Yukari definitely needs to come out quick, before we get half a dozen chapters of Shouko trying to pull away because she doesn't want another straight girl crush.

Don’t go giving the author any cruel ideas T^T

last edited at Apr 30, 2026 5:56PM

I love how these two girl expressed their thought it go more deep into their own cognitive thinking to intepret their emotion. It make sense that they talk in this way since they are bookworm type. Most of the time when others writed these characters they tend to make them talk in more casual term and conversation never goes this deep atmost it only internal.

why does she looks so cute while crying

Reading these comments I feel like I've missed something. Did we ever get implication that it's being gay she's worried about? I thought it was about having a crush on her cousin.

Reading these comments I feel like I've missed something. Did we ever get implication that it's being gay she's worried about? I thought it was about having a crush on her cousin.

I do think she understands how others might view the cousin thing (and her "gross" comment, I think, was about that), but her biggest worry is the heartbreaks. I also don't think she's that worried about being gay, so I agree there. I don't see much to suggest that, that's on her mind that much.

As for her worries:
She's talking about her heart constantly being broken since she was young, up until now, and says she realized she was "abnormal" after one of those earlier heartbreaks. By that, I think she just means that her loves don't ever succeed. I don't know if she means being gay. She feels bad that her recent crush was someone she's close to because it could cause issues with those she trusts, but also wonders, "How many more times will this happen to me?" Unless you think she means "how many more cousins will I fall in love with," you realize she's talking about more than that and likely talking about "how many more times will I fall in love and end up the loser?" They then talk about how heartbreak is normal, which makes it even clearer. They don't say being gay is normal or really discuss that part of it; though I imagine it's part of the equation since they mention familial and societal norms. The heartbreak seems to be the main issue; she feels inadequate and defective as a result.

last edited at May 1, 2026 1:52PM

It's pretty clear that she has internal homophobia and thought Yukari would be afraid of her making unwanted advances on her. The cousin thing bothers you, Western readers, way more than it does the characters or the Japanese readers.

I think it's pretty obvious after the latest chapter it's the homosexuality she's anxious about, no? The cousin thing is also weird but I don't think I've ever seen cousin incest get stigmatized in anime/manga the same way that homosexuality does. If it was just about being cousins then there wouldn't be much of a reason to bring up the childhood crush like it was also 'abnormal' unless that was somehow a different cousin, which I feel would've been mentioned if that were the case.

Lots of yuri works go out of their way to avoid queer identity labels like "gay" and "lesbian," it's not all that unusual to see characters dance around terms like this.

Reading these comments I feel like I've missed something. Did we ever get implication that it's being gay she's worried about? I thought it was about having a crush on her cousin.

I do think she understands how others might view the cousin thing (and her "gross" comment, I think, was about that), but her biggest worry is the heartbreaks. I also don't think she's that worried about being gay, so I agree there. I don't see much to suggest that, that's on her mind that much.

As for her worries:
She's talking about her heart constantly being broken since she was young, up until now, and says she realized she was "abnormal" after one of those earlier heartbreaks. By that, I think she just means that her loves don't ever succeed. I don't know if she means being gay. She feels bad that her recent crush was someone she's close to because it could cause issues with those she trusts, but also wonders, "How many more times will this happen to me?" Unless you think she means "how many more cousins will I fall in love with," you realize she's talking about more than that and likely talking about "how many more times will I fall in love and end up the loser?" They then talk about how heartbreak is normal, which makes it even clearer. They don't say being gay is normal or really discuss that part of it; though I imagine it's part of the equation since they mention familial and societal norms. The heartbreak seems to be the main issue; she feels inadequate and defective as a result.

I would think using the word "abnormal" already heavily implies homosexuality. People don't normally think they're abnormal for their love not succeeding, they just feel unloved. Abnormal has pretty strong implications that the type of love she is seeking isn't looked on well by society, and if she feels her hreatbreak is inevitable, well that's cause most girls are straight.

Reading these comments I feel like I've missed something. Did we ever get implication that it's being gay she's worried about? I thought it was about having a crush on her cousin.

I do think she understands how others might view the cousin thing (and her "gross" comment, I think, was about that), but her biggest worry is the heartbreaks. I also don't think she's that worried about being gay, so I agree there. I don't see much to suggest that, that's on her mind that much.

As for her worries:
She's talking about her heart constantly being broken since she was young, up until now, and says she realized she was "abnormal" after one of those earlier heartbreaks. By that, I think she just means that her loves don't ever succeed. I don't know if she means being gay. She feels bad that her recent crush was someone she's close to because it could cause issues with those she trusts, but also wonders, "How many more times will this happen to me?" Unless you think she means "how many more cousins will I fall in love with," you realize she's talking about more than that and likely talking about "how many more times will I fall in love and end up the loser?" They then talk about how heartbreak is normal, which makes it even clearer. They don't say being gay is normal or really discuss that part of it; though I imagine it's part of the equation since they mention familial and societal norms. The heartbreak seems to be the main issue; she feels inadequate and defective as a result.

I would think using the word "abnormal" already heavily implies homosexuality. People don't normally think they're abnormal for their love not succeeding, they just feel unloved. Abnormal has pretty strong implications that the type of love she is seeking isn't looked on well by society, and if she feels her hreatbreak is inevitable, well that's cause most girls are straight.

Yeah, I understand that perspective and wouldn't be surprised if that's the intention. I am aware that abnormal could imply sexuality. It just feels to me like the way their discussion went implies something beyond that, but we'll see.

I do disagree, though, that people don't see themselves as abnormal because of feeling unloved or unable to be loved. That's also a common enough sentiment, and these types of series often highlight characters with low self-esteem who feel self-deprecating enough for that to work. "Everyone else's love tends to work out, so why doesn't mine? It must be because I am abnormal in some way," etc. Definitely could be her sexuality, but could also be "I am defective in some other way, aren't I?" Their conversation, reinforcing that everyone also undergoes heartbreak and that heartbreak is normal, is what makes me wonder a bit. Either way, it feels like the heartbreak is more of her hangup. I don't think she'd be worried about being public about her relationships if she could get with the girls she wanted, but we'll see how it progresses. Like if she went back and successfully confessed to her cousin, I don't think she'd have any other hangups, as she's been presented. I haven't reread, though, so.

last edited at May 2, 2026 10:01AM

Reading these comments I feel like I've missed something. Did we ever get implication that it's being gay she's worried about? I thought it was about having a crush on her cousin.

I do think she understands how others might view the cousin thing (and her "gross" comment, I think, was about that), but her biggest worry is the heartbreaks. I also don't think she's that worried about being gay, so I agree there. I don't see much to suggest that, that's on her mind that much.

As for her worries:
She's talking about her heart constantly being broken since she was young, up until now, and says she realized she was "abnormal" after one of those earlier heartbreaks. By that, I think she just means that her loves don't ever succeed. I don't know if she means being gay. She feels bad that her recent crush was someone she's close to because it could cause issues with those she trusts, but also wonders, "How many more times will this happen to me?" Unless you think she means "how many more cousins will I fall in love with," you realize she's talking about more than that and likely talking about "how many more times will I fall in love and end up the loser?" They then talk about how heartbreak is normal, which makes it even clearer. They don't say being gay is normal or really discuss that part of it; though I imagine it's part of the equation since they mention familial and societal norms. The heartbreak seems to be the main issue; she feels inadequate and defective as a result.

I would think using the word "abnormal" already heavily implies homosexuality. People don't normally think they're abnormal for their love not succeeding, they just feel unloved. Abnormal has pretty strong implications that the type of love she is seeking isn't looked on well by society, and if she feels her hreatbreak is inevitable, well that's cause most girls are straight.

Yeah, I understand that perspective and wouldn't be surprised if that's the intention. I am aware that abnormal could imply sexuality. It just feels to me like the way their discussion went implies something beyond that, but we'll see.

I do disagree, though, that people don't see themselves as abnormal because of feeling unloved or unable to be loved. That's also a common enough sentiment, and these types of series often highlight characters with low self-esteem who feel self-deprecating enough for that to work. "Everyone else's love tends to work out, so why doesn't mine? It must be because I am abnormal in some way," etc. Definitely could be her sexuality, but could also be "I am defective in some other way, aren't I?" Their conversation, reinforcing that everyone also undergoes heartbreak and that heartbreak is normal, is what makes me wonder a bit. Either way, it feels like the heartbreak is more of her hangup. I don't think she'd be worried about being public about her relationships if she could get with the girls she wanted, but we'll see how it progresses. Like if she went back and successfully confessed to her cousin, I don't think she'd have any other hangups, as she's been presented. I haven't reread, though, so.

Yeah I was thinking about this chapter along with the line from Ch 3 p 8 "I'm aware I'll be heartbroken countless times, again and again until the day I die. And that I just need to get used to it..." which to me sounds like a gay girl dealing with the inevitability of being in love with straight girls, but I'll grant you that there are other reasons someone might think themselves abnormal.

last edited at May 2, 2026 2:39PM

Tachibana totally knew he worked at the food truck. That's why she suggested they go there.

Yeah I was thinking about this chapter along with the line from Ch 3 p 8 "I'm aware I'll be heartbroken countless times, again and again until the day I die. And that I just need to get used to it..." which to me sounds like a gay girl dealing with the inevitability of being in love with straight girls, but I'll grant you that there are other reasons someone might think themselves abnormal.

Also, maybe she's yet to meet another gay girl (that she knows of) which is why she feels heartbreak is inevitable. In her case, another (more experienced, I guess) lesbian's perspective on how to deal with stuff like crushes on het girls could be extra helpful.

Yeah I was thinking about this chapter along with the line from Ch 3 p 8 "I'm aware I'll be heartbroken countless times, again and again until the day I die. And that I just need to get used to it..." which to me sounds like a gay girl dealing with the inevitability of being in love with straight girls, but I'll grant you that there are other reasons someone might think themselves abnormal.

Also, maybe she's yet to meet another gay girl (that she knows of) which is why she feels heartbreak is inevitable. In her case, another (more experienced, I guess) lesbian's perspective on how to deal with stuff like crushes on het girls could be extra helpful.

I mean, yeah undoubtedly. Meeting another gay girl in Japan as a high schooler in the wild must be tough for sure. Although I would think she could find a forum or something online, but who knows if her parents allow her computer access.

It feels like they're both dancing around the topic of homosexuality, or at least trying to not address it directly. Shouko says things that heavily imply it, and Yukari never prompts her to confirm anything. It's still hard to say if this is happening for internal character reasons or if it's the author trying to avoid being too direct.

(I do think the series is very good, to be clear.)

last edited at May 7, 2026 1:56PM