"I've always wondered... what would it be like to find something I truly liked? And now I know..."

One of the cleverest nonexplicit confessions I've read, and definitely one of my favorites. I love how things unfurled from there too, especially Sakura's reaction.

I hadn't noticed at first who the author was, but once I did I was elated. "Haru and Midori" is incredibly dear to me, and I've been hoping to see, hear, and read more of this author for a long while, so this was a wish come true, pretty much. It's so good, such a cute and wholesome story, and honestly, even though I'm actually pretty satisfied with how it ended, I really, really want more. Both this story and characters, and of Fukaumi Kon.

Also, coming into the discussion thread, last thing I expected was to see not one, but two essay-tier comments, and while there's a joking tone to this comment, I really do appreciate that. This story really does tell more than its page or word count would suggest, and it does so subtly and cleverly, and I wouldn't have stopped to appreciate it if it weren't for those comments. I also feel obligated to reply: "This is a Wendy's..."

last edited at Sep 26, 2022 10:45AM

Just a couple of hours ago I was thinking about preordering the 4th volume because it seemed like it would be the only way for me to read it, and then this shows up. Bless you, oh benevolent gods. I'm still debating whether I should hold out, but there's no universe in which I actually will be able to, welp. This series gives me these butterflies few other series ever did, love me them good butterflies.

... Asumi-chan really found an arguably wholesome angle to it, and this one went the opposite way.

I don't even think it's arguable, Asumi-chan in my eyes is pretty much a wholesome story, definitely far more than this one. Especially in the scumminess front, Asumi's senpai has done some less than favorable things herself (I'd say most egregious was her getting a copy of the pics from the photoshoot on chapter 3), but was otherwise supportive and encouraging (pushy in the good sense of the term, something like that) while still being respectful. This balance doesn't exist in this story.

Are you guys really surprised that Nakano has no shame? My reaction was more like: "ohh, figures"

Honestly, I don't even treat Nakano as a character by this point. Merely the contrivance that set the plot's goings in motion. Other than that, I'm simply here for said plot. Practically skipping pages with her, really.

On a general level, I've pretty much realized that with this author's works the prime modus operandi is turn off brain enjoy bob and vagene. Like, Younger Senpai was not a literary masterpiece to say the least, you know.

On the chapter itself, I'm a big fan of the ravenous introvert, so thumbs up from this one. I expect reporter lady to, aside from obviously being next... uhh... customer? Partner? You know, it does feel kinda icky to discuss this story compared to something like Asumi-chan, but yeah... Anyways, I expect her to have a feisty facade that eventually completely melts, and I'm a huge sucker for this shit.

last edited at Sep 25, 2022 6:19PM

Blessed be the fluff. I'm not too sure where the "handsome couple" thing came from, but I wholeheartedly approve. Uda was adorable as well, and I'm looking forward to developments on that side. I'm dying to see Riri realize what's going on, I have a feeling I will absolutely melt once she does.

I'm a big fan of this "format" where half a chapter is Nagisa and Mashiro fluff and the other half is Uda and Riri developments.

Honestly, I'm here primarily for the yuri, but I stumbled across this one and it's really good. I love how creative it is about practically everything, from twisting tropes to the actual architecture. The art style is also fantastic and the overall story has been very wholesome. Good stuff.

Kinda sad that Kiki couldn't tell her anything...

I only wish Kiki would vocally ask if it's wrong that she (still) thinks Michiru is cute. I feel that would've made an amusing moment.

Michiru's backstory went from "yeah I understand and it sucks" to "oh shit okay wait a minute" in the span of a couple of panels, holy crap. But yeah, the entire thing, she's "cute", but no one looks to see beyond that, and her entire being and essence are dismissed as simply "cute". This stings, and what sucks most is that no one aside from Mr. Kiddie Diddler over there was ill intended, hell, it looks as if most people adored Michiru. It's a tough position to be in, and tougher chains to break from.

On Shion's side of things, I'm not buying into the aloofness. I'm reading it more as suppression and/or denial, or perhaps she had not yet fully realized, but there's a bitterness to her entire situation that I feel her character is still processing, and she is still in the stages of growth. I'm assuming there'll be a lightbulb moment for her sometime in the future, might be directly influenced by Kiki and Michiru's pretend play coming up, where she'll finally resolve herself toward some goal, which I'm guessing would be to surpass Kiki or something along those lines. The good old "only then can I walk by her side with pride", or something like that.

Kiki coming up with the idea feels kind of out of the blue, but it also feels like the whole notion, the entire concept was something that was firmly on the tip of her tongue looking for an opportunity to plop out, and here it is. The allusion and parallels were there from the start. I'm looking forward to seeing where this slippery slope leads, and there's a joke about slimy physical intimacy that escapes me and I cannot fully articulate, but yeah. Michiru's reaction can and should be delicious.

I'm fully prepared to see the tragedy tag on one of the next chapters.

I am not. Please send help.

...This was never going to be a cute fluffy yuri with moe blobs blushing at each other...

Let me keep dreaming, please! But yeah, 100% correct. Could also be M.Night Shyamalan tier plot twist if after all of the buildup it just ends with Kaori being discharged and stuff. Would be somewhat amusing in its own right.

On the subject of trainwrecks, tragedies, and supposed "garbage" endings - I usually try to avoid tragedies. Personal preference. This one has been so good and so consistently compelling, even knowing how it will most probably end and not being ready for it, I'm still here for the ride. I'm not going to lie, huge part of me hopes for the ass-pull of the century, and judging by the writing in the series so far, I actually believe that given enough time the author could make something that would be more compelling than gathering all of the dragon balls, but even if it doesn't, nothing takes away from how good of a story it is, plain and simple.

In any case, this chapter had a bit of fluff in it, but then hit with the sucker punch near the end, holy crap. I was tempted to joke about Kaori now shipping her sister with Shizuku and the series ends with them being together somehow, but I don't have it in me to do anything more than this lame attempt. Goddamnit.

Hinoka's expressions this chapter are those of pure fucking suffering in a way that had I not known better, I'd have been legit heartbroken. In contrast, Tsukushi's utter uselessness is infinitely amusing, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing her completely fall apart in front of her "best friend forever".

I just woke up you can't be doing this to me this early in the morning, it hurts

Fucking same. First thing I did when I woke up this morning. I don't know what I expected.

I wish she would not be actually dead and is just in a coma :(

Homegirl is a poltergeist, no ghost Michi met so far was like this. Safe to say the circumstances around her death are probably unusual, so the author might as well pull a reincarnation where she remembers everything so they can be together in the end.

Plot twist: reincarnates as her daughter. Double plot twist: that makes it even better. Honestly not sure that her death would be too unusual, but the circumstances around it probably will be, as well as her actual life in general.

In any case, stumbled across this just now. Very amusing, and really sweet, but there's a tinge of bitterness underneath the surface that I feel can (and will) be one hell of a kick in the head.

Like, really, I'm all up for happy endings. Give me the deusest exisest bullcrap that was ever pulled out of a hat, I care not. Give me girl x ghost ending.

last edited at Sep 16, 2022 10:16AM

Huh... not entirely sure what's going on with this one anymore, honestly I never really did. On the author's pixiv there's one with Kureha and Shizuki. Can't really parse the moon runes, but it looks pretty decent.

I think that was a big point of the flea market episode. To show that despite her goofiness, Miyako is EXTREMELY socially intelligent and despite her puppiness, is extremely smart around people and handling social situations. And that's why Suga got loveblasted while watching her work because her brain started turning the gears that 'oh, right she is a very capable gorgeous adult who's in love with me'

I wouldn't go as far as "who's in love with me" just yet, but that's a good point. My original comment mentioned as well that there really are a lot of clever character-building moments in this series and that's really neat. Also puppiness is the perfect description and I'm almost ashamed I haven't thought of it myself.

This makes me wonder: I cannot think of many socially competent and confident young adults in yuri manga (or manga in general) off the top of my head. Is it just selection bias or are they really that rare? And if so, why do y'all think that is?

I'm gonna say it's a little bit of both. This is personal opinion and conjecture more than anything else as well as a vast over-simplification and/or over-exaggeration that I don't feel I have enough space here to actually properly dive into, but I think it mostly comes down to that it's just much harder to craft a story around characters who aren't bumbling buffoons, abysmal edgelords, or otherwise disadvantaged in some manner (social awkwardness, etc.) or rather, to come at this from the other side, it's simply much easier for the "lazy"* author to work with ugly ducklings and/or clean-slates.

*note: not everyone who does is a lazy author, but I'm specifically referring to those lazy authors. The ones whose MC of choice is dark-haired recluse template number 403-A. Stuff like that.

Also competent and confident can both be a little bit vague to determine, I'd say. I'm trying to think of young adults (which by the way would be in the 19-25ish age range, right?) that fit but I'm really drawing a blank. I want to say Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon's Hinako, maybe? I mean, she's got issues, but also something(s) that serves as an anchor, but that's what I mean about determining which is which. Actually, Usui Shio's other work has both main characters who fit the bill perfectly, I'd say.

In any case, more importantly, I've been re-reading because why the hell not, and only now realized that the earrings Miyako was wearing to the concert and afterward were those that she picked up in the flea market, and I am loving this bit of detail; I find it incredibly cute.

last edited at Sep 12, 2022 12:10PM

Oh my god, that was so cute; I was squeeing for practically the entire chapter.

Every time a new story by Yatosaki Haru is released, I come to the forum to tell everyone that I love love love this author and that I adore her stuff.

I worry that I'm starting to get repetitive... >_<

For what it's worth, I'm fighting the urge to do the same with every fiber of my being, and I'm glad I'm not alone on this boat. Absolutely adore their work. This one as well is absolutely fucking adorable, and I'm kinda sad there isn't more.

It seems as though Ruriko cares for Rio more than I expected...

Also, Ruriko was always a huge softie, so this development definitely makes sense.

I'm looking forward to seeing where things go. The message from Rio at least had some sense of urgency to it, so while I'm expecting some sort of a red herring, it might not be. Besides, simply her existence has already accelerated the moving of the gears on Kurumi's side, which is great to see. The hug was adorable.

This is why I'm also not fully agreeing with some of the comments that mention how things developed "smoothly" or "naturally" till now. I mean, at least I don't feel that these developments are either manufactured/contrived or particularly bumpy. There was a significant part of Ruriko's life that was fully separate from Kurumi (and vice versa, obviously), it was bound to come into play at some point.

Heh, it would certainly be interesting to see Rio, as ignorant as she is of the exact circumstances of their marriage, happily talk to Kurumi about how glad she is that Ruriko finally got to marry her after pining all those years. :D

Also this. I need this. Need.

Ayyy I kinda sorta not-exactly-but-close-enough called it way back. Either case I love that she's noticed her before and was drawn to her as well, gives her impish/seductive/horny-on-main-seeming behavior some more depth and it makes a lot more sense. Big fan of this development.

As an aside, for some reason, in my mind, I almost expected Meguru to proclaim in a The Exorcist-esque demonic possession horror movie style that "the sow is mine" to her co-worker. Not going to lie, would probably love this sort of twist.

Dude, this manga is absurdly underread/underappreciated/under-the-radar/you-name-it. Where the fuck is everybody?

In any case, I'll borrow from comments I've made before: yasss! Pure sugar.

And clearly with the blushing Kanon did when Saki first grabbed her hand she at least feels sometime for her. We need something more focused on Kanon...

I'm of a similar opinion; Kanon's feelings toward Saki are definitely romantic to some degree, and her attachment otherwise could very easily be confused as such. And I'd definitely like to delve a bit into Kanon's head, but I think a big part of the story is exactly that we can't really do that in real life, we can only try and understand (them) from where we stand both as individuals and as a whole.

What to me really stood out this chapter was Kanon's point about hurting and being hurt in any sort of dynamic. A good chunk of my life I've been living feeling like I'm walking on thin ice, specifically in the context of interpersonal dynamics. Constantly feeling guilty and/or undeserving and needing to apologize for everything or anything, and almost completely castrating myself and shutting myself away, and that is rough. Took me years to only start to understand exactly what Kanon is saying here, and that specifically there will be something I do that may or may not be hurtful to those I care about, and that isn't the end of the world. Hell, I'm pretty certain I've had a conversation like this with my therapist almost verbatim.

Trying to do this without projecting too much, but some of Saki's actions and behaviors hit way too close to home for me. Way too similar to how I've been in some of my worst times, even not too long ago. Girl's way too stuck within the confines of her own head to actually do, see, or experience anything. Thinking about it, I really like how Kanon balances some of these parts of Saki in their dynamic and reins in some of Saki's judge, jury, and executioner tendencies.

Three smaller anecdotes:
- I'd lie if I said I wasn't afraid of the possibility, but I never really thought that the teacher would be anything than a supporting character (and actually a surprisingly great one at that), but it definitely is kinda nice to explicitly see those lilies taking root. Now go big. Do not go home.
- On top of her other issues, I think that Saki is stuck on just how stupidly adorable Kanon can be and how hard that fucks her up, and in itself, it's actually really cute in my opinion.
- Kanon's smug, teasing smile on page 32 is astonishingly beautiful. Fantastic artwork for that.

I love the way things are going. I love that Miyako is aware of her situation and that she went all-in for the kill. I also very much appreciate that for a character that is depicted as very easygoing, carefree, and a tad airheaded, she's also capable, intelligent, and emotionally aware (for lack of a better term? I dunno, feels fitting). I feel that there are a lot of nice little surprises like this in the manga, where the writing and/or world/character building are better (and more interesting) than one would expect.

I liked the art style of this a lot to begin with, but the panels of sparkly mode Miyako were fucking gorgeous. Especially the first one with the wake-up call.

It wasn't subtle in the least, but I really liked the fireworks sequence and the parallels between the excited child and their father to Asako and Miyako - Asako's motherly/caring nature was again given prominence and shown that at the moment from her end, she very clearly views Miyako a lot more as sort of a child than as a woman. I'm looking forward to seeing this particular part of the plot unfold in the future, and with Miyako also getting a little bit of a reality check at the end there, I'm looking forward to seeing where that goes. I'm not too worried about drama, though. Honestly, I'm absolutely loving this manga.

last edited at Aug 31, 2022 4:58PM

@RiderFan Well, shit. Got anything else to go off of? Might be able to google-fu somehow.

last edited at Aug 30, 2022 10:11AM

@RiderFan It seems the search goes on. The struggle is real lol. Thanks for the recommendations, much appreciated.

@Zed It may be due to how google indexing works for me, but I've never had any problem with these codes (or other dubious codes for that matter. Only ever had a problem with fake torrent search results). That said, a lot of JAV rehosting sites are less than friendly to say the least, and one should absolutely keep themselves safe. I recommend The addon Privacy Badger, been an absolute godsend.

last edited at Aug 29, 2022 6:30PM

@RiderFan some good stuff there; the FSDSS one is a tier of its own, in my eyes. Kinda wish they'd have more where the girls are actually into it, like in this one. Got any more recs of the less censored kind?

Oh my god, this was so cute. Also kinda hot not gonna lie. I wholeheartedly approve of horny Nagisa. Also I'm imagining the other girls standing outside waiting and most probably hearing and/or seeing some of what's going on and just awkwardly sigh and I'm pretty much dying here.

last edited at Aug 24, 2022 12:53PM

I noticed that there's some strong Machikado Mazoku energy here. Like the author looked at it and said "not enough yuri kissing!" and came up with this. I approve.

Also the panel "I'll do my best to get out of bed every morning" - same, but fucking oof.