Cool chapter ^^

Ah... Yeah, such is love for ya

Love Triangle?

Can't help but to root for Hime-cut lady, 'cos unlike the other two, she has strong focus on what she wants.

Dynasty forums be like...

Some thoughts:

I'm really enjoying the diverse representation. Sure, it feels like it gets a bit textbook-y at times, but you have to keep in mind that these are topics that many people have trouble understanding, or might not have even heard of. It's particularly uncommon to hear about how "asexuality" is an umbrella term and that it's actually a pretty wide-ranging subject that encompasses much more than just disinterest or repulsion towards sex. Speaking from the perspective of an ace-spectrum person, I'm fine with a bit of over-explaining if it makes it easier to follow the story for someone who otherwise wouldn't really know what was happening. People on dynasty are usually more knowledgeable about queer topics, but the average reader doesn't know as much, if they even know anything at all.

The fact that Matoi goes from definitely seeing herself as aroace to considering whether she might be some other kind of asexual is nice. She's still young, and her understanding of who she is and what she wants is probably still in some state of flux. She might end up deciding that she was right the first time, or she might not, she might even decide she's not ace at all (though I highly doubt that's the case, for a variety of reasons). My best bet at this stage is that she's gray ace (which I'll admit is in part because just about everything but that has been covered by a different character :P) I'm really glad she has people around to help her discover who she truly is. Rio especially. She seems like she really cares about Matoi, and will respect Matoi's feelings and boundaries (that is, now that she has learned what Matoi's feelings and boundaries are. Remember, kids: just because your japanese mangas have people confessing by suddenly kissing someone, doesn't mean it's okay to do in real life! :P)

While I'm sure some people would like it if Yuriko eventually returned Matoi's feelings romantically, I'm personally hoping they enter into more of a queer-platonic relationship (especially after that incredibly cute bit of snuggling at Matoi's apartment. My heart...) They're both calm, relatively mature people (for manga characters), I think they're definitely capable of finding a way to be together that makes both of them happy. I expect the ending to be something along those lines, but we'll see.

Can't help but to root for Hime-cut lady, 'cos unlike the other two, she has strong focus on what she wants.

Tomolo [The Other, More Overtly Lesbian One] Love strikes again.

Put money on it folks, whenever there's a series with a dithering/useless, or otherwise pre-yuri MC couple along with an out (if only to themselves) lesbian side character, a flock of Dynasty readers will immediately line up to book passage on that (alas, usually doomed) ship.

^ Tobey meme, in case people don't get it.

I knew I should've added this emote ":v" just in case people take my random meme-ing seriously :v

Can't help but to root for Hime-cut lady, 'cos unlike the other two, she has strong focus on what she wants.

Rio has a strong focus on what she wants because she already knows exactly what it is that she wants. The other two don't yet know what they want, and they're currently focused on figuring that out.

This might sound blasphemous to some, but I'm rooting for no romantic couples at all. I'd like to see Matoi and Yuriko get together, but in a way that's acceptable to the both of them. Seeing as at least Yuriko is aromantic, I'm going to say the chances of a mutually-reciprocated romance are slim to none, though that could change. They can be together without needing to feel the same way though, and I'm hoping we see that in the end.

A queerplatonic relationship not unlike the one in this one-shot that was linked earlier is fairly close to what I'd like to see. They don't have to be lovers to be special to each other. (By the way, thank you so much to the person that linked that manga, it was a delight.)

Of course, there's always the poly route. Though I guess it wouldn't be "polyamory" so much as "poly...amory". :P

edit: wait was all that a meme? did I get wooshed?

last edited at Apr 11, 2022 2:41AM

^ Tobey meme, in case people don't get it.

I knew I should've added this emote ":v" just in case people take my random meme-ing seriously :v

I have no idea what you’re talking about.

How can be the mom just be... cool with her middle school daughter dating an adult man like that?? Kinda weirding me how how she of all people is not batting an eye to that.

Also, love that character chart at the end, nice to have it all black on white like that <3

Yeah I'm also surprised that the Mom is all like "my middle school daughter is dating a 40 year old man...this is fine"

I like that both characters have resolved to be honest with one another, hopefully this means we won't get drama dragged out for a long time.

Yeah I'm also surprised that the Mom is all like "my middle school daughter is dating a 40 year old man...this is fine"

What we actually know is that the boyfriend is “a working adult”—i.e., not in high school.

Partly the issue is the weird way that mangaka do or don’t draw age differences in their character designs—I’ve seen stories where guys drawn like that are supposed to be big-for-their-age middle-school athletes or (maybe with just a bit more beard and a line or two more in the face) somebody’s hunky grandfather.

So sure, there’s an age difference, and obviously the mom isn’t as weirded out by age gaps as Dynasty readers are, but “he seems honest,” and that’s good enough for her.

last edited at Apr 12, 2022 10:06AM

Yeah I'm also surprised that the Mom is all like "my middle school daughter is dating a 40 year old man...this is fine"

What we actually know is that the boyfriend is “a working adult”—i.e., not in high school.

Partly the issue is the weird way that mangaka do or don’t draw age differences in their character designs—I’ve seen stories where guys drawn like that are supposed to be big-for-their-age middle-school athletes or (maybe with just a bit more beard and a line or two more in the face) somebody’s hunky grandfather.

So sure, there’s an age difference, and obviously the mom isn’t as weirded out by age gaps as Dynasty readers are, but “he seems honest,” and that’s good enough for her.

I dunno, I'm usually cool with the Age Gap tag. But you're right, we don't actually know the guy's age and he could just be drawn to be Younger Than He Looks (how's that for flipping a tag?)

As long as everyone's happy, I guess we'll see how it plays out.

HOLD THE FCK UP!!!!! Did the mom just casually accept that her middle school daughter is dating a grown man???

the mom isn’t as weirded out by age gaps as Dynasty readers are

Age gaps isn't the main problem. The main problem is the age gap between a 14yo girl and a 18yo+ man!!! Like how the fuck is that normal and even casually accepted, especially in Japan!?! Seriously this is just insane.

But well, considering that there's a girl who ran away and stayed with a 37yo man for a month without her family knowing, maybe the Japanese are indeed just that mad.

I dunno, I'm usually cool with the Age Gap tag. But you're right, we don't actually know the guy's age and he could just be drawn to be Younger Than He Looks (how's that for flipping a tag?)

As long as everyone's happy, I guess we'll see how it plays out.

It’s just a feeling, but I suspect we’re getting a lot of fake red flags about imouto’s behavior—cues that she’s wild and out of control, but ultimately she’ll be shown to not be, and will actually ultimately be helpful to the MCs.

I’ve even seen a version of this character somewhere recently (although I can’t quite recall where)—a female side character who seems to have loose morals and to indulge in risky behavior as compared to the more conventional main group, but who is actually more grounded and mature than she seems. They may have even used that, “I always break up with the first one before the next one, so it’s fine” line.

Of course, I could be wrong and she’s going to crash and burn or cause some sort of crisis. But that’s not the impression I get at this point.

This is now one of the manga I look forward to the most. Not many have made me feel as much as this one.

lol, idk how the Mom was ok with her daughter dating that old guy but ok. I'm into lolicon but this just feels weird in this context

can't wait for them to talk about it
"I don't wanna have sex ever"
"oh sweet me neither"

I hate her mom

I dunno, I'm usually cool with the Age Gap tag. But you're right, we don't actually know the guy's age and he could just be drawn to be Younger Than He Looks (how's that for flipping a tag?)

As long as everyone's happy, I guess we'll see how it plays out.

It’s just a feeling, but I suspect we’re getting a lot of fake red flags about imouto’s behavior—cues that she’s wild and out of control, but ultimately she’ll be shown to not be, and will actually ultimately be helpful to the MCs.

I’ve even seen a version of this character somewhere recently (although I can’t quite recall where)—a female side character who seems to have loose morals and to indulge in risky behavior as compared to the more conventional main group, but who is actually more grounded and mature than she seems. They may have even used that, “I always break up with the first one before the next one, so it’s fine” line.

Of course, I could be wrong and she’s going to crash and burn or cause some sort of crisis. But that’s not the impression I get at this point.

I don't see why the sister couldn't end up helping the main leads while being "wild and out of control". It's not like one would have to rule out the the other. I'm not saying that she necessarily isn't more mature than she seems, but I don't see why she'd need to be, or why she'd have to "crush and burn" otherwise. It's a story that involves different people, with different types of love, and I think all of them will be helpful in some way for Matoi to figure out what she wants (even if they themselves don't actively do anything particularly helpful).

I don't see why the sister couldn't end up helping the main leads while being "wild and out of control". It's not like one would have to rule out the the other.

I'm just saying that her presence doesn't necessarily indicate that her behavior will result in some kind of crisis that the MC will have to deal with (although it certainly may). I'm speculating about the story function of the character given the cues laid down in the narrative so far; moral judgments about her dating behavior and her mother's attitude, etc. are irrelevant to me.

"Working adult" could be as young as an older-seeming 18, though lots of people would balk at 14/18 too. My own guess was 24.

Interesting that the cast page has Misaki as outright heterosexual, after her tease of Yuriko. Also the MCs as asexual and aro/asex. I wonder if that's Official or just "how things seem so far".

But well, considering that there's a girl who ran away and stayed with a 37yo man for a month without her family knowing, maybe the Japanese are indeed just that mad.

Article: "According to the police, the two high school girls were fed three times a day and stayed at a separate home. The girls were reportedly free to leave whenever they wanted and allowed to contact their parents through their phones, Japan Times reported."

This is not what I would call kidnapping.

But well, considering that there's a girl who ran away and stayed with a 37yo man for a month without her family knowing, maybe the Japanese are indeed just that mad.

Article: "According to the police, the two high school girls were fed three times a day and stayed at a separate home. The girls were reportedly free to leave whenever they wanted and allowed to contact their parents through their phones, Japan Times reported."

This is not what I would call kidnapping.

That was a truly bizarre report; it’s very unclear what that guy was up to.

I was reading elsewhere that Japanese fathers speak to their families an average of 15 minutes per day—on weekends. Perhaps explaining why some young women seek attention from older men.

In Chapter 1, Matoi and her friends see the sister making out with “a second year” (with a gold pin that indicates that, I guess), suggesting he’s older than her.

isn't the guy a 2. year high schooler, instead of a middle schooler? he got the same uniform like the guy who confessed to matoi ;o) and because matoi's sister has another uniform, i think the boys would have another too. if so, then matoi's sister could be a 3. year middle schooler by now.

and about working adult: not every body goes to college ;o)
guys with custom jobs on the bike are (in mangas) often deliquents, maybe he wasn't at college.
the "compulsory school attendance" is 9 years in japan, he could even dropped of after middle school and started working. But he wouldn't ride a big motorcycle after middle school, so he has to be at least 18 to ride this bike.
but maybe they wouln't call somebody working adult, if he isnt't a "proper" adult (20+)... but he could be still younger than others think.

last edited at Apr 12, 2022 5:45PM