Yuzu. it's like Mei just throw away five volumes worth of her character development.

After everything Mei and Yuzu went through as a couple. Who the f*ck would thought that Mei would actually choose to marry some random guy and inherit the academy over Yuzu? LOL it's like a f*cking sick joke from Sabuoro Uta.

Well, Mei has just become the antagonist of her own love story with Yuzu. so I guess it's all right to hate her for now. what a b*tch.

I expected that. But not so fast.

last edited at Feb 20, 2018 2:32AM

Honestly, I just want an IBO ending. Anything short of that, and this manga would've been a complete waste of time.

last edited at Feb 20, 2018 4:08AM

Well, Mei has just become the antagonist of her own love story with Yuzu. so I guess it's all right to hate her for now. what a b*tch.

That's the problem of self-hating people, in the end, you bring every one who love you (and maybe that you love) to hate you. Because why wouldn't you hate somebody that hates a person you like? This is really, really good angst work. Some won't like it, even if it has been done already, but I like that similarity between BiY and Citrus on this particular subject. Two very different ways of dealing with the same problem (for different reasons).

It’s so damn generic and uninteresting, that’s why we’re pissed. Do people have no crativity over there in Japan?

Disregarding the fact I disagree with you, it's pretty harsh to judge the art of the whole country on just one story, isn't it?

last edited at Feb 20, 2018 9:43AM

Is anyone in here happy that we'e actually going to see Mei and Yuzu go through this cliche yuri trope of "rich girl will eventually marry a guy in the future" rather than Saboura Uta giving us an inconclusive happy ending where we don't know for certain if Mei and Yuzu will be lifelong married couple after graduating highschool. but it sucks that Sabuoro Uta needed to make Mei the bad person for this drama. I can't even enjoy the anime because of this.

Let's not forget that Shou leaving the school is arguably what triggered this whole process, throwing Mei under the bus in the first place. Mei is positioned to understand the burdens of responsibility, moreso because she was fucked over by her dad ignoring his, and likely saw how her gramps was affected by Shou leaving too. Maybe this is an East/West perspective thing, but I have a lot of sympathy for Mei's almost tragic dedication to duty and filial piety. It's easy to say Mei should just choose love and fuck all, but from an Asian perspective that's fucking irresponsible and careless (i.e Shou), and lbr she quite literally hasn't reached that at this point in the story anyway, and its pretty understandable why.

+1

Yes, its definitely an East/West perspective thing. I feel like most of the people who are angry and triggered regarding this chapter are from West. Listen fellas: This manga is published in Japan. The author is Japanese, the characters are all Japanese. Ofc SU would think of the Japanese readers first, won't she? 'Cause from an Asian/Japanese perspective, Mei made an absolutely correct decision by obeying her elders/ fulfilling her responsibilities. Had she chosen love over family duties, she would be, as Skyblaze77 said, a f***ing irresponsible person like that bastard she calls her father.

Yes, what happened is tragic, its something that should not have happened, but Mei was just being the child of a traditional Japanese/Asian family; i.e. living under the pressure of a mountain load of traditions, duties and responsibilities. I doubt most of you bashing this chapter have ever experienced it (to that extent, that is), and most likely, you never will.

@mei is waifu

Now that I can think clearly. I actually think Mei lied to Yuzu when she said that she decided it for herself because she doesn't want Yuzu to go after her. as she said in the letter if she sees Yuzu again, she won't managr to go through it. she felt pressured into marrying her fiance and inherit the academy because of her grandfather's ailing health and because she's the only sole heiress.

Regardless, I still want Mei to chase after Yuzu this time.

And I don't know much about japanese family tradition but you can't say that anyone in here hasn't experience to choose between someone or something they love over their family responsibility especially the lgbt community.

last edited at Feb 20, 2018 11:03AM

Is anyone in here happy that we'e actually going to see Mei and Yuzu go through this cliche yuri trope of "rich girl will eventually marry a guy in the future" rather than Saboura Uta giving us an inconclusive happy ending where we don't know for certain if Mei and Yuzu will be lifelong married couple after graduating highschool.

Yes, I don't mind cliché and classic tropes if I find them well done. If SU ended the story at the end of the school trip, with or without dropping the arranged marriage, it would've felt incomplete. The whole point is to see the two of them getting happy in a way that'll work in the long term, happily ever after, I guess.

I actually think Mei lied to Yuzu when she said that she decided it for herself because she doesn't want Yuzu to go after her.

Sorry to butt in, but perhaps she believes what she wrote since she (probably) hate herself, so she doesn't deserve to be with Yuzu and prefer to inherit the school; then can it be considered a lie? If Mei thinks she doesn't deserve Yuzu, then no matter how hurt she would be, she'll try to let Yuzu go and separate herself from her step-sister.

Regardless, I still want Mei to chase after Yuzu this time.

I wonder if it'll happen... I think Yuzu is way too much in love with Mei to ever giving her the cold shoulder. My bet is that the very second Mei says "I love you" or something similar, Yuzu will throw herself in Mei's arms. Perhaps I'm wrong though. What needs to be done for Mei is to accept her own desires and sort out her goals. Maybe after that, Mei will try to pursue Yuzu if the latter ever decided to erase Mei from her life.

Damn, that would be even more angst, are you really asking for this?

last edited at Feb 20, 2018 11:15AM

@mei is waifu

Now that I can think clearly. I actually think Mei lied to Yuzu when she said that she decided it for herself because she doesn't want Yuzu to go after her. as she said in the letter if she sees Yuzu again, she won't managr to go through it. she felt pressured into marrying her fiance and inherit the academy because of her grandfather's ailing health and because she's the only sole heiress.

I think so too. Like I said she is under pressure. Not like she is happy to leave Yuzu.

Regardless, I still want Mei to chase after Yuzu this time.

ME TOO! That would be great but considering how sheltered and self-loathing Mei is, will she be able to gather the courage to do so?

And I don't know much about japanese family tradition but you can't say that anyone in here hasn't experience to choose between someone or something they love over their family responsibility especially the lgbt community.

I know what you're trying to say. Yes, the lgbt community has to face a lot of shit from their family regarding their sexuality. That's the same almost everywhere. But I said they don't have to face THAT amount of pressure like an Asian person. Most of us grow up fulfilling our family's expectations like doing good at school and having proper manners, following the rules of society etc. And then after you grow up and have a decent career (which is sometimes chosen by our families) and some cash, we are expected to get married to the one our family chooses (in most countries, even in 21st Century sigh). Homosexuality? What is that shit? You can even say that you like someone of your own gender. That's like Social Suicide. You are a disgrace to the society. If you know what I mean...

Mei's change of heart to decide out of her own will that she wanted to succeed her grandfather as chairperson was in chapter 8.

I wonder if it'll happen... I think Yuzu is way too much in love with Mei to ever giving her the cold shoulder. My bet is that the very second Mei says "I love you" or something similar, Yuzu will throw herself in Mei's arms. Perhaps I'm wrong though. What needs to be done for Mei is to accept her own desires and sort out her goals. Maybe after that, Mei will try to pursue Yuzu if the latter ever decided to erase Mei from her life.

Well, I would have thought that Yuzu would accept Mei back without hesitation. It's Yuzu. But our girl is too scarred I wonder how it is realistic (a little, even though in Citrus, is expected here). Yuzu is totally dead inside and traumatised. How can she have faith once again in Mei, the girl who told her four-time "yes", when Yuzu asked her if she could love her forever etc.

I wonder what the author planned to enable the make-up, of course, Mei will have first to figure her real path, but after that...

last edited at Feb 20, 2018 12:47PM