But I'm wondering about precisely what has actually been depicted in this particular story that is the source of all this vague discomfort or of the aspersions cast on the author.

Well I can't speak for everyone but there's a way that the narrative has dwelt specifically on Koguma's body in earlier chapters - both our characters describe it as tiny and child-like repeatedly. That's not really an issue on its own, because Hino and Koguma are both the same age, and sufficiently well-realized characters with enough other things going on in their relationship that it doesn't feel like the reason the story is being read or written. But now there's this other, actual child character, being crushed on by a high schooler. I'm not used to that. Kids having crushes on teenagers and adults is fairly familiar to me - my older sister went through like ten of them when I was in grade school - but I can't think of any examples from either my own life or fiction where a teenager takes a romantic interest in someone that much younger. It's weird enough to me that it takes me out of the story, I wonder why it's there, and suddenly Koguma feels kind of like a proxy for other, less wholesome relationships the author could be drawing instead.

Is it paranoid to think this way? I suppose so. Nothing depicted between Omichi and Rin in the actual text so far has been objectionable. But the brain is wired to look for patterns, especially in fiction where everything's intentional. And this is Dynasty Scans, we have trained ourselves to look for all possible subtext. :V

Thanks for the reasonable response. The story doesn’t hit me that way at all—it’s been a highwire act all along where the story consistently feints towards being explicitly lewd and potentially exploitative but always ends up in a wholesome, and often extraordinarily caring, place, and I see no indication that it’s ever going to be anything else.

The story has explicitly thematized characters looking and/or acting older and/or younger than their physical ages, which is precisely what I recall about the first year of high school—some people looked like they were about ready for marriage while others (probably me among them) looked like they were only recently allowed to cross the street by themselves. And everyone, big and small, fairly crackling with adolescent hormones.

I just find it quite hard to believe that anyone could read this series in its entirety and think that anything objectionable is going to happen between Omichi and Rin.

The story has explicitly thematized characters looking and/or acting older and/or younger than their physical ages, which is precisely what I recall about the first year of high school—some people looked like they were about ready for marriage while others (probably me among them) looked like they were only recently allowed to cross the street by themselves. And everyone, big and small, fairly crackling with adolescent hormones.

I just find it quite hard to believe that anyone could read this series in its entirety and think that anything objectionable is going to happen between Omichi and Rin.

I'd also like to add that it's rather clear reading this, that Omichi was not attracted to Rin because she's a child, but quite the opposite, because Rin is possibly the most mature character in this entire manga.

Neat how things sped up in the latest chapters, waiting was worth it.

Also, people who went on a full rant about Omichi and started to badmouth the author should be ashamed of themselves. There's only a 3 years age gap between both characters. Furthermore, Omichi found herself attracted to Rin's maturity and courage in particular, not her body. She also made it clear that she wouldn't groom anyone and would wait. So yeah, go back to tumblr because no one cares.

last edited at May 1, 2023 5:46PM

WOW! GIRLS KISSING!!

b l e s s

Ignores whatverthehellthatcoversation was I;m glad Hino and Koguma are able to still wind up in ridiculous situations, even after the relationship upgrade. Also, it sounds like they need a wet-nap after all that kissin'

The story has explicitly thematized characters looking and/or acting older and/or younger than their physical ages, which is precisely what I recall about the first year of high school—some people looked like they were about ready for marriage while others (probably me among them) looked like they were only recently allowed to cross the street by themselves. And everyone, big and small, fairly crackling with adolescent hormones.

I just find it quite hard to believe that anyone could read this series in its entirety and think that anything objectionable is going to happen between Omichi and Rin.

I'd also like to add that it's rather clear reading this, that Omichi was not attracted to Rin because she's a child, but quite the opposite, because Rin is possibly the most mature character in this entire manga.

Look, I've got no skin in the moral outrage game on either side, but I have to disagree with you on the point of Rin's maturity.
Sorry, what kind of falling in love with a random older girl who helped you once, only taking no for an answer in word, but still wanting to find out who they liked so you could "beat" them, and only giving up once you saw that other person was similar to you, makes you think Rin is "the most mature character in this entire manga".

People keep saying she's mature, but to me, that looks like a childish crush.

Edit:
Maybe that's what this is, not that Rin is mature, but that Omichi is so immature she's on the same level. They both had the same kind of "have an admiration moment for this person you just met and think it's feelings of love and you have to date them."

last edited at May 3, 2023 4:36AM

The story has explicitly thematized characters looking and/or acting older and/or younger than their physical ages, which is precisely what I recall about the first year of high school—some people looked like they were about ready for marriage while others (probably me among them) looked like they were only recently allowed to cross the street by themselves. And everyone, big and small, fairly crackling with adolescent hormones.

I just find it quite hard to believe that anyone could read this series in its entirety and think that anything objectionable is going to happen between Omichi and Rin.

I'd also like to add that it's rather clear reading this, that Omichi was not attracted to Rin because she's a child, but quite the opposite, because Rin is possibly the most mature character in this entire manga.

Look, I've got no skin in the moral outrage game on either side, but I have to disagree with you on the point of Rin's maturity.
Sorry, what kind of falling in love with a random older girl who helped you once, only taking no for an answer in word, but still wanting to find out who they liked so you could "beat" them, and only giving up once you saw that other person was similar to you, makes you think Rin is "the most mature character in this entire manga".

People keep saying she's mature, but to me, that looks like a childish crush.

Edit:
Maybe that's what this is, not that Rin is mature, but that Omichi is so immature she's on the same level. They both had the same kind of "have an admiration moment for this person you just met and think it's feelings of love and you have to date them."

The reason she comes off as mature (rightfully so, imo) is that she's highly considerate, well spoken and thoughtful. Her feelings may be immature and she's clearly too inexperienced to understand and contextualize them fully, but her approach to- and analysis of them are quite advanced and eloquent.

By contrast, Omichi's own expertise is more technical knowledge and less analysis and deeper thinking despite being older, which makes her come off as childish by comparison. (Which is entirely realistic actually, some people really are just late bloomers and Omichi is only about 12)

IMO, it seem clear that the thing which attracted Omichi to Rin romantically is how maturely, honestly and deeply she analyses, approaches and lives by her feelings. On the "physical" attraction level, there seems to be some level of "Moe" appeal to the concept of a small child displaying maturity and wisdom beyond her years at play, which is a very Japanese culture thing that it's not entirely fair to analyze from a purely western viewpoint.

Still, I maintain that the dominant factor to Omichi's feelings is not Rin's age but rather, her mature and considerate personality. Omichi herself rationalized that what provoked her emotional attraction was how much she felt that Rin deserves to feel loved after all the hard work and thoughtfulness she puts into her feelings.
The only character I'd say is arguably more mature than Rin in the story tbh is Hino herself, but that's debatable since she very much treads the line between being deeply thoughtful and considerate of Koguma versus childishly indulging in a LOT of immature shenanigans on a daily basis.

last edited at May 3, 2023 6:30AM

It's baffling how people in here of all places ascribe a moral quality to people over who they fall in love with, as though they were responsible for it and deliberately chose it. (edit: or maybe rather "ascribe a moral value to the act of falling in love based on who falls in love with whom") So what, "Ez fix, just don't fall in love with a minor/someone younger than you"? Omi's situation couldn't be handled in a more "by the book" way than "welp, gonna have to wait until she's of age".

In a place like Dynasty you'd kind of expect people to understand that you're not in control of who you fall in love with – only of what you do about it.

last edited at May 3, 2023 1:08PM

Look, I've got no skin in the moral outrage game on either side, but I have to disagree with you on the point of Rin's maturity.
Sorry, what kind of falling in love with a random older girl who helped you once, only taking no for an answer in word, but still wanting to find out who they liked so you could "beat" them, and only giving up once you saw that other person was similar to you, makes you think Rin is "the most mature character in this entire manga".

I mean, have you seen the other characters in this manga?

(Ba-dum-tish)

last edited at May 3, 2023 5:08PM

Wait, finale? Series is coming to an end??? NOOOOOOO

Finale???? NOOOOOOO

last edited at May 7, 2023 3:41PM

Ok after a chapter like this, itd be criminal if we dont get to see them fuck.

Noo! It can't end now!
Sure it's been over a 100 chapters... But we can go for a hundred more right?! Right?!

I kinda disliked this chapter. I didnt like how pushy Hino was wit the sex thing, like ik that’s how she is but it still would have been nice for her to atleast be considerate of that. I also wish she would have said she would have been interested in her no matter her height, just my opinion though.

last edited at May 7, 2023 3:55PM

Straight to the point. :D

Wait, finale? Series is coming to an end??? NOOOOOOO

Exactly my reaction as well...

I kinda disliked this chapter. I didnt like how pushy Hino was wit the sex thing, like ik that’s how she is but it still would have been nice for her to atleast be considerate of that. I also wish she would have said she would have been interested in her no matter her height, just my opinion though.

Eh, I really wouldn't call that pushy... A bit more direct than most people, but she made it abundantly clear that while she would, of course, want to do it, she's willing to wait as long as needed until Koguma feels OK with it as well. As for Koguma's height, again, she made it quite clear that it was not her height that she fell for, it's just that due to her having decided to shut everyone off, she would have treated Koguma the same, had she not initially mistaken her for someone much younger.

I just laugh at "when will we have sex" right in front of the stuffed animals and other cutesy-room aspects. https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/hino_san_no_baka_ch133#1

EMOTIONAL FINALE!? NOOOOO!
But also.

SEEEEEEX!
That was being forward with your desires, finding your partner's comfort level, and finding a time that works for both of them whilst not being disappointingly long or put off forever due to low confidence levels. It was really fucking cute.

I enjoyed the chapter, but knowing it is ending soon leaves me feeling down. I don't like coming to this point with series I like.

So. Just one more to go eh? Don't think Kinniku Tarou-sensei is gonna pull a fast one on the meta level, sadly, so unless we maybe get an epilogue, that'll be it.
I'll be travelling across the country next weekend by train, so I may use that time to re-read the manga from the start once more. That'll be a good send-off, then.

Nooo conclusion!? I do hope we get some bonus chapters like Jyoshikou Dakara where it's them after High School. No reason not to keep this adorable train rolling right?

I'm not ready for this to end...

FINALE?!?! Nooooooo

so bummed it's ending, but i'm sure it'll go out with a bang

so bummed it's ending, but i'm sure it'll go out with a bang

Possibly literally.