After calming down from ranting, i realized certain points.
First, i was disappointed. After reading this like in 2014? Or so and waiting for it to end, it had so much potential because of the unique setting and characters that it's like a whiplash with how awful it turned out in some parts.
I still think it's downfall started when atohira was introduced.
To me, it would have been better for ml to be the one to tell fl how to be stronger even if the ml himself is clumsy and such. So that's how she'll end up falling for him. This could have been a manga where they grow together instead of ml's character development be sidelined so the mangaka could give other characters, heck the 2nd ml more screentime.
Kawasumi didn't take the fl for granted, the author just didn't write the main couple with much more earnesty. Which is frustrating af.
Tbh the fl could have seen the 2nd ml in a parttime job, fall for her, only to realize the same thing atohira realized, "sorry it could Only have been the ml to make her the way she is today".
Sigh. If you look at it closely. Atohira and koharu is your typical shoujo manga where the mc grovels for the mc's affection. Minus the charismatic fl. Because koharu just pisses me off. She went off being too aggressive on kawasumi, saying she wishes she was loved because of this that, making it like she really liked him. Only for her to say the exact same things when she met atohira. After what? Seeing him train? "For the first time my mind went blank" that's it? Then what do you feel about kawasumi? That's so stupid. I still think she didn't add anything really. And unlike atohira's parts that could have existed but in a another way, koharu was just totally unnecessary overall. Objectively speaking, if she was an fl of her own, she'd be in a tragic porn story. And only ends up with the guy after what? So many goddamn years without confessing. Even if the extra was a one shot, she'd be frustrating the hell out of me.
Srry my blood pressure just rises up with how annoying she is. I really would have really looked forward to seeing her learn from why she's so obsessed so easily. Instead of falling for the same crap. And i'd rather have a new character fall for her instead of atohira who basically for the majority of the story didn't even give af about her until the mangaka decided that apparently "because i like her". Really? Tbh we could have focused only on the said new character and their pov on koharu instead of this. Sigh.
Tbh i usually just ignore it when a manga disappoints me. But anything that seems like had potential but ends. Up being like this frustrates me the most. I still stand by with what i said about signs of affection being like this manga (quiet fl, unique ml, short haired friend, an annoying girl character etc) but with a better composition despite uh also reverting back to some of its weaknesses in writing. But hey, i haven't finished reading that so I can't really say if the mangaka's writing has improved. Her art certainly did tho lol.
Let me heal myself by rereading the ones i actually think are great. I hope to see a shoujo manga that tackles a similar character as suiren or the kawasumi, heck even atohira with all of his clicheness. But done right.
I hate koharu so goddamn much. Words can't express how much i hate a character that literally doesn't need to exist at all. I don't like atohira either but at least he's connected to the karate thing with the ml. I can tolerate him even if he gets on my nerves. But koharu? Literally adds NOTHING. author just needs to tie a loose end for everyone except for the best girl aya. It doesn't help that they made her an even worse kind of character in that extra. I feel like i would have forgiven it if she had a character development and ended with a no name dude. But no, let's stalk and never change because the author will "reward" me anyway. Sigh.
I just feel frustrated. I just get disappointed at mangas that rely too much on tension, drama and romance to fill in the gaps. It's okay if it's there but man, the first chapters was really going well but went downhill once new characters arrived. And koharu overall didn't help with my irritation. Ugh. Is it amazing? How this manga gives me more stress than nana? Because even tho nana has such flawed characters and is quite depressing, it feels like it actually has a story.
Sigh, looking back, this and signs of affection have very similar dynamics and characters only that it feels a lot more compact. With a direction. I still think the second male leads still get on my nerve tho.
Kinda felt bad for angel at the end hahaha. That monologue from FL..
When she was monologuing, when she said "fiance that never loved her" pretty sure she meant will not angel
Not that part. But the "you alone who loves me" (paraphrased) part lol, made me laugh how much it got emphasized. I'm not super serious about this tbh, because I mean.. I already know she only got eyes for our girl but .. it's still kinda sad especially since we know his pov.
But if were gonna be technical, angel fell in love with the image she pulled instead of her organic erhm dark parts. He would have been 100% in love with original FL but in this case he's left in the dark. It's more of a did she ever love him? Lol.
*I already know the answer to that question, which is why I think it's sad.
But.. I mean as a reader I knew what I signed up for lol
(=・ω・=).
It's no masterpiece lol but for the ones I've read? This one actually utilizes the smut genre effectively and doesn't seem forced at all. I look forward to their shenanigans rather than feel like I'm reading a smut scene because it's required.. you get what i mean lol. The characters are also unique and interesting. Not weird nor desperate. It's like a pure love romance but was destined to be the other way around for them? Hahaha. I look forward to the next season.(⌒▽⌒)
Anybody who doesn't think something's super off here.. erhm.. it's no apparent red flag sure.. but I'd say is the standard that low?? I used to like FL, I think she's rare as a FL. But the more you read the more you realize she's becoming just like everyone else. For every effort she makes, the guy is just doing the bare minimum and sometimes not even at all.. if this is real life then she's a pushover. Nothing to see here. But as a manga, the story really has no direction whatsoever. It's running in circles in the same exact cycle. Guy acts coy and emotionally unavailable and girl chases and comforts herself especially when he does a tiny tiny thing for her. Even tsukasa domyouji, despite the initial red flag moments, he got all the green flags later in the series. Sigh.. anyway ig I'm just gonna drop this full on. I've followed this manga for years now, hoping it'll improve but even if i leave it for 3 years, reading the latest chapter and the story will probably still be at the same cycle. It's just such a shame of potential for this FL.
Just to clarify, fl and ml doesn't have to be perfect, or good for me to give a damn about them. I've read tons of stories with complexity in their setting and character and still able to appreciate those, I'm serious about this! This story is just simply going nowhere and the writer really needs to improve on this aspect. Anyway, muji, I hope you'll exist in another story with a better setting for you.
I mean.. it's just her hunch, not a fact. Maybe he can't actually read minds and is just mofo smart. Or.. maybe he got contact to people who can read mind like maybe anya's parents if they're still alive. Let's wait and see.
The folks trying to justify this is the type to get taken advantage of irl. It's easy to see what's up since we read it, we see all the pov. But the guy truly does 100% suck and the story never really expects him to step up his game. It's not like fl is unable to communicate, she's practically always doing that. Just that it takes two to tango. Sigh, stuff like this eventually leads to permanent break ups irl, pls communicate.
I forgot to add, not only is he not forced to step up his game, he also gets rewarded for his subpar behavior
Ehrm.. I'm usually okay with yandere characters but this one in particular is too creepy.. like it's not entertaining.. it's not fun. Would have helped to see his perspective first before she found out. Because seeing it from her perspective alone? As the reveal? Was just UGH. Of course stuff like this isn't good, I've seen tons of creepy rl shit. But this one needs to up its game to not be on the horror category because it's leaning more onto that than some romcom wtvr. It's closer to the vibes of killing stalking and I don't think that's the mnagaka intention.
I think I'll dropthis lol. Not because of the sibling thing but because neither mls, especially the fl are interesting. Like look, her ending up with whoever doesn't feel like i care too much. The light haired dude is also too depressing and a bit manipulative. And the ml seems decent but got all that baggage of being a sibling on him. Like that's just drama for drama sake because none of them are interesting on they're own.
I would have read/liked this despite the taboo if it was interesting, entertaining, or well written enough.