Jitsu Wa Watashi Wa (My Monster Secret)

Whiplash? Nah, the tone shift has been occurring for a while, now. The series has been constantly yoyo-ing between stupidity and drama (when it's not doing both simultaneously) since at least the Shiho arc. If you're talking about the last page, though, yeah, it's not something I ever expected to see in Jitsu wa. Or only as a joke.

Now like JT I don't believe it'll stay dramatic for very long because… after Shirayuki there's the matter of the Charismatic Pervert II. And there's no way in hell that arc can be played entirely seriously. Hell, even in this super-serious chapter there are still a couple of background jokes.

edited 30th Sep '16 11:49:58 AM by Lyendith

Well, it's not quite the same, since most of the dramatic moments so far have been relationship based rather than stuff like characters disappearing or getting permanently removed from the cast or something like that. That said, I still don't believe that it's going to be super-dramatic in the long run, since pretty much every dramatic moment thus far has ultimately been buildup to something ridiculous. So either this is just a more extreme variant of that pattern, or else the author is playing a Long Con and trolling everyone by suddenly switching gears, which rates as one of the greatest Trolling Creator moments since the end of Eight Bit Theater.

On a somewhat different topic, I discovered a Jitsu Wa Abridged series today. Kinda weird to have a parody series of a gag manga. I dunno if it's any good though, I didn't watch it.

…So that's actually a thing… Watched the first episode and it's pretty terrible. >.>

@lynedith, raws: Everything lines up otherwise, but the whole Youko getting pregnant via bloodsucking thing felt out of left field, and not in the usual Jitsu Wa way.

I get what you mean, but even that was explained earlier◊, so it didn't really bother me. Really, everything was forshadowed one way or another (though I guess it's more obvious with full translations).

edited 2nd Oct '16 1:06:29 PM by Lyendith

So wait, is Youko an ancient-class vampire then?

I can't imagine an abridged series for this series working very well. Those things work the best when the source takes itself at least kinda seriously, while Jitsu Wa is like 90% comedy to start with. It also doesn't help that it's the worst kind of comedy to try to make an abridgment out of. Most of them thrive on absurdity and running gags, which Jitsu Wa already has in spades. Honestly, the best way to do it would be to take all of the story's various absurdities and play them completely straight.

And I'm guessing that most people who liked the 1st abridged episode haven't read the manga.

…And it's telling that this "abridged series" is quite literally that: a summary of the series own jokes. Not much point in that.

That only reminds me that I want the anime to be rebooted. ;__;

Chapter 144 is out in English. We meet Inaba, Matsumoto, and Sasaki for the first time. They are the three girls who are in the same class as the others. They'll make another major appearance in a later chapter.

I have to admit there are jokes I didn't quite get in this chap... The "Miracle Soul" thing for example. I'm pretty sure it's a reference to something, but I have no idea what.

And I just discrovered now that "The Cross of Love" is a famous song by Honda Minako about a breakup (hence everyone's reactions)... If I had known I could have added a footnote. Sorry about that. :x

edited 6th Oct '16 2:29:46 AM by Lyendith

Oh yeah, there are people in the class outside the inner circle. Kinda forgot about that.

Nice to see Youko getting along with her classmates. Her life really turned around since the last year. Things, are looking up!

Future chapter spoiler below:

You know, I got the feeling Masuda introduced these background characters just so he can make Youko's reveal even more heart-breaking.

edited 6th Oct '16 10:37:23 AM by styryder

Yeah, it's always nice to see Youko socialize like this. =] The chapter is very similar to chapter… I think it was 22 or 23? but with a different environment this time around. And Asahi's no longer alone to protect her secret either… though Nagisa has trouble helping herself. >.>

I don't know about that. I doubt Masuda is gonna do this twice − I mean, there's a lot of Generation Xerox in this series, but it will only have meaning if it's ultimately defied.

Speaking of which, chap 179. Asahi tries to figure out if Youko is pregnant or not, and asks her if there isn't "someone in her belly". Which one might suspect, as Youko's stomach is so talkative it's pretty much a character of its own. Then Shirayuki appears, everyone pulls a You Shall Not Pass! and then… wait is there a page missing? —'.`— That was a pretty abrupt cut.

We get into Youko's head for a few pages, which is actually surprisingly rare. Usually we get an outside look on her from other characters…

This new arc is titled "Shiragami Youko and Kuromine Asahi"… I'm afraid, now.

edited 6th Oct '16 11:42:07 AM by Lyendith

Soooo… Someone finally found what the "Miracle Soul" "Yeah!" joke was referencing.

"Soshite ka~gaya~ku, ultra soul, hai!"
Jitsu wa:
"Soshite hi~rame~ku, miracle soul, haaaiiii?!"

edit: Chapter 145 is out. UNLEASH THE FEEEEELS.

edited 13th Oct '16 4:37:11 AM by Lyendith

Oh man, that chapter was brutal. It's even worse because I can totally understand those feelings, I remember going through a similar period when me and all my friends went our separate ways when we started college.

…The chapter doesn't elicit much reaction here. X) But yeah, it hits pretty hard. They might not be a couple, but they still have an endearing bond. Makes you wonder if she could have actually won him over if she hadn't played the "evil queen" for so long or if he hadn't met with Youko. Asahi's… lucidity? about the situation is also pretty commendable. It's ironic that he sucks at hiding his own emotions, but he's pretty good at reading those of people around him.

—-

On the other front, chapter 180. It's odd to say for Jitsu wa, but the chapter is surprisingly light-hearted… Shirayuki keeps babbling about how there wight be vampires and such in the school, and lets occult journalists roam free. All the worried non-humans gather to Asahi's consultation room, and then the mains (including a now jobless Akari) try to think up a plan to oust Shirayuki. Then Youko has a clever idea. I repeat, YOUKO HAS A CLEVER IDEA.

…I'm starting to think that maybe Masuda should tone down the over-the-top shadow work on Shirayuki.

edited 13th Oct '16 1:42:16 PM by Lyendith

please tell me that's not akari's true self. I feel sorry for sakurada if it is.

Is Karen going to fight Shirayuki?

Yeah, Asahi might not be the best at keeping secrets, but people aren't that great about keeping secrets from him either.

And as for Mikan, has she always had a crush on him, or is that recent development? Because if it's the latter, she might've figured that she had already blown her shot by trolling him so much.

edited 13th Oct '16 5:36:05 PM by JapaneseTeeth

her gimmick was she wanted to keep a stupid, simple dynamic betwen them for as long as she could.

Masuda's love for Mikan makes more and more sense when one realizes her chapters are pretty much the best dramatic ones. They capture nostalgia and the fear of drifting apart so damn well.

This was also a good character moment for Asahi, since he realized that no matter ho much you wanna reach out and help, sometimes you just can't.

Right, that being said, that final page sort of cracked me up even if it shouldn't have. It's a shame Mikan had to strike Jitsu Wa's favorite mid-run pose. I associate that shot with some of the funniest moments in the series, so there was a teensy but of whiplash.

I wouldn't say Mikan's chapters are anywhere near the most dramatic, nor more dramatic than others. The raw chapters can testify to that.

edited 13th Oct '16 6:13:11 PM by diyedas

Oh yeah,called it that Mikan had family troubles.

Considering she's always seen taking care of her brothers alone, it was kinda obvious. Compared to the others, she's already an adult, in a sense.

Yeaaah, admittedly this pose is like the no.1 cliché of drama. X)

On another note... do you think we should add a character entry for Inaba, Sasaki and Matsumoto (the three girls of chap 144)? They kinda sorta become part of the regular cast, although they don't appear that often and are pretty much just Those Three Gilrs... I don't know.

edited 14th Oct '16 12:16:15 AM by Lyendith