Because so much of the story has been about "can a boy and girl really just be friends" and it'd be pretty disappointing for for it to decide that the answer is actually just "no".
Not sure how it would be homophobic in the first place, considering at this point they are a boy and a girl, unless you're also assuming transphobia.
If there's no attraction, it's really easy to be friends. If either one is attracted to the other, it's pretty tough. Not that it can't work ever, but honestly most people are better off just dropping the friendship so they aren't stewing in their feelings. That holds true regardless of the gender of anyone involved.
Well, the SL/TLs do exist for Vietnamese so if you want to know, the answer is out there.
The end of the story was actually outlined at the end of Chapter 28 with a further text exposition, but chapter 26 (the next one) will outline the eventual trajectory.
For those curious:
Haruka went back to Hokkaido after 7 years in Tokyo graduating with a degree in social work. She’ll form a non-profit called Musubi and open a coffee shop providing employment those who went through her experience (similar to how the Spaceship Earth cafe hired her during her darkest hours of need while in Tokyo).
Kazuma told his employer about Haruka and suggesting that they collaborate with her on Musubi - but he mostly stayed to one side, helping her in his own way. Haruka's still his hero as she's now back to helping others who are in need.
Aika married Kazuma and started working for Haruka on Musubi despite how "she can't pay the bills working at Musubi". She commutes between Haruka in Hokkaido and Kazuma in Tokyo on a regular basis.
Anna became a bridal planner and helped Aika with the wedding and cried the most during the ceremony. She secretly can't wait to hold Aika's future child.
Kazuma's 2 friends eventually split an apartment, with one eventually working for the government as a social worker helping Haruka's non-profit, while the other works part time jobs holding up his end of the situation.
It’s not the warm and fuzzy romantic ending some have been looking for, but I think it creates a more meaningful conclusion. If you read the summary at the end of the finale, it’s not a sad ending in the sense that it's not Kazuma walking away permanently from Haruka or vice versa, which was the core of that promise they made as friends all those years - they are still very much involved in each other’s lives, supporting each other’s hopes and dreams, which in a way is just as satisfying.
Thematically? I don’t think it was romance between the 2 - Kazuma sees Haruka as someone in need after the gender-flip which was something of a tragedy (unlike the usually whimsical/hand-wavy gender-swap mangas from the genre) - she went through literal hell losing her stamina (therefore the sports scholarship), her former sense of self as a guy (complete with the man-sausage falling off), and the romance with the senpai, which was downright depressing to witness. Kazuma’s entire drive was him returning the favor after Haruka protected him all these years, and I doubt there is little else there. Yeah, it's gotten a little spicy what with Haruka being cute with the tig o'biddies, but I don't think Kazuma seriously sought sexual or romantic fulfillment from Haruka. Haruka might've had admiration for Kazuma's drive to be physically strong but yet retain his empathy and desire to help others, but I don't think it was romantic feelings.
Aika, on the other hand - the mangaka really didn’t give her a fair shake fleshing that relationship out, and yeah, that situation felt contrived. But I don't think even with her not being around, there will be a romantic situation between Kazuma and Haruka.
If there's no attraction, it's really easy to be friends. If either one is attracted to the other, it's pretty tough. Not that it can't work ever, but honestly most people are better off just dropping the friendship so they aren't stewing in their feelings. That holds true regardless of the gender of anyone involved.
I disagree it holds true no matter the gender involved. Men and women are socialized very differently which makes it a lot easier to just be friends among your sex (especially female) even if there's attraction. Then there's also all the outside factors from living in an heteronormative society.
Well, the SL/TLs do exist for Vietnamese so if you want to know, the answer is out there.
The end of the story was actually outlined at the end of Chapter 28 with a further text exposition, but chapter 26 (the next one) will outline the eventual trajectory.
For those curious:
Haruka went back to Hokkaido after 7 years in Tokyo graduating with a degree in social work. She’ll form a non-profit called Musubi and open a coffee shop providing employment those who went through her experience (similar to how the Spaceship Earth cafe hired her during her darkest hours of need while in Tokyo).
Kazuma told his employer about Haruka and suggesting that they collaborate with her on Musubi - but he mostly stayed to one side, helping her in his own way. Haruka's still his hero as she's now back to helping others who are in need.
Aika married Kazuma and started working for Haruka on Musubi despite how "she can't pay the bills working at Musubi". She commutes between Haruka in Hokkaido and Kazuma in Tokyo on a regular basis.
Anna became a bridal planner and helped Aika with the wedding and cried the most during the ceremony. She secretly can't wait to hold Aika's future child.
Kazuma's 2 friends eventually split an apartment, with one eventually working for the government as a social worker helping Haruka's non-profit, while the other works part time jobs holding up his end of the situation.
It’s not the warm and fuzzy romantic ending some have been looking for, but I think it creates a more meaningful conclusion. If you read the summary at the end of the finale, it’s not a sad ending in the sense that it's not Kazuma walking away permanently from Haruka or vice versa, which was the core of that promise they made as friends all those years - they are still very much involved in each other’s lives, supporting each other’s hopes and dreams, which in a way is just as satisfying.
Thematically? I don’t think it was romance between the 2 - Kazuma sees Haruka as someone in need after the gender-flip which was something of a tragedy (unlike the usually whimsical/hand-wavy gender-swap mangas from the genre) - she went through literal hell losing her stamina (therefore the sports scholarship), her former sense of self as a guy (complete with the man-sausage falling off), and the romance with the senpai, which was downright depressing to witness. Kazuma’s entire drive was him returning the favor after Haruka protected him all these years, and I doubt there is little else there. Yeah, it's gotten a little spicy what with Haruka being cute with the tig o'biddies, but I don't think Kazuma seriously sought sexual or romantic fulfillment from Haruka. Haruka might've had admiration for Kazuma's drive to be physically strong but yet retain his empathy and desire to help others, but I don't think it was romantic feelings.
Aika, on the other hand - the mangaka really didn’t give her a fair shake fleshing that relationship out, and yeah, that situation felt contrived. But I don't think even with her not being around, there will be a romantic situation between Kazuma and Haruka.
If Haruka and her mom were happily texting each other even after she "ran away," then what was the point of the mini arc involving her traumatic backstory? It kinda deflates it
To the comments saying their relationship wasn't romantic or shouldn't be, I disagree based on two things
1. The story promised from the beginning that it was going to be a analysis of the relationship between Kazuha and Haruka and it was so obvious they were hinting the two of them were starting to see each as a man/woman. It was just their Kazuha thickheadedness and Haruka's trauma that got in the way. Plus, the chapter with the coffeehouse couple hinted at it as well
2. The story treats the genderswap as if it was a science disease with symptoms, and the moment you make something "reality based," you have to take into consideration of everything we have learned because I call bullshit that a disease where you scientifically get genderswapped and you don't get receive the emotions that come with that gender.
Ultimately the problem with the manga is that it strayed away from the two main leads too much, thus their dynamic wasn't really truly explored .
The college friends and Aika were just an excuse for the manga to have a big supporting cast when not every manga 15 different characters fighting for the spotlight. The coffeehouse people great because it was a parallel to the main leads but it was just a cameo whereas the college buddies/Aika overstayed their welcome
Because so much of the story has been about "can a boy and girl really just be friends" and it'd be pretty disappointing for for it to decide that the answer is actually just "no".
Not sure how it would be homophobic in the first place, considering at this point they are a boy and a girl, unless you're also assuming transphobia.
Like, I'm a thousand percent with you on being disappointed by the message that no, men and women can't just be friends... especially in light of that other manga literally named after this, and its answer is "fuck no, because the girl can't be honest about her feelings and needs to sabotage her supposed friend's lovelife every chance she gets". I cannot tell you how much I hate that manga.
On the other hand Haruka's my girl and I want her to have her happy ending, whatever ending that ends up being. I just hope the author takes this in a satisfying direction.
