Ore no Imouto - Light Novel & Manga Discussion Thread

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by Lucarion

So...how does Manami's guilt-tripping fit into this?

I added another paragraph above that may help explain that. That just basically explains how the wedge started to be driven between them; a wedge that was driven further by Manami's subsequent actions (and reinforced by her current declaration).

Spoiler for Summary:

1. (6+ years ago) Kirino is close to Kyousuke and really admires/loves him.
2. (6 years ago) Manami informs her that her feelings are abnormal and she should keep it a secret and go back to being normal siblings.
3. (5 years ago) Kyousuke, unaware, continues to be close to Manami's family, but Kirino is feeling further estranged, though she continues to admire Kyousuke.
4. (3 years ago) Kyousuke's big failure with Sakurai and subsequent advice from Manami change him from Kirino's ideal brother to a boring guy with no ambition. Kirino hates what he's become.
5. (1 year ago) Kirino's habit is discovered and she asks Kyousuke for "life consultation". The tides begin to turn and Kyousuke begins to go out of his shell again.

[rejer]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

Spoiler for Volume 11 (per spoilers posted on the Net):

Most of the story seems to revolve around an extended flashback that tells the story of what happened three years ago that finally caused Kirino to actively dislike Kyousuke. The story is about Kyousuke's interactions with another girl (櫻井秋美 = Akimi Sakurai??? Not sure about the pronunciation). At that time, Kyousuke was a hot-blooded model student who was worried about students who weren't showing up in class. That led to him befriending this girl, and them going on a bunch of adventures and becoming good friends. But one day she was climbing a mountain with Kyousuke, and she ended up getting injured (fractured a bone). As a result, her parents withdrew her from that school. At around the same time, Kyousuke's grandmother had died, so everything was going poorly for him. The entire class blamed Kyousuke for what happened to Sakurai, and Manami got really angry (at Sakurai, at Kyousuke, and at the class). Kyousuke was depressed and went home crying, where Kirino consoled him. But later, Manami came over and gave him some "Life Consultation" -- she said that it couldn't be helped because Kyousuke's nothing special, that he's just a normal guy, and incidentally she liked him that way. Traumatized by what had happened and based on Manami's "advice", Kyousuke stopped being ambitious, and turned into the peace-loving "normal" person that we meet at the start of the show. And that's when Kirino started to hate him. Now, back to the present, they get back in contact with Sakurai, and Kyousuke arranged to meet her, and they apologize for what happened in the past, and Sakurai confesses to Kyousuke (something she couldn't do three years back), but Kyousuke has to turn her down saying that he's already in love with someone.

At the end of he story, Manami declares to Kanako that she'll ensure Kirino and Kyousuke will see each other only as normal siblings. Kirino announces to Kuroneko and Saori that she'll be going overseas for a modeling job after she graduates. Meanwhile, Ayase informs Kuroneko and Kirino that she confessed to Kyousuke. And Kyousuke himself seems ready to be the one to confess next... setting us up for the grand finale.


(So basically, everything Kirino has been trying to do with Kyousuke has been to try to restore him back to the person he used to be (the brother she loved and admired), and snap him out of the boring life he resolved himself to after the fallout with Sakurai and Manami's advice. She blames Manami for making Kyousuke turn out this way and, combined with what she told Kirino in the past about her feelings for Kyousuke not being normal, we can see why she hates her. Manami was literally the wedge that tore the siblings apart, but as was speculated, it may be precisely that wedge that brings them back together even stronger in the end, precisely the way Manami didn't want. We'll see... but I think "I can see the ending"...)

Spoiler:

Reading this, It might be very well possible for Kyousuke to confess to any one of the girls. This is getting out of hand, I mean even a Saori end is possible after all.

[cheesie]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

Spoiler for Volume 11 (per spoilers posted on the Net):

At the end of he story, Manami declares to Kanako that she'll ensure Kirino and Kyousuke will see each other only as normal siblings. Kirino announces to Kuroneko and Saori that she'll be going overseas for a modeling job after she graduates. Meanwhile, Ayase informs Kuroneko and Kirino that she confessed to Kyousuke. And Kyousuke himself seems ready to be the one to confess next... setting us up for the grand finale.

Spoiler:

In reading this paragraph, I'm having flashbacks of Canvas 2 - now I'm certainly welcome to the prospect of having this re-enacted a second time, if only because I'm pretty fond of the sibling relationship, and also, should this happen, it will instigate a firestorm of reactions the likes we haven't seen, well, since Canvas 2 delivered its final blow.

From the looks of it, it sounds like a major conflict is being set up here, with Manami being all Final Boss and determined to come between Kyousuke and Kirino to the end. With Kirino intending to pull herself out of the picture, and Kyousuke being the one to take the initiative of confessing this time (where have I seen this trope before? ), if Kirino is a part of that resolution, then I really like where this is going, simply because I never liked the harem aspect of this series to begin with, and it's a fitting way of adding closure to the issue that haunted both of them before the series even started.

[Syokool]

Spoiler for A previous talk about Manami:

Originally Posted by Syokool

...

Still, I have this feeling of Manami being the last boss (can't explain though).

Originally Posted by VVolf

Ahaha, everywhere I go, there's this talk about Manami as the final boss (as well as this "Kyousuke was adopted/picked up somewhere from the wilderness" buzz). It's plausible. She did confess in vol 8, yet has little to no real importance/impact in the recent novels. Vol 9 was the girls' time to take the spot light. Yet she barely made a appearance. You gotta wonder if she's just lying and waiting for the right moment.

...

Originally Posted by VVolf

Haha, although I think asserting Ayase's actions to Manami's influence is a bit far-fetched, I can see how people came to the conclusion of Manami being a calculated mastermind.

She hasn't done much since her confession in vol 8, right?

One would think so, yes...but this volume showed us something.

Namely, she has made various "alliances" with the girls. Disregarding Ayase who has always been there, she became Kakano's master, sort of cleared up with Kuroneko (vol 5, I think? Kuroneko mentioned her impression of Manami was far from good, mainly because of Kirino's one-sided explanation/vilification), and is about to reconcile with Kirino in the future.

Can I call her farsighted? I can't say, but it's definitely well-played.

Originally Posted by Syokool

これだ!!!

... Is what I'd like to say

You have explained it better than I could even imagine (like, 'ah, so that's the reason why I think Manami have higher chances to become the last boss').

About that "alliances", I'd add the relation between she and Kyousuke's mother (Yoshino if I remember well). You know, she (Manami) has some advantages over the other girls

Originally Posted by VVolf

だろ?

Ah, I did forget about Yoshino. As for Daisuke...hard to say. He might be against anyone, just like with Kirino...er, son-con?

...actually, that might very well explain why he was okay with the siblings becoming close. If they really are extreme sis/bro-cons as they seemed, then Daisuke wouldn't have to worry about anyone taking them away from him.

...Holy crap...

Now, I only can think in two possibilities

Spoiler for thoughts:

1) A Kirino x Kyousuke ending.
2) An open ending (rather hard to believe tough).

[Shinji103]

In hindsight, it should have been pretty clear it would turn out this way with Manami if not for anything but

PLOT TWIST

Like they say, "It's always the quiet ones....."

[zeko]

Originally Posted by Syokool

Spoiler for thoughts:

1) A Kirino x Kyousuke ending.
2) An open ending (rather hard to believe tough).

Spoiler:

it is sad really. at one point, there were several possibilities or at least two strong ones (kirino and koreniko). now, it is just open ended or kirino :/

but ending with kirino is not the sad part. what i am referring to is it being too obvious at this point and we haven't reached the final novel yet.

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by cheesie

Spoiler:

In reading this paragraph, I'm having flashbacks of Canvas 2 - now I'm certainly welcome to the prospect of having this re-enacted a second time, if only because I'm pretty fond of the sibling relationship, and also, should this happen, it will instigate a firestorm of reactions the likes we haven't seen, well, since Canvas 2 delivered its final blow.

From the looks of it, it sounds like a major conflict is being set up here, with Manami being all Final Boss and determined to come between Kyousuke and Kirino to the end. With Kirino intending to pull herself out of the picture, and Kyousuke being the one to take the initiative of confessing this time (where have I seen this trope before? ), if Kirino is a part of that resolution, then I really like where this is going, simply because I never liked the harem aspect of this series to begin with, and it's a fitting way of adding closure to the issue that haunted both of them before the series even started.

Spoiler for Reply to speculation:

In fact, your Canvas 2 anime analogy could be almost exactly how the plot and ending plays out, as they've indeed setup all the same core elements here. I think the fact that Kirino is leaving (again) is a rather obvious callback to the previous turning point in the story (when Kirino left to go overseas for the Track scholarship), so they're certainly setting things up for Kyousuke to chase after her again (even on the off chance that he confesses to someone else... but that wouldn't be my bet at this time). Him staying with her overseas (for a while) is a way of dealing with the issue (and given that she's there for work, money wouldn't be an issue).

I would say your theory seems pretty reasonable from where I sit, anyway.

[Lexxus]

Originally Posted by Syokool

Now, I only can think in two possibilities

Spoiler for thoughts:

1) A Kirino x Kyousuke ending.
2) An open ending (rather hard to believe tough).

Spoiler for ending:

I completely agree with you with how things were set-up in volume 12 that Kirino x Kyousuke pairing is inevitable. But, I'm hoping that the author will surprise us with something.

[Shinji103]

Mmmmmeh, as an avid Ayase fan, I'm still holding onto the slim hope that Kyousuke picks her. The author never gave us his response to her confession from last volume yet, after all. But I'm a Kuroneko fan too, and the author shot that down after just one volume, so......

[iCK]

I'm rooting for a Kirino x Kyosuke ending

[finalfury]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

Spoiler for Reply to speculation:

In fact, your Canvas 2 anime analogy could be almost exactly how the plot and ending plays out, as they've indeed setup all the same core elements here. I think the fact that Kirino is leaving (again) is a rather obvious callback to the previous turning point in the story (when Kirino left to go overseas for the Track scholarship), so they're certainly setting things up for Kyousuke to chase after her again (even on the off chance that he confesses to someone else... but that wouldn't be my bet at this time). Him staying with her overseas (for a while) is a way of dealing with the issue (and given that she's there for work, money wouldn't be an issue).

I would say your theory seems pretty reasonable from where I sit, anyway.

Spoiler for Volume 11:

A Canvas 2 ending hmmm. Well Kyousuke is better than the MC from that anime so I can probably like this ending. Also, Kirino and her leaving to model overseas might have some relation to her parents. I feel as though she's a message to them like "I will do what I really want to do, and no one but Kyousuke can stop me." Anyways I do feel that this leaving for modeling will be the event that helps convince Kyousuke's parent(Daisuke) to accept them if he really does go for Kirino.

[Sumeragi]

Spoiler for Response to Volume 11 Speculation:

I don't think Kirino going overboard again will be a major factor when it concerns Kyousuke, since Kirino said she will be coming back to Japan frequently. It's most likely the trigger to how Kirino will act before Kyousuke actually gets to confessing to whoever he decided on.

[Maugomale]

Do the spoilers say anything about Kirino's secret album?

[Sumeragi]

A side note: Sena and Kurara also appears in Volume 11.

[Maugomale]

Originally Posted by Sumeragi

A side note: Sena and Kurara also appears in Volume 11.

I have a question about Kurara

Spoiler:

Are Kurara and the maid girl who served Kyousuke when he went to the cafe where Saori's community would gather different people? In the PSP game, her name seems to be "Kirara", but it could be an alias or something, so I just want to confirm it

[Sumeragi]

They're sisters. Kirara is the ane and Kurara the imouto. It was revealed in the short story "At a Certain Maid Cafe" accompanying the drama CD.

[OverMaster]

Originally Posted by Lexxus

Whoa. I can't wait for the one that Kyousuke likes. Please release the volume 12 already

Ten bucks say they pull a Negima and we never know who was the winner girl, or even if there was one after all. The Japanese love their crappy inconclusive endings.

[iCK]

Originally Posted by OverMaster

Ten bucks say they pull a Negima and we never know who was the winner girl, or even if there was one after all. The Japanese love their crappy inconclusive endings.

that or he might do a maji ending and confess his love to eroge

I really hope he does pick someone, especially kirino!

[Sumeragi]

Anyone who read would know that this isn't going to be like that. Kyousuke has definitely decided on someone.


Another treat from Volume 11:

Images

Kurara and Kyousuke

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[iCK]

Originally Posted by Sumeragi

Anyone who read would know that this isn't going to be like that. Kyousuke has definitely decided on someone.


Another treat from Volume 11:

Images

Kurara and Kyousuke

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

hahaha naiiiice

what if he confessed to kurara?