Asumi's relationship with Nanao feels sort of like a dream. It's sweet as she goes with the flow, but she has to wake up eventually to sort out her feelings.

Oh my god, Nanao HAS to become Asumi's girlfriend! I can't believe how invested I am in this porno. This plot development makes sense, y'know, we all still wanna see the end to the whole finding Mai plotline, and I'm sure the author has some more nice brothel scenes in mind, but god damn!! Once Asumi meets Mai she's gotta get her priorities in order. These past few chapters are the sexiest thing ever posted on this website. Nanao is incredibly cute, and she deserves everything!

At this point if Asumi and Nanao don't end up together I am going to riot

I'm not sure why everyone here is on the Nanao train. Asumi liking sex and it being readily available with Nanao is like giving an addict her fix, but there was no indication of feelings from Asumi's side here.

There are definitely indications of feelings from Asumi's side, but she's hung up on her old crush. If she wasn't, she almost certainly would have made things official with Nanao by now, and that's why people are on the Nanao train. Embracing a healthy relationship directly in front of you is way, WAY healthier than continually dragging yourself to brothels in hopes of hunting down a rumor that a girl you once had a crush on might be one of the girls there.

Like the line, "at this point I'll go from having a friends with benefits to having a sugar mama" still implies that Nanao isn't really being seen as a partner, and more importantly Asumi isn't thinking about her feelings towards Nanao at all. Nothing has changed from chapter 16. If anything, the date chapter was at least more romantic than the context sex they're having.

Sure, but the point isn't that they are more romantically entangled, the point is that they should be, and they aren't because Asumi is so hung up on a fantasy of someone she knew years ago that she's ignoring a golden opportunity directly in front of her face. It's amusing, fairly human, leads to lots of sexy situations, and makes for a fun story, but it's definitely granite levels of stupidity on Asumi's part.

I don't disagree that Asumi has an unhealthy mindset towards Mai and finding her, but that's not what I'm talking about. I fundamentally disagree with this line:

Embracing a healthy relationship directly in front of you is way, WAY healthier than continually dragging yourself to brothels in hopes of hunting down a rumor that a girl you once had a crush on might be one of the girls there.

The implication seems to be that it's healthier because Nanao has feelings for her and their relationship isn't based on paying for sex, which sure, that is healthier. But the idea that because Nanao loves Asumi therefore Asumi should get into a relationship with Nanao, that feels toxic to me. Asumi doesn't owe Nanao feelings. And that's kind of my point, even if it is just because of an emotional hangup, that still means Asumi doesn't have feelings for Nanao. Being in a relationship with Nanao wouldn't be fair to either of them.

At the end of the day, even if Mai didn't exist, there is no indication that Asumi would choose Nanao. Of course, feelings could develop later, adults don't get into relationships with each other having equal feelings at the start necessarily, but that also means there is no guarantee that feelings will develop. They're being really intimate, and Asumi is still thinking brothels would indicate, if anything, that she has not become more emotionally vulnerable with Nanao.

To use a different manga as an example, Sorry but I'm Not Into Yuri, the main character in that is intimate with a number of different girls, but only two of them feel like she could have feelings for (one at the moment) whereas the others are purely sexual. Nanao is still in the purely sexual category for Asumi.

...We're just supposed to want her to win out based on....? ...it's become clear that we really are supposed to view Mai as an end goal, rather than a catalyst...

I don't really see anything that suggests we need to root for her. Or anyone, for that matter, now that I think about it. This isn't exactly going according to the "romance story" formula lol. In either case, Mai still is very much the catalyst. When all is said and done, the story itself keeps going back exactly to what set it up in the first place, just like this chapter has done - a very explicit "and now back to our main programming" sort of vibe.

I do feel like introducing nanao, while positive in the short term, kinda went too far and is detracting from the entire idea of the lesbian brothel escapades the story was built around.

This has been my feeling as well.

I can see where this comes from, but I don't think she provided that severe a distraction. Many of the initial stages directly revolved around the escapades and the comedy of misunderstandings that were related to them, and I don't feel that there was any time "lost" on developing Nanao and her dynamic with Asumi. Though this is probably bias speaking since I adore Nanao and their chapters together were incredibly hot. Like I mentioned above, this chapter I feel was that reader-aware or self-aware moment where the story decided to realign itself, or something like that.

I also generally think that introducing Asumi in the context of more serious relationships and questions of what she is looking for is good for the story, and the entire Nanao arc was a whole lot of that.

Another comment mentions:

Can you really call Mai an industry plant when she is the literal driving force of this story?... This whole arc has basically demonstrated that Mai has become something of an emotional “block” for Asumi... Either that, or I’m just over analyzing porn.

And while I wouldn't necessarily say emotional block, I feel similarly as well. Though I also recognize that us potentially "over-analyzing porn" is solely up to how the story goes, which I actually do hope it dips its toes in these more serious questions.

Completely aside from the above, this chapter was the good shit. I'm incredibly amused by how Asumi was mortified by the thought she like violated Nanao's trust or something and Nanao was like "let's just fuck". Nanao's horny energy in general is infinitely amusing. Girl developed a voracious appetite in the span of like a week and a half in-universe lol.

last edited at Jan 29, 2024 2:35PM

From the pov of manga ethics, Nanao has wronged Asumi real bad by not telling Asumi her feelings.

This is something I have seen in a zillion mangas. It's always an important plot point. Eg in the After School series (that I have been rereading because a new chapter just came out) Shiine and Ichika are "kiss friends" who meet every day after school to kiss and kiss; but Shiine is secretly in love with Ichika and doesn't tell her. When she finally admits it, she bows and apologizes a hundred times, calls herself a wretch and a scumbag, says she knows she has betrayed Ichika's trust by kissing her while hiding her real feelings, runs away crying and vows never to appear in front of Ichika again. Then Ichika must go looking for her to tell Shiine she loves her too, happy end.

I'm bringing this up because it seems a lot of posters here don't realize something that for Japanese readers is pretty obvious: that Nanao is kinda playing the role of the bad guy rn as she's tricking Asumi and wronging her (again, from a manga pov) by telling her she just wants friendly sex when in reality she wants much more.

From the pov of manga ethics, Nanao has wronged Asumi real bad by not telling Asumi her feelings.

This is something I have seen in a zillion mangas. It's always an important plot point. Eg in the After School series (that I have been rereading because a new chapter just came out) Shiine and Ichika are "kiss friends" who meet every day after school to kiss and kiss; but Shiine is secretly in love with Ichika and doesn't tell her. When she finally admits it, she bows and apologizes a hundred times, calls herself a wretch and a scumbag, says she knows she has betrayed Ichika's trust by kissing her while hiding her real feelings, runs away crying and vows never to appear in front of Ichika again. Then Ichika must go looking for her to tell Shiine she loves her too, happy end.

I'm bringing this up because it seems a lot of posters here don't realize something that for Japanese readers is pretty obvious: that Nanao is kinda playing the role of the bad guy rn as she's tricking Asumi and wronging her (again, from a manga pov) by telling her she just wants friendly sex when in reality she wants much more.

Is she tricking her though? That feels more ambiguous to me. In chapter 16 she told Asumi how she feels and that she wants to go out with her and Asumi said no. Then a few chapters later she says yes to being friends with benefits, but she asks Nanao if she's ok with that. Asumi knows Nanao's feelings.

The implication seems to be that it's healthier because Nanao has feelings for her and their relationship isn't based on paying for sex, which sure, that is healthier.

Not really, there's nothing unhealthy about using brothels if you like it. If she wants to have sex with multiple partners and enjoys the relative ease of a brothel experience and is using her money responsibly then it's all perfectly healthy

They're being really intimate, and Asumi is still thinking brothels would indicate, if anything, that she has not become more emotionally vulnerable with Nanao.

Or Asumi could be fully in love with Nanao and still desire to have sex with more people than just her. Which is perfectly fine and honestly, regardless of who Asumi ends up dating (preferably Sayaka and/or Serina but sadly we're stuck with Nanao), that is the way this series should end.

Is she tricking her though? That feels more ambiguous to me. In chapter 16 she told Asumi how she feels and that she wants to go out with her and Asumi said no. Then a few chapters later she says yes to being friends with benefits, but she asks Nanao if she's ok with that. Asumi knows Nanao's feelings.

Indeed, Nanao has already confessed to Asumi. The friends with benefits arrangement is just a response to Asumi telling Nanao she can't date her because she has to keep searching for Mai. That's why I don't see Nanao here as having done anything wrong, it's entirely on Asumi to sort things out. If next chapter she tells Nanao she must continue to go to brothels, I'm sure the latter will understand.

Yeah Nanao is pretty understanding of the whole thing and already told her. Also it's VERY clear Asumi has feelings for her, even if she's living in the "Do you want dinner, a bath or me?" fantasy.

oh my god asumi the eternal bottom turns even nanao into a monster

What's the betting that Asumi and Nanao end up going together to try and find Mai as a team?

What's the betting that Asumi and Nanao end up going together to try and find Mai as a team?

Sound fishy

What's the betting that Asumi and Nanao end up going together to try and find Mai as a team?

I'd be shocked if the author hasn't at least considered something like this. They've already had one threesome chapter.

"I've gotta go to brothels!" with a determined fist clench is an interesting combination.

Also, she's got multiple prostitutes eagerly anticipating her body. The bottom game is insane.

Yeah Nanao is pretty understanding of the whole thing and already told her. Also it's VERY clear Asumi has feelings for her, even if she's living in the "Do you want dinner, a bath or me?" fantasy.

IMO if Asumi has no feeling for Nanao, her line "We may as well be girlfriends at this point" in P.19 should be followed with something like "No no she's just my FWB" Asumi seems to be chill about the thought of they being girlfriends, so I think it's acceptable to her.

Is she tricking her though? That feels more ambiguous to me. In chapter 16 she told Asumi how she feels and that she wants to go out with her and Asumi said no. Then a few chapters later she says yes to being friends with benefits, but she asks Nanao if she's ok with that. Asumi knows Nanao's feelings.

From my perspective, if there's anyone who's not being honest about her intentions it's Asumi. She talks to the effect of saying she doesn't want a romantic relationship because she wants to pay to be with her childhood friend. However, I can't think of anyone who would then decide to go on a practice date in order to be sure that she treated the girl who just confessed to her, that she totally isn't interested in, well enough to have a good time. It's such a strange though process that I struggle to express it coherently in words!

If her thoughts on Mai really were "I have a lot of fondness for you, but my heart belongs to another. I'd still love to hang out (and even have sex...)" then she wouldn't agonize about leaving such a strong impression with an ideal date night out. They'd just...hang out. Asumi was definitely overthinking how she wanted to spend time with Nanao; while I wouldn't call that a romantic thing to do, it's an inevitable result of trying to rationalize away her own romantically-inclined feelings toward Nanao. If she could get over herself (which, to be honest, seems to be what's happening), I think they'd be very happy together. As nice as reconnecting with Mai might be, she is, in the words of Don Fagen, "A concept, more or less".

Is she tricking her though? That feels more ambiguous to me. In chapter 16 she told Asumi how she feels and that she wants to go out with her and Asumi said no. Then a few chapters later she says yes to being friends with benefits, but she asks Nanao if she's ok with that. Asumi knows Nanao's feelings.

From my perspective, if there's anyone who's not being honest about her intentions it's Asumi. She talks to the effect of saying she doesn't want a romantic relationship because she wants to pay to be with her childhood friend. However, I can't think of anyone who would then decide to go on a practice date in order to be sure that she treated the girl who just confessed to her, that she totally isn't interested in, well enough to have a good time. It's such a strange though process that I struggle to express it coherently in words!

If her thoughts on Mai really were "I have a lot of fondness for you, but my heart belongs to another. I'd still love to hang out (and even have sex...)" then she wouldn't agonize about leaving such a strong impression with an ideal date night out. They'd just...hang out. Asumi was definitely overthinking how she wanted to spend time with Nanao; while I wouldn't call that a romantic thing to do, it's an inevitable result of trying to rationalize away her own romantically-inclined feelings toward Nanao. If she could get over herself (which, to be honest, seems to be what's happening), I think they'd be very happy together. As nice as reconnecting with Mai might be, she is, in the words of Don Fagen, "A concept, more or less".

I think this is very much a possibility, but just one possibility of many. I think it's pretty reasonable that as someone as kind and sensitive as Asumi would want to show Nanao a good time after rejecting her because she feels bad for doing so.

I know what I've been arguing in these comments. To be clear, I'm not saying Asumi cannot have feelings for Nanao or that she won't, I just think people are making premature evaluations based on flimsy evidence. Maybe this is Asumi not being able to face her feelings. Or maybe this is Asumi enjoying sex in which she doesn't have to overwork herself to be able to pay for it. I could see it going either way.

From the pov of manga ethics, Nanao has wronged Asumi real bad by not telling Asumi her feelings.

This is something I have seen in a zillion mangas. It's always an important plot point. Eg in the After School series (that I have been rereading because a new chapter just came out) Shiine and Ichika are "kiss friends" who meet every day after school to kiss and kiss; but Shiine is secretly in love with Ichika and doesn't tell her. When she finally admits it, she bows and apologizes a hundred times, calls herself a wretch and a scumbag, says she knows she has betrayed Ichika's trust by kissing her while hiding her real feelings, runs away crying and vows never to appear in front of Ichika again. Then Ichika must go looking for her to tell Shiine she loves her too, happy end.

I'm bringing this up because it seems a lot of posters here don't realize something that for Japanese readers is pretty obvious: that Nanao is kinda playing the role of the bad guy rn as she's tricking Asumi and wronging her (again, from a manga pov) by telling her she just wants friendly sex when in reality she wants much more.

I....*What?*

Nanao DID tell Asumi her feelings. She confessed. Explicitly. Then asked her out on a date, gave her a necklace, kissed her, took her to a hotel, had sex with her while telling her she loved her.

Asumi is perfectly aware off Nanao's feelings. For her to not be, it would require her to A) not understand Japanese, and B) collapse into a singularity from the overwhelming density required for her to not pick up on the blatant non-verbal cues.

I'm a bit surprised that we still are going with the Moderate amounts of sex tag.

This manga has "moderate" amounts of sex?!?!?!?

I'd love to meet the taggers who made that choice and ask them exactly what it is that they call lots and heaps and truckloads of sex.

The Dynasty sex tags have always been about the vibes of the sex as opposed to the amount tbf

From the pov of manga ethics, Nanao has wronged Asumi real bad by not telling Asumi her feelings.

This is something I have seen in a zillion mangas. It's always an important plot point. Eg in the After School series (that I have been rereading because a new chapter just came out) Shiine and Ichika are "kiss friends" who meet every day after school to kiss and kiss; but Shiine is secretly in love with Ichika and doesn't tell her. When she finally admits it, she bows and apologizes a hundred times, calls herself a wretch and a scumbag, says she knows she has betrayed Ichika's trust by kissing her while hiding her real feelings, runs away crying and vows never to appear in front of Ichika again. Then Ichika must go looking for her to tell Shiine she loves her too, happy end.

I'm bringing this up because it seems a lot of posters here don't realize something that for Japanese readers is pretty obvious: that Nanao is kinda playing the role of the bad guy rn as she's tricking Asumi and wronging her (again, from a manga pov) by telling her she just wants friendly sex when in reality she wants much more.

Nanao is also keeping it a secret that she went and saw a sex worker herself, and directly lied repeatedly to Asumi while having sex with her, claiming it was her first time. I absolutely think Mai, Serina, and maybe even Senpai have a better chance at being end-game for Asumi than Nanao does right now. She should really try dating someone who doesn't live in her house and work for her, it'd really grow her as a person lol. Maybe then she'd be more capable of winning Asumi's heart.

I....*What?*

Nanao DID tell Asumi her feelings. She confessed. Explicitly. Then asked her out on a date, gave her a necklace, kissed her, took her to a hotel, had sex with her while telling her she loved her.

Asumi is perfectly aware off Nanao's feelings. For her to not be, it would require her to A) not understand Japanese, and B) collapse into a singularity from the overwhelming density required for her to not pick up on the blatant non-verbal cues.

But Nanao's still not being 100% honest, probably not even with herself, proposing the FWB arrangement when what she really wants is true love forever, and then acting like Asumi agreed to true love forever instead of FWB with how she's treating her. Fundamentally, Nanao wants to possess Asumi. Even right from the start of her feelings, remember how she stalked her and saw her entering the love hotel with a woman, which is how she got the idea that Asumi worked for the brothel to begin with? Asumi, however, does not want to be possessed. This is a fundamental gap between them that is irreconcilable without Nanao coming to terms with it and realizing she can't have what she wants.

last edited at Jan 29, 2024 11:14PM

I always had this feeling Nanao was a beast, but wow she's a really HORNY BEAST

Oh, and I forgot she existed lol.

I don't really get this fixation with Sayaka an the other girls at the brothel, like yeah it was a funny subversion of the "the client got too obsessed with the prostitute" trope. But as a real end goal for asumi it lacks any kind substance, they barely know each other and aside from the sex asumi doesn't seem particularly interested in any of the girls.
Nanao doesn't fell for asumi cuz "OMG she cute" like the other girls, she actually got to know asumi and spend time with her through college and shared hobbies, she isn't just lusting after her, she actually loves her

last edited at Jan 30, 2024 3:40AM

But Nanao's still not being 100% honest, probably not even with herself, proposing the FWB arrangement when what she really wants is true love forever, and then acting like Asumi agreed to true love forever instead of FWB with how she's treating her.

When did she act like that tho? They're friends with benefits and they fuck that's the extent of their relationship right now, nanao is not asking anything out of asumi, she's free to do whatever she wants with her free time, asumi spends time with nanao out her will

Fundamentally, Nanao wants to possess Asumi. Even right from the start of her feelings, remember how she stalked her and saw her entering the love hotel with a woman, which is how she got the idea that Asumi worked for the brothel to begin with? Asumi, however, does not want to be possessed. This is a fundamental gap between them that is irreconcilable without Nanao coming to terms with it and realizing she can't have what she wants.

You're making nanao intentions and actions look way more heinous that they actually are, from her point of view her friend seemed in desperately need of money to the point of having several jobs at the same time, she was genuinely concerned about her situation. Also let's not forget that asumi was the one that invited nanao to the hotel after the date ended, nanao was perfectly fine with letting asumi go after that.
Asumi is interested in nanao that's just a fact, and the idea that she's manipulating her or that she sneakily dragged her into a relationship is just ridiculous, cuz again it was asumi that invited nanao to the hotel and accepted being friends with benefits after that

yo if Asumi were my friend, and I knew she was considering giving up Nanao and heading back to the brothels, I'd slap her upside the head and/or call her an absolute mong

I'd say it's pretty clear that Asumi does care for Nanao quite a bit at this point. Nanao cares for Asumi. Nanao, as best as we we can know, is an intelligent, decent person with no serious vices and a good future in front of her. Nanao is the best thing that has ever happened to Asumi.

Buddy of mine did something similar a couple years ago and I called them a whole circus.