I really hope Kanoko and Sumika don’t truly end up together, as others have pointed out, Nene when faced with something similar was blind to what could go wrong or if Sumika gets hurt. However, Kanoko not only knows what she is doing is wrong, she is even explicitly told that what she’s doing can hurt Sumika, but she does it anyways and just denies any possibility of that acknowledging that truth. The whole “I just have to not tell Sumika and everything will be fine” shit was the line, yeah Yoko is a manipulative bitch, but Kanoko is completely intentionally being oblivious to all her own misdoings and disregarding all the warning bells she herself is feeling. (Like she already knows going to a hotel room with Yoko looks and is bad and they were going to not go, but the second Yoko mirrors her and reminds her what she’s doing IS wrong, she turns around on herself and does it anyways despite what she knows).

Kanoko is an incredible selfish person that only cares about her own happiness. While they are all flawed to some degree, none of the other girls are actively trying to cause other people harm like she is (well, except for Youko). Maybe my opinion will change in the future, but that's how I see it right now. It will undoubtedly be a tough challenge for the author to turn her into a likable character for the vast majority of readers.

Just compare her way of expressing her love towards Hime with Yano's. If I were to summarize it briefly, it would be something like this:
- Yano wants Hime to be happy.
- Kanoko wants Hime.

I know it seemed impossible after the last chapter for Sumika and Nene to end up together, but now I see it as a goodbye and end to Nene’s foolish and immature love towards Sumika to signal Nene’s genuine maturity to show her change by being completely honest and upfront this time around for her love towards Sumika instead of relying on schemes.

Don't do that, don't give me hope...

There it is—the classic response of the person who sees stories as entirely a function of imaginary human beings rather than as narrative works of art. If the characters are interesting, or “relatable,” or can be projected as being “realistic,” or if they fulfill whatever other set of values the reader happens to prioritize, that’s the be-all and end-all of manga writing.

Leaving aside that he said "the only thing I want for Shiho is for there to be an unsecured trapdoor on the performance stage, which she falls through, to her death.", we are in a moment where literally all possibilities can still happen. If you can't find a single (realistic) scenario that satisfies you, then you have reach a point where you shouldn't be reading the manga anymore, unfortunately. Are you guys masochists?

“It’s fine that the story’s structure is unbalanced and the parts are disproportionate because the character is just that powerful” is utterly non-responsive and irrelevant to the argument being made.

I never said whether it's fine or not, I merely stated that was done that way on purpose. I'm convinced that the author knows what she wants to do with her characters, unlike what some people here think.

If I dig really deep, the only thing I want for Shiho is for there to be an unsecured trapdoor on the performance stage, which she falls through, to her death.

Kind of hard to take anything you write after this seriously, but ok.

In my previous post, a few pages ago, I talked about the way Shiho isn't balanced with another character in the story.

That's true, but it's made on purpose. The point is that she is a character with such an overwhelming personality, that the only way to even out the equation is by putting all the other characters on the other side of it. From the moment she was introduced until now, the story has revolved around her. In all ways. We have seen many times scenes in which, even if she is not present, the characters think or talk about her. You won't find a single character that can balance with her. Not Aki, not Himari and certainly not Yori.

Why does Shiho's promise to have nothing to do with Mizuguchi anymore feel like she really means it? She does mean it, and that makes her response much stranger than that of the average person.

This is completely false. We have seen in many moments how important Aki is to Shiho and how difficult this current situation is for her. Did you read the Extras of Volume 6? What about her sad expressions in Chapter 37 when Himari asks her if she really wants to cut ties with her? She's just using a mask in front of Aki.

So I guess that's where I'm at with this; stuck, unable to envision an ending to this story arc that would satisfy my modest goals.

You won't find any scenario satisfying because you just hate the character.

But Shiho's motivations are never modulated by other perspectives. Her band members back her up no matter what (despicable),

Himari has so far made very little headway, I'd say, in helping Shiho solve her personal problems––all she's really done is get Shiho to admit she has them. Then Himari helped Shiho set up Mizuguchi for this "I used to love you" surprise maneuver––really uncool of Himari, I think, not to warn Mizuguchi what Shiho was up to. I don't know. Maybe it didn't even occur to Himari what Shiho was planning.

1) Recognizing the problems is the first step in dealing with them. Himari has been very helpful in getting Shiho to take action on her unresolved conflict with Aki.

2) Shiho didn't even plan to tell Aki her true feelings in this chapter. The meeting was brought about by Aki to begin with.

What do we want Himari to get out of all this? What does she learn about meddling in people's old love non-stories? Does she get to play cupid for these two? Does that mean anything for her character?

She wants to save Shiho from self-destruction before it's too late. And Aki is the person who can do it, as we could see in Shiho's flashback, where there was a girl freed from anxieties, pressures and guilt. That's all that matters in this story at this point.

I doubt it. Nothing in Yuri Hime can even match with Yuru Yuri (and Wataten) sales.

That's not the case anymore. You can go to http://shosekiranking.blog.fc2.com and do the comparisons yourself.

Now that she knows the reason Shiho left the band, winning the competition might not be so important to Aki. But if Shiho loses against Yori, she will lose her mind.

She was make the most important for this arc, she wasn't even namedrop until this arc..

She was introduced back in Chapter 15, almost 25 chapters ago by now. I think it's time some of you get over her.

Excuse that people want to see the main characters being lovely dovely.

Again with this. As I said before here, this idea that they spend little time together is completely false and I'm getting tired of people repeat it over and over again.

Takeshima Eku should find someone who knows how to write a story for her manga. Her art is not enough for a longer series.

It's the best-selling manga in the magazine.

Well then, it's good thing that Shiho is the series protagonist. Oh, wait . . .

She's the most important character of the series, whether you like it or not.

The "that's how teenagers really are" gambit for defending Shiho's character has been exhaustively critiqued previously in this thread--that assertion of supposed "realism" is totally irrelevant to Shiho (and her interminable angst arc) being out of place in this particular storyworld as it has been presented.

Nah, of course that some of her actions can't be justified. No one would deny that she did (and continues to do) a couple of pretty horrible things. I just think that readers are overreacting in their criticism of her and this long Arc.
Then again, if "just give me more of Himari’s journey to becoming a thirsty little lesbian" is what you want from this series, you should probably read other ones or come back in a couple of months.

The point is that all the other characters are also young and immature, and yet they're able to work through their various stuff without being an aggressively troublesome drama queen like Shiho.

While that's fantastic, in my opinion it's pretty unrealistic compared to Shiho's behavior, which despite being a bit extreme at times, feels more like a real teenage character.

This will probably have a very negative impact on Aki's performance, so I wouldn't be surprised if Laureley wins the competition in part thanks to that (there's also to considerate the promise Shiho made to Hima if her band were to win: That she would listen to any single request she have).

Chapter 55: My Sumika x nene heart… I knew it was near impossible for these two to get together, so what a crazy whirlwind of emotions this chapter and volume has been. Lots of “what ifs” and “could it be”, some moments got me jumping out of my seat. I absolutely adore and have been rooting for these 2 characters, their past, their interactions, so it was honestly a beautiful but sad chapter :( “thank you for ending this love with me” omg my heart T_T part of me still wishes they would end up together but alas… this painful closure was needed for them. it’ll probably take a while for me to get over them, any fellow sumika x nene shippers out there to cry with together? Haha, it now made sense why nene always felt a little apprehensive / had to kind of mentally prep herself before approaching sumika, the sweat drops or deep sigh etc. Great chapter though!

Both Sumika and Nene (this one in particular) have grown on me a lot with these last few volumes, so I was also hoping that the two would end up together somehow, but Chapter 55 feels to me like a definitive closure for any possibility of that happening in the future. But who knows, maybe Youko's bad deeds and Kanoko's complicity will end up bringing them together. I doubt it, as Kanoko will probably fall in love with Sumika at some point, and it's hard for me to think that the former won't have her happy ending.

Waiting for the next chapter will be tough. I know I shouldn't, but I'm so tempted to take a look at the first few pages of Chapter 56...

last edited at Feb 12, 2023 6:41PM

Chapter 55: What a beautiful, cathartic chapter for both Sumika and Nene. I love their relationship, and I hope the latter can find happiness now that she has completely moved on from her past loves. Other than that, having to wait to find out what Youko sent to Nene will be tough. It's impressive how the manga has gradually gone from the innocent, light-hearted comedy that it was in its beginnings to what it has become. And I think it's fantastic.

last edited at Feb 11, 2023 9:13PM

But I find myself not caring about it cause it was written in such a messy way that it just does not interest me. It's my opinion.

Its monthly release doesn't help, that's for sure. The experience improves by reading all the chapters in a row, at least in my opinion. This Arc is almost 20 chapters long so far, after all.

I think most people voicing their dissatisfaction about this manga (me included) have issue precisely with the fact that they made this conflict so central :P I would be completely fine with wrapping it up after like 15-20 chapters with a simple ending, but the manga suffers from its own success. Someone even brought out a Goku comparison earlier, which is very apt, because this conflict does feel like it goes on for like 20 chapters. At this point I feel like no matter how they resolve it, it's probably going to be disappointing.

That's a valid criticism. It probably wasn't the best decision to make an Arc longer than the rest of the series combined...

Such heresy. Couple life romance stories are the best yuri, unless you don't like yuri stories about actual relationships. Which is fine. Personal preferences and all that.

I like stories to have a balance. And for the record, Himari and Yori started to date more than 20 chapters ago. And since then there have been quite a few of those "couple life" moments you mention.

last edited at Jan 24, 2023 9:31PM

Btw can't deny the lonely girl is a proper story, a story doesn't need to have drama or angst, it really comes to personal preferences, some people enjoy more calm and fluffy slice of life type of stories and some prefer drama and angst, claiming that your preferences is the only way to tell a "proper" story is objectively not true and dumb

The irony is that the author actually tried to put drama into the story. It's just that they didn't know how to do it correctly (remember about Sora's mother? Yeah...) and decided to move on with a different approach for the second part of the series, until they couldn't prolonged any longer. I can assure you that most of its readers can't even remember what happened in the vast majority of the last 15 or 20 chapters, other than "they were cute together". Again, not necessarily a bad thing, but that should tell you something.

Although everyone has different preferences, two key elements when it comes to telling a story are the conflicts and its resolutions, both things in which Whisper me a Love Song seems objectively superior to me. Can't Defy the Lonely Girl was popular not because of its storytelling, but because is escapism at its finest.

last edited at Jan 21, 2023 2:32PM

I couldn't care less about the shiho/aki stuff

I think you should, as their conflict is the most important part of the manga. Without it, there wouldn't be a story to tell in the first place. I mean, having Himari and Yori going into endless dates and doing cute stuff everyday with little to no drama at all (something like I Can't Defy the Lonely Girl) is probably what a lot of people here wants. Fortunately, this author wants something more sustancious for their series.

Very cute chapter we haven't got much of them two together as much as we deserve it was nice seeing them actually get some alone time.

This idea that "Himari and Yori spend little time together" is a complete misconception and I don't understand why so many people repeat it over and over again. Just reread the last 10 chapters or so and see for yourself. Again, I think the problem here is that you guys want a manga dedicated only to those two characters, rather than a proper story.

last edited at Jan 21, 2023 12:30PM

No offense, but I think that's just your victim complex talking. In my experience, if there's something that the vast majority of the anime community like, that is Yuri/Shoujo Ai. I'm not sure why would you believe otherwise.

Definitely not, we probably just had different experiences with the vast majority of the Anime community then, what I saw the most were comments on social media like Facebook and Youtube with hate against Yuri, every post on popular Anime socials are flooded with comments like that, we probably didn't experienced the same interaction with the mainstream community

That's fair. I was mostly talking about the comments I often read on Reddit about the genre as a whole, which are almost always positive. But that's just my personal experience.

Is there anyone else here who thought "they look just like the girls from Oregairu" when they saw the main couple? Because comments everywhere are making this comparison now that the anime was announced and I feel like the odd one out because I never thought that while reading the manga.

Yeah I've seen people making jokes but there are also a bunch of weebs throwing hate at it now saying that it's a "Oreigaru rip-off" as if Anime designs were the most original thing ever, really sad and unfortunate that this is happening but I guess it's common for the mainstream Anime community try to invent excuses to hate anything that is Yuri

No offense, but I think that's just your victim complex talking. In my experience, if there's something that the vast majority of the anime community like, that is Yuri/Shoujo Ai. I'm not sure why would you believe otherwise.

It's gonna be great! I just hope people behave and don't ruin it for newcomers like "yeah is cute now but later it's gets baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad !! all hope is lost! run while you can!!" or something.

I'm more concerned with the adaptation itself. I was expecting this manga to have the best studio of the three series that are going to receive an anime (Yuri is My Job! and Villainess being the other two), as Whisper me a Love Song is probably the best selling manga in the magazine right now. But then again, the Yuri genre still has a small audience in Japan.

last edited at Jan 13, 2023 10:14AM

Chapter 53:
I love this kind of chapters. Back at the beginning of Volume 9 I never would have expected that the shift in focus from Hime/Yano to the rest of the group would be so beneficial to the series, but the author definitely knows what they are doing. Nene in particular has been an incredibly pleasant surprise. I love her character and her introspective moments as much as I hate Youko and her manipulations.

I don't see any realistic chance of Nene and Sumika ending up together after everything that happened, unfortunately. It's to be expected that Kanoko will start to have feelings for her at some point during their fake relationship, although her current self is far from deserving someone like Sumika.

last edited at Dec 31, 2022 10:13AM

One interesting thing I noticed in the localized Volume 10 is that unlike the scanlations, in which Nene sounds as though she wants to cut ties with Yoko, in the localization, Nene wants to figure out why Yoko cut ties with her. The localization's version makes more sense and explains why Nene fell prey toko's manipulations

I asked the fan translator about it, and after reviewing the sentence from the last page of Chapter 48 they told me that their interpretation is: "Nene did consider her relationship with Youko to be over at that point, and she wanted to meet up with her just to ask why things ended the way they did."

Its sales are really strong, so it was expected that it would have an adaptation at some point. Still, excellent news.

And pretty incredible to think that the magazine will have three announcements of adaptations in just a couple of months.

I'm glad you're liking it. I hope you keep reading and tell us your impressions once you've caught up.

Hylarn posted:

But my God, I hope the climax isn't with Manaria

I'd expect them to do the entire Kingdom arc?

I think "I won't say goodbye" could be a good end for a 12 episode anime, that's 20 manga episodes

I'd say it's highly unlikely that only the first novel will be adapted.

Why? It took four manga volumes to cover Volume 1, and Volume 2 is a bit longer. If they tried to cover both volumes it would be a super rushed anime. People seem to forget that A) The volumes of this LN are pretty big and B) The very dry and "straight to the point" writing style means there is more story to adapt in 10 pages here than in 10 pages of your usual LN.

The average number of novels adapted in a season is three, maybe even four (you can search for examples). That would be impossible here, since the third novel is the beginning of a completely different Arc, but I'd say that it would the right decision to adapt the two novels completely, since the chances of a second season are very low.

Hylarn posted:

But my God, I hope the climax isn't with Manaria

I'd expect them to do the entire Kingdom arc?

I think "I won't say goodbye" could be a good end for a 12 episode anime, that's 20 manga episodes

I'd say it's highly unlikely that only the first novel will be adapted.

last edited at Dec 13, 2022 10:28AM

Shiho is definitely the best part of this manga so far and the only one that keep me from dropping it.

I don't think I would have dropped it, but she's definitely the most interesting character in this manga. From her first appearance, I always liked the rol of a disruptive factor she played and continues to play in an otherwise much more predictable and formulaic story.

I hope she and Aki ends up together.

Shiho's probably the hottest girl of this manga

Right? It's not even close.

The localization of Volume 10 recently came out. For those who are interested, the localizers use the term "lesbian," as well as "gay" once when Nene asks Sumika why she's hostile toward Yoko. On the other hand, in Chapter 50, Hime says to Kanoko, "If you have been avoiding Yano because she developed a crush on someone of the same sex."

I was skimming through Volume 10 and this part of Chapter 51 caught my attention, when Kanoko asks Sumika to start dating:

Fan translation: "Please go out with me. Please become my lover, and end your hate for romance."

Official: "Please go out with me. Please be my girlfriend... So I can stop hating romance."