We'd need a freaking tapestry for that.

One thing Canno consistently does well is visual rhyming.

In this chapter several times people visualize in a fairly abstract way another character who is not present (in other words, we see an image of a character outside of any specific memories). Shiramine pictures Kurosawa, Mikaze pictures Asuka, and Kaoru pictures Kurosawa. We see all three characters from behind, but in the second and third examples we don’t see a face, only a back, while Ayaka’s Yurine is turned around toward her (and us).

The panels of Mikaze’s lost love and Karou’s unspoken crush look almost exactly the same, while the image of Yurine’s forthright affection and Ayaka’s barely repressed reciprocation recalls those poses but is completely transformed. The side-by-side contrast on page 14 between Ayaka’s thoughts and Mikaze’s is especially effective.

…Damn, I hadn't noticed that. We can add that in that panel, Ayaka's look is slightly pained and longing, while the image she has of Yurine is that of a proud but gentle smile… So yeah, it seems like all traces of bitterness have vanished towards her "rival".

last edited at Jul 11, 2018 12:04PM

The worst way this could go is that it switches to Asukas point of view when Mikaze already has a new girlfriend and it turns into bitter regret that she couldn't speak up back then. Hate those kind of storylines

…I might be a horrible person, but that would make me laugh. XD

Asuka looks like a standard self-loathing character, so she rejects everything that might make her happy or close to it; perhaps in hope that Mikaze will chase her or she just genuinely think it shouldn't happen cause it brings up thing she doesn't like.

That makes me think that Mikaze has a very rose-tinted view of Asuka in general. She keeps saying that she "lives in a dazzling way", but what we see is a gloomy and lonely girl, except when she's cosplaying.

On the other end it would be pretty "refreshing" (for lack of a better word) to have a high-school yuri story where the girls break up for good, not because of the "no homo after high school" clause but simply because… they're not made for each other.

But well, I don't doubt they'll get back together somehow, since Asuka doesn't look happy at all about the situation. Actually this arc seems to explore a question that the previous arc (with Hikari and Nagisa) didn't really bother to ask: how much should you change yourself for the sake of a relationship? The conclusion of the HikaNagi arc was more or less "Eeh, no need to change anything, it'll work out somehow", but this arc tells us "No it won't."

(aaand the chart as usual)

Chapter 43 will be out soon by the way. It's an AyaYuri chapter.

last edited at Jul 11, 2018 1:51PM

It happens sometimes. The titles are usually added when the compiled volumes come out. Same for the occasional chapters with no "Little Theater".

Chap 42 and 43 are out in French, if you are impatient. :þ For the others, they'll be out in English in a few days.

I might actually leave a few days' gap between the releases because there's a good chance all the discussion will focus on chapter 43 if I release them simultaneously.

A useful reminder that Rei is awesome. But why so short. TT^TT

Well, it's a PV, they'd better make it look good. X) But yeah, I like the voices.

Think it's fine if we post it in the 4rum anyway: Bonus 4koma (credits to /u/)

I spit my drink at the last panel, not gonna lie. XD

Well, since Touko has apparently snapped out of her "I must be my sister" state of mind, maybe she'll be more open to a confession now… It's probably safer to consolidate the relationship a little more first, though.

Well, they have to color her either way… Maybe a darker brown didn't mesh very well the rest of the color palette though, I don't know.

It covers Bento, Shortcake/Lemongrass, Sandy Beach, and Sunset, leaving out some bits like Inoue-senpai for the sake of pacing.

I see, thanks. Now that I can compare, I like how how the OVA enhanced the scene of Kase sniffing Yamada's bed. XD That look of bliss was perfect. Wonder why they removed her tan though.

How much of the series does the OVA cover? All in all, it seemed to tell a pretty complete story, or at least the first part of it…

last edited at Jun 17, 2018 5:05PM

Just watched the OVA, which has just been subbed… dunno how faithful it is to the manga, but GOD it was adorable. And visually stunning too! (then again, it's an OVA). Great attention to detail in the angles, the pauses, the little gestures… all the things that made you appreciate their relationship.

Though I'm not sure if Yamada changing her university choice just to be with Kase is really touching or really stupid on her part. Well, if said university fits her choice of career it's fine I guess…

Anyway, I'll have a smile plastered on my face for the rest of the day. =3

Now I wonder if those biting marks will have disappeared the next day…

Well, the entire point of fantasy is that you can keep the "good bits" while ignoring those pesky bits of reality that get in the way.

Err… okay, that was disturbing. You just can't solve this situation with a wake-up slap and a night of sex.

Again, how is the portrayed "positively", when the main character is obviously distressed and confused?

? Who are you answering to?

I'm not sure where you guys are getting the idea that this series portrays rape as "okay". Maki in this chapter is not acting as someone who is okay… and neither is Kousaka for that matter.

…Who takes a hot bath in a scorching hot day anyway? >.>

I'd be on the "so disoriented that it took time for her to register" side, because obviously she has to know at least the basics.

In any case, the author is definitely good at conveying a certain mood, like that steaming hotness in the flashbacks. They just have to improve their proportions…

(the somewhat ambiguous panel layout and word balloons' position don't help either)

Hmm, like where? I didn't see that, but I translated the thing so maybe I biased…

Ah, so this is a "wet kiss" kind of author, eh. Gives me Citrus flashbacks. Bodies and faces still need a lot of work, but the backgrounds and lighting are quite remarkable.

So… yay for statutory rape? X) Although I'm sensing a love triangle ahead with the classmate.

last edited at May 13, 2018 2:52PM

I agree that it feels a bit one-sided, Asuka seems to have gotten with Mikaze more for amusement than out of genuine feelings at first. I didn't mind the pacing though. I don't think it would have worked as well if split in several chapters − after all it's a sort of "how we got here" chapter, with the first page and all. The visual transitions between seasons worked pretty well.

Before I read the last page, I was so confused about why 飛鳥 was being read as Asuna, haha. I thought Mikaze was talking to someone else entirely when she said “Asuna”, LOL.

Yeah, someone later pointed out that I could have written her pseudonym "Asca" or something, but it's too late now. >.>