This really does -- still -- feel like a cross between Ajichi's usual drama-school lesbians and Morinaga Milk. It has heavy, heavy aspects of Girl Friends, Secret Recipe and Secret of the Princess.
I can see the influences there for sure. Girl Friends was the first Yuri manga I read in full, and only my second after Citrus, which was not yet complete at the time. That said, the two main characters’ personalities are both more extreme in their presentation. Kurokawa’s deep seated inferiority complex, which Mari did have, but not to the extent Kurokawa does; Fujishiro’s superiority complex and meanness, which were traits Akko never possessed (she was popular, but kind!). These two have a lot more changing and accommodating to do than Mari and Akko. This is the first work from Ajichi that I have read, and I’m excited to see where the story goes next.
Oh, you really should read Dear My Teacher and the accompanying series Dear My Friend by Ajichi, and Secret Recipe and Secret of the Princess by Morinaga Milk. None of Morinaga's girls is as mean as Fujishiro, true -- and even the gils who are hostile in Dear My Teacher aren't really terrible. I think Ajichi wants to show the behavior then the reasons/excuse. I think there's as much influence in the art and character design as in the plot from MM.