Imasara desu ga, Osananajimi wo Suki ni Natte Shimaimashita - Ch. 38 - Happy End

[GennArc]

"Hey, Hikari… there’s something I need to tell you. Last year, I dated a guy named Yuu, and there’s a good chance he’s the same Yuu you’re in love with now. But don’t worry—there’s nothing between us anymore. In fact, I haven’t spoken to him in over a year."

So you'd prefer her actually not telling the whole truth, omitting a lot of important parts and leaving Hikari guessing, which of Yami's sex tales were about Ta-kun and getting even more suspicious about all that, poisoning her mind with doubts?
And if it's phrasing you're worried about, of course she could formulate it in a much softer way and with all the remarks about it being over, I just gave the gist of her hypothetical confession.

 

[Catbowl]

She had two alternatives:
1. Hide it and let Hikari's first love play out perfectly as she imagined and be happy with Yuu.
2. Tell her "Hey, that pure childhood friend of yours that you love so much? We dated for half a year, took each other's firsts, and all the crazy sex stories I told you were actually about him" to forever ruin Hikari's first love, her image of Yuu, and their friendship too.
I mean, people who think truth is the absolute will choose the latter. But I personally think that sometimes truths are better left untold for everyone's sake.

Yeah. There's a reason dropping the ex-bomb like #2 is usually a shoujo villainess move. It's not supposed to help.

Besides not messing with Hikari's dream romance, Yami also wouldn't want to deliberately torpedo Yuu's chances of getting with his first love. If she doesn't re-insert herself, the two have a shot at mutual bliss.

And as HellJester pointed out, she didn't want to repeat the mistake of mindbreaking her mom with the full truth.

 

[story645]

Yes, but this was not set in stone. Unlike choice 2 which practically guaranteed unhappiness for everyone.

So the folks who are "truth is absolute" tend to be that way because the truth almost always comes out (which again, happened in this manga as the climax) & the probability increases directly proportionally to the closeness of the people involved.

But also like yeah I understand why the characters are hoping for "it's not inevitable" - like I mentioned earlier, I've had bosses (so grown adults) who believe that (and I've been entangled in the subsequent explosion too many times to believe it).

Sure. But it wasn't necessary either.

Yeah the alternative was letting her potentially get blindsided by his meeting w/ Aya, which is exactly what happened. Like did he really have no obligation to give her a heads up about the potential drama once he agreed to go?

In the raws? Because "Is she you ex?" doesn't leave that kinda room open.

Fine, but it's still a direct question about his romantic history that he explicitly evaded.

When her getting mad was literally the last thing in the chapter? His time to speak on the matter comes next chapter. It wasn't anywhere before this.

Or when he was making the string of excuses he saw she wasn't buying.

 

[story645]

So you'd prefer her actually not telling the whole truth, omitting a lot of important parts and leaving Hikari guessing, which of Yami's sex tales were about Ta-kun and getting even more suspicious about all that, poisoning her mind with doubts?

More that she'd be opening a conversation and then Hikari could ask about the things she cares about.

 

[GennArc]

So the folks who are "truth is absolute" tend to be that way because the truth almost always comes out (which again, happened in this manga as the climax) & the probability increases directly proportionally to the closeness of the people involved.

But also like yeah I understand why the characters are hoping for "it's not inevitable" - like I mentioned earlier, I've had bosses (so grown adults) who believe that (and I've been entangled in the subsequent explosion too many times to believe it).

I think that's kinda like survivorship bias reversed. You only learn of cases when the truth comes out through the consequences, but you don't know in how many cases the truth never came out and no one suffered any consequences. And that number might be (or might not be) significantly higher than the number of cases when it didn't work.

 

[ipmanvsthemask]

Yeah the alternative was letting her potentially get blindsided by his meeting w/ Aya, which is exactly what happened. Like did he really have no obligation to give her a heads up about the potential drama once he agreed to go?

He didn't know they were friends tho. Considering that, him not telling her isnt that bad. The affair would've been mostly unrelated to her. And

Fine, but it's still a direct question about his romantic history that he explicitly evaded.

She was nudging and rubbing backs with him the whole time. He was just preoccupied with her distance.

Or when he was making the string of excuses he saw she wasn't buying.

I don't think that moment was as clear cut as you make it out to be. Though, I am on the fence about it.

 

[story645]

You only learn of cases when the truth comes out through the consequences, but you don't know in how many cases the truth never came out and no one suffered any consequences.

My favorite variant is when the original liar doesn't know that the truth got out b/c they're not directly facing consequences b/c of the fun power dynamics of the workplace. Which folks may know you're lying but for whatever reason choose not to call it out but it is low-key causing problems or could down the line. Hell, that's the route Hikari almost chose by "compromising" where it's already causing resentment that would just build and maybe not be the reason for an eventual break up but would almost definitely contribute. Which yes, I think is the survivorship bias of your approach.

He didn't know they were friends tho. Considering that, him not telling her isnt that bad. The affair would've been mostly unrelated to her. And

I know "not bad" isn't the same as ok, I'm just stuck on him worrying enough about something happening to consider saying no.

She was nudging and rubbing backs with him the whole time. He was just preoccupied with her distance.

I'd agree except she pushed back telling him that he was brushing her off.

 

[story645]

I mean… Yami kind of did what you said in Chapter 13.5, but she skipped the part about telling Hikari she had a relationship with Yuu. And to make things worse, she reassured Hikari that the girl Yuu’s always liked is definitely her.

I end up finding Aya really sympathetic here. Like 5-6 months into this and she knows her boy hasn't told anyone about their relationship, including that childhood friend he's in love with. By the time 13.5 rolls around, Hikari not knowing anything is just further confirmation for Aya that Yuu loves Hikari. Like I think it would have been fair of her to tell Hikari out of anger at Yuu for hiding the whole thing. Which like Aya also has the added knowledge of knowing Yuu has tried to keep this secret and is I guess also trying to not betray him.

 

[Alzu]

I get the feeling we are either going to find out he didn't have as much agency in that kiss as we think he did

Yuu got slapped and got into a small shouting match with Yami before she kissed him. I don't know why people are treating as him being equally blamed for that.

 

[Rafalga]

Given the situation Yami’s in now, wouldn’t it have been better if she had just said something like:
"Hey, Hikari… there’s something I need to tell you. Last year, I dated a guy named Yuu, and there’s a good chance he’s the same Yuu you’re in love with now. But don’t worry—there’s nothing between us anymore. In fact, I haven’t spoken to him in over a year."

You do this, then the other person gives the entire picture when the topic gets inevitably brought up;

Now, you are the bad guy for hiding and down playing parts when the interested party learns about the entire thing from the other guy.

And knowing Hikari, the moment she hears "we have dated last year" she will immidiately link it back to Aya's "experienced" stories and result will be the same. There is no softening the blow. Hikari is not as mature as you guys would like to think she is.

You want her to be told the truth but stop projecting. She wouldn't be able to handle it either way. Bigest problem she is having right now is that her delusional "ideal" CF romance has been obliterated and there is no turning back. She will probably blame others (as most of this thread do) but at the end of the day, its the circumstances that brought the entire thing down. I mean what are the chances of your CF to fuck your current best friend even before you've met her? And how do you even navigate that (for all parties involved)

It's easier said then done when you, as a reader, has all the insight. (though even we don't since Yuu's thoughts are a mystery still)

 

[story645]

She wouldn't be able to handle it either way. Bigest problem she is having right now is that her delusional "ideal" CF romance has been obliterated and there is no turning back.

We've seen her handle info she doesn't want to hear well (Yuu telling her about the exam, Aya telling her to go away) and a lot of her internal narrative here is about being lied to - madder at the coverup than the crime.

It feels like it's the folks here projecting "delusional ideal CF romance" when so far in the narrative she's mad her friend has lied to her and told her he'd been in love w/ her for forever without making a move - liar and coward. Her and Aya use purity for Yuu as pure hearted - being honest/open/good (Aya even thinks of it as part of his vibe after they've had sex) and hiding a whole past isn't any of that. Whether Hikari is being fair is a discussion sure, but so far she has yet to say (or even think) she's mad that he has a past with Aya, just that she's mad she was kept in the dark.

Also there's a huge difference between learning more about an ex she already knew existed (because Yuu told her a year and a half ago when he was dating Aya or even a few days ago when she'd asked him to go to the festival) and being blindsided on the festival night when she'd spun herself up about a romantic confession after the dance and was going to find him in a haze of happy romantic vibes. Like she could have had time and space to process and have whatever immature meltdown you imagine in private or in front of the person who told her & not have to process all the things while waiting for Yuu and then in front of her two uninvolved in this mess friends.

 

[ComNguoi]

Why does this chapter give me the feeling that Yuu only do this because Yami is telling him to do so? If that's the truth, this is gonna be so hilarious.

 

[ComNguoi]

You do this, then the other person gives the entire picture when the topic gets inevitably brought up;

Now, you are the bad guy for hiding and down playing parts when the interested party learns about the entire thing from the other guy.

And knowing Hikari, the moment she hears "we have dated last year" she will immidiately link it back to Aya's "experienced" stories and result will be the same. There is no softening the blow. Hikari is not as mature as you guys would like to think she is.

You want her to be told the truth but stop projecting. She wouldn't be able to handle it either way. Bigest problem she is having right now is that her delusional "ideal" CF romance has been obliterated and there is no turning back. She will probably blame others (as most of this thread do) but at the end of the day, its the circumstances that brought the entire thing down. I mean what are the chances of your CF to fuck your current best friend even before you've met her? And how do you even navigate that (for all parties involved)

It's easier said then done when you, as a reader, has all the insight. (though even we don't since Yuu's thoughts are a mystery still)

That's why I hate puppy love like Hikari's feeling toward Yuu. They are always so weak and easy to break. Real adult love is way more complicated, and it's not just all fluffy stuff you read in manga lmao.

 

[Esax_08]

Happy? where the fuck is my happy author WHERE IS IT

The happy ending is that Hikari FINALLY STOOD UP for herself and moves one from this trash MC

 

[KoshuLion]

All this wouldn't have happened if Yuu had just stayed with Aya.

Just sayin'

 

[Cashini]

he is not realizing but he finally got rejected from first girl he love

 

[IamaTire]

Go for it Hikari, you deserve better

 

[IamaTire]

He probably hasn't lied though. She's going off assumptions.

Going for a kiss with someone moments before a confession, to me he seems desperate to get someone after a heart break

 

[HellJester]

When her getting mad was literally the last thing in the chapter? His time to speak on the matter comes next chapter. It wasn't anywhere before this.

People getting mad that Yuu didn't immediately confess his love for Hikari or confess to Hikari about Yami are ignoring one of the key components of Yuu. He hesitates constantly. He doesn't commit to something crucial unless he feels he's at or near 100%.

Look at past examples. He mentions he didn't try hard enough to get into Hikari's high school and he desperately regrets it. After he's ghosted by Yami and he's hanging out with Hikari he never presses the issue or confesses to her as he's not 100% sure she feels the same way.

Based on the information he has, he has no reason to believe Yami and Hikari are friends let alone acquaintances. He's not going to reveal any of the Yami stuff as that would lead to Hikari's acceptance of his confession (if it ever comes) to be less than a 100% chance.

Look back to when Yuu finally catches up to Hikari after the Yami slap/kiss. Yuu knows Hikari is angry but assumes it's because he ditched her. He thinks there's no way she would know about the kiss or anything else about Yami. So he doesn't say anything because that would lower the chances of Hikari liking him.

Later in the storage room when he's talking to Hikari he finally feels he's at or near 100% and confesses to her. Hikari calls him out for not showing anything until now and Yuu mentions he hesitated because he wasn't sure Hikari felt the same way. He rightly gets called out by Hikari saying did he really not notice all the effort she was putting out. Yuu mentions he noticed it but wasn't sure it was affection. He even literally says "That's why I've been treading carefully, looking for the right timing...I was thinking about taking my shots only when I'm 100% sure."

What changed? What caused Yuu to feel that now he's 100% sure (or close to 100%) Hikari likes him?

I have a hard time believing Yuu was originally planning to confess to Hikari during this festival. I'm near 100% certain he decided to confess based on whatever transpired between him and Yami during the classroom scene. I feel the chances are good that the conversation between Yami and Yuu was something along the lines of Yami perhaps apologizing for ghosting Yuu, telling Yuu that Hikari is her best friend now and she knows Hikari was/is the one Yuu likes and that, most importantly, Hikari likes him back. Then, knowing Yuu, he hesitated again which caused Yami to get pissed at him and slap him. The kiss was more of a "farewell to what we had" thing than an "I still love you" thing. Or maybe it was a "I still hold affection for you but you need to move on and go to Hikari" thing. Either way, it seems more in Yami's character to be self-sacrificing, especially even more so now that she hold such affection for Hikari.

Next, we get the start of the real issue which is that Hikari knows about Yuu and Yami and is mad that Yuu is confessing his love while less than 30 minutes ago he was kissing her best friend.

Yuu mentions he feels he had to confess today. In the novelization Hikari asks him why today and he doesn't say anything. Hikari has an internal monologue (also I think the first line is mistranslated and should say "I desperately" not "he desperately" as keeping it as "he" implies it's Yuu who's trying to hold back from saying anything when it's really Hikari who's trying not to blurt out she knows about the kiss).

For just that moment, he desperately tries to hold back the mouth that has been slipping all this time.

　I put a lot of pressure on my lips, holding everything back.
　One second, two seconds, three seconds...

　Then, with the same force, lift the corners of your mouth as much as you can.

Hikari knows Yuu's full of shit but she's trying to give him a chance to come clean. Obviously, Yuu has no clue until Hikari pushes him to the ground. Then we get this:

He was still lying on the ground, looking up at me.
　His gaze, his expression, told a story.

　...He said he had an idea as to why this was happening to him.

Finally, Yuu is starting to realize that Hikari knows more than he thought she did. And he has an internal monologue that says this:

I see, I thought so...
　I had noticed something was different about Yokari.

　They were watching me.
　They knew about "that"...

　I'm not lying.
　I've loved you for a long time now.

　But there's no doubt that I was the worst today, right...?

He's finally at 100% realization that Hikari knows about Yami and since he's at 100% he's most likely finally ready to tell the truth which is hopefully what we get next chapter.

 

[story645]

All this wouldn't have happened if Yuu had just stayed with Aya.

Kinda hard to do when she ghosted him