@juanelric Minakata Sunao is the artist of the AnR manga. The writer is Kouga Yun.

Minakata Sunao, the artist of Akuma no Riddle! Holy shit

but lacking that certain something . . .

Silky hair and long eyelashes? :v

Honestly, I had completely forgotten about the "guy from the first chapter" until I read Dynasty's description for this series. At this point that almost feels like a different story.

...I forget, does that guy even go to the same high school?

It was only mentioned that he was a friend from middle school. Considering Yuu and him never saw each other again in high school and that he kept calling her instead of talking to her in person, it's safe to say he doesn't go to the same high school.

Just wanted to say that I enjoy reading this discussion. It really does add to the manga.

Any who...

There's something that has been bugging me for a while... And I've been waiting for it since the chapter was released. At the end of chapter 5, Yuu speaks in retrospect. I can't remember the exact quote but it goes along the lines of... "At that time I didn't know I'd have to give up something to stay by her side..."

Was this just volume ending flare to keep the reader interested, is it a mistranslation, or has it already been revealed and I just missed it?

So, yeah, waiting a long time for that "something" to be revealed.

It was not a mistranslation. Yuu meant love. In order to be by Touko's side, Yuu had to give up on loving her or anyone at all. It was a promise but more than that, it was Yuu's desire to be with Touko which ended up being stronger than her desire to fall in love. Remember Touko doesn't want to be loved (or didn't want). The Japanese description on the cover of volume 3 confirms what I said. It was something among the lines of "...Yuu, in order to be by Touko's side, decided to give up on love. [I will never fall in love. I haven't so far, and from now on...]..."

However, now that the confession has occurred, I feel that wrapping things up too quickly would just annihilate my "need for drama" addiction. I'd like to see a trust issue arise and be resolved. Trust is very difficult to mend, and Yuu may have had her trust in "love" and Touko shattered. I'd be disappointed if the author goes too lightly on this. Thus, my need for drama. And, we all know what comes after heartbreaking drama that ends with happy reconciliation... makeup sex!!!! Oh wait, we're talking about highschoolers... so just a long kiss with the sunset in the background... sigh...

You see sex between high school girls pretty often in yuri though. 7u7

last edited at Aug 2, 2018 10:27PM

(I'm too lazy to quote the posts above since there are too many)

Adding to this- How much Touko was aware of Yuu and Sayaka's affections- discussion:

I'm a bit more surprised Touko was completely clueless about Yuu's feelings. She can be the typical"oblivious to love" type that is very present on anime and manga, but there are a few instances where she was shown suspecting something may be up with Yuu: chapter 13 & 24 (the scene where she stares at Yuu after the latter says she invited her out because no one else was available) are the best examples, because Touko was outright suspicious. Maybe she convinced herself it was just her imagination, since she really didn't want to be loved by Yuu? In chapter 13 she seemingly believed Yuu's explanation, so there's that. But in chapter 24 she was just distracted before Yuu could say something. There are other minor examples that are worth noticing as well. Yuu holding her hand on the aquarium didn't raise an eyebrow in the slightest? Or Yuu's sexual attraction to her, a fact Touko has known since chapter 16, after Yuu told her kissing felt good. It didn't occur to Touko that maybe that sexual attraction could be due to love? After all, before chapter 16 Yuu either reluctantly agreed or rejected (chapter 15 when she pushed Touko away) her advances. We can conclude that Touko really is the oblivious type, I guess... or was in denial(?).

Regarding Sayaka, there's no hint that Touko is aware of her feelings, but chapter 26 kinda revealed that she knows Sayaka will always agree to whatever Touko says, that's why Touko asked her opinion on the new script (something Sayaka confirmed later). We know that Touko has been using Yuu and Sayaka for different purposes, and with the former it was something Yuu agreed to. With the latter, there's just one scene where Touko asks Sayaka to be by her side because it helps her, and Sayaka accepts. Sayaka has always been more than happy to help Touko, so it's fine.
But yeah, I guess the special 3 is a good indicator that Touko doesn't suspect anything regarding Sayaka's feelings. She just thinks Sayaka is the unconditional best friend.

I think this is what bothers me about her. I know Touko genuinely loves You, it's just that... Touko is a nice person in general, but she's a bit selfish, she doesn't take an interest in the problems of people around her. And Yuu is just this perfect fluffy wonderful gal who cares about others, so I'd rather she found someone like that too for herself.

But that would make no sense at this point in the story, particularly because we're already headed towards the final chapters, so it wouldn't do to change the direction of the plot so radically now. Touko/Yuu isn't bad either, they love each other and all, it's just that, personally, I think Yuu is too good for Touko.

To be fair, we haven't seen Yuu face any problems. She's quite apathetic too, and these things about her contrast Touko, who has had different issues since the beginning. The only suffering Yuu has experienced is having to repress her feeelings because she wanted to be with Touko, and this is something the latter just found out, and her first reaction was feeling bad for what she has done to Yuu, so I don't think Touko is that selfish (she still is, but not to the point of completely insensitivity).
So, we've yet to see how Touko is gonna act now that she knows she has hurt Yuu, and how she's gonna take Yuu's feelings into consideration. It would be nice to see Yuu going through any difficulty too, to see how Touko would support her. Regardless, I'm sure Touko would have supported Yuu at any point of the story if she had seen her having a bad time.

I hope it won't take a whole volume for them to be officially together... I can't wait so long :(

Somebody please confirm this because my Japanese skill is not great. On page 14, the "this can't go on" in Japanese is "dame nanda ne" which is more accurately "I can't do it huh?" in that context and then the "I have to say it" is "iccha dame nanda" which is actually "I really can't say it." These have very different meanings. If how I'm understanding the lines is correct, Yuu was actually considering of backing down again in order to follow along with Touko's status quo and then waiting for Touko to change enough by herself to reciprocate her feelings someday, but in the end, she could not hold back her feelings any longer so she went and took that leap of faith right there and then.

Yes. She says "I can't say it" and then thinks it's fine because that way she will be able to be by Touko's side the same way as always. The translation is basically on point besides these huge fuck-ups.

There would be a bonus chapter between the wait though. Seems like there won't be one this time around. Anyone thinking there's a possibility that the next volume is the last?

It may be, but I don't think that's related to the lack of a special chapter next month. Special 6 would have been in volume 7 (which it's confirmed to happen), so maybe Nakatani will be busy with the anime or other projects next month. Still, it's a bit weird.

so in short, this is about an ace girl's story of falling in love? It'd be nice if the mangaka would continue making Yuu analyze every situation rather than just go along with it without questioning things. This is interesting.

I don't think she is asexual but rather aromantic because in the last chapter of the 3rd volume Yuu says that she does enjoy being kissed just like anyone would. So I think that means that she does feel sexual attraction or at least enjoys it but doesn't feel romantic attraction. Perhaps she is gray-romantic or demi-romantic. I guess we will see.

Have you even read all the chapters so far? It's clear she likes Touko romantically, hell chapter 33 has Yuu indirectly asking her sister about advice regarding confessing. Honestly at this point there shouldn't be anyone questioning whether Yuu is asexual/aromantic or not, anyone who pays a little bit of attention would quickly figure her out.

last edited at Jul 20, 2018 11:46AM

Touko accepting Sayaka would be contrived as hell. Even if she rejects Yuu, she has never shown any kind of romantic/sexual feeling towards Sayaka, so dating her out of the blue would be weird and ruin their friendship, and I doubt Touko wants that since she appreciates what they have.
And I have the feeling Touko already knows or at least suspects that Sayaka sees her as more than a friend and is ignoring it on purpose because she feels comfortable with their relationship as it is.

last edited at Jul 16, 2018 11:43PM

I love this.

Regarding Sayaka, I more or less agree with some comments and disagree with others.
Firstly, I think what Sayaka meant in chapter 26 was that she will help Touko because she loves her and wants her to be happy, and that's the only reason she told Yuu about her feelings. She was replying to the "Why did you agree to use the new script?" question that was interrupted previously. By admitting it to Yuu, she may have wanted to start a friendly rivalry, where Touko's well-being was what made them work together.

Another thing, I don't think she would confess to help Yuu. Sayaka knows Touko doesn't see her that way, yet it's been foreshadowed that she will confess anyways (chapter 14, when she wonders if she would be able to confess after Touko changes). Sayaka just wants Touko to know even if it's not reciprocated, imo. Having your feelings bottled up makes them stronger and the uncertainty is painful. Confessing will be closure for her and it will allow her to let go of Touko and start anew. So, I agree with the comment that said that if Sayaka confesses, it will be for own sake.

I can see Sayaka helping Yuu, but only if she notices Touko is suffering as well, and things would turn out like a shoujo trope where a character helps their beloved and their partner be together because they want their beloved to be happy. But Sayaka helping Yuu and Touko be together just for Yuu's sake? I don't think so. Friendly rivals are still rivals after all.

Btw, have you noticed Sayaka was upset Yuu joined her and Touko in that game they were doing in chapter 29 ? It seems Sayaka is still a bit possessive of Touko and still wants to be as close to her as possible, even if she's aware that Yuu is important for Touko too.

Another question: Will the alliance between Sayaka and Yuu be over since Touko is changing? They joined forces to help her, and now that it's done and the play is over, Yuu is thinking of confessing, and Sayaka may be thinking the very same thing, too. It seems they will start pursuing their own interests soon.

last edited at Jul 1, 2018 9:57AM

I see…
Now I can see clearly that in the future there will be an infidelity, but I do not know who will be the victim this time.

Indeed, I have a serious trauma.
I'm looking for the holy grail.
Maybe if I give my opinion in this way it is possible for someone to prove otherwise, but for now the NTR seems unbeatable and omnipotent.

...What the fuck are you talking about?

last edited at Jun 30, 2018 3:28PM

Well, it's been stated on Twitter that the next chapter is the last of the current volume 6, and Nakatani herself has said this volume is not the last one and that the manga will still continue for some time (maybe 8 volumes?). We have to wait and see how chapter 34 will play things out, it can mark the start of a new arc and a new conflict, or it can end on a happy note for the main characters (I bet you're not expecting that eh). One thing is clear, Sayaka has been relevant since the beginning, so her feelings for Touko need a proper resolution. I'm not saying she'll get in the middle of Touko/Yuu, but I'm sure we'll see more of her point of view in later chapters.
Regarding this chapter, the fact that Rei mentions the parents makes me think we'll see Yuu (and maybe Touko too) coming out to her family. I hope so, and I also want a chapter where Yuu goes to Touko's house.

last edited at Jun 30, 2018 12:56PM

I think I'm the only one who expects next chapter (the last of this volume) to have a happy conclusion, judging by the comments I'm reading lol. I don't think everything will go completely smoothly, I just imagine something like chapter 10, that had drama and tension but ended up fine. Whatever happens, I think Yuu will be able to convince Touko that everything is fine now.
I just hope Yuu won't cry, it would crush me too much

last edited at May 30, 2018 12:22PM

What's with all the negativity here? Wtf guys D:

I honestly just want to see the moment Yuu realized she was in love with Touko, like the moment it fudging hit her or did it happen already and i somehow skipped it? somebody let me know please.

Not yet. In this chapter she said "me too" in her mind, but it was translated as "I love her too". I can see how it may confuse some people. Full-blown confession with flowers in the background coming up soon.

That being said, the fact that Touko didn't bother to tell Yuu about joining the theater groupe is a bit worrying. Now Yuu won't necessarily be the first person she'll talk about things, I suppose. I think it was meant to be expected given chapter 31, though. But it hurt Yuu a little so I hope she'll tell Touko about it.

Why did Yuu's idea of what love should feel like come from shoujo manga?

She's just a 16-year-old who had never fallen in love. She had no idea how being in love felt so she just assumed it felt similar to the romance stories she had read. I don't see anything unrealistic about it given her age. While she is smart and mature about most things, she's still a teenager who is inmature when it comes to love and is just understanding what love is and what it means for her. I know there are people like her irl too.

She's generally a smart, perceptive, logical person. She sees through Touko's mask within days of meeting her when the only other person to know the real Touko is her best friend of several years.

Yuu was completely unaware of Touko's real personality at the beginning. She didn't find out about it because she is perceptive, but rather because it was Touko who showed her her real self and opened up to her. You see this in chapter 5 when Yuu is confused about Touko's desire to be perfect. It's not until chapter 10 when Yuu figures out Touko completely and admits she misunderstood her. And Sayaka has known Touko only for a year when the manga started, if anything Sayaka is the one who is very perceptive because she realised that Touko was putting a facade despite Touko not showing her her real self.

From the start of this manga I've had this uncomfortable feeling which I think was because I couldn't understand Yuu or Touko. Their mindsets seemed completely alien to me. As it went on we start to understand why Touko acts the way she does but Yuu's original thoughts on love still make no sense to me. She seems too smart to have had her whole idea on how love is supposed to happen come from fiction.

Yuu feels like a real person to me. I feel all characters in this series feel very human but I feel Yuu's multidimensional character stands out. That's just my opinion though. Like I said, just because she's very smart on some areas doesn't mean she knows every real life issue. The story is about her understanding love after all.

Does anyone besides Matsuri_wins actually read that dude's posts?

But I wouldn't be at all surprised if before that big one we got some "deck clearing" scenes: Touko & her parents; whatever that new theatre-sensei is about; Touko & Sayaka, or maybe even an interrupted Touko & Yuu scene as a prelim.

Or the next chapter randomly focuses on a side character (chapter 25 & 27, I'm talking to you). That would be terrible considering where the last chapter ended...

I actually think a Yuu-Sayaka scene might be pretty interesting.

Same.

(And is "Maki knows" a completely dead letter at this point?)

Maki knowing was never supposed to be relevant so it's not a dead letter. Nakatani said he is just the audience's self-insert (that also explains his lack of interest in romance) and also a contrast to Yuu (something already shown in chapter 15). I don't see what he could do for the main couple either, he's not Yuu's close friend or anything. I would like to see Yuu talking about her current situation with Touko to someone, but to someone close to her, like her sister or Koyomi. Someone she can truly rely on, you know. Maki feels a bit like a creep even if that's not the intention of his character.

last edited at May 6, 2018 7:08PM

I agree with the other users who said that the climax is probably what comes after the play. Even before it, it was a source of drama, like when it made Touko have a breakdown, what made Yuu decide to change Touko, all those moments in chapter 22, Touko and Yuu's confrontation in chapter 10, etc. Maybe I'm not disappointed because I didn't expect a huge twist or something of the sort, I guess other users expected Yuu to do something in a stage in front of a lot of people? Yuu didn't do anything because she meant her lines, she wanted this play exactly like this. The plot of the play was interesting for me as well, and I liked seeing other characters reacting to it, like the parents. Yeah we already knew what would happen in the play but this had to be revealed before for obvious reasons.

TLDR I can see the climax being Touko and Yuu deciding how their relationship is gonna be from now on, this was probably the plan from the beginning. Will Yuu's love epiphany be very dramatic and emotional? And the scene when Touko and her talk about their feelings? This will probably be resolved within what's left of this volume, and I hope it will be like this, I don't want to see that tension last one more volume. Just let it explode big time and then resolve it in a great way rather than prolong the tension.

last edited at May 1, 2018 1:29AM

Seeing people overanalyze and apply psychology to the characters and plot of a manga like Citrus to this level is really shocking and a bit scary.

You should have seen (as you probably did) what people did with What Does the Fox Say? (Just in terms of impassioned analysis, that is.)

I think lavish interpretation is pretty much par for the course with “love it or love to hate it” series, since the things that people hate are often the things that fans love to dissect. If there were legitimate, text-supported alternative ships in Citrus instead of an OTP, the post- and walls-o’-text counts would probably be even higher.

At least the WDTFS analysis made some sense...

I'm a sw engineer and encounter this in my daily life; people actually think that e.g. the social media apps they use are easy to make, or that they are not meticulously designed, from the colours to the button positioning, to trigger a desired effect which has also been designed in advance. The fact that Citrus, in comparison to other yuri manga etc gained all this attention is not at all accidental.

Citrus is the most popular in the West (along with Girl Friends) but popularity doesn't equal quality. I still don't think it's that bad as some people say, like they say it's some irredeemable trash and stuff. In Japan, Citrus is not that popular compared to other yuri titles/subtext, so it seems this is a case of different culture = different interests.

last edited at Apr 29, 2018 3:37PM

Seeing people overanalyze and apply psychology to the characters and plot of a manga like Citrus to this level is really shocking and a bit scary. It's like I am reading an Eva thread or something even bigger.

I mean, Saburouta even said Mei is difficult to write. I'm guessing not even her understands her own character that well.

last edited at Apr 29, 2018 1:48PM