I wonder if Maekawa is going to write a yuri story now. Comedy here is also great. I like their dynamic of Maekawa taking her frustrations on Shimizu, and Shimizu handing it with her laid back way.

Why so many promising stories are one shots? Not a big fan of the art though.

I really want to appreciate this one, because it's overall very well done, but... I can't get over the fact how utterly avoidable this tragedy was. There was literally NO reason for Asha's mom to die. Not a single one. She was a freaking DRAGON. All she needed to do was to grab her child and fly somewhere else. Why is dying the more appropiate response over just fleeing to another mountain range? Claire would have survived either way because the hunting party was already going her way. Not that the dragon even needed to expose herself. She could have just gone to them in human form and tell them that she found a survivor who needs help. Hell... she could have just gotten her out of the mountains herself and let her walk the remainder towards town. This crucial action had so many plot holes it is infuriating.

I'm sorry, I know it's just a plot device, but I can't stand unwarranted tragedies.

I completely agree. Her dying seemed like a plothole. Like why couldn't they just all move into a completely different location/country where no one knew they were dragons.
Such a waste of a cool character design for the dragon mom too.
The little girl also resembles her mom a lot too (physically) which leads me to believe she was supposed to be her mom's replacement of lover for Claire in the future. Something like Haru and Midori situation.

Asha went from Claire's dog, to her child and then her future lover (from my interpretation).

Loli trapping everywhere. The story was pretty promising and the mom-Claire looked nice. But then the mom dies and we have yet another loli-adult pairing.
Wish mangakas could put half of the effort they do for creating loli, into making good stories.

They were probably bitter over people losing interest after season 1 ended.
What can you do? You can't just write whatever and expect people to keep loving a story because it used to be popular once.

I don't really find the premise of mangaka theme in a story appealing, but for some reason this has made me interested to even read about what the two editors have to say.
I've seen the raws of these chapters before, and I thought the story would become more boring once they start talking more about Maekawa's manga and less about her relationship with Shimizu.

last edited at Dec 23, 2019 9:29AM

Wedding dresses and pants is cute and all, but why is it that most of the time one has to wear a dress and the other be the prince?
I want more princess x princess style of weddings.

She said herself she let her guard down and she doesn't seem like someone who had give her consent.

Aya got drunk on her own will in a other chapter to have sex with Risa. So it's possible there wasn't an assault. I'll personally take it as that, and that the author didn't intend on making it seem like a rape and didn't think much about it.

She is simply too deep into the closet and has her own issues (lack of self confidence) to make a move.

Might be true too but that's because she is too afraid of being rejected and get her relation with Nozomi change for the worst. She doesn't want take the risk to ruin their relation.You're like Risa, you're just frustrated that Miyu don't try anything and think she should have done something sooner. But i prefer have their relation working like that, rather than having Miyu forcing her way into Nozomi, especially when you see how Nozomi was troubled after founding out the manager was a lesbian.Now imagine her reaction if Miyu had come to confess her feelings.It would had been probably disastrous with Nozomi probably hurting Miyu, who has already so little self-confidence.

I don't say she should have forced her way into Nozomi. There's a middle ground between the extremes of never confessing and.forcing her way, and Miyu is the other extreme. She had already decided she would never confess her feelings. Also I can't feel sorry for someone who did that on themselves. She has decided to never talk about her feelings and on top of that support Nozomi in finding a bf.

Anyway, Nozomi is the typical airhead in this story and doesn't have many layers imo. That's why I find her boring. I don't know what we're trying to conclude here. That's just me, some others might like her, there's no universal truth.

it would be boring to have a chapter only with them two and without anyone else from the cast.

Why thought ? I really like this pairing and i rather have a chapter on those two than on Risa and Aya because i don't really their dynamic as what is basically sex friends as this point, not to mention that their firsts chapters together had Risa drunken Aya and profit of her weak state to had sex with her. I really like the Miyu/Nozomi dynamic because Miyu respect that Nozomi is not interested and don't try to force a move but now she realise she can't keep it like that and had to make a decision. It's pretty interesting for me.

Well different strokes for different folks. But no. Risa and Aya are hot af. What happened in the first chapter was indeed shady, but I chose to believe Aya consented and it was misleading.
Also they've known each other for a long time, and despite them now just having sex, they are the only ones with the deepest romantic bond. Also Aya has a reason why she doesn't date Risa, but she also didn't like it when Risa joked about them being fwb. She is just unable to show her emotions unless she is drunk.

Miyu doesn't "respect" Nozomi's wish. She is simply too deep into the closet and has her own issues (lack of self confidence) to make a move. She never tried dropping any hint to get rejected and respect Nozomi's decision.
Plus I think she has some type of internalized homophobia.

last edited at Dec 21, 2019 8:00PM

For Nozomi/Miyu, like i told before it's because Miyu told she wasn't interested in dating Nozomi and Nozomi is pointed out as kinda dense so their stand alone chapter are kept as a minimum since Miyu was fine with the current state of the relation..

I don't think this says much. We could have this chapter with the mixer way earlier (yes Moe suggesting aligns with the gay panic, but there could be so many other excuses), so we could get more chapters with Miyu's development now.
Anyway, there's no way to know if the author feels this way about them too, but personally I still find them a borderline boring couple (I really like the other three) and it would be boring to have a chapter only with them two and without anyone else from the cast.
For example that pool scene between these two I just found it boring. And I haven't felt this about the other three pairings.

Althought i'm surprised that Risa seem to not have talk to Miyu about that conversation.

Probably cause the author doesn't want to get too deep into the drama. Risa talking about Nozomi's freaking out about their manager would require some deeper analysis in the upcoming chapters, and I think it's pretty obvious the author tries to keep this more lighthearted, even when there's potential for serious drama. (Risa had mentioned her parents disowned her for being gay, but it didn't go further than that).
Imo that chapter with the new manager was to show to the readers why Nozomi hasn't shown any romantic interest in Miyu yet. The thought of two women together didn't even cross her mind.

because their chapters always have the rest of the cast as well,

Are you sure about that ? It's done like that because Miyu/Nozomi aren't in a relation like the others. Miyu already state that she doesn't want to start a relationship with Nozomiso it's kinda a given they can't really have a chapter about their dynamics together and have them being close. I think it will probably change after that one since Miyu have receive a fair warning that she isn't ready to let Nozomi go

Agh I knew someone might point that out. I meant in comparison with the rest, they barely have a chapter on their own. The others have at least three chapters.

Nozomi keeps this going for me, I can't say I care much about the rest of the cast.

Seriously???

You astonish me.

Lol I find Nozomi the least interesting of them all, and the only boring one.
Wonder if the author knows Nozomi and Miyu is their weakest pair, because their chapters always have the rest of the cast as well, whie the other three pairings have their own chapters.

last edited at Dec 21, 2019 1:32PM

Maybe the people behind this science discovered Mari slipped into the other world and have sent this girl to take her back.
Or they don't know themselves and want to test her and discover how she got there.

What Miyu does is the ultimate suffering. If she doesn't want to confess her feelings, she at least should distance herself.
I don't think it's possible to support Nozomi so close.
Also nice drama dodging there from the author. The guy ended up having a gf, so we won't be spending chapters of Miyu mopping. She suffers but she has caused that to herself.

Moe is on gay panic now too. Risa is best girl.

last edited at Dec 20, 2019 8:38PM

Oh wow. What a gift that chapter was. Five years in this manga and they're still afraid to say I love you, despite not being afraid to get married at 16!! Also what a pleasant surprise that kiss on the cheek was.

Maybe I haven't read many magic stories, but even if this is a common trope, at least there is some thought put into this story.
To me, it does seem like the author has put some effort to their characters and location set up. I like the two mains too. (I know, shy introverted girl and cold girl. You can't get away from these)
I don't think it's easy to find something mind blowing and original anyway. But there are tons of shitty and cliche stories in here with highschool girls that get praised for just being uwu, so this doesn't deserve hate imo.

This chapter stopped in the worst moment.

Chapter 27 raws are out. I can't figure out if Moe has a gay panic and decides to go to a mixer with Nozomi or if she actually comes out to them
I can understand what's up with the rest of the chapter. Miyu suffers

If the topic of public bathing really has you curious (for good or bad), here are some links that might interest you.

Funfacts:
Onsen (by definition using naturally hot water from geothermally heated springs) are as different to indoor baths as the ocean is to a lake - still water is always more susceptible to dirt and bacteria, filth and disease. Partly because of the oxigen whirled in doing a nice job to equalize things, as well as active living (nice) organisms doing the same, and of course constant fresh-water upkeep.
There's an actual downside to chlorine, btw, that includes rashes, skin damage (especially in combination with too much sun) and inflamations to the respiratory system and mucous membranes, because more often than not pool keepers use way too much chlorine, either out of ingorance or to make up for lacking other maintenances. E.g. keeping the ph value in check... (if it's too high, chlorine can't do it's supposed job!) Rule of thumb: If the chlorine smell makes your nose achey, something's wrong. Enjoy at your own discretion.
...oh, and bathing clothes don't do nothing to protect one (cept for one's modesty?) - if anything they get soaked and offer hollows, keeping potentially contaminated water close to ones 'sensitive parts', where body temp warms it up and helps bacteria become really lively, increasing their chances to enter and harm the body. Even when one exits the water in question, until they change or are completely dried up again. It's usually neglectable increased risks from just that, but I thought I'd mention it, since it came up... Going commando may indeed be better for your health in any such scenario. The constant flush of water making it harder for ..stuff to get inside you, compared to bascially trapping it right there.
Additionally, there's a difference between drinking water and clean water. Even if a water pool isn't so "clean" one should drink it, a body will get sufficiently clean from it. (Also, don't forget your skin is naturally rather good at keeping bacteria at bay; too much scrubbing can do more harm than good, as well as using too many chemicals - everything in good measure.)
That said, 'cept for some cultures being the expected exception from the rule ...don't we usually declare our butts "clean" when the sheet remains white? ^^;;

And as others already said in other words: There's usually an (historically and culturally established) etiquette preceeding and surrounding the usage of public baths; to wash oneself properly before entering the pool. Since that happens not in solitary either, we can assume that people follow this rule much more attentively than, let's say, washing one's hands after using the restroom - all across the world.
If we really want to get that paranoid, we should all stop shaking hands first before judging public bathing.

I hope, that answers that. And that we can now all return to pretend to be reasonable and academics with some fancy literature degree, and return to the usual bashing of the author for daring to bring in "drama" or "tropes" or handholding or have us just over-analyze the sh*t out of a singular panel or non-text assumptions... *sigh*

Wow that was very informative! XD
Anyway yes, the still waters thing. This is what I meant by the comparison to public baths with the ocean. Pools are almost the same as public baths, so not much difference. But oceans is pretty different. And yes I know some beaches are pretty nasty too, I'm not talking about these cases.
It's also way easier to catch someone else's skin infection in the still waters.

Bottom line, I just wanted to say that if someone doesn't feel comfortable using public baths and being naked in front of everyone, there should be a second option for them to bathe in their room. That's cause Mai mentioned there "might" be a private bath, so Chidori seemed to have no option here.

I have a feeling you would get a stroke if you learned about Finnish sauna culture.

I'll search it up later. Don't worry, I won't post my thoughts here though.

last edited at Dec 16, 2019 12:47PM

I said I didn't want to derail the thread, not that I don't want a discussion. Because it got out of the point quick.
2. I wasn't trying to insult anyone. I was saying that I don't get the public bath system and why it has to be like that, because even Chidori said she felt embarrassed going there, and she is someone who grew up with it as a norm. The conversation got derailed by putting too much emphasis on the germs part.

The way the conversation with Mai went was as if a lot of times the only option to take a bath is by public baths. Because Mai said that "there might be a private bath there" which indicates that oftentimes there isn't.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion as long as they're not assholes about it.
I don't say my opinion is the right one, I simply said I didn't want to take this further and derail the thread, but yall keep mocking me.
I also stated some arguments about the sea water and why it's not the same as the water in onsens. If I'm wrong about that too, you can say in what specifically. I never attacked anyone or called them names, but I'm the arrogant here? Lol

Wow. Your arrogance and entitlement is really on another level, isn't it? "I want to be able to freely express myself and insult things I don't understand and have 0 knowledge about, but nobody can correct me or even respond, because I don't want to open discussion about it, that's why I write that horseshit on public forum".

Are you talking about yourself? You just attacked me for no reason. If you have issues maybe talk with someone irl about them. You always sound so angry and ready to jump into people's throats.

There's some similar practice I'm not sure you've heard of. It's equally unnecessary and even filthier (by far) than public baths. It's called swimming

No need to get so defensive. You can't compare the ocean where there's iode etc that kill off the bacteria and sea water that's actually good for your health, as well as the waters always changing because of the mass amount of waters with the stale waters of the public baths that don't contain all these elements. Why do you think they have to clean the pools and use chloride if it's the same thing with the sea/ocean?

Also again, the whole naked thing. Why not at least wear a swimsuit and everyone has to be naked? It is a rhetorical question, you don't have to actually answer.
I just wanted to state that as a non Japanese person, which I'm also sure others have thought too. I don't want to open a whole discussion about it.

I've been thinking about this for a long time regarding the public baths in Japan.
First, it is embarrassing hanging around naked in front of all these people.
Also, bathing inside other people's dirt is just gross. Especially when your sensitive area is exposed to it as well.

Excuse me. They’re washing themselves first before soaking in that public bath. Also in their own homes, they do the same before entering their bathtub. What’s so gross about it anyway, it’s kinda like in a swimming pool and I actually found it more gross lol, at least, in their bath Japanese washes first.

Pools get chloride and are bigger in volumes. Also, no matter how good they wash themselves, there's still bound to be some filth left. In your own house it's only you, not other 10+ people as well.
Plus if they already have washed, why enter the bath naked? They could wear a swimwear.
Anyway, to me it's bizzare and very unnecessary, unless you wanna see people around you naked.

Are people really that sensitive to the slightest hint of drama? Some of y'all act like your parents are about to get a divorce.
There's bound to be some fighting and misunderstandings between them as a couple. This doesn't cancel their progress. I actually found their small quarrel fun.

Also I low-key ship Mai with Chidori. I was never into crackships, wtf.

Guys, isn't it culture? :V
It's like this for 90% of the mangas we see, they get embarassed about holding hands and things like that probably 'cause they're not used to it.

I think it's definitely culture too. Asians are generally more shy than other races, from what I've noticed. Also they're pretty young and don't have any other experience in dating, so it makes it worse.

last edited at Dec 15, 2019 9:15PM

I've been thinking about this for a long time regarding the public baths in Japan.
First, it is embarrassing hanging around naked in front of all these people.
Also, bathing inside other people's dirt is just gross. Especially when your sensitive area is exposed to it as well.

If you are allowed to comment and criticize something, then so am I. A lot of stories get criticism, like Citrus, NTR etc despite people knowing what these stories are about too, before commenting/reading.

Doesn't this go against your own argument of "you can't treat the forums as your own blog and expect no one to disagree with you"

Why should loli be an exception? If loli is just like every other category, why should there be special rules about it?