Agree, ditch loser Koto, Aya, keep being friends with the co-worker, and with maybe Erika, we'll see, and go to therapy, girl.

Putting it in these terms, I wonder if there's more to Koto's behavior here than just her abandonment trauma. One line that stood out to me is when she said, "That's how you've always been. Before I realize, you're moving forward. And then, just leave me behind." It feels like she's talking about more than just Aya disappearing. I think Koto, despite her love for Aya, has also always had an inferiority complex about her: the beautiful girl who can do anything. Aya says she wants to be "level with" Koto, but perhaps from Koto's point of view, their current arrangement, with Aya totally dependent on her, is the only way for them to actually be equal. As soon as Aya starts standing on her own again, Koto fears, she'll realize how much better she is than Koto and ditch her for someone she's more suited for.

I don't see it. Re-reading chapter 1, I don't get the sense that Koto had an inferiority complex at all. What I see in chapter 1 is that Aya had the vibe of someone who wanted to run away, and Koto clearly could tell and that's why she was afraid that Aya would disappear on her. Check out these few pages:

https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/how_to_break_a_triangle_ch01#18
https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/how_to_break_a_triangle_ch01#19
https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/how_to_break_a_triangle_ch01#20
https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/how_to_break_a_triangle_ch01#21
https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/how_to_break_a_triangle_ch01#30
https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/how_to_break_a_triangle_ch01#31

See? Koto already had the impression that Aya was going away, even before she actually disappeared. But it has nothing to do with a feeling of inferiority. It's just that Aya was giving off that kind of vibe. She seemed to want to run away somewhere else, and that was so obvious to Koto that it was painful for her:

https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/how_to_break_a_triangle_ch01#30

last edited at Jun 8, 2024 9:36PM

Erika when she does something good while harboring a small feeble thread of self interest in her heart: god im such a monster, literally irredeemable

Erika when she does something good while harboring a small feeble thread of self interest in her heart: god im such a monster, literally irredeemable

Lmao true. It seems Erika holds herself to near impossibly high standards in most things other than keeping her place clean.

If, as I'm expecting, Aya does run away to Erika's, she'll unleash her formidable domestic prowess upon Erik's apartment. And of course Erika will beat herself up about letting Aya do these things for her when she's feeling hurt after that confrontation with Koto.
Being Erika is suffering apparently.

Koto fucked up by not taking into account the indomitable human spirit (aka Aya As A Person) lmaooo
And Erika, omg - move on!!!

last edited at Sep 2, 2024 7:19AM

Omg omg I love this. I can understand Koto, she's so afraid to lose Aya again so seeing her grow further and further as she becomes more self-sufficient or independent scares her a lot, but I can also understand Aya, and I can also understand ERIKA!! DAMN I LOVE THIS MANGA AND ALL OF ITS CHARACTERS, THIS SHIT IS FANTASTIC

Another thing to keep in mind for why Koto has struggled to move on from Aya in the past 7 years is that their previous relationship did not end naturally. Aya disappeared completely, without any warning, and there were absolutely no leads as to what could have possibly happened to her. It's understandable how a sudden tragedy of this manner would both be deeply shocking and continue to gnaw at someone into the future, forming Koto's current maladaptive behaviors.

Further, while Koto and Aya's romantic relationship did only begin officially shortly before Aya disappeared, they were still best friends for a considerable amount of time prior.

last edited at Jun 9, 2024 2:03PM

This is your chance, Aya, run away from this mess and don't look back.

Godsdamn Erika stop making me like you so much. Girl, you better find happiness or I'm gonna be mad at you.

And Koto, might want to try to think things through and/or share them with someone ? Not that I don't understand why you feel that way, but what you were asking was wrong, and that's written in giant letter, anyone could have pointed it out. It's fine to have desires that are wrong, but a girl gotta try not to act on them...

Funny how they show themselves as opposites. Erika feels what she desires is wrong, just abandons the topic altogether and tries to move on without it (she does have her life well in hands, except for her love life), hurting herself. Koto either doesn't feel or doesn't care if what she want is wrong, acts anyway, with all the bad consequences and hurt that come out of it.

Strangely enough, l can sympathize with Koto despite she breaking my beloved Aya's heart.
Her action is unacceptable but l find myself not qualified to judge her.

She was mutually in love with the girl who she considered the love of her life. Then lost it out of nowhere. Worst of all, the girl she loved was in a state of uncertainty.
To think there's only two possibilities：
①Aya ran away from home
→ she (Koto) had been thrown away like a trash.
Aya didn't even bother to leave a word.
②Aya got murdered
→ no way in hell she wouldn't come back if she
was ok.

You can't expect a 14 yo girl to be good enough to handle this degree of cruelty.
And ask her to let go of a girl she once loved and thought she lost forever is merciless.
The fear of losing Aya again is driving her crazy, to the point she obviously can't think in her right mind.

last edited at Jun 9, 2024 3:48AM

Erika when she does something good while harboring a small feeble thread of self interest in her heart: god im such a monster, literally irredeemable

You understand her so well.
Damn, I want to hug Erika and comfort her so much.

So glad Aya didn't put up with that

I was not expecting an Ides of March reference on my lesbian manga lol lets go ancient Rome nerds

Im glad Aya actually left. This poor kid got time displaced and is trying to work with her situation. While Im not hoping for any romantic development between her and the part time boy i think their relationship will be very interesting and good for her. I think Koto should go to therapy shes got too many red flags she might self destruct.

Although this is something that mangas lack, I have to admit because the story never really shows when and why each of the characters fell for each other, I cannot get attached and understand just how they've kept such strong feelings apart for the sake of the story

Erika when she does something good while harboring a small feeble thread of self interest in her heart: god im such a monster, literally irredeemable

You understand her so well.
Damn, I want to hug Erika and comfort her so much.

Erika best girl

Oof… that was the last thing aya wanted to hear from you koto

Erika when she does something good while harboring a small feeble thread of self interest in her heart: god im such a monster, literally irredeemable

You understand her so well.
Damn, I want to hug Erika and comfort her so much.

Erika best girl

Erika best girl

That chapter was juicy. Keep that shit coming!

Although this is something that mangas lack, I have to admit because the story never really shows when and why each of the characters fell for each other, I cannot get attached and understand just how they've kept such strong feelings apart for the sake of the story

Emphasis mine. Some comments claim Koto is neurodivergent but I see no evidence of that.
More believable is having no answers from Aya's disappearance left her with a trauma that hampered her ability to form new connections. But seeing as Erika, who does not appear traumatized, went completely celibate in the same timespan while nursing her crush on Koto, I think the author simply hopes the reader will buy-in to the characters' affections remaining unchanged after 7 years for the sake of the story despite it feeling unrealistic.

Also, manga is the plural of manga

Am I the only one who is in love with possessive Koto?
I would myself lock her in my room and tell her she doesnt go out without my permission.
How about THAT Koto?!

The one who posted this, months ago, sure had the right idea. Congrats: you predicted correctly! Koto is taking her first steps in the psycho road. If she keeps going this way, soon she'll start to stalk Aya, carrying a taser gun and a bag fillled with sturdy rope and duct tape.

I wish they'd have fucked at least once before shit hit the fan. ^^;; Often that's exactly what people like Koto need, when they get all insecure and unstable, to set things right in their heads.

I wish they'd have fucked at least once before shit hit the fan. ^^;; Often that's exactly what people like Koto need, when they get all insecure and unstable, to set things right in their heads.

Nothing like a little bit of statutory rape to get the mind right as rain! Amirite y'all?

I wish they'd have fucked at least once before shit hit the fan. ^^;; Often that's exactly what people like Koto need, when they get all insecure and unstable, to set things right in their heads.

Nothing like a little bit of statutory rape to get the mind right as rain! Amirite y'all?

Yo yo yo, she's 21 years old.
You don't like it? Nobody cares, yo yo yo.

That cover art for the extra chapter is really good

Erika really is just an adult saeki sayaka

last edited at Jun 9, 2024 5:55PM