Wow this is reaaally twisted and creepy. XD

No, this is reaaally cute and adorable.

I do have a quibble, however: I find the imouto character difficult to understand.
I had figured, from the title of the manga, that imouto-chan had already noticed her oneechan's secret feelings for her - and was totally ok with them! However, the more I read, the more oblivious she seems. Um, wtf?
Could it be that the author has decided to rewrite her as some sort of pure angel who is completely unaware of Shima's siscon?
If that's what it is, it kinda sucks.

If you took any random person off the street in any country, odds are rather high that they don't have any fetish at all.

Someone needs to visit the Kinsey Institute website and read a few reports.

Oh I don't know, are we sure there weren't dime novels about evil sophisticated lesbians seducing wide-eyed country girls? lol

If there were, I totally want to read them!

Oh? Even if the evil lesbian is defeated at the end by some priggish little toff who redeems the poor misguided victim and takes her as his bride? (⁰͡ ͜ʖ⁰͡ )

This wasn't how they did it in those dime novels! Ah, modern times...

Yeah, and, in the olden times, girls didn't fall in love with other girls either.

That too is a new twist of the old romantic novel pattern.

Oh I don't know, are we sure there weren't dime novels about evil sophisticated lesbians seducing wide-eyed country girls? lol

But, seriously, the formula (as Fairypixie24 put it) has only a few basic elements: a simple, innocent, plain-looking girl; her desired one; one or more rivals who are attractive and stylish and everything the MC girl is not; a plot full of melodramatic romance; and a happy end where the MC girl wins the love of her desired one. This can be adapted to any sexual preference. It works the same way whether the desired one is a boy or a girl.

Have you read Kase-san? It's a fine example. Yamada and Kase are prime types of the MC girl and her desired one. Kase is tall and beautiful, with an amazing bod, big breasts and a natural magnetism that attracts people to her. Furthermore, she's strong, assertive, athletic and the ace of the Track and Field Club: she way more cool that any of the jock boys at the school, and in fact can beat them at their own game like a boss. She's, as someone puts it, the "perfect match both for males and females" (meaning that she's everything boys dream of in a gf and everything girls dream of in a bf). Yamada, otoh, has nothing special about her: she's as plain as plain can be. However, in chapter 1 of the manga, we find that Kase has fallen in love with her. O_o How come??? Well, y'see, Yamada came to school after hours, during evenings and weekends, to take care of the plants and flowers in the school grounds. Kase, on her way to club practice, saw her every day hard at work weeding the gardens and watering the flowers... and fell for her kindness (caring for plants is a way of being kind!) and her diligence (gardening is heavy work!).

In later chapters, the author tries to develop the issue of Kase's feelings a bit more... but you get the general idea, right? This is like the distilled essence of the romantic fantasy that's proven to be so astoundingly popular with the female readership since the 19th century. It's something you can find everywhere in contemporary fiction aimed at girls - and of course yuri manga is no exception.

The formula is as old as mankind, but it was massively developed and perfected in the 19th-century, when cheap romantic novels started selling really well among young women of the working classes. The MC was always a plain working-class girl (easy for the readers to identify with), her love interest was always an extremely desirable dreamboat, and her rivals were always high-class ladies: gorgeous, elegant, sophisticated, rich and snotty. Now, normally, if a handsome hunk is given the choice between a beautiful heiress and a chick who's poor and plain, odds are 99 to 1 that he will choose the former.

Only 99 to 1?
Like, one man in a hundred would choose the penniless girl?
You must be a hopeless optimist. ¯⧹_( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°)_⧸¯

The MC needed to have some good points to justify the fact that she was preferred to her competition. And these good points, as established by tradition, were:
- she's kind-hearted
- she's a hard worker
- she has homemaker skills
- she's a good Christian
Any normal 19th-century working-class girl could relate to these and think: "Hey, I'm like that, too!" On the other hand, the rival characters were all children of privilege and unreligious bitches... thus the fact that in the end the MC managed to win against all odds became more easy to believe.

The formula has evolved a little since that time, reflecting social changes (for example: religion isn't all that important anymore), but the basic lines remain the same. They are like an universal standard: you find them in romantic fiction all over the world. Even in yuri. So, you see, it's not surprising that Sakurako, who is kind and caring, a great cook, a hard worker and good at all household chores, wins her desired one's heart. :-)

Hehehe, my take is a bit different.

The way I see it, these two are lovers since chapter 1. When they first met, Sakurako was a baby lesbian who wasn't very clear about this sexxor thing, and Kasumi was a more fledged young lesbian who had a better understanding of how it works. Sakurako was smitten the moment she saw Kasumi: it was love at first sight, and Kasumi could tell (she's used to having that effect on people). Then, when they were buying furniture and Sakurako boldly suggested sharing a single bed, Kasumi agreed... and at that moment the deal was sealed and they both were clear on it: they were going to be, not only roommates, but also sekkusu furendo; they both wanted it, and they both were okay with the other as a partner.

Now, at this point, you could ask: why did Kasumi agree? Sakurako's reasons are evident, she was already head over heels for Kasumi, but what about Kasumi's reasons? Well, imo, Kasumi thought: "She's cute in a puppy-ish way, she seems nice, she's sunny and cheerful, and she clearly likes me. We are going to share a room for 3 years. I might as well agree to sleep with her. It will help ease tension, and prevent angst and dejection and all those tiresome things I don't want to to deal with 'cause I'm crazy lazy."

And it's in the 3 years that followed that Kasumi fell in love with Sakurako. Yes, because of all those things several commenters have mentioned already: Sakurako is a good cook, a good homemaker, a hard worker, a reliable woman with a good head on her shoulders, and, most of all, someone who understands Kasumi perfectly and can take care of all her needs, pamper her and make her happy. The formula of old romantic novels worked just peachy! Only thing is, they were already lovers, and having sex aplenty, when the falling-in-love development happened. This wasn't how they did it in those dime novels! Ah, modern times...

Is Sakurako the most likely point of self-insertion?

Yes.

Lol, succint.

Well, it was either "yes" or "duh!"

lol
I know, right? When you create a girl character who is so stunningly beautiful that normal humans wonder if she is a different species from them, who charms people at first sight and spends a great deal of time fending off the unwanted attentions of her besotted schoolmates (both boys and girls), it's safe to assume that the average readers are not expected to recognize themselves in her. ¯⧹_(ツ)_⧸¯

The art in this manga is fabulous. The girls are so sexy!

There are few authors who can correctly illustrate the sort of sexiness that is specific to teen girls and that women lose when they become adults. Know what I mean? The sort of sexiness that turns you into a Humbert Humbert, lol. When you compare the schoolgirls in the story with the tanned sensei (who is hot stuff, but not a teen), the difference becomes quite obvious.

This author is one of those who can do it. Oh yes. Nene & Amane had that popsicle sharing scene in ch1, and now Amane and sempai have that scene on the sofa, where the erotic power is over 9000! I'm surprised they don't set the sofa on fire, lol. And Nene seducing Kou-chan... wow! Iwami Kiyoko has progressed a lot since Toumei na Usui Mizuiro ni.

Do they identify with Sakurako and indeed see this as some sort of "lesbian wish fulfillment story" which would imply Kasumi is the ideal object of interest? Is Sakurako the most likely point of self-insertion?

Yes.

Lol, succint.

my updated list o' kisses

You know... looking at this list, I just noticed something scandalous...

Ai x Chie are like an official couple. They're the closest girls in the series, everyone accepts they're dating, and they pretty much had sex already in one of the first chapters. So...

How come they haven't had a FULL KISS yet?!?

When a new chapter is released of a series you distinctly remember you were following...

... but it's been so long, you can't remember for the life of you what it was about...

... so you start reading, and realize you have NO IDEA who these girls are or what they do...

... and you have no choice but to start rereading everything from chapter 1. 乁(⊙_ʖ⊙)ㄏ

Incest + Yuri = win
The combination is simply irresistible.

Sakurako can't believe her eyes: she's an ABSOLUTE GODDESS! A stunning blonde beauty with the body of a supermodel, big firm boobs, flawlessly fair skin, perfect shapely legs, a sexy round butt and a face so pretty it's breathtaking! And yes, she's only 15, just like Sakurako. Our poor Sakurako is so stupefied she even wonders if they are the same species! Like, she's Homo Sapiens Sapiens, but Kasumi (that's her roommate's name) must be Homo Perfectis Divinis or something!

You'd have thought Kasumi's calling should naturally have been to become the trophy wife of some hunky multimillionaire stud -- and forever enjoy a delicious life of pleasure, luxury and dolce far niente.

Yes, exactly: that would be the most likely choice of path, in real life, for someone with Kasumi's looks. That's why I described this manga as a simple lesbian wish-fulfillment story with a main focus on Sakurako.

A friend of mine found this somewhere in the net. It's a love letter (translated from old Anglisc to modern English) from one twelfth-century nun to another nun:

And another letter from a different nun to her own darling:

( 灬☉.☉ 灬)

(ღˇ◡ˇ)~♡ ♡ ♡

So, in the recent argument about the nature of yuri in this manga, some of you argued that Sakurako and Kasumi became a romantic couple halfway through the story (around volume three/four), while others contested that there has never been anything romantic between them and they are just good friends. Then... it looks like nobody agrees with my interpretation of the story, where they have been in a relationship since chapter 1?

Bah! Shikata ga nai ne... I'll just go sit in a corner, reread all ARFT and ignore everyone. Hmph.

When no one posts in this thread, but I am curious, I just make an irrelevant comment to "refresh" the thread, so people would notice it.

Thank you! We appreciate it. :-D

I'm from Montréal. Born French-speaker. After a quick rereading of this thread, I believe that makes half a dozen of us Canadians 'round here.

So it's gonna end exactly how the anime does? lame

edit: if this ends differently from the anime, i'll give everyone here a bajillion dollars

It's already different in many ways. And I'm certain it will keep diverging from the anime, and we'll get a completely new ending.

And when that happens I will hold you to that promise. ( ͝סּ ͜ʖ͡סּ)

Oboy I can already see myself diving and swimming in a pool of dollars like Scrooge McDuck!

(How many zeros are in a bajillion, anyway?)

Maybe she loves her, but FOR ME is it not romantic Love.
And some people kiss their friends on the cheek, and are not in love with them.

Ah yes, the well known kiss on the mouth between best friends.
Followed by the girl pal piledriver into bed.
And then the sister-from-another-mother scissor.
Topped off with the perfectly platonic marriage ceremony.

deep sigh

LOL ( ͡^ ͜ʖ ͡^ )

Irony: (noun) the expression of one's meaning by using language that signifies the opposite, for humorous or emphatic effect.

Thanks for the brilliant example!

Hayate surprised me.

I thought she played the "oblivious character" role... you know, the character who is oblivious both to the feelings people around her might have for her and to the feelings that may be slowly growing in her own heart.

But there was no obliviousness here, hell no, not in the least, when X tried to steal Honey from her. Hayate's reaction was wonderful. Honey was totally right: grabbing her like that and proclaiming that she won't give her to anyone, that's a declaration of ownership all right, haha.

Lol there was a bit of a tsundere vibe too:

"Don't misunderstand! I'm just doing my duty as a hero! It's not that I like Honey-san or anything!"

Page 24 was a perfect chance for a kiss, too bad Honey was too dizzy with happy-happy feelings to realize it.

last edited at May 7, 2019 11:47AM

Okay, looks like the good ship Hayama x Tarumizu has sunk to the bottom of the sea.

Sensei x Tarumizu is not entirely impossible... but, honestly, I'm not feeling it at all.

My best prediction right now is a Tarumizu x Amane x Nene polyamorous triangle. Tarumizu helps them reconcile, and the grateful duo reward her with love & nookie. Something like that. :P

Little miss "Pure and Proper" annoys me. >_<
Six months before kissing, and then only 1 kiss per day allowed!?
Does she even has red blood in her veins?

Top/bottom flip-flop.

Go, Kurokawa!

Wow. Those three pages with the popsicle were just lewd to me. Wow. Not to mention, holding hands while sucking a popsicle in publiiic.

and

The most yuri thing I have ever seen.

You two... have the right idea and impeccable taste. d( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°)b

https://serving.photos.photobox.com/73553391a8de1e0cb6e4c8a8c79e884201b22e0c849b0532a8aec9f7cbf14bd4e32a871c.jpg

A winner at yuri.

A winner at life.

A sure winner at this year's National HighSchool Photography Award.

Two girls in love sucking on the same popsicle? Made of WIN.

Oh wow. Laugh at me if you want, but, until you pointed it, I hadn't noticed that the popsicle came with a "WINNER" stick. I can't believe I missed such a neat detail! Why, it makes the scene perfect!! (˵ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°˵)♡

I'm imagining this author drawing this, thinking, "and then this super hot girl comes in and saves me and you fall to your knees and sob, you fucking bitch! Oh, but I'll forgive you, because I know I'm better than you."

This bullying arc, as satisfying as it was to read, was just... a little excessive. I get the impression that someone had some issues in high school, and drawing this manga is a form of therapy.

Don't take it the wrong way, but that was a really pointless comment.

You could say pretty much the same thing of every book, comic, manga, movie, cartoon or tv show where (to quote Nene) there are:

A cute, sweet, helpless heroine everybody likes. A villain with a heart black as pitch who torments her. A hero [...] who arrives just in time to save the damsel and mete out punishment to the miscreant.

By my guesstimate, that's more than 80% of the fictional works out there. You could say of each and every one of these works that they are just self-insertion fantasies, and that the author, if he's a boy, identifies himself with the hero, or, if a she's a girl, identifies herself with the damsel in distress. You could say it of all of them, and it would be equally pointless, because it has zero importance from a literary point of view.

Heck, you could say the same thing of every romantic story where there are no evil villains or violent conflict, only a plain, unremarkable MC and his/her love interest, who is a highly desirable person and who, somewhat unrealistically, falls head over heels for the MC. How many yuri manga in this reader fit that description? Would you call all of them masturbatory fantasies of an author who identifies herself with the plain Jane?

We should judge a work by its literary or entertainment values, not waste time in speculations about whether the authors picture themselves as this or that character and use the story as therapy or jerkoff material.

last edited at Apr 25, 2019 4:17PM

That popsicle-sharing scene...

I give this manga a

rating.

There wasn't any nudity, or profanity, or violence, but I don't care. The lewdness of that scene was off the scale. It's not for the eyes of children, nope nope.

Angel girl obviously liked very much the previous attentions of Devil girl, and is determined to express her gratitude. <3