This is not tomboy, but great one-shot regardless.

That's the third time in recent days I read a wonderful short story and see a familiar framework on the "author's comment" page. This anthology is a blessing. Thank you for the translation!

It's good, isn't it? Girl x gyaru always makes us dynasty readers cream in delight.

The word used is "Ikemen" which technically applies to men only (the woman equivalent would be Ikeonna). Since it echoes her line in the first page, I kept it as is.

iirc I've heard some Japanese sources advocate for it being inherently (vs colloquially) gender-neutral based on the idea it's 面 rather than メンズ or something, but that seems to be splitting hairs since it's obvious in context and the "handsome" implication seems to be baked in either way. I do run into/like イケ女 (as イケジョ) occasionally and which apparently predates イケメン but it seems less common.

If "ikemen" has the concept of handsomeness built in, then it seems like "handsome hottie" or something like that could have worked instead of "hot guy". That'd be something that tends to imply masculinity on first read (and it is accurate in her first use of it) but then defies assumptions and broadens in meaning in the second use. Let the reader (and character) redefine the term as the story goes along.

But it's fine, readers get it (though some minor triggers could come from some irritated from having been misgendered or insulted,) and anyway, I don't think this character is quite so considerate in how she speaks until the moment hits her.

last edited at Apr 8, 2024 1:50PM

Maki witnesses how the men at the mixer treat Mei: asking creepy and invasive questions, trying to get her drunk, showing a total lack of respect for her as a human being. It seems like she realizes that something isn't right, and though she doesn't confront them directly, she diverts their attention to herself, possibly saving Mei from trouble.

And yet, a few days later she calls the men "bastards" not for being massive creeps... But because she failed to hook any of them. She is even excited at the possibility that one of them might be texting her, and doesn't even seem to know what Mei is thanking her for. Which draws into question whether she indeed realized what was going on at the time, or if she was just jealous of Mei getting more attention.

I'm only making note of this because the oneshot presents it without comment and just kind of leaves it on the table. Maybe there is no other point to it than Maki being an airhead and in denial, but even then she lacks awareness on a level where it's more concerning than funny. And maybe there is something unpleasant about a yuri work using men's misogynistic behavior as a setup without confronting it at all. I have seen the trope of woman A saves woman B from trouble at a mixer, but when foul play is involved there's usually at least some gesturing at the wrongness of it, but the protagonist in this one seems entirely oblivious to it.

Yes yes, it's not that deep, I'm ruining the wholesome gyaru yuri with my yapping, etc. Feel free to throw any stray rocks at me

No, Doctor_Hoot, you're right, I didn't think about that at all while reading.

Which draws into question whether she indeed realized what was going on at the time, or if she was just jealous of Mei getting more attention.

This is WHAT I started to question after reading this oneshot once more...
Yes, Maki's airhead behavior isn't the best one out there.

Maki witnesses how the men at the mixer treat Mei: asking creepy and invasive questions, trying to get her drunk, showing a total lack of respect for her as a human being. It seems like she realizes that something isn't right, and though she doesn't confront them directly, she diverts their attention to herself, possibly saving Mei from trouble.

And yet, a few days later she calls the men "bastards" not for being massive creeps... But because she failed to hook any of them. She is even excited at the possibility that one of them might be texting her, and doesn't even seem to know what Mei is thanking her for. Which draws into question whether she indeed realized what was going on at the time, or if she was just jealous of Mei getting more attention.

I'm only making note of this because the oneshot presents it without comment and just kind of leaves it on the table. Maybe there is no other point to it than Maki being an airhead and in denial, but even then she lacks awareness on a level where it's more concerning than funny. And maybe there is something unpleasant about a yuri work using men's misogynistic behavior as a setup without confronting it at all. I have seen the trope of woman A saves woman B from trouble at a mixer, but when foul play is involved there's usually at least some gesturing at the wrongness of it, but the protagonist in this one seems entirely oblivious to it.

Yes yes, it's not that deep, I'm ruining the wholesome gyaru yuri with my yapping, etc. Feel free to throw any stray rocks at me

Maybe it's less about them being creeps, and more about being uncomfortable about the behaviour and the other redirecting it because she was completely fine with it? You don't have to object to the actual thing happening to protect someone from how it's making them feel.

last edited at Apr 14, 2024 10:31AM

It's good, isn't it? Girl x gyaru always makes us dynasty readers cream in delight.

i had to double take this bc I swear i thought you forgot the S

Maki witnesses how the men at the mixer treat Mei: asking creepy and invasive questions, trying to get her drunk, showing a total lack of respect for her as a human being. It seems like she realizes that something isn't right, and though she doesn't confront them directly, she diverts their attention to herself, possibly saving Mei from trouble.

And yet, a few days later she calls the men "bastards" not for being massive creeps... But because she failed to hook any of them. She is even excited at the possibility that one of them might be texting her, and doesn't even seem to know what Mei is thanking her for. Which draws into question whether she indeed realized what was going on at the time, or if she was just jealous of Mei getting more attention.

I'm only making note of this because the oneshot presents it without comment and just kind of leaves it on the table. Maybe there is no other point to it than Maki being an airhead and in denial, but even then she lacks awareness on a level where it's more concerning than funny. And maybe there is something unpleasant about a yuri work using men's misogynistic behavior as a setup without confronting it at all. I have seen the trope of woman A saves woman B from trouble at a mixer, but when foul play is involved there's usually at least some gesturing at the wrongness of it, but the protagonist in this one seems entirely oblivious to it.

Yes yes, it's not that deep, I'm ruining the wholesome gyaru yuri with my yapping, etc. Feel free to throw any stray rocks at me

She'd been drinking so I read it as her memory of that moment being too fuzzy. Her intentions were good in the moment, and she wasn't interested in the guys, but the next morning was too hungover to remember these details quickly.