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You know, I've never really been huge on the M&M ship, but this page makes me look on them much more kindly =] It's just so sweet.

I'd be quite happy if Miharu and Yosue got together in the end. He's a really nice guy and he loves her so much that it's almost painful to read the chapters where he tries to help her with Kazuo. And this page is just so sweet, especially with Miharu blushing and smiling. And she does look beautiful.

I am in love with these two.

I JUST realized Miharu stopped wearing her string. I had to go back two chapters to remember her taking it off. Wonder what Kazuo will say when he sees she doesn't have it on. Of course her choker is red-ish, so he may not even notice.

I don't think Fuuko blushing in the presence of guys is a sign of her liking them at all. She blushed when she spoke to Maya's older brother, but that may have just been because she was trying to project her feelings for her onto him. She blushed at Kazuo possibly because he was so charming. Other times it might just be that she was flustered. She mentioned that she had never been approached by a guy before, that can be very nerve-wracking whether you're into them or not. Hanae seems to be used to it, after all she's supposed to be the most beautiful girl Fuuko's ever met. She's probably been approached enough times to become jaded by it, where Fuuko has not. I know that in similar situations I react a lot like Hanae, just because I find it kind of disrespectful to approach someone romantically on looks alone

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Incredibly infrequent

I think she was refering to today's page. Poor Yosue.


On that note, I really am getting fed up with Miharu. Before I could give her the benefit of the doubt on her torture of Makoto. But now? That girl KNOWS he's in love with her, yet she continues to talk incessantly about Kazuo with him and then does stuff like THIS in front of him. At this point, she's just being heartless and inconsiderate.

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Threads of different lengths. Some longer, some shorter. So many of them spun together.
The crones keep on weaving the algorithm of our lives. Cause and effect, the fates of men.
~Turisas

If I recall, but Makoto offered to help settle things between her and Kazuo, even if that meant her ending back up with Kazuo and not him. You know, to be a good friend (I don't doubt the love has something to do with it). Miharu DOES needs a friend, and he did offer, so what is she supposed to do? Tell him no because he loves her? To me, that would be more cruel.

To me, it's a fine line between masochism on his part, and loving another human being enough to help them be happy, even if it doesn't end well for him, that's love. It's extremely mature for a guy that age to understand that.

My sources for this line of thinking: Chap 34 14-16, he's actively helping her find a way to help him, and even finds the cook-off. In chapter 33, he encourages her to go talk to him in the park, and then follows her to check up on them.

Alright " To me, it's a fine line between masochism on his part, and loving another human being enough to help them be happy, even if it doesn't end well for him, that's love. It's extremely mature for a guy that age to understand that. " is the truest sentence ever spoken. The proof is actually chapter 33 pages 4 and 5. He fully knows and understands the risks of helping someone you love, when knowing they love someone else.

But yes, I still would like to see Haru help the spineless one grow a spine. Maybe after he does some personal-emotional growing, MAYBE Haru can find it in her heart to give it another shot at happiness.

Yes, he's bringing it on himself as well. I don't deny that. But Miharu is being completely inconsiderate. I've been on his side of this before. The least she could do is act a little bit more delicate about the situation around him.

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Threads of different lengths. Some longer, some shorter. So many of them spun together.
The crones keep on weaving the algorithm of our lives. Cause and effect, the fates of men.
~Turisas

Sudden thought. What if Kazuo sees them sitting together at the competition, gets jealous and tries to get her back out of jealousy? Or, even more exciting, if Kazuo sees Miharu there and gets upset, then Yosue suddenly kisses her to make him jealous? (I know I should be calling him Makoto by now, but my early exposure to Sailor Moon solidified the unisex name as feminine and Yosue just sounds so much cooler.)

I don't think Miharu really does understand that Yosue's still in love with her. I think she honestly believes he's given up on her and that they're sincerely just friends. Though I do think back to page 31.06...

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Incredibly infrequent

Wait, hang on, Miharu's being mean because she's dressed up? What is she supposed to do around Makoto, wear dirty clothes instead? I don't get it. Makoto made his own choices- and there's really no information that Miharu has even considered that Makoto still likes her. Considering he's been all "I'll help you with Kazuo., etc, etc..." it may not even be a thought in her mind. Even if she did realize that- there's no proof that she cares for him in that way. Not all the characters see what we see, remember?

...besides, Miharu always dresses really, really well. I don't see why she should have to change because of someone else's feelings.

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What's that in your hand, a toy? -Shinobu, No More Heroes

I know it's been a while since I've stuck my mug in around here, and I think a visit's way overdue. I've been keeping up with the comic, though. I just haven't been able to speak my mind on the matter.

Where Miharu's dressing up is concerned, I don't think she should change her fashion sense just around Yosue. Everyone's entitled to have their tastes in how they dress, and everyeone else be damned. Don't people dress up so they can be noticed (generally speaking)? If it can't be helped that people *notice*-notice, then it can't be helped, can it?

And where shipping is concerned, I've found myself jumping off the Mihazuo and taking up a post on the Mihakoto (or Mihasue, whichever you fellow shippers prefer). It's just me, but I tend to hold a grudge for a while. You do me or a close friend wrong, you've done me (or said close friend) wrong for a decade, or longer, whichever is the shortest time for me to get over it. Miharu is a character in this comic that I've come to regard as a close friend, and with what Kazuo's done...well, you get the idea.

I've also found that in plenty of romances (both in real life and in fiction), a really strong couple doesn't actually become a couple until after they've built a really strong bond and/or friendship, from sacrificing time and advice on a platonic level and working up. From the knowledge gained from that friendship, they grow into something very profound and beautiful. I'm starting to see this trend with Miharu and Yosue, and those are the types of relationships that I urge on to the fullest.

On a final note, I don't mind calling him Makoto either, but Yosue just sounds more personalized. Hell, it makes him sound cooler, more...him.

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"There is no rose without thorns. No love without consequences." -- Red String
SFC Omicron -- Served on the Mihazuo, currently serving on the ships Mihakoto, Miheika, and Reiji

I'm NOT demonizing Miharu here. Yes she has a right to wear whatever she wants. You guys are making it sound like I'm presenting the argument "that chick got raped because she asked for it with that short skirt."

Miharu does know he has feelings for her. And we can see her catch on to the awkwardness of some things that have gone on between them. She thought back about the time she threw herself on him while he was comforting her over Kazuo, she often blushes or turns away when she notices him being intense, there are many little clues even if she doesn't want to admit it to herself. With a situation like this, it's often good to distance yourself from someone for a bit, just until the heat of the feelings calm down and you really can move toward being "just friends."

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Threads of different lengths. Some longer, some shorter. So many of them spun together.
The crones keep on weaving the algorithm of our lives. Cause and effect, the fates of men.
~Turisas

I'm not sure if I'm in the minority here, but I'm having a hard time accepting the idea of a Miharu/Makoto pairing =/ which is weird because I don't dislike Makoto. He's obviously a terrific guy and friend, he's proven that on more than one occasion, but for some reason him and Miharu as a couple doesn't sit right with me. I'll admit I haven't been able to get past the whole him loving/tracking her down after seeing a photo of her, that's definitely got something to do with it (I still find that really odd, but I'm trying to keep the genre in mind since I've also found other manga/anime do employ similar scenarios). And I mean I feel like I might've gotten past it if I'd seen Makoto dating or 'with' another girl before all this. I acknowledge he was initially busy trying to get to know/pursuing Miharu and then busy trying to get over Miharu while trying to fall in love with Karen, I just wish somewhere in-between all that he could've had the opportunity to date other girls. I'm not sure if this has been established or not, but did he have girlfriends before he met Miharu or even date seriously? Because all I've got to go on with him in terms of relationship experience is his adoration and subsequent relentless pursuit of a girl in a picture he'd never met and I really hope that's not the case (he's a good looking guy so I feel like it's not, I probably did miss something somewhere saying he's had other girlfriends). Beyond that, he's too 'perfect' for my tastes. I always found him kind of boring because his only major flaw seemed to be that he was in love with Miharu when she already had a boyfriend. Other than that it looks like he has everything else going for him (if anyone can think of other flaws he has, please, help me out, I'm willing to learn!). He's a great side character, don't get me wrong, but that's all he seems to be (for me), a side character. It's nice when he's around but when he's not I don't miss him.

And I will say I did like the Miharu/Kazuo dynamic, but that's just personal preference. Between the two guys Kazuo was always the more interesting (again, to me). He had recognizable flaws from the beginning which made me want to read about him to see how things would pan out. Having said that, I don't think Miharu should get back with him at this point or at any point if he doesn't straighten himself out. I actually would rather see Miharu single for a bit yet =/ I'd love a chapter or even a side plot in another chapter where she pursues a new interest or joins a club or does something that doesn't have anything to do with boys, shopping, or eating (I think Reika had this conversation with her at some point?). I'm not saying she has to figure her entire future out or anything like that, I just want to see her focus on her. Like if this competition set-up doesn't end well I hope she takes a break from 'helping Kazuo'. I'm all for being a good friend and I think it's sweet she wants to help her ex, that shows a lot of maturity on her part, but changing is something he has to choose to do himself. And given all the baggage Kaz is lugging around it could take time for him to come to terms with that (or who knows, he might never come to terms with it). Haru shouldn't put her life on hold to essentially try to force him to sort his stuff out, though. It's not healthy for either of them. I'm willing to be proven wrong of course, I'd love if the cooking competition resulted in Kazuo taking steps to make his life his own. The whole scheme still seems like a really underhanded way of getting him to go about that, though. I just hope it doesn't make things worse for him and everyone involved =(

Just my two cents =) here's hoping Miharu/Makoto gets more appealing to me soon because that looks like where this might be headed!

Ahem.

I'm totally skipping the debates here and just saying that, as always, I love Miharu/Makoto. I still would have jumped at a Makoto/Karen pairing, though.

And from the last two panels, I honestly get the feeling that she just didn't pick up on the, er, the way he said "you look beautiful". I could be completely wrong of course, but I do feel like she's too busy wrapped up in her own feelings right now about Kazuo to remember that Makoto has feelings for her, too. So she's not really picking up on the little things like that. I don't think she's doing it on purpose or that she means anything by it.

Of course, the next page could totally prove me wrong, but I'm just banking on my own experience with guys -- sometimes I just forget that a guy who I've put 'in the friend-zone' has feelings for me. I don't mean to be heartless or inconsiderate of a boy's feelings... sometimes I'm too in-tune to my own world to consider what might be going on in his. If that makes any sense.

I don't think you should worry- the whole point of a forum is being able to discuss things (especially in the rather mature manner that is usually found here). If someone doesn't like a thread, well, they don't have to continue reading it.

In regards to today's page, I just feel sorry for Yosue. Unrequited love stinks. But I also feel sorry for Miharu- having a friend be interested in you like that for an extended period of time can feel sort of tragic.

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<She's morphing from a pair of sweatpants and T-shirt into a dress. The dress is, oh, about three, four years out of date.>

At least you're not alone. I just could never wrap my head around it because it just seemed soooooo one-sided. I can see them being great friends, no problem, it's pretty clear they get along great. But honestly they really do strike me more as siblings (down to the blonde hair) while Miharu and Kazuo had this sort of ying-yang thing going: they balanced each other out. Yeah, she's probably being a bit naive in thinking Makoto has gotten over his adoration (or she's oblivious, or willfully blind, it's been known to happen to people), but he's being really good to her and doesn't seem to be trying to push for more out of the relationship, even if he is, as mentioned earlier, treading the masochism line.

Who knows? Maybe Miharu will be embarking on an independent woman streak now and find she needs no man in her life to make her happy! Me? I'm just hoping for a little extra personal happiness all around.

Also... I want her outfits. Like... now.

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"It's computers, it's your thing. If I had a thing I would show it off all the time."
"There're rules against that, DiNozzo."

Wow, you basically summed up what I was grasping for in fewer words! Thank you =) they really DO remind me more of siblings than anything else.

And I gotta second the comment about wanting Miharu's clothes, she has some really cute outfits. The dress she's wearing now is one of my faves.

I kinda don't like when main characters have more than one love interest. It always seems like one gets developed further than the other, and yes, it does seem super one-sided. We've seen Motoko grow and progress and mature when he was getting over Miharu and trying to befriend Karen as such. But I feel like he's outgrown her. It's not that she's not good enough for him, she's a good enough match, but he's so much more than he was before.

Miharu and Kazuo works because they are opposites. Miharu is a free spirit, does what she wants, is determined and social. Kazuo is reserved, shy, a push-over, solitary... but Miharu brings out all the good and fun in him. Sort of like Reiji, where she brings out the happiness and light and he brings out the reason in her (sort of, like she reasoned Eiji was a good love choice. That's hard to explain). And Kazuo makes Miharu realize she's growing up and needs to take things seriously.

What does Miharu give Motoko? Heartache. if she's too concerned with her own business, then she's not worth his time. And I'm not saying this coldly, but if she's thought about them together and doesn't want it, he shouldn't torture himself, like you've said. But we like him because he doesn't push anything. But he needs to find someone better suited for him. Which leads me to...

MOTOKOXFUUKO WOOOOOOO!
(Lulzface.)

This is only an observation, but Fuuko could be a raging lesbian and still think a man is attractive without being interested in him. I've known several.

It got slightly obnoxious when most of them were Jack Sparrow fans. Currently about 3 are Edward Cullen 'twi-hards'.


Edit:





Yes. The Major x Fuuko. That would be epic and quite illegal.

(people unfamiliar with Ghost in the Shell will not get why I find this funny)

Edit edit:

And I just have to say...



Titling it the "M&M" ship, while logical, tickles my funny bone in a cute way.

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Three years. On a farm. In Kansas.

I was responding to the new strip at the time. Sorry. It was my fault for being vague



Exactly!