My heart...

Also, we finally got the punchline to Beartrice.

last edited at Mar 30, 2021 12:34AM

Chapter 24 and 24.5 are so bittersweet. I think I'm more attached to Chiyo than Ichika just in these chapters. Chiyo's storyline had a bit more poignancy and grace to it, but then again, I think it's the shift in tone and emotional impact. Can't wait to see Ichika and Aria develop in their blossoming relationship haha.

last edited at Mar 30, 2021 12:50AM

Yep yep just destroy my heart I don’t need it anyway sob

Oh man, double chapter and so bittersweet, so kinda nostalgic! This manga made like an awesome improvement with these two chapters.. I mean, it was good already but now it's great.

Also please, a round of applause for Higashiyama-sensei's drawing that's just spectacular

so gayness came from the genes huh
I am happy that Aria lives in a time when more or less can be accepted if she likes someone of the same sex, too bad her grandmother did not have that opportunity but I will think that she died happy even if she could not be with whoever she wanted, she received love in it different ways,something precious: a family and a friend
;)

last edited at Mar 30, 2021 2:22AM

That double spread on p18 with a with trail of light from Arias feet stretching back into the vanishing point made me think of the endless stretches of time behind her and in front of her, really powerful imagery I thought.

Beautiful chapters, I was wondering if we'd get Chiyo's story in full and the author really delivered. Such a good series.

Damn Chiyo's backstory was great. Really powerful 2 chapters.

With Aria's backstory it was already clear that nothing had happened, but making Chiyo gay and then not giving Aria at least a taste seems like a wasted opportunity. To me it'd have been more fun if Aria had already been a secret lover of Chiyo; especially if Ichiko then found out later.

To me it'd have been more fun if Aria had already been a secret lover of Chiyo; especially if Ichiko then found out later.

[telenovela intensifies]

With Aria's backstory it was already clear that nothing had happened, but making Chiyo gay and then not giving Aria at least a taste seems like a wasted opportunity. To me it'd have been more fun if Aria had already been a secret lover of Chiyo; especially if Ichiko then found out later.

I wouldn't have liked that, it would've made Ichika feel like she was just a replacement for Chiyo rather than being important to Aria in her own way. Chiyo "touched Aria's heart" but ultimately couldn't convince her not to die by her hand or that of one of her descendants while I assume that Ichika will actually convince her to stop wanting to die.

With Aria's backstory it was already clear that nothing had happened, but making Chiyo gay and then not giving Aria at least a taste seems like a wasted opportunity. To me it'd have been more fun if Aria had already been a secret lover of Chiyo; especially if Ichiko then found out later.

I wouldn't have liked that, it would've made Ichika feel like she was just a replacement for Chiyo rather than being important to Aria in her own way. Chiyo "touched Aria's heart" but ultimately couldn't convince her not to die by her hand or that of one of her descendants while I assume that Ichika will actually convince her to stop wanting to die.

Plus it just makes things extra delicious that all the gay stuff Ichika's been teaching Aria were all first experiences for her.

Plus it just makes things extra delicious that all the gay stuff Ichika's been teaching Aria were all first experiences for her.

This emphasis on first experiences is precisely the type of thing that annoys me about (Japanese) romances, so ... ^^

Just when I was about to look for updates on this, y'all grace us with two chapters! Good backstory. Really glad that Chiyo and Aria's relationship was platonic.

Game: long.

Are we to conclude that Jirou hung out for decades up in the locked attic?

Damn this last two chapters were great

Flashback chapter huh?

With Aria's backstory it was already clear that nothing had happened, but making Chiyo gay and then not giving Aria at least a taste seems like a wasted opportunity. To me it'd have been more fun if Aria had already been a secret lover of Chiyo; especially if Ichiko then found out later.

I wouldn't have liked that, it would've made Ichika feel like she was just a replacement for Chiyo rather than being important to Aria in her own way. Chiyo "touched Aria's heart" but ultimately couldn't convince her not to die by her hand or that of one of her descendants while I assume that Ichika will actually convince her to stop wanting to die.

Exactly. And it’d be weird, falling in love with a grandmother then her grandchild. That’s just one step away from mother to daughter which is just ew. Also if I recall correctly it had said that ichika is arias first romantic experience right? It would bother me so much if they contradicted that. I was worried when chiyo was gay in case that did happen but having her be gay and have a platonic relationship was nice and kind of helps explain ichika’s comfort with her sexuality. It’s adorable that chiyo encouraged her to follow her heart and whatnot no matter what. Edit: went back to chapter one and yeah it already said it’s because of grandma off the bat but still.

Anyway did anyone else find the speed of their interactions almost jarring? Like was that over the course of a day? I know you can befriend someone in a day but their conversation felt to me like they knew each other at least a few days at the end there.

last edited at Mar 30, 2021 11:42AM

Not what I was expecting from these chapters, but I really like them! It was nice getting a backstory

Q~Q

Dammit, here go the water works again. It's only 9am and I'm crying my eyes out.

Damn these backstory chapters on Chiyo... when Ichika turned around and Aria saw Chiyo as Ichika said “she was always smiling” that part really got to me.

I’m also curious about Chiyo’s life, did she actually fall for a man and raise a family because she wanted to? Or was she just doing so because of the era she lived in? She seemed happy enough so I’ll hope it was the former.

I’m also curious about Chiyo’s life, did she actually fall for a man and raise a family because she wanted to? Or was she just doing so because of the era she lived in? She seemed happy enough so I’ll hope it was the former.

I think the argument can be either way. The text is clear she's a lesbian, and I think she found happiness for herself. But the lack of interactions with her husband in the montage and presence of the kids instead would seem to say that's where she found her happiness. On the other hand, the way she was staring at that kitchen knife in the montage was pretty ambiguous and ominous. The final thought we're left with is that she was always smiling, so the knife and husband aside, it sounds like she enjoyed her life.

To me it'd have been more fun if Aria had already been a secret lover of Chiyo; especially if Ichiko then found out later.

[telenovela intensifies]

That's an interesting take. But then, it does sound like a telenovela.

I actually appreciate the realness of Chiyo's situation. The accusation of her "friends" that Chiyo did not care about her best friend whom she was in love with seemed like rubbing salt to the wound. And that montage of Chiyo getting married to a husband and having a "normal" life, at least for me, shows that Chiyo was not happy by default. She CHOSE to be happy every now and then within the one short life she lived despite the pain of not having a family with her best friend, or not ending with Aria.

"She was smiling.". I teared up a little when Aria confirmed this with Ichika if Chiyo had been really happy. Couple that with the fact that Chiyo advised her granddaughter (and possibly her daughter before that) to follow her heart's desire makes me think that Chiyo strove hard to live life without regrets but then had fallen short due to circumstances she could not control.

^^ Even before that, Chiyo told Aria that she would've had the resolve to raise a kid for the sake of her family had her best friend still been alive, so she never once thought about living freely and she was already prepared to do what was expected of her. I feel she must've found whatever happiness she was able to within her restricted position, but her words to Aria about living freely and listening to her heart first heard in chapter 1 definitely show some regret and possibly relief that her granddaughter's life won't be as bound by strict rules as hers was.

last edited at Mar 30, 2021 12:53PM

I feel she must've found whatever happiness she was able to within her restricted position, but her words to Aria about living freely and listening to her heart first heard in chapter 1 definitely show some regret and possibly relief that her granddaughter's life won't be as bound by strict rules as hers was.

Yes.

Also, 24 and 24.5 are well-crafted chapters. I love this manga but there are chapters that sometimes stand out from the other ones. And you gotta give it to Shou-sensei's ability to create an atmosphere that tugs at the heartstrings. Ngl, I often associate the NAME with, um, hentai but, damn, this mangaka's awesome at creating vulnerable yet strong characters.