Jitsu Wa Watashi Wa (My Monster Secret)

Yeah, in France the equivalent would be Sans Famille… which actually came out in the same decade as A Dog of Flanders; and so did the anime. We'll either have to make a big explanation note or replace the reference, but we're not there yet…

19th century children books, folks!

edited 9th Sep '16 4:02:03 PM by Lyendith

I've heard references to A Dog of Flanders in few series but had never heard of it elsewhere. I was wondering if it was just me.

I've seen it refefenced in a few other manga, too.

Same here. I've seen the references, but am not familiar with the story itself.

Anyway, yeah, questions mount about exactly how the future factors into the story. It's still not entirely settled whether it can be changed or if it'll split off into an alt timeline or what.

I picked up volume 2 of the manga, since there was no 1 but I was not gonna find 2 anywhere else anytime soon.

Maybe i'm just spoiled by how excellent Viz and Kodansha's translation jobs are, but this one's just alright. It's still Jitsu wa, so it's still great, but it feels a bit rough around the edges.

Plus the back blurb's font is hideous, which is objective fact.

What do you mean, "back blurb"?

Sorry. I seem to assign labels that I only use, to things.

The text at the back of the book that summarizes the volume.

I barely ever read the blurbs anyway.

142 is out

HE DID IT

THE ABSOLUTE MADMAN

See, I don't like this. It gives no impression that she likes him for who he is rather than immediately settling for the first person who was interested.

The implication is that she fell in love with him the exact same way he fell in love with her

Holy crap.

Definitely the issue with this situation, but hey, some relationships kick off like that.

I like the open secret approach.

edited 14th Sep '16 7:49:47 PM by fillerdude

@Arha: I dunno, it could really go either way. I get the feeling that if she didn't already know him fairly well, his profession wouldn't have had the same impact it did. If he had just been some random student it wouldn't have worked and it would've been just weird. It's still a bit weird due to the student/teacher aspect, but I don't think it's nearly as weird or creepy as it could've been.

In particular, I think her response isn't just the result of him being the first person to come along, but also the fact that it's someone who knows about all her... less appealing traits, and loves her anyway and is willing to really go the extra mile to make things work. But more to the point, the whole relationship is based on the notion that they're helping each other become better people. As far as relationships go, that's as good a reason as any. That said, it is super sudden and I would've liked to see a bit more interaction between them before they decide to go for it, but like fillerdude said, sometimes relationships just start like that.

Also, Akane's reaction was gold, as was the fact that The "secret" lasted for approximately one page.

edited 14th Sep '16 7:59:39 PM by JapaneseTeeth

Fuck yeah Sakurada! You da man!

Really happy for Akari. After all those chapters of mockery and derision, after all these spinster jokes, she deserves some happiness.

I wonder if we get "Akane is in dumps" chapter soon.

ONE PAGE. We have a new record, folks.

Pretty much. I did think it was going too fast back when I first read it, and I still kinda do, but it doesn't come completely out of nowhere either. Akari didn't just "jump on the bait" as Akane would say, she realized there was someone who accepted and understood her, and that maybe it could work out with him. It is a bit rushed, but the idea is there.

Now I'm not too sure what the implied message is with Akari's flashback at the beginning. It says that she wasn't popular because she didn't conform to the image of "how a girl should be" (short, cute and in need of protection). But is the author saying that she should try to be all that, or that she can be loved even if she isn't all that? It seemed ambiguous in this chap...

Anyway, chap 143 will give a bit more details about what motivated her choice, but as it is I'm… mixed+? Oh, and the scene itself was still epic as hell. I sure hope they'll become a Battle Couple at some point.

edited 15th Sep '16 5:31:21 AM by Lyendith

I think it's saying that in her own way, she already is and that people just don't pay enough attention to her to see her good points or her own style of femininity. You could also read it as her spending her life up until this point trying to win the love and affection of people who aren't worth her time to begin with.

Well, whatever, if the story actually shows me that I'm wrong then we'll see, but for now I just don't believe in this pairing. I remember how she reacted to Shirou when she thought he was into her.

edited 15th Sep '16 7:11:28 AM by Arha

Well, I can get how you feel. Interestingly though, Shirou's reasons for respecting Akari aren't entirely unlike Sakurada's. In both cases, it's all about accepting her flaws as a part of her, not something she should be ashamed of.

Chapter 176… I… erm… the images speak for themselves I guess…? So not only did Genjirou show his wings, he also forcefully bit Touko's neck in front of everyone… No wonder they all freaked out. .−. And Genjirou says he wanted to become human because he hated his own kind… That didn't quite work out…

edited 16th Sep '16 7:19:36 AM by Lyendith

Well, in that case Youko and Asahi are already doing better than they were.

This was mentioned waaaay back, but an official student-teacher relationship in a shonen manga. Ballsy. I think? Is it as rare as I make it out to be? Domestic na Kanojo did it, but I don't count that.

@raw: The wings coming out were a given, but blood-sucking in the middle of the whole class is a new layer of fucking up.

edited 15th Sep '16 4:26:10 PM by mrsunshinesprinkles

JT, do you read the raws?

I think at some point Karen said "we have learned a lot more about vampires now compared to back then" to Akane. Youko and Asahi are able to go well thanks to Akane guiding them in her own way.

…Bad news. Our raw provider accidentally ordered the wrong volume, so we won't have any raws for volume 17 until next week. :x

So next week we'll release the short crossover omake of volume 16.

edited 18th Sep '16 4:15:17 AM by Lyendith

Huh, is this the end of vol 16 already?

@Lyen: I don't; I was just going off of what you said in your post.

It is. The raws are well into volume 20.

…Which means Part 2 will soon have become longer than Part 1. Holy crap.

I see. Don't complain if you get spoiled, then.