I need more MireMamo on my life.

Source
https://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=65024908
https://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=65253412

Mei suffering at being a chestlet (compared to Harumin at least) is hilarious. And I love how Saburota has dropped any subtlety at her shipping of HaruMatsu.

Harumin saying she isnt going to do anything is not progress. Its the opposite. And the twins arent back, it was a phone call saying they will be back evetually, no actual progress took place in these 16 pages, we are exactly where we started.

I think you are misunderstanding Harumin's character is you truly believe that. Harumins has always been one to try and blend into the background, to avoid direct confrontations always she can, this gives her an insight that the other characters lack. Her deciding to wait until Yuzu decides to talk is the logical course of action for her character, she knows something is up but she also knows that unless Yuzu chooses to trust on them and tell what is going on, their involvement would only make things worse. This also shows how she and Matsuri compliment each other since Matsuri is the type to rush head first into the situation but she doesn't know what to do afterwards. I can't tell you what will happen next but the entire scene is there to set up Harumin and Matsuri roles in future chapters.

The mere fact the twins are coming is just enough to show the story is progressing but here's the thing, secondary plot hooks are the ones developing, not the Yuzu one. You might not be happy with it but is progress nonetheless.

@Dark_Tzitzimine Yeah, youre right. Its all because she isnt doing what we want, no possibility that what she is doing is just bad. No objective way to say that giving a 16 page chapter with literally no progression and still manages to have mistakes after a 2 month hiatus is bad. Good thing we are not allowed to complain about stories, better to grin and bare it.

It doesn't add progression to the Yuzu and Mei plot (and really, did anyone seriously thought it would be solved in just two chapters?) but it does progress the characterization of the side cast while also bringing the twins back as a wild card. So saying that it doesn't add any progression is an outright lie.

That said, is always good to criticize something but only if is taking into account the actual thing one is criticizing as I pointed out most "criticism" so far is people complaining about Saburota not doing X or Y thing but failing to engage and analyze the stuff she actually did.

Looking through the comments every time a new chapter is out just makes me wonder why people bother to follow the series if they will always complain about the series not having the development they have on their heads. I mean, I have no idea what is Saburota thinking and she has thrown so many curve balls that I think is pointless to try and guess where will the story go. Like, did anyone seriously expected for Nina and Sarah to show up again?

Anyways, the chapter itself while short was far from being pointless, and personally I appreciated the insight it provided of Matsuri and Harumin's current standing regarding Yuzu's situation and furthermore, the way it actually develops their own relationship by showing the way they compliment each other.

Now I've seen people say that Harumin doesn't give a fuck about Yuzu or that she's so dense to no realize Yuzu's in pain but honestly I don't know how is possible to get to that conclusion after reading this chapter. The only explanation I can see is again, the fact that people expect the series to follow their own ideas instead of Sabu's. Harumin obviously realizes Yuzu is in a bad spot now but she deciding to not get involved unless Yuzu opens to them is a perfectly understandable course of action and one that is completely in line with Harumin's character.

Anyways, all in all it was an enjoyable chapter and is certainly makes me look forward to the next one.

https://youtu.be/oyAlJ2qROP8

Final track of the drama CD is translated, with all of its HaruMatsu goodness.

Fanbook is coming

https://twitter.com/citrus_anime/status/983930120967602176

Have some adorable fanart

https://twitter.com/glidesloe/status/983758264729878528

That entire account is filled to the brim with lovely Citrus fanart (and is a dead ringer for Sabu's own art)

And here's another pretty good pic, translated and typesetted by Anya at Dynasty's Discord.

https://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=68139713

First track from Vol 9 drama CD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wWcUKK68qg&feature=youtu.be

Turn on CC to get the english subs.

Here's hoping Shiori gets a cute girlfriend of her own.

In drama CD track 03, from volume 9, Matsuri inadvertently calls Harumi mama.

Cute

Didn't these girls show up on a previous story of his?

We got a Citrus doujin!

https://twitter.com/glidesloe/status/980891885664288768

None other than Maidoll did a Citrus Pinup for Toroana

https://twitter.com/maidoll/status/979243297246871558

She even included the rings!

Beautiful short story of Mirei and Mamori

https://bunnimation.tumblr.com/post/171871996967/valkyrie-in-crisis

I'd debate the idea that Harumin is perfectly content with her life, since as we saw during the election arc, she's utterly terrified of Mitsuko and she lacks the drive to fully express herself all the time; being content to meld into the background to avoid problems. While this per se is not a bad attitude to have, is clear she admires the way Yuzu drives head first into situations just to be true to her own ideals. And is in this regard that Matsuri is a perfect fit for Harumin.

While Matsuri can help Harumin to stop worrying about what society/Mitsuko could think, Harumin can help to temper Matsuri's recklessness and self destructive behavior.

The not so subtle way Matsuri is hitting on Harumin is so freaking adorable.

We need to up the gay more, MORE!!!

Volume 2 of the german release is coming out in May

https://www.anime2you.de/news/199152/valkyrie-drive-mermaid-cover-des-zweiten-volumes/

Saburota interview in Japanese

https://ddnavi.com/interview/421352/a/

last edited at Feb 27, 2018 5:34PM

So I didn't thought were else to post this but the most recent game in the series has added secret files that expand the series' setting and among one of them there's one pretty weird to call it somehow.

蛇女子学園の掲示板に張られていた注意書き 最近、学校敷地内で女生徒同士の不純同性交遊が見受けられます。
本校、蛇女子学園は忍となるべく技術や志を学ぶ場所であり、 淫らな行為をする場所ではありません。
今後、不純同性交遊を見つけ次第、厳しい処分を下していきます。 (程度によっては停学、退学の可能性もありえます)

Ran through Google Translate

Notice written on the bulletin board of Snake Girls' School
Recently, there is impure homosexuality exchanges among girls on the school premises.
Our school, Snake Girls' School is a place where you can learn techniques and ambitions as a Shinobi, and it is not a place where you act a nasty act.
In the future, as soon as I find impure homosexuals, I will make a tough disposal. (Depending on the degree, there is a possibility of suspension or withdrawal)

Er, yeah....

There's also a letter from Daidouji to her mother that puts her interactions with Rin through the entire series in a new light. A sexy, gay, light.

Daidouji's letter

To My Dear Mother,

No matter how many times you write me, I have no intention of returning home.

I have something I need to do, a promise with an old friend I need to fulfill.

I also have no interest in marriage, in spite of your continuous advice.

I will not recognize any man weaker than myself.

I will choose my life partner of my own volition.

My Regards

• The sender's name has been torn off

I'm just going to copy and paste an excellent analysis of previous volumes and how they tie with Mei's letter made by an insightful anon at /u/

Volume 1 - Had Harumin explain how relationships between girls worked at their school and established the deal with fiances. Also had Mei's grandfather as a huge influence on Mei.

Volume 2 - Yuzu learned of Mei's troubled upbringing and dedication to the school from Himeko. Then Shou shows up and we're given the message that there's no one way to live your life.

Volume 3 - Matsuri is there to trigger Mei's jealousy to get her to pursue Yuzu. And while the reader is made to doubt Matsuri's observations, most of them about Mei do ring true to some extent in hindsight.

Volume 4 - Shows that Mei is willing to try to run away from her problems.

Volume 5 - Mitsuko forces Yuzu and Mei to make hard choices, but also introduces the concept of creating your own path with a strong will. Volume also showed how much Mei loved the school, even having to hide her grandpa's photo when kissing Yuzu in his office.

Volume 6 - Yuzu and Mei's relationship intensifies and the ring is given to Mei, which triggers her deeper feelings. Mei acting awkward while comforting Yuzu in the library now has a more negative meaning in hindsight.

Volume 7 - Mei starts actively trying to figure out if she loves Yuzu. By the end of the volume she realizes that she does.

Volume 8 - Sexual tension reaches its peak and is really the "calm before the storm" of volume 9.

Volume 9 - Everything starts to go to hell when Matsuri learns of Mei's engagement. Their friends worry and ponder their future, Yuzu is oblivious to why Mei is acting weird, while Mei is obviously torn. Eventually the guilt overwhelms Mei when Yuzu is thinking of their future together, so timeskip to after Mei bails in order to fulfill her duties. We get a short "where are they now" of the rest of the cast.

Honestly I'm confused as why people are taking these development this hard or assuming this will only end in a het, loveless marriage. I mean, if this were an het story and Yuzu were an idealistic if commoner guy, everyone would be confident on this being just another obstacle to be solved by true love~

Oh, and nothing is really know about Saburota's personal life beyond what she shared on that German interview.

last edited at Feb 19, 2018 4:51PM

And you still miss my point. At this point Mei's dream isn't inheriting the Academy or upholding the Family's tradition, her dream is to be with Yuzu but she can't forego that burden in the same way Shou or Yuzu could.

Mei lacks that courage to break from the traditions she was raised to believe. And she acknowledges her own cowardice in her letter.

But it is.

Mei was raised with outdated values and that is why she doesn't see any other option that take upon herself the responsibility of keeping the Aihara legacy going. This why ultimately, if there's someone to blame here is Shou.

People in the west can sympathize with the fact he said "screw family" and left, but that is still a pretty shitty thing to do because he's not a twenty something bachelor with no responsibilities, he's a father and he should be the one to care and provide for his daughter. People will said "But he asked Mei to come with him!" Yes, after ten years of teaching her that being strict and carrying proudly the Aihara legacy was the only way to live.You can't simply ask a kid to drop all of their beliefs to the wind just like that. Hell, you can't even ask that of mature adults! And yet Shou was pretty much like "Well though luck kid, see ya!"

EDIT:

what really hurts me as a reader is that Mei chose this decision not because she was forced unto it but because she wanted it more than how much she love Yuzu.

This is what I meant about people being passionate about Mei. Mei choosed the marriage not because she wanted it more but because she loved Yuzu that much

Mei has come to terms with her own issues and she's being selfless for the first time in the entire story, she's removing herself so she doesn't hurt Yuzu more. At this point of the story, Mei choosing to remain at Yuzu's side would be truly selfish since due her upbringing she isn't able to forget about her duties as heiress (and I assume, that is why this chapter was so liked in Japan. Family honor and traditions are big things for them).

last edited at Feb 17, 2018 11:10PM