That’s an interesting reading that would make for a more sympathetic character. All of those reasons are very solid and realistic. But just because your behavior is understandable in this light or given that justification doesn’t necessitate the benefit of the doubt or the forgiveness of others. Especially if that’s something you can’t even bring yourself to ask for. There are circumstances in which we allow people to hurt us out of clumsiness or a lack of finesse, but we’re never obligated to do so. If someone does something rude to me, I have to be motivated to reframe or justify that — if it’s someone I don’t care for then it’s easier to just say they’re an asshole and move on.

I like that you’re framing her words as someone awkwardly trying to get around to “hey I’m okay with the label girlfriend now. See I’m saying we were (ex) girlfriends!” It is kind of charming. Still, none of this positively hints that she’s improved in the communication department haha

Tbh I can relate to inadvertently rejecting someone in a harsh way because I was too caught up in my own embarrassment to make space for a more sensitive/empathetic response.. it’s something I regret but it’s also something I realize is too late to apologize for, and to a degree that apology would be only to the benefit of my own guilty conscience. That person is doing well regardless.

Anyway my bet is on this arc ending with N&C finally coming out to someone? Maybe?

^ Two very good posts above. But simplistic thinker that I am in such matters, pending further concrete evidence to the contrary my money’s still on asshole.

and ya blew it

^ Two very good posts above. But simplistic thinker that I am in such matters, pending further concrete evidence to the contrary my money’s still on asshole.

A pretty safe place to put your money haha

Well.. it's not a lie. She never got together with the sempai.

Well.. it's not a lie. She never got together with the sempai.

She just really really wanted to

Well.. it's not a lie. She never got together with the sempai.

I’m pretty sure the “Liar” at the end is not Nanoha to Chidori, but the other way around—Chidori about Nanoha saying it’s “fine” and that she’s not worried.

Because after all, one way or another: fuck sempai and her motivations, whatever they are—it’s Nanoha and Chidori we care about.

This could play out any number of ways that I would be fine with, but closest to my heart is the one where Chidori tells Nanoha exactly what went down with sempai and how she felt then and how much Nanoha means to her now.

Then Nanoha kicks sempai’s ass.

last edited at Aug 12, 2019 9:47PM

THE ONE WORRIED HERE IS ME
FUCKING BITCH PLAYER
SCREAMS

wow something actually happen and it wasn´t a secret from everyone, i didn´t see that coming

last edited at Aug 12, 2019 9:45PM

that damn satisfied expression

Spoilers for more detailed analysis of chapter 45. Let's take those statements as postulates and analyze her behavior from that perspective. First, she expects Chidori to react negatively to her presence, but she feels like she needs to go see her anyways. Maybe she wants to apologize, maybe she wants to see how she's doing, maybe she feels like she might still have a chance. Probably a mix of the three. But she's psychically incapable of admitting to actually desiring another's person's approval or acceptance, or to admitting that she did anything wrong. So she walks in smiling and acting as if everything is normal. She knew Chidori would be upset, and she is prepared for the inevitable "Why are you here?" She actually tells Chidori the truth, but she acts really casual about it and then walks it back when questioned further. She came to see Chidori. Obviously, this tactic is ineffective. Chidori, understandably predisposed to assume the worst about Igarashi, thinks the truth is the lie and the lie is the truth.

So Igarashi changes tack, and goes for a more direct approach. She brings up the past. Remember that time when I asked you out for real and you rejected me? But of course, she can't admit that she was serious or that Chidori's rejection hurt her, so she brings it up in the tone of "What a funny little memory." Obviously this does not have the intended effect, but it does get them closer to the heart of the matter. Igarashi then, awkwardly and terribly, apologizes for hurting Chidori, and tries to recapture how things were between them before that (apparently touching her hair is the only move Igarashi's got. Her hair's a little shorter this time, but that's obviously got nothing to do with me. It worked before, why not try it again?). She's finally worked around to what she was actually trying to say in the first place, painfully starting to apologize (though that half-assed "mistakes were made" might be the closest Igarashi ever gets to a serious apology), and Chidori appears to be opening up to her for the first time since she walked in.

But then she's interrupted. Chidori's back on her guard, and now, even worse, there's an audience. However difficult it was to get even close to opening up to Chidori in private, now that's completely impossible. Plus, oh shit, who's this girl? The Chidori I knew was a shy girl who was guarded with everyone except me. I assumed that she's be sitting in here alone, but now this friend bursts in, and they're obviously really close! So now, on top of everything else, she's (irrationally) jealous. So I think the "ex-girlfriend" thing is her trying to get a reaction out of Nanoha, put her off, and send some kind of signal to Chidori. Basically, some real petty shit, but she was surprised, didn't have much time to think about it. I think she smiles because she assumes Nanoha's reaction means "What do you mean, "girlfriend"? Like, as in dating? But you're both girls!" So there's Nanoha neutralized. See you tomorrow Chidori! Let's continue where we left off.

This really hits home (and more) to how much I've learned to sympathize with Igarashi at the end of this mini arc.

Though I have to admit that I was as apprehensive of her presence as the people who hate her before understanding her why's.

the third party appearing is seem always threating the relationship...

That bitch!!!!

I'd prefer it there's no drama in SoL stories like this because it's usually drama for the sake of drama and it doesn't really impact the characters' relationships when the drama is over, as in things go the way it used to as usual.

Would be nice if there's some changes because of Igarashi, like Chidori announces Nanoha is her girlfriend to Igarashi and Chidori's friends heard it so them dating isn't a secret anymore.

FUCK DRAMA
They better talk or I'll snap

I really like this storm bringer.

Hmmm... I feel like I'm among the last people to notice this, but...

Hana ni Arashi
Ig**arashi**

?

Lol. Nanoha doesn't seem to know how big of a threat she is to Igarashi.

Lol. Nanoha doesn't seem to know how big of a threat she is to Igarashi.

Yeah, it feels like a class bully returning to harass an old victim, unaware that in the interim their victim has become the sidekick to a superhero.

Hmmm... I feel like I'm among the last people to notice this, but...

Hana ni Arashi
Ig**arashi**

?

The name use on the cover is Nanoha to Chidori tho.

That’s an interesting reading that would make for a more sympathetic character. All of those reasons are very solid and realistic. But just because your behavior is understandable in this light or given that justification doesn’t necessitate the benefit of the doubt or the forgiveness of others. Especially if that’s something you can’t even bring yourself to ask for. There are circumstances in which we allow people to hurt us out of clumsiness or a lack of finesse, but we’re never obligated to do so. If someone does something rude to me, I have to be motivated to reframe or justify that — if it’s someone I don’t care for then it’s easier to just say they’re an asshole and move on.

I absolutely agree. Forgiveness cannot be "owed". I believe that each person has the right to reserve their sympathy for those they feel like granting it to. In this situation, Chidori would have no obligation to care about or even to listen to Igarashi's justifications. But as a reader, it's fun to think about.

As for the "liar" at the end of the chapter, I honestly don't know who's thinking it, but I'm pretty sure it's referring back to their agreement to discuss their problems between them. I believe it's Nanoha thinking that to herself. She'd just made a big deal about how they should be open about their worries and feelings with each other, and then she tells Chidori something didn't bother her when it obviously did. Though Chidori wasn't exactly being forthright with her either, so it could either way.

Hmmm... I feel like I'm among the last people to notice this, but...

Hana ni Arashi
Ig**arashi**

?

Oh, I didn't even think about that. Her name is even spelled with 嵐 in it.... Kovachi Luka's being cute.

The name use on the cover is Nanoha to Chidori tho.

Every cover has はなにあらし written across it in huge letters, and then "Nanoha to Chidori" (in English) as a kind of subtitle I guess.

last edited at Aug 13, 2019 10:04AM

As for the "liar" at the end of the chapter, I honestly don't know who's thinking it, but I'm pretty sure it's referring back to their agreement to discuss their problems between them. I believe it's Nanoha thinking that to herself. She'd just made a big deal about how they should be open about their worries and feelings with each other, and then she tells Chidori something didn't bother her when it obviously did. Though Chidori wasn't exactly being forthright with her either, so it could either way.

Bog-standard relationship behavior, though. Igarashi passed the "ex-girlfriend" thing off as a joke, so what exactly can Nanoha specify as being worrisome (except a pretty sempai obviously flirting with her secret girlfriend)?

Those "it bothered me even though I know it shouldn't" conversations can be pretty fraught--why raise an issue when there's no evidence there's actually a real issue?

Bog-standard relationship behavior, though. Igarashi passed the "ex-girlfriend" thing off as a joke, so what exactly can Nanoha specify as being worrisome (except a pretty sempai obviously flirting with her secret girlfriend)?

Those "it bothered me even though I know it shouldn't" conversations can be pretty fraught--why raise an issue when there's no evidence there's actually a real issue?

Yeah. I think one of the major reasons to have a rule like "we should discuss things openly with each other" is to apply to situations like this, where you don't really want to bring something up because it feels bad to talk about it. Being able to say, "I don't think you did anything wrong, but this situation makes me anxious/sad/upset" is a very important skill in relationships.

That....that..