^ WHAT?!
I was thinking about how this hadn't updated in a while just yesterday, I'll go check it out right now! Thanks for the info!

I don't really like mangadex tho.... Well, whatever, I'll just reread it when it's updated here XD

last edited at Sep 21, 2021 6:31PM

It does sound like prism. If it really is what you were looking for, I regret to inform you that it never ended...

But in this case it might be it really IS a no-brainer--does turning into a vampire make you an idiot like they all are? That'd be a serious drawback.

Does Ichika really have much to lose in that department though?? Lol

I like how this is one of those series where the forum discussion is arguably more entertaining and certainly had more thought put into it than the actual manga.

Lol
This is so true

Mei’s progress is undeniably slow but she has been repressed since childhood so I get it. I personally like that they’re trying to reach a new level of intimacy.

Their relationship before was sexual, lust driven, filled with doubt and secrecy. Every minute was stolen between them so steps were rushed…. Now they can take their time.
[...]
While it isn’t explicitly stated that her first Ex Fiancé raped her I think people have a right to assume that it wasn’t the first time he’s assaulted her. He was a predator with the intention for marrying her for money and prestige all while keeping a mistress on the side. To top it off, he was a teacher who molested a student on school grounds. That means he was confident that she won’t say any thing which can lead one to believe he’s conditioned her into accepting what he wants because he is to be her future husband. He certainly treated her like an object and was a scumbag so I understand why people believe he assaulted her repeatedly… It’s not been addressed explicitly and some need more than inferences in order to form a concrete conclusion.

Mei’s detached passive behavior reads very much like that of a trauma survivor so it’s understandable that people assume she’s a victim of sexual assault.

While I do believe that the forced kiss we see on the first chapter likely wouldn't have been the only one, I seriously doubt it had ever escalated to rape. And even though I agree that Mei sometimes acted in a way that would suggest that she was a rape victim in the original series, considering how this was never actually addressed, I believe it was probably unintentional on the author's side, who only wanted to portray Mei as a very repressed individual. And even if she actually had been raped (which I seriously doubt) it certainly wouldn't have been "multiple men in her life", as someone here mentioned.

**Edit:

Given the plotting and structuring of the two Citrus series, to believe that Saburouta is the kind of supremely subtle author who would base the entire portrayal of Mei Aihara’s psychology on a history of sexual trauma but never say or show anything at all about it after the very first chapter is simply preposterous.

Hahaha yes, exactly that. I don't mean to say that Saburouta is a terrible author, but let's not forget that she has a habit of introducing new characters whenever she doesn't know how to progress the plot... Doesn't really seem like the type of author that would rely on such subtle hints...
**

Regardless of all this, on the matter of Mei-bot, I feel like I'd have to reread the original series to have a better idea if she has actually regressed the way people complain about. I kind of get why so many wish that the old Mei would come back, she was a lot more fiery and that made for a more spicy story. I'm not saying that having more fluff instead of angst is a bad idea... but, honestly, what I liked about the original citrus was its unique spice –it was both fun and at times pretty hot. The sequel is very toned-down compared to that. I don't think that Mei acts like a robot, but there really are way too few scenes with the two of them actually acting like a couple at all. However, I'm not sure if she was actually any less clueless in the original...? I distinctly remember that there was a chapter where she thought she had to follow a notebook down to the last detail to have a date......

The thing is, there are countless more (and probably better written) fluffy series. Citrus never had the most well-planned plot, so I'm not really expecting any exceptional writing here. But I do feel like (at least in the recent chapters) it has been stripped of what made it fun, while getting very little in return. If Saburouta wants to write fluff she needs to do a better job.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but right now I actually wish for more moments with the others, rather than the main couple...

last edited at Sep 20, 2021 12:52PM

A generic timeskip ending would be such a waste for this series I'm not even considering it

I agree, this series has successfully avoided falling into clichés and even when it did, it had its own unique way of handling these situations. A timeskip ending would not only be utterly disappointing, but also inconsistent with what the author has shown us so far; I truly don't think they would go for something like that.

Has it really already come to a 60-40 split? Are you sure that isn't just the percentage for a specific magazine (I think we all know which one)?

No, you are right in assuming that this was the percentage of Yuri Hime. My deduction about yuri demographic as a whole being around 6:4 actually came from reading about a couple more surveys, where the ratio of female to male readers was actually even closer to 1:1, (while there also seemed to be a notable percentage of non-binary people), and the female audience itself was actually constituted mostly by non-straight women. Again, I haven't looked too much into it, but from what I gathered it seems that the demographic of yuri readers has shifted significantly from its starting point, which was, in fact, straight women.

I'm sorry for getting so off-topic here, though, I wish I had something more to add to fujoshi yuri... I just wanted to clarify my previous statement (since you accurately guessed where the 6:4 ratio came from XD)

It is common knowledge that in Japan the target audience of yuri is actually straight girls

???
Did you mean yaoi, perhaps...?

Not at all. The target demographic of GL is in truth straight girls. Yuri was an offshoot of Shoujo manga first and foremost and it has historically always had an overwhelming female audience (and obviously the heterosexual kind, as those sales numbers wouldnt work out if it was only for actual lesbians). Straight girls hold up both the GL and BL industry simultaneously basically. Only with a strong preference for one side...

Perhaps you are aware of the more recent development of "Shounen Yuri" which is aimed at boys. No doubt yuri is getting more popular with the male audience too, but the percentage is not comparable at all.

Well, yes, I am aware that yuri started with Class S stories, which would fall in the shoujo category; I just get the feeling that yuri nowadays isn't really targeted to straight girls.

From what I've read the yuri readership in more recent years seems to be about 60-40 regarding female to male audiences and not a small number are actually queer women. Which would mean that the target demographic isn't really "straight girls". Of course, I'm not that well-informed, really, that's what I've found through a very leisurely research (if I could even call it that) and how I've felt from my own experience, so I might be totally off base.

...And this wasn't even the point of the discussion at all XD

But if you've read otherwise and can share your sources I'd be glad to take a look. Finding out more about my favourite genre is always welcome!

last edited at Sep 18, 2021 8:01PM

I'm not sure why, but I love the way this artist draws their faces in profile. Like, idk, there's something really cool and unique about their lips and jawline... They're just so nice!

Also, I'm so excited we're entering this arc!
I kinda get why Toriko would be worried, honestly... Sorawo really is attached to her in a way that I can't imagine what would happen if Toriko were to disappear... She's already proven that she wouldn't think twice about going after her, so her ending up like Toriko doesn't seem too unlikely, to be honest.

It is common knowledge that in Japan the target audience of yuri is actually straight girls

???
Did you mean yaoi, perhaps...?

Regarding this topic, I don't really have much to say. Like you, I'm not interested in BL at all, so sometimes I do find it to be a bit out of place when I see women in GL obsessing over it, but I can't say it bothers me much...? And I actually enjoy Kami eshi JK to OL fujoshi, which would probably fall in the category of works that have tiny slices of yuri between tons and tons of BL talk.... lol

I wasn't sure if there was a thread for this, but if there is, I couldn't find it, so decided to create one just to say this:

Mother Ditchdeok was so cool-looking!
And just cool in general, I liked her a lot.

Ah, but perhaps I should say something about the plot too...
I really liked the chapter where Chong rejected Lady Jang's offer to become her step-daughter. It was so satisfying, even if a bit painful, to see her finally take a stand and refuse to go along with something that would most likely not end well for her.

(If there was already a forum thread for this manhwa, please do give me a link to that, so that I can move my comment there)

That creeped me out. If she doesn't know what sex is, then it's rape imo. Also she looked uncomfortable the whole time.

Yeah, I don't know if that was the author's intention, but she really does seem uncomfortable, rather than just shy or embarrassed.

It gives off the same feeling as someone tricking a child into having sex, without the child knowing what is actually going on, and simply going along with it because she feels that she can't refuse; which is something that would easily be regarded as rape.
Again, I doubt this was what the author was going for, but unfortunately that's the feeling I get.

EDIT: Heh, the title was changed. I guess too many people found it confusing...

last edited at Sep 16, 2021 5:15PM

Chapter 85 is up, and its mega cute. Just so ya know, this is how I get scripts from Stan before I proofread them:

85 - 2
1. I don't know how to ask Koguma out!
2. What if she already had plans?
3. Kedo, she promised school close day that we do many things.
4. But... kedo...
5. I can't stop thinking about this...
6. I'll go running.

85 - 3
1. (sign) Public pool
2. Temporary Closure OwO
As of kyouha, the powol will be closed temporarily for equipment inspection.
We apowlowgize for the inconwenienve, and will try to open again as soon as possible.
Thank you for understanding UwU.
3. Sigh...
4. Never thought the pool would be closed.
5. It happens, I guess.

85 - 4
1. And here I was already wearing my mizugi underneath. (TL note: mizugi means swimsuit)
2. Waah!
3. Geez!
4. Even if there's nobody but us around!
5. It is still dame!
6. There's nothing wrong with it, is it? I mean, it's just mizugi.
7. Dame!
8. Hai!
9. Sigh. At least this time you remember to bring spare underwears.
10. Unlike last time, right?
11. Hahaha! Of course I...

85 - 5
1. Yappari!
2. Geez!
3. You're lucky kyou the pool's closed!
4. Yeah, haha!
5. Anyway, what do we do now?
6. Hmmm. I thought we were just going to the pool, so I didn't have anything else in mind...
7. It's atsui no matter where we go, though.
8. Ah, I know!

WHAT. IS. THIS.
HAHAHAHA

Thanks. I didn't know that I needed to know that... But I really did. lol

Keep up the good work, guys!

I'm ashamed to admit that this was probably the third time I reread chapter 8 (what can I say, I liked that one hehe), and every time I read it, I find this line of Sarasa's so funny!
She's like, "crap, I don't know what I'm doing here, let's just improvise" lol

last edited at Sep 13, 2021 7:57PM

any mangas like My Unrequited Love? i love dramas like that

i've already tried Haru and Midori and i think i need more. whether it's age gap or not, i need more angsty and drama but not to the point as Depressing as fuck yuri

Run Away With Me, Girl?

I don't know if it will be to your taste, but it's definitely very angsty and (in my opinion) well-worth your time.

There are people talking about Bungo Stray Dogs here.
Pretty sure that's not supposed to happen...

last edited at Sep 7, 2021 6:06PM

I am seeing a lot of comments praising one mom and discrediting the other.
This is no good, neither mom are perfect. Both care about their children, just one is absent emotionally and the other is absent presently. Neither is ideal and neither is particularly lordable, in context:
You have one mom who's off running down her teenage fantasies, whilst her daughter was at home crying on her birthday no less, because she's lonely with no one to celebrate with let's not forget, that's not good parenting in my book.. however, too her credit, she's always supportive of her kid, and wants her to be happy.
Then you have the other, who's completely aloof to her kids mental well-being. She's there but not there, doesn't seem to be at all attentive to her kids feelings, again, not very good parenting, but too her credit, she's there and cares about her kids safety.

This however, isn't to discredit the author. What I like about the authors work is, that's it's well done enough, that you can see the strengths and flaws of the parents, reflecting in their children. That's a mark of good writing to my mind, very impressed. :)

Very solid arguments here, thanks for posting this.

I had actually forgotten about the birthday incident that you mentioned, and now that I was reminded of it, I was also reminded of the reason why I didn't have a good impression of her mum in earlier chapters. I agree that Tong Tong's mother is a bit too carefree...? if that makes sense. Like, I get why people love her, and I love her too, but she often acts more like a friend, rather than a mother. And even though some people may say that parents should also be friends to their children, I think getting a more level-headed opinion, instead of an overly enthusiastic but not very thought-out one can often be more helpful.

As for Xiao Lu's (I forgot how I'm supposed to call her, hope this is correct) mother, I, too, got the impression that she is worried for her daughter, but she is way too restrictive, which has resulted in her daughter's (very much justifiable) distrust towards her.

I finally got to read the 5th volume of the novelllll~~

I'm gonna give my impressions here, so don't read if you're like me and regret even reading the synopsis... But I've covered the important parts or any lines directly taken from the book.

First of all, there needed to be more KOZAKURA.
Always.
MORE KOZAKURA IS ALWAYS NEEDED.

But at the moments she did appear, she did not disappoint (how could she ever disappoint, really?...). I especially liked this line, from file 16:
“One look at how hopeless Sorawo is is all it takes.”
Kozakura sure knows what she's talking about lol

((Oh, and since I'm talking about file 16, I might as well add that Natsumi "seeing how it was" was very funny.))

Actually, it wasn't only a matter of not enough Kozakura (though that was definitely an issue...), it just needed to be longerrrr.....! But at least the next volume will be out soon, so I'll be patient :|

---

Moving on to the good stuff.
Can I say, I had forgotten just how much I love Sorawo as a protagonist! Seeing her grumpy attitude again, and watching her gay panicking (for the duration of the book, really) was so great!
Also, flirty Toriko is a blessing~
Toriko just keeps stealing kisses at every opportunity hahaha. It's just so in character for her, I love it! And, now that I think about, she didn't go as hard with the slapping this time, did she? Which... is a little surprising, actually

It was no surprise that their relationship is still in a gray area, though, considering how hopeless Sorawo is, hehe. I'm looking forward to seeing her finally figure out and accept her feelings, though.

File 17 was really nice. We finally got a glimpse of Toriko's thoughts and her life outside the Otherside, which was cool. I had forgotten that she was studying English Literature as well, tbh XD. Also, it was a bit funny how Sorawo was relieved to see that she had no friends, like, girl... that's not a very nice thing to wish for someone....

File 18:
“You don’t need to worry so much. I mean, I’m always looking at you like normal.”
“I know. You’re looking at my face all the time, Sorawo.”
Toriko just won't let up, will she? XD
I felt sorry for Sorawo... And with that whole conversation about her jealousy before... She just kept losing lol

Toriko really came on strong in this volume... Though it seems like the more she pushes the more Sorawo cowers... But well, if we just waited around for Sorawo to make a move, we'd never get anywhere... And Toriko seems to be well aware of that...

All in all, I'm pretty much satisfied with this volume. Though, I have to say that it felt less intense than the previous ones on the horror part. Or maybe that's because I've gotten more used to it? Either way, even if it was less intense, it definitely wasn't any less intriguing. Plus, it was a lot more yuri, which I'm not gonna complain about... XD

Anyway, I think that's about it. If you actually read all this... Thank you, and congratulations?

I might have liked this more if it didn't remind me of this, which I really reaaaally hated.

Idk, I just don't like this kind of personality that tries to get the other person to make the first move, especially when they already know that the other one probably likes them and it's they themselves that appear to be uninterested.

That said, the artstyle felt very fresh, I liked it.

any mangas like My Unrequited Love? i love dramas like that

I'm not sure if you're looking for something that involves cohabitation, but Haru and Midori was nice. And the setting is similar to My Unrequited Love in the sense that it has both an age gap and cohabitation.

I'm fairly sure Kodama wrote in an afterword or something somewhere that she likes writing terrible people

She actually wrote, "The more soap opera-like the better!" once, which is even funnier lol

And it really helped me forgive that manga for its horrible characters that I hated... Not gonna read it again tho XD

I don't think that's the afterword they were refering to. It's most likely this one. But Kodama doesn't exactly make a secret of her tastes, so she probably wrote about them elsewhere as well.

Oh yeah, she's definitely said things like that more than once... I was just saying that she once referred to her work as "soap opera drama", and I thought it was funny how self-aware she was.

Also, I just skimmed through the epilogue you linked and can I just say,
"I want to keep on drawing all sorts of yuri"
*Proceeds to make a dozen more cute girls with naturally bad personalities*

(I'm only kidding, she has actually made different kinds of stories)

Thanks for replying, btw. I was sure that no one would care about a random comment on this show at all XD

Hehe, I am the one person in the forum who had to reply no matter what.
I mean, look at my avatar. :P

Oh, you're right. I use my mobile most of the time, so I often miss the avatars unfortunately...

Nice, picture by the way! I love how you chose, like, the most random scene lol

Manga where the protagonist suffers from social anxiety or has trouble talking to people? (Could also just have no friends without having any real social skill issues)

Other details don't really matter.

Dark Forest, White Road
(I'll keep recommending this whenever I get the chance, 'cause it's great).

I guess it reinforced Anthy's image as a defenseless tragic victim who needed a prince to protect her from bullies?
If only those bullies had known who they were really messing with, right? >:)

That's true, though it definitely reached a point where it made me think that the writer just enjoyed the SLAPS (just like I did lol). Especially in the first half of the series the slaps fell like rain XD. I remember at some point I had thought, hey there hasn't been a slap in these last few episodes... And right at that episode we had back-to-back slapping between Utena and her friend hahaha (I rewinded that a couple of times, it was great!)

His Japanese name is Miki. I assume the subtitlers went with Mickey?

Yeah, I realised that would probably have been the case when I posted the comment. I apologise to Miki on behalf of whoever did those subtitles....

If you have never read her manga Kanon, go here for a plot summary.

Whoa, that answers my question, alright

There's a funny story about that: when Tomoko Kawakami tried for the role, she had absolutely no idea what the anime was about... and so she read the part in her best "random cute sporty girl who is kinda naive" voice. To her surprise, everyone loved it and she got the job.

Wow, that's pretty cool! I would have hired her too XD

Imho SKU had some of the best filler episodes ever, lol. Episode 33 for example is infamous because, when the show was first aired, a lot of people missed it: as soon as they found it was a recap ep, they turned off the tv and didn't bother watching it. Because, y'know, recaps are boring, right?

Later they found it was the all-important, crucial, world-changing episode where Akio and Utena finally had sex and Utena lost her virginity and they wanted to kill themselves for missing that, lmao.

Well, I was referring more to the Nanami fillers, which I really couldn't stand. I didn't skip them entirely though, because I had the possibility of actual plot progression in the back of my mind. So thankfully I didn't miss that part in ep. 33.

Mess??? What mess!? Best show ever!

Well, it had some pretty weird stuff in there right? Like all these scenes with the End of the World (in the car)...? Or that scientist dude and his secret crypt...? Idk, I didn't really get them. But it definitely had a charm that kept me going, even through the torture —for me– of the fillers XD

Note, here, that I am not at all used to older shows like this, so even just the artstyle and animation can feel pretty jarring to me (though, I have to say, I liked the artstyle here)

And the movie is great, too. It's a retelling, not a sequel -- an original version of the story with many different twists.

Aaaahhhh almost read the movie spoilers when I quoted thissss!

Well, it's not like Anthy didn't have reasons to think that. Utena had repeatedly failed all the qualifying tests in the last arc of the show. She did keep trying, but, at that point of things, Anthy didn't believe in her anymore.

Yeah, that's true; Utena was kind of a mess near the end. But it's still funny.

Thanks for replying, btw. I was sure that no one would care about a random comment on this show at all XD

last edited at Sep 1, 2021 6:39PM

^ Why is your girlfriend sleeping with her glasses on?
...Sorry, I couldn't help it