I do miss the twintails, but this is the second best pair, so cheers for more art!

Woah, hey, a plotline may have been dropped, but it is -not- subtext.

Maybe subtext was the wrong word. Indirect is more like it. Sure, they can talk about what they mean to each other and be cute together, but they can't really show it as explicitly anymore.

At least that seems to be the direction its going in. Fuck China.

last edited at May 25, 2019 2:13AM

Others have disagreed (vehemently) with me on this, which is fine, but I really think Tanjiu's strength is creating strong individual scenes rather than working a large-scale narrative.

I see what you mean actually. Whenever I think of this story I have trouble remembering any real arcs or character development, but I do rermember really strong moments. Or scenes if you will.
Tanjiu is good at conveying a mood and clearly has a real talent for framing moments.

PS: At least it wasn't Bophead.

last edited at May 24, 2019 1:38PM

I wanna say this is worth reading even if it regressed into subtext, for how cute it is, but I despise the idea that she was forced to dial it back because of government interference. May it consume me as much as it will, it changes nothing.

Hopefully Tanjiu can give her vision form in a careful manner.

Surprisingly, despite all the revelations and arrows, I still don't feel the overarching direction has changed from my initial assumptions. The arc will just be a lot farther.

Nene is, at least in my opinion, trying her hardest to move on. The way she acts with Taru feels rather forced. She is treating her as a replacement for Amane. There are several hints for that. For one the whole thing about being cute and smiling... Amane has been calling her cute every single chapter. She has been telling her that she loves her smile as well. Yet Nene acts like this is the first time she heard someone say that (or believes they mean it?). I am more than convinced that she liked that about Amane as well, but since their break up either tries to ignore all memories of that time or genuinly thinks she is just flattering her to get her back.

We might have gotten a major hint about why they broke up here. "Am I cuter than Amane?" Of course we could take that question at face value. Amane would be the more obviously cute one. So asking someone she might be developing feelings for and who told her she is cute to compare them makes sense in a way.
But to me it appears more like this was a major issue to her. Now that we know Amane was the Sunset Girl, I feel all the more that she might have been jealous/angry that Amane so effortlessly outdid her in something that she considers her dream. There might be some sort of inferiority complex at play here. That, or the fact that she really felt betrayed because Amane was photographed by senpai in that odd position. All we know is that Nene broke up, so this is very suspicious indeed.

Now the biggest point why I still stay on the "exes rekindle the flame" route. Narratively speaking, Taru basically confirmed it.
https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/luminousblue_ch04#14
The best picture in Taru's opinion is still the one where Amane and Nene were happy together. This is a major theme. See the way Nene reacted? She felt that. She probably already knew that. Right afterwards she doubles down on getting closer to Taru. Does this not look like a strong attempt to deny the truth, to avert her eyes from how she feels? We can get Nene x Taru shiptease as much as the author wants, but I feel deep down everyone is aware how things should truly be.

Whether senpai will do anything to support Taru's blooming "romance" with Nene or just use the picture as leverage to make Amane hate them, I don't know yet.

Hey, was that a kiss in page 28???

I think it was... even tho it's not shown distinctly... I mean, in panel 2 Nene and Taru seem to be face to face and close enough to touch lips... and in panel 3 we see that Taru is standing on tiptoes, which is a classic movie shtick meaning that you're trying to reach the lips of a taller partner...

I think they kissed. I'm guessing that's why sempai is smiling so smugly: she caught them on camera. I foresee lots of angst when Amane sees the pics.

It certainly was framed like a kiss in every way and there was liquid falling between their lips. Those might have been Nene's tears though (actually I am certain it was, considering the drop arc).
Even if it was not a kiss, we pretty much saw that scene from senpai's camera perspective, meaning that it indeed looked like a kiss on the photo. That will be a great way to get Amane devastated.

last edited at May 24, 2019 1:00PM

The older generations, which make up most of Japan’s ageing population, are overwhelmingly opposed to same-sex relationships, but the younger generations are mostly supportive. Support for legal recognition of same-sex relationships is already at over 70% among people in their 20s and 30. [Source] It’s just a matter of time until widespread acceptance is reached. Other countries did take their swee time too.

Reiwa for beautiful yuri harmony! (and yaoi and everyone else too)

As usual the stubborn old guard has to die off for the next generation to define the new rules.
And then inadvertently get old themselves and block new things from progressing again.
Never change humanity...

Well uh... the sentiment was fine. Clearly the mangaka wanted to get a message out about loving who you want to love etc.
The plot meandered too much, but it wasn't offensive or annyoing per se.

Let's chalk this up as baby's first manga and congratulate them for the completion.

The truth is that Hino-san is actually a secret government test subject who cannot be expelled from school no matter how much she fails.

what if the author has more stalkers? and it becomes a harem of stalkers.
that would be interesting to read.

Isn't that just a Battle Royale? lol

Case in point.

Really? I have discussed with her at some length... oh, two times, so far. The first time, the discussion ended when Nezchan told her to shut up. The second time, she ended up apologizing to me. I don't think she's such a terror.

For what I've seen, her main method of debate is drowning the opposition under an ocean of noise. She keeps posting bricks of text, repeating herself again and again, not caring if her points have been debunked, until everyone else is too tired or too bored to go on. My experience from other forums is that, when you meet someone like this, the best thing to do is to start ignoring them the very moment they start rehashing old posts - and focus on having a pleasant conversation with those people who post comments that you actually find interesting.

Unlike your walltexts that repeat the same exact message 10 times in different words?
Unlike the points you insist on that were debunked already?

Ignoring what you don't like and only talking to people who agree with you: AKA echo chamber.

Reply to a post that is older than your last one, clearly intended as another indirect attack, dismissing my reply and trying to show it this way.

Interpreting the other poster's/mods words automatically as negative towards me, but benevolent towards you. Portraying past events wrongly to suit you and ignoring your own part in the issue.

You are see-through and not clever. You will no doubt ignore this and that's okay. I just want you to know that me, and I reckon, most people can tell what you are doing.

last edited at May 22, 2019 5:54PM

And just when I said I wasn't actually arguing with White Rose. Oh how cruel irony can be.

Actually, the argument has been progressing... and, after reading the last posts, I think we have now the core of the problem in sight. It's like this: some people just can't stand the idea that, in our world, certain individuals are considered more beautiful or attractive than others. It goes against political correctness, and for these people the mere idea of challenging political correctness is absolutely insufferable. A social warrior makes their holy duty to fight the demons of "lookism" and "objectification" wherever they find them, never mind the context, never mind reality, never mind how ridiculous or absurd this moralizing seems. Oh, and, since they are at it, they will also crusade against the idea that a wealthy man will easily attract swarms of girls who find the allure of money irresistible, while a poor man (especially if he's poor and unprepossessing) will find that it's much more difficult for him. Political correctness hates these simple facts of life, and will try to deny them every time they are met... with the result that pc warriors who try to talk about our world or our media usually sound so completely outlandish you'd think they are talking about planet Mars.

What a bunch of hot air.
Not a single person in this entire conversation said anything about political correctness except you.
You just happen to be someone who loves to objectify and project very hard on stories, but that is really none of my business. It's very typical for you to demonize anyone who thinks differently from you though.

I'm not nearly dense enough not to realize that this is an attack towards me. So let me just stop you there. I neither advocate for political correctness nor ever would make the stupid as hell argument that there aren't millions of gold digger girls out there. I also don't see the relevance of either to the discussion, so congrats on soundly beating that mental construct you yourself created?

This is especially true when talking about Japanese manga. Manga is created by Japanese authors for the Japanese audience, and yuri manga is made by Japanese yuri authors for Japanese yuri lovers. Yuri manga is not made for American lesbians. Nobody in Japan who is involved in manga creation gives a flaming rat's ass about the petty peeves of feminists, social warriors and pc-minded people in America. That's why trying to smash manga with the self-righteous moralizing of American political correctness is especially ridiculous and absurd. Well, unless, of course, you have an agenda to push and you don't care how you sound to the people who listen; in that case, your job is done as long as you keep endlessly repeating the same speeches no matter how many times people explain your errors to you.

I'm neither American, nor do I care for American moralizing. You are the one who pushes your own delusions/agendas the most in this entire thread ("they were dating and having sex since chapter 1" or "the pilot is actually canon" and things like it come to mind). The irony is palpable and not funny.
The only assertions more far-fetched and projecting are the ones from people who actually believe this is still Subtext.

There are two girls. One is incredibly beautiful. How do we know? Well, first, because of the way she's drawn, following the manga codes for feminine beauty. Second, because of the sparkles around her, meaning that her beauty is dazzling to those who look. Third, because the other girl turns SD when she sees her, indicating her shock in presence of such beauty. Fourth, because the heart of this other girl starts beating wildly in arousal. Fifth, because this other girl wonders if the one in front of her comes from another species, like a Tolkien elf, gifted with otherworldly beauty. Sixth, because the author FUCKING TELLS US SO in a caption with the narration: "An incredibly beautiful girl arrived!" And thus, we know from the very beginning that this story is about a girl who is incredibly beautiful and a girl who is not so... or, more precisely, who is short, thin, flat-chested, cute in a childlike or puppylike way, and very much the epitome of the kind-hearted but plain-looking female MC most Japanese girl readers can identify with. And it goes without saying that any normal Western reader is, or should be, perfectly able to do as their Asian counterparts. In other words: love the tale of how a humble MC girl wins the heart of a beauty who could have married a millionaire, and then enjoy without qualms as the story lets us relish the vicarious pleasure of their lovey-dovey bliss. What should we make, then, of someone who suffers and agonizes while reading this manga, so much that they deny the facts in front of their eyes? Who launches into a logorrhea of bland moralizing where they denounce reality for failing to conform to their particular scripture, and then accuses of subjectivity (of all things) those who understand the workings of Japanese fiction, take this manga at face value and accurately categorize it as a lovely wish-fulfillment story in the grand tradition of romantic fantasy that goes back to the early 19th century?

Oof, that was a magnificent walltext of nothingness.
One sentence would have been enough here: Kasumi sure is pretty.
You can word it as flowery as you wish, but your words don't carry any more sway that way. You are ignoring all context to suit your agenda. It's blatantly obvious.

Sakurako is regularly portrayed as pretty and "sparkly" as well. Her cuteness is indeed mentioned often, which also elevates her from being "plain". She isn't short compared to 90% of the girls in this story either. You are just letting your preferences do the talking as usual. Yes, Kasumi is called beautiful all the time, especially by Sakurako and that is a defining characteristic of her design. Nobody has ever denied that.

So. Much. Projecting.
"Humble girl", how is Sakurako humble? How is she relatable or average aside from her allegedly plain appearance? Everything that actually makes her relatable you ignore, for the obtuse idea of a "kind-hearted plain-looking protagonist".
In turn you ignore all the relatable aspects of Kasuimi that indeed most Japanese or Western girls would also see in themselves. Unless of course, you are just furthering your agenda. Oh what a shock.

"Normal reader", "logorrhea", "denounce reality" "suffers and agonizes while reading this manga" such pathetic jabs are so common in your writing, which only reminds me of how hypocritical your accusations of me "attacking" you in the past really were. Indirect speech does not mask your contemptful attitude.

Self-serving descriptions like "a beauty who could have married a millionaire" are so contrived. That is a cute assertion with zero relevance or proof. As Kasumi herself is not rich or upper class or popular beyond looks, she is actually the "poor commoner MC" that would be elevated by her rich and upper class desired.

Your understanding of Japanese fiction only goes as far as it suits you. You have been wrong many times before and will be many times again. Your constant need for validation is self-evident in every post you make. "Us, who understand this medium" "We know", "This is the correct way to see it for every normal reader". Always addressing other people to talk about the one you actually mean indirectly. These are all signs of extreme insecurity and a need to be acknowledged as correct. Work on that.

Henceforth I will ignore any of your word-salads unless they have a point beyond saying "Nuh-uh, I don't like this and everyone needs to agree with me".

EDIT: To think all that bile came just from me stating that Sakurako could also be seen as pretty... sheesh.

last edited at May 22, 2019 5:45PM

Hino is clever and she also has a motivation, I think is safe to say she passes ... but if she doesn't then Blastaar has to change avatar to the bully from Tadokoro san.

A rather unorthodox, yet strangely cruel punishment game.

I can't believe BugDevil and WhiteRose have been debating for several dozen chapters already, when everyone knows that the Bug menace has already shot down over a million Yuri ships and executed the survivors at Klendathu.

Actually this is an open topic with at least 4 participants and I have mostly been replying to Nene and Fairypixies24 for a while now... But we wouldn't wanna get hung up on silly details, now would we?

As much as I like Starship Troopers, I'm more of a computer bug than an insect. I only destroy virtual yuri ships.

last edited at May 22, 2019 7:52AM

^So basically you are strawmaning me to make me look unreasonable? Nice.
Solution: Actually read what I wrote.
I already called the drawing beautiful. One aspect doesn't ruin the overall artistry you silly goose.

@Minalinsky
Thank you for setting his head straight. I can't understate what an amazing accomplishment that is, considering his usual stubborness and inability to change his mind despite all evidence.

@johnb
You acted like a total dullard and ignored any and all chances to rethink your stance. I gave you dozens of outs and yet you insisted on being wrong... Patience doesn't grow on trees lol
For all it's worth I tried to keep it light-hearted instead of resorting to cutting myself this time. So I see this as an absolute win!

^Technically you are right, but that's just... dumb. If they were designed, why would anyone make them this badly? If they are from natural evolution, this is completely ridiculous. There are fur patterns with different hair colors in cats, obviously, but cats that have all dark fur and only bright fur on their ears and tail might as well be a probability black hole. If you base something on an animal, you try to actually emulate the traits of that animal, no?

Oh and it looks really bad and fake. That's all.

last edited at May 22, 2019 1:46AM

LOL, noooooo, not even close. Even at 20, she looks like a tiny middle schooler. She doesn't have the looks to make men fall for her at first sight (Humbert Humbert excepted). "Liked by everyone" means that the girls friend her, and the boys friend-zone her. She's not a seductress; in (sad) fact, a girl like her has to work a lot and go through many rejections to finally find herself a guy.

Unbelievably subjective. This kind of attitude just makes me sad. She might not be your preference, but Sakurako is very pretty in a different way from Kasumi. I also never said she would make guys fall for her on first sight. That's a silly trope. The point is that she is the type of gal that would easily get attention and interest if she wanted it. Many guys like smart girls and girls that are competent in the housewife area. Your completely superficial argument is appalling.
You make a completely unsubstantiated assumption that Sakurako gets friendzoned by guys. Give me proof or stop projecting. We know Sakurako is a lesbian whose ideal type was someone like Kasumi, so she naturally would never make a move on guys and easily friendzone them.

And that they are in different leagues. Social gaps are not as monstruous in our time as they were in the 19th-century (today, in Europe, royal princes marry commoner girls all the time) but there are leagues when it comes to dating. Kasumi in mid school was constantly being chased by besotted boys and girls, as shown in flashbacks (her school friends had to act as shields to help her deflect these pests); Sakurako has never been chased by anyone in her life, as shown in the fact that it never was shown otherwise, lol. Kasumi has what it takes to become a wealthy man's trophy wife (mainly, the looks); Sakurako doesn't.

You base leagues entirely on the amount of boys salivating after a girl. No wonder your arguments rubbed me the wrong way. There is no social gap between Kasumi and Sakurako, other than Kasumi being super unsocial. If anything in a social circle, Kasumi falls far behind.

Generic, yes; but a child of privilege from a high class family would not have those qualities. Such one would instead have money, power, and influence -- and somebody in Kasumi's shoes would most likely go for that, preferring those advantages to virtues like goodness and diligence.

Proof: You said so.
Jeez, this is depressingly off kilter for the sake of your argument. Saying wealthy girls can't have good hearts or be good at hourse work, acting like Kasumi is in any way special...
I already said my part on what Kasumi actually likes and how she never had an interest in romance, so she would never have picked anyone period. Until you can make an argument for why "someone like Kasumi" (aka a lazy almost aromantic hermit) would go for that, I'll have to dismiss this.

Only thing, lol. You make it sound like it's not a big deal. In fact, it is. For Sakurako too.
You yourself state it later: "Sakurako of course appreciates Kasumi's beauty and grace, but she also very much loves her for her moments of kindness and affection, the way she completely goes along with the flow and that she acts like a pet to her sometimes." That's more like it. But you should realize that this is entirely within formula. The MC girl in a dime novel is first attracted to the leading man because of his coolness and good looks, but eventually falls in love with him because of the many virtues and qualities she discovers inside him. Sakurako's feelings develop like that, too.

It isn't a big deal. Looks are one factor of many. I literally said that's the only point that applies, so I already gave it to you. It's still just one factor.
Uhuh... if you make your criteria any broader any story that was ever written may fit into that formula eventually, including horror, crime and sci-fi novels. If you make every part of your formula an unknown variable, surprisingly they all suddenly fit. Let me tell you something, initial attraction and steadfast love are almost always portrayed like that, because that's how it work in real life. That is how 99% of romances ragardless of genre or "formula" work. It's not unique enough to even be relevant.

And this is the other side of the formula. For the alpha male gentleman to fall in love with the plain poor girl, I mean in a plausible way, something must happen that makes him notice her, and then pushes them to spend time together. This is necessary to give the MC girl an edge over all the other girls out there. In this case, it's the 3 years Sakurako and Kasumi spent sharing a room and living as a married couple. It was pure luck that got them together for 3 years (well, luck and the landlady's tricks, lol), and in those 3 years Kasumi learned to appreciate Sakurako.
One could wonder: what would have happened if some other girl had roomed with Kasumi instead of Sakurako? Would Kasumi have fallen in love with this other lass?

Coincidence is an important part of any romance and learning to appreciate the girl is a requirement for any romance novel. Could you make your qualifications any broader? lol
Kasumi pretty much liked Sakurako right away, her lack of romantic interest simply meant it was a slow process to realize what that meant. The context is starkly different from your dime novels.

And yes, it is entirely possible that Kasumi could have found someone else that she saw something in. Making Kasumi out to be shallow does not work.

And the answer is: maybe, maybe not. There's no way to know for sure.
But the one thing we can say with absolute certainty is this: if she had had a different roommate, then Kasumi wouldn't have fallen for Sakurako. They would have been school friends, nothing more. Without those 3 years of conjugal bliss in the boarding house, sharing a room and sharing a bed, their relationship wouldn't be what it is, and the story would never have progressed the way it did.

Astute observation. Just irrelevant to the point. If people never meet they don't fall in love. If people don't spend time together they can't form a relationship. This is an empty statement that doesn't support either side of the debate.

@BugDevil nice summary of your argument.

Might be a good point to agree to disagree and walk away though.

I would've liked that... but I don't like when people say I'm wrong based on such superficial beliefs.

I can't believe you just called Fujishiro slutty... jesus.

Oh? You don't approve of the term? Interesting. I myself wasn't especially shocked or saw any problem with it, when I first read that post.
Sure, slutty in general use is not a nice word. But look at how she was in the beginning. She was dating that boy not because she had special feelings for him, but because he was the perfect picture of a dream boyfriend - the sort of arm candy that makes other girls crazy jelly. When she finds that he's a cheater, and he breaks up with her, she cries because of humiliation, not heartbreak. And, since their relationship was like this, we have to ask: what did she have to do, in the first place, to get him to date her? How much did she put out for him? I mean, coz he sure wasn't dating her for her nice personality. >_< As he himself stated: he only saw her as a piece of ass on the side...

Trying to date someone because you think you are a good match, because he seems to be the nice popular guy, does not make you a slut. She didn't sell her body and neither did she just desire the boy for his dick. Her logic was flawed because of her circumstances, but she was genuinly heartbroken.
Clearly they didn't get anywhere physically, because they had been dating only for a short time and he even said that there are easier girls around that actually let him do more. He found her annoying (which in douchebag lingo means "you didnt put out and were constantly on about your feelings crap"). I knew my fair share of guys like that. Ugh.

last edited at May 22, 2019 2:18AM

Why, sorry. I was under the impression that I already made my point so I tried not to be repetitive and just limited to essence of it. But if you insist.

And I'm glad I insisted, as that was a good piece. ^_^
In a debate club, under Paris-style rules, they would have given you a lot of extra points.

Oh uh... I... thanks? I'm surprised debate clubs are really a thing.

Stop it Johnny! The joke is already dead. Why do you have to keep shooting it with your ignorance? Think of the children!

There is NO JOKE. I think the title is just a reference to the looming doom of the final. If the author wanted to make a joke, like that they would have named the chapter something like Hino's stupidity ends the series. An obvious joke, but still not very funny.

facepalms
Jojo... Listen here pal.
https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/hino_san_no_baka_ch33#2
This page has a deadpan Hino saying she won't pass with Koguma reacting shocked. It has both the text "Hino-san no Baka * End" and "Please look forward to Kinniku Tarou's next series~" written on it, just like the final page of the final chapter of a manga would.

It's fine that you didn't get the joke and are embarrassed now, but please stop hurting yourself trying to justify it. Whether the joke was in the title, or in the middle of the chapter, it's exactly the same. It was 4th wall breaking humor poking fun at the fact that the series could end right there, because Hino has no drive to pass. It was a good joke.

Now be a dear and don't disappoint us any more.

^As god is my witness, he is broken in half!

Think about it:
That Nagi girl from the manga you summarized before looks exactly the part of the gorgeous blonde with an impressive rack of breasts; it's especially striking in contrast with the short, flat-chested writer lady - just like Kasumi looks even more luscious in contrast with Sakurako.

Nagi is not blonde. She is a brunette.

Fujishiro from this manga starts as a sexy, slutty blonde (changes a bit later).

I can't believe you just called Fujishiro slutty... jesus. Her hair was dyed too, she was never naturally blonde. She abandons that color almost immediately.

I wonder what's the reason for this particular fetish being so common...

Japanese guys and lesbians are into big breasts? Who woulda thunk.
Manga/anime hair colors are all over the place. Every single trait you mentioned I have seen in black haired main characters hundreds of times.
Maybe rather than it being the more common appeal, it's just that those cases stand out to you, because they are so visually distinct.

^YES. That is actually one of the most important plot points in the comics.

I already explained why none of it applies to A Room For Two in my like 4 other replies before that one. Not that anyone is forced to read those.

I did read your previous replies, and even supported and praised some of the points you made, remember?

However, if you are so tired of this discussion that all you can write is one-liners, perhaps it's time for you to move on to other threads and other debates.

Why, sorry. I was under the impression that I already made my point so I tried not to be repetitive and just limited to essence of it. But if you insist.

Let's use @Fairypixie24's formula modified with your assertions to "modern changes".
The girl has to be:
-Plain
-Unpopular
-good of heart
-a hard worker
-be poor/lower class (at least out of the boy's reach social standing wise)
Christian (outdated thankfully)
-have house working skills
-See the dark secrets of the boy and assure him that those are good things
-Have many rivals that are obviously worse than her

The boy (who for these purposes has to be Kasumi I aguess):
-Rich/upper class (at least out of the girl's reach)
-Super popular
-Pretty much a bland card-board cutout of eye-candy
-No decision making skills at all (gets swayed by rivals regularly after all)
-Has some dark secret/unknown side to him that nobody would understand except the heroine

Let's break this down then. First of all you really have to push it to make these roles apply whatsoever.
Sakurako is far from the average, poor, unpopular girl. We already established that she is outrageously social, liked by everyone and could get literally any guy to fall for her if she even remotely tried (but we know that she was lesbian from the start). I will just be nice and assume you don't actually mean Sakurako looks plain and just tried to compare her to Kasumi herself who at least in-universe is often treated like a more stunning beauty.
Sakurako is not out of Kasumi's reach socially at all. Literally the only thing that interferes with them being a good match from the start is that they are both girls. That automatically makes it harder for them to be considered a match, but if we ignore the gender barrier, there is really no difference between them.
Being good of heart and having house working skills are such unbelievably generic qualities that they barely even bear mention for a main character, but let's check those point off. They indeed apply to Sakurako. Hard worker? I suppose, if we just take her accomplishments as "hard work" then sure. Being an absolute prodigy in everything really decreases the hard worker image though.
Though she is far from pure and rather dirty-minded and even somewhat creepy. I would say she has more of a "secret side/dark side" than Kasumi in fact lol
As for rivals, not like she ever had any serious competition, but those few girls who got a rejection from Kasumi could as well have been good matches for Kasumi, we will never know. Hina barely counts, as she got little sister zoned immediately and her crush is mostly treated as a joke. Kasumi isn't even interested in romance, so there is no conflict.

Kasumi is the real issue here. None of those points apply... like at all. The only thing making her stand out from the crowd or desirable on first glance are her looks. She is popular for those... I guess? But nobody is wild enough about her to really pursue her except Sakurako. It's not like she is a "school prince", a company CEO's rich daughter or in any other way out of Sakurako's reach.
As established, she is also far from social. She can barely be bothered to talk to anyone other than the closest people to her and has almost zero friends. And the few she has are actually all Sakurako's friends that she befriended through her as well. The definition of popular might be a bit skewed here I feel...
I don't like those old romance novels and how they portray the desired guy, let's just say Kasumi has 100 times more personality than 20 of them combined. She also always knows what she wants and is not at all hiding it. Her "secret" that only Sakurako understands is... that she is lazy? No, everyone knows that. That she eats like a bear? Nope, literally everyone who ever saw her eat is aware and either finds it endearing or just plain odd.
I can hardly justify that this is something only Sakurako will understand or support. As Kasumi is more of a pet most of the time, I can easily imagine other partners would like her exactly for that.

So now that those two are unfit for the roles beyond the most basic superficial view, what if we reversed it?
Sakurako is popular and has a dark side (though it's not really secret either, she does love to fawn creepily over Kasumi everywhere, even in public). She is not really indecisive or looking for any alternative partners though, as her chosen one is pretty much set in stone from chapter 1.
Kasumi is not good at house work (although she could be if she was forced to), doesn't really fit the unpopular category either even if she is not social. Whether she is good of heart or incredibly selfish I don't really need to explain... She is not out of Sakurako's league of course. You could say she is kind of a hard worker when she has a goal (all the part-time jobs, the serious consideration of her future, getting into a good university, studying hard despite being distracted by Saku all the time), but again, that doesn't exactly fit the stereotypical image of the "hard worker". She has literally zero tolerance for Sakurako's weird creepy adoration, so that is a no-no on the accepting the secret side part...

The fact is this: Sakurako does not win Kasumi's heart with her houseworking skills (those are just a bonus). What truly got her is that face when she welcomes her back. The feeling of having someone who always will be there for her. Someone that is easy to live with. Someone to share a meal with. Kasumi very much appreciates Sakurako'`s looks too (fixation on hair in particular).
Sakurako of course appreciates Kasumi's beauty and "grace", but she also very much loves her for her moments of kindness and affection, the way she completely goes along with the flow and that she acts like a pet to her sometimes.

Ergo summarum: The formula is no good.

last edited at May 21, 2019 1:28PM

This is a silly pet peeve of mine, but characters saying "How did we get here?", "How did it come to this?", "Why did this happen?" feels so increeedibly forced. It honestly feels more natural if it is said after we already saw what happens and if it is asked either sarcastically or is muttered to oneself. Actually addressing another character is just totally dumb.

That conflict just feels so artificial. She's literally living in a world full of lesbians. Let that useless lesbian in denial go, plenty of other girls around ^^

I know you are joking, but the heart wills it, so the mind is powerless.