Forum › Maitsuki, Niwatsuki, Ooyatsuki discussion

Internet_lied
joined Jul 15, 2016

So like did they just not talk about it and just kinda chilled out and immediately go to bed? Lol

They didn't immediately go to bed. She took care of her, calmed her down and is giving her space. It's not always best to jump right into those discussions, especially after your loved one is breaking down crying and clearly in distress. She's more focused on comforting her for now.

This. While emotional decompression before bed can improve sleep quality, there is also a high potential to spiral if you talk about heavy stuff while you are tired. If you can fall asleep, it's much more productive to do damage control once you're well-rested, and Asako's actions were on point.

Ykn1
joined Dec 20, 2018

Well, let's see where they decide to go from here...

Ashley_looks_at_a_message_on_the_das~2
joined Feb 20, 2023

I was so worried Miyako would break up with Ayako to "protect" her. I'm so glad they didn't go down that route.

Also what stage is their relationship right now. They've dated for months now, are sharing a bed, and taking baths together. But I don't think I've seen them kiss once yet. Is it implied to have happened off screen?

last edited at Apr 11, 2024 4:17PM

342713096_945190890232560_6363820535049258469_n
joined Mar 18, 2023

That is why paparazzi are hated.

Kirin-kun Uploader
Oip
Rehashed Scans
joined Mar 21, 2021

I was so worried Miyako would break up with Ayako to "protect" her. I'm so glad they didn't go down that route.

Also what stage is their relationship right now. They've dated for months now, are sharing a bed, and taking baths together. But I don't think I've seen them kiss once yet. Is it implied to have happened off screen?

They're a couple, that's all.

There's no need for more.

Tumblr_3d1efdc4f3fb1ee16acd2f13f08afe0c_1e0d545a_12802
joined Mar 8, 2014

I was so worried Miyako would break up with Ayako to "protect" her. I'm so glad they didn't go down that route.

Also what stage is their relationship right now. They've dated for months now, are sharing a bed, and taking baths together. But I don't think I've seen them kiss once yet. Is it implied to have happened off screen?

They're a couple, that's all.

There's no need for more.

Yeah, I'm confused too lol. I mean sure, they're a couple but after a while you'd start wondering if you haven't kissed like, does this person even like me? are they asexual? what's going on? I'm here waiting for the kiss like o__O

543633_50
joined Sep 10, 2022

I was so worried Miyako would break up with Ayako to "protect" her. I'm so glad they didn't go down that route.

Also what stage is their relationship right now. They've dated for months now, are sharing a bed, and taking baths together. But I don't think I've seen them kiss once yet. Is it implied to have happened off screen?

They're a couple, that's all.

There's no need for more.

Yeah, I'm confused too lol. I mean sure, they're a couple but after a while you'd start wondering if you haven't kissed like, does this person even like me? are they asexual? what's going on? I'm here waiting for the kiss like o__O

There's a lot they do we don't see. Still, we know they're a happy couple. I think that's what Kirin was saying. As you said, they've been dating for months, are living together, are sharing the same bed, taking baths together, planning to meet each other's families, and discussing permanent life decisions. Isn't that more than enough?

last edited at Apr 12, 2024 4:56PM

Yuu
joined Mar 28, 2015

Faylicia posted:

I was so worried Miyako would break up with Ayako to "protect" her. I'm so glad they didn't go down that route.

Also what stage is their relationship right now. They've dated for months now, are sharing a bed, and taking baths together. But I don't think I've seen them kiss once yet. Is it implied to have happened off screen?

They're a couple, that's all.

There's no need for more.

Yeah, I'm confused too lol. I mean sure, they're a couple but after a while you'd start wondering if you haven't kissed like, does this person even like me? are they asexual? what's going on? I'm here waiting for the kiss like o__O

In all the Yodokawa works I've read, I don't think there ever was a kiss.

This one is the most explicitly yuri of her works. Most of the time, it's just suggested.

But here, we have an actual established couple. Their love is made of little attentions, being comfortable around each other and sharing warmth with hugs and cuddling.

Kisses are not a mandatory part of a couple's life. Maybe they do kiss off-screen, or even have sex. But this is not the kind of stuff Yodokawa draws.

D5
joined Apr 10, 2024

I love this manga with all my heart and soul but this story line is going to give me an aneurysm. The premise seems to be that Miyako is somehow the first top idol ever to quit her group and as a result her management company is all at sea. AKB48 somehow manages to run a conveyor belt with members joining and quitting all the time, but somehow that's all Dark Magicks to ELM's management..

It is established in the story that Miyako negotiated her exit from the group, which means that the management had plenty of time to promote someone from their trainee program or come up with a good story on day 1 of how the group would go forward with just the four members. They could have done some press availability with Miyako where she give a happy story about how she wanted to focus on her new career in real estate management, and then give her a proper graduation concert. This would have avoided all the problems they're trying to deal with now.

I accepted the whole quit-the-band-suddenly premise as a maguffin to set up the story and why she's trying to be anonymous and all. But now that the maguffin has become the "A" plot line it's shown up for how ridiculous it is. No professional idol management company would screw up something this basic so badly.

D5
joined Apr 10, 2024

Yeah, the only way this chapter makes ANY sense at all is if the director is her mom.

No, that makes even less sense. When Miyako disappears you'd expect her mom to think to check out the vacant property her family owns on the outskirts of town, that she herself was living in until recently. Or ask Granny, who knew where Miyako was the whole time.

joined Apr 2, 2023

It is established in the story that Miyako negotiated her exit from the group, which means that the management had plenty of time to promote someone from their trainee program or come up with a good story on day 1 of how the group would go forward with just the four members. They could have done some press availability with Miyako where she give a happy story about how she wanted to focus on her new career in real estate management, and then give her a proper graduation concert. This would have avoided all the problems they're trying to deal with now.

I reread chapter 9 recently since it's in print and it seems like the exit she chose was more of an "escape plan" vs the typical graduation from a group like you mapped out and there's reasons for that. I don't think she had it in her to fake it anymore. Not a moment more even if it'd have served herself.

She had it drilled into her that her real self couldn't be seen. Down to policing emotions and mannerisms. Once she reached her breaking point on that her ability to assume the fake persona again for media would have felt impossible. It was the key conflict.

If I remember right her first/last/only public word on the subject was said on stage and then she was gone. She didn't let herself be further scripted more than the absolute minimum to get out even if the consequence was the non-contact rule and contributed to the rumors. She's aware of what's being gossiped about and feels guilty about some of it unfairly reflecting bad on the other group members, but if she was in a good mental state a whole lot of things would have been done differently or not necessary at all. She didn't hate her coworkers, the fans, or even the work. It was what the director did to her.

In a way it feels more like getting out of a cult. She was under the thumb of a controlling adult as a teenager, under the eye of the public and living in a restrained way beyond what the others dealt with, and eventually she got herself out. But she still is living by many of the rules of a confined world. She's come a long way, but the director just has to appear and she starts to slip back into the old mindset. By the time she got back home she was like a kid again and the world was ending over something that shouldn't feel that big.

Of course it seems silly to people who didn't grow up like that, but to her this is what she knows. At least she has someone from the outside with her now who will have a different perspective. Someone who has been with her long enough to understand her lived in anxieties too. And while we haven't seen them talk in detail about it yet her already thinking about the car purchase and the importance of making big decisions together makes me think whatever they do will be based on what they decide together. Both sides of the story are coming together which feels nice to me.

The_argent_god_100px_avatar
joined Jul 28, 2019

Coming back after I forgot I posted, about my thinking the Director is her mom was because of the use of the endearment "Honey". I forgot about the Kansai parents thing, and I'll chalk it up to not understanding the culture or maybe a translation issue, it just sits real weird for the Director to say that.

joined Dec 24, 2022

An appropriated blank-leaving is just fit this manga to a tee. Love it.

Miki_closeup
joined Mar 20, 2014

So, Miyako can't tell that manager to take a hike, because ... ?

JazzLafayette
4fe5eecd-bb71-4108-8d32-020d4e723c02
joined Oct 3, 2018

it just sits real weird for the Director to say that.

I don't think it's a Japanese culture thing so much as an entertainment industry thing. People use diminutive terms for young women in professional settings rather too often as it is, and in the context of idoldom and curating a "familial" environment for these girls it doesn't seem super unusual. Obviously I'm unaware what the original term used was, though.

So, Miyako can't tell that manager to take a hike, because ... ?

Because she's considering that the director's plan may be the best option. She doesn't want to create difficulties for her friends' careers and she doesn't want to risk exposing her partner to invasive media attention.

1pixel
joined Dec 3, 2010

ch24:
Asako san's father is really kind. It's a blessing that Asako san has such a beautiful family who accepts her for being who she is.

Old_Man_Majes
Old%20man%20prof
joined Oct 25, 2022

I am desperately hoping that final panel means we'll get to see Hatomori's reaction next chapter. She's gotta be having an epic meltdown at the news, and I really want to see it.

543633_50
joined Sep 10, 2022

This is a solid compromise. I knew it wouldn't get too melodramatic, that's not this author's style. A graduation concert allows her to finally deal with her past head on and close that chapter rather than run from it like she'd been doing all series.

She can make a clean break and maybe give a cheeky, secret shout-out to her girlfriend on the stage. It'll feel surreal for Asako to see her GF actually perform live!

last edited at Jun 6, 2024 7:22PM

342713096_945190890232560_6363820535049258469_n
joined Mar 18, 2023

The climax is coming soon.

Kirin-kun Uploader
Oip
Rehashed Scans
joined Mar 21, 2021

Since Miyako left the group without warning and without graduating, it fuels speculations about her relationship with the other members/the agency and it reflects negatively on the current members, especially Ruri who replaced her as center.

So, the paparazzi are going to try to unearth any detail about Miyako's life and may expose Asako in the process, who doesn't need to have her photo plastered in tabloids. Also, speculations that Miyako may come back. It gives hope to her fans (she was very popular) and they may criticize the group if it doesn't happen.

The graduation allows to put things at rest. It's a way for idols to quit and move on to something else in good order. Fans may be sad, but it's customary to accept their decision.

Neither the current ELM or the agency need scandals attached to their name.

Also, Yodokawa already said this is the last volume.

last edited at Jun 7, 2024 2:57AM

Internet_lied
joined Jul 15, 2016

A great chapter, plot-wise, but I still cannot get over how epic a power walk Miyako did perform here. I am used to this kind of stuff in Gundam SEED but not in my wholesome yuri manga about idols. :D ...that said, the character it most reminded me of, Lacus, is also an idol, so maybe power walks are an idol thing? O__o

Miki_closeup
joined Mar 20, 2014

I have no idea how Miyako "graduating" would solve anything. They'd still scrutinize her for meeting her ex-colleagues, unless she's expected not to meet them anymore. The press will also probably still find out about her relationship with another woman and hound her about it. If anything this may make things worse for everyone involved.

last edited at Jun 7, 2024 3:03PM

joined Jan 3, 2020

I was so worried Miyako would break up with Ayako to "protect" her. I'm so glad they didn't go down that route.

Also what stage is their relationship right now. They've dated for months now, are sharing a bed, and taking baths together. But I don't think I've seen them kiss once yet. Is it implied to have happened off screen?

They're a couple, that's all.

There's no need for more.

Yeah, I'm confused too lol. I mean sure, they're a couple but after a while you'd start wondering if you haven't kissed like, does this person even like me? are they asexual? what's going on? I'm here waiting for the kiss like o__O

Asako at least has had sex with her past girlfriend according to https://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/maitsuki_niwatsuki_ooyatsuki_ch14#8. ("She cheated on me! She said I was 'the Tuesday girl'!")

I think the reasonable conclusion is that they're intimate with each other, just off screen.

last edited at Jun 7, 2024 10:20AM

girlswhokiss
%e3%83%80%e3%82%a4%e3%81%95%e3%82%93
joined Apr 5, 2023

I'm going to miss this once it ends

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