Is anyone in here happy that we'e actually going to
I actually think Mei lied to Yuzu when she said that she decided it for herself because she doesn't want Yuzu to go after her.

Sorry to butt in, but perhaps she believes what she wrote since she (probably) hate herself, so she doesn't deserve to be with Yuzu and prefer to inherit the school; then can it be considered a lie? If Mei thinks she doesn't deserve Yuzu, then no matter how hurt she would be, she'll try to let Yuzu go and separate herself from her step-sister.

I actually really want inheriting the school to BE a genuine wish of Mei's. Not a "remnant of her past desires"/"she hates herself" thing but she's genuinely ambitious and wants to do a good job running the school. It would be particularly delicious angst - Yuzu was the one pushing Mei to figure out what she really wanted for herself so she could really fight for it, whoops, turns out Yuzu's encouragement drove her to realize she really wanted that inheritance, even if it means hurting Yuzu. It's as if Yuzu retrospectively, unknowingly shot herself in the foot and it's both hilariously ironic and tragic to me.

That said, I want Mei to basically get both the girl and the career, so that's probably what's driving my hope that she wants the school for real.

Regardless, I still want Mei to chase after Yuzu this time.

I wonder if it'll happen... I think Yuzu is way too much in love with Mei to ever giving her the cold shoulder. My bet is that the very second Mei says "I love you" or something similar, Yuzu will throw herself in Mei's arms. Perhaps I'm wrong though. What needs to be done for Mei is to accept her own desires and sort out her goals. Maybe after that, Mei will try to pursue Yuzu if the latter ever decided to erase Mei from her life.

I think Mei needs to chase after Yuzu lmao. As much as I'm part of Mei's rah rah team, bij has basically traumatized poor Yuzu lol. She should do some (lots) of grovelling before she's forgiven.

last edited at Feb 20, 2018 2:07PM

@Klice

I don't think Mei actually believe that she doesn't deserved Yuzu. What's stopping her from loving Yuzu is the burden of being an only child and sole heiress of her family's business. she got no choice especially after the talk she had with her grandfather in the car. Mei is just so stubborn to ask for help and just keep her problems on her own.

@mei is waifu

I don't want to make the japanese family tradition vs western culture, a big deal in here because to be honest, it doesn't matter if you live in asia or western countries. our parents does expects us to conform with what the general society considers to be normal. I grew up in Asia but I currently live here in America. my parents never forces me to do something that I don't want or marry someone I don't love. what the heck?! I know it does happen but i don't think most family in asia do these traditonal arranged marriage bullsh*t.

last edited at Feb 20, 2018 4:01PM

i don't think most family in asia do these traditonal arranged marriage bullsh*t.

Most families do not, most upper class families do. Lower class families in general just expect their children to marry and have kids of their own, it is the upper classes that get rather particular on whom their kids will be marrying.

last edited at Feb 20, 2018 4:13PM

@Skyblaze77

We know Mei does want to inherit the academy but I don't think that she actually wants to marry someone she doesn't love. it's her grandfathers whose putting all that pressure into her.

i don't think most family in asia do these traditonal arranged marriage bullsh*t.

Most families do not, most upper class families do. Lower class families in general just expect their children to marry and have kids of their own, it is the upper classes that get rather particular on whom their kids will be marrying.

Yeah, omiai are still a thing.

There’s a whole spectrum between old-school forced arranged marriages (where the parties getting married have no say at all) and those where only the two people getting married have any say in the matter (autonomous marriage), and, as others have said, economics plays a huge role—apparently these days arranged marriages are most common among the very poor (where getting an adult person out the door and eating somewhere else can be essential to the family’s survival) and among the economic elites (where it has to do with maintaining status via inheritance).

It can be especially important when a family needs an alliance (for financial support or inheritance issues) in order to stay in the upper-classes, which seems to be the case here. So it’s not just about disappointing grandpa (who, again as others have said, doesn’t have the slightest idea that Mei is romantically interested in anyone else or has any reason to resist the usual marriage procedure of her social class); it’s about the future of the entire family.

PS: To be clear, I personally want Yuzu to end up happy and lovey-dovey with Mei 4ever!! as much as the next person. But arranged marriages even today are by no means unusual, nor considered particularly cruel, in the kind of families depicted in this manga.

last edited at Feb 20, 2018 7:16PM

I actually really want inheriting the school to BE a genuine wish of Mei's. Not a "remnant of her past desires"/"she hates herself" thing but she's genuinely ambitious and wants to do a good job running the school. It would be particularly delicious angst - Yuzu was the one pushing Mei to figure out what she really wanted for herself so she could really fight for it, whoops, turns out Yuzu's encouragement drove her to realize she really wanted that inheritance, even if it means hurting Yuzu. It's as if Yuzu retrospectively, unknowingly shot herself in the foot and it's both hilariously ironic and tragic to me.

That would be so hard on Yuzu, damn. Give her one chance! I think if Mei is really ambitious like that and prioritise her carreer while not caring about her love life, she will never come back to Yuzu. If you want to be ambitious, I think it's best to leave your emotions at the door, as much as possible, and if you need some comfort/affection, you could just pay for some or look for it with you arranged partner. It may a bit too cynical and perhaps I'm wrong, some can combine both, but in Mei's case, it doesn't seem doable; I feel that it won't be good for Yuzu if at 15/16yo Mei is already ambitious enough to sacrifice her love life for the job.

However, if she hates herself, there is still a possibility that after doing some work on herself, she realises she was just refusing herself to be happy and punishing herself. Then she would try to pursue Yuzu, because she would realise that her step-sister counts more than anything else. Mei hating herself is still speculation though, but it's my best guess at the moment.

I don't think Mei actually believe that she doesn't deserved Yuzu. What's stopping her from loving Yuzu is the burden of being an only child and sole heiress of her family's business. she got no choice especially after the talk she had with her grandfather in the car. Mei is just so stubborn to ask for help and just keep her problems on her own.

Perhaps, as I said above the self-hate is speculation (with some solid stuff backing it in my eyes). But then, why make yourself suffer if you don't hate yourself, at least a bit? The tone of the letter, saying that Yuzu almost made her forget about her goals, the fact that she wrote a letter instead of facing her step sister directly makes it clear to me that Mei is suffering as well. Maybe she really is just ambitious and thinks she can take it; and not from some sort of self-sacrifice where she denies her happiness and tries to do good for her family but... If she was fully confident, I think she would have explained all that to Yuzu directly in person.

I don't know, I can't get around my head making yourself suffer and, especially, making the one you love suffer believing it's for their own good ("for your sake" in the letter), if you don't have some self-worth issue. Maybe I'm too wrapped up in my own ideas to see it.

But our girl is too scarred I wonder how it is realistic (a little, even though in Citrus, is expected here). Yuzu is totally dead inside and traumatised. How can she have faith once again in Mei, the girl who told her four-time "yes", when Yuzu asked her if she could love her forever etc.

I wonder... She is still trying to be her happy self, but it's painfully obvious to her friends she doesn't manage to do it. Damn, I can already see Yuzu refusing Mei with the biggest sad/smile saying that Mei would lose everything she worked for if she came back with her step-sister. This could go wrong in so many ways that I could begin to doubt the prospect of happy ending.

Edit Thank you for the translation as always, Chaosteam, however, "fiancée" is feminine (p31), the masculine is "fiancé". We have to wait a bit for Mei to have a fiancée...

last edited at Feb 21, 2018 7:10AM

@Yuri_lvl100 I might have made a mistake, it should be traditional Asian families instead of just Asian families. And I know what happens in those families, 'cause I grew up in one.

@Uranus Absolutely. For the children of upper-class families, arranged marriages are a part of their lives.

@Tenoh Yeah, omiai type of customs are prevalent in other parts of Asia too. Some are even worse then omiai.

Note: When you say upper class, it can have a different meaning than mine. Like when I say upper-class, it doesn't necessarily mean that they have loads of cash or live in a big-ass mansion. Like it could, but that's not necessary. I could also mean that they are of higher status or caste.

Note: When you say upper class, it can have a different meaning than mine. Like when I say upper-class, it doesn't necessarily mean that they have loads of cash or live in a big-ass mansion. Like it could, but that's not necessary. I could also mean that they are of higher status or caste.

A concept that appears in manga a fair amount is the idea of belonging to a "samurai family", which confers a certain status even if they're not financially successful. There's a pride in the family association, and in a lot of stories the character will try to live up to whatever standard they associate with that lineage.

The recent episode just made me wonder, when Yuzu asked Mei why she can't expect more from their relationship she said the classic because they are both women and sisters. Why did she not tell her that she will also have to marry a man if she wanted to become head of the school? Seems to be a bigger issue than their genders and legal relation.

Yes, what happened is tragic, its something that should not have happened, but Mei was just being the child of a traditional Japanese/Asian family; i.e. living under the pressure of a mountain load of traditions, duties and responsibilities. I doubt most of you bashing this chapter have ever experienced it (to that extent, that is), and most likely, you never will.

Most Japanese women don't seeing as how the average age for a Japanese woman to marry is 29. Seems to be just an excuse to repeat the plot from volume 1.

last edited at Feb 21, 2018 10:55AM

A concept that appears in manga a fair amount is the idea of belonging to a "samurai family", which confers a certain status even if they're not financially successful. There's a pride in the family association, and in a lot of stories the character will try to live up to whatever standard they associate with that lineage.

You put what I wanted to say in proper words thank you Nezchan

Most Japanese women don't seeing as how the average age for a Japanese woman to marry is 29. Seems to be just an excuse to repeat the plot from volume 1.

Most Japanese women don't live in rich and upper-class society. The rules aren't the same. It's the same problem, but not the same plot. That said, now she seems to be volunteer rather than going with the flow, like in the first volume. And Manager-san isn't (afaik) some freak that would force himself upon Mei; that said, if they want to do what's expected of them...

last edited at Feb 21, 2018 11:10AM

Most Japanese women don't seeing as how the average age for a Japanese woman to marry is 29. Seems to be just an excuse to repeat the plot from volume 1.

Most Japanese women don't live in rich and upper-class society. The rules aren't the same.

This also applies to rural populations, regardless of class. Like, if you are a 29 years old single woman in Tokyo, it is not a big deal, but if you live in a rural area, and you have not married before the age of 25, you will be looked strangely (even pityingly) at, and can expect a fair bit of pressure from your family to settle already. Again, exceptions exist, but this is the typical mindset.

last edited at Feb 21, 2018 11:16AM

Most Japanese women don't seeing as how the average age for a Japanese woman to marry is 29. Seems to be just an excuse to repeat the plot from volume 1.

Most Japanese women don't live in rich and upper-class society. The rules aren't the same. It's the same problem, but not the same plot.

There's a good illustration of that in Gokujo Drops. The main character wasn't brought up in a so-called "high class" household, even though it's later revealed that her dad isn't poor at all, and thus the idea of omiai isn't something she's ever encountered. However, to the girls who come from wealthy families at her school it's almost routine, although in a lot of cases done just for show and they have the choice to refuse candidates. A nice illustration of differing social expectations.

I stand corrected then, it's just the idea that late marriage means that there aren't any pressure for marriage altogether seemed a bit wrong to me.

last edited at Feb 21, 2018 11:22AM

Ive been reading up on it a little more. According to Wikipedia, even though Omiai isnt exactly a full arranged marriage and more like a job interview, only 6.2% of Japanese marriages in 2005 were arranged via Omiai. This is a significant decrease from a top estimate of 30% in 1998. If anything it seems times are changing, hopefully Yuzu can force this kind of change into the Aihara family.

I'm just going to copy and paste an excellent analysis of previous volumes and how they tie with Mei's letter made by an insightful anon at /u/

Volume 1 - Had Harumin explain how relationships between girls worked at their school and established the deal with fiances. Also had Mei's grandfather as a huge influence on Mei.

Volume 2 - Yuzu learned of Mei's troubled upbringing and dedication to the school from Himeko. Then Shou shows up and we're given the message that there's no one way to live your life.

Volume 3 - Matsuri is there to trigger Mei's jealousy to get her to pursue Yuzu. And while the reader is made to doubt Matsuri's observations, most of them about Mei do ring true to some extent in hindsight.

Volume 4 - Shows that Mei is willing to try to run away from her problems.

Volume 5 - Mitsuko forces Yuzu and Mei to make hard choices, but also introduces the concept of creating your own path with a strong will. Volume also showed how much Mei loved the school, even having to hide her grandpa's photo when kissing Yuzu in his office.

Volume 6 - Yuzu and Mei's relationship intensifies and the ring is given to Mei, which triggers her deeper feelings. Mei acting awkward while comforting Yuzu in the library now has a more negative meaning in hindsight.

Volume 7 - Mei starts actively trying to figure out if she loves Yuzu. By the end of the volume she realizes that she does.

Volume 8 - Sexual tension reaches its peak and is really the "calm before the storm" of volume 9.

Volume 9 - Everything starts to go to hell when Matsuri learns of Mei's engagement. Their friends worry and ponder their future, Yuzu is oblivious to why Mei is acting weird, while Mei is obviously torn. Eventually the guilt overwhelms Mei when Yuzu is thinking of their future together, so timeskip to after Mei bails in order to fulfill her duties. We get a short "where are they now" of the rest of the cast.

last edited at Feb 21, 2018 12:30PM

We saw this

I genuinely do not know what this is doing like this feels like something from 30 years ago
Japan actually has a higher marriage age than the US so I don't know I almost think in fact it's probably true that this is mostly for drama and that we are overthinking this we need to stop thinking about how realistic this is and just think how can more drama come about

last edited at Feb 21, 2018 12:40PM

I'm honestly just glad that people are finally cutting the whole putting the blame on Mei (since she's being dutiful and honestly her situation is hardly in her control) and putting the blame where it really stand: Her father. Sure, he was portrayed positively in the whole "following your dreams" aspect of this manga, but he's being highly irresponsable by saying fuck it all and leaving everything in his daughters hands. What did he expected by putting all the pressure into a -highly mature but still - teenager girl?

@auikimaya

it's true that Mei's father is a selfish prick. He left all his responsibilities to Mei. but I don't think it will stop his grandfather from setting up an arrange marriage for her. (On a side note. it seems that most of the Citrus anime viewer likes Shou which is nuts.)

Everyone was just really shock when they read chapter 36 because almost nobody expected Mei to choose the arrange marriage. the time skip made it even worst. tbh the only thing that came from my mind was how can Mei do that to Yuzu and I'm sure that's what everyone was thinking after reading it.

last edited at Feb 21, 2018 3:50PM

I'm honestly just glad that people are finally cutting the whole putting the blame on Mei (since she's being dutiful and honestly her situation is hardly in her control) and putting the blame where it really stand: Her father. Sure, he was portrayed positively in the whole "following your dreams" aspect of this manga, but he's being highly irresponsable by saying fuck it all and leaving everything in his daughters hands. What did he expected by putting all the pressure into a -highly mature but still - teenager girl?

It is actually even worse than that, because Mei was in primary school when he left, his leaving caused her quite severe emotional damage that was never fully patched up. And before he had his sudden 'revelation' and decided to say "fuck it all", he was actually quite strict himself, and impressed upon Mei the whole duty/legacy significance. Then one day out of the blue offered her to abandon it all with him. What was a child her age to think?

An adult travelling the world, engaging in 'philosophical' soul searching, lol. Which, as some pointed out, would have been fine if he was a bachelor without kids, but when you are doing this knowing full well your responsibilities have now fallen on your young daughter, it is a shitty move. He is her father, for fuck's sake.

I guess the audience (though I suspect this was probably more prevalent amongst the western fans) just liked the idea of him throwing away the chains of his birth and upbringing too much to really delve into negative consequences of his actions, since I saw very little animosity directed at him (contrasting with the grandfather, who is for many Lucifer incarnate).

last edited at Feb 21, 2018 4:02PM

OK, I’ve seen several different numbers in the discussion here, and I’m terrible both at math and at matching up Japanese grade levels to equivalent ages, so let me ask: in the latest chapter,

How old is Mei?

How old is Yuzu?

They're 16/17 probably, if they started in their 1st year of high school, being 15, and one year passed since the beginning of the story, that would put them at 16yo~.

last edited at Feb 21, 2018 4:44PM

universally upsetting