Dame Ningen no Aishikata - Vol. 4 Ch. 21 - The Loser and the Girlfriend Who Coaches

[UdenEmpati]

I know this is just me, but I preferred the more somber aura this manga had before Miyabi lost. Feels like there's too many light-hearted moments. I don't mind the change at all, but to me this gives off shonen villain of the week vibes. Like I'm just waiting for the next volume of "Which kind of girl is the next to challenge Hizumi?"
Edit:spelling

I'm reading it as a false sense of security.

After all - the two titular characters are still broken. Shinba just witnessed his complete wreck of a sister transform in a month's time when he's the same after two decades of futile effort, despite all the desire to change himself.

And Hizumi...well, go back and look at the photo of her and Orochi. Something majorly fucked up happened to turn her into this.

So while Miyabi and Susuri are finding their wings and achieving resolutions to their own arcs, in the process they're "leaving behind" the person they both care about: Shinba. He has to watch them succeed and flourish, genuinely happy for them, but also knowing that he's still stuck where he is, with no signs of improving. And he knows it's possible, now that his own sister, who lived his same situation, got her act together.

Hizumi's past being the big dark ominous question mark it is, will definitely keep this series from becoming actually lighthearted, don't worry. We're watching the Sun break through the clouds, but there's storms on the horizon.

 

[Absent666]

In before Hizumi's seriousness and competence is armour under which she hides her deeply rooted insecurities.
Also, water is wet.

They go beyond just mere insecurities. Something traumatic must have happened to make Hizumi turn into the person she is now. The key is in her lifeless eyes.

 

[orpheussu]

I'm reading it as a false sense of security.

After all - the two titular characters are still broken. Shinba just witnessed his complete wreck of a sister transform in a month's time when he's the same after two decades of futile effort, despite all the desire to change himself.

And Hizumi...well, go back and look at the photo of her and Orochi. Something majorly fucked up happened to turn her into this.

So while Miyabi and Susuri are finding their wings and achieving resolutions to their own arcs, in the process they're "leaving behind" the person they both care about: Shinba. He has to watch them succeed and flourish, genuinely happy for them, but also knowing that he's still stuck where he is, with no signs of improving. And he knows it's possible, now that his own sister, who lived his same situation, got her act together.

Hizumi's past being the big dark ominous question mark it is, will definitely keep this series from becoming actually lighthearted, don't worry. We're watching the Sun break through the clouds, but there's storms on the horizon.

Oh my god I am so shortsighted how could I not see it like that. You've singlehandedly revived my interest in this manga holy shit thank you

 

[MithoThoup]

NOT THE MESSY HAIR

 

[MLS7F001]

They all just have a hang-up that is (not really that much) below the surface level trope. Miyabi didn't really want a dog. She doesn't really want to be a dog. She wants actual recognition for her. Sis, I don't really think is a pure bro-con, but feels like she needs to "measure up" (Mom left them like nothing) by being the ultimate Sister/Mother/GF/whatever character in her brother's life to compensate. She want's to feel like she did enough.

Hizumi, we're still parsing out, but I have a feeling she someone treated her like absolute garbage and liked it, so she's working in that framework to try and help someone that she thinks is a loser. Probably because she thinks of herself as one, and is infatuated with his 'loser face' because she can 'care for it.'

I'm reading some of the "black" bubbles in a nicer tone to see if I'm getting the Shutter Island treatment at this point.

 

[Absent666]

Raw chapter is out and welcomes us with Hizumi's tits... although with censored nipples. Apparently, Shinba gave her a scarf and proposed to her, and chapter is about Hizumi giving him a "first time" in something as a present

Anyway, Iwaba posted this
https://x.com/i/status/2050509988695851142
This week's chapter ending gives the impression the next chapter is the last, but it's not the final chapter, so rest assured.

Still far from ending. Iwaba also teased a new charactet appearing the next chapter.

 

[TeslaSimp]

If you like Hizumi and want more, I have scanlated the author's twitter manga shorts. All her main characters are basically Hizumi in different flavors. Check them out:

https://mangadex.org/title/9a551227...shounen-otokonoko-o-mukidashi-ni-suru-oneesan

https://mangadex.org/title/d9928b98.../saishin-game-ki-wo-katte-agerarenai-okaa-san

Thanks again KDT for picking this up.

The author has a very exquisite taste

 

[CulR]

The author has a very exquisite taste

she definitely does. from time to time on twitter, she mentions her inspirations and likes, and the combination of things is unusual: It's like extra dark chocolate. Bitter, breaks your brain, but you want more.

 

[19801980]

Great training 👍🏻😁

 

[ryuumajin]

Before: AHAHAHAHAHAHA unusual shonen sister
After: WHO ARE YOU

 

[TNT261]

Wait no, this was ab amazing chapter. So much good stuff. Hizumi is amazing and we got more hints at her own insecurity. The sister actually had a major glow up, oh my god she evolved. The before and after is crazy. Also Miyabi was cute as hell. She might be my favorite now. I like to imagine the they'll get married and Miyabi will still be hanging around like a puppy. I like to imagine that she'll get married to someone one day and her hubby will just have to accept that if she'll keep trying to snag the MC and if she's ever successful her husband will be dropped like a case of bag eggs immediately.

 

[TNT261]

The clue is on Hizumi's sad face and when she tell that "...Common sense for men and women is different."
Maybe this is related with Hizumi's dark past that she never told about.
Also, probably, the common answer for this is Hizumi doesn't want Shinba to leave her after he "graduate", as there's still a fear left that tells her that she's no longer needed.

Yeah, she clearly has her own insecurities and relies on feeling like he needs her. I imagine when the MC fully graduates from being a loser the Manga will be about over. Hizumi will have a crashout, we'll start to resolve her trauma, and the MC will do some to reassure her fade to black (or do that really long epilogue Manga does where they show 10 years later when everyone has kids).

 

[xdsagecat]

I'm so happy for her 😭😭😭