Noa-senpai wa Tomodachi. - Vol. 14 Ch. 137 - Noa-Senpai and the Weird Rihito

[turkeytwotoe]

i think she does like him romantically, previous chapters imply she's been having these loner issues since forever, from there you'd imagine how bad the issues could've gotten over time till now, her sense for "friends" is already pretty warped so likely her sense for someone she likes romantically is the same... but even then, she's saying stuff like wanting "hugs, headpats, words of love" while just casually mentioning that she knows rihito treasures her and that she's just being greedy, it's like there's really no other way to interpret this other than noa being a wuss and not admiting to herself that she like him that way

I wouldn't say wuss. Even in this chapter she admits to coming on too strong and driving people away.

The fact that Rihito was in autist mode this entire time and ignoring his feelings may have been the puzzle piece she needed to actually get into a somewhat healthy relationship with someone since they've taken the time to get to know each other before getting into any kind of romantic relationship.

If Rihito was really that touchy-feely as a kid but stopped doing it because he was made fun of he's perfect for Noa. If he can be a mix of autist Rihito and Touchy-feely Rihito he's exactly what Noa needs. Someone who can set boundaries but also be affectionate.

People have often said that Noa is borderline or she's got some mental issue(s) and she might. But some people just require more affection than others. I don't think she's some kinda broken person who can never be in a good relationship. Just someone who needs someone who can be forward with her and help her balance her neediness.

Also the "I have no comeback" line was perfect. He's 100% right and shows that he knows her better than she knows herself.

 

[turkeytwotoe]

man, as much as i enjoy this story, this manga goes in CIRCLES....

-Rihito treats Noa in a generally cold manner,
-Noa whines about it and insists he be more friendlier,
-he softens up and becomes friendlier to her and everyone else in their circle,
-she gets jealous,
-she whines about it and insists that she gets special treatment, rinse repeat over and over and over.

You would think with over 130 chapters in, there'd be some benchmark progress in their relationship, but nah. No one really drastically changes, they are the same characters they were like 50 chapters ago.

"I thought we were special best friends, maybe I misunderstood our relationship, i get so anxious about it" Noa has said this verbatim like five different times already... whats going on here???

I felt similarly about chapters 1-100 but I genuinely think the author has been pushing towards a more concrete definition of their relationship in the past 30 or so.

But then again this manga does pull in plenty of views and is getting an anime soon so I wouldn't doubt that it'll keep going in the same circle you're talking about.

 

[Magnus_Prime]

He patted Mika's head, and his hand didn't burn up! ^_^;

 

[D3V1L15H]

Sorry, who wants to see that? Why the fuck would you want secondary love interest that you know will never win?
If a girl’s name is in the title of a series, she will be the winner. There is no point to add useless side romances unless you want useless drama.

I mean it does say Noa is just a friend

 

[UnderLevelMob]

I wouldn't say wuss. Even in this chapter she admits to coming on too strong and driving people away.

The fact that Rihito was in autist mode this entire time and ignoring his feelings may have been the puzzle piece she needed to actually get into a somewhat healthy relationship with someone since they've taken the time to get to know each other before getting into any kind of romantic relationship.

If Rihito was really that touchy-feely as a kid but stopped doing it because he was made fun of he's perfect for Noa. If he can be a mix of autist Rihito and Touchy-feely Rihito he's exactly what Noa needs. Someone who can set boundaries but also be affectionate.

People have often said that Noa is borderline or she's got some mental issue(s) and she might. But some people just require more affection than others. I don't think she's some kinda broken person who can never be in a good relationship. Just someone who needs someone who can be forward with her and help her balance her neediness.

Also the "I have no comeback" line was perfect. He's 100% right and shows that he knows her better than she knows herself.

i think you are right yeah, for rihito and noa i think thats just how their personalities are, for a relationship id expect them to just sort out their feelings without much else changing, to me i dislike when some other comments suggest "fixing" their personalities so they can achieve a good relationship, it feels dismissive in a way to the point of a genuine relationship
noa is a clingy crybaby that would love to monopolize rihito's affection, same with rihito being cold but also a pretty caring person, at the end both of them should end up asking themselves "do i really like this person romantically?" and later see if they do seriously mean it, without having to compromise all of their personal traits and desires for the other

 

[cozfub]

whats going on here???

You're looking at it like it's a romcom. It is not. This is a manga about graphic design side of game dev.

 

[UnderLevelMob]

man, as much as i enjoy this story, this manga goes in CIRCLES....

-Rihito treats Noa in a generally cold manner,
-Noa whines about it and insists he be more friendlier,
-he softens up and becomes friendlier to her and everyone else in their circle,
-she gets jealous,
-she whines about it and insists that she gets special treatment, rinse repeat over and over and over.

You would think with over 130 chapters in, there'd be some benchmark progress in their relationship, but nah. No one really drastically changes, they are the same characters they were like 50 chapters ago.

"I thought we were special best friends, maybe I misunderstood our relationship, i get so anxious about it" Noa has said this verbatim like five different times already... whats going on here???

I understand a bit, but that's kinda the point of the series... a rather cold emotionless person suddenly gets friend-targeted by the clingiest type of person imaginable, and i think the progress being rather mundane or even subtle makes it feel like theres not much going on, the fun just comes from realizing the dumb moments rihito did fell for noa's demands

I mean when you remember that some of the first thoughts from rihito that you can read are "relationships are a pain" and later he ends up being dragged around by noa to all sorts of places and doings, and seemingly enjoying himself, that is the progress...
or when they asked noa "do you like him romantically" and she starts fidgeting with her response, and a bit later getting told "rihito would be pretty popular in the marriage market" and she starts acting even more possessive with him against other girls, she straight up tries to callout tachibana for being too friendly something she never did, that is the progress...

For me i like it that there aren't queues for the relationship happenings like other series, there's no like "we are just friends" chapter, or a holding hands chapter, or an accidental kiss chapter; you just end up picking up a couple of scraps and start nooticing the couple clues about either noa or rihito or some other character for later build up in the story, it's a nice change from the regular romancy tropeys series of other manga

both are just boring adults thinkering with the all the regular and weird happenings of having a new adult close friend

 

[youdontmatter308]

Thing is I honestly believe she doesn't like him romantically... or she does, but it's not her driving motivation. She is overly clingy and dependent and has an intense fear of rejection, so rather than loving him and being jealous, it's an extreme fear that he'll find other people he likes spending time with more, and she'll be rejected.

That’s unhealthy. She’s emotionally kidnapping

 

[BadEnding]

Thing is I honestly believe she doesn't like him romantically... or she does, but it's not her driving motivation. She is overly clingy and dependent and has an intense fear of rejection, so rather than loving him and being jealous, it's an extreme fear that he'll find other people he likes spending time with more, and she'll be rejected.

That would apply if it were a realistic scenario, and in that case, you're absolutely right, it's an obsession, fear of rejection and isolation

But this is a manga, and clearly the intention is for it to be a romantic interest and Noa literally dropped the biggest hint yet, let's hope she comes out of her denial XD

 

[Jackist]

I mean it does say Noa is just a friend

of course there is no romance, it’s a romance manga. They kiss and then the ‘time skips’ then it’s over. You can’t have actual romance in a romance, silly.
(this is a joke, but unfortunately true.)

 

[KuroViLolitannia]

He looks kinda.... Feverizz.... YEEEEAAHHH

 

[SilverSupreme]

I don’t believe it. For once, her delusions about Rihito with other people actually came true.

I also can’t believe she got him so drunk that she cost him half a day’s pay.

 

[Grimmycoffee]

Considering chapter 1, I wonder if there will be a rejected confession near the end

 

[Biscuit_B_Boi]

Thing is I honestly believe she doesn't like him romantically... or she does, but it's not her driving motivation. She is overly clingy and dependent and has an intense fear of rejection, so rather than loving him and being jealous, it's an extreme fear that he'll find other people he likes spending time with more, and she'll be rejected.

She’s had multiple wet dreams about the dude, the author is just incredibly allergic to character development with these two for seemingly no reason

 

[draxdeveloper]

Ok, if they can dream fix Rihito issue, they can dream fix noa issue.
YEah, it's forced but wathever lol

 

[rotationplus]

Genuinely what the hell was that skirt kizaki's wearing

Artist(s) did an oopsie with the image layers

 

[Zikeang]

Serial headpatter asked to go home for today

to continue headpatting at home

 

[Zikeang]

Sorry, who wants to see that? Why the fuck would you want secondary love interest that you know will never win?
If a girl’s name is in the title of a series, she will be the winner. There is no point to add useless side romances unless you want useless drama.

but but but but the title is Noa Senpai is my Friend
i'm huffing copious amounts of copium i want to see kizaki romance

 

[FiddlePop]

I mean it does say Noa is just a friend

Huh?
But isn't she a super best friend?

 

[SveNo]

Genuinely what the hell was that skirt kizaki's wearing

A layered tartan-pattern long skirt, pairs well with her puffy-sleeved blouse.
I can't make head or tails of the sideflashes, though?

Ok, I thought Kizaki was just wearing a cute dress skirt. But then we saw the full profile and holy smokes...
Not something I expected to see her in, much less at work, that's like a salsa style dancer dress but in plaid. Sexy.

Ooh, that could be it! Can't say I've ever seen one in tartan?!