It's fine. She can come back like the times Miyako has murdered her before. :P

"If I had a nickel for every time my idol caused my soul to leave my body, I'd have 2 nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's weird it happened twice...."

I realize the story is implying that the old lady was a ghost, but honestly I think it's fun to imagine that she's hiding behind the log as a prank.

I wouldn't have said this at the start, but I would love to see a spin-off for Madoromi. She grew a little, but it doesn't feel like she's had a proper arc. Also, I always want the failed romantic rival to get something better than the "accepting that they lost" story beat.

It's purely crack-shipping, but I do think Madoromi x Ai's work kouhai would be funny just for the irony of it.

Nah, you should never pair two tsunderes. It's like crossing the streams.

I laughed, but she should have noticed the building was a karaoke.

I mean, I'm sure she did, but if manga tropes have taught me anything it's that karaoke parlors are also nice private spaces to have a breakdown after something bad has happened. So I can still see her rushing in with concerns.

I dunno, my theory gets a lot fuzzier as we get into this issue.

I don't think this works in its favor. :P

I just mean there are several different ways the story can go at this point given what we've seen.

Alright, I have a theory, I'm gonna try calling it. Backstory of the island is at least somewhat accurate. There was a monster, it fell in love with one of the offering girls, and stopped attacking the island.

Kon resembles that offering girl, and the Kaijuu is in love with her. It saved both Kon and Furuka when they fell in the ocean and took a swipe at Mari because she was bullying them, but also when Kon and Furuka started doin' it, it got jealous and separated them.

Now it's starting to venture into Yandere territory, booting Furuka off the cave/cliff, but Kon followed her so it had to pull it's punches maybe? I dunno, my theory gets a lot fuzzier as we get into this issue.

Nice chapter.

Chapter nice.

Well, jokes on me and my rhetorics. I didn't mean she was at fault alone - maybe even 'fault' being too strong a word. Let me be a bit more elaborate.

(snip)

I'm not gonna go point by point, but rather address the larger point as a whole:

We don't know what happened between Kanon and her former friend. We know that Kanon's sister blames the friend, and that Kanon was traumatized by it, and that her friend seems slightly mean in the present.

I'm all for staying open to other perspectives, and if the story decides to show us the other girl's pov as sympathetic, then that'll be all well and good, but right now, all we have to go on is what the author has chosen to show us. So your alternate take is interesting but it's basically fanfiction.

"What's your type?"

"Well, if I had to say I'd go with inwardly kind, fair haired, taller than me, slender, stronger than they look..."

Evie: (Does such a person exist?)

"...named Evie...."

Evie: (That's a strange name for a boy.)

I hope for Rinne that Kanon never finds out what she said to Saki, Seeing how Kanon responded to Saki's offer it should be very clear that Kanon wouldn't be all too pleased.

I dunno, I think Kanon would cut Rinne off very much the same way she cut Saki off.

I mean, not the super gay kabedon part, that'd be a very different series, but the "I'm not mad but I will have none of this bullshit" part.

I'll just assume that silence means gayfirmation. and the sister is just misinterpret it in a bad way

Yeah, the sister has it wrong, but she can't really just come out and say "I want to kiss her" to a random person (especially a protective little sister who might not understand how "outing" works) but she also isn't very good at lying. (which is why her attempt to cut ties failed catastrophically)

I know that characters are routinely claimed as being examples of aro-ace representation, some of which turn out to be anything but that (most notoriously Yuu in Yagakimi), and lacking explicit in-text labeling like in this story I don't know exactly how one would definitively distinguish between the two types. But I would foresee not doing so leading to a lot of tagging wars.

I've never really seen Yuu as aro-ace rep but rather as a really great example of demi rep, even if not intended as such. At least she resonates very much with me and my own deminess~

That's the point Blastaar is making, she isn't aro-ace, but a lot of people thought she was at first, before her feelings awakened. (Yagakimi does have ace rep in Miki, though)

I guess I'm asking what an asexual romantic relationship looks like.

The details would probably vary from person to person, I'd think.

So I see a lot of people debating whether this should be tagged yuri, and I understand the wish to be inclusive to ace folks. They also deserve representation and don't get much of it and I'm old enough that my bisexual ass remembers how much that can hurt.

That said, there are a bunch of series on this website that forewent the yuri tag because the primary couple never crosses the line from friendship to actual romance, even though there are strong romantic overtones. Often the characters are even clearly life-partners who fully intend to spend forever together, but if they don't kiss or at least declare their love and do some lewd lewd handholding, it's not "yuri"

Should Stretch have a yuri tag? It's a "relationship between girls." Should Nettaigyo wa Yuki ni Kogareru? New Game? Shinmai Shimai no Futari Gohan? Ayakashiko? Living with my Brother's Wife? None of those are tagged "Yuri" (even though in some cases there are explicitly gay characters) because their main narrative is not about explicitly romantic relationships between women. A lot of series on this site sit untagged as "Yuri" until you get a direct confession or explicit indication of romantic interest, but here is a series about a specifically non-romantic relationship that had the tag I think from the start.

I want to be clear, I'm not saying this shouldn't be tagged yuri, nor am I saying those things shouldn't be. But there's an inconsistency here, and It's worth asking what the tag is for, and how Yuri is defined. And if you're gonna define Yuri more broadly than the site tends to, that's okay, but then there are probably a lot of things that should be conciously handled differently WRT other series.

Tags serve two main functions, in my experience. They help people find what they're looking for, and they help people avoid what they aren't. Yuri is such a broad tag and such a huge part of the site's identity I strongly doubt anybody is using it to know what to avoid. So then the question becomes "Is this series what people searching the Yuri tag are looking for?"

Romance is the same way. If somebody searches the "Romance" tag, are they going to be satisfied or feel baited by this series about two asexual people in an aromantic relationship? Yeah, sure, there are -other- romantically inclined characters in the series. Are -any- of their romances central enough to the narrative to be featured as tags? Star Wars has romances in it, that doesn't mean it would deserve the tag.

I'm not saying the story is bad. I thought it was an interesting read and insight into the ace/aro experience. The ending falls a bit flat, but I recognize that might be because I'm not the target audience. But as someone who comes to this site for same-sex romance, the tags sure are aimed at convincing me that this is directed at me when it isn't.

Either way, there should be an ace tag, like, yesterday. I'm actually shocked it isn't already a thing.

Glad I didn’t read this based on comments and the last chapter. Yes, there are such relationships IRL, but it doesn’t have the literary payoff for readership (they’re not even ROOMMATES! God what a let down). Good luck getting this picked up for publishing stateside.

This manga deserves the “non-binary” tag as the relationship went no-where by choice.

That's...not what non-binary means?

Am I missing a joke here?

I'm dead, I sure am DED!!! Because that was heaven!! Tokino is kinda the true beautyqueen in this series. She got the eyes, the fasion, the rather eccentric charisma and cardigans worth more than my entire cabinet!

But what matters more.

NAO WTF?!

I mean, dear god ,WTF?!

THOSE WERE ABSURDLY PERVY AND SHOCKING FANTASIES!!

HRMPF......!!!
....
.....
.....I begin to love her more and more....

We're talking about somebody who has literally fantasized about stripping naked in the middle of class, aren't we?

Heavensrun, you deserve cheers, felicitations, compliments, prizes and commendations for writing the damnedest best post ever seen in this thread. Awesome work! Everything about Youzi's mom and Ren is made crystal clear.

Thanks, I actually think the author has done a really good job of weaving a story behind the story, here, I'm really interested to see how much of my interpretation turns out to be correct.

As for the other characters, I wonder what's the relationship between President Chen and auntie Chen. At first I thought it was a coincidence that they had the same last name, but then auntie Chen said it's HER show where Ren is going to appear because of President Chen's invitation. That can't just be a fluke.

Yeah, I mean, Chen is a super common name, if these were real people, I'd say there's a decent chance it's a coincidence, but this is fiction, and names are choices, so It's probably a deliberate connection. I'm gonna guess siblings, but time will tell.

Something I need to confirm: Auntie Chen and President Chen are two different people, right? President Chen is CaiCai's mom?

Yeah, President Chen definitely has short hair where Auntie Chen's is longer. President Chen is an executive and Auntie Chen is an actress and apparently variety show host. Also when they caught Mom and Chen on the couch, Caicai said "Oh, it's Auntie Chen." rather than "Oh, it's Mom" or anything like that.

I think mom and auntie ren is not exes.. But maybe auntie ren does like youzi's mom back in college.. But youzi's mom not seeing her more than a friend (yet, hopefully) and when youzi's mom have someone or get married, auntie ren went overseas or something to move on

Yeah, I mean, when I talk about them being exes, I more just mean that they have some kind of romantic history. Like, whether it was an actual relationship or just a mutual crush or something remains to be seen, but I'd be willing to bet that a) It was totally mutual, and b) after the writeup I did before, I strongly suspect Ren was the one that chose to leave. Mom is clearly still hurt about it.

And given that the gay fanservice angle is specifically a part of the plot, I really doubt the person mom actually flirts with on camera is the one she's actually into. It would be a weird choice to imply that the plebs on the message board know Mom's heart better than Youzi does.

I mean Youzi literally wrote in her notebook that she thinks mom prefers auntie Chen.

This is true, but remember she's writing this after the "misunderstanding" in chapter 4 which visibly hit her pretty hard. But she's been nursing the Ren x Mom ship instinctively since she was six. She clearly picked up on the signals, and she's been paying attention for an entire decade.

Youzi prefers Ren. But I guess we'll see in this next chapter, if Chen is there on the show as well, which I hope she is. It looks like she's on the list of guests under the mom.

Actually it's Chen's show. She's the host, she makes that clear when she's tipping off Youzi.

But, really, all of this is just speculation and assumptions. By Youzi, by the shippers in the manhua and by us, the readers. I think it would be kinda clever for actually nothing to be going on at all and it is all just fanservice and everyone seeing what they want to see. But I doubt the author would actually do that since I imagine a lot of ppl would be upset.

I mean, yeah, I feel like that'd be a pretty lame story. But the author is also going way out of their way to feed us bits of Ren and Mom's backstory and history together. Sure, I'm making assumptions, like "I assume the author understands narrative structure" and the like. ;p

i don't know, i get a feeling like watching a Dog Fight where 2 dogs get thrown in a pit together and forced to fight in which one of them wants to fight but the other one keep running away. Then in the middle of the fight another dog get throwing in and it wants to fight too but neither of the others dog want to fight that dog but instead they keep the "chasing- fleeing" status going while the third dog watching them in sorrow. And in the end, the first 2 dogs which one of them still have the spirit to fight but can't because whether it start chasing the other dog that dog will start running away so they stop the chasing-fleeing situation and sitting next to each other awkwardly while the third dog magically disappear???
Yeah... all in all, it sucks.

I....I don't really get why you had to make this a metaphor for dog fights. Like, the point of metaphors is to draw a comparison to a more common, relatable situation to help someone understand your abstract idea.

In what messed up world do weird dog fights make ace romance less abstract?

I still hope the real love interest is auntie Chen. The mom has never really shown a particular interest in Ren, though in this last chapter Ren does seem to show some interest in the mom. I just think Chen finds Youzi's shipping entertaining and is encouraging it here to tease the mom because she thinks its funny and cute. But I think the mom likes Chen and Chen just hasn't really thought about it much besides she wants the mom to be happy.

The mom is distant with Ren because they have clear history. That's why she's keeping a distance, because there's past heartbreak there.

Chen is just a friend. I'd put money on it.

I wouldn't really say she's keeps her distance. She goes to her shows and even sang with her at one, she buys a bunch of her merch for her daughter and lets her daughter take her vocal classes. I just don't think the mom herself seems very interested, beyond just in a friendly way. If there is a romantic history from college I think the mom has long moved on.

I mean she keeps her distance emotionally.

https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/my_moms_a_superstar_ch07#3

Mom is visibly shook in this scene. I mean, leaving her reactions aside, spending an entire large panel on the moment they see each other again, narratively, makes sense only if there's something there. Note Chen hasn't had anything remotely like that moment. Afterwards, Mom clearly has her guard up. She's minimizing and downplaying her own importance. She won't take up the invitation to the concert herself, she'll bring Youzi. She's clearly trying to keep her at arm's length, emotionally.

https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/my_moms_a_superstar_ch02#5
https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/my_moms_a_superstar_ch08

Notice while she never denies being into girls overtly, she DOES always try to shut down the conversation immediately when Ren is brought up. Very defensive. She is DEFINITELY not over her.

https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/my_moms_a_superstar_ch03

When she goes to her concert, she buys her a huge bouquet of roses, but then signs them as being from Youzi. (also she blew off the producer of her film to go to the concert.)

https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/my_moms_a_superstar_ch04

Also interesting choice of pillows to cuddle there, Mom.

All in all, I get the impression that she's constantly caught between showing affection and wanting to avoid opening herself up. And yet we do occasionally get glimpses of their history and the emotions behind it on multiple occasions.

And on the other side, you've got stuff like this:

https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/my_moms_a_superstar_ch09#3

Ren is plainly doing something she normally avoids just for the chance to see Mom again.

https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/my_moms_a_superstar_ch07

And they both hung onto the song they wrote together in college.

I don't think the mom and Chen are in a relationship right now or anything, but I think the mom is maybe pining. And Chen is maybe that one outgoing oblivious friend that doesn't take any of her hints seriously. That's my hc right now anyway

I don't think there's a single indication that Mom is pining for Chen at all. They're playful and relaxed around each other. And again, from a narrative perspective:

https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/my_moms_a_superstar_ch04#4

This is only worth it as a joke if it's a misunderstanding.

https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/my_moms_a_superstar_ch06#2

And given that the gay fanservice angle is specifically a part of the plot, I really doubt the person mom actually flirts with on camera is the one she's actually into. It would be a weird choice to imply that the plebs on the message board know Mom's heart better than Youzi does.

I still hope the real love interest is auntie Chen. The mom has never really shown a particular interest in Ren, though in this last chapter Ren does seem to show some interest in the mom. I just think Chen finds Youzi's shipping entertaining and is encouraging it here to tease the mom because she thinks its funny and cute. But I think the mom likes Chen and Chen just hasn't really thought about it much besides she wants the mom to be happy.

The mom is distant with Ren because they have clear history. That's why she's keeping a distance, because there's past heartbreak there.

Chen is just a friend. I'd put money on it.

I would second that the romance tag should be pulled. Since both leads are ace and at least one is described as aromantic, it feels like misrepresentation to call this story a romance. The only characters interested in romance are secondary characters at best, and none of their romances are central to the plot.

Ohhhh, HERE'S the actual love interest. Ren's an ex, and Chen's just a touchy friend. CaiCai's mom has a crush on Youzi's mom, or they're tentatively dating.

I’m guessing CaiCai’s mom is getting in on the shipping operation because she invited Auntie Ren to be on the same show as Youzi’s mom last minute after seeing the picture Youzi sent :o

Eh, it could be a couple of things. This chapter established a few things for sure: Caicai's mom is "President Chen", who is a different person from "Auntie Chen." Ren will go against type for a chance to be on the same stage as Mom, and Auntie Chen is definitely just a friend, (And a bit of a troll.)

But what we don't know is what President Chen thinks of Mom and Ren. It could be that she's on board the ship, or it could be that she thinks it'll make good television, OOOOOR it could be that she's the one Mom is actually dating and she's putting them together to see if she has anything to worry about. Too soon to tell.
(oh, actually, fourth possibility is that Pres Chen didn't make the call here at all. It could be that it's just Auntie Chen stirring the pot.)
Edit: (wait, nevermind, it did say President Chen personally called to make the arrangements.)

(I busted a gut at "Youzi.exe has stopped working.")

As for the speculation about Youzi and Caicai, eh, I could see Caicai having a crush, I don't think Youzi is thinking about her own feelings for anybody, and I definitely don't think she's projecting. She seems pretty genuinely concerned about her mom's happiness, and the flashback to her mom and dad's fights probably informs her conclusions more than we know. I don't think Caicai is even on her radar as anything other than an accomplice as of yet.

last edited at Apr 29, 2022 3:14PM

Honestly, at this point, they just need a little push for them to realize they're in love with each other. :)

I am very certain Ruriko is fully aware that she's been in love with Kurumi since high school. Kurumi seems like the only one that is oblivious.

There's no way it will be an order to reject Elsa. It's almost definitely an order to [blind prediction] give her a kiss, or something similar. The last couple of orders were more naughty than harmful after all.

I don't think you need spoiler tags for guesses but eh.

Since this is a side chapter insert to the original story, it's definitely not going to be anything of major consequence, so I'm going with "It says to cut her with the knife" as somebody else suggested, and she gets around it by doing a finger-prick blood-sister oath or something.