''THEIR'' relationship has transcended the sexual desires, there is no need even for words for them, Ran trips and drops the sweets she made and Keiko, without even questioning anything like most would do, picks some up and eats them.
Yeah, well, any friend in any manga would have done the same thing.
I have heard of Stars On-TV-Show-couples where people became furious when they found out that they weren't married in real life but instead choosed someone who most thought were utterly boring and non-fitting but appaerently there doesn't need to be a great chemistry to find the person you wanna fulfill your more instinctual desires with
I didn't understand at all the point you're making here.
In most non porn manga, characters apparently hold back their sexual desires. I don't think Ran or Keiko are going to voice or act them anytime soon, or at all for that matter.
It's just that Shou made a pretty good job as far as realistic slice-of-life goes, but if it isn't going to evolve into romance and/or drama at some point, then I'm going to be bored.
I enjoy Stretch a whole lot, but at the moment it's too light. I wish I could imerse in Ran & Keiko's story more.