If Chidori were dating some guy from another school, she'd probably keep it from her friends for much the same reasons.

I'm not trying to argue that, I could not provide evidence for the contrary, but I would kinda like to know if you have a particular basis for that?
...not to stretch out the discussion, but because I am honestly curious and would like to be given insight.

...did I mention I love the way-too-serious analysis of manga here? :P

She may have some hang-ups with their relationship particularly because it's same-sex, but for the most part, her anxieties seem generalized and could apply to any relationship. She gets so uncomfortable just thinking about romance that she blushes randomly, fidgets, talks to herself, and stress eats. She's not just embarrassed about her relationship in public (where outsiders' views might matter), she gets embarrassed when alone with Nanoha and even when she's by herself. So I don't think her secretive nature is based on actual considerations of how people might react, it's just a general neurosis. On top of that, she is clearly unused to having close friends and doesn't really talk about her private life or her past at all.

So no matter what the relationship was like or how people might react to it, she wouldn't be volunteering details to her friends.

Basically, I just don't think discrimination (perceived or actual) against same-sex relationships is a deciding factor in why she hides it.

last edited at Aug 5, 2019 2:18PM

why cant this end up like tadokoro

Strap in boys and girls, this one's gonna be rough

One letter away to be lewd.

if y'all thought this senpai came out of nowhere, you haven't been paying attention to the multiple chapters that hinted her existence and connection to chidori

bangs head with frustration

So, Chidori cut her hair "September of [her] freshman year" to declare to "never fall in love again".
The Japanese school year begins in April, and September is just after summer break.
So presumably she had some "it" with Igarashi between April and end of Juli and/or during Summer break.

The following February / half a year later, the Valentine's Chocolate thingy happened (Ch.10&22)
https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/hana_ni_arashi_ch10#11
https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/hana_ni_arashi_ch22#12
(two flashbacks, same time-frame, different POV)
Chidori already has them feelz for Nanoha and decides to "end it" with Igarashi.

Half a month later / Spring, Nanoha confessed to Chidori and they're a couple ever since... in secret, of cos.

A final question is: how did Chidori and the senpai spend time together in the first place?

I kinda thought Igarashi may have been a member of the literature club.
I can't base this on anything but a hunch caused by
https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/hana_ni_arashi_ch04#5
Chidori thinking "Somehow, it feels strange having Nanoha here" [in the club room].

Me thinks, that maybe, just maybe, Chidori had a one-sided crush on her senpai, confessed before or during summer break, didn't get the desired reaction (judging from the card later, prolly something amongst the lines of "you like me? ...like, in the gay-way? um, can't we be just friends?"), and cut her hair, still secretly swooning over her senpai because hearts can't be convinced so easily as getting a hair-cut.
But, she developed feelings for Nanoha over the time, then - half a year later?! - by Valentine's Day, senpai changed her mind, sent her the chocolate as well as that implicative card ("These aren't just as friends") - but, too late gal, Nanoha has her hooks deep into Chidori's heart already, so Chidori (incidentally spurred on by something Nanoha said) went to Igarashi and told her her true feelings "Yeah, thanks but no-thanks. I mean, what did you expect, keeping me on arm's length for half a year... I MOVED ON, BIATCH!" (-paraphrased).
Lucky for her, a few weeks later she finds out that Nanoha is one whose Love is the same as hers~

That's what I get from the text so far, but I wouldn't mind if things turned out to have happened differently / more dramatic, for the sake of suspense...

thank you for being one of the few readers who pay attention

Um... thanks? ^^

And thanks very much at schuyguy for giving a very insightful description of Chidori's character!
So it's not just Chidori hiding in the closet (...ehehe~ https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/hana_ni_arashi_ch37#13 I still love how literal that is) but quite possibly an overall sorta paranoia / neurosis.
Now, a question could be, if - besides her being on the more introvert end of the scale to begin with - she's gotten more so for her "it" with Igarashi or was like that already (and if so, if her own attitude maybe backfired at her and could potentially be bad for her relationship with Nanoha as well).

New chapters: Miku-sempai = Biotch! Nanoha will kick your ass . . .

New chapters: Miku-sempai = Biotch! Nanoha will kick your ass . . .

Thank

New chapters: Miku-sempai = Biotch! Nanoha will kick your ass . . .

Combo Boyfriend + "But we're both girls Chidori"

New chapters: Miku-sempai = Biotch! Nanoha will kick your ass . . .

Combo Boyfriend + "But we're both girls Chidori"

ikr: Flirting in a girls’ school is one thing, but a dead-serious “I love you” + “not just friends” Valentines chocolate—nuh uh. Nope. Outta here, with extreme prejudice. (Plus the nasty smirk, of course.)

New chapters: Miku-sempai = Biotch! Nanoha will kick your ass . . .

Combo Boyfriend + "But we're both girls Chidori"

ikr: Flirting in a girls’ school is one thing, but a dead-serious “I love you” + “not just friends” Valentines chocolate—nuh uh. Nope. Outta here, with extreme prejudice. (Plus the nasty smirk, of course.)

Also i don't know if it was a typo but when Igarashi come back in the end of chapter 36, she said "The cute kouhai WE left behind" but maybe she simply talk to another ex-student. I feel like she will say she was serious back then and try to seduce Chidori back but then super-GF Nanoha come back and save the day

NOW, I know who she is

last edited at Aug 7, 2019 10:45AM

I’m going to hold off on any more commentary until we get the chapters here, but both of you above: ^^ yeah, for sure.

EDIT: And they're up. I really do try to stay out of the prediction business around here, but I can't help thinking of any number of ways this could go.

Remember, at the moment Nanoha is a bit miffed at Chidori for not discussing things together, so I can imagine her being disconcerted to find out about Chidori's past love, and then comparing herself unfavorably with Ms. Hottie-Just-Ask-Her.

Nanoha is due back in the clubroom momentarily, too, so I can imagine some sempai bullshit seduction strategy that Nanoha walks in on.

I can hardly imagine this series as a whole ending badly, though, so I'm actually fine with a little drama and misunderstanding, at least temporarily--they make up so cutely anyhow.

last edited at Aug 7, 2019 11:44AM

That bitch

I'm thinking that Igarashi was just in a tightly locked closet and was lying to herself too. She took a peek outside of her closet because her trip abroad probably broadened her horizons.

It does not excuse her for leading Chidori on, but I think that, in the end, if she doesn't come out and goes on marrying that guy, she will end up in a worse place than Chidori.

The honmei choco were probably a sign she valued Chidori a great deal, not only a seduction move.

So, have some empathy for the lesbian trapped in a het relationship by her environment.

last edited at Aug 7, 2019 11:48AM

I can hardly imagine this series as a whole ending badly, so I'm actually fine with a little drama and misunderstanding, at least temporarily--they make up so cutely anyhow.

Here my 2 cents based on chapters titles incoming

• Their Trial : Igarashi told Chidori she breakup with her BF because she love her back then and now she want to make up as Nanoha just come back and heard it

• Decision and Parting : Big discussion between Chidori, Igarashi and Nanoha as Nanoha step up as Chidori's GF and said she is her. Igarashi try to convince Chidori she use Nanoha as a substitue for her but Chidori make her mind and told Igarashi she really love Nanoha and want to really put an end to the story between her and Igarashi. Igarashi found herself defeated and leave

• Flower after the rain : Nanoha want to know the full story between Chidori and Igarashi and tell Chidori to not keep secrets between them because they're GF. After that, they enjoy their day together

• Her side of the story Here i had two options : eitherit's what happen to Nanoha when she go out of the clubroom and comeback when Igarashi is here or it's Igarashi side of the flashbacks.The second option is for me the most probable.

So, have some empathy for the lesbian trapped in a het relationship by her environment.

Your theory is not implausible, but assumes a lot of facts not yet in evidence.

Let’s see how Igarashi plays it—I tend to reserve forgiveness, maybe not only for those who ask for it, but at least those who understand that they did wrong.

last edited at Aug 7, 2019 12:09PM

Well, damn, this goes way beyond the usual crap of playing while in a girls school, then getting a boyfriend. Already having a boyfriend at the same time makes it so much worse, not to mention making her a cheater as well. Good thing Chidori found out quickly enough.

Couple of month before I saw some raws. I'm really looking forward to the end of this arc. And I hope that senpai regret her past actions and apologize in the end, that will do her situation of being deep in the closet more sympathetic.

Who bitch this is

Nya-chan, your point about the lesbian trapped by society is always worth keeping in mind.

But in this case, when Chidori asks, “What was there between us?,” we have the potential options:

• “You’re my precious kouhai and friend.” Fake, given the situation, and deflecting, but potentially honest to an extent.

• “Nothing. We’re both girls.” Just cruel.

At least she didn’t add, “You should have seen your face when you thought I liked you—that was so funny.”

Blastaar posted:

Nya-chan, your point about the lesbian trapped by society is always worth keeping in mind.

But in this case, when Chidori asks, “What was there between us?,” we have the potential options:

• “You’re my precious kouhai and friend.” Fake, given the situation, and deflecting, but potentially honest to an extent.

• “Nothing. We’re both girls.” Just cruel.

At least she didn’t add, “You should have seen your face when you thought I liked you—that was so funny.”

Or she just wanted to be hated, so Chidori wouldn't think it was her fault.

But afterward, she broke up with her boyfriend, so she sent the choco in an attempt to repair things, which were rejected because Chidori already rebounded.

Lots of possibilities and knowing the style of that manga, which is pretty fluffy, I doubt we will have a real bitch.

Here, sempai is blushing, so I think deep down she was serious, but too far in the closet.

I mean our MCs are dating but... it's still a secret from everyone.

So they are also in the closet. But with less expectations from their environment I guess.

last edited at Aug 7, 2019 1:27PM

Or she just wanted to be hated, so Chidori wouldn't think it was her fault.

Nah—even if true, “I’m trying to make you hate me for your own good” is always a dick move.

“I’m trying to make you hate me for your own good” is always a dick move.

Laugh in Luminous = Blue

thank goodness they released all three chapters together. I don't know how I'd last just reading each section a month apart