She's looking for a part-time job?!?! Why would she be ready for that? Like clearly it would be hard to re-enroll her in a middle school given the circumstances, but its cruel to push her to have to grow up that fast. Like Koto and Erika are also just college students so its hard for them to give guidance to Aya. However, it looks like Koto and Erika will have a proper talk with Aya so hopefully they can come up with a better solution. (tho Koto's judgment is a bit questionable)

Each chapter feels like a hit to the gut and it's so beautifully composed.

I think the new character introduced this chapter will be somewhat of a normalizing influence—perhaps leading into commentary or nudging on Aya's relationship being toxic and grooming in a way? I dont think that she'll open up about that or anything, but I think showing more "normal" people will have interesting effects on Aya's perception of her current situation.

its cruel to push her to have to grow up that fast

I'm pretty sure Aya is pushing herself, to not feel like a dependent child. I don't think Koto is. Though Koto's finances might be strained with a second mouth to feed.

As noted on Discord, Koto should have stuck to "this is Aya, she's staying with me". But, they're all unused to Big Deceit. Or coping with the bizarre situation.

It remains to be seen what the crux of this manga is because I haven’t managed to pinpoint it so far. What inspired the author to write this? Was it to delve into a purely hypothetical scenario that sounded intriguing? Was it an exploration of how someone who once seemed so far ahead of you...was just a product of her age after all? Was it to evoke a feeling of transience, as is common among Japanese works? Stories tend to head different directions depending on what the main starting point of the author was. I still don't know and it's keeping me hooked.

damn this manga got me biting my nails every chapter i love it

There's no way she was going to get introduced as a girlfriend. She's what, 15 at most? If some 20 something college student introduced their 15 year old girlfriend, I'd be dialing 911 immediately.

Man I dunno what they were thinking having Aya try to just be an adult right away. She should have at least started home schooling or something...

So unlucky dude getting whisked into the future and trapped in an unfamiliar time. Feel really bad for her it could happen to anyone though so be careful.

It remains to be seen what the crux of this manga is because I haven’t managed to pinpoint it so far. What inspired the author to write this? Was it to delve into a purely hypothetical scenario that sounded intriguing? Was it an exploration of how someone who once seemed so far ahead of you...was just a product of her age after all? Was it to evoke a feeling of transience, as is common among Japanese works? Stories tend to head different directions depending on what the main starting point of the author was. I still don't know and it's keeping me hooked.

Feels like every chapter the author explores a different idea, keeps things fresh and exciting.

So, is there any adult beside Koto, Erika and their gang that know about Aya's condition? Local police or child service for example? Or they keep silent about it?

I have thoughts! They're all over the place though:

I know this is a bittersweet situation for them all but Koto is really dropping the ball on some things here. I know it's Aya's own insecurities and not wanting to be a burden that's forcing her to get a job. But Koto needs to do a little better herself. How have they not talk about how they refer to each other? I honestly see a split up happening whether temporary or not. This new girl who showed up. I wonder if she's really there just to give Aya a job?

Koto clearly didn't think of the consequences of dating a kid until now. Aya is 21 in law now, yes. But you still have to suffer criticism from the people who don't know the whole story (not like they would believe it even if you confessed). The best way to say is my girlfriend just look fucking young. They would accept it. However, Koto doesn't even seem to have that kind of courage. Just went straight to "she is my relative's kid" route.
If Aya wants to break up with her for that, l would totally understand.

I think I'm dropping this one. The premise caught my interest, but the story didn't. I guess that once it ends I'll ask if it was ever explained how she dissappeared, tho.

Fuck yes, there's my fix of pain and despair.
I wanna say Koto's at fault, but it makes sense. Though, she could work on treating Aya as equals when in private... Because surely, there's no way too much shit for Aya to handle at this point, and every little missteps or frustrating thing bring her to a new breaking point...
'Wonder if the new girl will be some kind of mediator between the three friends (or at least, an outlet for Aya), if she'll learn the truth, or if she'll become someone's love interest.
Thanks for the chapter!

last edited at Jan 24, 2024 6:36PM

I have thoughts! They're all over the place though:

I know this is a bittersweet situation for them all but Koto is really dropping the ball on some things here. I know it's Aya's own insecurities and not wanting to be a burden that's forcing her to get a job. But Koto needs to do a little better herself. How have they not talk about how they refer to each other? I honestly see a split up happening whether temporary or not. This new girl who showed up. I wonder if she's really there just to give Aya a job?

That new girl is Koto's age. It wouldn't change anything for Aya in terms of interpersonal dynamics. Her problem is that she's too young for Koto and she would have the same problem with this new girl. That considering, I don't think this new girl is a potential suitor for Aya.

Okay, this is now the second time I've seen this on this site, so it's probably someone in the translation pipeline that doesn't know.

You do not "get hit by a heatstroke" in English. First off, there's no such thing as "a heatstroke". It's just heatstroke, no article.

Second, the phrasing should be just "she got heatstroke" or "she came down with heatstroke". Technically speaking, a doctor might say "so and so was suffering from heatstroke", but that's more of a diagnostic/clinical run-down. For most situations, you just stick with the former.

That said, thanks for the chapter!

last edited at Jan 24, 2024 7:59PM

its cruel to push her to have to grow up that fast

I'm pretty sure Aya is pushing herself, to not feel like a dependent child. I don't think Koto is. Though Koto's finances might be strained with a second mouth to feed.

That's a better clarification on what is more likely the case. I was a bit careless with my use of "who" as I honestly don't feel like Koto is explicitly pushing Aya (she's probably not doing much implicitly either). I rather mean a generic "who", a nameless entity I can blame all of this on.

I do wonder more about Aya's past. It has been mentioned in the thread before, but when Aya was living with her grandfather before all of this, it wasn't something very pleasant for her. In addition to her not wanting to feel like a dependent child currently, living in this world of new adults who she once knew, I wonder if she experienced a similar feeling when she lived with her grandfather.

Thanks again for picking up this piece, looking forward to also buying volume 2!

Koto should have said "Aya looks young but she is actually my girlfriend," Nobody really cared and just assumed it is platonic (no sex). The unfortunate side is that unlike a heterosexual couple, lesbian couple does not have the legal age loop hole. The loop hole being a grown man can have sex with his teenage fiancee, with the law implying that the two people are planning to get married, with proof (such as a marriage contract). But since same sex couple cannot get married, that loophole does not work.

Koto clearly didn't think of the consequences of dating a kid until now. Aya is 21 in law now, yes. But you still have to suffer criticism from the people who don't know the whole story (not like they would believe it even if you confessed). The best way to say is my girlfriend just look fucking young. They would accept it. However, Koto doesn't even seem to have that kind of courage. Just went straight to "she is my relative's kid" route.
If Aya wants to break up with her for that, l would totally understand.

I get the logic here, but Aya is 15 (or whatever age she was when she was spirited away I cant recall) - she hasn't aged and she hasn't grown, so physically and mentally she is 15. I think it would also be unfair for her to be presented as a 21 year old who looks young, so she then has that expectation to act like a 21 year old. Aya so far is the only one who is pushing herself to be older than she is

For that reason I get why Koto hesitated, because she is dating Aya as 15 year old Aya and not 21 year old Aya. Im not surprised she lied. I definitely agree with you that she hasn't thought through the consequences of dating her at all LOL, so messy but so fun

So, is there any adult beside Koto, Erika and their gang that know about Aya's condition? Local police or child service for example? Or they keep silent about it?

Child service? She's officially 21. There are records of her. She exists.

Who would believe "I traveled magically through time"?

As far the authorities are concerned, she's an adult and can handle herself.

Right. I don't understand people who say "Aya should go back to school, blah blah blah". "She should contact child service", etc... it's clearly not the point at all. She doesn't need a guardian at her official age.

She's legally 21. There's no way around it. The time travel hasn't been addressed (yet), but going around saying you've been spirited away for seven years ala Urashima Taro or Rip Van Winkle is a surefire way to get locked up in a mental ward. And what middle school would enroll a 21 yo?

Aya has no family left also. Maybe her mother will show up later, but as of now, her only family, her grandpa, is dead (and it's been hinted it wasn't going well with him). So, in effect, Koto and Erika (and the two people from the drama club) are the only people who'll accept her and believe her.

Now, what the author is doing is exploring what consequences it has. On her relationship, on her daily life, what is she supposed to do now, etc.

Aya clearly loves Koto and doesn't want to be a burden to her. I think it relates to how she's been abandoned by her mother. In chapter 4, Aya gets super anxious when she gets the impression Koto is distancing herself from her and has a flashback of her mother. So it's not surprising she wants to do everything to blend in Koto's life seamlessly.

But the reality of her body and mind is still here and these are these discrepancies that are explored.

last edited at Jan 25, 2024 3:14AM

I get the logic here, but Aya is 15 (or whatever age she was when she was spirited away I cant recall)

Aya is 14.

she hasn't aged and she hasn't grown, so physically and mentally she is 15. I think it would also be unfair for her to be presented as a 21 year old who looks young, so she then has that expectation to act like a 21 year old. Aya so far is the only one who is pushing herself to be older than she is

It's not about her mental or physical age which they just can't do anything to change. It's about Koto's attitude. She clearly couldn't bear any potential risk of criticism (even there's no fear of BEING ARRESTED since Aya is 21 in law). How can Aya expect her to persist in this age-gap relationship？
To think Aya's mother must have some good reasons to dump her own daughter. From Aya's point of view, Koto one day would do the same thing also for some reasonable excuses. And we all know it would because Koto is just a fucking coward from the start.

For that reason I get why Koto hesitated, because she is dating Aya as 15 year old Aya and not 21 year old Aya. Im not surprised she lied.

Guess what, I am not surprised at all too.

last edited at Jan 25, 2024 3:26AM

Koto should have said "Aya looks young but she is actually my girlfriend," Nobody really cared and just assumed it is platonic (no sex).

No? First of all, if she truly looking that young, this is a problem. She is 14 yo, it's not easy to make her look like she is older.

Second, they haven't talk much about their relationship with each other. We don't know if Koto want to do her coming out, and it's the same for Aya, as far as Koto knows. It's something you discuss beforehand, not something you impose on someone.

And third, she got caught by surprised, about her 14yo girlfriend... I'm pretty much sure the vast majority of people would have reacted the same way...

So, is there any adult beside Koto, Erika and their gang that know about Aya's condition? Local police or child service for example? Or they keep silent about it?

Child service? She's officially 21. There are records of her. She exists.

Who would believe "I traveled magically through time"?

As far the authorities are concerned, she's an adult and can handle herself.

Yeap. That police officer they talked to was only concerned about her "missing person" status. It was like:

PO: "Okay so her name is Ushio Aya, she went missing at 14, now she's back and she's 21. She's an adult and she's not missing anymore. She claims she wasn't abducted or anything, so there's no criminal case. I'm closing the missing person file. That's it, thank you, good bye."
Aya: "But... what should I do now?!?"
PO: "Get a job, bum."

So, is there any adult beside Koto, Erika and their gang that know about Aya's condition? Local police or child service for example? Or they keep silent about it?

Child service? She's officially 21. There are records of her. She exists.

Who would believe "I traveled magically through time"?

As far the authorities are concerned, she's an adult and can handle herself.

Yeap. That police officer they talked to was only concerned about her "missing person" status. It was like:

PO: "Okay so her name is Ushio Aya, she went missing at 14, now she's back and she's 21. She's an adult and she's not missing anymore. She claims she wasn't abducted or anything, so there's no criminal case. I'm closing the missing person file. That's it, thank you, good bye."
Aya: "But... what should I do now?!?"
PO: "Get a job, bum."

Right, not even,

PO: "So, just out of curiosity, where ya been for those 7 years?"
Aya: ". . ."
PO: "OK, well then, stay out of trouble. See ya."

I still think the Japanese reality-TV/tabloid-documentary people are really falling down on the job here.