Week 10 (Final week) - 徒然日和 vol 2-3 book club

[seanblue]

Just finished the manga. I really like chapter 17 and the omake is funny, but chapter 18 is pretty whatever for the official final chapter.

Chapter 17

The way events play out is really nice and I like the art direction of not actually showing the kiss directly.

Omake

I love how Nana is like “Oh yeah, you two make out when your bored? Been there, done that”, just to realize that no, Fuyu and Haru actually like each other for real and are dating.

Also, it’s a pretty dramatic reveal that Nana and Minori mess around like that considering it’s just an omake that (presumably) wasn’t in the original magazine.

[暁のルナ]

Ch 7

One of my favorite chapters in the whole series! I cannot imagine sitting down to dinner with my friend’s older cousin, and then all of a sudden my teachers show up, and having it be not awkward as hell. I’m glad everyone got along and had fun tho! (Tho I feel bad for Kasakabe-san getting yelled at so much). Love the humor overall tho!

Ch 8

Good movie taste! Enjoyed the hugging and getting flustered, and the whole “casual touch is ok”, and lounging on the bean bag/whatever with friends and being affectionate like that… I can certainly super relate to Mafuyu here

Anyway this was also a favorite chapter

@bbo

Like the difference between friends hugging and hugging your crush or something. It felt very powerful to me back then. Now I think you could also easily argue it’s just Mafuyu being unused to hugging and a little misunderstanding that makes things awkward

You could argue either way I suppose, but I definitely read it as the former (both times). It’s not the first time we’ve seen the two of them be awkward, and even Haru-chan is super blushy and embarrassed

Nice catch on the cat face btw!

[暁のルナ]

Ch 9

General thought: nice to see Mafuyu be the one inviting for once, and it was nice learning about Minori more

@bbo

I have no idea what kind of interaction this is.

Same… Also I totally misread 画面 as 漫画 at first… Which I was gonna make a joke on, with the coffee thing… I’ll leave it below anyway

You need that 400円 for more manga, right? I totally get it!!

In all seriousness, this exchange was amusing to me as a city girl who’s used to cafe beverages costing at least that (which Mafuyu also took for granted, it seems). Wonder how expensive they are in Tokyo tho?

Yes, exactly!!

Yeah I’d be upset too. Y’all couldn’t wait 5 more minutes?? But I guess it took her a while, and maybe she can experience it when it’s less busy

That’s nice that that’s what she was jealous of

@bbo

I don’t quite get what they refer to here. Is it from the first chapter?:

I thought it was just earlier in the chapter, where Mafuyu was talking about how her relationship with her mom is more like they’re good friends

Ch 10

What a fun chapter. Love this trio, and dreaming of quitting their jobs and moving in together was enjoyable to read.

Also why do I get the impression that at least one of them has a thing for Shouko (blonde girl)? Maybe that’s just my brain wanting to ship everyone lol

[bbo]

Chapter 17

This chapter is really well done. For example how Koharu read Mafuyus horoscope, just so she later knows Mafuyu is lying about it.

Chapter 18

@seanblue

chapter 18 is pretty whatever for the official final chapte

This is a pretty good chapter on its own. But kind of lacking as an end. I actually was waiting for volume 4 after reading volume 3. I didn’t get that this was the end at all.

Also: https://youtu.be/h7SE4CNgR_0?si=dER1I4kXQFzehE0a

Omake

I wish this was part of the last chapter and a bit more fleshed out.

In my memory, Minori and Nanaya were actively denying “being like that”. But in reality it was just an observation by Mafuyu.

I didn’t like that Koharu had to spell it out like that. I actually expected Minori to figure it out and tell Nanaya.

Overall thoughts

I really like this series and I’m a bit sad it isn’t longer. Maybe it’s good that it is good that it’s short. But I think it could have been just a few chapters longer. And also, there isn’t anything else by the author for me to read (I can’t blame them, being a mangaka must be very difficult).

I wonder what Mafuyus mom thought about the two. She seemed to think Koharu is cute and Mafuyu seems to tell her a lot.

I always really liked that Minori and Nanaya were established not to be a romantic couple. For one, I dislike it when everyone gets paired up in romance fiction, seems too artificial. Also, non romantic relationships are important too. Especially in the iyashikei genre.

I really liked how there isn’t anything put into words about Mafuyus and Koharus feelings for each other, until Chapter 17. And I always felt this had all the good parts of Cute Girls doing Cute Things where typically there will be some romantic interest teased BUT NOTHING EVER HAPPENS (such as all Manga Times Kira Kira anime ever), but SOMETHING HAPPENS.

[bbo]

Response

@暁のルナ

I thought it was just earlier in the chapter, where Mafuyu was talking about how her relationship with her mom is more like they’re good friends

Ahh. I must have forgotten this:

@暁のルナ

Nice catch on the cat face btw!

It’s such a silly thing to highlight. But I’ve been trying to write a lot (even though I don’t usually do) and keep this Book Club active, since I like this series so much.

[seanblue]

@bbo

there will be some romantic interest teased BUT NOTHING EVER HAPPENS (such as all Manga Times Kira Kira anime ever

I’ve read a ton of Kirara manga and I can tell you there is one I know of that is more than just teasing.

[暁のルナ]

@bbo did specify anime tho. Not sure if that changes anything. As manga go, they do have some straight up Yuri titles as well (but I’m not sure I’d call them cgdct)

[bbo]

@seanblue

there is one I know of that is more than just teasing

Which one?

Do you mean there is one as an understatement, as in, my statement is very false? Or as in there is one but not more and my statement ist mostly right?

I intentionally wrote “anime”, as I’ve watched much more Kirara series than read and I don’t know what happens in the manga after the anime ends.
And I knew you are a Kirara specialist when I wrote that and was wondering how you’d comment.

I have a hard time reading 4koma and tend to avoid it. The ones with wide panels are ok. But I find the small ones with 8 koma on a page difficult (and unrewarding?) to read. At least digitally. NEW GAME! | L25 is the only Kirara manga I ever read through (I liked it quite a lot). I wanted to read アニマエール! 1 | L24?? as I liked the anime, but didn’t get around to it (it also was a bit difficult for me at the time). I also tried to continue まちカドまぞく | L35 from the anime, but it’s very difficult, there is deity speaking in archaic language and hard to read font…. And it’s sadly not even finished.

[seanblue]

@bbo

Do you mean there is one as an understatement, as in, my statement is very false? Or as in there is one but not more and my statement ist mostly right?

Oh, I mean like… just one that I’ve read. As in you’re mostly right that 99% of the time it’s just bait.

The development of the relationship in this series could probably be considered a spoiler to some people, so I’ll put it behind spoiler tags. 紡ぐ乙女と大正の月

There are other series with some implied stuff, where the relationship isn’t the focus. And one where two girls kiss as a plot device, but they aren’t in a relationship. But yeah, Kirara isn’t really the place to go if you want actual yuri romance.

[暁のルナ]

ch 11

Not much to say besides that was a nice and scenic trip to the beach. Also the post-chapter 困難 (shown on inner front cover) was hilarious!

@seanblue

@bbo

Does anyone know what the three lines mean in the handwritten text?

Ellipses?

If you mean the last panel of the cover comic, then yeah ellipses

ch 12

Sleepover chapter was nice. Mafuyu don’t just勝手に負けちゃう against a carrot pillow!! (I get it tho). I wonder what Haru-chan was starting to say at the end

ch 13

You can definitely see why Minori is so appreciative of Nanaya.

I think after this was the point where (last time I read it) I got frustrated with the story for focusing on Minori & Nanaya at the expense of Koharu and Mafuyu… I’m looking forward to more properly enjoying it this time around

General thought: I love how cozy this series feels.

@bbo

It’s such a silly thing to highlight. But I’ve been trying to write a lot (even though I don’t usually do) and keep this Book Club active, since I like this series so much.

Thank you so much for doing that btw sry I wasn’t around earlier to help with the discussion

[暁のルナ]

Volume 3 thoughts

Ch 14

I love that everyone’s all “of course we’re gonna hang out - why would you think otherwise?!” - as opposed to many other yuri where you’d think the leads went to opposite ends of the earth, and were forcibly isolated from all their friends or something (slightly more believable pre-cell phones)

指入れカレーとか私嫌だ

I love her expression in the bottom panel

Butter in カレー?? No thanks

Go comfort Haru-chan instead of hiding, already! (I get it tho, that’s awkward)

Ch 15

How do the cats always know??

What a bizarre dream… Also no fair, teasing is with that almost kiss

The sliding under arm thing was cute, also the after-response was like the end of book 1(?), when they were waiting for the train

She thinks Minori’s Dad is deathly ill

Poor girl, now she’s left all alone tho. Surprised they didn’t go together

I’m somewhere between admiration & being dumbfounded. Of course my apartment is a mess bc I read instead of cleaning

That’s sweet that Shou-ne is there for her when she’s lonely… Also nice to just be able to take off work like that

@seanblue

The back cover shows the scene from the end of the dream really beautifully.

Yeah that’s incredibly beautiful

@bbo

reminded me of みらいのふうふですけど? 1 | L16 I think the club should read this one top some day,

The yuri club is taking nominations rn

@bbo

Looks kinda cold. Like Homura (from Madoka Magica).

Agree - tho it’s been so long since I’ve watched that

ch 16

We’ve already seen them together plenty tho, and she’s not usually this clingy. Idk this chapter seemed pointless

Ch 17

I hate astrology tropes, but what a sweet first and second kiss

@bbo

For example how Koharu read Mafuyus horoscope, just so she later knows Mafuyu is lying about it

Good point

Ch 18

That was whiplash going from the sweet kisses to the start of this chapter. Nothing much to say otherwise. If I read it in the magazine, I might have felt left down that it was the end

Omake

What a significant ending!! This was probably my favorite chapter. It was interesting that the author took the time to establish the difference between the two.

@seanblue

Also, it’s a pretty dramatic reveal that Nana and Minori mess around like that considering it’s just an omake that (presumably) wasn’t in the original magazine

Correct, the magazine (百合姫2019年11月) just has chapter 18. There’s also 2 twitter extras that were translated on Mangadex, one of which was really sweet

overall thoughts

I enjoyed this series quite a lot the 2nd time around, and my opinion of Vol 3 in particular went up (tho I think it has more weak spots than the other two).

@bbo

I really like this series and I’m a bit sad it isn’t longer. Maybe it’s good that it is good that it’s short. But I think it could have been just a few chapters longer

Agreed. Tho also check the twitter extras on Mangadex, if you haven’t already.

@bbo

I really liked how there isn’t anything put into words about Mafuyus and Koharus feelings for each other, until Chapter 17.

Yes, that was quite well done!!

@bbo

I always really liked that Minori and Nanaya were established not to be a romantic couple.

I didn’t the first time around (I often like seeing everyone get together with someone), but appreciated it much more this time

@bbo

Also, non romantic relationships are important too. Especially in the iyashikei genre.

Does iyashikei not primarily feature non-romantic relationships? I always thought it did

Really glad to have reread this series! Thanks to everyone who participated!!

[bbo]

@暁のルナ

Does iyashikei not primarily feature non-romantic relationships?

Yes. What’s what I meant. Non romantic relationships are the norm in iyashikei, but rare in romance. This is both and it has both and that’s rare, I think.

[暁のルナ]

I did find this one shot of the cousin + art teacher when they were younger btw: The Other Side of a Blank Page - MangaDex

It’s from 百合姫2017年4月, which means it actually slightly precedes 徒然日和 (百合姫2017年12月 I think)