The ending sucked a lot, in my opinion. It feels like the author himself half-assed the story. An attractive woman falling in love with the MC is surprising, but to have them not together in the end? If they were to not end up together, then why have her give birth to the girl? It's as if the author took the worst decisions possible to have most unsatisfying ending possible.Both the premise and the characters were very unique to me, having ugly fat bastards as regular characters its not something you read everyday, the ending did feel rushed, with too many things happening at once, to go on a little more detail:
Things i didnt like
for being a manga that portrays escapism the way it does, as a coping mechanism for lonely pathetic ugly fat men with dead end jobs, it baffles me that the author came up with an scenario where a pretty woman takes a sudden interest into our disgusting protagonist, it feels like it betrays its message, expecting a pretty woman to come out of nowhere to fix your life is just as delusional as having a virtual reality girlfriend, that from all the routes the manga could have take to make takuro betray tsukiko the author went with the most unlikely one, it felt like he needed a reason to spark some conflict between tsukiko and the real world and couldnt think of anything better. And how convenient it was for the doctor to introduce a last minute way to save tsukiko.
Things i did like:
- the twist of ehaga not even being a fucking human was really unexpected
- even if forced i liked the fact that tsukiko lived
- the fact that almost all the regular characters are ugly fat bastards felt very unique to me, and not only the characters but the premise itself: the tale of fat ugly bastard getting himself a virtual a girlfriend
- that nagao and takuro didnt end up together felt realistic, why would she go back to a man that chose the unreal over her?
- that takuro ultimately ends alone and essentially the same as he was at the beginning of the story, to me this makes a point across: if you want things to change you need to put in the effort, if you want to be loved you must make the effort to connect with people, no one but you can secure your own hapiness
All in all, i liked it, i give it a 7 out of 10.
i mean, why would nagao have gone back to the man that by that point have betrayed her twice, and chose the unreal over her? both can be true, that she no longer wanted to be with sakamoto and that she felt sympathy for Tsukiko, i liked that sakamoto ended up being miserable, throught the series he does very little to change himself and switch between nagao and tsukiko on a whim sabotaging his one chance for happiness, he didnt deserve a happy endingThe ending sucked a lot, in my opinion. It feels like the author himself half-assed the story. An attractive woman falling in love with the MC is surprising, but to have them not together in the end? If they were to not end up together, then why have her give birth to the girl? It's as if the author took the worst decisions possible to have most unsatisfying ending possible.
Either they end up together with a daughter or they go their separate ways and let her die. Maybe the author wanted a shit story so people would remember his works because of the sheer amount of nerves killed by this manga?
Yeah the MC is half-assed in his actions, just like the author. And it seems like that the author can't write a good ending to save his life. An attractive woman taking an interest in the MC is unrealistic to begin with. The author could've definitely written the ending in a different way.i mean, why would nagao have gone back to the man that by that point have betrayed her twice, and chose the unreal over her? both can be true, that she no longer wanted to be with sakamoto and that she felt sympathy for Tsukiko, i liked that sakamoto ended up being miserable, throught the series he does very little to change himself and switch between nagao and tsukiko on a whim sabotaging his one chance for happiness, he didnt deserve a happy ending
yes he could, but why?, "the woman for help in saving the girl" but what makes you think that was what sakamoto was going for? he chose tsukiko over nagao simple as that, she didnt want to save tsukiko as a friend or daughter but as her lover, and sure, he could have ask nagao: "hey, help me save the woman in cheating you with, please" the scenario you describe isnt better or more realistic. " The cover shows a happy ending, but the end is the opposite of that" thats true but you cant judge a book by its cover, and who knows, maybe it was done intentionally to subvert expectationsYeah the MC is half-assed in his actions, just like the author. And it seems like that the author can't write a good ending to save his life. An attractive woman taking an interest in the MC is unrealistic to begin with. The author could've definitely written the ending in a different way.
The MC chose the girl over the woman, because the former's life was in danger to begin with. Had the author written the MC in a way that asks the woman for help in saving the girl, not because he's choosing the woman over the girl, but due to the girl being special to him as the first female to have interacted with him in a positive light. This way, the woman will be reluctant to help him at first and ultimately does end up helping him, and the MC will still look pathetic, but trying. It suits the theme of his character.
At the end of the day, I'm just mad that I wasted my time reading this manga. The cover of the manga, where the woman is smiling while making a bento box, doesn't help either. It gives the expectation that they will end up together and the woman will become the chef of the family-run bento shop. Even in the chapter where she meets the mother of the MC, it's implied. Plus, the image of the MC holding the funerary picture of his friend implies there will be a few pages of the funeral. But nope. There's nothing.
I feel like the manga wasn't selling well and it was told to cut things short? Because the ending feels very rushed. I'm just mad that the expectation the author gave was not delivered. The cover shows a happy ending, but the end is the opposite of that, with both the woman and MC being alone. It's like being promised a cake, but given an onion. The result was too different from the expectation.
He chose to improve himself by sticking to a real life woman. But because of his experience with women in the past, he has a special place for Tsukiko. Plus, Tsukiko is a special program. So if the author was competent, he could've written the MC to ask Nagao for help in saving Tsukiko, and once she's safe, he'd like to marry Nagao. This way, there's cheesy romance instead of pointless drama.yes he could, but why?, "the woman for help in saving the girl" but what makes you think that was what sakamoto was going for? he chose tsukiko over nagao simple as that, she didnt want to save tsukiko as a friend or daughter but as her lover, and sure, he could have ask nagao: "hey, help me save the woman in cheating you with, please" the scenario you describe isnt better or more realistic. " The cover shows a happy ending, but the end is the opposite of that" thats true but you cant judge a book by its cover, and who knows, maybe it was done intentionally to subvert expectations
even so, he fail to commit to that woman twice, and you are telling me he was going to ask the very same women he had betrayed twice for some help to rescue his lover?. "He chose Nagao over Tsukiko" no, he first cheats on nagao who even finds him fucking tsukiko and when presented with the oportunity to help tsukiko he does so despite nagao objections. "so why not go for an idealistic fictional ending?" why would the author do such thing? that would have been different yes, but better, i dont think so, it requires the active participation of nagao who at that point has nothing but resentment towards tsukiko, and you may say that is also true for nagao giving birth to tsukiko later on, but one thing is to help a woman who is still in good condition and defiant as was tsukiko before her demise, and other different is to help someone about to die as a result of a situatition she didnt want to be a part of, i still believe that the ending we got is still superior to what you would have liked to see, and if by your logic the cover of the volume was some indication that the ending was meant to be happy and then the author just backtracked or was deceiving the reader, by that same logic we could say that some of the horrible things that happen to tsukiko were a "poorly done subversion", the very same volume where she gets almost raped and beaten to a pulp for failing to please a customer has tsukiko herself on the cover sitting on a chair with a calm expressionHe chose to improve himself by sticking to a real life woman. But because of his experience with women in the past, he has a special place for Tsukiko. Plus, Tsukiko is a special program. So if the author was competent, he could've written the MC to ask Nagao for help in saving Tsukiko, and once she's safe, he'd like to marry Nagao. This way, there's cheesy romance instead of pointless drama.
What do you mean cheating? He didn't cheat on him after he chose to sell his PC for Nagao. He chose Nagao over Tsukiko. Only after Tsukiko turned out to be a special program that can influence reality (controlling robots) and that she's about to DIE that the MC decided to help her. He really was trying to move on from the game.
An attractive woman being interested in the MC is unrealistic in the first place, so why not go for an idealistic fictional ending?
Subversion of expectations here is done poorly, as if it's done for the sake of subverting, and not for any real goals. It's like telling you to close your eyes for a gift and punching you. Did it subvert your expectations? Yes. Was it done poorly? Yes.
Twice? Tell me the events where he cheated on her two times. The only time I remember him cheating is when he chooses Tsukiko over Nagao. Nagao rejected him first and later lent him money, after which she finds him fucking Tsukiko. They weren't dating in the first place, so it's ludicrous to consider that as cheating.even so, he fail to commit to that woman twice, and you are telling me he was going to ask the very same women he had betrayed twice for some help to rescue his lover?. "He chose Nagao over Tsukiko" no, he first cheats on nagao who even finds him fucking tsukiko and when presented with the oportunity to help tsukiko he does so despite nagao objections. "so why not go for an idealistic fictional ending?" why would the author do such thing? that would have been different yes, but better, i dont think so, it requires the active participation of nagao who at that point has nothing but resentment towards tsukiko, and you may say that is also true for nagao giving birth to tsukiko later on, but one thing is to help a woman who is still in good condition and defiant as was tsukiko before her demise, and other different is to help someone about to die as a result of a situatition she didnt want to be a part of, i still believe that the ending we got is still superior to what you would have liked to see, and if by your logic the cover of the volume was some indication that the ending was meant to be happy and then the author just backtracked or was deceiving the reader, by that same logic we could say that some of the horrible things that happen to tsukiko were a "poorly done subversion", the very same volume where she gets almost raped and beaten to a pulp for failing to please a customer has tsukiko herself on the cover sitting on a chair with a calm expression
on chapter 33 sakamoto borrows 100,000 from nagao, telling her he is planning to undergo liposuction and instead uses it to buy a cock sheath, and then she founds him fucking tsukiko in the roof, i didnt say it was cheating, i said it was treason, and he did betray the trust she put on him, and he did again on chapter 47 when he decides to go back to tsukiko, at that point he didnt even knew that tsukiko's wound was lethal, so no, it wasnt the same as nagao having pity on tsukiko. 6th volume? it only has four volumes, and again, you thinking that the outcome was going to be some specific scenario because of the art of a cover, is nonsense, that isnt even subversion of expectations, but the work failing to meet your specific scenario, and your ending may be happier but better i dont think so, if something the ending as it is redeems the manga, having nagao, a pretty woman taking a sudden interest into a fat ugly bastard, fix takuro's life is idiotic thinking how through the whole manga escapism has been depicted as the last resort for pathetic, ugly people with dead end jobs, happiness doesnt just happen, pretty women wont fall in love with you and fix your life, for the manga to have ended the way you propose it would have been like evangelion ending with shinji still afraid of forming bonds with others or accepting the fucking Human Instrumentality Project because he reckons he cant deal with others, the ending was fitting with the general themes of the work, and i prefer that over a happy ending.Twice? Tell me the events where he cheated on her two times. The only time I remember him cheating is when he chooses Tsukiko over Nagao. Nagao rejected him first and later lent him money, after which she finds him fucking Tsukiko. They weren't dating in the first place, so it's ludicrous to consider that as cheating.
Just like you said Nagao saving Tsukiko by giving birth to her is different, the MC choosing Tsukiko over Nagao is different than cheating too. Following your logic, Takuro decided to help her when he knew that her LIFE was in danger. Takuro chose to cut the relationship when he and Nagao decided to date. But Tsukiko used her newfound power to contact him via his phone, which Nagao misunderstood as him contacting her and kicked him out. Under normal circumstances, Takuro chose Nagao. BUT because of Tsukiko was about to die, he went after her, just like Nagao decided to give birth to Tsukiko after seeing she was about to die.
I should've seen the author's actions beforehand, because the manga's front cover is from the 6th volume, the one where Nagao is cooking while looking at the viewer. I didn't pay special attention to other covers because of that. Yes, the author does these "subversions" for the sake of it. I should've noticed that sooner. All in all, I still blame the author for the shite ending and consider my ending the best and most realistic ending.