Oishinbo - Vol. 21 Ch. 194 - The Two Bridal Candidates

[MangaDex]

 

[cawfinch]

I like how Kurita's love rivalry isn't adversarial, but rather cooperative-- it's funny how Niki is the one to take the initiative to visit Yamaoka, but Kurita takes the time to observe the situation and figure out a menu that they'd work together on! They make a surprisingly good team, given the circumstances, and the tl really oomphs the way they show their personalities! Thanks as always✌️

(Also, I really appreciated Hanasaki Akira's cartooning this chapter-- he juggled a lot of characters and dialogue with clever page layouts, and I can't help but marvel at how effortlessly he blends the differently demanding renders of expressions/characters/backgrounds/foods with the reading experience! I don't know if he worked with assistants, but even so, it's a damn good comic and rich with effort, thank you for sharing it w a wider audience!)

 

[Mugiwara325]

I like how Kurita's love rivalry isn't adversarial, but rather cooperative-- it's funny how Niki is the one to take the initiative to visit Yamaoka, but Kurita takes the time to observe the situation and figure out a menu that they'd work together on! They make a surprisingly good team, given the circumstances, and the tl really oomphs the way they show their personalities! Thanks as always✌️

(Also, I really appreciated Hanasaki Akira's cartooning this chapter-- he juggled a lot of characters and dialogue with clever page layouts, and I can't help but marvel at how effortlessly he blends the differently demanding renders of expressions/characters/backgrounds/foods with the reading experience! I don't know if he worked with assistants, but even so, it's a damn good comic and rich with effort, thank you for sharing it w a wider audience!)

It's a very simple but effective dynamic. Niki wants what's best for her, while Kurita wants what's best for Yamaoka. If letting Niki close to him means he'll be more motivated to work, then she'll let her (even if it annoys her).

It's pretty clear that Kurita is the better choice for Yamaoka. The question is, will Yamaoka realise this? And how will Kurita compete against Niki's overwhelming wealth and influence?

 

[Mugiwara325]

So, Christmas is a week away, and I wanted to do something special, so here's my upcoming release schedule:

Dec 21 - Usual New Chapter
Dec 24 - Usual New Chapter
Dec 25 - Bonus Merry Christmas Chapter
Dec 28 - Usual New Chapter
Dec 30 - Bonus New Year Chapter
Dec 31 - Usual New Chapter
Jan 1 - Bonus New Year Chapter

And my schedule should go back to normal after that. Hope you enjoy, and thank you as always for reading.

 

[Eddnom]

It's nice to see Kurita doing the cooking instead of Yamaoka for a change.
But gee, did Kariya really have to undermine her by adding that she had to call Okaboshi for help? Kurita is no master chef but she has witnessed so many cooking techniques and procedures by now, would it really have been unrealistic to have her be able to cook that by herself?

 

[Mugiwara325]

It's nice to see Kurita doing the cooking instead of Yamaoka for a change.
But gee, did Kariya really have to undermine her by adding that she had to call Okaboshi for help? Kurita is no master chef but she has witnessed so many cooking techniques and procedures by now, would it really have been unrealistic to have her be able to cook that by herself?

I think Kariya is afraid of letting Kurita improve too quickly. While she's introduced to have a sharp palate, she lacks the intrepidness and boldness that Yamaoka has to just do things without proper planning.
Calling Okaboshi for help was a little disappointing, but it was in character for her to do so, being the cautious and humble type.

While it's a small first step, it is still a step towards character growth. I'm hopeful to see more of chef Kurita in the future.