My impression is that the bulk of the posts for this series are “approvals” and “predictions,” meaning the total is a lot of posts for a series without many complex plot points/mysteries or very much actual controversy among the readers.

Sounds like it's time for my long-awaited 1,500-word essay on how Hino-san is actually a werewolf who ate her parents

"Sub Space" Net Essay Retrospective lets go

There have been "Comparisons with other series", but no discussions really ever evolved around those.

I did forget the tip about Yuugai Shitei Doukyuusei, which amounted to a handful of "These are alike in some ways and very different in others and both are worth reading" posts, and then it showed up here.

There's really not much to say beyond that, except that I'm glad it happened, because both are worth reading.

Pardon me as I grasp at straws to try to figure out what's happening.

• Hino's and Koguma's chins are parallel with each other. I think this rules out a forehead check since you'd need a pretty sharp angle to make that position.
• It doesn't look like a kiss on the lips on close inspection. From how they're normally drawn, I'd think Koguma's lips would be just above frame, so they'd both have to be really puckering to get any lip action going. (Additionally, it doesn't look like either of their heads are tilted, but that's hard to tell from this image.)

With these pieces in mind, this might be an Eskimo kiss, though my best guess is we're seeing an imminent kiss with enough distance for Hino to stop herself or an environmental factor (e.g., Omichi calling) interrupting. Regardless of exactly how Tarou is trolling us, I think we'll see Hino have to start wrestling with her feelings for Koguma.

Alternative guess: the last panel was from Koguma's dream, since she's sleeping

Alternative alternative guess: all 92 chapters were just Hino's dream and in the finale she will wake up from the nap she took behind school

last edited at Dec 27, 2021 1:42PM

At this point, they could be in the midst of hot, ardent sex, and Koguma would still be thinking, "But does Hino really like me that way?" The only thing this series likes to do more than trolling Koguma is trolling the readers. I'll believe nothing until it's explicit.

last edited at Dec 27, 2021 1:57PM

I'll believe nothing until it's explicit.

That's me at this point, and why I keep spamming with possible ideas. One more:

Hino's about to lean in to whisper something into Koguma's ear.

Or maybe posing for an 'imminent kiss' to wait or Koguma to wake up, as if catching her mid-act

Alternative guess: the last panel was from Koguma's dream, since she's sleeping

Alternative alternative guess: all 92 chapters were just Hino's dream and in the finale she will wake up from the nap she took behind school

Wow, you must be fun at parties.

I don’t think the laws of physics will solve the mystery here:

• We are intentionally being prevented from seeing what’s happening (obvious, I know, but just stating the premises).

• There’s no guarantee that the panel shows the precise Crucial Moment of this particular encounter—either or both characters could adjust positions by the next time we see them, so touching noses, solo or mutual kiss, forehead thermometer, and more are all still on the table.

• There’s nothing this series can’t walk back. We know this. It sometimes hurts our hearts to know this. But we all know it’s true.

Alternative guess: the last panel was from Koguma's dream, since she's sleeping

Alternative alternative guess: all 92 chapters were just Hino's dream and in the finale she will wake up from the nap she took behind school

She is of course woken by Koguma, so that the cycle may begin anew.

I don’t think the laws of physics will solve the mystery here:

• We are intentionally being prevented from seeing what’s happening (obvious, I know, but just stating the premises).

• There’s no guarantee that the panel shows the precise Crucial Moment of this particular encounter—either or both characters could adjust positions by the next time we see them, so touching noses, solo or mutual kiss, forehead thermometer, and more are all still on the table.

• There’s nothing this series can’t walk back. We know this. It sometimes hurts our hearts to know this. But we all know it’s true.

There's a limit to how many times a series can avoid development like this before it becomes detrimental. It does spoil the fun and over time the jokes will lose their ability to make up for it. The current status quo can't last forever, so I think they have to start dating at some point. We might be in the middle of the transition, or it might happen some time later. I think it's probably already going on. We know the author tricks people like this and the author knows that we know, so if we're talking about playing with expectations, waiting for a miraculous phone call or whatever is just asking for it. Going for it is an inevitable twist when the audience is so well trained to assume nothing will ever happen

Really, the greatest trick Tarou-sensei could pull right now would be not deceiving us: an actual kiss, because none of us really believe that it could actually be true right now. We've been conditioned to not take what Hino does and what we're shown at face value (just like Koguma), and the greatest payoff will eventually come through not fooling us.

Really, the greatest trick Tarou-sensei could pull right now would be not deceiving us: an actual kiss, because none of us really believe that it could actually be true right now. We've been conditioned to not take what Hino does and what we're shown at face value (just like Koguma), and the greatest payoff will eventually come through not fooling us.

"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world they did not kiss."

(Sorry, just had to.)

last edited at Dec 27, 2021 3:30PM

That's me at this point, and why I keep spamming with possible ideas. One more:

Hino's about to lean in to whisper something into Koguma's ear.

Or maybe posing for an 'imminent kiss' to wait or Koguma to wake up, as if catching her mid-act

Actually, that would be pretty great: Hino wants to kiss Koguma, but is afraid to, so instead for the standard MO of teasing. By way of waiting in the perfect 'caught just before kissing her' pose.

And waiting.

And waiting.

And waiting.

And Koguma just won't wake up, so Hino gets tired from holding the pose / needs to stretch, gets up... and then Koguma wakes up. :p

And waiting.

And waiting.

And waiting.

Speaking of waiting, I guess we'll also be doing a lot of that for the next two weeks :D

Also speculating. A lot of it. And I'm okay with that.

I think its a clear fakeout, will probably end up being a forehead temp check or something.

But it doesnt matter, the rest of the chapter was so fucking good I dont mind the (possible) fakeout

Yuki Kitsune posted:

At this point, they could be in the midst of hot, ardent sex, and Koguma would still be thinking, "But does Hino really like me that way?" The only thing this series likes to do more than trolling Koguma is trolling the readers. I'll believe nothing until it's explicit.

I mean, isn't that the plot of the whole manga?

Counting the pores on the forehead. Thank me later

And waiting.

And waiting.

And waiting.

Speaking of waiting, I guess we'll also be doing a lot of that for the next two weeks :D

actually just one week, because it took me a week to get this chapter out due to holiday stuff. next sunday!!!

LETS
FUCKING
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

And waiting.

And waiting.

And waiting.

Speaking of waiting, I guess we'll also be doing a lot of that for the next two weeks :D

actually just one week, because it took me a week to get this chapter out due to holiday stuff. next sunday!!!

Thanks as ever for your work bringing us this delight. Sometimes a torturous one, but always a delight.

WHOOOOOOO YEAH BABY
THATS WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!
WOOOOOOOOO

IT'S HAPPENING.gif

actually just one week, because it took me a week to get this chapter out due to holiday stuff. next sunday!!!

My, what a way to start off the year!

Is it just me or has Hino-san become the title on Dynasty that currently gets the most community engagement in terms of forum posts and involvement per chapter?
Sure, it's been going for a few years and has 92 chapters now, but 3600+ posts in the thread is nothing to sneeze at. Not even Futaribeya or Hana ni Arashi have as many posts, though then again Bloom into You has more than twice as many :D The power of having an anime adaptation I guess?

Imagine Hino getting an anime, the thread length would break.