I’ll post here what I posted elsewhere.
This was published back in August of this year, and when I read it I immediately fell in love with it.
I liked U-Temo’s stuff to begin with, but the way that this dealt with a topic not often shown in manga in a measured and real way, really stuck with me.
I think that’s what draws me to their stuff in the first place. I love Still Not Normal in that it shows not relationships happen in a snap, or follow the supposedly set steps. It reminded me of stuff I’ve gone through and people I know. Sometimes stuff slowly changes. Sometimes that’s just how it works.
Which I feel is the thing here. Sometimes that’s just how it shakes out. No one did anything terrible or was lacking. But feelings changed. Or circumstances (money, work, etc.) changed. And you have to part ways. I’ve been in both types of situation and this manga is a combo of the two.
The woman leaving has been unable to break through and the money has dried up. But on top of that, the feelings that were there, maybe spurred on my manga dreams or dampened by hardship, have changed. It’s a relationship at its natural end.
To prolong it further would just cause suffering or stress. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. I know what it’s like to know something is not working but still feel regret or guilt. Not even out of love! But just… because. And still, even if you recognize all this, it doesn’t make it easy, it’s still hard to part. I even think the woman leaving is pushing feelings deep underground, given some of her expressions. But theres lots of ways to interpret it, maybe.
It’s a bit of a tough one, but this sortof thing also happens every hour of every day. And I guess that’s what I like about U-Temo’s stuff. Is that it feels real, that it addresses all sorts of experience. I see this and sadly go “ah, yeah.” But in a strange way it makes me feel seen, more alive, more human, and for that I’m a fan of this short oneshot.
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