#KATOU SMILED AT THE VERY END OF THE EXTRAS

[toonstarterz]

BECAUSE I’M NOT POPULAR, I’LL READ WATAMOTE: CHAPTER #154

The Sports Tournament Arc has come to a close (watch me eat my words), and while things may not have ended in the most spectacular or dramatic fashion, it does offer a healthy dose of retrospection after the flurry of emotions we’ve undergone during this whole thing. Tomoko’s world may be winding down for the moment, but as we all know, that just sets the pace for things to spring right back up. 

Chapter 154: Because I’m Not Popular, The Sports Tournament Will End

Watamote has always been relatively good at picking apart what it means to be female, and acknowledging their habit for casual grooming is just one of those times. But where this series shines is that it neither advocates or condemns stereotypical female behavior. Its stance has always been, “it is what it is,” and the reader is open to make their own opinions on that.

Well, I never expected them to win, honestly speaking. This ain’t no shounen sports manga after all, where the underdogs make a dubious comeback thanks to Nakama Power™. The obligatory homosexual subtext was there, though.  

Yeeeah, one of Yuri’s biggest flaws is that it takes her some time to admit, or even recognize her own responsibilities. Naturally, that includes pointing out other’s faults before her own. That being said...

Is Yuri being Bitchy or Awkward? An Analysis to Come in A Couple More Pages.

Tomoko, being the one to slightly raise up everyone else’s spirits? I’d be more shocked if her growth didn’t already make that actually kind of plausible.

This right here is the single coolest girl in the entire manga.

Side note: Komi’s rekt face is sublime. 

That hit had so much force, it burst through the panel borders. For once, poor Minami.

I see friendships all over the place.

In spite of (or perhaps because of) Komiyama’s overzealous nature, she can also be hit pretty hard with a sense of shame when her efforts prove fruitless. Maybe Itou plays the role of the “Lift Their Spirits” Friend in times like this.

At least the other girls are also taking their defeat in stride. Although, Minami seems particularly down for once. Perhaps she surprisingly feels some disappointment over their loss.,,

....or maybe she just feels jaded watching Mike and her Boyfriend make kissy-face. 

The thing about Kiyota is that he doesn’t seem like an especially capable guy. But from what we’ve seen, the dude’s got a pretty agreeable personality that sort of just makes it easier for people to follow him. It’s the same reason why he became the class representative. Kiyota may not be at the top of the class in any way (that we know of), but his likability makes him a natural leader.

Of course, his true friends will still give him hella shit for it.

Like many loners with self-esteem issues, no one cares about winning until they actually start winning.

Hey, hey, hey! It seems that the disastrous fallout between Tomoko and Ucchi didn’t the stop the latter from making good on her claim to cheer Tomoko on. We don’t know if the Emoji Gang ever intervened after those events, but if Ucchi still has the nerve(cluelessness) to cheer the girl she berated, that can only be a good sign.

It’s kind of weird seeing Hirasawa next to her though, considered how Ucchi cut her down that one time. Long-term grudges do not exist unless you’re Tomoko.

Fuuka, eh? The gap between a character’s first major appearance and their revealed name gets smaller each time.  

So these two are close friends, I see. They certainly give off those “alpha girl’ airs, but not in an unapproachable way. Contrary to what Western media has fed me, bitchy queen bees aren’t actually that popular. 

I’m sure many a shipper thinks that Katou chose table tennis to be with Tomoko, but I don’t that’s the only reason. It could just as well be that she’s into the sport. For the longest time, Katou’s personality has increasingly contrasted with her appearance. On the surface, she looks like the stereotypical beauty whose friendly, girly, and is super popular. But underneath, she’s also rather unaware, possibly perverted, not actually that good with makeup, and frankly, a bit of a weirdo. She’s all full of surprises, and it honestly makes her feel more human.

That was probably not her intent, but a mini party is definitely more up Tomoko’s alley. She just barely made it through the KBBQ party after all, and while Tomoko would’ve probably made it through another large-scale party even easier, small get-togethers are the introvert’s bee’s knees.  

It’s still hard to get a read on Futaki’s sociability, but she seems like a middle-of-the-road case as far as we’ve seen.

Yuri using Tomoko as a support beam is way within my expectations of her. It hasn’t steered too far into the Unhealthy Zone (yet), but I do enjoy that Tomoko’s simple company is all Yuri really needs to enjoy herself.  

Introvert Problems #092: Preoccupying yourself with your beverage to break the awkward silence without realizing the social cue of waiting to clink glasses before drinking. 

Smooth move, me Tomoko.

Good taste, my girl. Very good taste.

I love how the artistic license in this series is played completely straight. Girls with cat smiles are a dime-a-dozen in manga, but it’s usually a visualization only apparent to the readers. But not here. Emoji eyes and a feline grin are just as ludicrous in-universe as it is to us.

Yeah...I have no idea what to make of this. Guess Yuri has her own weird quirks, after all. What makes it extra funny is when you remember that Tomoko is strangely good at cutting things. Ironic humor at its finest.

Harking back to what I said about Katou being full of surprises, it’s easy to judge Katou sorely on her appearance, given how much more refined she looks next to the other “plain" girls. But when you look beyond what’s skin deep, Katou actually has more similarities to Tomoko than she let on. Being decently athletic, but not sporty; having a high tolerance for perversion, and socially naive at times. Katou’s affection for Tomoko had always felt out-of-place when we didn’t know her personality too well. But now that we’ve gotten a good look at it, her budding friendship with Tomoko feels all the more authentic.

Being the Nucleus Friend is never easy, Tomoko. 

Ah, Tomoko, regrets are natural. One of the more informed aspects about Tomoko is that she doesn’t dwell on the past too much. Her episodes of cringe hardly have everlasting negative effects on her personality, and the only times she does dwell are when she comes to terms with the mistakes she’s made. The twist now is that Tomoko puts a positive spin on it this time. Instead of bemoaning how she did something bad, she now reflects on how she could have done something good. It’s a layer of positive reinforcement that I think Tomoko has truly benefited from.  

Futaki coming through with the Nakama Speech™. It’s a pretty good one, too. Not heavy-handed or overly sentimental, but it’s from a place of earnestness that many can appreciate.

And I just realized that Futaki has been going through a quiet development from being a single-player gamer to multi-player gamer. Damn, that was slick, Nico Tanigawa.    

Hey now, those Spot the Difference games are totally legitimate critical thinking exercises.

It’s easy to think from first glance that Yuri is being purposely insensitive by the way she’s ignoring such a heartwarming speech, but I don’t think that’s really the case. It’s not that she doesn’t care about it, it just that those dining table games are too damn engaging for her introverted mind to resist. Yuri’s personality is a lot of things, but a lack of empathy is not one of them. 

Even though that’s true, it sounds vaguely hypocritical coming from you, Tomoko.

As I thought, Mako the Mom is also Mako the Enabler. 

Is Yuri Being Bitchy or Awkward?

Neither. She’s being a weirdo.

We all know by now that Yuri’s no sheep. She’s not going to pretend she’s something she’s not just to reciprocate the mood. But at the same time, she’s aware enough to adjust herself in situations where just doing anything she wants would be potentially hurtful. Of course, that’s only when she realizes she’s being hurtful. And there’ve been a number of times where she failed at that. Yuri’s behavior is very much circumstantial, and in cases where she’s expected to fit in with the crowd, she can be bitchy, awkward, or neither based on how well she can read the atmosphere. 

And that, my friends, is why Yuri’s a weirdo.

I don’t know about that, Tomoko. As absurd as her face and gaming skills are, Futaki’s personality has always seemed fairly normal to me.

Don’t judge an emoji by its emoji.

You may laugh at their apparent difficulty at finding them all, but I read up that these specific Spot the Difference games are a reference to the ones they have in Saizeriya restaurants, which are known for being notoriously tough. (Seriously, a dude called up the manufacturer because he couldn’t find the last one). Thanks as always, /r/watamote!

Eat your words, Tomoko! Just because you have more friends now, that doesn’t mean you’re hot shit and too good for “childish” games. Not that I can blame her too much, though. It’s understandable that Tomoko feels there are certain social conventions that come with increased popularity. But if there’s one thing that Tomoko still has to realize, it’s that popularity doesn’t equal maturity. No matter how high you are on the food chain, doing dumb kiddie stuff is present all across the board. 

Didn’t I tell you that, “Not that I care” was going to be this series’ tsundere line? 

When you think about it, Yuri’s come a long way from how she was at the start. At the end of second year, she lamented that her new friends might drift away from her. Compare that to now, where she’s actually more optimistic about her relationships. Sure, the fact that they’re now in the same class is the key difference, but the sentiment is still there, and feels a lot more impactful given that Yuri has never really been this open about her feelings. 

That’s what happens when you get the last word in.

As with most of these arcs, it’s the journey rather than the end that has the most impact on our characters. For some, like Ucchi and Yuri, it was a major game-changer in their relationships with Tomoko. For others, like Itou and Hirasawa, it was an exploration of what made them the way they are. And then there’s Tomoko, still fumbling around with a degree of popularity she was never fully prepared for. 

But for everyone, it was all about trying. Trying something new, putting in the extra effort, and reaching out to others. While the results were kind of a mixed bag, nearly everyone came out of this tournament with some form of victory.

[bookwyrmling]

Tenipuri Space AU

Okay, so this is going to be pretty garbled cuz i’m tired and trying to get this all from a tumblr chat @solosorca and I have been having for the past 2 hours minimum, BUT IT’S ALSO AMAZING.

(below a cut for length)

Seishun - battle class ship Captain - Tezuka Kunimitsu Pilot/Second-in-command - Oishi Syuichiro Communications Specialist - Fuji Syuusuke Radar? Fighter pilot? - Momoshiro Takeshi (still up for grabs) Fighter Pilot - Echizen Ryoma Fighter Pilot - Tachibana An Fighter Pilot - Kikumaru Eiji Lead Scientist - Inui Sadaharu Science Officer - Sakuno Ryuzaki Med-Bay - Osakada Tomoka Engineer - Kaidoh Kaoru Engineer - Kawamura Takashi Ensign (Med-Bay) - Kachirou Katou Ensign (Engineering) - Katsuo Mizuno Ensign (Security) - Horio Satoshi

Hyotei Empire Aliens with a very strong holding of multiple galaxies Atobe Keigo is the crown prince Currently out traveling to create treaties and see about expanding Hyotei’s holdings Oshitari Yuushi is Communications specialist Oshitari and Fuji do not get along at all, but share all the ship’s gossip with each other Will also share misinformation with each other mixed into the gossip.  It is both a game and a test to see if they can pick out what is and is not true. Atobe had heard tales of Tezuka in his early years as a fighter pilot and was very excited to come across his ship during travels.  So excited, in fact, that he drew the Seishun into a battle to test Tezuka’s command capabilities. Now they are begrudging allies.

Rokkaku - Deep Space Exploration No one is sure if these guys are actually crazy or immune to the insanity deep space tends to drive humans to, but either way these guys spend most of their time exploring the unknown, unmapped parts of dark space -- the edges of the known universe or the long gaps of empty space between galaxies that were left untouched for fear of being forever lost in (think how ships in earlier times kept to parts of the sea where they could still see land, that’s how most ships travel in space, but NOT ROKKAKU!!!) Spending a lot of time out there with only infrequent returns to the civilized universe to pass on any new discoveries or map expansions, they tend to do their own ad hoc ship repairs or adjustments, so their ship looks like a mess and like it should be falling apart but it is in super amazing shape and perfect for what they need it for. Captain - Aoi Kentarou      +took the position cuz he thought it’d make him seem super attractive to girls      +mostly girls are concerned he’s crazy so avoid him Most positions on deep space exploration ships are filled by people who are cross-trained, because they are too far for any sort of response from other ships in emergency situations.  For example, Kurobane and Davide are both fighter pilots, but Kurobane is also a mechanic while Davide fills the role of ship counselor (a necessity on expeditions like this because the solitariness of deep space has led to...incidents.  Icchan is Med-Bay doc and scientist.  Saeki is communications and second-in-command, helping Aoi with battle tactics when required.  Ryo is pilot and radar (his set-up is insane and nobody else really gets how he does it)...I honestly don’t know what to do with Shudoh yet... Anyway, whenever Rokkaku comes back on the map, they always have the coolest stuff to share, but everyone’s afraid to make first contact, because what if they ahve gone off the deep end this time....

--Deep Space/Incidents/Character history-- Deep space is very solitary.  Like, there is usually nothing out there except when a new galaxy is found or they come across intergalactic stars/planets, etc.  So sometimes, when people have been out there too long, they way they think gets warped and suddenly ships don’t come back or they do but they’re pirates or cause extreme destruction.  There are rules in place that require a counselor on board all deep space exploration ships and any time a ship begins to show signs of mental instability amongst its crew, they have direct overarching orders to return to the nearest base for reassignment.  Most deep space crews are regularly shuffled around so no one is out there too long.  Rokkaku makes people nervous because of how long the crew has been together and in deep space. Fuji and Saeki were once both on a deep space exploration ship as ensigns and were the only two to make it back.  They will not talk about what happened, so it’s a complete mystery, but they both did manage to pass their psych evals and get reassigned.  Fuji requested and was granted assignment as Comms specialist to Combat/Defense ships and was placed on Seishun, a new ship that Ryuzaki Sumire was working with captain, Tezuka Kunimitsu, to staff.  Saeki, much to everyone’s surprise (and some concern), requested to return to deep space exploration and was placed with Rokkaku by Oji.  Every once in a while, Fuji and Saeki both seem a bit different, scarier, with an odd light in their eye or tilt to their smile, but before anyone can really begin to catch onto it, it disappears behind their usual smiles.

Higa - space pirates

Rikkai Collective - attempting to conquer and expand influence over the known universe.  They have lost their home solar system to their star dying, but colonized many of the ones they have taken over.  Because of this, they are not one alien species, but a blend of many, with some cross-species existing, as well.  Are known to be particularly cruel in battle and conscript all healthy civilians of where they take over into direct military service or the military industrial complex as a whole (i.e.: building ships, arms development, etc)

Fudoumine - battle class Home defense An originally started off here under her brother’s captaincy but transferred to Seishun because they tend to have more time spent traveling outside of the solar system and galaxy and she wanted the chance to grow. Everyone cried when An left.

Further notes 1. Women are a definite minority in the fighter pilot class and female fighter pilots have a tendency to be looked down upon by male peers.  An works, like, 120% harder to prove herself as just as good if not better than any man and is really blazing a path for future female fighter pilots, as well. 2. She and Ryoma don’t get along too well at first because Ryoma’s a cocky snot who will definitely be the best so how is this girl managing to keep up with him???  But they become friends because they both work insanely hard to prove themselves (Ryoma because of his famous father and An because of her gender) and don’t take shit from anybody.  They work really well together as a team once they do become friends, mostly because An is really good at figuring out what Ryoma is trying to do while fighting and can back him up or fill in the gaps. 3. An becomes a definite mentor for the younger members 4. Anytime one comes up to Ryoma for training because they judge An based on her gender not her results as a pilot, Ryoma runs them through the same drill An is running at the time so she can kick their ass at it. 5. Sakuno gets a lot of flack, too, because it’s her grandmother who helped Tezuka put the crew together.  She can be on the quiet side and not one to really stand up for herself, so some of the crew will talk about her like she’s only there because of her grandmother.  When that happens, Sakuno gets angry and hurt and rants to her friend Tomoka when it gets to be too much, but instead of confronting anyone, she just focuses more on her research and is actually an indispensable member of the team.  When Inui’s unsanctioned experiments with alien flora/fauna/minerals/etc get out of control or start causing problems, she’s the only other person with the capacity to figure out what Inui was doing and how to stop the chaos. 6. All Comms personnel are horrible gossips. 7. Tomoka is the second biggest gossip on Seishun and she and Fuji often get together to share watercooler talk. 8. Kawamura enjoys trading culinary tips and tricks and menus with individuals from alien species he meets.  He cooks in his spare time and practices a lot of what he learns to make really interesting fusion dishes that are greatly appreciated. 9. Inui’s similar attempts at nutritional supplements are not near so looked forward to. 10. Earth’s space agency is called ISEF.  Ryuzaki Sumire and Oji are both high up in its management.  The agency takes from all countries with affiliated schooling systems, but the systems are under the control of the country and ISEF only has objectives and educational requirements that have to be met before they will accept students for testing and, upon passing the tests, placement.  Although Ryoma is the same age as the three ensigns on Seishun, he is actually a semi-experienced fighter pilot because the US starts its combat training at an earlier age and, thanks to training from his father, Ryoma was allowed to do a sort of accelerated program due to how advanced he was.

Extras because we ship it 1. Sakuno definitely does not have a crush on the super amazing female fighter pilot, An, who won’t take shit from anyone and stands up for herself, she doesn’t know what you’re talking about.  NO TOMOKA, DON’T SAY THAT!!! 2. An definitely does not have a crush on the cute, quiet and super intelligent female science officer who is really kind and amazing and *sigh*...I mean, what??? 3. Pillar Pair.  It exists.  They have to keep it a secret, though because of the power discrepancy.  Protocol would normally demand they work on separate ships, but then they’d never be able to see each other which is stupid.  Fuji and An are the first to find out about it.  So much teasing occurs.

[toonstarterz]

BECAUSE I’M NOT POPULAR, I’LL READ WATAMOTE: CHAPTER #138

Welcome to the first episode of Tomoko’s Speed Dating Arc! Our first contender is the resident “shy maiden”, Yuri Tamura. Her hobbies include listening to music and punching people. Today’s date will include a walk around a college campus, lunch at a local eatery, and shopping for new digs. How will Tomoko fair against this unreadable cutie? 

Find out right after the break! 

Chapter 138: Because I’m Not Popular, I’ll Check Out Colleges

My only comment here is what in the name of all that is good is with Yuri’s big ass purse?

In Tomoko’s eyes, Mako may as well be Yuri’s shadow, so it’s totally understandable that she’d be shocked that the girl came alone this time. Of course, Yuri’s lack of self-awareness means she didn’t even consider how that might throw people off.

There she goes again with the “same as me” comment to put her and Tomoko in the same boat. Little does she know that being in Tomoko’s boat is guaranteed to end in a mutual sinking.

Just look at these fashionable ladies in their adorable outfits. Tomoko, obviously, putting extra emphasis on the “casual” with her loose-fitting clothes and trademark hat to cover that shaggy hair. Then we have Yuri, super reserved with her puffy sleeves, plaid skirt with a screentone pattern that doesn’t hug the fabric at all; and her socks n’ sandals combo.

One thing to note is how they do the opposite of their uniforms regarding skin exposure. The long skirt-wearing Tomoko now has her bare legs visible, whereas the short skirt-wearing Yuri only has her knees exposed. Perhaps it’s a matter of self-confidence between a private (school) vs public setting. Tomoko has no issue showing more skin to strangers, while Yuri would feel self-conscious displaying herself to people other than close friends.

Or, you know, I’m just overthinking it again. 

Chiba West University: Where the Adibas-wearing students go to drink coffee at Sudobucks while doing homework on their Marosoft PCs.  

As encouraging as Yuri makes this sound, a part of me thinks that Yuri is also pushing herself so she can one-up Nemo and Katou. Hey, a little pettiness can be a good motivator.

Post Traumatic Ogino Disorder triggered.

Yuri-sensei would be an absolutely adorable teacher. Unfortunately, her quiet demeanor would make it easy for the little kiddos to walk all over her. Luckily, what she lacks in assertiveness…

...she makes up for in unjustified corporal punishment.

How refreshing it is that Yuri doesn’t automatically get annoyed by Tomoko’s opinion, and instead asks for her reasoning. Though Tomoko may be an idiot, it’s nice to see that Yuri recognizes that her friend is intelligent in ways that she isn’t.

Word for word from the Ogino’s Meddling Career Counseling chapter. I’m starting to think Tomoko will eat these words one way.

Hey, c’mon now, Tomoko. You used to be quite the stupid preteen yourself.

But in all seriousness, this assertion makes perfect sense for Tomoko. Her personality is one that is very incompatible with itself, hence her rivalry with Komi-something. Having to deal with hormonal and emotionally vulnerable middle schoolers would probably hit too close to home.

AHAHAHAHA, I’m totally not guilty of having thought the same thing when I was in high school...haha.

But you know, this harks back to what Nemo said about girls that act like a hive mind. When you do something to break away from the group’s dynamic, you become the “outsider”. The friend the other ones don’t necessarily hate, but are often ignored simply because they’re unlike the others.

In other words, you become the Ucchi.

Isn’t it obvious, Tomoko? She just wanted you to think that you both have more in common than you might’ve thought. Even if it means some opportunistic fibbing.

Given what we’ve seen between Yuri and Mako’s friendship, it’s both surprising and not surprising that Yuri doesn’t know about Mako’s career goals. We like to think that as BFFs, Yuri would know more, but as recent chapters have shown, Yuri doesn’t necessarily put in as much into the friendship as Mako does.

This may be the first clue to suggest that Tomoko could overtake Mako’s role as Yuri’s best friend.

So cults on campus have started to become a thing, eh? I really do enjoy these little details that show how even university life isn’t all flowers and sunshine. If the series ever extends into Tomoko’s college life, this would be an interesting field for her to maneuver around.

It must be said, the detail in this background of the campus courtyard(?) is very well done. The perspective really keys into how expansive it must be. I sure wouldn’t be surprised if Nico Tanigawa went and visited some colleges themselves as a reference for drawing up these upcoming chapters.

Unless you go to one of those party schools, the idea that college students are a bunch of wild social butterflies is false. In my experience, university kids are more reserved in their everyday life because being a rowdy bunch is too financially/socially expensive. They simply don’t have the luxury of being super extroverted all the time. If you have the means to go to a prestigious school, then you’re going to be doing a lot of studying. And if you go to a party college, then partying is what you’re going to end up doing. Such is the nature of the millennial.

Yuri’s dilemma is linked to a common issue revolving around the purpose of school: Do you go there to learn book smarts or street smarts? What is more important, knowledge or networking? For someone with low ambitions like Yuri, having to make a long-lasting commitment like what type of college life you desire can be a huge burden on one’s shoulders, especially when people expect you chose for reasons that go against your very nature.

But yes, Tomoko’s reasoning is incredibly sound,  and one yours truly learned the hard way. A major fallacy in the job hunting process is that employers are more likely to hire people who are more outgoing or easy to work with than someone more knowledgeable but less socially experienced. This practice is often quoted as “It’s not what you know, its who you know”, and can be a real obstacle for introverts like Tomoko and Yuri.  

I appreciate how the frame focuses on this young lady to the side when Tomoko talks about studious college kids. Everyone knows the model of a good university student is a slim, bespectacled lady in a conservative skirt who secretly lewds the brothers from Osomatsu-san and drowns her troubles in beer.

Also, I see you casually smiling there, Yuri. Just like the old days.   

How sweet! Thanks to Tomoko’s reassurance, Yuri lets loose her earnest insecurities, openly declaring how much Tomoko’s presence means to her. Surely even Tomoko would not be so blind as to ignore such–nevermind.

I’m suddenly reminded just how long it’s been since the first field trip arc. No way Tomoko would make the same mistake twice, right?

Phew, thank goodness!

Bull. Shit. You totally were.

Whaaaat? Tomoko watches normie programs and not just otaku-pandering anime? Like, omigawd how can I relate my own degenerate lifestyle to Tomoko if she has slightly positive attributes?

Ah, Yoshida. For being such a transparent, pure-hearted delinquent, even she isn’t the type to make people feel terrible right in front of them. I had a feeling that Yoshida and Yuri would talk about Tomoko behind her back, especially in the earlier chapters. Not maliciously like Minami, but disconcertedly. Cause let’s face it, you’re bound to get uneasy when you hang out with Tomoko for the first time.

I’ve always wondered, what’s Yuri’s take on the whole “Yoshida is a delinquent,” business? Nearly everyone else can agree that Yoshida has delinquent tendencies, even if they aren’t as vocal about it as Tomoko. But Yuri has, to my knowledge, neither agreed nor disagreed with this sentiment. Perhaps that just means Yoshida’s yankee-ness is inconsequential for Yuri. Whether she is or isn’t, Yuri isn’t about to treat Yoshida any differently than she has before.

NOTICE: We regret to inform you that ToonStarterz nearly broke his laptop trying to give a fictional character a comforting hug through the monitor. He’ll be back shortly after contemplating his life choices. 

Only Tomoko can take the image of Yoshida as some kind of gangbanger and spin it into an encouraging speech for Yuri. What glorious trash she be.

Yeah, Tomoko’s mind has always been a little warped, as Yuri once thought. She always seems to take a little too much pleasure in seeing the depravity/vices of others, like how she wanted to have lunch with Hirasawa just to hear about her supposed sexual exploits. As Tomoko becomes more comfortable in her own skin and comes to terms with her own degeneracy, her delight in seeing it in others could be her own twisted sense of empathy at play.

Despite everything, I think Tomoko has more or less stopped acting condescending towards Yoshida’s delinquent status. Nowadays, she views that side of Yoshida with an air of fondness, even spinning it into something positive for Yuri’s sake. It’s a development that actually works for Tomoko and Yoshida’s friendship. Tomoko hasn’t really stopped accosting her, but she’s managed to entertain herself through it. Thankfully, Yoshida’s proven that much of Tomoko’s shittiness doesn’t really bother her, and even seems to gravitate towards those kinds of friends.

And best of all, it’s that frankness from Tomoko and Yoshida that inspires Yuri out of her bubble of inaction. 

That-a-girl, Yuri. Show her how reliable you can be. 

Still, she needs to learn that friendship isn’t just a give-and-take. Sometimes you end up having to give and NOT take just to stay afloat. Meeting them halfway isn’t always viable, but in true friendship, the other person knows how that feels too, meaning you can reach an equilibrium because of that mutual imbalance.

Even though Yuri is not one to give out half-hearted sympathies, when she does understand you, her empathy levels are top-notch. 

The last 137 chapters of the series flashed before the readers’ minds.

There’s a Moment in every good manga where the main character will say or do something that instantly endears them to you. That makes you think, “This is so me!” or “#ourgirl”. For a series that’s as socially aware as this is, Tomoko rejecting a purchase simply because she doesn’t want to give in to a higher entity’s persuasion is one of those key Moments. Stay woke, Tomoko.

If it were from anybody else, I feel like Tomoko would have gotten ticked off over a comment like that. Perhaps its because it’s Yuri, and Tomoko knows she isn’t the teasing type, and therefore, must be genuinely convinced that it wouldn’t fit Tomoko’s style.

And Yuri’s role as the replacement Yuu officially begins. Sorry, Ucchi.

As disturbing as it sounds, getting harassed by Tomoko like this is actually a mark which symbolizes that Tomoko’s gotten comfortable enough with you to see you as a close friend. Yuu’s the only one to have this, er, “privilege”, and I can’t help but find that freakishly meaningful.

Has Watamote seriously reached a high enough standard that simply wearing a cold shoulder top is enough to be considered fanservice?

Yes. Yes, it has.

Many of us readers were waiting for the moment when Tomoko realizes that Yuri is actually pretty sex...er, beautiful (sorry, calling Yuri “sexy” or “hot” just feels WRONG to me). This may mean that Tomoko is going to start lewding the girl in her mind. Now considering that Tomoko is all bark and no bite, that might actually be flattering to some degree. Maybe.

Ah, good times. Good...times.

I see, so it’s not actually the perving on girls that Tomoko enjoys. It’s the thrill of seeing someone swim in dangerous waters. The contrast between goodness and “badness” which inevitably leads to a firecracker display of embarrassment that Tomoko eats up like the nasty she is.

Once again, we’re reminded why Tomoko had trouble making friends in the first place.

I’m actually glad that Tomoko is under no illusions. This behavior is scummy, and she knows it. That said, she has her self-serving limits. By mentioning how she couldn’t do this before with the others, she knows that harassing normies like Nemo or punks like Yoshida would lead to her downfall. Whereas Yuri, whom Tomoko suddenly realized is a “pure n’ plain” girl, would likely not retaliate too much from a little sexual harassment. 

Doesn’t mean she won’t push her luck.  

You tend to forget that for being a quiet, introverted girl, Yuri is no pushover. She won’t go out of her way to actively antagonize you (usually), but when you try to push her into something she disagrees with, she’s solid as a rock. 

Take that, readers! Nico Tanigawa ain’t about to throw you two bones in one chapter.

I...wouldn’t put it past her. But that may actually be why Yuri has been so essential to Tomoko’s growth. Tomoko’s friendship with Yuu is solid, but Yuu’s sweetness was a crutch. Because Yuu accepts Tomoko wholeheartedly, the latter never had any motivation to really change herself. Yuri openly disapproves of Tomoko’s negative qualities, and it’s ultimately made the girl a slightly better friend.  

Sometimes, Nico Tanigawa uses the manga medium to their fullest advantage. In this case, playing with the dialogue and speakers. There’s nothing to indicate who’s saying this monologue. But that’s exactly it:

Both Tomoko and Yuri are thinking about this. These concerns and desires are applicable to each of them. Different as they are on the outside, they are, emotionally, more similar than they ever realized. 

This is a common defense mechanism for introverts. To avoid a blow to their self-esteem, they don’t put high expectations on their social lives. That way, they won’t be disappointed should those friendships drift apart. 

But sometimes, you meet some people. Maybe even just one person who you just click with. You can’t imagine drifting away from them because you feel like you lose so much. And suddenly, the protectiveness you feel by keeping everyone at a distance is penetrated by the very few who you’ve managed to embrace. Then you realize, late as Tomoko often does, that the path of least resistance is no longer viable. All that’s left is to march down the path full of risks if it means you get to keep what’s at the end of the rainbow.

Without a doubt...

The. 

Sweetest. 

Moment. 

EVER.

Nowadays, the chapters of Watamote end in one of two ways. A cringy, but non-meanspirited gag, or a bittersweet, but heartwarming self-reflection. The last one happens sporadically, or it’d start to lose its meaning, which is exactly what we get here. Tomoko is not an overly (deludedly, in the past) optimistic person. She’s more of a realist now. But when faced with a thought that hits the middle of being optimistic or pessimistic, Tomoko will steer more towards the latter. It’s a much healthier mindset that stays grounded in reality, but looks more towards the bright side. She didn’t have to call Yuri by her first name. But a small part of her told her that maybe, just maybe, getting a little closer to Yuri would lead their relationship towards something more.

This chapter really set the bar for Tomoko’s Golden Week. Let’s see how Nemoto and Katou fair following a tough act like that. 

[toonstarterz]

BECAUSE I’M NOT POPULAR, I’LL READ WATAMOTE: CHAPTER #125

Nico Tanigawa decided to waste no time and jumped right into the next field trip arc. I’m sure some fans are concerned that the pacing is a little too fast, but I honestly think that’s only because we don’t have many hints as to where this manga is going after the field trip, at least in terms of tangible school events. There’s still plenty character relationships to explore in this manga, so I’d say we just go with the flow, and see where Tomoko’s experience at the House of Mouse will lead her. 

Chapter 125: Because I’m Not Popular, I’ll Start My Field Trip

Yuri would probably die without her pockets.

Showing exposition through character is another strength of this manga. We don’t need the teacher or some omnipresent narrator to explain how the field trip is gonna go. We just need the character’s thoughts to set up the context of the chapter. Tomoko’s comment on how hands-off the teachers are implies a lack of adult supervision, which then raises the stakes for whatever shenanigans our girls will inevitably get into.  

Yoshida’s default scowl is now her default smile. I’d expect nothing less at the Happiest Place on Earth. 

Like I said, these tidbits of conversation actually give meaning to events that happen later on. In Yoshida’s case, knowing that she plans to hang out with others is going to be very significant for what’s soon to come. 

Team Normie from left to right: Finding Nemo, Glasses-kun, Short Guy I Don’t Recognize, Suzuki, Guy I Do Recognize But Don’t Remember Where, Little Fanged Bitch, Class Mom, and Pineapple-chan. 

Layouts like this are awesome because of how much they show without any words. If you showed this panel to someone unfamiliar with Watamote, they could likely tell that Nemoto and Okada don’t like each other because of how the six in the middle are facing inward, while the girls on the far ends are facing outward. 

On that note, I’ll always be impressed by how well Nemoto can hide her negative emotions under a smile. Okada, not so much. 

Perhaps this is just my limited experience with manga and anime talking, but I always find it interesting by how platonically intimate the boys and girls are in Nemoto’s group, i.e. using nicknames. Granted, close friends across different genders is nothing surprising in manga/anime, but there’s often this romantic subtext, usually from other characters, which fans often take as evidence to there being something more. In Nemoto’s group, I haven’t seen this implication at all other than first year Tomoko’s delusions. It’s rather refreshing when I come across a series that can pull this off.

Flustered Minami is annoyingly cute. 

Guess I better stop beating around the bush and address the elephant in the room.

In actuality, I had thought that Nemoto and Okada had got into a fight in the previous chapter, but I didn’t touch upon it because I didn’t think there was sufficient evidence and I would’ve been talking out of my ass. But, lo and behold, they really were having a fight. 

It’s Yuri and Mako from the previous trip all over again.

As for what that fight was about, I’m 99% sure it was about Nemoto coming out of the otaku closet. And if I may guess, I don’t think Okada has an issue with Nemoto’s interests, but that the latter lied, or at least, dodged the truth, about her desire to be a voice actress. A barrier of trust seems to have cracked between them, and because Watamote is a great manga that doesn’t let its audience take any obvious side, it’ll be interesting to see how they patch things up.

So here’s a question: Why doesn’t Minami go off with her other friends? Y’know, the ones she had before she got placed in class 3-5? Perhaps her friends were not as close to her as she originally thought, but more likely, I think it’s just that Minami is trying to cement her “place” in Katou’s clique. Given that’s still in the periphery zone, disconnecting from Katou’s group would bring her two steps back, so better that she strike now while the iron is hot.  

More like a fourth wheel, but same difference. 

Nemoto’s at it again with the half-lies. If we’re getting real here, I honestly don’t think Nemoto would join up with Tomoko’s group if she could help it. Right now, she just has a convenient excuse to not join her usual friends, and at the moment, Tomoko is her rebound. Of course, she has to play it up as her being extra friendly, or she wouldn’t be Nemoto. 

Mako, bless her soul, is obviously the go-to-gal to speak with, being the most socially adept of the three. She may just be the indisputable nice girl of the series, next to Yuu. 

I’m inclined to believe that little blurb of how they’ve never talked to each is all in Nemoto’s head, ‘cause there’s no way she’d ever be that tactless. In any case, it’s be a real treat if Yuri and Nemoto ended up on the same ride, only to start discussing their mutual buddy, Tomoko. 

Nemo gotta chill with that passive aggression. Physically imposing herself over Tomoko, and speaking in such a manner that leaves the latter with no room to argue...Nemoto is quite the manipulator, and it’s totally intentional on the mangaka’s part. On second thought, keep it up Nemoto, because it’s admittedly entertaining to see you go at her like that.

Writing about Nemoto is always hard because it’s very difficult to get a good read on her. It does often seem that she’s actively pushing Tomoko out of her comfort zone, but whether she’s doing that out of simple kindness or to feel better about herself is unclear.

I do wonder how Yen Press is going to handle the censorship for this arc. Obviously, Disneyland is going to be asterisked, or renamed into “Mouseyland” like in volume 9. But does Splash Mountain require censorship? It is a real name, so I believe it would...

I’ll get back to Nemoto and the whole mouse ears thing later. 

This scene was more significant to me than was probably intended, because I believe it’s the first time Tomoko has viewed Yuri with any obvious admiration. Yuri’s unwavering nature is one of her likeable traits, and for someone like Tomoko, who often finds herself sucked into uphill battles, being able to go against the flow must really speak to her. Hopefully, this will develop Tomoko’s side of her friendship with Yuri.

PFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTT.

Ucchi’s presence was a mandatory for this arc, and it’s great that they manage to include her in the story in a way that is both times utterly ridiculous and completely realistic for this manga. 

Playing the victim card is entirely Ucchi’s modus operandi, to varying degrees of effectiveness. It allows her to hopefully achieve her objective, while at the same time removes any responsibility for her actions. Is it an effective strategy? Certainly. Will Ucchi pull it off? Not a fucking chance. 

dem crocodile tears.

Because Ucchi, a.k.a My Legs are Numb, is such a terrible liar, she has to rely on her second tactic when the first tactic inevitably fails: false accusations. By putting the blame onto Mako, Ucchi continues to free herself of responsibility while Mako is pressured into helping her out of guilt. I call this accusation “false” because I’m not entirely sure to what extent Mako and Ucchi are friends. But it doesn’t really matter at the moment, because as long as there’s a sliver of friendship between them, Ucchi will use it as ammunition.  

I remember asking for this girl’s name back in my review of chapter 117. Wish granted. (But now I’m gonna start thinking of Studio Ghibli films whenever she shows up.)

And because nothing can ever go Ucchi’s way, her final tactic is...throwing a tantrum. Admittedly, it takes a lot for Ucchi to start openly freaking out, and only when is on the verge of losing or is losing the thing she wants. It’s here where Ucchi’s logic becomes very suspect, and her bitch tendencies start to become more apparent. 

Props to Mako, for being so collected during this hissyfit.  

Subtlety...

...Ucchi is not. The dramatic irony of this manga is spectacular whenever Emoji-girl is concerned. For the two girls here, Ucchi’s antics probably come off as her just being physically assertive. But the readers all know what’s really going on. Ucchi forcing herself between them is clearly a bold attempt at getting closer to Tomoko, and it’s crazy how supposedly meaningless actions like this suddenly carry so much meaning when performed by a particular character.

6 seconds...7 seconds....8 seconds...

I fully expect the fanart to explode with this image. 

Many people in the fandom are calling this fan-service, and in way, that’s true. but I want to distinguish what part of this is fan-service, and what isn’t. To put it finely, Yoshida dressing up in Disneyland gear is not fanservice, because the series has long since set this up as a part of Yoshida’s character, so narratively, it makes perfect sense for Yoshida to be donning mouse ears and a faux-Tigger jacket. 

What is fanservice is how Yoshida’s presented, and, in the most objective way possible, how erotic it is. It’s not just the “gap moe” of a tough girl in cute clothes, but Yoshida’s appearance is obviously meant to titillate the viewers. The roughened up demeanor, the jacket slightly falling off, the bruise clearly meant to look like a blush, and her pouty expression are all an intentional decision meant for the Yoshida fans. 

As a final note, I’m not condemning the mangaka for this, because as far as fanservice goes, this is very tasteful. Why? Because it says more about Yoshida’s attractiveness as a character than any half-assed attempt to put her in “sexy” situations.   

As I had just suggested, I love how Nico Tanigawa subverts our expectations by giving Yoshida what looks like a blush, when it’s actually a bruise. Well played.

Nemo, I don’t think anyone expected Tomoko and Yuri to be friends with Yoshida, at least as close friends. She likely finds it confusing that a delinquent like Yoshida would get along with relatively good people like Tomoko and Yuri, but as is a common theme in this manga, strong friendships are forged not through similar interests, but in shared temperaments and values, by which the T-Y-Y group most certainly have.

23 seconds...24 seconds...25 seconds...   

Funny you should think that Nemoto, considering that you were the one who first suggested you’d all get mouse ears in the first place. But in all seriousness, this surprise could just be exclusive to Yoshida. Buying mouse ears as a group falls in line with the “typical things to do at Disneyland”, so it’s natural from Nemoto’s perspective. Yoshida, whose character is rather atypical to Nemoto, likely came off as the type to be resistant to such cute things.

You have a lot to learn in this group, Nemoto. 

And this is the first hint towards the question, “What happened between Yoshida and her friends?” The common theory going around seems to be that Yoshida and her yankee friends got into a falling out, possibly over Yoshida’s cuteness, leading to the bruise on her face. Given I don’t see any other reason why she would switch plans, it does suggest that at least something foul went down, which could possibly lead to Yoshida being more comfortable with her loner crew in the future. 

Also, that bruise healed up fast.

Something tells me Nico Tanigawa are trying to beat the readers to the punch by tsukommi-ing at points where the readers may have doubts. I certainly wouldn’t want them to do this often, or would be more of a crutch than anything. But used sporadically, it helps assure the users that the mangaka has considered the same thing, and will likely proceed the story with that in mind.

67 seconds...68 seconds...69 seconds...

Ucchi, BLINK for crying out loud! 

Nemoto: I’ve always liked how Nemoto’s opinion on Tomoko is neither positive or negative. Just...interesting. If I had to say where I think this opinion will end, it’d be a begrudging respect for Tomoko and her weirdness.

Ucchi: Emoji transcended the fourth wall and came out with an insight straight out of 4chan. Her annoyance, I believe, stems from a realization that Tomoko is more likeable than Ucchi thought, which sort of negates that feeling of importance Ucchi gets from Tomoko’s supposed attention. 

Yuri: Not surprisingly, Yuri totally blindsided Nemoto and Ucchi when referring to their four-person group. I don’t think Yuri’s eager to add more people into her circle, but hey, Nico Tanigawa may come to surprise us.

Mako: With that stoic expression, Mako? Then again, only a bestie like Mako could see the subtle changes in Yuri’s emotional state. 

Yoshida: So aggressively cute! Leave it to Yoshida to head the group at a time like this. I must admit, I was worried that Yoshida would fall too much into the “delinquent likes cute things” cliche, but I like how it’s done here. Yoshida’s demeanor isn’t a lightswitch that changes between ‘violent’ and ‘adorable’ with no in-between. Her toughness is still present, whether she’s beating up Tomoko, or fawning over cat plushies. 

This was a set-up chapter, all things considered, but it gets the job done by hyping the readers for what’s to come. If I know this series as well as I hope I do, something will happen in this arc that will change up a character relationship for the rest of the school year. It could be anything at this point–Yoshida breaking off with her delinquent buddies, Ucchi giving a cringefest-of-a-confession to Tomoko, Nemoto and Yuri sharing an unexpected bond–the possibilities are endless.

Place your bets!