Honestly, it took a little too long to get here. The cheating has already happened, let's get this breakup done so we can get to more interesting plots.

And then it ends right after. That would be funny.

last edited at May 18, 2026 3:16PM

why is this thread so addicted to Discourse

If I had to guess, it's one of the most popular yuri manga of the last few years, which means lots of people want different things from it, which leads to lots of discussions here.

... I much prefer this to when no one is talking about something I'm reading, or if the only thing people say is "I love this chapter", like 90% of the comments under Webtoons...

You mean you won't like it if I start my comments with "I'm here at the speed of---"

Mitsuki is butch coded. Aya is femme coded. But they're not "lesbians" in the "real world" sense. Which is why so many people see them not as a lesbian couple, but as a typical straight couple with a twist.

I just read a bunch of "typical straight couples with a twist" in this month's yurihime release. They should probably change the name of the publication.

Apparently there are "correct" ways to be queer now, got it. I'll double check with my local queerness office to see if my boyfriend and I's relationship qualifies or if we lose our Q cards

I was being sarcastic. The rest of my comment, I thought would make that clear. Unless I'm misunderstanding your comment and you're actually just adding to mine. Otherwise, your comment is funny and I agree with it.

Reminds me of the tension between Black writers' desire to write from personal interest, something like genre fiction (for example), and the expectations put on our stories to always be more than that, to use language the "way we should," or advocate "as we should," or else we're like a missed opportunity or something. I feel like it's fine if she doesn't want to use certain terms or depict things that don't interest her creatively.

I am not the type that want representation, visibility or relate in stories, and tend to find that type of thing boring. But I think when people mean being more open or straight forward it’s not that they expect yuri authors to advocate or put the job of representation in their shoulders but instead of “but we’re both girls” the story can start with “i want a gf”

This is more of the same, though you're presenting it as if it's not. But either way, she'll write what she wants. It's not lesser than anything else. It's just different. She has no burden to do what she's not interested in and her story is not any less queer because of it. Some of the critiques this specific series gets are becoming a little tiresome and exaggerated in my opinion. I'd only hope she's not getting these kinds of accusations made directly to her. Would be exhausting and surprising, I imagine (and relatable to me at least).

last edited at May 18, 2026 8:24AM

Mitsuki is butch coded. Aya is femme coded. But they're not "lesbians" in the "real world" sense. Which is why so many people see them not as a lesbian couple, but as a typical straight couple with a twist.

I just read a bunch of "typical straight couples with a twist" in this month's yurihime release. They should probably change the name of the publication.

There are yuri manga that explicitly bring up homosexuality, other labels, and issues of homophobia, but they're the minority. More common than not to just slide past any friction there, other than "but we're girls!", as someone said.

Yeah, some authors have discussed this directly. They often choose to be more escapist for various reasons (not uncommon for a lot of manga, really). Some series and reasons for avoiding labels are suspect, though. This series, I think, is just hyper-focused on its characters and their connections to music. She's described that as her interest and what she wanted to focus on. Other series can do differently. There's some good variety out there.

I do think many more modern yuri series do bring up issues with homophobia at some point during their runs, in one form or another. It's just not a feature of the entire series, normally an incident or arc. It doesn't feel like this series wants to spend its 4 pages on things like that. Its focus is very tight.

Reminds me of the tension between Black writers' desire to write from personal interest, something like genre fiction (for example), and the expectations put on our stories to always be more than that, to use language the "way we should," or advocate "as we should," or else we're like a missed opportunity or something. I feel like it's fine if she doesn't want to use certain terms or depict things that don't interest her creatively.

last edited at May 18, 2026 8:08AM

Can we have a single chapter of this without people starting absurd arguments?

Not possible, it seems.

The only important thing I got from this whole unnecessary argument is that We need more sex to avoid communication!

Very true.

last edited at May 17, 2026 1:43PM

And I would argue that normalizing being queer is in itself a queer story. And Sumiko herself identifies it as a queer story in interviews such as this one: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2025-06-04/rockin-out-with-sumiko-arai-the-guy-she-was-interested-in-wasnt-a-guy-at-all-manga-creator/.223419

Were you already a fan of yuri stories before you started The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All? What do you think makes yuri manga special?

Sumiko Arai: So I like yuri, but I was always scouring the internet for any type of queer, women-loving-women series or movies, because there really isn't much to watch. I've always been searching for something that I can relate to; I was a fan. I definitely saw a lack [of options] in it, so I wanted to make something to contribute, maybe. But just women-loving-women [media] in general is unique and special as it is, and I think that's what I love about it.

Is there any importance to the specific songs that Aya and Mitsuki listen to together throughout the series? Do they represent a progression in their relationship?

Sumiko Arai: Yeah, I think some of them do. Some of them are just, you know, songs that they're listening to at that time and want to share with other people. But I think a lot of the time, I think about their headspace and what they're feeling at that moment, and try to find a song that fits them. Sometimes, stories come to me through listening to that song, and I think that's what's really special about this comic.

I either forgot about this interview or hasn't seen it. Wherever this idea that the series isn't sufficiently queer enough came from (guess that was coming eventually), I'm at least glad I got the interview out of it. The only one I'd remembered from her before was her early magazine interview in Japanese.

last edited at May 17, 2026 11:44AM

You can do it, mangaka!! Follow the cliché line!! :v
:v

What does this even mean? I can honestly say I have read very, very few manga that approach problems in a relationship with one character using sex to avoid talking about something.

It's just the new "logical fallacy." Overused and misused for the same reasons as back then.

BTW, where is your PFP from?

last edited at May 17, 2026 10:51AM

She asks Mitsuki to talk about it and instead of letting her talk about it or even giving her a chance to respond she tells her she's had enough and just leaves to go to bed... What kind of half ass communication is that? We wanted them to actually talk it out. I mean I guess at least the elephant in the room is finally out there

If I had to guess, she may have been feeling herself getting more frustrated than she wants to be to have the discussion and worried she might say something she wouldn't truly mean or something hurtful in that frustrated state.

I personally had a discussion with my boyfriend a couple months ago, where his response to the initial broaching of the topic was a very frustrating and unsatisfying answer. I recognized that if I kept having that discussion right then, it would quickly devolve into me arguing with him and potentially saying hurtful things in my anger, so I just told him I needed to think about what he said and went to bed to cool off. With a little time to think and clear my head, we had a very good discussion on the matter a couple days later and settled it through talking things out.

Yeah it happens and everyone doesn't word things perfectly when they're upset. That should be (must be) a relatively relatable experience but I'm learning, maybe not?

It'll be interesting how they talk after this. I'm expecting something from Mitsuki's POV first; I'm sure she'll need to think about the avoidance that's led to this. Also sure that gig at the shop will be involved. Can't wait for that. I need her first time performing again to be singing something magical to Aya there. I imagine the friends will pick up on their uncomfortable atmosphere in some way and will also be of some help but the execution of that is a mystery as always.

last edited at May 17, 2026 9:18AM

It's been building up to this and now has come. As expected it's not some major dramatic breakup but a reasonable confrontation from Aya. Mitsuki has been avoidant and Aya realized that would happen again, so she took herself to bed to communicate how serious she is about this to Mitsuki. The conversation is coming and they both know it. I'm wondering now if they'll talk with their friends first for advice before Mitsuki is ready to really sit down with Aya, or if she'll be ready by the morning.

Y'know I'm not the biggest fan of age gap stuff but seeing aoto hibiki do an ol manga is proving to me how talented she actually is this shit is so awesome

When was this age gap?

(Older) Career woman and cutesy junior.

For age-gap stuff I love I Wanna Spoil Yoroizuka-san! it's super wholesome and cute.

A Collar Only For You has great art and a pretty dumb story

Wanna Skip School in the Infirmary? Is also pretty good overall as well

At least with this author all of the age-gap stuff the characters don't usually get together or do anything until their of age. I guess in Collar the girl makes out with the office lady a few times but they don't actually get together until later lol.

All of these are obviously from the same author which is why I used those three examples.

Yeah she's got some fun stuff.

last edited at May 15, 2026 3:15PM

I guess I get where the subtext discussion is coming from (particularly the title), but I have real trouble reading Nina's behavior as anything other than intentional romantic interest. She's instantly on edge when Mao shows up with a guy, gets flustered when touched, asks her out on a date, even offers sex. She backs off with an explicit comparison to the guys who hit on her, and they are definitely not subtext.

Mao finally breaks down because she's forcing Nina into a confession, and she know Nina doesn't want to do that. So why doesn't Nina want to? I would have thought it's because she knows it's doomed and think it's inconsiderate to put Mao through the emotional labor, but I can see how you could reach the conclusion that it's because she doesn't actually have romantic feelings to begin with and is offering up herself strictly as a way to save her senpai.

I agree Nina's feelings are hard to read as anything but gay. But I also agree that "yuri crush" is the better tag for setting expectations

That was the tag I meant for as well. She's definitely romantically interested but there's not really anything from her friend. So "subtext" and "yuri crush" felt more appropriate for setting expectations, which is how I view tags' purpose.

last edited at May 15, 2026 8:35AM

YAY for communication! I can't believe this is it. Surely there's an epilogue, right?? Right???

I liked the ending. Whatever their relationship was (between the guy and Mao) it doesn't matter so I don't mind not getting a direct answer

Also, this is prolly a hot take, but unless there's more and it's obvious they're dating, then Yuri doesn't fit this, it's more along the Subtext line.

Aside from Mao being straight, it seems like Nina doesn't fully know of what she feels for Mao is romantic in nature, but she knows those feelings are strong, so I fr do think Subtext fits best, if not Yuri crush.

But I'll wait until the status changes from "on going" to "completed" maybe I'll be wrong and the Yuri tag does fit

This is how I felt, but it's definitely yuri in the original Japanese meaning of the word which is relationships between girls. The whole manga is about the relationship between Mao and Nina, so it doesn't have to be gay to be yuri.

Yeah, but I think for our purposes we'd normally call it subtext here, or the yuri tag would be a little too broad. This series is also tagged romance, so someone might get the wrong assumption going in. We don't have a yuri friendship tag, I don't think. That's me, though.

last edited at May 14, 2026 9:32AM

I can't tell how long this manga is supposed to be. I enjoy the writing so far, and that their drama didnt get dragged out. But it also feels like it could just end at any moment or be setting up another volume

It's done. This was the final chapter.

Really?! I didnt see a "the end" or "final" or "thank you for reading" or anything so I assumed there was at least one more chapter. I guess the "Ongoing" will need to be updated to "Complete" then?

There's an extra volume chapter. I'm assuming they're waiting to release that first.

last edited at May 13, 2026 8:11PM

I can't tell how long this manga is supposed to be. I enjoy the writing so far, and that their drama didnt get dragged out. But it also feels like it could just end at any moment or be setting up another volume

It's done. This was the final chapter.

last edited at May 13, 2026 7:20PM

This was building for a while. Glad it finally came up. Looking forward to how they overcome this. Tanuki is right that they'll have to settle their relationship status and be honest about their feelings before any decisions about Orge or Human can be made together.

I'm disappointed since it feels like the author could have gone on for another 100 chapters. I don't feel we've exhausted their idea pool for this series at all. Hopefully we can get some more series from them.

Didn't make any money, unfortunately. Volume 1 didn't meet its sales target, and volume 2 didn't sell anywhere near enough to get the publisher to reconsider. And it seems volume 3 sold badly too, but that wasn't changing anything.

Early on I think it made things harder for itself, so that's not surprising. It had a good run anyway.

last edited at May 12, 2026 3:04PM

(the volume cover is kind of spoilers but in the same way most final romance covers are kind of spoilers).

It's the same as the first page of this chapter's scanlation anyway :P

Lol You're right. Forgot about that.

3 chapters left.

Sauce?

It's a finished 3 volume series in Japan. You can find it in a few places like it's Cmoa page (the volume cover is kind of spoilers but in the same way most final romance covers are kind of spoilers).

last edited at May 12, 2026 10:29AM

I heard that this author is caught up in some kind of scandal. Apparently, there were some old tweets saying this manga isn’t yuri, but now that the anime has become so popular, they’re calling it yuri — or something about supporting a male character intruding into yuri pairings. I’m not sure if that’s actually true or not.

Also, doesn’t anyone find the art style of this series kind of weird? Looking at the manga art, it feels like the author didn’t really put much effort into it — like they were just drawing for fun and didn’t expect it to get an anime adaptation. The composition is strange; the characters’ bodies keep extending out of the panels. And if you’re going to do that, just draw the whole leg. I don’t get why they stop at the knees — it’s honestly uncomfortable to look at. As for the backgrounds, many chapters just feature characters with blank white panels and no scenery at all. Thankfully, the anime staff put in a lot of effort and did a pretty good job with the adaptation."

That first thing you said is not true. There's no way to read this series as anything but yuri. I also enjoy the mangas style. Did you enjoy the chapter at all or? Your comment implies you don't read the series (otherwise, I don't understand the yuri comment). The anime works because its based on a good manga.

last edited at May 10, 2026 11:17PM

Smooth

The ending was unsatisfying. The resolution was too neat for a years-long issue, and the ending made these complex characters and their issues too simple and flat. Niji's unhealthy obsession with Remu was built up for so long and the main conflict, someone refusing to engage with a person's real self, is super interesting just for Remu to say oh well I hope I get her to like my dolls one day :). And Meguru just lacked a lot of substance );...

I had gotten from earlier chapters that her deal was partially that she just didn't want to be engaged w for her body, but then she sees evidence of Azuki's obsession with her body and she's like I just disliked it because I had issues with my adulterous father but you're fine otherwise, let's have sex. :|

Yeah the speed of everything just made it feel robotic and flat to me as well. This was a better way of explaining it.

last edited at May 10, 2026 4:31PM

^ agreed.

Regardless of how this arc turns out (i suspect koga crush and aya crush will get together, that panel on the train is so poetic lol).

There's also that both girls know Aya and Mitsuki are taken anyway. They've both seen them with their significant other. Shu specifically knows for a fact that Aya is dating Mitsuki and the other friend had her melancholic realization a few chapters ago when Mitsuki ran to Aya in the rain. Neither girl seems like the nasty type. The connection could also refer to them.

last edited at May 10, 2026 11:23AM

Any stories (don't care if it's manga, light novel, ect) that have both a Yuri and Yaoi couples
I would prefer a romance
I don't care if it's sfw or nsfw

• High Class Homos (Webtoon)
• Love and Be Loved (Webtoon)
• Osora (Webtoon)
• Slice of Life (Webtoon)
• Realta (Webtoon)
• The Princess is Now the Duke (Webtoon)
• The Pirate and the Princess (Webtoon)

By now you see the pattern.

last edited at May 10, 2026 8:40AM

I got to page 6 before I realized that we got more than 4 pages

This chapter is gonna look so fucking cool animated. I really love the art

TL here.

In this chapter, all the Japanese sentences between the scenes are actually connected from one place to another...

Thanks for the note, I wouldn't have made that connection without it being pointed out

Anyways, I hope this is signaling Mitsuki getting into music again. Reading this makes me think, "Aya and Mitsuki really love music, huh?" Maybe I'm seeing it wrong cuz the chapter is also showing that Shu/Rinko has feelings for Aya/Mitsuki and I might just be reading the "the Shu/Rinko finds Aya/Mitsuki attractive" panels as "Aya/Mitsuki are having a good time with music involved" (Mitsuki is talking about her guitar/past which is kinda a stretch to label it as "music"...)

Idk I'm prolly talkin outta my ass here ;-;

You talk very eloquently out of your ass.

Also I'm proud of Mitsuki here she.seems to be having the ideas of wanting to play again and this is the first time she's outright said she's scared to touch the guitar

Yes that was a huge detail. She's definitely wondering about music again and there should be more discussion about that. Also music helped Shu-chan ignore the pain in her knee. It must have been so good to feel "pain free." I'm sure she'll be attending more concerts now. The way music was connecting people was so interesting in this chapter and I'm anticipating how that will continue. Maybe Shu eventually attends a Mitsuki event.

last edited at May 10, 2026 7:51AM