(L) Hourou Musuko

[Claies]

Spoiler for 111:

Goddammit Maho, you just have to keep wedging in that relationship.

[John Smith]

Spoiler for 112:

Anyone else think that Shuu and Anna will have sex soon? I wonder if not much changes in their relationship

Spoiler for Aoi Hana recent-ish chapters:

or it hits a rocky patch like Fumi and Ah-chan.

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by John Smith

Spoiler for 112:

Anyone else think that Shuu and Anna will have sex soon? I wonder if not much changes in their relationship

Spoiler for Aoi Hana recent-ish chapters:

or it hits a rocky patch like Fumi and Ah-chan.

Spoiler for Mako's Adventure:

They've certainly been hinting that things will go in that direction (sex). It's clear Anna is ready to get physical and I don't think there's any evidence Shuu isn't also very interested. That experience almost always changes a relationship in a big way (especially the first time) so it's hard to imagine it won't represent a huge fork in the road both for their relationship, and for the series. I think what I might be most looking forward to is seeing how pissed off Maho will be that Shuu got some before she did.

Takako-sensei has a way of spinning these mini-stories about side characters and eventually tying them back to advance Nitorin's story, and I suspect that will happen with Makoto and his "adventure" in the next chapter.

[John Smith]

Spoiler for 114:

Was that the first supportive thing Maho ever said about Shuu and Anna? Well, aside from (sort of) playing matchmaker at the beginning. It's not a bad suggestion but it could lead to problems.

There's one thing I find weird. Anna is basically a model with a few extra gigs and models don't get that much exposure. How popular could she be possibly be? Although, that may be why it was never an issue before and it is now.

You know I'd rather Shimura deal with Mako than the adult character unless there's a point to all this. Or, you know, the other main characters.

[Claies]

Originally Posted by John Smith

Spoiler for 114:

There's one thing I find weird. Anna is basically a model with a few extra gigs and models don't get that much exposure. How popular could she be possibly be? Although, that may be why it was never an issue before and it is now.

You know I'd rather Shimura deal with Mako than the adult character unless there's a point to all this. Or, you know, the other main characters.

From what I've seen Anna is a very prolific model with a successful image (being with Maiko probably helped), plus she just started having a radio show. I think Japanese models show up in more than just fashion magazines (my impression is that fashion columns show up everywhere), so she has more coverage than one would expect a model can do in the west.

Also...

Spoiler for 115:

OMG THEY FINALLY DID IT. I started grinning the moment I read the chapter title. It did not disappoint.

Page 10: Oh come on kids, you call that a kiss?
Page 11: Yeah that's more like it.

Just in time for the series' 10th anniversary. Well played, Shimura-sensei.

[vansonbee]

116...

Looking back at the beginning of the story and now, I could not believe Yoshino became a successful model and there seem to be something wrong with Anna. It feels like she wants to break up with Shuichi and let Yoshino have him.

But the main focus is on Sasa this chapter, she has grown to look like Maho now, but lacks the bitchy personality to be her mini-me. Sasa was ask by a friend in middle school to go to a mixer and it seem she liked this guy... hmm random guy we don't know about.

[vansonbee]

117 is out!

So the protagonist feels like a man, when he is with Anna and I am surprise at Anna high tolerant of Nita dressing like a woman until they grow old.

Tsuki-chan joining the couple. I wonder if there any NTR later on and it seem Nita has to decide on staying with Anna or sticking with his cross dressing. He does not feel like a woman when he is with Anna. If the author takes this route, Nita might go back to Tsuki?

[Guardian Enzo]

I'm getting very ominous vibes over the last few chapters. I think Shuu is headed for a major existential crisis, and I hope someone (presumably Takatsuki) is there for him when it happens, because he's always been there for everybody else.

What a hideous betrayal by Jyougasaki. Nitorin is simply too trusting and too damn nice.

[Solace]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

I'm getting very ominous vibes over the last few chapters. I think Shuu is headed for a major existential crisis, and I hope someone (presumably Takatsuki) is there for him when it happens, because he's always been there for everybody else.

What a hideous betrayal by Jyougasaki. Nitorin is simply too trusting and too damn nice.

I think the crisis is simple. Unlike Takatsuki, who can slip between male/female roles due to her relatively androgynous build, Nitorin is realizing that guys don't usually work the same way. This is why it's better to catch transgender kids early, due to how "destructive" hormones can be to the body. He'll have to decide soon if being a girl is really what he wants, because the longer he waits, the harder it will be to undo the changes of male puberty. It's not like there aren't "mannish" women out there, but Nitorin saw what happened when the father tried this, and problems that caused in public circles. The article from Jyougasaki bothered him more about the comments to it, than the betrayal of trust. And his friends too are noticing that he isn't passing as well as he used to.

I think this is where Yuki will be of help. She passes amazingly well, which suggests that she made her decision around the time Shu is now. I don't think anyone else could offer the advice she could.

[Guardian Enzo]

Well, Yuki doesn't "pass" - she's a woman now. It's not beyond possibility that Shuu will go that route, but there are significant differences between his situation and Yuki's. I certainly agree that Yuki is someone who could help Shuu out with some life's wisdom, but I still feel like it's Takatsuki who's going to need to be there for him if he crashes (though I believe Nitorin's love for Anna is genuine, and hers for him).

[Guardian Enzo]

Jeepers, 119 was certainly intense. Takako is taking great pains to make sure we're aware that Nitorin is no longer a child.

I'm still getting very dark vibes lately about where the series is headed. Shuu seems to be going to a place where no one can help him but himself.