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

[fflogschampion]

So what genre tropes is the author calling out? Anything that is an unrealistic relationship standard:

Diffident, wet noodle self-insert boys who somehow get a harem. Doe-eyed female leads who romanticize boys who are toxic or abusive. Trauma and negative coping methods becoming attractive qualities. Miscommunication because they're too embarrassed or too stoic to use their words. Idealizing romance as a fix for poor interpersonal skills.

I don't think it's calling out anything. Unless you're gonna tell me that every story involving this type of situation is some sort of meta commentary or cautionary tale. To get this clear, just because the story started in a way and had a twist in the middle it doesn't mean much as it's not playing the meta aspect of the genre it's supposed to be alluding to in full, so far it was just a complete genre shift.

Though to be fair, the most interesting thing about this manga is what Maruto is trying to say about "childhood romances" & I think that wouldn't work as a comedy.

That he got burned by one over 20 years ago and still is a salty bitch about it?

Throw in the self-imposed artificial barrier to asking someone out. Like the "win the sports festival" is a standard trope & also ridic. It's probably written in the most frustrating way here on purpose to say that these sorts of things don't magically fix the underlying issue (insecurity).

But this is something that often doesn't work in regular romances too, with the bottom line at the end being that hard work might not get you a partner, funnily enough. Plenty of examples to go around, for the two largest ones I can think of in recent times there's Kaguya (Ishigami x Tsubame) and Blue Box (Hina).

Edit - I really do think nobody would even bother defending this crap if Maruto's name wasn't behind it. It's also the main reason I'm here to anti it.

 

[story645]

That he got burned by one over 20 years ago and still is a salty bitch about it?

Feels like he's most critical towards Yuu (himself) - Hikari's written as a well of goodness that's continuing to get the shortest end of the stick here & Aya's given the tragic backstory to mitigate some of her extreme behavior.

But this is something that often doesn't work in regular romances too

Sure, but usually the effort builds the character's self esteem to the point where it'd be ok if they failed and if they fail then the failure improves their resiliency.

What I dunno that I've seen as much is the scenario here: Yuu sets himself up to fail - impossible goal with nowhere near enough time/resources to meet it - so that when he fails he's got more evidence that "he's not good enough for her" which is the reason he's been giving constantly (I think even more than their friendship) for not taking the risk to ask her out.

 

[middle-the-nerd]

FWIW I think the genre being criticised is "High School Romance," not shoujo/josei/shounen/seinen. I hold that Shoujo/Seinen/etc are not genres, but marketing directions. Within those categories, you get actual genres like romance, romantic comedy, ntr, battle-shounen, etc. While the marketing direction of the publisher is a superstructure which influences how those genres are presented, and this influence does create shoujo tropes/josei tropes, they aren't genres themselves.

So what genre tropes is the author calling out? Anything that is an unrealistic relationship standard:

Diffident, wet noodle self-insert boys who somehow get a harem. Doe-eyed female leads who romanticize boys who are toxic or abusive. Trauma and negative coping methods becoming attractive qualities. Miscommunication because they're too embarrassed or too stoic to use their words. Idealizing romance as a fix for poor interpersonal skills.

The only thing I'm hoping for is that Yuu actually gets character development to help with these negative traits- he already realizes he has them and admits to himself he hates himself for them and along with confessing to Hikari about having such an inferiority complex with her and confessing his feelings to her I do think he's making some progress even if he has a ways to go

I don't want it boiling down to "he had these shitty damaging traits and he never really changed" it'd be extremely disappointing if him getting rejected just didn't push him to finally better himself- I mean ffs even a after that Hikari litterally admits she still loves him he just desperately needs to learn to be open and honest

FUCKING YUU GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER IT'S DIFFICULT BUT IT'S NOT COMPLICATED

Edit - I really do think nobody would even bother defending this crap if Maruto's name wasn't behind it. It's also the main reason I'm here to anti it.

I mean I started reading because I love cute fluff romance and childhood friends it's my favorite romance anime trope by FAR but am to engaged to drop it and honestly enjoy discussing it here quite a bit

I had no idea who Maruto was before this and still haven't read any of his other stuff and really i don't care who he is my rating is a 5/10 right now but i'm still fairly invested anyways lol

 

[middle-the-nerd]

Feels like he's most critical towards Yuu (himself) - Hikari's written as a well of goodness that's continuing to get the shortest end of the stick here & Aya's given the tragic backstory to mitigate some of her extreme behavior.

He's 100% most critical on Yuu and the fact he's basically admitted Yuu is based on himself says alot

Honestly I kinda see part of my old self in Yuu as well so I relate quite a bit to him and a major reason I feel so much sympathy for him and want him to grow as a person- he's not a bad guy at all and Hikari does recognize those good parts in him but his self depreciating wishy washy nature really holds him back but at least he seems to be improving even if it's slowly

Sure, but usually the effort builds the character's self esteem to the point where it'd be ok if they failed and if they fail then the failure improves their resiliency.

What I dunno that I've seen as much is the scenario here: Yuu sets himself up to fail - impossible goal with nowhere near enough time/resources to meet it - so that when he fails he's got more evidence that "he's not good enough for her" which is the reason he's been giving constantly (I think even more than their friendship) for not taking the risk to ask her out.

Yeah he kept setting setting himself up for failure but it's also a part of the reason I respect that he actually admitted to Hikari about his inferiority complex at the culture festival I honestly think that was a huge step for him

 

[outinthegardener]

The only thing I'm hoping for is that Yuu actually gets character development to help with these negative traits- he already realizes he has them and admits to himself he hates himself for them and along with confessing to Hikari about having such an inferiority complex with her and confessing his feelings to her I do think he's making some progress even if he has a ways to go

That's the big question mark. Will Yuu undergo enough self-reflection and make the effort to change himself? Or will he continue to wallow in self-pity until he becomes a neckbeard? Any sympathy I imagine for Yuu comes from the idea that he is still young and has time to do the former. The Author has given us nothing but the latter, so far.

We can present the same fork for the other characters. Will Hikari get past her shoujo brain-rot? Will Ayami stop self-destructing before she gets a back tattoo and a heroin habit?

 

[Litreara]

Oops.

 

[eviljackspicer]

Well isn't this a tricky situation. LMAO

 

[story645]

Will Hikari get past her shoujo brain-rot?

I never felt like Hikari really had shoujo brain-rot? Like she's only expressed disappointment that Yuu hasn't confessed once (the fireworks festival) (unlike Yuu w/ Hikari) & so far doesn't seem all that broken up that her happily ever after probably isn't happening. Like the thing she's mad/hurt about - friends lying/hiding things - doesn't seem all that demographic specific.
Unless by shoujo brain rot you mean her "I can fix them", which uh

 

[outinthegardener]

I never felt like Hikari really had shoujo brain-rot? Like she's only expressed disappointment that Yuu hasn't confessed once (the fireworks festival) (unlike Yuu w/ Hikari) & so far doesn't seem all that broken up that her happily ever after probably isn't happening. Like the thing she's mad/hurt about - friends lying/hiding things - doesn't seem all that demographic specific.
Unless by shoujo brain rot you mean her "I can fix them", which uh

I mean how the first section of the series is a Hikari POV where she likes Yuu, and he hasn't noticed her yet, and KYUUUN and all that. Then we get the tonal whiplash to Yuu and Yami boning in a love hotel, and we collectively go "what the hell, Hikari likes this guy?!"

It's the trope of falling for a guy without taking the time to really get to know them. Loving an idealized version of them that's not real. Thinking that your childhood friend will grow up to fit into the box you built for them. That kind of shoujo-trope. It's a shounen trope, too, tbf.

 

[story645]

It's the trope of falling for a guy without taking the time to really get to know them. Loving an idealized version of them that's not real.

There's no indication Hikari does this though? Like I think at one point or another she acknowledges that Yuu is a coward and insensitive and immature and conflict averse and she likes him anyway. Hell she questions why she likes him in chapter 9.

 

[Litreara]

So, Volume 1 was officially released on 2025-08-07, and according to data from Shoseki Ranking, it sold approximately 4,386 physical copies in its first week (actually just four days), which is an okay performance. It remains to be seen whether it will maintain its momentum in the coming weeks or lose steam.

 

[middle-the-nerd]

That's the big question mark. Will Yuu undergo enough self-reflection and make the effort to change himself? Or will he continue to wallow in self-pity until he becomes a neckbeard?

well I think he's definitely self reflected he seems very aware of his shortcomings and while he has a ways to go things like telling Hikari about if feelings of inferiority to her and confessing his feelings are some pretty big steps forward in my opinion

It's really going to come down to how he deals with what happened

Because yeah I could see him just spiraling but Hikari also did very blatantly say she very much still loves him she just can't stand his current lack of honesty so she basically couldn't of made it clearer to him what the damn issue is lmao

Any sympathy I imagine for Yuu comes from the idea that he is still young and has time to do the former. The Author has given us nothing but the latter, so far.

Exactly his behavior is completely understandable for a teen boy it's REALLY hard to knock him for it

I never felt like Hikari really had shoujo brain-rot? Like she's only expressed disappointment that Yuu hasn't confessed once (the fireworks festival) (unlike Yuu w/ Hikari) & so far doesn't seem all that broken up that her happily ever after probably isn't happening. Like the thing she's mad/hurt about - friends lying/hiding things - doesn't seem all that demographic specific.
Unless by shoujo brain rot you mean her "I can fix them", which uh

Yeah she seems far more upset about them just not being open about everything- which is completely valid

There's no indication Hikari does this though? Like I think at one point or another she acknowledges that Yuu is a coward and insensitive and immature and conflict averse and she likes him anyway. Hell she questions why she likes him in chapter 9.

Shes does seem aware at least to an extent of his flaws she's not completely blind to them and even when he told her about his massive inferiority complex, he has over her she wasn't really bothered by it (well she was but that was because she was hoping for a different confession, but that's kind of another thing) in fact she actually seemed to appreciate him telling her and seemed pretty understanding

Pretty much the only thing he's done that has genuinely upset her is just not being fully open and honest with her which is completely understandable she seems to genuinely loves him inspite of his flaws she just wants him to be goddamn open with her which is the ACTUAL issue

 

[middle-the-nerd]

So, Volume 1 was officially released on 2025-08-07, and according to data from Shoseki Ranking, it sold approximately 4,386 physical copies in its first week (actually just four days), which is an okay performance. It remains to be seen whether it will maintain its momentum in the coming weeks or lose steam.

Yeah seems like an okay enough performance but also i'm not sure what numbers WOULD be good for a series like this lol

Hopefully it remains steady

Also doesn't the physical release have even more new stuff or am I misremembering?

 

[middle-the-nerd]

I somehow completely forgot the main series before it went on hiatus ended with Yami strait up yelling at Hikari that if she's afraid of someone else taking Yuu to before her to bang him

Which is just an absolutely WILD way to leave things off for 3 months

 

[story645]

with Yami strait up yelling at Hikari that if she's afraid of someone else taking Yuu to before her to bang him

Because that's what Yami thought she had to do to get/keep Yuu, who she instantly fell for & then spent the whole relationship resentful of for not meeting her (unsaid) expectations for a boyfriend. Which legit even if they improved their communication - would Yami love the real flawed Yuu when the relationship isn't an escape from her family drama?

 

[Litreara]

Yeah seems like an okay enough performance but also i'm not sure what numbers WOULD be good for a series like this lol

Hopefully it remains steady

Also doesn't the physical release have even more new stuff or am I misremembering?

I believe the main difference in this official release of volume 1 is that it includes the extra chapters made after the manga was officially released.

Now, volume 3, which Maruto will sell at Comiket this August 16–17 and which is not an official release, will contain an exclusive chapter, chapter 41.5. Last time, the Spanish team managed to get the extra chapters for volumes 1 and 2 pretty quickly, so if they get it again, I’ll post a secondhand translation of it.

 

[middle-the-nerd]

Because that's what Yami thought she had to do to get/keep Yuu, who she instantly fell for & then spent the whole relationship resentful of for not meeting her (unsaid) expectations for a boyfriend.

Yeah I know to me it's just an absolutely hilarious way to leave the series off on for months lmao

Honestly whole chapters kind of wild “I mean, come on… the only reason you fell for him in the first place was because he got better in bed after sleeping with me, right?” is also a pretty insane line and to me unintentionally very funny

Which legit even if they improved their communication - would Yami love the real flawed Yuu when the relationship isn't an escape from her family drama?

I'm mixed on that- I feel like she'd probably still like him but it'd just put a completely NEW strain on there relationship and she'd probably not be able get everything she's looking for out of it just like before

Honestly I think she probably cares more about Yuu being an "idealized" version than Hikari would who doesn't seem to care nearly as much about his flaws as long as he's open about them

 

[middle-the-nerd]

I believe the main difference in this official release of volume 1 is that it includes the extra chapters made after the manga was officially released.

From what I can find from a skimming through of the saranami Twitter seems like it has just a few bonus side things like some bonus artwork, and it sounds like a bonus chapter

But seems just like standard physical release probably nothing super exciting especially since it's from so early in the series... although it would be nice to go back to those simpler times of cute fluff romcom...

Now, volume 3, which Maruto will sell at Comiket this August 16–17 and which is not an official release, will contain an exclusive chapter, chapter 41.5.

41.5? So then that'd actually seemingly take place after the current one which definitely has me interested

Last time, the Spanish team managed to get the extra chapters for volumes 1 and 2 pretty quickly, so if they get it again, I’ll post a secondhand translation of it.

Thanks I really appreciate that!!!

 

[story645]

I think she probably cares more about Yuu being an "idealized" version

Yeah, like some of the fight w/ Hikari in the last chapter is Hikari being like "Yuu isn't like that" b/c he's actually not (as the latest novella chapter makes clear) - which right, Hikari's defending him in this bonkers situation where she has all the reasons to be done w/ all of it.

I mean, come on… the only reason you fell for him in the first place was because he got better in bed after sleeping with me, right?” is also a pretty insane line

Yes & it's also the exact same cope folks on here have been saying & I say it's cope b/c it's such a hypothetical b/c, as these novella chapters also indicate, Yuu never really tried anything to get Hikari to see him in a different light (that Hikari knows about).

 

[Litreara]

From what I can find from a skimming through of the saranami Twitter seems like it has just a few bonus side things like some bonus artwork, and it sounds like a bonus chapter

But seems just like standard physical release probably nothing super exciting especially since it's from so early in the series... although it would be nice to go back to those simpler times of cute fluff romcom...

I checked on Amazon, and it lets you preview the table of contents. Here it is:

Apparently, the extra content includes new illustrations and a bonus chapter or side story, which seems to be a novel chapter rather than a manga chapter:

描き下ろし | 危険なニアミス 147

描き下ろし - Newly drawn or Newly illustrated
危険なニアミス - Dangerous close call

---

番外編 | 丸戸史明書き下ろし小説 153

番外編 - Side story, Extra chapter, or Special edition
丸戸史明書き下ろし小説 - A newly written novel by Fumiaki Maruto or An original novel written by Fumiaki Maruto

Edit: I think “Newly Drawn – Dangerous Close Call” is actually an extra manga chapter.

Also, @vipguy64, I noticed that chapters 13.5 and 21.5 are listed under Volume 1, but since the official publication doesn’t include them, could you move them out?