Thank you so much for translating this series! It has very quickly become one of my favorites, and one that makes my day when I see there's a new chapter out. It has this...refreshingly retro sci-fi feel, like a really creative paperback from the mid 1900's. Where the sci-fi setting starts from a simple premise (gas giant settlers, clay that can be molded by thought) and is allowed to just get really weird. The planet is as much a main character as Diode and Terra, and that's neat!

I always found it confusing which country Tima is from. is it Japan or Korea? One of their works, Swallow Tail, is Korean and uses Korean honorifics, while their other one-shots use Japanese its like a mix. The same goes for the artist Whisky. Also Tima has two Twitter accounts, both promoting in Japanese and Korean.

Tima: "You merely adopted the Korean/Japanese fusion yuri! I was born in it, molded by it!"

But she went out of her way to make Miki's ex a guy.

Setting aside everything else, I do find this way of phrasing it a bit hilarious and I love it. Because you're right! In the vast majority of media, a girl having an ex who's a guy would be the default. But in this manga, where basically every single character is a girl who's in love with another girl, it's so jarringly out of place and unexpected that it's almost more shocking than the incest! Which is very funny to me for some reason.

Now that's normalization!

last edited at Aug 24, 2024 3:00PM

There are Yuri manga that do go into lesbian identity, though there are a good amount of straight forward romance stories, along with escapism. Which can be fine in theory? There's room for both hard hitting series that delve into identity, the complications of it, the difficult feelings, and for series that are just to the point romance that focus on two characters being in love and that's the point. I don't think it's good to simply dismiss any and all fluffier romance as not real lesbian media, or gay media as well for Yaoi, so fourth. Maybe that's a controversial opinion though.

Sure, I'm not advocating to dismiss them or saying they're lesser, just pointing out how a lot of Japanese yuri works just side-step the concept of LGBTQ existence entirely, which can be odd if you're used to it generally being a central part of the identity of characters. Either everyone is just kind of assumed to be into girls, or it's treated as a special one off-thing and then otherwise ignored ("I don't even know if I like girls, I just like you" is something I've seen in multiple variations).

Western comics almost always tends to bring up actual LGBTQ terms and communities, and in my experience a lot of Chinese and Korean comics will at least mention the idea that the characters are a minority, even if the focus isn't really on the struggle for acceptance or anything. Maybe that's the legacy of "class S" literature in Japan, I dunno, but it's not a value judgement. I'm not saying that works that explicitly name LGBTQ identities or issues are automatically better, thought I will say they usually feel more grounded and relatable to me.

I do kind of want to push back against the idea that bringing up queer identity makes a work less fluffy or about the characters being in love. I don't think it's what you're intending to say, but I do feel like that edges toward the idea that queer love is somehow less "pure" or fluffy if you use the L-word to describe the characters, and that it's somehow cleaner to just leave things undefined.

There's a manga that goes into lesbian identity that I love, the author celebrates pride and pushes for IRL acceptance in Japan, and the message I really appreciate from the series/author is that a person should enjoy whatever LGBTQ media they want and what matters at the end of the day is pushing for acceptance in real life. Not just accepting LGBTQ in stories, but also in real life, that's what actually matters. You can enjoy Yuri/WLW/GL, live action lesbian movies, gay movies, fluffy, serious, tragic, anything and that's fine. Just make sure you're also involved with achieving and celebrating better rights and acceptance in real life for real people as well.

I agree, but I'm also not sure what you're meaning here. Are you saying that pushing for representation in media isn't part of pushing for acceptance in real life? Because I'd disagree strongly with that.

There is exactly one time where the series has brought up sexual orientation so far:
https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/whispering_you_a_love_song_ch28#23

I do agree that ignoring it almost-entirely-but-not-quite feels a little off. There's this one time Yori thinks about it when it comes off as silly considering every single relationship involving the people close to her including herself is homosexual, and there's Miki being the token straight character which I found funny earlier on in the series, but now that she's been brought into the fray of all the lesbian relationships herself it feels like that detail of her character is something the author didn't really think through and is being carried over just to avoid contradicting it.

I once read a definition of yuri as "lesbian themes without lesbian identity," and I feel like that's very apt for a lot of yuri works, particularly "fluffier" ones. It's a little less common these days, but it's still around.

I'm generally willing to suspend disbelief and strong anti-royalist beliefs to enjoy some good palace drama yuri, because, hey, it's all just fiction and fun.

But I will admit to being a little uncomfortable at one of our protagonists ordering the deaths of people who are, and that she knows are, just pawns in the game of someone much more powerful than them.

I get the ruthless pragmatism and strategy of it, sending the message to the empress dowager and, more importantly, any potential future pawns, that the stakes of taking a shot at the empress are very high, but still.

I think Usui Shio's works are interesting because they sort of break down traditional romantic narratives, instead putting the characters into a strong relationship or situation that would normally come after the romance, and then seeing how they kind of work backwards from there to a confession/relationship. "Doughnuts" definitely reads as aro/ace of some shade, while "Marriage" kind of starts at the traditional "end" of a courtship and then has them grow into what that might actually mean for them.

Ugh, Mashiro's way too much of a good girl than is good for her.

I know she means well and all but there's absolutely no reason why she'd need to work so hard to win the approval of someone so undeserving of her efforts.

Should've just kicked the old hag to the curb like Makino no doubt would've wanted to. She already used all the influence to pressure them that she had, there'd be no negative consequences to cutting her out that haven't already happened.

I think it's one of those fiction things. Almost a kind of...power(?) fantasy maybe- the idea that, if we can just show the doubters about how good we actually are, they will come around and realize how wrong they were.

In real life, of course, most of the time toxic people are just toxic, and we really don't "owe" them anything. It's the parents' duty to accept their children, not the children's duty to "prove" that they're worthy of their parents' trust and love.

Sometimes cutting toxic people out of your life really is the best solution. But I guess that's rarely a very literary ending.

What a creepy event.

Yeah, that was kinda my thought as well. I assumed it was, like, an official photoshoot that Mei was just crashing, but it's actually some kind of weird thing where fans can pay to get up close and take private photos of her in a swimsuit? Feels super sketchy.

I wonder if Xiu asked Song to bid on the painting. Youyan notes that he's been looking and smiling at her, and since Xiu doesn't seem surprised that Youyan was the one who asked Tao to buy it, it's possible this was all a test (or a tease) from Xiu to Youyan to see how she'd react. And they both used someone else to actually bid as a cover.

That would not explain the glare she sent him. It was pretty spicy

Oh dang, I totally missed that! Yeah, I agree with folks now, it seems like Xiu was definitely not appreciative of his attempt.

It's interesting to think about the differences between this life and the original one. Youyan doesn't seem to know much about Song and Xiu's relationship beyond that it happened, and that she immediately abandoned their wedding and marriage to mourn Youyan. But I think how they got together the first time is going to be relevant, especially as Youyan's changes ripple forward.

She and Xiu already have a much better relationship than last time, so it seems unlikely Xiu is going to be actively moving toward Song, but clearly something pushed them together the first time around. Family pressure? Comphet? Some kind of publicity thing? Or maybe Song just really likes Xiu and, originally, with her heart broken she didn't see any reason not to accept?

I wonder if Xiu asked Song to bid on the painting. Youyan notes that he's been looking and smiling at her, and since Xiu doesn't seem surprised that Youyan was the one who asked Tao to buy it, it's possible this was all a test (or a tease) from Xiu to Youyan to see how she'd react. And they both used someone else to actually bid as a cover.

So far I’m not enjoying this quite as much as Still Sick, but I am still enjoying it. I’m kind of surprised to see so much vitriol in the comments

That's basically where I am. Still Sick was very focused on the Shimizu/Maekawa relationship, and was pretty grounded. This has a lot more contrivances, but I think it's still enjoyable.

Also that sex scene was kinda creepy? Or am I wrong for thinking this was extremely rape-y.

It was rape.

It is incredibly frustrating to watch all these women get fucked over by a system that's run by powerful men and turned against each other. I'm glad Kayo pointed out to Junko that she's not some mastermind who's "won," she's just acted as a tool of those assholes who definitely plan to throw her away the instant she stops being convenient for them. I dearly hope there's not some "redemption" waiting for Junko at the end of this, because she definitely doesn't deserve it.

I sort of love the empress? Usually the "clueless" character is clueless because they're just dumb, but she's clearly quite clever, just good at hiding it. Concluding that the emperor might be impotent, and so trying to help by ordering special food is really subtle and actually kinda sweet.

I also like that she's secretly an author. I wonder if the work, like its reference, is also yuri? Could be nice foreshadowing that she's into that sort of thing, along with not batting an eye at the scroll.

In case the T/N is too small to read, the reference is to this one: https://dynasty-scans.com/series/childhood_sweetheart_liaoliao

Thank you! I actually did know that one, but it's good in case other people want to check it out.

I sort of love the empress? Usually the "clueless" character is clueless because they're just dumb, but she's clearly quite clever, just good at hiding it. Concluding that the emperor might be impotent, and so trying to help by ordering special food is really subtle and actually kinda sweet.

I also like that she's secretly an author. I wonder if the work, like its reference, is also yuri? Could be nice foreshadowing that she's into that sort of thing, along with not batting an eye at the scroll.

i feel bad that yunduo struggles with internalized homophobia, but god she pisses me off.

Yeah. I get her feelings and her struggle, but it really bothers me how she keeps taking it out on Xingyuan. She's clearly jealous and angry that Xingyuan is getting the attention from Xiaoen that she wishes she had, and that's causing her to passive-aggressively try and squash their relationship. But while Xiaoen is too kind to realize it, Xingyuan recognizes exactly the kind of self-loathing she's struggling with, and cuts right through Yunduo's bullshit.

I also wonder if some of what Yunduo feels toward Xiaoen is colored by...not jealousy, but envy maybe? Appreciation for how Xiaoen is so unselfconscious about bucking those aforementioned pressures of what women "should" be like, and how Yunduo herself has never had the courage to do the same.

Auntie is unwell and unstable. Like, most of the characters act like they're in a somewhat exaggerated soapy family dramedy, and she's over here oscillating between murderous rage and suicidal depression. She doesn't need an apology, she needs therapy. And maybe a restraining order. I'm not even joking when I say I could see Kazuha waking up to find her standing over the bed with a knife, reading to "reunite" the two of them with the mother. Yikes.

Otherwise, I'm enjoying this for the most part.

This bonus chapter is super cute! But it's also, uh, kinda hard to get invested in Diana's obvious crush because Natori and Lapis are clearly the main couple. It's kind of why I always dislike love triangles, because someone's always going to get their heart broken.

Y'know, this is actually a significant departure for Morinaga Milk. I mean, her characters have had anxieties, but only along the lines of "She's so awesome and I'm not (plus I'm a girl), so any hints I might be thinking I see of her maybe liking me must be wrong" kind of stuff. So self-deprecating, even a bit insecure, but nothing serious.

What we have here on the other hand, seems to be operating at an existential level--"Am I anything if she isn't looking at me? Is there a point to my existence?" This is not a kind of thinking Morinaga Milk characters have ever done before as far as I can remember. Living for the romantic partner, and maybe being supported by them to do . . . something, has always been more than sufficient for girls in Morinaga Milk stories. Often taking care of the partner has even been the basis of a character's career, going right back to Girl Friends--Mari became a nutritionist basically as an extension of cooking for her beloved Akko, and that was totally enough to make her happy and fulfilled. So yeah, this one is different.

It's definitely an interesting take, and I like that it shows that getting the relationship doesn't magically solve all their problems. Given that so many other stories end at that point and everything's great, it's nice to see that yes, they are in love and good together, but that doesn't erase issues that were already there. And it's very clear Yuna has issues that she's be burying and that are being brought out.

As someone else said, my only complaint about this series is that the releases are so spread apart it's hard to stay invested in the slow burn.

Me when a new chapter of Princess of Sylph comes out: "Yay! The next five minutes are going to be amazing!"

five minutes later

"That was awesome! .... how long until the next chapter comes out?" sobs

If you want a picture of the future of this manga, imagine Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown - forever.

last edited at Sep 18, 2023 2:02PM

I don't quite understand the conflict here. If the blind girl doesn't know what the brother likes she could just say anything. Just tell her your favorite foods.

She's not trying to pretend to be her brother. She's trying to be her brother. Lying about what foods "he" liked would defeat the purpose, because that means it's not "him" that Lily is interacting with.

She feels compelled to keep him alive through this deception, but is increasingly paralyzed by the realization that she knows basically nothing about him beyond that he worked a lot. That's why she's having nightmares about how he's "not someone you can become," because she's decided her only reason for living is to replace Kaoru and make Lily happy.

“Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.”

I think this hits people harder than the other reprehensible stuff in this manga because that is usually portrayed in an extremely over-the-top, ridiculous or unrealistic manner, this was very down-to-earth and realistic.

I love yuri; it's the only place where "Hey, wanna keep hanging out?" can be a confession worthy of the most passionate romances.

This is super cute, and while I don't cook, it's fun to see them run through the process to getting something yummy.