So basically you're saying it's better (in her situation) to marry for security and "hope" their feelings develop eventually opposed to being
with someone she does love and who loves her in return, hoping that those feelings won't change.... with the eventual outcome of marriage of course. I personally dont accept that way thinking, but get it. Both situations still have a 50/50 chance of ending in utter disaster at this stage of the game. I'll use his married coworker as example. Let's pretend his wife had to make the same decision and applying real life experiences to this..she probably knows he cheats on her. But hey...its all about security and food on the table. Not happiness and love lol. But... this isn't their story...thank gawd and since this is a love story...they'll most likely end up together lol.
Actually, I dont believe i put my personal opinion into the matter. Hold on. I'm going to check. Nope. I didn't. In fact, I said nothing as to which was better or worse, just that they were discussing the practicality of the decisions open to them. I do not condone cheating and I really dislike the coworker. He's a scum bag. I don't care what your relationship is, unless you're in a willing open relationship on both ends, cheating is cheating and not healthy and destroys a lot more than most realize.
I don't think I need to re-explain why some choose practicality over present emotions. However, in this situation, because she is so fond of her childhood friend and their was romantic love once, there's a high probability that there might be romantic love in the future should she choose him. Thats what she's looking at.
To be perfectly honest, I like the childhood friend more than the MC, but I'm a sucker for the friend-zoned underdog. Always have been. I also know from personal experience (both watching and not) that butterflies are not to be followed. A relationship that lasts should be built on friendship and comfort, because butterflies don't stay and sometimes can blind you.
Love does not always equate to happiness. Unfortunate, but true. But do I want her to follow her heart? Yeah! Cause who doesn't want that? But will I be mad if she doesn't? Nope. Because I understand her reasoning. That's all.
A lot of you don't seem to understand why someone would choose to not be with the one they love in the moment and instead choose someone else. Well, there are a lot of factors to that. One, cultural difference here is that she feels pressured to be married (as many women do) because she's 30. Two, they're both looking at it in a practical sense, not an emotional one. Love is great, but it doesn't put food on the table. It also isn't everything. You can't get by on just love--emotionally or physically. Thats not the way the world works. Or our hearts. They recognize that their feelings could change and that, if they start with closure now (amicable closure), there may be some regret, but they could, in the end, both be very happy with the choice of not being together. They're both looking towards the future and weighing their options carefully. All of their options. It may not be romantic, but it is smart and it happens more often than you think. Sometimes what some view as settling in the beginning, turns out to not be settling at all. I have a feeling they'll end up together anyway, because it is a manga. But if they don't, dont be mad. You can never tell which path will lead you to a happier future. You just have to trust that you'll make the best decisions in the present.