...just out of curiousity, I'd like to know the japanese phrase she used...
(I mean, if it's 好きだよ... then I guess, intent may have more weight than expectation..?)
((that aside, her actions spoke volumes, and even if her abroad studies had her act more casual, she should have known how her behaviour would be perceived... curse you, hairfetishist!))

Yeah, the context makes it pretty unequivocal that she's not saying it like the girly gang does when they're replying to that accidental group text.

Even if visually the affect is all Chidori's POV, that scene is way beyond anything I'd consider "flirting."

And then there's the "These aren't just as a friend" chocolates . . .

Yupp, thanks you both.
I was just curious (already was on the same page with you either way), since people kept making a point about that bubble and I just wanted to know if there was any additional or less ambiguity in japanese :)

schuyguy's interpretation is very spot on.
But one could argue that this is why Chidori defended Igarashi in her own mind and "took the blame" (at least back then).

But one could argue that this is why Chidori defended Igarashi in her own mind and "took the blame" (at least back then).

I think the reason she went straight to "I must have misunderstood" is because that's kind of the only possible response to this situation. When someone says, "of course I didn't love you like that, how could I? We're both girls," then it doesn't really matter what happened leading up to that point. You can't say, "you lied to me!" when someone is gaslighting you this hard.

last edited at Aug 8, 2019 1:24PM

Yupp, thanks you both.
I was just curious (already was on the same page with you either way), since people kept making a point about that bubble and I just wanted to know if there was any additional or less ambiguity in japanese :)

schuyguy's interpretation is very spot on.
But one could argue that this is why Chidori defended Igarashi in her own mind and "took the blame" (at least back then).

I've "taken the blame" in every relationship that's ever gone bad: "I was an idiot for getting involved with an asshole like you."

It's a form of humble self-reflection . . .

Although, now that I think about it, she never says she didn't love Chidori. She really just says that they didn't have a relationship, which I guess isn't quite the same thing. So perhaps the misinterpretation is Chidori believing their love meant something, when to Igarashi it didn't come with any of those implications.

last edited at Aug 8, 2019 1:31PM

I've "taken the blame" in every relationship that's ever gone bad: "I was an idiot for getting involved with an asshole like you."

Here's to hoping Chidori reached that stage by now and will watch on with a happy smile on her face when Nanoha smacks Igarashi up her face for what she did and whatever shenannigan's she came to school for. *cheers*

(I'll take it all back when it turns out Igarashi came to apologize to Chidori for traumatizing her and just leaves right after, hapy to know her kohai is now in good and caring hands...)

Although, now that I think about it, she never says she didn't love Chidori. She really just says that they didn't have a relationship, which I guess isn't quite the same thing. So perhaps the misinterpretation is Chidori believing their love meant something, when to Igarashi it didn't come with any of those implications.

Igarashi: Love, yes.
Chidori: Love equals relationship!
Igarashi: Relationship... nope, nada.
Chidori: ...so... no love? ;_;

So... Then Igarashi can accept love between girls but sees no way two girls could have a relationship?

...meantime, I'm still hung up on why her bangs fell differently in that one singular panel. >.<

(I'll take it all back when it turns out Igarashi came to apologize to Chidori for traumatizing her and just leaves right after, hapy to know her kohai is now in good and caring hands...)

Look at those eyes--you think that's what those eyes are up to? Lol

(I'll take it all back when it turns out Igarashi came to apologize to Chidori for traumatizing her and just leaves right after, hapy to know her kohai is now in good and caring hands...)

Look at those eyes--you think that's what those eyes are up to? Lol

That "when" may very well be never ^_-
But I do kinda wanna leave the door ajar, for the fact it's all been Chidori's POV and ...as I mentioned before, for how the "End" chapter is framed / the style.

And, btw I am not kidding about that strand of hair. Author pays so much friggin attention to detail, that it's gotta mean something, right? Right!?!

(I'll take it all back when it turns out Igarashi came to apologize to Chidori for traumatizing her and just leaves right after, hapy to know her kohai is now in good and caring hands...)

Look at those eyes--you think that's what those eyes are up to? Lol

That's how they were drawn from the start, mind. She has a pretty distinctive iris reflection for whatever reason. probably just to help distinguish her from Chidori in very close-up shots

probably just to help distinguish her from Chidori in very close-up shots

Chidori forehead is too huge to be unnotice even at close range.

last edited at Aug 8, 2019 2:09PM

Although, now that I think about it, she never says she didn't love Chidori. She really just says that they didn't have a relationship, which I guess isn't quite the same thing. So perhaps the misinterpretation is Chidori believing their love meant something, when to Igarashi it didn't come with any of those implications.

Thats the reason i feel bad for the senpai. Like, she probably did care deeply about Chidori, but due to society, she could never be what Chidori wanted. Her never looking for Chidori after she told the usual "bUt wErE bOtH gIrLs" excuse tells me that she felt bad afterwards and gave Chidori the space she needed. Seeing how this story has been light on the drama, her intentions are probably to give a definitive closure to their relationship.

her intentions are probably to give a definitive closure to their relationship.

Didn't Chidori already did that when she give back the chocolates on Valentines ?

her intentions are probably to give a definitive closure to their relationship.

Didn't Chidori already did that when she give back the chocolates on Valentines ?

That was just a plain old rejection by default. Would assume that, if her intentions are wholesome, she'd like to talk things out so they can part on better terms at least. People can feel bad about wronging others quite literally for their entire lives after all.

People can feel bad about wronging others quite literally for their entire lives after all.

I can be wrong but she doesn't seem to feel bad here.

People can feel bad about wronging others quite literally for their entire lives after all.

I can be wrong but she doesn't seem to feel bad here.

...she literally just entered the room and said her greetings you know. The heck are you expecting, her collapsing into a sobbing mess right out of the gate or something?

Whatever her intentions she always came across as a fairly collected person if nothing else - and whatever she wants to say she's had a long time to mull over and mentally prepare for.

last edited at Aug 8, 2019 10:16PM

I think it’s hilarious how many people think that a chapter entitled “The Trial” is going to be about poor little misunderstood conflicted-by-society lesbian senpai come to throw herself upon the mercy of the court.

May you be right.

...she literally just entered the room and said her greetings you know. The heck are you expecting, her collapsing into a sobbing mess right out of the gate or something?

Yeah but she seem to being fine here

how many people think that a chapter entitled “The Trial”

Actually it's "Their Trial" not "The Trial"

last edited at Aug 9, 2019 6:57AM

how many people think that a chapter entitled “The Trial”

Actually it's "Their Trial" not "The Trial"

Yes, I typoed.

Yes, I typoed.

You know such errors are unforgivable atrocities here. Your punishment shall be forgetting how "Stretch" actually ends so you will reread it and feel despair for the rest of your life.

Yes, I typoed.

You know such errors are unforgivable atrocities here. Your punishment shall be forgetting how "Stretch" actually ends so you will reread it and feel despair for the rest of your life.

OK, that's way too harsh a punishment, especially since it's Blastaar we're taking about here. Can we ditch the

feel despair for the rest of your life

part of it?

last edited at Aug 9, 2019 8:07AM

Yeah but she seem to being fine here

Alongside narrative structures I am beginning to question your grasp of the most elementary human psychology.

Yeah but she seem to being fine here

Alongside narrative structures I am beginning to question your grasp of the most elementary human psychology.

That's what happen when you don't like human interactions.

Yeah but she seem to being fine here

Alongside narrative structures I am beginning to question your grasp of the most elementary human psychology.

Senpai's giggle, followed by the heart in the word balloon, followed by Chidori feeling a cold wind, followed by mention of a typhoon coming = subtle indicators that a contrite senpai is on her way to kowtow before Chidori and beg forgiveness for her transgressions.

Yeah but she seem to being fine here

Alongside narrative structures I am beginning to question your grasp of the most elementary human psychology.

Senpai's giggle, followed by the heart in the word balloon, followed by Chidori feeling a cold wind, followed by mention of a typhoon coming = subtle indicators that a contrite senpai is on her way to kowtow before Chidori and beg forgiveness for her transgressions.

You know as well as I do that's as lurid a hyperbole as they come and has nothing to do with what I was talking about.