There are some readers that believe if it isn’t stated then it isn’t real. While others believe in the power in insinuation.

Literary analysis sometimes means you have to read between the lines. Discussions can be filled with people trying to figure out character motivation based on how they read the character is written even when nothing is explicitly said.

The beauty of writing is that people can have different interpretations of a text. When something isn’t stated explicitly then we really on subtext.

I do think repeated sexual assault may be more appropriate to describe Mei’s situation. Rape would have been too unforgivable for it to go unpunished and unaddressed.

And yes, Mei’s upbringing caused her to develop this way but how she is made her perfect prey to a predator like her first fiancé.

We are free to read things how we want so I don’t think people should be condemned for seeing Mei as a survivor.

Citrus isn’t a literary masterpiece but I do appreciate what it’s been trying to do.

For me at least, it's not about sex per se or Mei suddently becoming super expressive because she would be '' more fun'' that way. It's more about her not looking like she's in constant PAIN in 99% of the panels. Can't she be at least a little happy by now? It's all I ask.

Agreed. At least when Mei was (supposedly) keeping the secret of an inevitable arranged marriage her angst was explicable.

Then when Saburouta handwaves away everything standing in the way of a romance with Yuzu, Mei looks like she's been sentenced to life in a concentration camp.

This too, I am exceptionally bad with facial expressions and body language, understanding them, that is, but even I can't seem to find actual joy or something in that face of Mei's. I kind of thought she'd slowly get more and more honest and open, I see none of that, but, maybe there's 20 chapters left and she starts to open up by the end of the 19th.

Does anyone know how much of this we get to read to know if it gets "good" or not? I can see it's already good for some people, way to go. For others,eh not yet.

Still no seggs

There is little explaining away that Mei is a miserable sod.

I like how this is one of those series where the forum discussion is arguably more entertaining and certainly had more thought put into it than the actual manga.

I like how this is one of those series where the forum discussion is arguably more entertaining and certainly had more thought put into it than the actual manga.

Lol
This is so true

This is a suffering... not in the good way...

I like how this is one of those series where the forum discussion is arguably more entertaining and certainly had more thought put into it than the actual manga.

Lol
This is so true

Just as much unnecessary drama, though.

I like how this is one of those series where the forum discussion is arguably more entertaining and certainly had more thought put into it than the actual manga.

Lol
This is so true

Just as much unnecessary drama, though.

I'd say the forum has more

I like how this is one of those series where the forum discussion is arguably more entertaining and certainly had more thought put into it than the actual manga.

Lol
This is so true

Just as much unnecessary drama, though.

I miss that unnecessary drama, that's when the series was the most fun

Literary analysis sometimes means you have to read between the lines

Literary analysis means you have to tie any point you make, below or on the surface of the work in question, directly to the text itself. Ain't no professor or journal will accept it otherwise. (I kid, of course. Literary journals aren't known for their rigor.) Read between the lines, but tie it back

So I guess subtext just doesn't exist?

Essentially, no, it does not. That's literally the point of subtext. "Subtext" is a fandom term wholly outside of the field and methods of literary study, likely because it's vague and used to obscure discussion. And to talk about ships and write fanfiction. It's not really a tool for established works.

last edited at Sep 20, 2021 8:30PM

the only explanation that i have is that mei is secretly a meguca hence why she lives in constant suffering and always looks tired and sick of everything because she fights wtiches everyday until morning

Like, stop your fucking bullshit about "you just want them to have sex" Mei is being an awful partner, is inconsiderateand doesn't try in the least to reciprocate yuzu's feelings

well to be fair that´s consistent with her charaterization so far . On the other hand yuzu seems to expect less and less of mei every chapter like she used to look pretty dejected whenever mei gave her the cold shoulder, it feels like she realize that she´s not getting any emotional fullfillment from mei so she doesn´t bother triying anymore

last edited at Sep 20, 2021 10:54PM

hmm, I wonder if Mei's personality or characterization was based on a cluster C personality disorder she got all the signs: terrified of abandonment/rejection, shy, passive, avoid confrontation, overcontrolled (not just with emotions but with other things in life).

"Well I am your older sister! Plus I'm your girlfriend, and right now, your newlywed bride!"

...r/brandnewsentence

last edited at Sep 21, 2021 3:56AM

I like how this is one of those series where the forum discussion is arguably more entertaining and certainly had more thought put into it than the actual manga.

Lol
This is so true

Just as much unnecessary drama, though.

I'd say the forum has more

fax onli no printer

Yuzu should break up with Mei. She just give her more without any reciprocate. My heart is breaks for Yuzu to see her suffering.
Mei had a week to do her f work, forgot her fiancée's birthday and not even try to change or be better for sake of Yuzu. Maybe a little bit... but It feels a truly one sided love.
Mei character is not improved, morover is worse than before, still an emotionally crippled person who would screw with anybody who is pushing her a little bit, like happened with Amemiya sensei. About Yuzu... Yuzu is an intresting toy for her which is recently discovered, do not know what to do with it, where to place it, so... when needed she takes out, when not, put back into the drawer.

Ditch the Meibot, Yuzu! Go to the one who appreciates you, Harumin!

I understand that Mei is a cold person, both in expression and feelings; and yes that can get annoying sometimes. But I cannot just brush past the many events that happened in the book.

Mei has not always been depicted as as a "cold person"--quite the contrary. She has been depicted as a very repressed person who hides her vulnerabilities, but Mei's initial characterization in the original series was that she was a highly passionate person underneath all that repression.

She was not always portrayed as someone who was profoundly clueless about other people's feelings, either. The basic emotional dynamic of the initial series was that Yuzu not only helped Mei open up about her feelings but also helped her to channel her previously untapped passion into an affectionate relationship with her stepsister.

That's why the trembling, socially clueless, sexually naive Mei of Citrus + is so frustrating--the issue isn't that the two don't have sex (although even Matsuri thinks that step is long overdue), it's that Mei seems to have regressed in maturity by about a half-dozen years and also to have forgotten why she ever embarked on a relationship with Yuzu in the first place.

And to clarify--I'm not criticizing Mei Aihara as an imaginary person; I've always thought that Mei was by far the (potentially) most interesting character in the series. I'm criticizing the author's execution of Mei's characterization, which I think has been inconsistent and basically a botched job ever since that second arranged marriage came out of nowhere.

You’re right. I know this has been said a lot, but I agree with it so I’m going to say it again, Saburouta forgot how to write Mei as a character.

This was an adorable chapter.

Yuzu really cranked up the gay in this chapter and is pretty heartwarming to see how much she loves Mei. That said, I don't think she was really wanting to fuck but rather she was just doing all the corny shit she undoubtedly picked up from an extremely fluffy shoujo manga.

I disagree with the idea that Mei is cold or uninterested towards Yuzu, it has been clear for a while now that she also adores Yuzu but she just doesn't know how to properly express it and her laser focus on living up to the Aihara's family name has left her completely lost when it comes to romance. But she's really trying to learn for Yuzu's sake.

Also, I love how Sub draws them looking older now.

Oh, and thank you so much Megumiaki for joining Chaosteam as the series' translator.

This right here, you deserve this cute flower(oh crap they don’t let us put emojis, we’ll imagine a cute pink flower)

last edited at Sep 22, 2021 12:03AM

Yuzu should break up with Mei. She just give her more without any reciprocate. My heart is breaks for Yuzu to see her suffering.
Mei had a week to do her f work, forgot her fiancée's birthday and not even try to change or be better for sake of Yuzu. Maybe a little bit... but It feels a truly one sided love.
Mei character is not improved, morover is worse than before, still an emotionally crippled person who would screw with anybody who is pushing her a little bit, like happened with Amemiya sensei. About Yuzu... Yuzu is an intresting toy for her which is recently discovered, do not know what to do with it, where to place it, so... when needed she takes out, when not, put back into the drawer.

I hope you are joking because... Yuzu isn’t* suffering, I think her smiles at Mei(talking about work) is like a wholesome smile. In a way Yuzu likes it when Mei is studious. Mei didn’t forget about Yuzu’s birthday, their mother had business to do so she was going to delay the celebration; she had Mei tell Yuzu. Needless to say, Yuzu was pretty bummed out about it. But no one forgot anything. And lastly, tell me what you have against Kuuderes.

last edited at Sep 22, 2021 12:09AM

hmm i never read this series and just look at the latest chapter and i can get a gist of it....

so why is this yuzu girl love this mei so much ? is mei her hero or save her life or what ?

i know its fiction called manga but looking at the latest chapter is so ridiculous, no one ever can loved someone like mei's attitude, this girl is completely ignore the other girl feeling. it's so stupid or more blowing imagination than "a kissing photo for blackmail in NTR hentai story plot" that you can say "i love you" so many time in a day to this kind of human.

but yeah if this mei girl saving suzu's life (literally between death & life) or owing a huge debt to her, i can understand it but if it otherwise, it's stupid, way too stupid.

^read the whole manga before complaining lmaoooo

hmm i never read this series and just look at the latest chapter and i can get a gist of it....

so why is this yuzu girl love this mei so much ? is mei her hero or save her life or what ?

i know its fiction called manga but looking at the latest chapter is so ridiculous, no one ever can loved someone like mei's attitude, this girl is completely ignore the other girl feeling. it's so stupid or more blowing imagination than "a kissing photo for blackmail in NTR hentai story plot" that you can say "i love you" so many time in a day to this kind of human.

but yeah if this mei girl saving suzu's life (literally between death & life) or owing a huge debt to her, i can understand it but if it otherwise, it's stupid, way too stupid.

..how about you read the manga from the very beginning first till the end lol, then throughout it you'll find your answer xD

you'll understand why when you perfectly get the characters' personalities

I've been reading the comments lately for my own amusement, except the last critic above who didn't even read the manga or he did and is just trolling and should be ignored completely.

But people, you're all going too far, and I said this as one of those who called Mei a robot last year, but back then we all reached a silent agreement that their pace and love was just not meant for us anymore but to the remaining fans who are actually enjoying this, and that we, the antifans were reading this only to see if Harumin and Matsuri get together too, I'm sure you all can find a better use of your time than being angry at Mei or the author or at least not bother those who are just trying to have a good time, remember that Chaos Team once considered not to post in dynasty anymore.

Yes I agree that Mei's development is using the "2 steps back and 1 step forward" formula to give us an illusion of progress, but Yuzu loves her enough to wait whatever time necessary for both of them to be ready, could be months or years, is up to them, there isn't a time limit (But we also know it will paid off eventually).

And like the other person said, this is a Kuudere case, or in Mei's case someone who's heart was damaged and then healed like new by Yuzu, but now she needs to learn everything from zero the proper way (still it IS the 2 steps back and 1 forward way). They don't dislike each others and they don't try to hurt each others.

If you want to redirect your hatred of frustration it should be to Maid Dragon for example, it fits more to what some of you are describing, that's a real case of someone giving 200% love while the other will once a month give 5%, a headpat if anything, because most of the times Kobayashi is angry at Tohru for trying to get a hug, for having big breast or trying to go on a date, she rather stays home sleeping or watching tv that going on a date with the person that loves her and that she supposedly loves back.

Similar case with Yui and Kyoko from Yuru yuri ( Kyoko x Ayano is the best btw), 90 % of the times that Kyoko tries to get attention she's countered with a "ugghhh such a pain!" or Get off me!. Yui and Kobayashi can be seen clearly disgusted and angry when they receive affection, but I never get that from Mai, she just doesn't know how to respond, she gets afraid and decides not to act at all and Yuzu knows this, that's why she waits.

So yeah, TLDR just skips the chapters with Yuzu and Mei if you don't like them, I think we've been proved time and time again that their relationship is what it is and you would be a fool for expecting huge changes.