OtterPop

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@milkynoe Im gonna play a bit off the devils advocate for a sec.

There is a seemingly baser sadism to these heroines that have a very tormenting effect on the male protagonists. Its framed as breaking them from their timid shells via a female's innocent teasing...

But it can be hell.

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@FiadhBaikal Depends. Was the f set up properly or was it put in place to follow a trend? I think the biggest issue is far too many popular titles are rebooting their IP with female leads that were traditionally male to be considered coincidental.

Its not natural, its forced and sucks.

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@YamikoRachel Kind of a silly question. I imagine not much better than Subaru. Rudeus might have a bit better critical thinking given his age, but thats about it.

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@O_Dougl4s Its written to be Megumin, its the only relationship with mutual interest. Darkness is one sided. Yunyun was never really interested, just manipulated by false prediction. As for Aqua, she and Kazuma are deliberately written to be disinterested in each other.

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@MineShokuTensei They're already ranked.
The Goddess
The Angel
The Sword Queen

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@AndoShinjiro Yuki is his sister, and a the most sadistic of them all.
Masha literally sexually assaults him regularly against his concent.
Nonoa is insanely evil.
Ayano has the personality of a brick.

All things considered, Alya's pretty good.

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@AndoShinjiro This scene is the peak of Alya's physical abuse of Masachika. She becomes more meek over time, even curbing her teasing for 1 on 1 intimate time. Which is more or less mutual in its execution aside from a few minor cases.

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@thetrueshelby See when you collect taxes you can just put in new grass.

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@Borja4Y @DGDCrimsonOne @HctorCo55949274 Even the biggest reveal is deflated pretty quickly by Alya's adjusted ambitions with her campaign which kinda ruins the suspension with the elections.

The intercharactee stories and sub plots are very good. But the primary plot and romance is far too unnaturally delayed.

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@Borja4Y @DGDCrimsonOne @HctorCo55949274 Thats exactly what the author is doing. The romance arc has forced delay.

They are always interrupted from talking about or acting on it. Or conveniently gloss over details and fast forward weeks later without addressing new revelations as if memory holed.

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@DGDCrimsonOne @Borja4Y @HctorCo55949274 The sub plots are where the author shines. The romance plot is my only complaint, its so contrived. He refuses to allow it to grow naturally in favor of forestallment. The genre in general has a problem with this.

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@skyfandomu @Borja4Y @HctorCo55949274 There are a lot of seemingly important events that don't actually end up meaning anything in the long run... or at the very least, way less than expected.

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@skyfandomu @Borja4Y @HctorCo55949274 Depends on what you want.
Vol 5 has probably the spiciest scenes in the series thus far, but little to no pay off
Vol 6 has a lot of everything and what looks like an important subplot conclusion
Vol 8 is the cliff hanger ending with a massive reveal that should've changed a lot

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@DGDCrimsonOne @Borja4Y @HctorCo55949274 Part of me hopes the Manga author takes some creative liberties and changes the story so those two actually do something meaningful.

Hes already shown to deviate considerably and even inject unique stories. I say go a head and have some confidential relationship discussions.

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@DGDCrimsonOne @Borja4Y @HctorCo55949274 That scene in his childhood bedroom that Yuki interrupted was the last straw for me.

How dies he drop such a bomb on her and they just ignore the elephant in the room and go back to election prep like nothing happened? The subject doesn't even get broached between the two!

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@HctorCo55949274 @Borja4Y The two can't even discuss the topic of dating with each other or confidants. Its just a bunch of accidental blushing red close calls...

Which is really sad because there are some very very intimate scenes that get the rug pulled out on them every frigging time. Its exhausting.

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@HctorCo55949274 @Borja4Y I have read everything up to volume 11. Can confirm no kiss... but worse, there is basically nothing but accidental lewdness and teasing. Both of which are immediately memory holded by each character involved only brought up by Yuki for later on comedic relief.

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@Borja4Y @HctorCo55949274 Everyone around them (parents and grandparents too) has already concluded they'll marry, but those two idiots can't even have a conversation about a hypothetical relationship. Its lost the charm by vol 10 and 11, and is just annoying now.

My hype for vol 12 is pretty low tbh

[OtterPop @bildesevin]

@Borja4Y @HctorCo55949274 I tolerated their timid denials and non commitment up to vol 7 because it made sense given the context.

But after, and especially by vol 10, their actions, or rather non action, is completely contrived and honestly annoying. I don't like forced dramatic drag out.