At this point, I'm very much inclined to believe, if not outright convinced, that the answer to the end-game question is "yes."
I'm also inclined to believe, and honestly very much hoping, that the maid job goes completely off the rails and ends with the two going to town, and I'm all for it. Nao is very interested in Asumi and very clearly parched, very adorably so might I add, and Asumi... is pretty much a neverending fountain, really.

On a bit more of a serious note, it does almost feel like the whole original premise was put aside at the moment, and I'm saying almost because it's only been 10 chapters and whatnot, but I legitimately do not mind those 'side stories' and digressions. On the contrary, I wholeheartedly approve, since every character newly introduced and reintroduced was top-tier and every scenario presented absolutely golden, so long as the series keeps up this quality of presentation and execution, and so long as Mai doesn't actually get completely forgotten/sidelined, I'm all up for this wild ride.

last edited at Feb 4, 2022 7:57PM

Any romantic connection between Sayo and Rinna was very weakly set up in a panel or two and quickly dropped...

I think that's the biggest problem, it was simply dropped. The arrow and the (accidental yet very real) kiss could have and, in my opinion, should have led to the two of them getting closer to one another on a basis that is more than just Mei's existence (and I believe there were more opportunities for that,) but it was dropped like it was nothing; the potential was there, the narrative opening into the possibility was there. I wouldn't necessarily tie that to the teacher's romantic dynamic, but hot-damn does the timing and p(l)acing seem intentional. Maybe the author was testing the waters of whatever sea they'd like to navigate the ship through, or something like that.

On another note, I've spent a good chunk of my day catching up on Watanare's manga adaptation, which is another work by Teren Mikami, and honestly, I can't say I'm the biggest fan of theirs, or rather, the way their stories are constructed. Like honestly, the fluff both in this series and in Watanare is absolutely fantastic as are the character dynamics. Not gonna go to into too long a tangent, but I feel that there's a lot of forced contrivances and forced shoddy in-universe logic and some simply interesting to "why is that even needed" type of decisions in plotline/character developments, and those appear very glaringly in both mentioned series.

last edited at Jan 14, 2022 6:03PM

This turn of events feels somewhat sour. I'm happy for Sayo, obviously, but I definitely thought the story's gonna go big and not home. To me, it felt like there was a lot of focus specifically on the threeway route, and it was more than just the thing with the teachers, which in itself was really more part of Mei exploring and witnessing the various ways in which love and relationships can take form than it was foreshadowing. That said, I could definitely see Sayo and Mei's kiss being the so-called nail in the polyamorial coffin. Or I don't know, maybe I gotta reread the series again, which there's no reason not to since I think it was pretty good regardless.

I will also say that the turn of events coming now seems like a sprint toward the finish line and feels like a very sudden and sharp turn too, the pace of the last few chapters felt kind of rushed as well. Both of which suck on their own since there was a lot to explore and continue with in the series that would just go nowhere. And honestly, I just enjoyed the fluff, really.

Rinna also got the very short end of the stick which sucks pretty bad. I definitely don't think her relationship with Mei was explored and delved into the same way as Sayo's was. And in all honesty, I mean, really, both Sayo and Rinna are absolute sweethearts, there was no reason not to go for the whole pot there.

In any case, there's still one more chapter, if the above reports are true, so there may be some hope for a bunny out of the hat. Go big or go home, goddamnit. At least give Rinna an appropriate happy end, man, she doesn't deserve to be done this dirty.

Oh baybee, yes! Recent developments on Chiaki's side have been terrific, but this was just chef's kiss marvelous, and I'm dying to know where this leads. I am a bit worried that the fast pace might mean the end is near, though.

last edited at Jan 5, 2022 2:13PM

There's so much wrong with all of this that I wouldn't know where to begin...

I mean, in a vacuum and out of context, sure, but I'd say that at this point, especially with this chapter's... uh... events, it's already well established that not only she willingly doesn't resist (or has ever actually resisted, really), she's also getting more and more into it/fond of it, both the act(s) and the idea of it.

All that to say - yeahehe, buddy, shit's pretty damn hot.

In any case, I'm interested in seeing where things go now that things actually developed. I'm in the go big or go home camp.

Unrelated meta-question - do quotes count as mentions? Is it actually possible to directly mention or @ someone in this forum?

last edited at Nov 17, 2021 8:06AM

I know there's far more far more important things going on in this chapter, but nothing quite stings like that "That family loves you, huh?"...

That and the few parts that paralleled the two families' dynamics. Felt like a twist of the knife, in a way. I believe and hope this is a future plot point to unravel, and I'm kind of anxious/excited for it.

In any case, one thing I particularly like about the chapter is the dream being a reveal of Shion's true motives and feelings and how it was used. I mean, from a meta-perspective, it was pretty much obvious, but as a reveal in and of itself, I felt it was very appropriate and very nicely executed - short, clear, and concise.

I feel that in this story it's absolutely reasonable and relatable that Shion hasn't confessed, as well as her actions and behavior up to this point. If nothing else, for me, I can feel the pain she's feeling, and I can both understand and forgive her actions up to now. Now it's a matter of how things unfurl from here, especially with Toribami showing seeds of jealousy/doubt.

last edited at Nov 3, 2021 8:37AM

Jesus fucking christ, this is making me really goddamn anxious. Doesn't even matter how obvious the story's direction may seem to be, it just pushes the right buttons really fucking well. Especially right now.

Goddamnit... I've lost a close friend to suicide just the other day... not the best place to share, sorry.. but yeah, so this whole thing hurts so much more. I don't want to be reading anything this tense, but at the same time, I'm here with some hope of brighter horizons. It may be naive, foolish, or unreasonable, but I'll still hold out hope for some sort of a happy ending. Be it the assiest of ass-pulls, I don't mind.

last edited at Oct 7, 2021 9:21PM

... but any situation that forces one person to bear the responsibility or negatives in a situation like Mimi’s is one I can never go along with...

I'm with you. Mimi is supposedly immortal (I wouldn't even say that she is per se), but not a soulless automaton or a tool of war, yet very much treated that way. It's incredibly upsetting to think about, honestly, even imagining a bit of her life before meeting Shiina -- could anyone even say she was actually alive and living? I wouldn't.

On a more practical level, too. So long as there is something to fuel the raging conflict, it'd never see its end. Mimi, in her state of being, is stuck in this dumb loop of carnage and undeath for which she has no ties or responsibility and over which she has no control or say, and even more upsettingly, for the whole deal to end, Mimi's existence would have to as well, or maybe deus-ex'd into proper mortality and living happily ever after which for the love of all that is fucking holy, man, I'd love this route to be taken; I am not ready for the alternative, I never was ready.

...This girl is like 20cm above the top of the range of what is considered normal for her age. That's not an early bloomer, that's gigantism.

Which folks gotta remember is the center, the hook of the entire series. The whole thing is aware of and messes with the ridiculousness of its content - the main character has her fated encounter with a silky-smooth temptress and, for lack of a better word, the rather "mundane" romance shenanigans that ensue juxtaposed with the fact that said temptress is a literal ten or eleven-year-old. The whole thing within itself gets a kick out of the "I'm going to jail!" jokes and the imminent punchline is constantly looming over the horizon - "ah yes, a fifth-grader, obviously."

There isn't much of a reason to put, really, any weight into what's shown, no reason to try and connect it to reality; it's just an exaggerated story for laughs. This one is definitely more of a hit or miss than most, and in my opinion, it's okay if it's one and it's okay if it's the other.

last edited at Sep 8, 2021 9:01PM

Dude, I love those "meaningful looks", like another comment perfectly describes, I can't get enough of them; always give me the butterflies. In Usui Shio's works, in particular, there's something about how they (she?) do those looks - a passion, a fire that sets me alight as well.

Could you fucking not, please? I'd most appreciate if you fucking didn't. Screw all the signs till now, I'm hoping for a happy ending.

Holy crap this is adorable. Top-tier pure saccharine cuteness. Absolutely blessed. Also Juju MVP; she knew, she knew from the get-go.

last edited at May 13, 2021 11:41AM