Imasara desu ga, Osananajimi o Suki ni Natte Shimaimashita - Ch. 41 - Everything, Falling Apart

[story645]

"he likes someone else" and "he doesn't like anyone"

Because those are two different states when computing the probabilities, which is why she can knock one of them out when receiving new information. It's a way to show how Hikari thinks. And Maruto probably liked the idea of including a math joke.

Where in his words do you see this level of certainty?

The fact that he even tried this where he didn't try anything else.

Not a confession... but a victory.

...Well, I’m sure there are people who’d say, “Why not just confess, even if you don’t get into the same school?”

But if I could do that, I would’ve confessed way back in fifth grade.

I don't think he was certain he'd succeed (which is why he hid the attempt), but I think he had high confidence that if he succeeded than Hikari would recognize his feelings. The reason why I think recognizing feelings =='s probably saying yes to the confession is that Yuu was reading Hikari not recognizing his feelings as rejecting him.

Well, my personality is certainly closer to being rational and wary rather than rushing ahead.

I mean this in the most polite way, that's your cope for the choices you make. All human beings work this way - including the well written characters in this manga. They each have different perspectives (and personalities) that shape their choices, actions, and feelings.

 

[GennArc]

Because those are two different states when computing the probabilities, which is why she can knock one of them out when receiving new information

If it was like you said and she only cared about winning his heart and not about a hypothetical competition, it would've been just "he likes me" vs "he doesn't like me". But she goes and splits "he doesn't like me" into "he likes someone else" and "he doesn't like anyone".

The reason why I think recognizing feelings =='s probably saying yes to the confession is that Yuu is was reading Hikari not recognizing his feelings as rejecting him.

That's quite a leap. Not even recognizing him as a boy inherently means a rejection in case he confessed (because that's not how romantic feelings are born), but recognizing him as one doesn't mean reciprocation at all.

I mean this in the most polite way, that's your cope for the choices you make. All human beings work this way - including the well written characters in this manga. They each have different perspectives (and personalities) that shape their choices, actions, and feelings.

I don't disagree with any of these points, but I didn't quite get the idea.

 

[story645]

But she goes and splits "he doesn't like me" into "he likes someone else" and "he doesn't like anyone".

Hikari's worldview is to consider all possible options. Here the space of all options is "Yuu likes {me, someone else, no one (null)}". Null gets thrown out, so now we're at "Yuu likes {me, someone else}".

ETA: I think it's this openness that's also why she's so willing to give Aya multiple chances, which is just me saying that openness is a thruough line in her characterization.

inherently means a rejection in case he confessed

Yuu does not even try to get her to change her feelings through attempts to make her conscious of him except this one attempt. Which that's the reason I think he thinks it'd work if he succeeded - he legit does not even try to do anything else.

don't disagree with any of these points, but I didn't quite get the idea.

I feel like we've been on a standstill about Hikari b/c you're not even really considering that she just thinks differently.

 

[GennArc]

Hikari's worldview is to consider all possible options.

...then it would make even more sense to break "likes someone else" into "likes X, likes Y, likes Z", because they are all possible options. Again, if she's sure he isn't interested in her like you claim, considering all possible options surely includes considering who exactly he likes.

Yuu does not even try to get her to change her feelings through attempts to make her conscious of him except this one attempt.

But what could he even do without putting her off? Especially when all their friends knew he liked her and she still remained oblivious. Like, he would invite her to hang out together, and she would just consider it their normal friendship stuff.

Honestly I feel like in some of these discussions you're not seperating how you'd approach the situation from how the character would approach it. I feel like we've been on a standstill about Hikari b/c you're not even really considering that she just thinks differently.

I can't disprove the first sentence and it might be at least partly true, though I do think in terms of "how this person/character would approach this situation" and not "how would I act in his/her stead".
But I do disagree with the second one. I am quoting WN chapters for a reason, they allow us to get a good grasp on her way of thinking. You are implying to have a better understanding of her thought process, and it might even be true, but you're not really relying on the source material to prove your points. She thinks differently from Yuu, or Yami, or myself, no doubt, but you're yet to convince me that your understanding of her way of thinking is closer to truth than mine.

 

[story645]

considering all possible options surely includes considering who exactly he likes

Hikari's straightforward - if she gets confirmation that he likes someone else than she's moving on. That's why she thinks "him liking someone else" means a 100% chance of getting rejected. [50:50 chance where each 50 is mapped to a state]. She's not adjusting her strategy based on who b/c she takes him at his word that he sincerely likes whoever. Yes this is an explicit contrast to Aya seeking light so badly she offers herself as a consolation prize.

But what could he even do without putting her off?

That's my point right, he did the one thing where he wasn't afraid about putting her off. Either he failed and she'd never know or he'd succeed and the realization he was catching up w/ her for her wouldn't put her off.

But otherwise? Reject the setups w/ hints as to why (like how Hikari is dropping hints in this chapter), ask her out on very date like hangouts - amusement park, aquarium, not act nonchalant (which he says he was doing in the confession chapter), etc...

She thinks differently from Yuu, or Yami, or myself, no doubt, but you're yet to convince me that your understanding of her way of thinking is closer to truth than mine.

I've honestly lost the thread on how you think she thinks. Like it kinda sounds like you think she thinks this is a race she's likely to win.

you're not really relying on the source material to prove your points.

You disagreeing w/ my interpretation of the source material-which for the most part is the quotes you're providing - does not mean I'm not using it, it just means you're moving the goalposts. If anything, I feel I use the meta stuff way more - structure, narrative arc, themes, characterization - while I feel you do a lot more scene by scene based analysis.

 

[GennArc]

Hikari's straightforward - if she gets confirmation that he likes someone else than she's moving on. That's why she thinks "him liking someone else" means a 100% chance of getting rejected.

This contradicts her own thoughts:

Until now, I could at least dream of three possibilities:

=> "He likes me."
=> "He likes someone else."
=> "He doesn't like anyone."

But now it's down to just two:

=> "He likes me."
=> "He likes someone else."

So, yeah... sure, my chances of success went up from 33% to 50%, but so did my chances of getting rejected.

To put it a little more clearly:

Sure, the odds of, Wait, what?! He likes me too? Could life actually be this amazing?! have gone up...

...but so have the chances of, No, I can't give up! I'll make him notice me, no matter what! -- and that feels like a much bigger challenge now.

The last line suggests she wasn't planning to move on in case he liked someone else.

But otherwise? Reject the setups w/ hints as to why (like how Hikari is dropping hints in this chapter), ask her out on very date like hangouts - amusement park, aquarium, not act nonchalant (which he says he was doing in the confession chapter), etc...

Well, like I said, wouldn't this just result in her treating it as just their normal friends hangout? Honestly I think he might have done that from time to time, but every outing made him even more confident it just doesn't work. Just my hypothesis though.

you think she thinks this is a race she's likely to win.

She is actively trying to "win" his affection, but that's because he doesn't send her messages which say "I am not interested". You keep saying that where Yuu gave up, Hikari fought hard, but my point is that their circumstances and starting positions are not the same, so it's not really fair to compare them. It's not "she's likely to win", it's "she has a chance to win".
What would Hikari do if he clearly was not interested in her? Honestly I can't tell. And you might think that the quote I posted above is a proof she wouldn't give up, but imo these are two different situations. If he liked someone else but wasn't in a relationship, she might still go for it because that doesn't necessarily mean he can't see her in a romantic way. But if he just treated her as one of his friends, she could've moved on.

If anything, I feel I use the meta stuff way more - structure, narrative arc, themes, characterization - while I feel you do a lot more scene by scene based analysis.

Well, that's fair. Maybe I just don't have a sense for those, or maybe I can't trust something that isn't explicitly said and can be interpreted in a variety of ways.
There are obviously some themes here which are impossible to misinterpret, like light and darkness, Hikari and Yami. But sometimes you suggest some parallels which I just can't recognize as ones, that's where it becomes hard to argue because it's just your word vs. my word.

 

[story645]

The last line suggests she wasn't planning to move on in case he liked someone else.

I read it more as she's not giving up until she gets rejected outright: she wants him to notice that she likes him, just like Yuu wants her to notice that he likes her. Otherwise I think it'd be an explicit "make him like me". I doubt it's a translation issue since like is used so often in that excerpt.

Well, like I said, wouldn't this just result in her treating it as just their normal friends hangout?

Maybe if he was making it obvious, the way Hikari is making it obvious in their hangout in this chapter.

Honestly I think he might have done that from time to time, but every outing made him even more confident it just doesn't work. Just my hypothesis though.

I think then Maruto would include it at least one of the flashbacks, if only to make Yuu more sympathetic.

But if he just treated her as one of his friends

That's what he did though for the first couple of months of her crush - his reactions to her in chapter 1 and chapter 18 are completely different. In chapter 1 he's got a completely straightface, no reaction, while in chapter 18 he's got a full on blush. This chapter explains what's going on in his head to cause the difference.

 

[peortega1]

I think then Maruto would include it at least one of the flashbacks, if only to make Yuu more sympathetic.

Is not implicit in his words summarizing middle school phase in chapter 3 of his arc? There is a reason why all the school, less Hikari, knew Yuu was in love with her.

I read it more as she's not giving up until she gets rejected outright: she wants him to notice that she likes him, just like Yuu wants her to notice that he likes her

Yes, exactly as you said. He didn´t give up ever and securely after crying he would return to his house after the exam failure and think in other plan to make Hikari would notice he likes her, but was in that exact low moment Ayami entered in the life of Yuu.
In that, let´s say, second date, the poor boy couldn´t even return to his home. Yami impeded him TWICE. Yuu followed Yami to that love hotel two times expecting get a girlfriend in the process and our chad MC really reached it. Technically the exact point when Ayami accepts being his girlfriend and realizes she is really in love with "that coward of Yuu" is chapter 25.5, when she sees him sleeping peacefully and kisses him.
Ayami was really the loving and loyal girlfriend he always wanted, that is the reason why Yuu was so destroyed after the breaking.

 

[story645]

There is a reason why all the school, less Hikari, knew Yuu was in love with her.

Given that Aya quickly clocked his crush by how he talked about Hikari, I figure that's also how all the folks at school knew. Yuu is pretty consistently written as passive - the only times he really takes initiative are last ditch: the exam, asking Aya to the fireworks months into the relationship, looking for Aya (but he quits when he sees Hikari), and the confession.

In that, let´s say, second date, the poor boy couldn´t even return to his home. Yami impeded him TWICE

Like this isn't even a judgement on his choice, but Yuu has agency and he chose the easy path of taking what was on offer (Aya) over not giving up on Hikari.

 

[GennArc]

I read it more as she's not giving up until she gets rejected outright: she wants him to notice that she likes him, just like Yuu wants her to notice that he likes her. Otherwise I think it'd be an explicit "make him like me". I doubt it's a translation issue since like is used so often in that excerpt.

For me it sounds like this: if she learns he likes someone else (not by confessing and getting rejected, just learns somehow), she will still continue trying to make him notice her in a romantic sense. And that's why "make him notice me" is consistent here.

Maybe if he was making it obvious, the way Hikari is making it obvious in their hangout in this chapter.

It's obvious and easy for Yuu to notice it because of the contrast: how she treated him before and how she treats him now.
But when middle school Yuu was approaching her, he already was in love for years. It's not easy for him to somehow make it even more noticable, when the whole school already knows about his feeling.

That's what he did though for the first couple of months of her crush

I mean "treated her as one of his friends" as in making it clear she isn't different from his male friends, as in discussing what kind of girls he is into or something of the sort.

 

[story645]

as in discussing what kind of girls he is into

It's not clear he does that with his male friends either? They seem to know he's into Hikari b/c he's into Hikari & we have no evidence yet that anyone knew about Aya - his friends from middle school who ran into them at the festival didn't seem to. As far as Hikari is concerned, he's treating her same as always in the beginning.

it's not easy for him to somehow make it even more noticable

Hikari notices the difference between chapter 1 Yuu and chapter 18 Yuu.

In the confession chapter Yuu says that he was acting nonchalent in middle school cause he didn't want her to find out about his crush - my guess is the rest of the school knew for the same reason Aya did, which is the way he talked about Hikari. His classmates knew about him taking the exam when Hikari didn't, so he apparently was more comfortable revealing that kinda stuff to them.

f she learns he likes someone else (not by confessing and getting rejected, just learns somehow), she will still continue trying to make him notice her

I don't think she'd assign "Yuu likes someone else = rejected" if she thought his mind could be changed. I read it more as "there's a chance he likes me so I can't give up and have to make him notice me".

 

[peortega1]

Given that Aya quickly clocked his crush by how he talked about Hikari, I figure that's also how all the folks at school knew. Yuu is pretty consistently written as passive - the only times he really takes initiative are last ditch: the exam, asking Aya to the fireworks months into the relationship, looking for Aya (but he quits when he sees Hikari), and the confession.

Congratulations, the boy that all the world, including Hikari and Ayami, said us he is passive... resulted being a passive in the end. Like all the other previous MCs of Maruto, like the guy of my avatar... and of course Tomoya of Saekano, who makes look Yuu as a brave knight in comparison.

Like this isn't even a judgement on his choice, but Yuu has agency and he chose the easy path of taking what was on offer (Aya) over not giving up on Hikari.

Yes, he chose the easy way, of course. But he made that choice under big pression (other people would use harder words for the... actions of Yami in the station that dawn) and is in his lower moment. And again, he taked the right decision because all the world and Hikari herself said us she securely would have rejected him.
He would be a simp persecuting a girl who obviously doesn´t see him romantically, and did the right thing trying to get over her and try to get a relationship with other beautiful girl who seemed visibly interested on him. And is obvious Yami broke with him when Yuu finally was starting to forget Hikari, is thanks to "Aya-chan" he didn´t lie her in the confession of chapter 38.
PS. Also, seeing how he said practically everything to an unknown girl in their second date (and of course, this is important, and even more taking his words in omake 3 about how he felt protected by Ayami from the cold wind in the station, yes, he probably feels attracted to her in this point, and for that he ended talking more than he had planned in a start), securely he didn´t reach hid his feelings from Hikari and all the world could see how he talked with her as a boy in love. The only reason Hikari didn´t notice nothing is because she didn´t care the romance in that time, and anyway, she never would have loved the original shy Yuu. She unawarely sent him to the friendzone, or brotherzone if you prefer. That is the reason why in chapter 5 of the omake she recognizes before him she didn´t care even about the academic future of him in middle school, so, yes, she even confirmed to Yuu directly she would have rejected his confession in that moment.

 

[peortega1]

Anyway, all these 37 pages of discussions gives turns and turns around the metareferential central point without see it. There is a reason why Yami is reading Koisuru Metronome in chapter 26

 

[peortega1]

Doesn´t help these MC and 2nd FMC are probably based in Haruki Kitahara and Kazusa Touma (and yes, this is the reason why Yuu friends didn´t know about his friendship with Kamiya, like Haruki friends didn´t know about his friendship with Touma), and they are securely who would have been Haruki and Kazusa if they would HAVE PARENTS.
Maybe disfunctional in some cases, but definitely presents in their lives, like Ayami mother.
This is a brief example I add here as proof of my thesis

PS. And in this way, the circle is closing

 

[peortega1]

And yes, this is the reason, like what happened with OG Kamiya (who seemed to the edge of the full collapse in

Spoiler

rooftop scene

and entering in mode full Kazusa Touma, like Ayami in the cultural festival), Ayami definitely needs Yuu in her life at least as a friend (and of course, she knows she doesn´t deserves being even near from him after how she broke his heart so crudely).
Only him is able to really heal her, like Izumi with Kamiya.

 

[ppaaccoojrf]

He really didn´t lie. The WN version of chapter 38 ends with a briefly words from his PoV who explains a lot about him. I recommend you read too the omake chapters who Maruto released during the hiatus giving the PoV of Yuu about his "heartbrokens", they have been published in the pages of this thread. We have to remember we practically don´t have his PoV and his thoughts, and even the recent omake chapters are very brief.

Lying by omission is still a lie. It's very weird to tell Hikari he loved her "for a long time" when he had had a short relationship with Yami a few months ago where he did love her, and when he knew that Yami and Hikari knew each other.
Whether or not he suspected that Hikari had seen their kiss, he left out the fact that he used to date one of Hikari's best friends when confessing to her. Especially when confessing at the school they both go to.
It's the kind of thing you bring up before starting to date because it could very well be a dealbreaker, and leaving it out feels dishonest.

 

[peortega1]

Anyway, all these 37 pages of discussions gives turns and turns around the meta-referential central point without see it.
There is a reason why Yami is reading Koisuru Metronome in chapter 26, the Saekano If Route manga where Utaha won becoming the girlfriend of the MC after

Spoiler

have sex with him, because in this route, Tomoya never met Megumi the title FMC, the "boring girlfriend", so, he never fall in love with her

Because Ayami, Yuu and Hikari are based in Utaha, Tomoya and Eriri, is easy to see this is a route where Utaha had a relationship with Tomoya in the past, had sex with him as she always wanted and all that, and later she broke with him and is dealing with it in the present. This is the reason why Ayami explicitily self-identifies with Utaha.
But is other base even more obvious. The MC and the second FMC of Shikimori-san is not just a cutie.
Yuu and Yami are so obvious expies from those boy and girl until the point they have even practically the same names

Spoiler

(Ayami = K-amiya / the two male MCs called both Yuu)

Maruto wrote a If Route where Yuu Izumi

Spoiler

never met Shikimori, just met Kamiya (and where he had Hikari, the Eriri´s Expy, as childhood friend and pseudo-big sister who protected him). And where he gave Ai Kamiya a light version of the Kazusa Touma background to explain why this Expy Kamiya advanced so ridicuously faster than the Utaha and Kamiya from OG Timelines

Ayami received, like Koisuru Utaha, the help of Fate that OGs Kamiya and Utaha never had.

 

[peortega1]

Lying by omission is still a lie. It's very weird to tell Hikari he loved her "for a long time" when he had had a short relationship with Yami a few months ago where he did love her, and when he knew that Yami and Hikari knew each other.
Whether or not he suspected that Hikari had seen their kiss, he left out the fact that he used to date one of Hikari's best friends when confessing to her. Especially when confessing at the school they both go to.
It's the kind of thing you bring up before starting to date because it could very well be a dealbreaker, and leaving it out feels dishonest.

Maybe. But in that case, she lied by omission too, because she definitely saw the kiss and when he asks her if she is feeling bad, she lies him and just says is the two hours he was lost, that is all. This is the lie who allows Yuu, the Coward, believe she doesn´t have seen nothing. Both are guilty of the sin of hid things to the other, and in this moment, Yuu and Hikari have learned the worst lesson Ayami could teach to them: how to hide your emotions under a poker mask. Like Kazusa did with Haruki.
And yes, he probably intended tell her about Ayami anyway... but in that moment, just after the fight and SA with Yami, is very obvious he wasn´t in a good mental condition. Probably he passed those 2 hours crying in the bathroom and trying to recover his best face of "Taa-kun the breakhearts", like Haruki and Izumi would do it.
And yes, IMO this in part is the reason why Hikari defends Yuu before Yami. She is starting to realize why he felt so weird and how if he would be hiding something, she is starting to realize he hided his wounds provoked by Ayami -but yes, even if you decided left behind an ex-girlfriend, definitely anyone would feel hurt if that ex-gf says she never loved you and she "got bored" from you, even if you know that is a lie from her to far you.
She is even starting to understand he didn´t lie seeing how Yami speaks with so disgust about she always knew Yuu loved Hikari and it was Hikari who unawarely sent him to the friendzone, so, if "Aya-chan" already knew, is because he said her about Hikari.

 

[story645]

he boy that all the world, including Hikari and Ayami, said us he is passive... resulted being a passive

So you agree with me that Yuu likely didn't make any active moves on Hikari in elementary/middle school?

And again, he taked the right decision because all the world and Hikari herself said us she securely would have rejected him.

In the universe where Yuu did not make any moves to change her mind, just like Yuu was sure he'd never fall in love again before Hikari made moves to change his mind. But also if Maruto is going the tragedy route (or the Yuu/Yami route) than this decision is what seals him not getting with Hikari.

she never would have loved the original shy Yuu

Yuu doesn't get a personality transplant when she starts falling for him - Hikari notes it's the same old Yuu he's always been when she's like "why did I fall for him?".

 

[Litreara]

@mug3n @HellJester @EchoGirl @nogoodsumbeach @story645 @lolfacesayshi @noleafclover75 @wozbond @Rafalga @fflogschampion @awtystic @ComNguoi @Schernobyl @Ochrolv @drakenation @BlackHoxton @Mangamoz @Ninoren @Dark1400 @outinthegardener @eviljackspicer @middle-the-nerd @GennArc

Spoiler: Chapter 42

Chapter 42: The Uprising of the Meddlesome Girls

Early October, and it's a weekday Friday!
The early afternoon, right after fifth period—the first class in the afternoon.

Yuki: "It's totalllly weird, I'm telling you! I mean, ever since the festival, Hikarin's totally stopped talking!"
Haru: "On the plus side, you've been talking more to make up for it."

By the way, since fifth period was P.E., we're currently in the middle of changing and chatting in the girls' locker room.

...So, hey, everyone, can you tell who I am~?
And while we're at it, can you tell who's here in the locker room with me~?

Yuki: "Even today, she went and changed and left without us."
Haru: "Nah, it's not just Hikari—pretty much everyone left us behind."
Yuki: "Wait, really? Ugh, everyone's so heartless~!"
Haru: "That's because you won't stop talking and won't change, Yuki!"

Yes, that's second-year Class C's Yuki Hirai.
And then there's me, also second-year Class C—me, Ichigaya... Haru!

There's a reason why the two of us, who usually hang out as a group of four, are having this hushed, almost secret-talk-like chat by ourselves.

Yuki: "Ugh! Harucchi, aren't you worried about Hikarin at all!?"
Haru: "Of course I'm worried... I never thought she'd go that far..."

What we're talking about is what happened a few days ago at the school festival.

We worked hard at our class's maid café from the morning, then at the after-festival party, we cheered on Hikari and her childhood friend-turned-boyfriend's love story, and then he went and confessed to Hikari, and then...

Yuki: "Right, right? Who would've thought her childhood friend would get dumped~?"
Haru: "It didn't seem like that at all when he came to our class's maid café~"
Yuki: "So... something must've happened between them during the after-party~"
Haru: "Something like... what?"

Seriously, what?
When he came to our class's café, they both seemed so innocent and totally in sync...
What kind of dramatic turn of events could've happened in just a few hours?

...Well, there is one thing.
I really don't think it's that, but there's one factor—a one-in-a-million chance—that might be related. But still...

Yuki: "Plus, Ayachin hasn't been coming to school at all..."
Haru: "Ah! You're gonna say it? You're really gonna say it!?"
Yuki: "...Hey, do you think these two things are connected?"
Haru: "I don't wanna think sooo~!"
Yuki: "Me toooo~!"

Well, since Yuki spilled it even though I was trying to be vague, I'll just say it.
Since that day... the day Hikari's smile and words vanished from her face...
We haven't seen Aya even once.

Yuki: "Those two were so close..."
Haru: "A little too close, honestly..."

I don't know how her boyfriend factors into this.
But their closeness... no, their "excessive closeness" felt a little dangerous to me.

You could say Aya seemed kind of dependent on Hikari, and Hikari, whether she sensed that aura or not, seemed way too invested in Aya.
But even so... Aya wasn't jealous of Hikari falling for her childhood friend; if anything, I felt like she was the most supportive of it among our group.

Yet now...
Aya hasn't been coming to school, deleted her LINE account, and has completely vanished.

Yuki: "Ugh, this is so frustrating~! Harucchi, we should really find out what happened~!"
Haru: "Even if you say that... I'm scared to talk to Hikari about it now..."

Because Hikari won't say anything about it—not a word.
I can't tell if she's angry, worried, or sad.

...Her hollowed-out aura is so intense that even we hesitate to ask.

Yuki: "That's why~, instead of asking Hikarin, we should ask directly~"
Haru: "You mean Aya? That's even worse! Besides, she deleted her contact info..."
Yuki: "There's one more person, though~. Someone who might know what's going on with Hikarin~"
Haru: "…………Who?"
Yuki: "Fufufu~"

Just as we finished changing back into our uniforms and were about to head back to the classroom...
Yuki suddenly flashed a mischievous, almost naughty grin.

…………

…………

Yuki: "Ah~, here, here! Finally found it~"
Haru: "H-Hey... are we really gonna ambush him like this?"

Early October, and it's a weekday Friday.
Around the time the last class of the afternoon is about to end.

At a time like this, when we'd normally be excitedly waiting for the final bell in our classroom, the two of us are standing in front of a certain public high school's gate for some reason.
...Yeah, after taking over thirty minutes to get here by train and on foot!

Haru: "Speaking of which, are you sure this is really Hikari's boyfriend's school?"
Yuki: "Don't~ worry, I made sure to jot it down when Hikarin accidentally let it slip before~"
Haru: "Scary..."

That's right—according to Yuki, this is the school Hikari's boyfriend... I think his name is Takamura Yuu... attends.
After being left behind in the locker room (because we took too long changing), instead of heading back to the classroom, we left school and came all the way here... to meet that "other person who might know what's going on."

Yuki: "Now then~, all we have to do is wait for the childhood friend to show up..."
Haru: "But will he really come out right away? What if he has club activities or something..."
Yuki: "He's definitely not in a club. That much is obvious from Hikarin's behavior~"
Haru: "You're seriously scary, this love detective!"

We even left our bags behind!
We're completely skipping class and club activities!
If I keep tagging along with Yuki like this, I won't have enough hearts to keep up! I'd be fine with something like a heart-pounding hill climb, but this is something else!

Haru: "B-But I don't really remember what her boyfriend looks like... During the festival, I only saw him from a distance..."
Yuki: "Ah~, no worries then. Here~, this is the childhood friend."
Haru: "When did you even take this!?"

On Yuki's phone was a pretty clear photo of Hikari's boyfriend dancing cheek-to-cheek with her in our school's gym.

Yuki: "Nah~, when I took this, I thought it'd be a lifelong memory for Hikarin~"
Haru: "Given the current situation, if Hikari finds out this photo still exists, she'll cry, won't she?"
Yuki: "Well, yeah, but~ it's such a good shot, and I just couldn't bring myself to delete it."
Haru: "Besides, you took it without their permission. Shouldn't you ask them properly if it's okay to keep it?"
Yuki: "Even so, trying to talk to Hikarin now is... ah."
Haru: "What? Is there something else?"
Yuki: "...It's the childhood friend."
Haru: "...Huh?"

Yuki's gaze had shifted from her phone to the school gate without me noticing.
And there he was... unmistakably, the same guy who was in the photo with Hikari.

Haru: "That guy...!"
Yuki: "Huh? Wait, Harucchi?"

Until we got here, I felt like I'd been completely dragged into this.
Honestly, I thought going this far was totally unnecessary meddling.
But the moment I spotted her boyfriend, my feet started moving on their own.

Because, I too...
have feelings of worry for Hikari...
and a desire to protect the friendship of our four-girl group.

Haru: "Hey, you."
Yuu: "Huh...?"
Haru: "You're Takamura Yuu, right?"
Yuu: "Uh, um... Are you, by any chance... Hikari's...?"

His gaze wasn't on my face but on my body—specifically, my uniform.
Well, of course he wouldn't remember my face.
But that doesn't matter right now.

Haru: "Listen, I need to talk—"

Just as I took a step forward, my tone sharp—

Seki: "Huh? Yuu-senpaaai~, who's this girl~?"
Yuu: "Gah, S-Seki!?"

From behind him, a twin-tailed, moe-style girl with black hair popped right between us.

""A third woman has appeared—!!!!""

At that moment, Yuki and I screamed in unison.
I’m pretty sure the background was basically screaming “Gahhh!’’ in comic-book style.

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Maruto’s post on X:

42話更新しました。お待たせしました！ 第4部スタートです！ 陽花梨と絢深の“あの後”をしかとご覧ください！ まぁ今回あの二人出てこないんだけどね！ #さらなみ

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Chapter 42 has been updated! Sorry to keep you waiting! Part 4 has begun! Be sure to see what happened "after that" with Hikari and Ayami! Well, not that those two actually appear in this episode! #Saranami

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Insight:

Welp, definitely not what I expected to see, but it’s a relief to get back to the main story and out of Yuu’s head. The most interesting part of this chapter was Haru’s perspective on Hikari and Yami’s relationship.

Also, I ended up using Deepseek to MTL this chapter, since ChatGPT and I just weren’t on the same page today.