So, I've re-read this yet again today, taking notes this time, which turned out to help me a lot with keeping track of everyone outside the MCs. Especially since many of the characters look rather similar. I am here to share.
Setting:
Place: Ametatsu Girls' High School, in the town of Ametatsu, and an affiliated but unattached dorm, which is some houses and konbini away from the physical school. Segawa Shou lives in Ametatsu. Koumoto Umi's family lives in Tanami City, far enough away by train to make visiting non-casual, close enough that Shou can visit for an evening summer festival and still get back home.
Time: Umi and Shou's second year of high school. Starts in early spring (winter uniforms), wraps around back to winter, but I don't think Christmas has happened yet.
Cast:
Umi and Shou's roommates:
Baba? Mari. Black hair, glasses, slightly chubby looking, friendly. Writer. The first to notice Umi's new fixation on Shou, and their sneaking out together, and she is supportive. Gives me the feeling she imagines a lot more making out than has actually happened. Managed to talk about love with Shou without any knowing smirks.
Fuki, or Fuku in chapter 3. Short, short blonde hair. Can be mistaken for an elementary school student. Isn't seen much; I feel she's mostly a placeholder, to round out the room without complicating dynamics too much. Has a similar role in Umi's Okinawa group. Revealed guitar-playing during the culture festival.
Umi's friends group:
I don't blame Shou for being intimidated, it's like a large school of moderately friendly sharks.
Ibu Yuuki. Long brown hair, usually looks angry. Somehow is the reason that Shou changed rooms; I think Ibu would have been happier if she'd been the one changing. Seems attached to Umi: Umi helps her in cooking class (Yosshi accuses Umi of spoiling her), they share a private moment (with Umi feeding her a skewer quasi-romantically), Ibu looks extra angry when she noticed Umi being clingy around Shou, Ibu cadges a piggyback ride she didn't actually need from Umi when sick in Okinawa (Umi later: "wait, what?"), Ibu tries to be clingy after that but can't actually admit it. I won't say I know her feelings, but if she turns out to be crushing on Umi I will be utterly unsurprised. Told Shou to stop forcing herself on others. Told Baba she doesn't even try to be mean, but Shou gets upset at what she says, also she hates Shou. (Baba calls her pretty dense.) Says "gross" to both Shou and Umi -- "Segawa this, Segawa that, you've been pretty gross." Is 'Ibu-chan' to Umi and 'Yuuki' to Yosshi, 'Ibu-san' to others.
Yosshi. Black hair, little ratty ponytail. Loud, obnoxious, can't read a room, lashes out at people for behaving 'weird'. Is the reason Umi missed the Aquarium Club during the culture festival. Has known Ibu a long time. Did express concern when Ibu was sick -- but Umi did the work of finding and caring for her. Complains about Nae getting a boyfriend, then immediate says they all have to get boyfriends too. Currently crushing on the tour guide for Okinawa.
Nae-chan, also Nacchan. Long brown hair, probably smiling sweetly. Practically engaged to Ma-kun, who thinks he loves her enough to take over the family orchard. She can see Tanami City from there. When she announces the relationship, she hugs Umi, and they declare being on each other's side. In the Okinawa group photo, she was clutching Umi's arm at a moment when no one else was clinging to anyone. When Shou showed up for her sleepover, Nae was not just friendly, she was touchy and up in Shou's personal space like one of Asumi-chan's brothel girls. Unlike Ibu, she is not unhappy about Umi spending time with Shou. (I don't think we ever see Nae unhappy.) Gets to be in Umi's Okinawa group (and I note that the sleeping line is Fuki, Ken, Nae, Umi, [Shou]).
Zumiko. Short brown hair. Perfect grades, studies a lot. Would like to socialize more but feels compelled to study. Has a long term boyfriend we don't hear much about. In Ibu's room for Okinawa, sweatdrops as she watches Ibu try to cling to Umi and fail. From Ametatsu, and would like to get far away.
Ken. Tall, very short black hair. Got a tan. In Umi's Okinawa group.
I think there are even more girls in the general group, with the same default brown hair color that Umi/Ibu/Zumi/Nae have, but not their own clear names or identities.
Aquarium Club senpai:
Fushiki. Short, has black hair covering her eyes. Missed so many classes that she gets to repeat a year, so we might still see her if the manga enters the third year. Sometimes even does aquarium stuff.
Shimada. Short black hair and glasses. Helps occasionally but skipped the sendoff party for third years. (As did all the other third years.)
Thoughts
For a work with just one kiss, several chapters after mutual confession, it's surprisingly erotically charged. A lot like Asumi-chan and Nanao blushing at each other. Even with almost nothing happening, the sense of physical awareness is very well conveyed. Umi is the obvious one, but with some attention, you see that Shou wasn't far behind.
Questions
Is there anything deeper behind Shou's childhood memory of getting rescued by a "mermaid"?
When Shou talks in chapter 4 about the mermaid being surrounded by her friends, is she talking about Umi already?
How much is Ibu into Umi? And what's between Ibu and Shou? (Not jealousy over Umi, the timing is wrong.)
Is Nae really bisexual?
And are there any automated love hotels that minors can check into, even if they're not supposed to? I think Umi really needs to know... Else it's sex on the beach by starlight.
last edited at Dec 28, 2023 12:57AM