Alabaster no Kisetsu - Vol. 2 Ch. 12.2 - Close friend, distant friend (Second part)
- Thread starter MangaDex
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I was not expecting such a straightforward reveal, it was such a heartming chapter that I could've done without that twist at the end, but I understand. It makes me wonder if Maki has been having less success with her art business than it seemed (I mean, even Sakura sensei said she's very skilled, and the rings look great), it makes sense that she would need money to start, and specially to practice, I believe the supplies don't come cheap. And I also wonder as to what are her feeling regarding her life and future, if she has plans or just lives moment to moment, she came of very passively nihilistic.
Also as it was said in a comment before, the direct paralles of the teacher-student relationships are very obvious. I wonder if the nudity of Sakura sensei was a bit toned down, her relationship with Machida would be felt less exploitative to the general audience (doesn't feel like it to me tbh, mostly because of how reactive she is in it).
Again, thank you very much for the scanlation.
Also as it was said in a comment before, the direct paralles of the teacher-student relationships are very obvious. I wonder if the nudity of Sakura sensei was a bit toned down, her relationship with Machida would be felt less exploitative to the general audience (doesn't feel like it to me tbh, mostly because of how reactive she is in it).
Again, thank you very much for the scanlation.
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I feel like I lost the plot.
Group Leader
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Yep, that's the fun part with age-gap stories, lots of people want to read them, they're pulled in by these stories like we are, but they have a very narrow range of what they end up finding acceptable, so it's always a bit amusing/disappointing to see their reaction.
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It became pretty clear she liked it when she and Yukari were the only ones around goofing and she wants to keep it that way. It's the same situation when in Hibike Euphonium the saxophonist senpai was bothered at the change of pace with the club, started to fail her parts and ended up quitting in a small drama because she couldn't bother with the competitions and was put to blame for not taking it seriously when she clearly said she didn't want to compete, which was pretty fucked up just not let her be there as a backup or just a come and go member.
You have been there the longest just chilling and suddenly some nosy teacher says you have to give it all, if someone is not in for the grind and your days of chilling with you friend are done, of course they will be bothered by that. I think the author wants us to dislike Maki more than she deserves with al the whoring thing, but she has legit reasons to dislike Gin and Sakura sensei, they came and crushed her small sanctuary.
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I can understand "This club used to be chill but now it's too much effort." I don't think the appropriate level of response is "I'm going to form a conspiracy with the teacher who pays me for sex to cause a scandal and get her fired." That's a ghoulish overreaction. Perhaps another layer of motivation is that Maki has found a little stability in selling her body, but the new super hot teacher has upended the market. In other words, it's jealousy.
I suspect something happened to Maki that makes her so cynical. Maybe it's just the horny teacher or the dismal quality of life on No-Parents/Poverty Island. Maybe something traumatic happened to her before she started sex work, or the sex work itself turned her sour. I pity her more than I dislike her, backstory pending.
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Don't you think it's intentional from the author? Okuda/Maki gives us a contrasting age gap relationship to make us squirm, and question where the line ought to be drawn. Didn't you say at the end of this chapter you felt uncomfortable about Okuda/Maki while cheering for Sakisaka/Gin? This story has so many dark undercurrents, I don't expect a fluffy romance anymore. We're being set up for conflict and muddy resolution.
That said it's also a mistake to rate the story by moralizing the events in the story. Depiction is not endorsement, and everyone can make their own judgments about the events. I really like this manga because the art is gorgeous, it has nuanced characters, thoughtful themes, and plausible dramatic tension. I can make sense of all the character's motivations within the setting of rural poverty. It also speaks to me personally as someone who dreamt of meaningful life after art school but ended up with a mountain of student loans, two dayjobs, and no time for art. There's a lot to think about beyond prurient interest. Or you can sit back and enjoy the seggs, it's your kitchen!
It's a positive that the readers are having a range of reactions; It means the story isn't so heavy-handed as to steer us all to the same conclusion. I hope this explains my perspective a bit.
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I think the answe lies in what you said in the end, she just had something that made her super dejected about adults imposing themselves as authority while being scumbags in secret, and I think probably is not the whoring thing. I don't think she's jealous, she just plain hates her for doing something she doesn't know to Yukari and now crashing her little party.
I think you guys in general are trying to put much machiavellism in her intentions, she's just a kid who has witnessed very ugly things from adults and has developed this very combative stance against them and anything that tries to hurt her somewhat.
As for the "ghoulish reaction", teacher bullying is a thing I witnessed on my owm high school, and those people who bullied her didn't have any reason to, she just didn't have in it to counter and it festered to the point she retired. Later I knew that apart of the edgy scumbags, she was also battered by her ex husband. It was a shitshow and there wasn't any reason to be that way, like all bullying cases.
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I got fucking whiplash fucking ell
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Nah man its more about how she was being a b*tch to gin with the probably relationship with sakura just because her friend would be hurt whereas she herself is being a b*tch
A slut and a pedo you mean.
Doesn't change anything though.
going to be a bit whiny but i am intrigued by the story however i just don't get how people have it in them to read dramas like this.
And thanks to the translator for all your work but in your notes at the end of this chapter you write that about maki as if she isnt a victim of Okuda?? "more power to her" what the hell, we are not even talking about an adult women here but a underage student and a adult with a position of power over the student. I don't see how Maki could be anything but a victim here.
This goes without saying that Sakura isnt exactly innocent either.
okay half coherent rant over.
And thanks to the translator for all your work but in your notes at the end of this chapter you write that about maki as if she isnt a victim of Okuda?? "more power to her" what the hell, we are not even talking about an adult women here but a underage student and a adult with a position of power over the student. I don't see how Maki could be anything but a victim here.
This goes without saying that Sakura isnt exactly innocent either.
okay half coherent rant over.
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Dear man of culture, the fuck?? now im guna see that poor lady instead of her, every godamm time.
Joke aside, im surprised tat by rawdoggin panel, not the pace i expect regardin overall visual intimacy between author and reader. This thing incites scrutiny and he succeeded.
