However, i have, as I believe many of you have it as well, that nagging thought on the back of my head, that annoying anxious feeling in the pit of my belly, that calls the attention to the (unlikely) chance of this ending up as the so dreaded ultimate subtext and the story finishes displaying Komichi and Erika's relationship as nothing but platonic and ends with both of them older with their respective boyfriends/husbands and remain good friends "as they always were".... Just that... Really, really good..... "friends". Man, if this happens (as it happened before with other works as you all know), it'll be a gut punch by a prime gloveless Mike Tyson.
I know the story is proving this possibility wrong with every passing chapter, but still... I'm sure we all had past experiences of this happening before. Anyway... Great story, great art, great characters. As someone who is not into School life as much nowadays, this is a breath of fresh air into the genre for me. Glad i binged this.
You're not quite talking about subtext there anymore.
Subtext would be something like you knowing Erika and Akebi are dating or will end up dating based on all context that is provided, but it's not directly shown. It would not really be "up to interpretation" U-turns and general silliness like say, Tropical Fish Yearns For Snow.
You're talking about unattainable, unrealized or unrequited love ala Class S or "I missed my chance" thing, or far worse, intentional bait or writer not being able to write what they at least claim intended to do.
For me, Akebi's Sailor Uniform just seems so direct and honest in a way few manga or any other piece of fiction manage to be. It would be tremendously hard to write a bait ending for it, if author keeps opening up their characters feelings and everyday life like this. It's the kind of writing that tends to stay on course, where ever it is heading. I doubt you could experience feeling like "there is no way it would not work out like this" after it is finished, even if the ending wasn't what you'd hope for.
Maybe these are my own famous last words. ^_^
last edited at Mar 21, 2024 12:28AM