we should form opinions about fictional characters as if they were work of fiction. Yes, they simulate real life human experience but an enjoyable Character / good character is not the same as a real life good person/ enjoyable person.

This is a facile argument. Characters are analyzed on multiple axes. We are not in any way obligated to analyze every character purely on the dispassionate intellectual basis of how well or how poorly the character works within a piece of fiction. Especially since this isn't academia and nobody here is doing anything other than giving their thoughts about a work like a neighborhood book club.

Indeed, part of analyzing how well or how poorly a character works within a piece of fiction involves the emotional reactions that character produces within the audience. Dolores Umbridge was a fantastic villain who expertly served her specific literary purpose within Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. And part of the reason she worked so well is because people absolutely hated her. She provoked a strong emotional response within the audience, and that is usually the sign of a well-written character. If she had been a bland character to whom people were mostly indifferent, she wouldn't have worked nearly as well.

So the idea that we can't react to a character as though they were a real person is abject nonsense. Nobody turns off their emotions when they engage with media, not even you.

We need antagonists, we need villians, we need fictional characters that manipulate, that we cant trust, that we disagree with so that the story becomes interesting, so that there is room for development and conflict and to keep us on our toes.

Yes. And that's exactly what happened. Kishi gave us a character that is unlikeable and untrustworthy. So, not surprisingly, a lot of readers don't like her and don't trust her. Insert ShockedPikachuFace.jpg here.

If the author himself (implicitly) says "you can't trust this character", well, who am I to argue?

If he changes his mind (which he seems to have done as the overall tone of the comic has become softer) and is willing to do the heavy lifting to change mine (which he is mostly doing with her interactions with Mask), then I'll change my mind.

If Ayaka loves Hiroko that much, I wonder why she never thought of changing jobs for the sake of not having the issue they are having. I mean, like some people said, relationship between boss and subordinate is not really a good option anyway... I admire people that can keep they professional and personal life apart, but it's not their case. Both of them, especially Ayaka are unable to do so.

Probably because she's worked 13 years to rise in this specific company and can't even consider the thought of resetting all that progress. That's the dilemma though. Would you do that for a new work relationship? Should you? The only thing she can likely do is stay here, and get over her ingrained fears.

They're asking if Ayaka could change jobs. She doesn't have nearly as much invested in the company as Hiroko.

Some people really forget that these are just high school students. Kaoru was an asshole in the past true. But you cant tell me that is the only side of the character you see now after seeing her with her sister and the manga club.

I mean what kind of punishment would you want for her to redeem her in your eyes, I am genuinely curious.

I don't need a punishment. If she's meant to be a more sympathetic character now than she was when she was introduced, I'm fine with that. I'm quite happy watching Mask run circles around her.

But outside of her interactions with Mask, I still don't see any clear and unambiguous signals which indicate when she's being honest and sincere vs. when she's being manipulative. I mean, it's not like she's not trying to be just as manipulative with Mask as she is with everybody else. She's just failing spectacularly.

Man, I was just looking through m k's stuff on Gelbooru the other day. They've got a ton of pics of this couple, along with a ton of additional stuff from their "Jewels" couple. Very nice.

I see this picture and I hear the intro bass line to "Feel Good, Inc".

Being able to recognize rhetorical questions is a key skill.

Vulcan Mind Meld Progress: 38%

Eating tsuchinoko-san on the pillar is...
ah delicious
Let's go!
Eating tsuchinoko-san on the pillar is...
It is more delicious than usual
New discovery!

Love Live! Sunshine x Kantai Collectiion

Girl on the right is named "Commission", apparently. Wonder what the girl on the left's name is.

Insane amounts of tail

Cap-chan took her glasses off, so now Briefcase-chan is gonna be all blurry!

I agree that there's no real equivalent ship from Sunshine, but that still doesn't explain NicoMaki's staying power.

It does seem like this is the one ship out of all the Love Live! media that will outlast the franchise itself. You don't ever get NozoEli anymore, nor HanaRin, nor KotoUmi. Not even TubaHonks.

But NicoMaki still going strong.

Wonder what it is about that pair that resonates so strongly with the fans.

They are NOT wrong though- anyone who thinks otherwise must be in denial imo.

That said, it's been a while and she doesn't seem to be the same person anymore and isn't up to her old tricks -
so while I won't ever trust her 100% or like her much, I like seeing her grow and move on and hope mask is good for her.

People can change - i'd rather she became a better person than not and she deserves a chance at least.

But I can also see why some people dont want anything to do with her - and I can't fault that.

My issue with Kaoru is that she was introduced as a very manipulative, self-centered character. Which is fine, not every character needs to be puppydogs and butterflies and rainbows.

But if the character is manipulative and deceitful and unable to give a shit about anybody but themselves, that's how I'm going to interpret her words and her actions. So, for example, when she told Honoka that she wished for Honoka to become a mangaka, I didn't believe it. I just figured it was more of the same lying manipulation. She was trying to make Honoka feel bad for treating her like a lying, manipulative bitch.

However, reading the thread, I saw many people hold that moment up as one of her positive moments. They clearly perceived that declaration as being sincere and honest. They were picking up on some signal I didn't see, and still don't. And in general, I could never figure out when Kaoru was being sincere this time, as opposed to all the other times when she wasn't.

When she started interacting with Mask, though, it became much more obvious when Kaoru was being sincere, because Mask wasn't giving her any other choice. Manipulative insincerity doesn't work on Mask, because Mask is just socially awkward enough to call Kaoru on her bullshit directly, in a way that doesn't leave Kaoru any wiggle room. So I am really enjoying their interactions.

There's also the fact that the comic overall has shifted in tone over the past 13 years. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, Chapter 1 Ayano was straight-up groping Miyoshi's tits in the middle of class without any hint of embarrassment, while Chapter 274 Ayano goes beet-red at the mere glimpse of Miyoshi's bra and cleavage. I think it's safe to say that whatever image Kishi has in his head for Kaoru's personality now, it's probably not quite the cold-hearted manipulative ice queen she was in the early chapters.

last edited at Jul 31, 2023 9:45AM

I love how Mayoi doesn't give Kaoru any refuge but sincerity.

^ Of that I am absolutely certain.

It does not dissuade my nitpicking instincts, however!

Also: If you think about it, Bocchi has the ring boxes backwards. The blue box will be in front of the yellow-haired girl, and the yellow box will be in front of the blue-haired girl.

A fence is someone who buys stolen goods from thieves and other criminals. Can be used as a noun (to describe a person who does this) or a verb (the act of selling stolen goods to a fence).

I wouldn't take any of that as evidence of anything other than they know what gets 'em page views.

Kojiro481: You can't make a li--
BlueDsc: LEEEEEEEEROOOOOY JENKINS!!!!

Good work, you dorks. I chuckled for a good minute or so. :-)

last edited at Jul 29, 2023 9:47AM

Missing a lot of tags atm, like Read left to right

But anyways, great doujin. I like the Riko x You dynamic a lot

Yeah, I suggested a bunch of 'em. Read Left to Right, Romance, Adult Life, and Slice of Life.

Also: I would imagine that the artist didn't draw the background. They just drew the characters and photoshopped the background in, which is why the angles are wrong.

Phew. I'm glad we cleared that up.

Neither one is looking where they're going. They gonna have a comedic moment here in a few where they trip over the curb or walk into a lamppost or something.

Also, they're both have the exact same facial angle, which may be causing the uncanny valley.