Imasara desu ga, Osananajimi wo Suki ni Natte Shimaimashita - Ch. 31 - The Second Encounter

[Dawniscoming]

People hating on Yuu is wild. His only "crime", if you can even call it a crime, so far is that he moved on from Hikari to be with Ayami when he realized that he had no chance to be with her after failing to get in the same highschool as her. What were you guys expecting him to do? Be a simp and hoping Hikari will return his feelings someday? Not only is that unhealthy and wrong, but in other romcoms, like in Rent-A-Girlfriend, that level of simpery is hated. So, I don't know why him moving on is being hated.

Who is hating on him though? He's objectively pathetic, that's not hating on him 😭

 

[Dawniscoming]

Yami has known yuu is hikari's love interest for at least 3 months leading up to the kiss.

Thats INSANE 💀💀💀💀💀💀😨😨😨😨😨

 

[Dingo777]

Thats INSANE 💀💀💀💀💀💀😨😨😨😨😨

Yeah Yami chapters only really succeed at making her look worse lol

 

[Dawniscoming]

It sort of is. He's barely a character at the moment. What do we know about him? He's a good kid, capable of empathizing with others and offering them some comfort. He's also a coward and oblivious. And that's about it? Without knowing how he views the other two through all this there's no way to judge him properly, right now he's more of a plot device than a character.

True. But, objectively, this dude is a coward and a pretty stupid person overall but thats all we know about him for now... I mean, this flashblack has dragged on for too long, man. I didnt even remember the female lead's name was Hikari, lmao😭 Im judging the characters based on what we have seen

 

[Dawniscoming]

Yeah Yami chapters only really succeed at making her look worse lol

I genuinely hate her so much. I didnt even remember she knew about it for 3 fucking months 😨 and she didnt mention anything to her supposed best friend? Even though she knew everything????? Thats fucking insane😭😭 If I was Hikari i would start fucking tweaking after knowing everything, ngl.

 

[Dingo777]

I genuinely hate her so much. I didnt even remember she knew about it for 3 fucking months 😨 and she didnt mention anything to her supposed best friend? Even though she knew everything????? Thats fucking insane😭😭 If I was Hikari i would start fucking tweaking after knowing everything, ngl.

Yami Giving Everyone Who Interacts With Her Trauma Any% Speedrun (Gone Wrong) (Gone Sexual?!)

For real though she is not a good person or friend.

 

[GennArc]

Yes, but the story the author chose to write is one where Yuu wandered and Yami hid.

Yes, but I don't see any inevitability here. As I said, I think it's just another case of Maruto's favorite fateful encounter which happened due to a series of decisions and some circumstances, and he never meant it as something that was bound to happen. Because there was no will behind their meeting - Yami was trying to avoid it, Yuu was reluctant to go to Hikari's school, knowing that Yami was going to be there. When there's no will, it's not something predetermined, at least in this kind of fiction.

Folks are picking up on chickening out being a pattern, one that he has yet to correct as far as the narrative goes

Is it a pattern though? What are some other cases when he chickened out? Maybe I'm forgetting something.

and like they can both have empathy for that and think that behavior makes him unattractive as a match for Hikari.

When someone dedicates a whole post to how pathetic and terrible he is as a man and a human being, that doesn't qualify as being empathic, at least in my book. I can see not liking him as a character, but that kind of opinion would be supported by a different set of arguments.

 

[story645]

Because there was no will behind their meeting - Yami was trying to avoid it, Yuu was reluctant to go to Hikari's school, knowing that Yami was going to be there. When there's no will, it's not something predetermined, at least in this kind of fiction.

Given that I seriously doubt that Maruto is unaware of probably the most commonly used trope in romance (including manga), I seriously doubt he unintentionally wrote the peak miscommunication scenario of "despite trying their hardest to hide it from Hikari, the information gets disclosed to Hikari in the most painful way possible". Chance would be that Aya doesn't know about Hikari->Yuu and Yuu doesn't know that Aya and Hikari go to school together and this is really all just unlucky happenstance.

Is it a pattern though? What are some other cases when he chickened out?

Not putting his all into the exam, which he discussed with Hikari when he owned up to it - that's a classic is easier to justify failure as a well I didn't try all that hard. Not telling Hikari he was trying for the same school, despite them being close b/c he didn't want her to know if he failed. Not being a firm no on going to the school festival if he really didn't want to tell her what's up (which is its own chicken move if he resolved to go).
The closest he gets to challenging Aya on anything is that closing convo where he's like "wtf, I'm falling for you" but he doesn't push it at any further than that even though that's a bonkers thing to say to your BF. And like he doesn't think it's her usual teasing* given that he responds with a "wait what no?!"

*which is just another name for the deflection she admits to doing given when she "teases" with the boytoy comment her thinking is that she's doing the deflection she always does.

When someone dedicates a whole post to how pathetic and terrible he is as a man and a human being, that doesn't qualify as being empathic,

Is not my fave communication style by any means, but had former mentors drill in that plenty of folks do critique by running through the negatives w/o including the positives b/c they don't feel it's relevant or feel that it is so obvious they don't have to communicate it.

 

[GennArc]

Given that I seriously doubt that Maruto is unaware of probably the most commonly used trope in romance (including manga), I seriously doubt he unintentionally wrote the peak miscommunication scenario of "despite trying their hardest to hide it from Hikari, the information gets disclosed to Hikari in the most painful way possible".

I guess we should stop this discussion about inevitability because it doesn't seem to go anywhere. We just can't convince each other, so let's agree to disagree once again.

Not putting his all into the exam, which he discussed with Hikari when he owned up to it - that's a classic is easier to justify failure as a well I didn't try all that hard.

He never mentioned "not putting his all" into the exam to Hikari. Instead, he told Yami in chapter 23 that he should've worked harder, that he regrets so much that he didn't study even harder. And how is that chickening out? He literally put lots of effort trying to get into the school that was out of his league just for Hikari, failed and still didn't say that it was pointless, that he should've worked himself to the bone. That's almost the opposite of chickening out.

Not telling Hikari he was trying for the same school, despite them being close b/c he didn't want her to know if he failed.

That would count as chickening out if he was still pursuing romantic relationship with her. Otherwise there's no point.

Not being a firm no on going to the school festival if he really didn't want to tell her what's up

I'd rather call it not having enough resolve, but sure, let's count this as an example.

The closest he gets to challenging Aya on anything is that closing convo where he's like "wtf, I'm falling for you" but he doesn't push it at any further than that even though that's a bonkers thing to say to your BF. And like he doesn't think it's her usual teasing* given that he responds with a "wait what no?!"

He most definitely thinks it's her usual teasing (which it is), hence the comically flustered and frustrated reaction.

You really have a very different interpretation of their relationship from mine. For me it's pretty clear that they both enjoyed their teasing senpai and earnest kouhai dynamic. That's how it all started, even in chapter 22 when Yuu is down in the dumps and Yami teases him about his failure, he ends up saying she helped him cheer up, meaning he ended up enjoying their communication. There was definitely miscommunication later from Yami's side (in how she kept her deep affection for him to herself, playing the above mentioned role instead), but imo it's far from the toxic distrustful relationship you seem to have in mind.

 

[story645]

he should've worked harder, that he regrets so much that he didn't study even harder. And how is that chickening out?

'cause he's saying that he could have worked harder, which is an admission he pulled back. If he had really put in what he felt was his all, then he wouldn't have regrets that he didn't study harder. He'd be sad he failed, sure...but not regretful that he didn't do more.

That would count as chickening out if he was still pursuing romantic relationship with her. Otherwise there's no point.

He should have told her back when he was studying for the exam, which would have been when he was in middle school and explicitly taking the exam b/c of her. And would have meant that they could then study together, which would have helped him

(which it is)

She's already resolved to dump him and ghosts him after this exchange.

 

[GennArc]

'cause he's saying that he could have worked harder, which is an admission he pulled back. If he had really put in what he felt was his all, then he wouldn't have regrets that he didn't study harder.

That's not how life works. There is almost no limit to how hard you can work on something. You feel like you're working hard on achieving some goal, then you fail and think "I should've done even more". You STILL regret it because you didn't achieve your goal if that's something you really wished for. How can you blame someone for not trying hard enough when he was already aiming for something out of his reach, who did a lot to actually reach that goal and regrets hard failing? And satisfying yourself with "at least I gave it my best" is much more akin to chickening out than what he did.

He should have told her back when he was studying for the exam, which would have been when he was in middle school and explicitly taking the exam b/c of her. And would have meant that they could then study together, which would have helped him

That's not chickening out, that's pride. He wants to achieve something by himself, something that will let him get closer to the girl he loves. If he asks her for help, that's basically nullyfying the effort he intends to put into it and the whole meaning of reaching her.

She's already resolved to dump him and ghosts him after this exchange.

The "dump him" phrase was the previous one where she wishes him to study hard, dream big and fall in love.
The question is clearly teasing (because she knows the actual answer and knows what his reaction is gonna be), and when he responds the way he did, she can't help but give him a genuine smile, both because of his words and because she always loved his expressions when he earnestly responded to her teasing.

 

[story645]

and regrets hard failing

Because he says what he regrets is "not studying harder". He's the one saying he could have tried harder. Also like this moment of self reflection is one of the more admirable things he's done - way more than "I regret failing", b/c he can learn something from "I regret not working harder".

He wants to achieve something by himself, something that will let him get closer to the girl he loves

Lots of romance stories have this arc; they also have the person tell their love interest "hey I need to do this alone" if that's important. The hiding it from her lets him not tell her if he fails.

The question is clearly teasing

The art hides her face when she asks and hides her eyes (which is where most authors show emotion) before the panel w/ the big smile, so at least in the manga I don't think this is intended to be so clear cut. But also yeah I was more referring to the previous "study hard, dream big, fall in love", which was very much not teasing. I agree that the "with whom" is mostly her (acknowledged-again she said she always does this) deflection by way of teasing.

 

[GennArc]

Because he says what he regrets is "not studying harder". He's the one saying he could have tried harder.

But that's exactly what I'm talking about. You could always try even harder (e.g. he could sleep less, could cut down on time spent with Hikari etc.), but you only learn that you should have when the negative result is already there. And blaming him for not trying hard enough without seeing the effort he actually put into it is the same as blaming him for failing.

they also have the person tell their love interest "hey I need to do this alone" if that's important.
The hiding it from her lets him not tell her if he fails.

Revealing it to her defeats the purpose of the whole "I want to impress her with my efforts" and also gives her a clue about his romantic interest in her (and I think we already discussed why he'd want to hide it for now), that's the main motivation for hiding it, not the fear of failure.

 

[story645]

And blaming him for not trying hard enough without seeing the effort he actually put into it is the same as blaming him for failing.

He blames himself! And gonna call stalemate on the "telling her about applying to her high school thing".
And I think lacking resolve (thanks for that word) is probably the better word/encapsulation instead of cowardice. But all this to say, his insecurity (which he's admitted) and lack of resolve (that probably stems from the insecurity) is why some folks don't like him as a match for Hikari. Which like that insecurity and lack of resolve is why Aya hit on him and he accepted her so easily - your fave ship doesn't happen if he was secure enough in himself to have the internal fortitude to pursue Hikari. Eta: the example of this is him firmly turning down his Kouhai b/c he's set on whichever girl he loves, which yes would point to some character growth.

There was definitely miscommunication later from Yami's side (in how she kept her deep affection for him to herself, playing the above mentioned role instead),

Also cause I missed this the first time, flagging this not to argue w/ you but on the off chance impressionable teenagers find their way here:

This isn't miscommunication, it's a trauma response. She doesn't feel she can tell Yuu how much she cares for him, probably 'cause (as she's mentioned) all she sees at home is her mom getting hurt by the relationships she falls so deeply into.

A major reason this relationship is unhealthy is because sharing feelings is a foundation of healthy relationships, and this is true whether the relationship is romantic, platonic, familial, or even professional. Sometimes it needs to be initiated by the other person - a parent saying "hey, you've been off, what's going on" - but Yuu doesn't have the experience or maturity or resolve to handle that kinda situation effectively, and also I don't think he knows Aya well enough to flag that something is going on.

 

[wallsg]

Shows you how long this flashbacks been going. But I don’t think “bad move” really describes it. Yami hid her past relationship with Yuu from her, and kisses him again behind her back after having the gaul to ghost him in the first place. All this to the person she considers her best friend who seemingly pulled her out of her depression and became a pillar of support for her. She’s really like, not a good person and she has shown a completely unwillingness to be better.

She hasn't hidden it yet. It's only hiding when you intentionally don't disclose something. At this point she just met Hikari and knows nothing about her, let alone that she likes someone or who. As a matter of fact we're still earlier than Chapter 1 and she doesn't yet even like him except as a friend.

Ayami found out that Hikari likes Yuu in the NEXT summer and so only from that point on could it be considered "hiding". IMHO the "hiding" only became important once Ayami realized Hikari was bringing Yuu to the school festival. That's when she should have told Hikari.

 

[wallsg]

True. But, objectively, this dude is a coward and a pretty stupid person overall but thats all we know about him for now... I mean, this flashblack has dragged on for too long, man. I didnt even remember the female lead's name was Hikari, lmao😭 Im judging the characters based on what we have seen

That's why you need notes...

Spoiler: character.txt

Takamura, Yuu "Taku", "Ta-kun" (M)
o) ML
o) Age: ~16
o) Name means "evening"
o) CHF of Hikari
o) Failed the exam to attend the same HS as Hikari but never told her
o) Has loved her for a very long time but she didn't notice
o) First time with Ayami

Shirasaka, Hikari (F)
o) FL
o) Age: ~16
o) Name means "light"
o) CHF of Yuu
o) Recently fell in love with Yuu
o) Pretty boring cotton candy character actually
o) Met Ayami shortly after she broke up with Yuu apparently in Fall semester which was the first time in a year she attended school

Sudou, Ayami "Yami" (once derogatory), "Aya" (F)
o) FL2
o) Age: 18
o) Name means "darkness"
o) Previously Sudou, then Matsushita, and then back after death and divorce
o) Best Friend & senpai of Hikari
o) Rich family?
o) Father died of cancer and mother immediately remarried a "fucking bastard"
o) Former girlfriend of Yuu
o) Slapped then kissed Yuu in the classroom after the festival and was observed by Hikari
o) Was trying to hide from him but was cleaning the classroom when Yuu went there to wait on Hikari
o) Ran away and tried sugar dating as a 1st year but luckily stood up on the first date
o) While waiting on a stood-up sugar date, met xxx when he was a MS 3rd year after he knew he failed the entrance exam
o) On HS entry test results day she wanted to "defile those pure sentiments of his" and took Yuu to a love hotel but he couldn't get it up
o) Yuu's actually good for her
o) Fell in love with him
o) First time with Yuu
o) Instigated her mother's divorcing her father by revealing his multiple affairs and the money spent on the mistresses
o) Punishing herself by breaking up with Yuu to support her mother, officially by blocking him on her 17th birthday

xxx, Haru (F)
o) Classmate and friend of Hikari

Sudou, Masumi (F)
o) Ayami's mother
o) The divorce broke her and she attempted suicide
o) Blames Ayami for breaking up the marriage and not the cheating husband

 

[Dingo777]

She hasn't hidden it yet. It's only hiding when you intentionally don't disclose something. At this point she just met Hikari and knows nothing about her, let alone that she likes someone or who. As a matter of fact we're still earlier than Chapter 1 and she doesn't yet even like him except as a friend.

Ayami found out that Hikari likes Yuu in the NEXT summer and so only from that point on could it be considered "hiding". IMHO the "hiding" only became important once Ayami realized Hikari was bringing Yuu to the school festival. That's when she should have told Hikari.

Yes I’m aware. But we the audience still know she’s going to do it.

 

[greyseas]

the worst thing about this manga is the readers being completely illiterate because they're romcom slop enjoyers

 

[Dingo777]

the worst thing about this manga is the readers being completely illiterate because they're romcom slop enjoyers

Well when you bill your manga as a light breezy romcom, and make your first volume a light breezy romcom, you’re gonna attract a specific demographic (people who wanted a light breezy romcom)

 

[greyseas]

Well when you bill your manga as a light breezy romcom, and make your first volume a light breezy romcom, you’re gonna attract a specific demographic (people who wanted a light breezy romcom)

those people should hurry up and drop the manga already instead of complaining under every new chapter. theres a million childhood friend romcoms to read