The way Matsuri addresses to Harumi during the wedding is still formal (Taniguchi-senpai in the translation, also formal in the Japanese version) and doesn't show a spectacular shift in their relationship toward being girlfriends. So it is a mystery for the moment what the author has really in store for the cast especially if the setting is before the marriage.

My shipper goggles made me read that exchange between them during the wedding, about who will get the bouquet and whatnot, as sarcastic lol

well sometimes if a under classman starts to date a upper classman they still call them their senpai.

Matsuri always calling Harumin "Taniguchi-senpai" has been Matsuri teasing her more than anything. She even called her that right after meeting her in volume 3 when they didn't even go to the same school, so Harumin wasn't even her senpai at the time.

How I've always interpreted it is that Matsuri realized Harumin figured out her manipulative nature right away, so to tease Harumin she called her "Taniguchi-senpai" out of mock respect. Over time I think it became more of a gentle tease since Matsuri still calls her that even after they get closer in the later chapters.

Meanwhile, Matsuri doesn't refer to any of the other characters formally. The closest is calling Shiraho "Shirapon-senpai" but even that is using Yuzu's nickname for her. See https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/citrus_ch31#14 for how she refers to the rest of the cast in one convenient list.

Meanwhile, Matsuri doesn't refer to any of the other characters formally. The closest is calling Shiraho "Shirapon-senpai" but even that is using Yuzu's nickname for her. See https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/citrus_ch31#14 for how she refers to the rest of the cast in one convenient list.

The translation is incomplete. In the Japanese version, Matsuri calls Mei, Mei-San, always. On this picture of chapter 31, the Japanese version shows, in fact, the San suffix with Mei, Mitsuko, Himeko, and Maruta. Shiraho having the same suffix than Harumi: senpai ( a very interesting point, she uses the family name + the senpai with Harumi and Suzuran, meaning that Suzaran has also some form of familiar respect from Matsuri).

Matsuri also uses the San with Mei in chapter 39. San is more formal than Senpai and implies more distance. Even in chapter 40, Matsuri still refers to Mei as Mei-San.

https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/citrus_ch40#9 Here, there is the San in the Japanese version (the translation uses the san on page 16 but it is not consistent leading people believe falsely that Matsuri is using the san in some ironic way which is not the case since, in Japanese, Matsuri never drops the san once, from volume 3 to volume 10). It could be interesting to see if her way to address Mei in the spin-off changed in a more familiar way.

So the idea Matsuri is not formal with people was lost to translation. In fact, she's very formal and very consistent in the different degree of suffixes she uses. The -chan with Yuzu is affectionate even though Yuzu is older than her.

To conclude, Matsuri uses two ways to address in Japanese: the usual suffix trinity san-chan-senpai and the surname she can use from time to time. Especially with Himeko, mimicking Yuzu's way to use some surname too. Very funnily, in Japanese, Yuzu is the least formal of the cast, preferring affectionate and personal surnames and rejecting the usual social rule. Harumi is adaptative and tends to test the waters before dropping the name. For her, Mei is Kaichou.

last edited at Aug 27, 2018 10:08AM

Well, that ending was ridiculous. It's just all too happy in anime and manga land where no one bats an eye at two sisters getting married! But yeah, Yuzu deserved better, someone like--oh I don't know--HARUMIN.

I enjoyed Yuzu and almost everything around her, if that's all the manga was it would be stellar. Mei, and almost everything revolving around her, drag it all down into the mud. I don't blame the author for the rushed ending, it was better to put the whole thing out of its misery rather than try and salvage the wreck.

LOL man I don't know if Sabu ever reads these comments, but if she does and her decisions depended on them, no wonder she decided to wrap up this story and I bet we will have Citrus starring Harumin and Matsuri next year xD I mean even Sabu must hate Mei at this point

The spin-off will be more probably a string off short-stories with the protagonists and not a new series on another character with a plot. Other series are following this trend like Masamune-Kun no revenge having its spin-off beginning in September with exactly what Citrus plus may be : shorts stories about the main characters...

Saburouta doesn’t write her story taking into account the comments here and there about disliking one of her characters lol. Especially since Japanese readers praise Mei and love her as a character.... I guess there is a real gap between readers reactions... the ending was planned one year ago and probably quickened because, as the author stated in a funny short comic in the interview, drawing her working like crazy, she was really under pressure. The spin off is more a recreational way to keep on with her creation in a more light ambiance without the pressure of a dramatic story... not a new series with a real plot focusing on another character... or the title wouldn’t have been Citrus Plus, such an impersonal and general title when spinoff on another focus usually already announce the content in an explicit title with a teaser putting in front the supposed new MC. And the teaser of Citrus Plus made Mei the first focus... so i guess Mei’s haters will have to look beyond another round with her in the story.

last edited at Aug 29, 2018 12:49AM

Masamune-Kun no revenge having its spin-off beginning in September with exactly what Citrus plus may be : shorts stories about the main characters...

From what I read, that announcement said the protagonists would be some of the characters focused on. That phrasing implies that the side cast will get stories about them too. And in that sense I think Citrus plus will likely do that. Saburouta did tweet during the anime that she wanted to tell a story about Harumin's family. Citrus plus would be the perfect opportunity if it's just short stories covering various cast members.

Probably an expanded version of the + bonus of each volume. By the main characters, I was talking about Harumi and Matsuri too. I imagine more some choral stories, chronicles of the Citrus' cast. A sort of anthology but this time, by the author herself.

last edited at Aug 29, 2018 2:57AM

Welp my method of reading Citrus+ will be to check if Mei is the focus of the chapter, if she is I will just skip it. Can't believe Sabu destroyed what used to be my favourite character in the series, it's even masterful in a way lol The more days pass since the end, the more I realize how shitty Mei's behaviour really was through the entire thing when viewed in retrospect.

Welp my method of reading Citrus+ will be to check if Mei is the focus of the chapter, if she is I will just skip it. Can't believe Sabu destroyed what used to be my favourite character in the series, it's even masterful in a way lol The more days pass since the end, the more I realize how shitty Mei's behaviour really was through the entire thing when viewed in retrospect.

I know I'm just beating a dead horse now, but the really terrible thing to my mind is that at one point Mei was actually changing for the better, for herself and for Yuzu--which seemed to be the point of the whole goddam series.

I would have sworn that after Chapter 24 the story was going to be "Yuzu and Mei moving forward together." Instead we got "crazy stepsister is still crazy but not quite as assaultive as before."

Welp chapter 41 feels like the author was too terrified of his global fans and opted for the casual unrealistic happy ending instead. Hmmm not complaining since the fanservice wedding pic really makes my day, but well Citrus never really turns out as good as the hype said it will. Maybe good for eye candy and soap opera style but not enough to place itself as one of the legendary anymore (well people will still think of Citrus when they talk about yuri though sooo)

I want to cry everytime I think of Citrus because it's so good and now it's done. I remember crying in frustration after the first chapter came out and again everytime it would update every other month. And then cry more because of the characters and events. Pretty much this gave me a full-on roller coaster of frustration. Really wish there was more after continously rereading and keeping track with it since the beginning.

I can't believe that the series is done. I honestly need to read it a couple more times plus read the series again. It feels like my body wants to cry but is in to much shock from having the series end. Does anyone know what Citrus Plus is going to be about. Is there going to be a time jump, how is Mei going to run the school, are they even going to graduate from the school?!?!?!?!?!?! All of these questions need to be answered. Now for the time being I am going to sleep so then I can reread the chapters and all it's glory. Also I might pick up the actual books to support the author, hopefully he/she can create more content soon and hopefully Citrus season 2 can live up to the book.

Thank you, Saburouta!

The collector's edition of Volume 10 will include a booklet and a replica of an invitation to Yuzu and Mei's wedding.
https://twitter.com/_saburouta/status/1052484777196974080

It's pointless to talk about rushing when there is literally no space to put in the things. As far as I can see, Saburo used every last bit of space in the last volume to "wrap it up". Volumes 5, 6, 8 and 9 were great. 7 was ok. Even most of 10 is good in its own emotional way.

What is puzzling me is a) Why only 10 volumes when the story so clearly required 11-12 for a better flow? and b) Immediate sequel, and even to the main story itself. So in effect Citrus+ will be like continuing from volume 11 anyway. So what was the purpose of going on like this and whose idea was it? It's just odd. I don't think I've ever seen things go quite like this...

This also means that all critique seen here about the ending is pointless. We can actually get back to them once C+ has progressed far away from the couch scene in chapter 41 and hopefully filled in the blanks on various issues.

last edited at Oct 28, 2018 4:17AM

Well, my conclusion is that Citrus was never meant to make any sense. Rather it's just for mass appeal, so it throws drama after drama at the readers to stir emotions with no intent of ever forming a cohesive whole and explaining itself. The McDonald's of yuri. Don't think too hard about it.

So, “in effect” the ending wasn’t really the ending, and critiques of that Citrus that actually exists are “pointless” because the imaginary Citrus that may or may not someday exist will definitely redress any perceived deficiencies in the only Citrus that people have actually been able to read because that’s the only one that actually exists. So far.

Good to know.

The volume 10 author's notes were translated today. It seems Citrus plus will indeed be happier in tone. It will also continue the stories of the side characters.

The volume 10 author's notes were translated today. It seems Citrus plus will indeed be happier in tone. It will also continue the stories of the side characters.

who translated it? cause CHAOSTEAM is already on it and will be posted as last page in chapter 41

It was posted on the Citrus discord.

It was posted on the Citrus discord.

ok thanks ;)
either way we will post it soon enough as well on dynasty ;)

I'm still looking forward to the Chaosteam version since the fan that did the quick translation wasn't sure on some of the lines.

Even Sabu got depressed after dealing with Mei xD