regret

"You'll go on, and I'll be happier."

- - - - -

I really had the urge to draw some Aoharaido fanart before my uni-entrance exams start in less than a couple of weeks, so here is something based on a fanfic I wrote, "Mornings, with you" [link] (ignoring the school setting, though). When I wrote it, I was pretty sure that the "Kou rejects Futaba for Narumi because Narumi is damaged" scenario wouldn\'t happen in the actual manga, because AHR is supposed to be refreshing and unique, BUT IT DID.

You have no idea how disappointed I am in Sakisaka Io that she decided to choose such an overused, unnecessary plot device to prevent Futaba and Kou from getting together. I don't feel much sympathy for Narumi at all, considering that she comes with a shock-full of drama, yet she was only really introduced to us 3 chapters ago. It's hard to feel sorry for a character you hardly know, you know?

I really thought Aoharaido would be different in handling love polygons, but I guess not (and what's worse, she chose the friggin' BOKURA GA ITA path which is horriblehorriblehorrible - Yano (Kou) stays with the damaged Yuri (Narumi) - with whom he shares a sexual/romantic past- over Nana (Futaba), who finds comfort in Take (Touma) who's in love with her.)

Just no.

Also, some commentary from Chapter 22
When I first read it, I was irrationally angry at Kou - which is a pretty common reaction (looking at all you people who jumped the Koutaba ship!) and I wished he would jump into a river and never emerge.
But upon rereading it, I realized that it's not entirely Kou's fault, if anything, it was Futaba who triggered his standoffish behavior by (insecurely, obsessively, unnecessarily) asking about him and Narumi. I don't dislike that Kou chose Narumi, because his reasons are valid and understandable - it would be out of character for him to behave otherwise. What I do dislike is the way that he "showed" Futaba that Narumi was the one he chose. He didn't have to do it THAT way, honestly. He didn't have to hurt Futaba so deliberately.
Then again, if Futaba hadn't 'run away' from the situation again, and they cut the crap and got together, Kou would be a thousand times more conflicted upon hearing about Narumi's home situation because he's now involved with Futaba and can't help Narumi out. So I don't know if it's an entirely bad thing that Futaba snapped like she did.

I'm not going to form any strong opinions for any characters for the time being until I see how the story-arc fleshes out in later chapters. I still have -some- faith in Sakisaka… sort of.
Except Kominato. You go Kominato. Four for you, Kominato. And also Yuuri for noticing Futaba's character change from being strong-willed to being this obsessive-in-love, weak, passive girl. Ugh. Thank you for shaking some sense into her, bub.

OK whoops this got really long.