Adachi to Shimamura - Vol. 7 Ch. 44.3 - Our First Journey 3

[thewomanliest]

At least in the LN, both Adachi and Shimamura are well aware of their respective emotional issues and do (very slowly*) address them.

Maybe it is something that has been lost with the manga not being able to adapt the pages upon pages of internal monologue. Or maybe it is just that the manga has only adapted up to half the story so far.

*Adachi cannot just stop being anxious and needy, similarly Shimamura cannot just become emotionally accessible. These are issues rooted deep in their neuropsychology and addressing them is more about learning to function with them (and each other).
And that also means their relationship will never be "normal", but it can be functional.

yeah, i see how that could affect it. it just feels a little strange to me that it's so glossed over, both by readers and in the manga. i haven't read the LN and don't plan on it, since i find comics more engaging, but it does feel like something important is missing from the adaptation if their emotional issues are clearer there.

what you said about the LN giving more insight does make me feel a bit better though, because i want to understand where they’re coming from internally. without that, it sometimes feels like we’re asked to read their distance and miscommunication as romantic when, really, it comes from anxiety and avoidance. i don’t mind a relationship that’s messy or unconventional, but i need to see some kind of emotional awareness from the narrative so it doesn’t feel like dysfunction is being passed off as “normal.”

i don’t dislike their dynamic at all, it’s actually interesting to see a yuri couple that isn’t instantly emotionally compatible, but i do wish the manga leaned a little more into acknowledging the tension instead of letting it sit under the surface unspoken. it would make their connection feel more intentional and less like they’re stuck circling each other without meaningful growth. i'm well aware that they're deep-rooted issues, i'm not expecting any magical change overnight, but i'd like them to be touched on more.

i was honestly mostly wondering why i never saw anyone in the discussion forums talking about it, though. people seem to focus almost entirely on the cute or wholesome moments, but kind of ignore the uncomfortable emotional gaps between them.