I originally interpreted that as just a result of high emotions, due to losing her best friend

Nah, it throws them back to school uniforms aka the beginning of the story. The end happens 1y+ after they finished high school.

I didn't notice at first, but the person she's crying too seems to be wearing pajamas (or at least that's what I normally associate that sort of blue and white pinstripe with). Not sure what to make of that choice.

I just see glasses as a good friend and confidant for blonde, who was always in on it. She comments when the brown hair "finally agreed to it" and was there to lend a shoulder when it finally went bad. I don't think there is any point in looking too deeply into it.

The angst here felt forced. Forced misunderstanding is something I've found to not only be very common in Korean manhwas

I don't really see how the angst is forced. It's not spelled out, but it's basically the same as everywhere else: they both want to be with the other, but they are scared that if it doesn't go well, they won't be able to keep their current relationship, etc. It's not really a misunderstanding, it's just a lack of communication and guts to take the risk.

After thinking about it for a bit, considering minimalistic presentation, I don't think it should be deconstructed and scrutinized too literary. Not sure if that was the author's intention, but for me, it's more like a fairy tale with a moral. Sure, they both could have done more in various situations and salvage it too, some of it didn't make too much sense, but that's not the point.

I also really like that brown hair is not portrayed as a cookie-cutter "perfect best friend" who will stay close to their crush even when she's hurting. There will be plenty of people in life that will not act selflessly and graciously, because we are all flawed, and sometimes we might just decide to run away from pain instead of baring it.

So shot your shots before it's too late, and don't leave important matters for the last moment, because you never know when it might, out of nowhere, go wrong.

Really, the only reason we might not come to that conclusion

Since blonde is blushing on the very last image, in contrast to the image presented by brown hair narration (holding hands, where only she blushes), I think it's implied that it was mutual.

You could just as easily say it was the blonde's fault

I don't think there is any point in blaming anyone. Blonde was asking about boys, brown hair was replaying about boys. They were faking each other out. The issue is that neither had the guts to take the first step, and that's the cautionary tale of the story. And by the time blonde made a decision, it was too late - brown hair decided to move on and cut ties to not get hurt more. Another cautionary tale I suppose - hail mary at the last minute won't always work, for one reason or another.

last edited at Feb 10, 2021 7:08PM

As much as I dislike those stories of unfulfilled potential if you can't say anything, not even a hint, for what? 5 years? Then someone will probably move on at some point.

Not sure how to interpret one where they were holding hands - did they end up actually dating along the way or was it just a metaphor of how she saw the relationship, with the other girl just being friendly, while she was in love.

last edited at Feb 10, 2021 6:31PM

The next chapter angst goes to 11 with Kuro's inferiority complex flaring up, while she immediately escapes and deems herself unworthy. In the background, old gyaru friends saw everything and spicy gossip/drama ensues.

seems really obvious kyoko is her sisters ex girlfriend

Something like that is deeply implied from the blurp alone. The question is not whether they were in a relationship that fell apart, but what happened and how it affects what is happening now. It seems kinda obvious at the moment, that Kyouko is not looking at Ruri, but at her former lover's/crush's face (she is looking "beyond" Ruri, they look like twins, Ruri looks like her sister when she is upset - they laying it down thick).

Nacchan looked very upset seeing her gifts back at home, but it can be either because Kyouko did something to her, or because she did something to Kyouko that she doesn't want to be reminded of. Personally, I would even lean towards the second option, since it fits the author's previous work's theme and would make for a more, hmm, convoluted story to tell.

At this point very little can be said even about the setting, let alone where the story will go but I'm always willing to look at more of Battan's art and it shapes up to be an interesting read, so I'm in for the ride. I hope not to be disappointed.

And a lot of people are jumping at "Kyouko being attracted to/wanting to date Ruri", which doesn't seem to be the case. She only kissed her when she was in a very unstable state, pushed her away immediately, and dropped all contact right after. From what we've seen she was more indulging in memories of her past, using Ruri as a "real-life photo" of Nacchan, everything else happened in a moment, rather than due to a premeditated scheme. The "we are kinda like lovers" talk was kinda sus, but I will stay my judgment until we see what will happen next.

edit: looks like it's a single volume/3(?) chapters story, so I should probably temper my expectations as to the routes it will take, especially since this chapter's pace was very leisurely.

last edited at Feb 8, 2021 7:44AM

Just noticed that Akira stopped munching on her juice straws. I guess she is at least much more comfortable in the current situation than in the previous one.

the jr girl will be not-yet-done with college, the other two will be working/in grad school

If it would get to that point, I honestly think it would last. The most likely time for it to collapse is when they go to Uni. At the same time, it doesn't feel like "until we grow old" kind of relationship. It has that youthful naivete and idealism at the core of it, and it would need to change even before that, to survive.

In all honesty, I think their values are just incompatible at the core. Especially Akira, who seems monogamous but compromising to get to Rin. Rin is the poster child of poly, which makes it the most likely for more people to be given affection by her with time, which I'm not sure Akira would be fine with. I don't know what to think about Mayuki's situation - the relationship she wanted the most she's not really getting, but she also genuinely cares for Rin. I can see her growing disillusioned with Akira and moving more towards Rin with time, but she won't say anything, because of her being the readiest to be the martyr. We will probably never know anyway, so let's just leave it at "and they lived happily ever after".

last edited at Feb 2, 2021 7:27PM

Beads and her name is literary Miko. They are lying "hints" pretty thick. We can assume that frequent absences from school = beat a monster, got fucked up.

How is Yukako manipulative? A coward with barely any agency in her life? Sure. But she doesn't really do anything to be considered manipulative.

Chinami probably wants to believe she is being manipulative and shrewd, but she's just desperately trying to get her lover back and jumps between hating Yukako for leaving her and hating herself for being abandoned yet still in love.

I really want to see where it goes - at this point, the ending might land anywhere between murder-suicide and Run Away With Me, Girl.

With that chapter cover, I don't think they are fooling anyone with the cliffhanger. Seems like we are in the endgame. Wouldn't be surprised if it ends in 2ish chapters. Can go for a few more volumes though, you never know with those.

edit: by rough count that's the end of volume 5, so probably another 6 ch?

last edited at Jan 28, 2021 7:12AM

About long skirts - pretty sure it was part of standing against sexual revolution movement, in particular against sexualization of women, like wearing mini skirts, by wearing very long skirts. As it opposed societal norms, it was usually adapted by counterculture types, like deliquents. If I remember correctly, something similar was also at the core of bosozoku girls movement, but I might be mixing stuff up.

As to why would a school had max skirt length - because having a uniform is all about, well, uniformity of students' look. The same reason they eq. require specific colors for elements like scarves. It doesn't need to have any deeper meaning really.

This was a whole chapter?

It's an Interlude chapter

Comforting someone by putting their face in your boobs>>>>>> any other form of comfort

It is an established traditional remedy, known to alleviate all kinds of pains and anxieties.

is it possible to pull a reversal with this plot?

The most recent that comes to mind is Green Tea Bitch. It just started and is not hentai. but blackmail doesn't exactly work the way the blackmailer intended. Pretty amusing.

Well, that was thoroughly uneventful chapter.

Yeah, even more than unnecessary, it seems inconsistent. Eve was an adult, to begin with. If she was a child in the first part, then it would at least be a somewhat coherent story.

last edited at Jan 11, 2021 8:03PM

ngl that was a bit of a disappointing ending to the beach arc, but oh well - still feels like Yokoe's becoming more self-aware is a step forward, and Yatsude will give her the necessary push if needed.

The deeper we go, the more unnerving this setting becomes. With no reference to the author's other work, it feels like a coinflip as to where it is going.

More like it's after 1 year, 1 year and a half.

Tsu and Daidou broke up during college summer break, but before Obon (mid August).
They dated in college and in "MMSoaDS" it seems that Daidou is already working.
Sisters meet around New Year's, marry on Christmas, so assuming it's the same year, the argument chapter is at the very least 18ish months after the breakup, possibly +1-2y longer. IMHO Tsu looks way older, but it may just be winter clothes.

Well, that was a lot of research for something completely unnecessary, yet the timeline seems consistent. +1 for Mochi.

I think in the chapter Tsu is just bitter that she was right after all and she was just a sister replacement, despite genuinely caring for Daidou. She cut herself off from those old feelings, that cannot be returned anymore.
And she may also be making herself look bad on purpose, so lil sister doesn't feel threatened by "the ex", but that might be stretching it.

Honestly what I want most from Tsubomi is a reconciliation with Daidou. Since Tsubomi showed up in the sister dating site manga, I want to see what happens after that fight

Based on https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/met_my_sister_on_a_dating_site_ch02_2#1 if it's the same continuity, they never met again until the fight, which seems to be years ahead of events from this one.

Now I feel kinda sad, since it seems that even years later Tsubomi is still hung up on Daidou :/

last edited at Dec 30, 2020 1:23PM

Yuka's rather aggressive, yet patient pursuit is really enjoyable. I had enough of dense, socially incompetent characters in the manga I've read recently.

More progress. Hot. On the bridge, in December, no hats. Very, very cold.

Oh man, and it was such a good opportunity to actually communicate. She even asked her a proper question, if she juuuust could not run away, they would figure it out in 30 minutes.

Why didn't you refuse?
Hmm, I just wanted to kiss you.
But we said we should be friends. What does it mean?
Girl, I'm like 17, how the fuck should I know? I just want to kiss you and stuff.
Hmm, that sounds pretty gay to me.
Quite so.
Wanna bang?
Sure.
The end.

last edited at Dec 23, 2020 1:03PM

AFAIK vol 3 of Les Fuuzoku Anthology
aka Les Fuuzoku Anthology Premium

It's quite a contrast to the Homura Subaru chapter, isn't it? Though both are beautifully executed in their own way.

Other than Sugar Cigaret by Iwami Kiyoko in vol 1 which is kinda bittersweet everything I've seen from this anthology is pretty fluffy. I think vol 2 (Repeater) has one more angsty story too, but it's not translated.

What anthology is this from?

AFAIK vol 3 of Les Fuuzoku Anthology
aka Les Fuuzoku Anthology Premium

last edited at Dec 14, 2020 3:48PM

More somber and realistic portrayal of what that kind of relationship would likely end up as, contrary to almost everything else in the anthology. I like the focus on the disparity of power - at the end of the day, one is still a customer, while the other is a provider of service. There are no grand gestures, no overstepping bounds, just Ayane's hopes crumbling quietly while she decides to step back within the limits of their relationship. That last page is just too much - like she is stepping back into the shadow, trying her hardest not to fall apart. Literary holding herself together.