She views as stepping in to force Touko to change as "low."

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I read that whole sequence completely differently. Sayaka acknowledges that both she and Yuu see the need for Touko to change, but Yuu was the one who had the courage to do something about it, so she's not interfering with Yuu's plan to spark a change in Touko. It would be "low" of her to side with Touko's wish to keep the old ending of the play, because she knows that the new one may well turn out to be better for Touko.

So Sayaka's annoucement of her love for Touko is the answer to Yuu's original question: "Saeki-senpai, why did you agree to use the new script?" (That's how I read it, anyway.)

I could see where you're coming from. It would certainly give more clarity to why Sayaka just suddenly admitted to Yuu that she loves Touko. Perhaps by saying it's "low," she's finally admitting that Yuu is right and that if the both of them want Touko to get better, they have to step in and do something about it, whether or not Touko wants them to. It would be "low" to just let things continue as they are simply because it's the status quo at this point.

Again, the new version of the play doesn't really force Touko to do anything (so it's not quite the same as enrolling someone in rehab against their will). It's just providing an opportunity to rethink the emotional/psychological box she's put herself in.

I think you're right, but I DO have to still somewhat use the rehab patient example, but just in a different context. Someone mentioned somewhere on this thread (I would dig it up, but...nah, it's WAY too deep in at this point) that--for a self-loathing person like Touko--she has a unique ability to self-reflect. She's able to look at her behavior and thought processes and at least try to understand why it's wrong. But she always comes to the same conclusion--she HAS to be like Mio, no matter what. So it would kind of be like a rehab patient who KNOWS they have a problem, but they don't want to do anything about it (for whatever reason).

...Actually, why IS Touko putting herself through all this if she knows it's not good for her? Family peer pressure? Probably not, right? Because her parents have even told her she doesn't have to be like Mio.

Her last statement when her monologue was over probably clinches my opinion of Sayaka being more selfish, "And who am I to interfere? I wouldn't stoop that low." She views as stepping in to force Touko to change as "low." Like forcing someone to change is terrible because you're forcing what you want on another person. And yes, if the situation was different, I'd be agreeing with Sayaka. But that's not what's happening here, is it?

That's not what she means. The Japanese phrasing is clear: she thinks she'd be pathetic if she were to obstruct Yuu. She thinks what Yuu is doing is good, she wasn't brave enough herself to risk doing something similar, she had a chance to stop Yuu by siding with Touko, but she thinks it would wrong to stop Yuu doing it.

See above. Yeah, it does make a lot more sense, especially if you take her confession to Yuu at the end of the chapter. I thought it was kind of unusual for her to just blurt that out of nowhere. So it was a mistranslation, then?

It's so interesting to see the parallels between Sayaka and Yuu's relationship with Touko, and after reading this chapter, I really do think that Yuu is the better love interest for Touko.

Sayaka herself said that she has the same feelings as Yuu--she wants Touko to change because, in the long run, it would be a lot healthier for Touko. But Sayaka also admits that she was afraid of being rejected and was fine just being Touko's best friend because it meant she had a unique relationship with Touko. She was fine with things staying as they are and was willing to let change just happen by itself because she was afraid to lose what she had with Touko. And this showcases just how selfish she actually is. In fact, I would even say she's more selfish than Yuu.

Her last statement when her monologue was over probably clinches my opinion of Sayaka being more selfish, "And who am I to interfere? I wouldn't stoop that low." She views as stepping in to force Touko to change as "low." Like forcing someone to change is terrible because you're forcing what you want on another person. And yes, if the situation was different, I'd be agreeing with Sayaka. But that's not what's happening here, is it?

Touko HAS to change because she's stuck in such an unhealthy cycle of self-abuse and self-loathing. And both Sayaka and Yuu are aware of this, but their ways of approaching it are total opposites. Sayaka simply hoped that things would get better for Touko because it meant less risk of being rejected by Touko, but it also meant allowing the person she loved to continue hurting herself. Yuu took a more proactive route and indirectly made Touko face her inner demons. Was it selfish and even overly self-righteous of Yuu to just change the script without letting Touko know? Oh yeah, definitely. But Yuu realized that she HAD to do that if she wanted Touko to change and become better. It's kind of like forcing someone to enroll in a rehab program/facility. The patient isn't there willingly and is likely in denial that they have a problem, but ultimately, they're getting help that they desperately need. And that's basically what the situation is like for Yuu, Touko, and Sayaka.

I feel like Sayaka said the previously mentioned statement out of disappointment in herself that she wasn't the one who was brave enough to risk it all to help Touko, unlike Yuu. Which brings me to the last couple of pages of this chapter. Sayaka tells Yuu that she loves Touko. I interpret this in two ways--either Sayaka is making some sort of challenge that she will ensure Touko falls for her or Sayaka is subtly admitting to Yuu, herself, and to the audience that Yuu is in the right for forcing Touko to go through with this. If it's the latter, perhaps Sayaka is finally gathering up the courage to make the person she loves confront her problems so she can improve herself? I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Does anyone get the ending of Chapter 32? Why did Matsuri freeze like that? I mean, it was just Eyebrows-chan and Shirapon-senpai coming back with tea, right?

HOT.

Also, I personally see them both as switches, but Diana is definitely only SLIGHTLY more of a bottom.

@elevown @Bugpope Well, keep in mind, LWA is set in England and Akko's from Japan, meaning Akko had to learn English before she went to Luna Nova, meaning she's not a native speaker. In this comic, she probably just didn't really understand what Diana was getting at because she was talking really complicatedly and became shocked to the point of slipping back to her native language when she realized what Diana meant.

Also, as cute as this is, I hope there's a follow-up to this comic because this is based on Darcy's FIRST love confession, which, if you've read Pride & Prejudice, is actually a pretty douche-y love confession. Actually, come to think of it, Diana's already saying some pretty dang jerk-y things in this comic.

This is really hot. Like...it's STEAMY.

...I LOVE IT.

Not really relevant but I wanted to pinpoint that in that train scene Yuu is thinking "It's not bad if she stays asleep like this". That's the more literal translation, 4s added some lines and while the meaning is the same, the literal translation could give a different feeling just a bit.

Even that quote sounds like it could be taken with a double meaning. It could be interpreted as Yuu thinking that she's fine with letting Touko continue sleeping--to continue shutting herself off from reality (and perhaps live in her dreams?). It represents the last shreds of her inner desire to let Touko continue her toxic fantasies because that is what is normal between them.

But, at the same time, Yuu knows that this can't continue much longer... Either her feelings will overflow and, in her view, ruin everything; something will happen to further disillusion Touko about her sister's life and throw her into disarray and she proved to her earlier that Yuu isn't the first person she is likely to turn to, which Yuu doesn't want to happen; or the play will finish and Touko will have completed her task, so to speak, and entirely lose direction in life and Yuu will need to try to pick up the pieces once the ideal of her sister isn't there as a goal anymore.

The question is which one comes first...

I dunno, dude, but either way, I'm on the edge of my seat. I think we're actually approaching the climax now, and I'm a little nervous because I think, at this point, it can go any way.

last edited at Jul 31, 2017 10:21PM

I feel like this whole chapter was meant to be a "final confirmation" of sorts for Yuu. Remember, in Chapter 22, her narration/text box gets cut off when she yells out, "You jerk!" to Touko at the train station. And that text box said, "How can you say you hate something I lo--" The fact that it's cut off acts as a hint that Yuu is still somewhat in denial about her feelings. So, this date was really for Yuu to fully determine if what she feels for Touko is actually love, and I think by the end of it, she finally comes to terms with it and accepts her feelings.

And the ending just confirms it further and it jumpstarts Yuu's resolve to stop this dysfunctional, unequal relationship. Perhaps I'm looking too much into it, but I took it as a sort of allegory of what Yuu's plan is. Touko is still asleep, and Yuu thinks how she "wouldn't mind letting her keep sleeping," but once she notices that they have to change trains, she wakes Touko up. The trains represent their relationship and how it is going towards a destination, but the first one will only lead them to someplace that they shouldn't be going to. Yuu not minding Touko to keep sleeping is her remaining inner desire to keep their relationship as is because that's what the status quo between them is now. But after a moment, Yuu realizes that she cannot let that continue (this is also further enforced by the last caption, "This can't go on forever"), and that they have to change trains in order to get to the destination they're supposed to go to. So she wakes Touko up so that they can head to the right train and destination together.

This chapter is Yuu finally accepting her feelings for Touko and, by accepting her feelings, understanding that she's at the point of no return now, and she'll have to make Touko understand just how unhealthy and unfair their relationship is so that they can have a happier, more equal relationship.

And it's going to be immensely, IMMENSELY difficult to ensure the plan succeeds.

last edited at Jul 30, 2017 10:38PM

It was more of an open end. I dunno how to feel about that :/

I hope that's a hint that there will be another sequel. You know, kind of tie this all up in a neat, little trilogy package.

Anyone else think the "where can I go?" while standing next to empty train tracks is symbolic?

I didn't even realize that! Yeah, it is! Nakatani has a great way of using visuals to symbolize something or to enhance a scene's mood. She's really talented with that!

DAMN EROMAME. I thought Yuri Squids was supposed to just be a collection of cute, innocent squid girlfriends doing cute, innocent squid girlfriend things...Guess I was wrong...

Also, dat tag tho lol

The part where she says Yuu genuinely wanted to remain silent about her growing feelings because she enjoys to be told that someone loves her and wanted to keep that confused me a bit though. It just seems to me that it's a bit shallow and kind of contradicts what's been shown in the story , with Yuu looking down, frustrated and all of that because she can't express her feelings and thinks Touko is unfair, and I also don't get how Yuu can be unfair like Nakatani states, but I do know Yuu is a bit selfish like chapters 16 and 22 showed.

I don't see how it contradicts anything about Yuu. Her feelings grow throughout the story, how she feels about Touko in the beginning is not the same as she feels about her now. In chapter 13, she has definitely developed something for Touko, enough that she becomes conscious of what to say and how to act, but not enough for her to risk losing the "friends with benefits-ish" relationship with Touko. They both enters the relationship with their own self-interests in mind in the first place. Touko wants a love that won't be returned, Yuu wants someone to love her because she is lonely. But as Yuu's feeling grows stronger, she starts to get fed up with the status of their relationship. It's more growth rather than contradiction, really.

Edit: For Touko, since she's the only one without this meme made for her yet.

http://i.imgur.com/r3jBGPP.jpg

Agreed.

Remember in Ch. 10? Yuu states that she's lonely and doesn't want to fall in love with anyone else but Touko (even though she told herself that she is incapable of loving another person romantically). Reading back on that now, her intentions of being in their "friends-with-benefits"-like relationship makes sense. I think Yuu wants to FEEL like she's in a romantic relationship, but she's so convinced that she's aromantic that she just doesn't realize that she's already kind of in one.

So when she starts to push the boundaries of her and Touko's relationship (like she decides to do at the end of Ch. 22 and with the date in Ch. 23), I think that's when Yuu starts to put Touko over herself. She wants something that is wholesome and healthy, not superficial and unfair, and Yuu wants Touko to have that, too.

So yes, even though Yuu is acting without Touko's knowledge and is doing things on her own, it doesn't seem to be out of self-interest anymore. It seems to be more out of care for Touko and an understanding that in order to have something that's good for the two of them, then Yuu's gonna have to step in and do something about it.

last edited at Jun 28, 2017 6:46PM by Nezchan

This is sooo cute. Riko is probably the most shippable character (to me) in the LLS universe.

Also, side note, isn't this KTR*Aihara? I recognize this art style anywhere. Did they change their name to Soumen/Neutrin or something?

last edited at Jun 25, 2017 1:35PM

Oh, yeah I'm so angry that I have to try and silence people by giving my own opinion! I'm a monster. /s

You are just wrong, there is considerable differences between how stories should be told between books, comics, cartoons and games. They are completely different mediums that require different methods. Games, like dark souls, can be successful hiding the story behind random NPC encounters, item descriptions, cutscenes and player choices. That doesn't work in manga or books unless it's a "choose your own adventure" type of deal. Comics and manga rely on art just as much as actual writing, they have the ability to show and not tell, unlike books where they can literally only tell you. Many game developers have hired professional book writers to write their stories and they quickly find out that it's a completely different ball game, especially for open world RPGs

I have to agree. It's not like in a game where you can actually explore and interact with the world you're in to put together the story. Manga, on the other hand, needs details because the reader is unable to explore the world to get an answer. And when we get vague details, the reader isn't able to piece the story together.

Now about PAX itself, if we don't know the past, can't tell what the hell is going on in the present, and have no clue what's the come in the future it's simply not good writing. It doesn't matter if there is going to be a PAX 3 because what we have seen from the first two chapters is that we won't be able to tell what the hell is going on anyways. It's going to be a convoluted mess that requires the reader to fill in gaps every page because the writer has no idea how to make a coherent story. Once again, this story went from a completely random kiss to Sachi disappearing for three months to them fucking like rabbits with almost nothing said or showed to explain how any of it lead from one to the other. You can argue that we don't need to know about their pasts, you can argue for an open end about the future, but it's hard to argue that we don't need to know anything about the events presented in the manga.

Re-reading it now, it felt like the author had an idea of what they wanted the story to be about, but ended up adding too much. As a result, they made the story too "Event A happens then Event B happens followed by Event C." This seems more like a first draft of a story, in terms of writing. I don't think we need to know the future of these two characters (I can tolerate open endings), but you're right. We need to know what's happening to the characters in the present because SO MUCH IS GOING ON, but in order to do that, we need to know some backstory, but that's kept vague.

Overall, it was a good effort, but...this author really should've reviewed their storyline a few more times before proceeding with it.

@REDflame23 @Mimiyaah Actually, the anime has confirmed that Diana is about half a head taller than Akko. Watch Episode 19 and you'll see what I mean.

So yeah, this height difference is accurate.

last edited at Jun 19, 2017 1:42AM

So...lemme get this straight. They were going out, but Sachi turned out to still have lingering feelings for an ex-boyfriend (who seemed to be much older, given that there was an image of him smoking). Kei figured this out and realized that she was just a rebound, so she ended things with Sachi. In the end, she decided that she "really does hate the smell of tobacco," which I'll take as her saying she hates relationships with anyone in general--man or woman--because she can't trust them.

What a sad story...Pax 1 seemed like it would go somewhere nice, but I guess not.

Asami's wearing a betrothal necklace!!! <3333333

Also, they're both the shortest members of their groups, so...

Right. So It's nothing new then. Nakatani choose the same road as many yuri mangakas before her. It's an old trope "I'm not gay but I love you" (like in yaoi). It's still a fetishization.

How, though? It's a character being in love with another character because they like them as a person above all else. Riko-sensei is able to look past the physical aspects because she likes Miyako more as a person. I don't see how that's fetishization.

Not a shitpost, more like a golden post. Nakatani Nio portrays love in a way where it's not meant to be exciting just because it's two girls, rather attempting to create love stories between two individuals who can fall in love regardless of their gender - something that, apparently, many of the "HOW COULD YOU NIO" retards failed to realize, since lesbianism or bisexuality doesn't have to be seen as a fetish or the main factor of a relationship, just a characteristic.

That's actually a good point. Nakatani's main message seems to be that labels aren't necessary when you're in love with someone. What matters is that you're with someone who makes you happy. So, at that point, is there even any reason to categorize it further?

I think Nakatani somewhat talked about that in an interview about her Touhou doujins. Something about how she's more interested in exploring the relationship between the girls than actually enforcing what she THINKS their relationships are, but if the relationship has romantic connotations, then it can be taken as romantic one.

Think about it. She doesn't have a preference for girls, but she chose HER. Doesn't get more romantic than that, honestly.

And yes, now that you put it that way, it would explain why Riko suddenly got shy while Miyako was teasing her~

I mean, it was alright. The artwork is very good, and I like the protagonist. But the story and the character dynamics? ...Yeah, those needed work.

Well, at least it's a start...right?

Oh. So she's a case of "If It's You, It's Okay".

Yeah. And here I thought the teacher will be an good example of bisexual woman, but nope. Nakatani Nio, I'm disappointed in you.

While I do agree that it could've been executed better, I think it's still an example of bisexual women, though. I've met bisexuals who have went through most of their lives dating the opposite sex before finding the perfect partner in the same sex. Or she could be an example of heteroflexibility, which is a thing, too. I dunno, with how Nakatani's been portraying her characters, I trust she has a good idea of the sexuality spectrum and how it works.

Mira sure does like this pairing.

Well, she did say that they're pretty popular. So I guess they're a fan favorite!

But it's too bad she's running out of ideas...orz

@Saizon The thing about this manga is that it has rather focused themes about identity & relationship that are integrated into an actual centralized plot. It's not exactly an SOL where it can write in any situations it wants to continue on forever. The moment Touko is able to resolve her identity and relationship problems, it not only wraps up the plot, but the themes as well. Because of that, showing Touko's & Yuu's complete life as a couple, while can be cute, doesn't add anything to the overall themes & plot. Also, Nakatani is not exactly the type who does feel-good SOL or one who spells out everything that will happen to her characters & their relationship. Most of her stories have some sort of relationship complications that the characters have to come to term with & a lot of them are left rather open-ended. That's why I think YagaKimi will most likely end on Touko & Yuu getting together. If we're lucky enough, Nakatani might show us some glimpses of their adult life, but I don't think she'll dedicate several chapters or volumes for that.

Yeah, you're right. That's why I said "ideally" in my previous post. Because I KNOW deep down the stuff we want probably isn't going to happen. But hey, one can dream and hope, right?

It's a shame, really. Nakatani is a pretty good storyteller, I like Yuu as a protagonist, and the side characters actually have at least some depth to them. Also, this manga has subverted so many romance/shoujo/yuri genre tropes. It'd just be a bit of a waste, in my opinion, if it just ends with them getting together. If it actually just ends after 7-8 volumes, then I would feel frustrated at all the wasted potential.

last edited at May 28, 2017 11:50PM

Nnn I don't want it to end after Touko and Yuu get together, I want to see them as a couple and growing old together :/ even if it's just one more volume that features their lives as a couple and then the manga ends. Btw the special 4 mentioned at the end that summer holiday will continue so I guess the culture festival and play thing will start in volume 6. Sayaka is actually an important character too, I don't think a resolution for her crush on Touko will be easy so I'm expecting an arc focused on her after Touko and Yuu resolve her issues.

I want to see that too, honestly. Tho I feel like this manga, like most slow-burn romance, is more about the process of them falling in love. I'm hoping we'll at least get some time skip scenes with them now living together & Touko becoming a responsible husband gf to Yuu & them taking care of their science babies, ofc. They can also begin at the end of vol 5, who knows. We'll see next month. I imagine Sayaka's resolution to be integrated into Touko's relationship resolution somehow. But yeah, 7-8 vols would probably be the length for this series.

I really hope it doesn't end with just them getting together. Ideally, I would like this manga to get the Kimi ni Todoke treatment, where it took the main couple, like, 50-60 chapters to get together before following their lives (and everyone else's) afterwards.

But judging by how Nakatani has been portraying relationships (in a more "this is how it realistically should be like" fashion), maybe we'll get that. Maybe we'll have Yuu and Touko reaching a mutual resolution that has them both realizing that they have to work together and put in effort to make their relationship work, and we'll follow all the ups and downs of it while also getting closure with the other characters.

Then again, it could really go either way at this point. I think it's still a little too early to say anything for sure. I don't Yagakimi will exceed something like 100 chapters, but I really, REALLY hope it goes for at least 50.