Thanksgiving all about the turkey for millions upon millions of Canadians/Americans. But in my family this is not the case.
Reason is pretty simple, why would you eat inferior dry meat that you need a bucket full of gravy to even eat the thing?

Two things about that. One, we're talking about a culture that invests a great deal more into New Year's traditions than much of the west does into things like Christmas dinner. Indeed, it's a culture for which tradition is a very immediate and important thing.

The other is that I see the soba being used as a metaphor, or at least an element Japanese readers would recognize and say "hey, I get an idea of what's being suggested here" without being too obvious. So it doesn't matter if everyone does it, it matters if it's something often associated with family on New Year's.

Two things about that. One, we're talking about a culture that invests a great deal more into New Year's traditions than much of the west does into things like Christmas dinner. Indeed, it's a culture for which tradition is a very immediate and important thing.

The other is that I see the soba being used as a metaphor, or at least an element Japanese readers would recognize and say "hey, I get an idea of what's being suggested here" without being too obvious. So it doesn't matter if everyone does it, it matters if it's something often associated with family on New Year's.

I was already almost convinced right after I did my first post ( I don't edit my posts even when I feel they're dumb seconds after I post it ) but now I'm 100% convinced that you're right. My other post was just me subtly ranting about how it's dumb to eat food that you dislike just because it's tradition. I do know that being a picky eater is somewhat more frown upon over there.

Two things about that. One, we're talking about a culture that invests a great deal more into New Year's traditions than much of the west does into things like Christmas dinner. Indeed, it's a culture for which tradition is a very immediate and important thing.

The other is that I see the soba being used as a metaphor, or at least an element Japanese readers would recognize and say "hey, I get an idea of what's being suggested here" without being too obvious. So it doesn't matter if everyone does it, it matters if it's something often associated with family on New Year's.

I was already almost convinced right after I did my first post ( I don't edit my posts even when I feel they're dumb seconds after I post it ) but now I'm 100% convinced that you're right. My other post was just me subtly ranting about how it's dumb to eat food that you dislike just because it's tradition. I do know that being a picky eater is somewhat more frown upon over there.

I'm reminded of George Carlin's famed line, "Fussy eater" is a euphemism for "big pain in the ass"

For those waiting for yuri let's face it the author is just fooling with us, this is nothing but a manga about streches and a big friendship with straight drama xD.

For those waiting for yuri let's face it the author is just fooling with us, this is nothing but a manga about streches and a big friendship with straight drama xD.

lalalalala i don't want to hear it !!!!

The yuri parts will be here soon ...right? RIGHT!?

I thought she will face-hello-earth in the first second of the year at page 6 and I laughed, because I used to the way Shou always makes Ran do stupid actin, but this was an unnormal one, what a sweet scene.

I'm reminded of George Carlin's famed line, "Fussy eater" is a euphemism for "big pain in the ass"

Well I eat pretty much anything, but I'll be damned if I can't choose what I eat in my own household just because other people say you need to eat X at Y time. My home, my rules.

I don't necessarily need this to be yuri. I'd be fine if they just stayed close friends. Yuri is never unwelcome though.

Hear hear or is it here here?? Anyhoo, agreed. But I'll be damned if I'm not seeing some flirtations going on.....*mutters friggen yuri goggles *mutters

I don't necessarily need this to be yuri. I'd be fine if they just stayed close friends. Yuri is never unwelcome though.

bah, Shou-san just needs to finish this series in all of its subtext glory then release one or two after stories/epilogues or doujinshis where the actual status of their relationship is made clear. this would allow him not to alienate either his Yuri or non-yuri audience.

on a different note, now that Shou-san is repairing his reputation, I really freakin' really wish he'd revisit Prism and continue that story. I keep wondering, what is stopping/would stop him from doing so?

At this point wouldn't it seem a bit of a genre change if they became a couple? At first that's what I wanted, but as I read on it just seemed less and less likely and I'd rather preserve the essence of the story rather than just fanservice. Then again, maybe I still wouldn't mind the yuri...

At this point wouldn't it seem a bit of a genre change if they became a couple? At first that's what I wanted, but as I read on it just seemed less and less likely and I'd rather preserve the essence of the story rather than just fanservice. Then again, maybe I still wouldn't mind the yuri...

This is exactly how I feel about it now. It's weird because that was what I was going for the first few chapters, but now, I just feel like this is just one of the most comfortable and carefree relationship between two really close roommates/friends. I almost just want it to stay like this forever. But at the same time, I'm not saying no to yuri. Haha.

Hear hear or is it here here??

It's "hear, hear", if you're referring to the expression.

last edited at Oct 6, 2014 7:19PM

Hear hear or is it here here??

It's "hear, hear", if you're referring to the expression.

Glad to here it. :-P

At this point wouldn't it seem a bit of a genre change if they became a couple? At first that's what I wanted, but as I read on it just seemed less and less likely and I'd rather preserve the essence of the story rather than just fanservice. Then again, maybe I still wouldn't mind the yuri...

wah? on this i respecfully disagree. IMHO, it would make more sense if they became a couple and I do not see it as a change in genre. i say this because what we have been seeing for 26 chapters is a slow progression of their friendship from simple roommates to something more akin to family. that said, it is not a far stretch (pun intended) if their friendship progresses to the romantic. why? because we have been presented with coy glances, blushing, cutsie offhand comments... i argue that these examples are the foundation of a relationship. nothing fast. nothing topsy-turvy. just a nice slow progression. that said, if they never become a couple, then that is also ok because they would have a very strong, loving, non-romantic bond which is equally as valid as if they were a couple.

Hear hear or is it here here??

It's "hear, hear", if you're referring to the expression.

Glad to here it. :-P

Dammit! >l-P

I was in Shibuya at the time of the Tohoku earthquake...
It's so weird reading about it in a manga now. :/ It seemed like just yesterday.

At this point wouldn't it seem a bit of a genre change if they became a couple? At first that's what I wanted, but as I read on it just seemed less and less likely and I'd rather preserve the essence of the story rather than just fanservice. Then again, maybe I still wouldn't mind the yuri...

wah? on this i respecfully disagree. IMHO, it would make more sense if they became a couple and I do not see it as a change in genre. i say this because what we have been seeing for 26 chapters is a slow progression of their friendship from simple roommates to something more akin to family. that said, it is not a far stretch (pun intended) if their friendship progresses to the romantic. why? because we have been presented with coy glances, blushing, cutsie offhand comments... i argue that these examples are the foundation of a relationship. nothing fast. nothing topsy-turvy. just a nice slow progression. that said, if they never become a couple, then that is also ok because they would have a very strong, loving, non-romantic bond which is equally as valid as if they were a couple.

Although I do view them as a very loving pair of friends at the moment, I get the feeling that Ran might be a closeted lesbian who's in love with Keiko - you have references to how she seems uninterested in guys, although she is popular with them, and, I don't know, there's just a sort of undertone with some of the things she says to her. The "cherry-popping" comment is fanbait, sure, but usually when there's fanbait the characters themselves will be unaware of the innuendo, and that is certainly not the case here: Shou has Ran say 'I'm glad this is your first time', which is the usual level of "innocent" service, but then very deliberately follows up with the 'I get to pop one of your cherries' thing, which has overt sexual connotations. Even the normally quite oblivious Keiko notices.

On the other hand, Keiko herself is probably straight or unaware of her bisexuality, giving off a much more friend-like vibe - her touching Ran's hair and groping her generally comes off as innocent interest and admiration (that sounds so positive) rather than lesbian attraction. So while I think that Ran has actually got a fair chance of being a closeted lesbian - which would be incredibly cool if it were true; I'd have to praise Shou for being able to handle the whole thing fairly delicately and realistically - I doubt that she'll get together with Keiko unless she confesses or otherwise makes her feelings obvious. I may be completely wrong, or maybe it just won't happen. But man, do I wish that would it would. Rooting for them all the way, even if they're only just friends without romantic feelings for each other!

nhahahahahahahahaha... Oh my... I'm laughing as hard as Ran here.
That new chapter... THAT DAMN NEW CHAPTER...
Damn, Akili! You're such a troll! SUCH A TROLL!!!
It's like he practically confirms (still in subtext), that Ran's totally gay over Keiko, but a Het series of chapters with Ran is approaching.
Nice one. Like. Like really! I'm so... SO trolled... to pieces.

...still hope my amateurish Japanese failed me...

UPD:
so the proper translation made me slightly more optimistic... but let's see - next chapter's in two weeks, haha xD

last edited at Oct 15, 2014 9:24PM

NO, Ran stay away from guys we're disgusting pigs.

the yuri is becoming strong in this one

Yep, Ran is totally gay

I feel like we're approaching actual yuri now

Only one stretching!? Gotta be kidding me, who the hell does he think his audience is? Yuri fans or something?

Is just subtext they said.... It's not actually yuri they said

It'd be such a hilarious troll if she fell for a guy in the next chapter.

With the exception that none of us would be laughing... At this point I rather an open, tragic or even cancelled ending over het

It'd be such a hilarious troll if she fell for a guy in the next chapter.

With the exception that none of us would be laughing...

I would. I laugh at things that cause me pain.

I would laugh too. I laugh at other peoples pain.

It'd be such a hilarious troll if she fell for a guy in the next chapter.

With the exception that none of us would be laughing...

I would. I laugh at things that cause me pain.

I would laugh too. I laugh at other peoples pain.

i would get orgasm .