I SO agree with you. Yes, i suppose there are reasons as to why it came out like that but, damn. That's the frustration of the year.
Yes, it finally came out of Ritsu's mouth but, i agree, the rain was the only good choice of the scene. I have several complains that could have been EASILY avoided with not much more work. And i sure hope it's not because of pressure from her editor ;
- First, the reason Ritsu came out in a fit of emotions, the GIRL. OMG, that could and should have been the BEST reason to make him come out about his feelings, his burst of possessiveness, but boy... Was that disapointing. A easy way to resolve that was to take at least several chapters to help us tense a little about her, making way for more and deeper misunderstandings and "possibilities"
- Second, like i just said, what in the ONE WEEK world Ritsu could forget about the things Takano says to him to declare his love and despair for him. One week ç Yes, it could be a long suffering even in a week's time, but not in one chapter like it's some side story. Whut ?
- Third, the whole "i won't touch you until..." LOL WHAT. Yes of course, that's the first time in this story (that i love i assure you ! i have all the books at home) that it woulnd't be toxic and forcefull, i was so glad about it ! As long as it wouldn't take too much time for them to reconnect of course ! But we had a countdown so we could reassure ourselves... And that's how i think it became dull : i think the fans or the editor were forcefull and needy about sex scenes... Forcing sensei to put some in, and making the impact of that completly VOID.
- And last, what the... That's all ? That's the emotions coming out of Takano ? Out of our crybaby Ritsu ? I could have laughed if it would have been a "angry Takano" because of how Ritsu delivered (but it would have been similar to previous chapter) and then Ritsu saying it again in a more loving way and Takano beginning crying... Because he REALLY is that soft and fragile at the bottom of his heart, not to mention if it concerns Ritsu and the anguish he felt all these years, before and after reuniting with Ritsu. And that's an exemple but it could have been even easier to put some emotions.
I sure hope that Sensei will have some really emotionnal things coming to end this, because yeah, it feels SO rushed, that i think i'll go search for some fanfictions about the "confession".
BUT ! To Sensei's defense, it's worse when i read this last chapter alone. (i just did now just because i wanted to and wanted to reread that scene) It's less worse when you read the entire story in one go (like i did several time these past few months). I don't know why. The only thing that i can tell that could be helping, if i recall correctly, it's the way Ritsu feels frustrated by himself for the past X chapters, trying to tell again and again to Takano how he feels. It's like it bubbled up inside him and finally blurted out when suddendly he was ready to tell but hadn't take the time to and faced an "unpleasant" situation.
But it's still reaaaaaaally disappointing, because even so Sensei wanted to take only one chapter for this, it really lacks impact and emotions, and that's the worse part for me.
Well then, if you'll excuse myself. I'll go reread some TGCF or something. xD
For the second point, I forgot to explain what I really meant: the anguish Ritsu might have felt about that girl should have been less impactful, considering the love Takano showed him—poured onto him—day after day.
Unless sensei had taken a little more time to instill doubts between them, letting Ritsu linger in uncertainty, feel hurt, be frustrated enough to rush his confession, and truly sense the physical distance between them (which, in my opinion, wasn’t portrayed at all—intimacy doesn’t require penetration…), and allowing him to confront his own delusions and misinterpretations. That would’ve made for an incredible moment of character development, and a sharp irony compared to his younger self who let such things spiral once before. A powerful lesson learned.
That rain-soaked confession could have been so intensely emotional and sensually charged… :'(
I have to say, I am SO happy about the rain. Onodera's very first confession was interrupted by the rain, so this redemption makes beautiful sense. HOWEVER. The rain is... the only good part about this scene?
I have absolute neverending love for mangaka sensei, but I feel like this is rushed. And I say that while I completely understand the pressure of having to deliver a climax after 10 years, so none of us can really be upset. Yet I am a little sad too, and I think that's okay.
Ever since she slightly changed the artstyle a few volume's ago - even though it has had it's pretty moments - it just doesn't feel the same. Especially Takano. I can't help but feel like she had the sharpness of her drawings bullied out of her, and it's a shame because it was one of the first AND last ones of it's kind. And now, in this specific chapter, I just keep noticing the double lines, the rushed expressions, the more and more blank backgrounds... She clearly wanted this to be over - and I don't blame her, but I just wish I lived in an alternate universe where she could deliver what for example Toboso sensei can (and WILL, in her story climax soon).
The story itself has actually always been very telling. She herself IS perhaps one of the mangaka's who can never quite finish in time and had to cut down quality sometimes. It almost feels like breaking the fourth wall this chapter. I hope she's okay and can take some rest after she decides to finish the story for good.
But boy, I hope the me in the alternate universe where sensei did put 200% capacity in this chapter is ELATED with the brave confession schene in the rain where Onodera comes clean about everything he's learned about himself and lays it all out to Takano while asking him to cut the crap and start their relationship for REAL like the adults they are, with SO much detail and emotion on both of their faces. I WANTED A TAKANO TEAR OK??
Anyway, that last page is now my screensaver. I have done my waiting. I spat out my imaginary drink when I read once again that only ONE (1!!!) year had passed since they started working together. Meanwhile I (we, right?) feel like a raisin looking at a time capsule.
Domo arigatou gozaimasu for the effort you could manage. (๑•ㅂ•)و✧