Tsuruko Returns the Favor - Ch. 36 - THE REASON FOR THE SMILE

[MangaDex]

 

[Darkhedgehog13]

i mean he did what he said he was going to do soo like its the end i guess?

 

[AlterArsene]

Damn that's rough buddy

 

[brndndss]

huh. for an explanation thats been avoided and dragged out a long time, im satisfied with that resolution

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its stupid neko-san thinks has to abandon the cafe now, but i doubt itll happen

 

[undeed]

whaa?
what do you mean the end is approaching?
noooo

 

[brainman]

What a limp-dicked resolution. I mean, it's fine and all, perfectly serviceable, but a simple "she worked here because she liked it" did not warrant this much build-up, dragging out, and tease and denial. You could've revealed this in chapter 10 and it would've been fine, but the constant plot avoidance presented it as something much more complex, and now it's just sort of "I guess".

 

[Hicleric]

What a limp-dicked resolution. I mean, it's fine and all, perfectly serviceable, but a simple "she worked here because she liked it" did not warrant this much build-up, dragging out, and tease and denial. You could've revealed this in chapter 10 and it would've been fine, but the constant plot avoidance presented it as something much more complex, and now it's just sort of "I guess".

Agree, this kind of expo dump should have been in the ch 9-12 range (around the first time a story should expand/pivot). I don't think it would have impacted the A plot at all to get it out the way, and would have made the MC far more likeable. Buuut...the author clearly didn't have any idea of what else to have for a B plot so they just dragged this out way too long instead. Or maybe their editor didn't want to have two three a bunch of male crossdressers in MangaPlus at the same time? (looking at you Magilumiere and MarriageToxin)

...and thus swooshes axe-kun?

 

[brainman]

Agree, this kind of expo dump should have been in the ch 9-12 range (around the first time a story should expand/pivot). I don't think it would have impacted the A plot at all to get it out the way, and would have made the MC far more likeable.

Placing it earlier in the story also would've led to a more natural flow and dynamic between MC and Tsuruko, rather than that weird blackmail misunderstanding. After that reveal, Neko could've had a reaction like "I don't get what my sister saw in this weird pageantry, but I want to understand", and that's why he keeps going and hangs out with Tsuruko, who tries to show him. This manga is so frustrating, because it has all the components of a decent plot, but they're all used wrong.

 

[BlackwingYu]

Honestly I think this reveal doesn't hit hard enough because previous chapters didn't sell his survivor's guilt as much as it needed to. We only really get a sense of it with the strawberries on Valentine's

 

[fight2live]

hmmm seems like we're in the endgame now

 

[Cashini]

feels sad...... finally knowing mc sister back story ok waiting next final story

 

[Friendly-Sentence710]

Neko-san's sister was a low-key baddie. That zoom in when she wanted to wear cute, frilly things. 💯

huh. for an explanation thats been avoided and dragged out a long time, im satisfied with that resolution

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its stupid neko-san thinks has to abandon the cafe now, but i doubt itll happen

Its very bleh after all that build up.

Honestly having her be dead before the start really limited this manga; as an explanation of a beloved, departed relative it falls very flat. If she was missing or even in a coma or such, as a personal secret to roast someone at their next meet up, and an arc of them being able to make peace with their hidden preference and discovering the people around them full support them, it would have been fodder for some peak romcom.