So what's the substance Mao was handed? My first thought was lube, but maybe just any personal toiletry fits the bill, though presumably Nina wouldn't call those "gross", unless Nina was labeling the whole interaction.

"Could be a hassle" followed by "this isn't even mine" suggests (a) Nice Guy has a girlfriend he's hiding things from and (b) Nice guy has at least a second FWB besides Mao.

I thought it was shampoo, but anything feminine would work. He came up to Mao in public to try and call her out for marking her territory. Even if he had been right, yeah, super gross.

Getting it wrong, good lord. Is there a single good thing about him?

Shit just went from 0 to 100 real quick

"Nina vi Britannia commands you! Come on a date with me this weekend!"

I know this isn't going to happen, but I can't help but imagine a world where everyone's read on this is 180° backwards. Mao wasn't visiting the guy. She's actually gay and was visiting her girlfriend, who she has a healthy relationship with, but one or both of them isn't out, so she had to keep it a secret. She didn't understand how he could be treating her better, because she's never had feelings for him and they've never been in a relationship.

The whole interaction with the bottle doesn't really fit that, but I think I can fix that. To keep with the theme of Nina completely misunderstanding things, let's assume he knows about Mao's relationship and helps her out, from time to time, and even acts as a beard. That still leaves the question of who the bottle actually belongs to and the obvious answer would be that he's playing around, but since none of this is going to be correct, let's ignore that and say it's actually his. Or, more accurately, hers, because Mr. Nice Guy, is secretly trans and actually Ms. Nice Gal. She has someone coming over who would react poorly to finding a feminine beauty product (possibly an extremely conservative relative). In a moment of panic, she didn't realize it was hers and grabbed it to return to Nina, before she could get caught.

None of this is going to happen, but it could have.

last edited at Apr 18, 2026 8:48PM

Shit just went from 0 to 100 real quick

"Nina vi Britannia commands you! Come on a date with me this weekend!"

Honestly, I fucking love that about this protagonist. I thought we were gonna get like 10 more chapters of introspection, but this is amazing. She's taking the plot in her own hands. Go, Nina Vi Britannia, go!!! Use your Geass on your senpai!!

She thinks she's not worth it? Appearance-wise, Perhaps?

Ohhhhh I'm almost wondering now if the title is referring instead to Mao and not Nina like I originally thought, cuz god it could be some juicy angst and tragedy for Straight Girl Who Hates Herself Cannot Reciprocate For The Lesbian Who Sees Everything Good About Her

That ending for chapter 4. I think I finally see the meaning of the series title.

last edited at Apr 21, 2026 2:27PM

Girl turned into to a style otaku for a second :D

On another note, not to rush things but if we really only have three chapters left, and this is supposed to be a 7-chapter volume, I don’t think we’re going anywhere in terms of much development. The ending of this chapter just adds another aspect to consider, Mao doesn’t seem able to love Nina romantically, partly because she’s physically jealous of her looks. Nina fits the Japanese beauty standard, round face, big eyes, and a sharp nose.

https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/i_wish_it_had_just_been_love_ch04#3

last edited at Apr 21, 2026 1:56PM

I'm honestly with Nina on everything I not only like her punk rocker style but I thought Mao looked quite adorable all dressed up. It's a shame she doesn't seem to see herself in the same light that Nina does. Being around Nina more and letting her brag and tell her how great she is could really help her try and love herself even the tiniest bit.

I guess that's why she doesn't mind being used by "nice guy" it makes her feel wanted even if she doesn't feel she should be because of how she looks.

Nina save this girl stat. The whole time I'm thinking "Wow this is going way better than expected and Mao getting all flustered means she's conscious of Nina and her feelings maybe?" And then we get to the end.

This is why we can't have nice things.

Oh well only three chapters left to help save Mao from her inner demons and somehow get a happy ending right?... RIGHT? Thanks for the translate and upload.

I'm honestly with Nina on everything I not only like her punk rocker style but I thought Mao looked quite adorable all dressed up. It's a shame she doesn't seem to see herself in the same light that Nina does. Being around Nina more and letting her brag and tell her how great she is could really help her try and love herself even the tiniest bit.

I guess that's why she doesn't mind being used by "nice guy" it makes her feel wanted even if she doesn't feel she should be because of how she looks.

Nina save this girl stat. The whole time I'm thinking "Wow this is going way better than expected and Mao getting all flustered means she's conscious of Nina and her feelings maybe?" And then we get to the end.

This is why we can't have nice things.

Oh well only three chapters left to help save Mao from her inner demons and somehow get a happy ending right?... RIGHT? Thanks for the translate and upload.

I was thinking the same thing. When Nina is around Mao, she compliments everything she does especially her outfits which likely boosts Mao’s self-esteem and makes her feel seen and appreciated for the effort she puts into her appearance.

That’s why I think that “Mr. Nice Guy” is a big part of the issue of why Mao compares her looks to Nina. Either he never really acknowledged Mao’s efforts, just giving a generic “you look nice” or he went the other way and discouraged her, saying things like “you don’t need to wear that” or “why are you wearing makeup,” possibly to keep other men from noticing her. Even if they weren’t dating, that kind of controlling behavior does exist. (But yeah I don't got much to work with when it comes to that boy so just theory's for now)

Sometimes manga is the worst medium to convey things. I know what I'm supposed to see but I'm still squinting to actually discern it.

…damn

oh god

oh.... it seems what ended up happening in the date was heartbreaking in a different way.... poor Mao TT

Ahhh so she's massively insecure about her looks
This isn't going to end well T-T

Ooooof ouch. Though I can't see whats easier about trying to date some pretty boy if the problem is Nina is too pretty

Ooooof ouch. Though I can't see whats easier about trying to date some pretty boy if the problem is Nina is too pretty

Exactly because the pretty boy is a boy and Nina is a fellow woman

I didn't like their date? It feels superficial, I know there are standards and things that are classic, but “I'm going to show you what a date is (where you're appreciated)” ended up being more about the places they go than a real connection and having a good time.

Either way, I really like that Mao is envious of Nina, you don’t see it that much in yuri (at least the way is shown in this chapter, as a ugly feeling, not a superficial or like a passing emotion mixed with admiration). I really like her, I hope Nina is not a “savior” especially since there are three chapters left, I want Mao to realize her value on her own thanks to these interactions with Nina because what Nina is trying to do is prove that she's better than Mr. Nice Guy, but I don't think that's what Mao needs. To give an example, it's like Utena at the beginning competing to be Anthy's savior prince without really looking at Anthy and what she needed.

last edited at Apr 21, 2026 4:32PM

theres a lot to unpack with how mao and nina view each other, and how mao just isn't able to be fully present with nina because of her internalized body dysmorphia.

I didn't like their date? It feels superficial, I know there are standards and things that are classic, but “I'm going to show you what a date is (where you're appreciated)” ended up being more about the places they go than a real connection and having a good time.

? Nina gave her sincere compliments, took her to see a movie she wanted to see, had done enough research to know stores they could go to if Mao was interested in looking for something particular, and had made reservations for dinner. Some of that stuff is standard, but I would think the research for what movie she wants at minimum makes it specific to Mao. Not to mention, there was a pretty clear implication that Nina was going to buy the necklace Mao liked and give it to her later.

Either way, I really like that Mao is envious of Nina, you don’t see it that much in yuri (at least the way is shown in this chapter, as a ugly feeling, not a superficial or like a passing emotion mixed with admiration). I really like her, I hope Nina is not a “savior” especially since there are three chapters left, I want Mao to realize her value on her own thanks to these interactions with Nina because what Nina is trying to do is prove that she's better than Mr. Nice Guy, but I don't think that's what Mao needs. To give an example, it's like Utena at the beginning competing to be Anthy's savior prince without really looking at Anthy and what she needed.

I kind of agree that it would be better if Mao realized it on her own, but I disagree with the Utena comparison. Utena is immediately a player on the field by getting to be Anthy's fiancee. Nina is trying to prove she's better than the guy because from Mao's point of view Nina is not an option at all. Nina wants a shot, and this is her attempting to get a shot.

"I wore it just in case", my ass. Nina literally conjured a jacket out of thin air for her crush.
Do these lesbians not care about the laws of physics in pursuit of love?

Hello self-esteem issues, my old friend.

"I wore it just in case", my ass. Nina literally conjured a jacket out of thin air for her crush.
Do these lesbians not care about the laws of physics in pursuit of love?

No :3

eyebrows r such a moe point

? Nina gave her sincere compliments, took her to see a movie she wanted to see, had done enough research to know stores they could go to if Mao was interested in looking for something particular, and had made reservations for dinner. Some of that stuff is standard, but I would think the research for what movie she wants at minimum makes it specific to Mao. Not to mention, there was a pretty clear implication that Nina was going to buy the necklace Mao liked and give it to her later.

I kind of agree that it would be better if Mao realized it on her own, but I disagree with the Utena comparison. Utena is immediately a player on the field by getting to be Anthy's fiancee. Nina is trying to prove she's better than the guy because from Mao's point of view Nina is not an option at all. Nina wants a shot, and this is her attempting to get a shot.

They are obviously not a 1:1 comparision, the setting is not even the same and I am aware.
I am talking about how trying to do the best for someone sometimes you overlook what that someone's needs.
In fact your own comment confirms what I mean. “because from Mao's point of view Nina is not an option at all. Nina wants a shot, and this is her attempting to get a shot.” and in my comment I said this is not what Mao needs now. I don’t like that Nina is trying to win againts Mr. Nice Guy first for her desire to be seen as an option than talking with Mao about this whole thing, anyone can fall for a useless dude but Nina also ask herself why Mao would date someone like that so I assume she suspects something is going on with Mao. You can’t always make people realise they are dating a piece of shit, but you still can talk about worries and such, but Nina is first trying to be seen as a better candidate. And that is also what I mean with the date, I never said anything about Nina being inconsiderate, about the compliments, or about the movie, etc. I said that it feels superficial because it was more about the places that them sharing anything outside of that. With standar I mean that people spect something more fancy (the necklace, movie, dinner and cake) for a date because the idea for it is to do something you don’t every day, but again I was expecting them to chat about them, not even about depresing topics like Mr. Nice Guy, just sharing.

Sorry for not being concise and all over the place, eng is hard