Was it really a love song? or was the bully guy just saying that? To be honest I think we should have had some sort of internal monologue about sexuality or them wondering if the feelings are romantic. Even Aya doesn't seem to have given it that much thought she was like "oh my crush is a girl, well okay" but hasn't made a move and neither has she exactly been in denial either. But at least with Aya it seems to read as though she doesn't want to ruin the friendship, as for Mitsuki... I'm not sure what she's thinking at all. I mean are teenagers in Japan already so comfortable in their sexuality that they kinda take it for granted that something is romantic without talking about it? lol not even a "do you like girls?"

So, Japanese culture is by a wide margin the most intrinsically passive aggressive culture I have ever interacted with. The typical way you say something is "bad" is to say "That's a little..." and just literally trail off without saying it. As a general rule, they do not confront issues head on. So a lot of yuri manga doesn't confront the idea of homosexuality head on. The women just love each other, and their preferences aren't usually explicitly addressed because Japan in general isn't very hot on explicitly doing anything. I don't know if this also permeates into LGBT social circles in japan, or if it's just an anime/manga thing. It could just be that it's about anime authors not wanting to alienate potential readers by being too direct about their subject matter, or it could be that many people in japan just don't voice their preferences in a direct way very often. (If anybody knows more on this I'd be interested to hear it.)

This really gives me hope for dramatic climax at the end of a year.

It was a valiant attempt, Ono, you seem like a cute, chill dude. My condolences on being run over by the MitsuAya line.

Alright. Potential confrontation coming up. Last time, the writer chickened out and skipped it. Will we have the necessary scene this time?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvsQPCbgJOA&ab_channel=MatadorRecords

In case anybody wants to hear the song.

Alright. Potential confrontation coming up. Last time, the writer chickened out and skipped it. Will we have the necessary scene this time?

You'll have 5 chapters about her uncle and you'll like it! Then the girls will enter the shop, laughing about how good prom was.

last edited at Dec 15, 2024 10:50AM

Go save your girl from being lost and getting literally sloshed at the prom.

Alright. Potential confrontation coming up. Last time, the writer chickened out and skipped it. Will we have the necessary scene this time?

do you mean between Aya and Mitsuki?
when was that last time you're referring to?

(i only reread the whole thing two days ago, which reminded me of my tattoo lol… but the my potential confrontation i can think of is when they… dropped the ball (literally))

And @Nya-chan, I read New Unwanted Guy as less trying to “seduce” Aya than nervously bumbling his way into an attempt to chat her up. (He’s also not wrong about how cute that dress is, either.)

And Aya is profoundly not wrong about how proms can be a lot less fun than they look.

Agreed. New guy struck me as just trying to talk to a pretty girl after getting pushed into the situation by Narita.

Prom can be nice and fun if you want to be there and are into the vibe, or can be hell on earth if you're not.

Alright. Potential confrontation coming up. Last time, the writer chickened out and skipped it. Will we have the necessary scene this time?

You'll have 5 chapters about her uncle and you'll like it! Then the girls will enter the shop, laughing about how good prom was.

God I hate how totally possible this is.

This really gives me hope for dramatic climax at the end of a year.

I wouldn't expect this to be the kind of manga that ends as soon as the main couple gets together, but also I could see the author wanting to wrap this up so she can start a new manga in a not twitter format, one where she can put out 30 page chapters instead of 4. I got to imagine this medium limitation is frustrating to work with sometimes.

people it is with great joy that i say unto you.

LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Gabinomicon posted:

This really gives me hope for dramatic climax at the end of a year.

I wouldn't expect this to be the kind of manga that ends as soon as the main couple gets together, but also I could see the author wanting to wrap this up so she can start a new manga in a not twitter format, one where she can put out 30 page chapters instead of 4. I got to imagine this medium limitation is frustrating to work with sometimes.

I think it'll be difficult in the future for Sumiko. When you have a hit behind you, expectations are high for your next work and it's all too easy to disappoint. You either try something new and it's a hit or miss, or you recycle your previous recipe and people lose interest.

It's much safer to have moderate success growing with time than being a shooting star.

aww man, I love the symbolism in how Aya and the random guy talk about her music preferences, while it is a direct paralell to her dating preference - thinking how things would be easier if she was just into the same stuff everyone else is.. and then Mitsuki interrupting that whole convo :D

am I the only one hoping the series won't end after they confess/get together? it'd be fun to see how their relationship changes afterwards

Agreed. New guy struck me as just trying to talk to a pretty girl after getting pushed into the situation by Narita.

is that really Narita?
that feels out of character

(and also, Narita has had an earring in his left ear since his character introduction)

last edited at Dec 15, 2024 2:25PM

^^
We're only what will be about a third through volume 4, so there's at the very least 20-something chapters to go, but I don't think it will just end like this even if they got together here. There's too much to go through from uncle and his ex, to the kouhai who will likely still want to scout Mitsuki despite her missing the company party, to the inevitable encroaching graduation drama and what they'll do afterwards.

and what they'll do afterwards.

such as Mitsuki returning to Fuji Rock to perform (for Aya).

crrrrrrriiiiiingeeeeee

Agreed. New guy struck me as just trying to talk to a pretty girl after getting pushed into the situation by Narita.

is that really Narita?
that feels out of character

(and also, Narita has had an earring in his left ear since his character introduction)

I mean, if it's not Narita, it's some guy with his hairstyle who is drawn identically and is familiar enough with Oosawa to grab her arm and introduce her to someone.

Or he just isn't wearing his earring to the dance for whatever reason. (Or Sumiko just forgot to draw it)

Anyway, I don't know that it's especially out of character. He put on the prom specifically for Mitsuki and Aya, one of them isn't there, and the other is wall-flowering because the first isn't there. He probably feels bad and would like to see her dance and have a nice time even if her bae isn't there.

last edited at Dec 15, 2024 11:43PM

Anyway, I don't know that it's especially out of character. He put on the prom specifically for Mitsuki and Aya, one of them isn't there, and the other is wall-flowering because the first isn't there. He probably feels bad and would like to see her dance and have a nice time even if her bae isn't there.

He's playing 5D chess and knew Mitsuki would appear out of nowhere if some guy talked to Aya.

Agreed. New guy struck me as just trying to talk to a pretty girl after getting pushed into the situation by Narita.

is that really Narita?
that feels out of character

(and also, Narita has had an earring in his left ear since his character introduction)

I mean, if it's not Narita, it's some guy with his hairstyle who is drawn identically and is familiar enough with Oosawa to grab her arm and introduce her to someone.

Or he just isn't wearing his earring to the dance for whatever reason. (Or Sumiko just forgot to draw it)

Anyway, I don't know that it's especially out of character. He put on the prom specifically for Mitsuki and Aya, one of them isn't there, and the other is wall-flowering because the first isn't there. He probably feels bad and would like to see her dance and have a nice time even if her bae isn't there.

He also called her ''Oosawa'', without honorifics, which would imply some familiarity.

Here we go....

The Promise by When in Rome intensifies

I looked up that song Bodys and it's pretty good, with lyrics that directly imply this is The Moment. It's a romantic song that talks about not wasting time not getting together assuming we have forever, which is particularly relevant given what's happening with Joe. Also lyrics about holding each other until we forget we can't talk, which feel very apt for Mitsuki and Aya.

Did she just steal the aux for the entire prom?