I'm against straight/sapphic love triangles that go the straight way, but I'm fine with it if they end up going the sapphic route. The problem is that you normally can't tell, and if it ends up going the straight route late into the story, it's absolutely heartrending (too much like real life).

But with that title, the author is saying "don't worry, I'm not gonna do that to you". I mean, what a curveball it would be to do it anyway, but I assume the author's intentions aren't malicious, lol.

Yeah from I could gather the Line editorial staff made a note saying there's some events at the beginning but the story is a proper yuri story. There's more characters though, so who knows what happens with these two specifically. We'll see. But with the title (which also seems like it should be a question, not a statement), it seems the guy will be prominent in whatever ways but you should be fine reading on. If that helps. Although being Yuri doesn't mean there won't be drama, of course. It seems the boy is a chill guy, possibly? Just existing but I guess that's the joke of the title's question. The Line note seems to want people to relax.

Someone else can translate as well:
【LINEマンガ編集部おすすめコメント】
トランペット1stを吹くことに誇りを持っていた片桐。そこに全国レベルの強豪校で1stを吹いていた転校生、相川が現れて……。
青春。青い空。吹奏楽。百合。そして間に挟まる健気な男の子。
女子吹奏楽部員たち（と男の子1名）の、名前のつけられない感情を描く、バカっぽいタイトルからは計り知る事が難しい青春群像劇です。

出だしのパンチがありますが、ちゃんと百合です。ご安心して読み進めて下さい。

What a fantastic title. Drew me in.

I agree! Some of these reactions are interesting considering the title is so self aware and anticipates these kind of responses. From my understanding, it should be a question mark though, like asking a question.

last edited at May 28, 2023 9:13AM

I’d love to be given the opportunity to forget that Shiho ever existed.

Don't mean to be rude but like with Shiho's friends do the pros of the series outweigh its cons for you? If not, the opportunity is there. I've certainly taken that opportunity on more than one occasion. She's kind of cemented as a core main character and as I mentioned before, her story with Aki is important to the author (from what she's said). I honestly feel more and more that this is the story she meant to get to from the start. It's certainly taken up the highest percentage of the running time this far. So this is the story, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on where you stand I guess.

Well no she hasn't done anything particularly bad or morally reprehensible but she's just a pain in the ass and a hard to deal person, you have to be a special kind of saint to tolerate her shit (wich shiho I lucky cuz every person aside from her Is that kind of person).

I don't think you need to be a saint. She's chill in most interactions and the series obviously picks specific moments to cover. During normal days she's been a good friend to them. She has thorny spots that her friends know are touchy subjects but that's normal in a friendship (or maybe it used to be normal?). Sometimes you know that a friend isn't their best under certain conditions. That's not being difficult necessarily, or unique to Shiho, that's just people. It's an exaggeration to say you'd need to be a saint, you just can't be too sensitive. But anyway that's all subjective, so we'll just talk around each other. Bottom line is it's not unreal for her friends to view her differently than you might. They just like her more than not and likely understand/sympathize with where her rougher edges are coming from.

The levels of copium on this forum have been raising exponentially with every new chapter, people have been moving the goalpost of what's acceptable or good writing to accommodate shiho and the story. At this point I'm convinced that both the story and shiho can get away with almost anything because people will justify almost anything or just headcanon a solution.

I'd say it's goes the opposite. The responses to Shiho seem to get worse and more exaggerated the more people realize that others look at her character differently. The idea seems to some, unfathomable and seems to bring out some odder responses sometimes. But we'll probably agree to disagree on that. This'll be a discussion for the rest of the series probably. It'll be interesting to see what happens if the anime can get up to these points in the story.

last edited at May 28, 2023 7:37AM

This arc has been amazing. Really love the creative direction taken here. So much to mine from it and keep the story fresh. Looking forward to the future. I would have cut both his hands off though.

What puzzles me is why the people around her keep putting up with her shit, like sure she's a "realistic teen", but other "realisticas teens" would already be done with her, even if her character makes sense it's weird how everyone just shrugs their shoulders and go "good ol shiho am I rite" whenever she acts annoying.

Most of her friends know her background and seem to have accepted that her behaviour largely comes from those related issues. She's also not done as much as is often implied by some and most of her issues are related to competition and Aki. They simply believe her pros outweigh her cons and don't abandon her because she has faults.

every shiho fan will just write easays justifing and rationalizing her actions and about how aki and SS were actually the bad guys all along and shiho not only deserves the apology but also doesn't need to apologize

Who has done this exactly? Is there something you can point to as an example?

last edited at May 27, 2023 11:31AM

If nothing else there's always the universal school time plot/drama creator: the future. Himari is a first year while everyone in SS Girls are third years. Shiho and her band are all second years.

Graduation, getting separated, college, what comes after school. Plenty to worry about for everyone involved xD

That's true but I don't feel like she'll be interested in writing about those kinds of plots. At least I don't expect her to take that straightforward angle, if she even does go that route. She also seems really focused on depicting musical connection into the story, so I'm imagining a different kind of future for the series. But who knows. I'll be looking for some hints in the next chapter.

Lol that panel of yori and shiho facing each other was hilarious, as if yori actually gave a flying fuck about shiho or whatever she's up to. It's also hilarious how no one but hima could muster the strength to chase after shiho cuz she's such a pain to deal with, so even her bandmates avoid her like the plague when she's mad

I mean, winning the competition is also important to Yori. SS lost during the audition and Shiho told her that "she has a long way to go" (I think it was the only time they spoke, lol). Not to mention, she even wrote a new song for the occasion.

Also their depiction of what happened is imaginary and projection. Her friends didn't say anything about avoiding her. They actually didn't really speak this chapter at all. A "main character's only" kind of chapter.

last edited at May 27, 2023 10:06AM

The ideal would be for them to reconcile, become friends again and for the relationship to develop little by little, but I don't know if that will be the author's intention. Sales are great and there's an anime coming soon, so it's all up to them really.

Yeah I'm wondering how the series will continue after the "battle" ends as well. It could go like a lot of Korean series and follow both main "couples" while continuing with their trials and complications. That's the pattern it's followed up to now (main 1 gets it's focus, then main 2, then both together). There's not any clear outstanding issues though besides Shiho and Aki's situation, so more than anything I'm interested to see what the author wants to do. She says she's a fan of Aki, especially; and she likes the feedback she's gotten about Aki and Shiho's story, but I can't imagine she'll want to solely center them in the story still. So we'll see. It could also end after this but like you said it's doing so well (sales, anime and recent live) and from her comments it sounds like she has more to tell, at least for a bit. I'm honestly more interested in where this goes, than anything else with the story at the moment.

last edited at May 27, 2023 9:58AM

It seems that SS is going to win the competition after all. Don't worry Shiho, you can't do anything against such a massive plot armor.

I'm still not sure what kind of message will Aki try to convey to Shiho. It's not like she can fall in love with her in just one day... Right?

Depends on what she says. I can't imagine they'd fall in love (well one of them is already in love) but I could see Aki's being willing to rekindle their relationship. That wouldn't be a lovey dovey couple but a sort of obviously flirting middle ground while they work things out. So friends but friends leaning in an obvious direction. She could also do the opposite, and discuss their past but embrace moving on. Not a clear tell either way so it'll be interesting to see what she says.

Aleast use the door for a nice trip anyway.

Come on Aki, get the girl!

It looks like she's about to pull a movie stunt. We'll see how that goes. I predict a lot of tears and close ups of Shiho's reactions in the crowd.

last edited at May 26, 2023 8:06PM

Who is this ribbon ceo y’all are talking about, did I miss something

From the last extra chapter. The woman at the end in the bar.

Risa (like everyone else in this manga) is really nice, isn't she? She'll find someone for sure. I also forgot these were extra chapters.

last edited at May 26, 2023 11:41AM

Apparently, this is based on a popular play/drama or something similar? Does anyone know anything about that?

last edited at May 25, 2023 6:15PM

Okay. I've finished the vol 2 of this story. It doesn't get as bad as other ppl mentioned. Hiroko gets more relatable as the story progresses.

There is a reason why she acts like this. She used to have a crush on a senpai just like Ayaka does now, and that ended horribly which made her the way she is now. I really felt bad fot her and I totally understand her now. I haven't finished vol 3 but I'll reply with my thoughts after I'm done.

Yeah she's her most hilarious during the setup for sure! Glad you stuck with it and let the story explain itself. I think Volume 3 (the last one) is the best, so it would be great to hear your opinion on it (especially if you end up feeling differently). Also you're reading it in Japanese? If you haven't, you could also try "Black and White" from the same author. That just ended and is about as long as this one. Really different flavour though.

last edited at May 25, 2023 4:10PM

Are there any villainess yuri stories where the villainess is actually fairly effed up? I mean someone like Fukiko Ichinomiya from Oniisama e. She was a seriously nasty person.

Maybe I’m weird for wanting it, but there’s nothing like the thrill of digging into the twisted psychology of a screwed up villainess. Most of these villainess stories are cute, but I abandon them ‘cuz they’re just tsunderes in fantasy settings. Not much real villainy.

Fed Up Office Lady features a villainess as a love interest whose plans are legitimately evil.

Yeah, that was my example but it still falls into the same category as the commenter mentioned. We still don't know her full plans (as compared to the game version) and I doubt it goes fully bad without explanations/backstory etc. The author seems to be interested in the romance more than anything as well. It's still a story with a main couple comprised of a powerful tsundere and a woman who wants to save her. But that one was the closest I could think of, as well.

last edited at May 25, 2023 12:44PM

Are there any villainess yuri stories where the villainess is actually fairly effed up? I mean someone like Fukiko Ichinomiya from Oniisama e. She was a seriously nasty person.

Maybe I’m weird for wanting it, but there’s nothing like the thrill of digging into the twisted psychology of a screwed up villainess. Most of these villainess stories are cute, but I abandon them ‘cuz they’re just tsunderes in fantasy settings. Not much real villainy.

Yeah, it's just that most of the people writing these aren't interested in a psychological breakdown, they're in it for the romance and the tsundere ("I can save her"). A lot of the audience has been primed for that too by now; honestly, including me. In practice,"Villainess" is just another word for "Powerful Tsundere to be saved or do the saving."

last edited at May 25, 2023 10:19AM

I think this is the fourth or fifth series I've read with this start... looks good tho

Came here to say this. That intro has been overdone and is stupid at this point, but there could still be potential here.

since every manga out there has an generic start do you think every manga has an stupid start too? because there is not much unique manga starts out there so everything is stupid by your definition, is just generic but not stupid

Yeah the setups are often paying homage and generic for that reason. It's not until the second chapter that I get an idea of the story's potential direction. Even more so for these types. Characters seem interesting now though and I enjoyed her little shows of magic.

last edited at May 25, 2023 6:04AM

This implies that Hiroko has slept with women she's found attractive in the workplace before...SO THEN WHAT THE FUCK IS THE POINT OF THIS MANGA

This one offhand comment single handedly destroys the entire backbone of the story. If Hiroko is such a womanizer and jumps at the chance to sleep with a cute girl, WHY HAS SHE BEEN AVOIDING AYAKA SO DAMN MUCH!?

That's a good question to ask but doesn't break the manga. Just have to read to find out. Also remember that she used to be a womanizer but stopped recently. They discussed this in chapter 2 around the bar, when two of the women mention that her reputation now is different then before.

last edited at May 24, 2023 4:55PM

Hiroko is sweet, albeit under a good amount of pressure given her position. Can't imagine currying favor like that everyday in that kind of atmosphere. She must feel constantly worried.

I guess her refusal to believe that Ayaka is gay makes a bit more sense if every woman in her department is also blushing after her. Well, that or everyone who works there is gay, and no one's realized it yet.

That and she's really worried about what the office would think (and I guess what it would do to her career) if they knew she was gay. She's even wearing clothes meant for fending off the leeches.

It's interesting because they mention her age gap quite a bit in these chapters and there might be something to how her fear of being outed is more intense than someone like Ayaka's. Ayaka is younger and therefore maybe has a different outlook on things because of that. They have two altered perspectives.

last edited at May 24, 2023 3:04PM

Snake Princess is currently trifling. Another great chapter, this series is amazing with its subtle storytelling, attention to details and characterizations. Also lovely variety of facial expressions.

last edited at May 24, 2023 7:53AM

Given the way episodes 17 and 18 have gone, the bloody hand Miorine is holding would make more sense to be Prospera's. Taking the devil's hand in an alliance, even if it means the blood is on your hands as well.

I would LOVE some introspection from Suletta about how even though she's technically gotten everything she wanted, none of it feels complete without Miorine. But we'll just have to see what Sunrise has in store.

She did that introspection in the last episode. She questioned the idea of "gaining two" (for the first time) because even with everything else, she couldn't get over missing Mio. So that already happened.

last edited at May 23, 2023 9:27PM

That is quite the hair.

She's basically Mufasa. All she needs is to let out a little meow.

last edited at May 23, 2023 9:49AM

Cute. Hiroko doesn't know how much she affects Ayaka yet. She needs a recharge every couple days. But still that room needs some serious cleaning. Looked like a hoarders room for a second.

last edited at May 22, 2023 5:26PM

Seems like this entire plot would be over pretty quickly if Kase just told Fukami she was moving in with her girlfriend.

Ikr? But what if Fukami will be like "I don't approve of her! Have a race with me and if you lose you two should break up" Lol

Haha. Don't put that in the air.

Following this arc is still suffering but it looks like Kase is committed to moving out no matter what and probably coming out no matter what so I guess progress is progress.

What? How do you get that? She still hasn't called off the race so I wouldn't call that committed to moving out. As for coming out, this chapter was her tripling down on staying in the closet. Not only did she kept lying about her boyfriend. She also needed to qualify every mention of like, whether it's hers or her roommate's to make sure her roomie didn't think for an instant that she might be gay.
This chapter was Kase completely failing to make progress at anything, as is the norm for this arc.

Now the race is: "I'm moving but if you win you'll get to know why I'm moving." So the track friend can win this race and it will now be an opportunity for Kase to be honest, rather than anything else. She just did things subtly since it seems she doesn't want to hurt her. I believe Kase thinks Fukami will win the race and therefore expects to be honest. She wants Fukami to take a step forward and beat her.

Consider that: "if you beat me, I'll tell you why I'm leaving," contradicts "if you beat me I won't leave." The former is the last bet they agreed on. The terms should have changed. I say "should" because I have to carry a grain a salt with me at this point since this manga has done some weirdly inconsistent stuff. But I think it's pretty clear here.

last edited at May 22, 2023 12:37PM

Note; the scanlators changed the last page of Chapter 31 from this to this since it became clear that Fukami didn't (properly) confess just then.

Thank you for the notice!

If Kase redefines the race to "I'm definitely leaving, but if you win I'll tell you why"... that still won't change that they missed a good apartment because of her stupidity, but it'll be a marginal improvement.

Yeah, that's where I am at too. We're begging for crumbs at this point.

why must we take the long route of having the side character slowly realize their feelings only to then be rejected instead of the short route of revealing that her crush is taken by another girl which forces her feelings out quickly bringing the conflict to its emotional conclusion?

Also, agree but I think that's because this apartment move now feels like an end-game event, and she's stretching out the build-up to it, in an attempt to make it seem like a journey with an "earned" conclusion. I think it's been done terribly but I think that's the idea. I wouldn't be surprised if this all ends when they finally move in together. Last version was only 24 chapters.

last edited at May 22, 2023 9:19AM