Osananajimi no Ohimesama - Vol. 4 Ch. 36

[jonsmth]

Excuse me but, this chapter was hot garbage for me, kyouka did the most random teasing ever to annoy the readers while also literally saying "you shouldn't be friends with hinaki if you fall in love with me" which is an extremely toxic relationship goals
Literally nothing happened to justify this behaviour and hinaki was the one who helped both of them out

And shunsuke as usual is completely stupid, the girl literally implied she has interest in loving him and he walks out thinking not a single goddamn thing happened

And people wonder why the kyouka x hinaki chapters are more enjoyable, because i don't have to read stupid dialogue or monologue

Kiyouka was starting to realize her own feelings, but didn't want to ruin a beautiful friendship that she admires. She's probably also somewhat aware of the issues that would come if the boy decided to dive right into the romance. She was just giving the boy something to consider, paraphrasing her, "You may have to choose between us: Hinaki obviously has issues with it. I'm a jealous person, so I might not be okay with it too".

Even though Kiyouka is starting to like the boy too, I think both she and Hinaki prefer the status quo. The whole reason why they have this talk is because Shunsuke is avoiding Kiyouka.

 

[Koyomiya]

Can't a man have a girlfriend and still be friends with another girl?

Yes. But he should be treating his girlfriend as the most important one because she's his girlfriend. But can he do that when the other girl is his best friend, someone who has been through so much together for years? Hinaki is a ride or die who completely understands him, and deserves the best treatment because she would do the same for him. That's why it's conflicting, because the desire to treat the girlfriend and the girl as super important will be tested eventually. Not to mention the feelings of jealousy, responsibility, and time spent together that will change once a relationship is underway. This is what hinaki was so scared of, because regardless of who falls in love with who or who dates who, this friendship will be affected.

Also, people are calling Kiyouka out for asking that question and I do agree with your sentiments to an extent. But it's an important question, because once a relationship is underway, Hinaki will be a third wheel. It is not fun being a third wheel, and Kyouka is essentially trying to get MC to think about how this will affect Hinaki. "Are you able to change your mentality so that she is no longer your priority? Could you actually hurt her just to be with me should such a situation arise?" is the true essence of her question. We know how much Kiyouka admires these two and she wouldn't want that to happen.

 

[Virtualplayer]

Dude chose both and harem the heck outa this. How hard can it be? She'll give in.

 

[Doutorfunga]

Can't a man have a girlfriend and still be friends with another girl?

Hinaki actually seems to have more of an issue understanding that than Shunsuke, not that him mulling it over and over and over is getting him anywhere.
Also, hot damn if Hiyoka isn't coming into her own as a character... Making her feelings for him pretty clear, as well as what worries her about an eventual relationship, and not pressuring for an immediate answer was VERY impressive!

 

[alleycatboy]

i sure do wonder if he's gonna pick the girl he met not long ago over his "childhood friend which is not interested in love"

 

[Extreme-Tactician]

Hm... it's interesting that Koiwai wants Shunsuke to focus on her. It seems that storybook mentality of hers causes Koiai to want her prince to be exclusive.

But that kind of ultimatum is hard for Shunsuke to accept. He and Hinaki have been best friends forever! He can't just accept a Koiwai's request for him to spend time with her more than Hinaki. Hinaki's someone who's helped him so much!

 

[morichiro]

Can't a man have a girlfriend and still be friends with another girl?

I mean, girlfriends gets jealous of male friends and boyfriends gets jealous of girl friends so... quite the conundrum because there's no real right answer.

 

[Coldlight]

A reversal of the scenario where Shunsuke was supposed to confess expecting to get rejected. Almost as if Kiyoka confessed for real and she's waiting for Shunsuke's answer on whether he can, in theory, be capable of becoming the exclusive prince to her princess.

Considering we know Kiyoka has not truly fallen for him yet (but I do think she's open to the idea of entering into a romantic relationship with him) — and I don't remember her abandoning her admiration for Shunsuke and Hinaki's friendship — her goal here is to get him thinking forward: the price Shunsuke has to pay if he decides to pursue his romantic feelings for her will be Hinaki's friendship, a price that I think Kiyoka knows Shunsuke is unwilling to pay. Kiyoka here is not really expecting Shunsuke to bite the bullet and take the romantic path with her.

Now it's up to him to really decide.