Osoraku Kanojo wa Ore no Aniki wo Neratteru - Ch. 17

[Oliveaffection]

The author did a good job here. The character growth felt really satisfying BECAUSE we are given so many reminders of how Tohno is. The pacing and payoff, in my opinion, was perfect. I've definitely started to pay closer attention to this series because of these recent chapters.
Also, the panel of Tohno saying "I want to know more about you" is REALLY pretty. I always appreciate it when a manga draws its boy MC well.

 

[radstylix]

you should go back and read the chapters involving the sports festival.
Tohno gets along great with his family, both parents and brother. He sees his brother as a rival of sorts, but also looks up to him; and his parents have never shown any indication that they play favorites between their children, and supported Tohno throughout his childhood.

The only people we see directly contributing to the MC's core character problem, are the other people around them who put Rei on a pedestal and ignore Tohno. His parents don't do that. His brother doesn't do that. His friends are clearly there on his side, as you said.

And I don't believe it's been expressly stated, but I would suspect that Rei isn't aware of Tohno's problems of being compared to him constantly, because Tohno himself is clearly not the kind of person to open up to others.
We see that in this very chapter. He's fortunate that his friends care about him and are pretty insightful, because that's how they know something's up with him because he just .... doesn't talk about himself or his feelings. Houjou also clearly picks up on his moods and is paying attention to him, also shown in this chapter - she just doesn't know his story, so only sees his face, and doesn't understand the context.

So Tohno likely just keeps it all to himself as "his burden to bear" and doesn't involve his brother because he's just bad at communicating and expressing himself and would never be the one to initiate that sort of conversation.
That's obviously a flaw - communication is important for any healthy relationship, but it also very clearly represents a narrative element of growth for Tohno, wherein he finally does speak out and state his mind - to his parents, to Rei, to his friends, and of course to Houjou.
And I imagine that facet of his character will directly relate to how his relationship with Houjou progresses and changes, and will become instrumental in actually coming to realize that she cares about him and he about her, and that where she's concernerd, it's not actually about his older brother.

This, and even his older brother has his own problem (perfectionist). And what else can his older brother do to help him anyway? Not talk to any girls anymore? Make himself uglier or do less effort? 😅

 

[radstylix]

The girls DO talk to the older brother, but it's like trying to get an idol's attention at a concert; he's always surrounded by tons of clamouring girls. They try to go through Youta as a way of getting around that nigh-impenetrable defense, but are so single-minded that they don't really think about the consequences any.

The girls also do ask him out, but he rejects them all because he also has his own problems, being a perfectionist.

 

[stylo_]

PEAK

 

[awkkkk]

The girls DO talk to the older brother, but it's like trying to get an idol's attention at a concert; he's always surrounded by tons of clamouring girls. They try to go through Youta as a way of getting around that nigh-impenetrable defense, but are so single-minded that they don't really think about the consequences any.

yeah i forgot the first part but i completely agree, sometimes people just doesn't think of the consequence in the future. I mean sure if you made Rei your boyfriend but by exploiting his little brother's heart and i don't think it would work after that since Rei will probably going to notice his lil bro getting heartbroken and prob leave the girl after talking to him

 

[awkkkk]

And I still don't get why other people don't get his hangups. Unless some of the readers are too young/immature (no offense) that they don't get it yet.

There are the girls who are open about their interest regarding his brother, which yes, can be tolerable annoyances, but there are also the sneakier girls who will/have lied to him just to get close to his brother.

Those small annoyances build up over time, and the sneaky attempts to get closer to his brother hurts a LOT every time it happens. ALL the girls who approach him have the intention of getting close to his brother.

The real issue isn't about (not) being popular with the girls, but more about the girls using him.
There's also nothing wrong about wanting to be popular with the opposite sex, on account of them being 50% of the population.

This series is FAR from being mentally or emotionally complicated, and I am honestly baffled that some commenters still don't get why Youta is acting like that, if they are being genuine that is. There's also some guy telling Youta to "get over it".

Is there an epidemic of a lack of empathy? Are they just young, naive, and/or immature readers that have never been hurt before? Lack reading comprehension? Brainrot from Xwitter or Tiktok? Trolls? Is Solo Leveling their favorite series? All of the above? What the fuck is going on 😅

Every girl. EVERY. GIRL. That Youta has interacted with has used him to get to his brother. Except Houjou, but he doesn't know that she likes him yet unless she states it outright. He has NO reason to let his guard down with her.

i agree with both of your statement, for me its pretty clear why Tohno acts that way. In his life he NEVER even once met a girl that is sincere to him, they all wants his older bro. And that feelings of knowing that nobody really wants you? yeah it hurts, because i know. Like Trauma can't be dealt easily bro even sometimes you have to live with it, i have a trauma and i can't get rid of it how hard i try, and i felt like Tohno's trauma can't be dealt easily i wonder why. So yes it is understandable that Tohno acts that way one way or another.

 

[heheheheheheheha]

Both locked in at the same time??

 

[AICyberCogGenAI]

I love his friends wish I had some like that

 

[Ares19373]

GAHHHH??!! CHARACTER ARC??!! WAIT WAIT WAIT. THE AUTHOR KNOW HOW TO WRITE??? HOW CAN THIS BE?? MUST BE CHAT GPT OR SOMETHING
ARENT ROMCOM MANGA SUPPOSED TO HAVE NO CHARACTERIZATION AND ONLY FOCUS ON UNREALISTIC TROUPE??!! AND AND AND... WHERE IS THE OTHER HEROINE??!!! WAIT WAIT WAIT THIS IS NOT A HAREM??? HOW CAN THIS BEE NOOOO I NEED THE BOOBIES CHARACTER!!! NOOOO
But fr, this is a good payoff from the last chapter. tha author out did himself.

 

[breadfr]

Idk if advertising is allowed here but I made a discord server for this cus I didn’t find one https://discord.gg/F5dC6FfXvK

 

[someonevibing]

Yeeeaaahhhh!!!!

 

[amanoharuki1]

HECK YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHH

 

[Rafalga]

Now its time to wait for the inevitable crush out since self-insert romcom parts bore me the most.

Also, i know Japanese gets off on the "humble-brag man who takes every dick thrown on their way without complaint" thing but
if, at some point, he started to tell every girl who brought up his brother in conversation to fuck off, he could at least let off some of his frustrations since it would teach the masses to not actually bring him up if they wanna talk to him. At worst they would think he hates his brother and that's not a problem at all. Only people who are not associated with him would approach him and i see that as a win.

 

[Reikou]

I kinda wonder if she will ever find out what goes on in his mind.

 

[noobiethenewbnoob]

SHE'S HEALING HIM LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOO!!!!!

 

[jc9]

there's also kinder and more constructive ways to phrase it than that. Which is, I suspect, part of the reason others here are objecting to that sentiment as passionately as they are.

This i fully agree with.

Also - the whole "the world is cruel" is a cop out, because we decide whether to reinforce that by our behavior. We can't control anyone but ourselves, certainly - but if people were kinder, then there'd be less cruelty to go around. And that's a matter of time and effort to spread the idea that we can choose to make things less bad for ourselves and those around us.
It certainly wouldn't be easy or quick, but it's a possibility - especially when a writing a story where the author controls reality.

I meant it more like people are generally more or less indifferent to others.
Cruelty would require being proactive, and most people truly care about very limited number of people (and acts of kindness to strangers are usually limited by the effort it requires - people will easily give a seat to elderly stranger on a public transport when they spot one getting on, how many people will start bringing them groceries themselves?).
You have yourself and your immediate family (where people are able to make significant sacrifices), then maybe few close friends and further family members (people that you'll do a lot for, but won't give up your life or get a significant hit in for example standard of living), then acquaintances (people you won't lose sleep over if they have problems), then finally more or less strangers.
Which group people would let crash on their couch for few weeks/months because their living situation is messy? Take a call from at 2AM and stay with them till morning, because they just need someone to talk to? And for which group people would do that w/o getting annoyed somewhat, just because they genuinely want to help?

And ultimately - saying "suck it up and get over it" isn't really constructive on its own. It doesn't offer any tools or avenues to actually doing so. It's as empty a platitude as "ah you'll be fine eventually", and arguably more damaging because of the inherent uncaring aspect to the sentiment.
Because as-is, that statement you and a few others stand by just makes you seem cold and unfeeling. You might be right that it's pragmatic advice, but it certainly won't win you friends with that lack of compassion for the pain someone else is going through.

My actions with a friend in this situation would be a) listening to their situation if they start talking, b) if i get asked for my advice too, what i would probably say would be along these lines: that other people can help them, but in the end they have to do the heavy lifting - and that girls won't drop into their lap, so 2 choices i see are either giving up and being alone, which is easier and lonely, or not giving up, potentially getting hurt again, and potentially not being alone.
IMO problem here isn't with blunt advice, problem is unsolicited blunt advice from people who don't really care (and fact of looking for advice from people who don't care - you either get superficial cheering you up that doesn't change anything, or some blunt advice you are not prepared to take and as you said might be more damaging).

 

[JokoAviv]

😭👍

 

[Chuito]

yeah but if the bro is like rei, i doubt it will work i mean it won't work on me too but there is a probability that it will work for another person. But like its depending on the older bro's personality and if it's Rei? yeah it won't work, but i still felt like the methods is dumb because its a more risky move than just to approach the guy directly.

Thing is, they dont know that about Rei. They dont really interact much at school so the fangirls have no idea.

Also its kinda safer to get along with the little bro and learn about Rei when theyre just being platonic, but with how many are trying that its going to get exhausting and there will be many that do it maliciously. The sheer volume plus malicious ones are the problem.

If they cared to just genuinely befriend him and not lead him on then its a perfectly legitimate route in most situations.

Funnily enough thats what the psycho fangirl is doing. She learned that its actually bad to just use him and now has resolved to support him "as the sister in law". If Rei learns on her being nice without expecting anything in return, its gonna score major points with him

 

[Tju]

what a huge step he took.

 

[Don-Koen]

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