Predatory Karen aside (gross) I reeaaaally didn't expect to find such a healthy way of dealing with and resolving conflict within a relationship in a trashy porn manga. Usually the drama is contrived and drags an issue forever when it should have been resolved ages ago by just talking.

Yeah for what it's worth I thought this was handled pretty well. They didn't patch things up immediately but also didn't drag things out.

On the other hand, we did learn that Astarotte was the one coming on to Karen, not Karen herself going after minors left and right as the first spoilers claimed. However one feels about Karen not turning down anyone who comes to her, calling her a predator goes too far when you consider these revelations.

I'm continuing to read the manga because I can look past some of its weirder characters (and generally don't get into these debates) but this is a bit much. So as an adult: if a 13-15-year-old minor "came on to me first" and I slept with them multiple times, I would not be classified as a predator? What would I be then? A victim of a 13-15-year-old? I'm not sure about that one. I can look past her character and don't have strong feelings one way or the other but at no point do I think what she's doing is fine, or that she is not the predator when compared to a child. I didn't think that was a debatable aspect of her character but I guess I was wrong.

last edited at Jan 31, 2023 12:49PM

We haven't delved into Kae's past much so this seems like the chance to understand why she feels the way she does about romance and relationships.

last edited at Jan 30, 2023 6:32PM

With what little experience she has around social stuff, it 100% makes sense for Mitsuki to want to avoid conflict at all cost, even if it means self effacement. Let's see if Chizuru will be mature enough to recognise this and realize that taking the tickets won't make anything actually better in the end. That or as many people said, Mitsuki could turn on her accidental charm again and just break all of Chizuru's resentment that way :P

I'd really like it if Chizuru would realise from this gesture that she's throwing an irrational tantrum and refuses the ticket and instead apologises.
Sometimes all they need is to realise the other party is a good person and then feel bad about being jealous.

The problem with that is Chizuru's issues are with Aya. It would be different if Aya were the one giving her the tickets for the two of them to hang out again. Mitsuki only gets some of the resentment as collateral damage (as I don't think they care about her hanging out with Aya; they care that Aya's apparently stopped hanging out with them much and doesn't seem to notice). So, I don't know if Chizuru would feel that much better after this. But it could go either way. I could see Chizuru taking the tickets so she can have some time with Aya, like how things used to be. What happens just depends on whether the writer wants to focus on the main romance only, or highlight the importance of other kinds of relationships as well (romance: Aya goes with Mitsuki; friendships: she goes with Chizuru). The audience will predictably hate the latter though so they may not want to go in that direction, or they may do it anyway to make a point. OR somehow they all go. Either way, I don't think this ends without a 1-to-1 (which the tickets could provide). With this chapter, I don't think the writer views Chizuru negatively or intends her to be viewed negatively.

last edited at Jan 22, 2023 9:50AM

Oh no, the story about high school kids involves some of the friends feeling frustrated that they're not spending as much time together as they used to. Time to piss and moan about it on the internet because they mildly inconvenienced the romance in a way that will no doubt ultimately advance their relationship.

Haha Right. It's funny. Being pissy about the friend's "being pissy" because no one gets pissy like that of course. Chizuru's issue is a normal one that happens all the time and it can be hard to talk about this kind of issue with a friend. This is one of the ways friendships can drift part quietly. Happened when I was a teen, happens to students I teach now and I'm a professor (so they're college students). Communication is not nearly that easy when emotions are mixed up. People say "communication" like it's simple and that everyone communicates perfectly in their lives and when they were teens. If it were that simple the world would have no problems. Chizuru is not being bitchy and I love that Koga realizes they might have unintentionally alienated Aya's old friends and is doing the mature and attentive act of reaching out and practicing some of that communication thing.

last edited at Jan 22, 2023 7:13AM

Why not just kill her?

Too quick. Too final. She wants lasting suffering. A dead ghost is worse.

^
I can't recall if we know the exact odds, just that it's more likely to turn into a vampire if you're near death. From what they mentioned, it seems a lot less likely than 40% under normal circumstances. Let's assume there's a 10% chance to become a vampire from drinking the blood of one, drinking from two would drop it to 1% if the logic is that the human has to be compatible with both at once.

Yeah the implication seems to be that becoming a dead ghost is a certainty with two (under normal circumstances). They don't talk like they think there's another possible outcome.

Thing about this author you don't really know what to expect where they will go with things. Maybe Aria will pull a last second save with her power or maybe she will be fed the blood. The way the author you just can't be sure unlike many other series.

Which is a great thing. It's also not just that the author can go either way because they're unpredictable. It's that the story and themes are set up such that there's many different types of endings that would satisfy what's been built up. That takes some skill to setup.

last edited at Jan 21, 2023 3:09PM

oh look there was in fact chemistry between nanami's ex and mahiro hehe

Yeah, who would have thought? And actually seeing their dynamic, I could see Shiori being the kind that would allow Mahiro to handle her past with Nanami for a bit before moving in.

I desperately want a chapter from Shiori's point of view.

"...You want me to stay here so you can meet up with a person you knew from high school, because you want to hit on her and get rejected? ...uh, okay, I guess?"

"So, she didn't remember you and didn't reject you, and now you're immersed in a complex psychodrama involving at least three other women?"

"Uh, and she still hasn't rejected you, and also now she's living with you...?"

Think it's more like "I like you but I can't be a realistic partner, at the moment. I'm hung up on a lack of closure with this other person from my past (and have been using it as an excuse for my own issues). I'm finally going to get that closure so I can move on. If you're still willing to wait for me I'll call you."

I'd be surprised if Mahiro is involved in the drama much after this.

last edited at Jan 16, 2023 9:22PM

Ahhh fuck, insecurity time because she's never learned that there's a difference between positive and toxic relationships, has she.

Her friend is just jealous and annoyed. I would not call it toxic but...teenagers.

Said this somewhere else also but, I agree:

At least one friend feels neglected, which is fair. It's just the way she's handling it that's unproductive.

They could just talk it out but they might feel like they shouldn't have to do that. I think they feel slighted because of what her leaving represents: she's naturally/unconsciously stopped hanging out with them as much, for someone else (who they see as another friend); and that might make them feel left behind and unvalued. Hence the hurt, jealousy, and irritation. They could talk with her about it but it might feel to them like they shouldn't have to talk with an old friend about not dumping them for a new acquaintance. That's part of how these cycles of bad communication can start ("I could do it/say it but I shouldn't have to" comes up in a lot of relationship situations).

last edited at Jan 15, 2023 9:22AM

... I mean, sorry but what do these screens are supposed to prove? Yeah that's no surprise that Maho knows about Kaede (since apparently Nanami blabbed about her to her ex-boyfriend all the time), the absurd part that I was replying to here is that Maho is now supposed to be Kaede's "stalker fan" and tries to date Nanami just so Kaede can focus on her manga :P There is absolutely no basis for any of this, and there is a way more straightforward explanation.

If you're reffering to what you said earlier (Maho telling Nanami's boyfriend about her being lesbian) I would agree this one is possible, it's just unproven.

Some have been headcanning/assuming a lot of negative stuff about Maho that hasn't been hinted at or shown yet. Not really sure why. There's enough sudden drama as it is. Shes not really done anything besides show up. Even her hearing info about Nanami and her roommate situation isn't shown and that particular event could have happened during a normal gossiping conversation at the college that then led Maho to reach out to Nanami again after seeing a potential opportunity to reconnect and confess.

Then considering that Maho is the one who surely passed the word to Nanami's boyfriend that she was probably a lesbian in relationship in high school or college...

I wouldn't say there is anything sure about it, Maho apparently learned this from the ex herself in Hakata, she could have easily told this to more people

Yeah, I don't think Maho's done anything so far to worry about. She's very clear, straightforward, and not too pushy. She says who she likes, presents herself as dependable, and doesn't even talk badly about Kae to do so. This chapter shows more of that. Now, she's clearly left Nanami with a choice and says she'll accept her decision (and she does this while making it clear to Nanami that she'll be alone with Kae for the first time in a while. So she's allowing Nanami to sort out her feelings). I honestly think she's been great and in any other situation would be a good pairing (with less initial turmoil).

last edited at Jan 12, 2023 9:07AM

So, in the end we'll have resigned Koyuki x Maho on the left, and happy Kaede x Nanami on the right? (I really hope I end up wrong)

Well, we kind of know how one pair ends up, guess we'll have to see about the others. If things go as expected, I think Koyuki can get over it, as hers seems so sudden. Compared to Koyuki though, Maho seems to have had this crush for a longer time though, so might be more difficult to get over if things end up badly.

last edited at Jan 11, 2023 3:26PM

at this point she should just sigh and start undressing

Right. Just get it done all at once and call it a day.

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.

My response:
I've felt it for a bit and especially after this chapter.
It's possible someone is trying to rekindle Sumika and Nene's relationship through Kanoko. Nene is basically being made to go through the same thing she put Sumika through. It's possible this parallel is intentionally meant to force Nene's hand in the same way Nene thought her trist with Youko would force Sumika's hand in the past.

last edited at Jan 7, 2023 6:59AM

If anything I'd expect Aria to regain her mortality and aging somehow (if it's a happy ending). That seems like the only narrative conclusion that satisfies a list of themes and desires introduced in the manga up to now. I don't really think Ichika's turning into a Lilu is a serious narrative thread but a misdirect. Lilu life is not presented as happy or desirable. Everything Aria has desired is to escape it. Her first desire and the narratives first introduced goal is her death and an aging mortal body would grant a delayed inevitable death presumably after a life with Ichika (which is Ichika's actual desire). Literally anything could happen to the others. Could be wrong though, the series does well having enough narrative threads that the writer can choose many different directions and have them work.

last edited at Jan 7, 2023 6:02AM

For a story that started out with a formerly unrequited love becoming mutual, I wanted to see these two explore their relationship more, not fight over a love triangle. Could've given it a few chapters to breathe.

Yeah it's all happened very quickly and is part of why it seems abrupt. Normally this stuff happens after a bit.

But the author did introduce this trouble right from the first chapter so who knows if this mess is the main focus of the story.

It seems like her sister is the elephant in the room and this triangle seems intended to force a discussion of this mystery sister and the impact she's had on others.

I think both women are interested in each other because they see each other as representations of a person they loved and admired but can no longer reach. For one, it's mistaken romance and I think Ritsu just wants to connect with someone who's a stand in for her sister. I don't think Ritsu views it's romantically (but we'll see next chapter).

The drama hasn't been done well but it feels like this is what the author is attempting? (If that's ends up as the case the story should have centered this sister issue from the start to help with reader expectations). That also might be a charitable, interpretation. It wouldn't totally surprise me if this situation is just dropped (even though this sister stuff clearly needs to be focused on based on the build up).

last edited at Jan 2, 2023 4:34PM

This smells like NTR shit. Not interested.

I guess this aged well...

Most of these stories have drama. It's way too early to say it's NTR unless every story with (possibly brief) relationship drama and love triangles are NTR now. That person dipped at the slightest touch of drama. I don't know how I'd read any series of I jumped ship that early.

last edited at Jan 2, 2023 1:29PM

Why would she expect the trip to be anything other than an orgy?

Hilarious and true! She's in all kinds of denial.

But her texting Yamada and telling her to delay just breaks that line of speculation completely.

All in all, I feel like I can almost understand what the chapter tried to do, but a single panel throws the scale and proportions completely off. This is definitely not something you can read as a serious romance story, at this point, it's just the same stuff you'd typically see in high school romcoms.

Yes I agree with this wholeheartedly. That panel is the largest issue with this chapter and undermines any attempts to create something salvageable.

Not that I want to fight you, but you're missing a lot. We have plenty of evidence that Fukami has a massive crush on Kase. Fukami doesn't know Kase is taken, even less that she is already preparing to pretty much marry Yamada. From Fukami's POV Kase is leaving her—a friend—to live with some other girl who is also a friend. And this is a catastrophe for her because it'll make her lose her only special bond with Kase (roommates) and her best chance to worm her way into Kase's heart. If Fukami knew what really is going on, she wouldn't act like that.

I agree. I'm not as annoyed by the friends or even Fukami. It's not their fault. Kase is the only one making the situation worse (not confident about what Senpai actually knows). The friends think it's normal, playful teasing; and Fukami has a crush on a person, who to her is a single woman who is moving out suddenly, potentially severing their early relationship. It's Kase who has made the situation so crazy, and it's her who is postponing things with her significant other over a random race. She could tell them that Yamada is a close, best friend (or even childhood friend) with whom she's had plans with since before college. Instead, we have this.

last edited at Dec 29, 2022 4:35PM

That's how much this chapter's ending annoyed me and I love this series and author's work.

Yeah, it feels like the author is still treating these characters like their freshman in high school when they are adults now. They've been aged up and it's like the writer is a parent who still views their adult kids as children.

She is literally prioritizing a girl she has known for less than a year and always had a rough relationship with over her girlfriend of years.

What's worse is this will likely not be used for real earned drama. It'll just be a small sad moment and Kase will make a quick joke about the situation and that'll be it.

What the hell?? Oh my gosh. If I received a text from my girlfriend telling me to postpone the plan that the both of us has been planning for long, I'm gonna cry so hard. That choice is so unfair to Yamada. Wtf. T.T

And we just know that the next chapter won't be the race. It'll probably drag out for another 4 months.