Kusunoki-san wa Koukou Debut ni Shippai Shite Iru - Ch. 41.2 - My relationship with Kusunoki might be changing (Second part)

Dex-chan lover
Joined
May 15, 2024
Messages
513
Big assumption that Kusunoki cares about Keisuke's romance arc lol

Sarcasm aside, that would be pretty par for the course in how romcom manga tend to go, sad as it may be. Would love this title to buck the trend, but I've said that about 100 titles now and have yet to be pleasantly surprised.
Had me in the first half ngl xD
But yes. Aside from very few the "first girl" often wins. Most disappointing endings routes ever imo are 5Toubun no Hanayome.
Hence I like manga where there is the obvious option. As atleast I know what I am in for and wont be disappointed later on.
 
Dex-chan lover
Joined
Jun 28, 2025
Messages
489
Had me in the first half ngl xD
But yes. Aside from very few the "first girl" often wins. Most disappointing endings routes ever imo are 5Toubun no Hanayome.
Hence I like manga where there is the obvious option. As atleast I know what I am in for and wont be disappointed later on.
I'm only disappointed with this one because Kusunoki has been written as a near-superhero with no flaws.
She's just really flat as a character at this point, whereas even Otobe has her "I'm not feminine enough! Notice me senpai!" vibe, and Hebikawa is.............well.

I know that if there's an endgame romance, it'll likely be Kusunoki, but I say that mostly because I'm resigned to not being actually surprised by authors at this point. The fact she's currently being written as not caring about romance, and pointedly keeps deflecting whenever the subject of Keisuke and romance comes up, just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth if the two of them are gonna end up together anyway.

Her whole deal was wanting to debut, and he was going to help her with that, and then he caught feelings and she's denying even thinking about reflecting on whether she feels anything for him. And I just want Keisuke to say "alright, then bye" and go get mixed up with some trouble with Snake-chan because she's far more interesting of a character, flaws and all.
My only solace, is that maybe Hebikawa is used to bait Keisuke away from Kusunoki, and the latter realizes it and then suddenly decides "oh noes now that I'm losing him I do actually want him teehee" and then we get to see her fight it out with Hebikawa.
Which would also suck, because she's basically perfect and that just means she'd win anyway in that scenario, and again...disappointing.

But, we've got a month before the next chapter even drops to start the next arc, so I'm just griping at this point.
 
Dex-chan lover
Joined
May 15, 2024
Messages
513
I'm only disappointed with this one because Kusunoki has been written as a near-superhero with no flaws.
She's just really flat as a character at this point, whereas even Otobe has her "I'm not feminine enough! Notice me senpai!" vibe, and Hebikawa is.............well.

I know that if there's an endgame romance, it'll likely be Kusunoki, but I say that mostly because I'm resigned to not being actually surprised by authors at this point. The fact she's currently being written as not caring about romance, and pointedly keeps deflecting whenever the subject of Keisuke and romance comes up, just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth if the two of them are gonna end up together anyway.

Her whole deal was wanting to debut, and he was going to help her with that, and then he caught feelings and she's denying even thinking about reflecting on whether she feels anything for him. And I just want Keisuke to say "alright, then bye" and go get mixed up with some trouble with Snake-chan because she's far more interesting of a character, flaws and all.
My only solace, is that maybe Hebikawa is used to bait Keisuke away from Kusunoki, and the latter realizes it and then suddenly decides "oh noes now that I'm losing him I do actually want him teehee" and then we get to see her fight it out with Hebikawa.
Which would also suck, because she's basically perfect and that just means she'd win anyway in that scenario, and again...disappointing.

But, we've got a month before the next chapter even drops to start the next arc, so I'm just griping at this point.
Well... Kusunoki has showcased growth and character development. Her achieved persona might seem boring to some but that's just how it is. She was always a sweet girl and wanted to make friends and she did that. She is still shy enough to confront her feelings. And romcom readers we should know. Majority of the time if feelings are confessed and couples officially get together. It means its pretty much endgame. Because god forbid somebody shows the happy life of a loving couple.

There is one manga I love which showcases the happy life aspect so very well. But it's a bit different sort of a manga lol.

And yes the next chap is still 2 weeks away from its raw release. So all we can do is... Gripe xD
 
Double-page supporter
Joined
Apr 28, 2024
Messages
123
Let me take a wild guess. The next chapter (might) show: snake chan's dad is harassing her, and then the call cuts out because this dude has 1% battery, after that he saves her.
Feel free to shit on this comment after the new chapters are released. :nyoron:
 
Group Leader
Joined
Jan 8, 2023
Messages
600
Same, especially if it is someone who never calls me, even if they hate me. Like the time my estranged grampa suddenly called after 2 years of not talking to me.

Turned out he was near my home and he needed someone to quickly bring him to the hospital.
My friends rarely call me (I know it sounds sad but we mostly chat) so when any of them calls, I associate it with some sort of bad news.
 
Dex-chan lover
Joined
Jan 26, 2023
Messages
160
fucking piece of shit answer your phone jackass i swear i wanna rip his head off where is a truck to ram this guy into a conveniently placed sharp object :angery:
i feel attacked lol. also, fuck off? this weird entitlement of phone=permanent access to someone is beyond toxic.
 
Fed-Kun's army
Joined
Feb 17, 2025
Messages
81
My friends rarely call me (I know it sounds sad but we mostly chat) so when any of them calls, I associate it with some sort of bad news.
calling is like, nuclear option. you get a couple of texts or discord pings, but after like 15-20 minutes of no response, you're getting a call if I have any cause for concern.

also of note: hebikawa isn't one of his contacts. it says right on the screen to add her to call. He didn't want anything to do with her, I reckon. For me, that'd be an unlisted number and I'd ignore it.

Which, smart, because why the fuck would you ever want to talk to someone like that?

Well... Kusunoki has showcased growth and character development. Her achieved persona might seem boring to some but that's just how it is. She was always a sweet girl and wanted to make friends and she did that. She is still shy enough to confront her feelings. And romcom readers we should know. Majority of the time if feelings are confessed and couples officially get together. It means its pretty much endgame. Because god forbid somebody shows the happy life of a loving couple.

There is one manga I love which showcases the happy life aspect so very well. But it's a bit different sort of a manga lol.

And yes the next chap is still 2 weeks away from its raw release. So all we can do is... Gripe xD
This would be a good contender for keeping going after they start dating. Having a villainess around like Hebikawa can keep drama and conflict going. This author has a pretty solid grip on dramatic writing (i mean look at the whiners every chapter lmao) and I think they could do it. But if not, I'll be happy enough for the ride anyway.
 
Last edited:
Dex-chan lover
Joined
Feb 18, 2021
Messages
558
[...] This hasn't been the sort of heavy title to this point [...]

Which is why I'm ok with him missing the call.

[...] If it is something serious, hopefully Keisuke doesn't beat himself up too much over ignoring her call, because even if it's Hebikawa, he's the sort to do that.

I know and I hope I win the gamble where it's not something he's gonna seriously regret. However, I feel like he will, for the drama must go on! :cautious:
 
Dex-chan lover
Joined
Jan 18, 2018
Messages
1,788
Why did he fall in love with Kusonoki so quickly if nothing was gonna happen for the next 40+ chapters (already crossing 15 and doesnt look like anything will happen) He went from being completely uninterested to bothered to falling in love way too quick, kinda made it boring.
 
Dex-chan lover
Joined
Mar 28, 2023
Messages
2,617
I feel like the nest chapters (maybe volume) will be focused on the snake girl rather than advancing this dynamic
I mean this dynamic (if you can even call it that) is really rests on Kusunoki's shoulders after this point. If we are suppose to wait for her to realize/be aware of her feelings this shit will be boring as hell. At this point i just don't mind for her to take the back seat entirely and story to focus on snake more. Let Kusunoki enjoy her new social circle away from MC. I don't really care if she doesn't. I mean she didn't think twice about hanging out with MC during the festival after everything he has done. Why should he or we care anyway?
 
Dex-chan lover
Joined
Jun 28, 2025
Messages
489
Well... Kusunoki has showcased growth and character development. Her achieved persona might seem boring to some but that's just how it is. She was always a sweet girl and wanted to make friends and she did that. She is still shy enough to confront her feelings.

Yes, she achieved the growth of her debut and gaining friends. But she's made it clear that she doesn't want to entertain thoughts of romance, and I think that's fine as well.

Which is why my personal wish, is that Keisuke backs off and stops hanging out with her (or at least as often), and moves toward the Hebikawa plot hook and starts that arc. Kusunoki might be a sweet girl who wanted to make friends, but she was also written to be literally perfect - that's the whole reason Hebikawa's obsessed with her, after all - and that sort of character gets boring to read about after awhile.

And if Keisuke tries to keep going after her, that will likely backfire on him from her end, or it will piss off the people who are starting to hang around Kusunoki who might see it as Keisuke trying to "monopolize" her. Which would screw with his own debut plans to be better in high school than he was in middle school.

So I say, leave Kusunoki on the backburner, because her arc's done for now. She got her wish, and now I'd rather she fuck off into the sunset and be happy, while Keisuke focuses on Hebikawa and whatever she's got going on. She's a much more interesting character (in that she has actual flaws), in my mind - and I guess if nothing else, she could get her hooks into Keisuke, and maybe that will light a fire under Kusunoki's ass, and we can see if she actually cares about him beyond being one of her many new friends.
 
Fed-Kun's army
Joined
Feb 17, 2025
Messages
81
I mean this dynamic (if you can even call it that) is really rests on Kusunoki's shoulders after this point. If we are suppose to wait for her to realize/be aware of her feelings this shit will be boring as hell. At this point i just don't mind for her to take the back seat entirely and story to focus on snake more. Let Kusunoki enjoy her new social circle away from MC. I don't really care if she doesn't. I mean she didn't think twice about hanging out with MC during the festival after everything he has done. Why should he or we care anyway?
Yes, she achieved the growth of her debut and gaining friends. But she's made it clear that she doesn't want to entertain thoughts of romance, and I think that's fine as well.

Which is why my personal wish, is that Keisuke backs off and stops hanging out with her (or at least as often), and moves toward the Hebikawa plot hook and starts that arc. Kusunoki might be a sweet girl who wanted to make friends, but she was also written to be literally perfect - that's the whole reason Hebikawa's obsessed with her, after all - and that sort of character gets boring to read about after awhile.

And if Keisuke tries to keep going after her, that will likely backfire on him from her end, or it will piss off the people who are starting to hang around Kusunoki who might see it as Keisuke trying to "monopolize" her. Which would screw with his own debut plans to be better in high school than he was in middle school.

So I say, leave Kusunoki on the backburner, because her arc's done for now. She got her wish, and now I'd rather she fuck off into the sunset and be happy, while Keisuke focuses on Hebikawa and whatever she's got going on. She's a much more interesting character (in that she has actual flaws), in my mind - and I guess if nothing else, she could get her hooks into Keisuke, and maybe that will light a fire under Kusunoki's ass, and we can see if she actually cares about him beyond being one of her many new friends.

ooooh

steep learning curve ahead
 
Dex-chan lover
Joined
Jun 28, 2025
Messages
489
ooooh

steep learning curve ahead
I'm more than aware of how it's likely to go.

I have my personal wishes for what might happen in a manga like this, but I understand the difference between what I, an individual, would be happy with, and what is statistically likely to actually occur.

But I appreciate the constant smugness that you've been leaving through your comments over the last couple of chapters. I'm glad you're excited in your superiority in knowing the basic formulae for romcom manga, and aren't afraid to showcase it at every opportunity.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top