It is super common prejudice where people feel only attractive should be worshipped while people like Wataru and Reika need to suffer. Miyoshi is like that comment section. She never cared about her hubby or her marriage. Self indulgence was her goal. Not once did she stop to think on how she was hurting him. It is interesting how few call Wataru a loser when he just watched his whole marriage collapse for no reason. Was he insecure - yes, were his action little iffy- yes. Was he hurt by her actions- 100%. Does he deserve her apology for hurting him - frankly speaking yes.
Funny part is attractive Arishima really cares about Reika. It must be frustrating to see him run behind his wife and not his attractive lover and for his wife to call out on his stupid behavior. I get her action. If she forgives him now the incidents will keep happening. He has savior complex and if he does not stop now, Reika will be one day like her mom.
It is interesting on how not just past but also how our family experience dictates our actions. Put in her mom's situation, Reika is trying to undo her mom's mistake because she saw her mom suffer and dad become abusive. Wataru made opposite choice to detriment of his mental health. His mom was in love with her FIL. Her hubby who knew about it treated her well and marriage survived. Whether she or his dad were really happy was something he never found out. They kept the appearance of happy family.
Relation are complex. I like Miyoshi's analogy with Soba and yakinaku. He was a healthy choice for her but she chose short term happiness. I don't think she will learn from this episode. Her problems are too deep seated and finding someone who cares like Wataru is actually quite rare. Most like her lover will give her lip service and cut her off once they are done.
Your analysis is so much more better composed than anything I wanted it to be and you’re so correct too. These are complex characters who deserve an analysis in its own right. The victims are reika and wataru but they aren’t as victimized as they should be simply because it’s a grey area due to wataru actions before and after finding out he got cheated on, and Reika’s reaction to it all. It places both characters in the spotlight where people like the comment section who deflect can place far more blame on them due to their insecure/determined actions and reactions rather than the perpetrators themselves.
I could see reika and arishima figuring it out because of both manga standards and realistic standards. Many marriages that experience unfaithfulness do stay together. Some fix it and figure it out others stay in limbo. Id honestly wouldn’t be mad if they figured it out but i would like it if it’s something that isn’t fixed a few months from now (in manga time) but rather a few years down the line. Arishima broke the trust and if they do stay together reika will not be willing to let him get away with it that quick. Arishima has a lot of things to work on in order to properly apologize and reflect on what he did. Id be very surprised and happy if they do seperate though, we all have that complex of wanting “bad” people to get what they deserve.
In miyoshis and watarus case, that marriage will always be carried by wataru regardless if miyoshi apologizes and changes. Watarus inferiority complex would only continue if they stay together because it would make wataru understand in his own current twisted way that it’s fine if he’s insecure because miyoshi will come back regardless. This marriage is over in my eyes, Unless they tear it down and build it back up as equals. But again with my little complex, i hope they just become strangers who grow in their own right and miyoshi truly repents for the psychological damage she has caused towards wataru. No matter how big or how small.
I loved your analysis btw and i love being able to talk more in depth with someone who thinks more rationally in these more complex stories. Have you read NANA btw? It’s an amazing read if you haven’t!
The reika hate in the comment section is the definition of self deflection. Every single character has their issues, some far graver than others but the most grounded person (reika) seems to be getting hated on. And for her looks too? That’s just sad and shows that the targeted audience hasn’t been reached. There’s too many people reading this that haven’t reached emotional maturity and it’s evident. These stories are very real and very interesting. Of course mitsu is dealing with ego centric issues but we’ve reached a point in the story where she already knows that but because she lacked stability in her past she doesn’t care now. The husband has self esteem issues that became toxic, stalking her personal belongings, her affair partner, etc. but it seems like he’s about to start working on them. You need to reach rock bottom before you realize you need to go up. Kouki is the poster child of cheating husbands that come to regret what they’ve done, analysis for men like them exist already. Reika is a grounded stable character (opposite of mitsu) that has gotten tired of dealing with her husbands antics, reiterating to her mother that she doesn’t want to become like her. Someone who settles. The hate by the comments towards reika comes from a lack of understanding because they’re most likely children or adults who don’t understand the concept of boundaries and lack of emotional maturity. It’s obvious that mitsu and kouki are to blame but the story are using them to show that cheating is more complex. Of course not good but complex nonetheless, two things can be true at the same time.