Haha... yeah...
I'm usually a sucker for bad endings, but I can't really take this too serious...

and btw: "Spike Spiegel is totally not dead, you know? He just got up after the credits rolled, went back to the Bebop, married Faye and they now have 7 children with Jet being the friendly gramps. And they lived happily ever after!"

Well, I wasn't that into the series, so I guess I can just squint hard and consider it as a dull, fluffy happy end story not particularly important or thrilling...

Phyis seems to be pretty pissed that people did not like it.

I doubt most of the people here have a problem with Phyis' work, it's Shioya Teruko we're criticizing. The translation seemed well done, typesetting, cleaning, all that good happy stuff seemed every bit as good as the rest of their work. So there's really nothing I can see that Phyis should be taking that personally, unless they're offended that people don't like the same things they do.

Which honestly, is a ridiculous position to take.

I doubt most of the people here have a problem with Phyis' work, it's Shioya Teruko we're criticizing. The translation seemed well done, typesetting, cleaning, all that good happy stuff seemed every bit as good as the rest of their work. So there's really nothing I can see that Phyis should be taking that personally, unless they're offended that people don't like the same things they do.

Comments like this have been common throughout its scanlation - whether it be here, /u/, or on YP's site.

It's fine to not like something, when people start attacking members of a group - or the group itself - for giving them free things that don't fit their taste, the line has been crossed.

I doubt most of the people here have a problem with Phyis' work, it's Shioya Teruko we're criticizing. The translation seemed well done, typesetting, cleaning, all that good happy stuff seemed every bit as good as the rest of their work. So there's really nothing I can see that Phyis should be taking that personally, unless they're offended that people don't like the same things they do.

Comments like this have been common throughout its scanlation - whether it be here, /u/, or on YP's site.

It's fine to not like something, when people start attacking members of a group - or the group itself - for giving them free things that don't fit their taste, the line has been crossed.

Yeah, that's a total no-go indeed. For the record: I also think Phyis did a very good job here (YP in general does). Also, the series is clearly a yuri one. A girl falling for another girl and the whole thing is far from "just for the porn" (I have a much harder time seeing the yuri in pwp stuff even if it contains no males at all). Since when does "yuri" mean it can't be about an unrequited love? Also a lesbian having a straight male love rival (and maybe even losing to him) doesn't mean it's not yuri. It just means it's not a happy ending. Some very good yuri stuff actually tackles this problematic.

In this case the ending just came so suddenly. It feels as if the author wasn't happy anymore with an open/sad ending but didn't have the strength in themselves to give it a more fleshed out solution. I would have been okay with chapter 22 being the end, but as someone who likes happy endings I'd give the author a pat on the shoulder and say: "Well, thanks for brightening it up again in the end. Not the best work perhaps, but still enjoyable, so thank you."

That ending felt like it came out of nowhere, but nothing wrong with a happy ending I suppose.

Comments like this have been common throughout its scanlation - whether it be here, /u/, or on YP's site.

Oh yeah, that's totally not on. I agree that stuff like that where YP is attacked for the author's sins is definitely objectionable. I must say though, I've seen very little in this discussion which has mostly been annoyed with Shioya's writing.

Since when does "yuri" mean it can't be about an unrequited love? Also a lesbian having a straight male love rival (and maybe even losing to him) doesn't mean it's not yuri. It just means it's not a happy ending. Some very good yuri stuff actually tackles this problematic.

I could see that applying if the story had been set up to be about that instead of this meandering along with Youko quietly pining away. In the end, the story didn't actually deal with anything at all.

Suddenly, art progression.

I could see that applying if the story had been set up to be about that instead of this meandering along with Youko quietly pining away. In the end, the story didn't actually deal with anything at all.

Well, just because Youko wasn't smart about it doesn't mean the story doesn't deal with it. I think a lot of yuri stories actually show you what not to do. In spite of the more comedic undertones of the series that was to some extent the case here. That part was in a way realistic. Don't forget Youko's a teenager/kid. She simply didn't have the guts to tackle it and tell Maki. Even when she did, Maki didn't get it (well, in ch 23 she finally did), and, again, Youko didn't push it enough.

Sure, Maki reciprocating the feeling was totally not built up realistically, but aside from chapter 23, the story was more or less about what not to do.

I second the notion about the guy, btw, he was an ass. And Maki's for sure better off without him (she unwittingly dodged a bullet there), but let's face it: Sometimes nice people fall for asses. Doesn't mean it's yuri in the sense that the story was about Youko's struggle with finding out she loves her best friend.

I could see that applying if the story had been set up to be about that instead of this meandering along with Youko quietly pining away. In the end, the story didn't actually deal with anything at all.

Well, just because Youko wasn't smart about it doesn't mean the story doesn't deal with it.

For me the fact that the story only mentions it often enough that you don't forget isn't the same as actually dealing with it. In fact, the story's focus seems to be more on looking at Maki's life through a third party who happens to have feelings for her than Youko dealing with an unrequited love.

Hell, that aspect doesn't even show up until the end of chapter 8, and is overshadowed by Keita's dickishness. Even after that, it's treated in such a low-intensity way compared to everything else it's hard to see it as a major factor in the story, or indeed Youko's life.

I think a lot of yuri stories actually show you what not to do. In spite of the more comedic undertones of the series that was to some extent the case here. That part was in a way realistic.

I should highlight here that "realistic" and "good story" don't necessarily go hand in hand.

I second the notion about the guy, btw, he was an ass. And Maki's for sure better off without him (she unwittingly dodged a bullet there), but let's face it: Sometimes nice people fall for asses. Doesn't mean it's yuri in the sense that the story was about Youko's struggle with finding out she loves her best friend.

Yeah, Keita being an asshole was really my biggest gripe early on, especially since he ended up as the de facto focus of the story. And again, thanks to him the aspect of Youko getting out from under her sister's shadow was given more of a spotlight than actually getting more than a superficial treatment of her same-sex issues.

And just to be sure I just skimmed through the whole thing again and I'm actually pretty impressed at how few times her attraction to Maki even gets mentioned. Which makes the ending that much more out of the blue than when I read it part-by-part.

But Pika-chan is awesome throughout, so that's cool.

Suddenly, art progression.

5 years makes a diffence... Not suddenly at all

So chapter 23 is actually an extra... no wonder it felt so strangely out of place compared with the tone set on the rest of the manga.

Muh. It was interesting, but not all that compelling in retrospect. A good introductory yuri, I bet.

Felt like the ending was did "for the sake of..."

Youko should have just given the girl who confessed a chance. I don't really see what Youko sees in Maki, just like I don't understand why Maki liked that shithead Keita in the first place. At least Pika-chan made this story more interesting. She should have a spin-off.

I could see that applying if the story had been set up to be about that instead of this meandering along with Youko quietly pining away. In the end, the story didn't actually deal with anything at all.

Well, just because Youko wasn't smart about it doesn't mean the story doesn't deal with it.

For me the fact that the story only mentions it often enough that you don't forget isn't the same as actually dealing with it. In fact, the story's focus seems to be more on looking at Maki's life through a third party who happens to have feelings for her than Youko dealing with an unrequited love.

...

Yup, I skimmed it again, too and you're right. Yuri was definitely not the major focus here. I was more defending the tagging of the series, I still think the tag applies, since Youko's feelings are an aspect of the story, if not the main. Considering the scanlators unjustifiably getting flac for it and all.
Anyways, we're not very far off, if at all. It's an okay story in the end I guess. Not the great, but also not a rage-inducing WTF experience (well Keita almost had me that far, but only almost ^^).

Oh, the tag definitely applies. You'll not get argument from me on that score.

But Pika-chan is awesome throughout, so that's cool.

It's the shiny forehead power I tell ya. I had trouble reading that last chapter though, even though I knew what was going to happen...

Pika for Life.

Comments like this have been common throughout its scanlation - whether it be here, /u/, or on YP's site.

It's fine to not like something, when people start attacking members of a group - or the group itself - for giving them free things that don't fit their taste, the line has been crossed.

That really is a tasteless comment. I'd be tempted to find something like what was described and dedicate a scanlation just for that user (to spite them).

Well that left an horrible taste on my mouth.
There are many things that indicate this was terribly rushed, as if the author had 1 hour left to deliver and did it in a rush. Terrible art is a starter.

Kinda wanted to post a snippet of an alternate route - the one where we actually like to see - but then, my draft was lost. Too bad...

Even i'm into yuri, but i have to say worse ending ever. Why the author have to force 2 main char to be together. It support to be a nice educate story

Though most of the focus was not on yuri, I still enjoyed this light and quick read. I only thought Keita was rude at one point of this story. All other aspects are teenagers being teenagers. Remember, these kids range in ages 12 to 14. Can't expect him to be Mr. Charming. Also, he had no ill intent. Anyways, liked the story. As always, the ending was a bit much, but we don't know the specifications. Maybe the publishing companies are responsible for most of our rushed endings.

last edited at Jan 3, 2015 6:35PM

The only thing i would have liked to see differently would be to see Maki's feelings develop. That would have been awesome.

Well, the last chapter was added when the manga was being re-released, thats why the art suddenly seems to have improved a little bit and the ending feels soooo rushed, NONETHELESS! this series was pretty awesome overall, I really enjoyed the characters like Pikari xD and the DEEEEEEEENSENESS of both Keita and Maki, and even though the final chapter (23) was added six years after the series ended! it was originally planned to be there according to that extra page on chapter 23, kinda like a directors cut for the re-release of 2012, Overall, I think is a little gem on the Reader :)

The author should be ashamed of this manga. It doesn't deserve being called a yuri manga. What garbage, seriously. It makes me think the author just added the yuri just for its tag, likely hey I guess this is what's kinda popular nowadays, so why not? If this manga will or has come out will in a physical book, it's only good use would be being completely burned to ashes. Like was this manga purposely meant to piss off yuri fans or what? Fuck you author.

I feel satisfy at the end of the last chapter, i like this kind of manga u know they love each other in the end they confessed their feelings in each other an happy end