The Dangers in My Heart - Ch. 171 - I'm Pretending to Be an Adult

[NotSomeone]

Yes, the manga is about tackling issues about growing up, overcoming social anxiety and romance, that's what I signed up for, but now, after all this time, it shifted towards this career actress romance drama, where Yamada and Ichikawa have to hide their relationship and are both uncomfortable about the fact that Yamada, at some point, has to be touched by other men for the sake of staying a drama actress. It feels removed from everyday relatable problems, this manga was going for, and a bit more forced for the sake of drama.

Just because you personally don't like the source of the drama we're having, doesn't mean that said drama is forced.
She has been pursuing her career as an actress ever since the first few arcs of the story, it has been the major source of plot ever since they got together.
Because, yes, they got together but Yamada's career is this shadow hovering over their relationship and we can't have closure if we don't deal with it.
And there's a lot do deal with it:
Yamada's impetuous pursue of her dream versus how much she loves Ichikawa;
Ichikawa's lack of ambition being a source of insecurity for him;
The fact that Ichikawa is forcing himself to "grow up" for the sake of the relationship, because he feels it's immature to be jealous over her acting.

To put it bluntly, even if they started dating, their relationship is doomed if they both don't manage to balance things out and learn when to concede and when to establish limits with eachother.

The story is still about growing up, social anxiety and romance, Yamada's career is just one of the vehicles the story is using to communicate these topics, like was Ichikawa's desire to literally murder Yamada earlier on the story.

 

[SirArthurIV]

Here's how you get through that. Say "Whatever I pretend to do while acting, I'm going to do twice over for real to my husband/boyfriend."

 

[FlorianGran]

So my prediction is that Anna will struggle with how she feels about doing those scenes for most of the volume. Obviously she's uncomfortable, but she's torn because she wants the drama to be faithful to her favorite series and would hate to be a burden that causes the show to change things. She'll worry about whether she's just being childish, unlike her co star Ruru who this chapter establishes as being old enough to drink and smoke. I think she'll probably have to learn to be comfortable enough to say no, although the storyline might end with a gag where she learns that either there's going to be body doubles or those scenes were cut but the journey will be what's important.

It also feels like there's going to be a B-plot about the Yamadas rekindling the romance in this relationship based on Sanae's comments last chapter and Ken sweet talking her this chapter (and her disappearing).

 

[Skywalker95]

A lot of comments overreacting

 

[ysil69]

Thanks for pointing it out. It's still bugging me how casual Japanese treat children as adults, encourage them to do things they normally wouldn't be allowed in any other civilized country. Sexualization of infants and the whole concept of "loli" are straight out disgusting. A radical change is needed in the so-called Japanese "entertainment" industry.

This is so far from the truth. The majority of children are taught being humble modest and pure are best. There's teen gravure that pushes the line but that's far from the majority.

 

[Kurmon]

Oh, is the manga gonna explore the fact that "being an adult doesn't make you suddenly invincible, you still have your stress, your fears and such"?

If only those kids knew how much worse it gets as an adult.

 

[Skywalker95]

how have people gone this far into the series and expect NTR to happen is beyond me especially with yamada mum ffs

Also thinking anything will happen to yamada.

 

[Crystalball]

People crying that Yamada is underage are strange to me. Have you seen the covers and extras? This manga is all about sexualizing an underage cartoon character. How do you read anything from Japan at all? That's their thing.

 

[Roriipupper]

Haha

oh fuck

 

[Ruwan]

Man. this is balls

 

[SveNo]

A lot of comments overreacting

how have people gone this far into the series and expect NTR to happen is beyond me especially with yamada mum ffs

Also thinking anything will happen to yamada.

Reacting to their own imagination.

 

[Bornsinner]

Ooooh fuck

 

[tseeker]

They can't let minors act in scenes like this in Japan can they there has to be child protection laws right

It's not about the law. I want that initiative to come from Yamada herself not wanting to participate in sexual scenes, is what I mean

 

[tseeker]

I want to go back to the days when I was like you and didn't know what I was referring to, bless your kind soul.

Thanks for blessing my kind soul bro, appreciate it. Not sure what you mean by ''didn't know what I was referring to'' though since it was another guy who made the reference to ''N word artists''. Never seen anyone use that term for ntr before lol

 

[tseeker]

I will not that be critical, apart from her being underage, kiss scene (not straight sex I would say tbh), is part of being an actor, like dying is for a soldier or being super busy for a doctor.

It is called job hazard, and pretty common across adult lives, all equally demeaning in a relationship, but you gotta manage it ngl, among yourselves, or give up the relationship or your job, whichever is more dear.

I'm completely aware it's expected of you as an actor, that's why I said that I hope she refuses by her own volition and compromises on her acting career in favor of their relationship.

 

[buffalosauce]

I think this was a goodchapter. It's funny to see the mom try to reign in her daughters vacuum-style eating in polite company.

I only wish we got more of the chapter dedicated to Kyo and Anna's dad. I just think their dynamic is so much fun. I would read a whole manga with the setup "boyfriend hanging out with girlfriends slightly scary dad, but the dad approves of the relationship". They should do a spin-off.

As for the relationship/career stuff. I think the erotic scene is more likely gonna be played for a joke than something that's gonna challenge their relationship in any real way. I hope the real source of drama moving forward is Kyo needing to find something to do as an adult. The couple has already vowed to be together forever, and I get no sense that they're gonna do a breakup and timeskip, so Kyo needs to find something he's equally passionate about as Anna is about her acting career. If he can do that he will be able to stand by her side as an equal, even if he's not directly involved in her career or doesn't make as much money or whatever.

 

[SrNevik]

I'm completely aware it's expected of you as an actor, that's why I said that I hope she refuses by her own volition and compromises on her acting career in favor of their relationship.

No, that would be pointless. Why should she compromise her acting career for that? It's a kiss, and she's an actor. If she doesn't want to be naked or be involved in a sex scene, that's fine. Otherwise, it would be absurd to avoid all acting jobs that involve kissing. She would be avoiding basically all romance roles. For what? We can't be that sensitive, or insecure, and I am sure her BF isn't those things. They should talk about it at some point, though. Doesn't hurt to air things out, and if she does end up not being comfortable with kissing, that's also fine.

 

[tseeker]

No, that would be pointless. Why should she compromise her acting career for that? It's a kiss, and she's an actor. If she doesn't want to be naked or be involved in a sex scene, that's fine. Otherwise, it would be absurd to avoid all acting jobs that involve kissing. She would be avoiding basically all romance roles. For what? We can't be that sensitive, or insecure, and I am sure her BF isn't those things. They should talk about it at some point, though. Doesn't hurt to air things out.

Why pointless? Just an alternative route, at least for the foreseeable future until both they and the relationship matures. I personally think it would be a touching conclusion for them both to come clean about their discomfort - since it's been explicitly shown that both have issues with the matter - and gladfully be in agreement. That would be a large step for Kyo, having played along in certain situations and also made decisions with the purpose of not being seen as the ''insecure person'', to actually take position and share his real feelings. Anna's also been dissatisfied with their situation several times prior and hints at wanting to focus more on the relationship, so it would be a great moment for her to (temporarily) give up a piece of her personal ambition and show it's importance to him

 

[SrNevik]

Why pointless? Just an alternative route, at least for the foreseeable future until both they and the relationship matures. I personally think it would be a touching conclusion for them both to come clean about their discomfort - since it's been explicitly shown that both have issues with the matter - and gladfully be in agreement. That would be a large step for Kyo, having played along in certain situations and also made decisions with the purpose of not being seen as the ''insecure person'', to actually take position and share his real feelings. Anna's also been dissatisfied with their situation several times prior and hints at wanting to focus more on the relationship, so it would be a great moment for her to (temporarily) give up a piece of her personal ambition and show it's importance to him

She doesn't need to sacrifice her work to show her commitment. She's already done more than enough to show her commitment (as has he). If she decides on her own that kissing is a bit awkward for her (at her age) then fine. However, I don't at all agree with the idea that her saying "yes" or "no" to kissing as part of her acting job is somehow a test of her commitment to their relationship.

 

[TotallyNotAFed]

I think he meant ntr artist, but yeah, "N word artists" sounds sus as hell lmao

I know this is cursed but the first thing to come to mind when the subject comes up.