Um you think transgender people don't go through problems? If you don't then why are you assuming that only this being a romance would cause us to view other characters negatively? Ktbn.
Well for one some have already disliked the other girl. If it's not romance then the story MIGHT focus more on PROBLEMS faced by trans people and those close to them.
I think love is a problem that trans people face. Maybe not in this story, but it a big deal about when or whether or not a trans person reveals that they are trans. Or in this case her class mates knew her before Akira transitioned and if she wants to date one of them she might have a hard time with others still seeing her as male. I think that is the main issue that people have with the bubbly girl’s character is that she said “boyfriend” which indicates that she problably doesn’t view Akira as a girl.That being said I can see how it could be nice to have the story more about Akira and her struggle rather then things being seen by the friend’s persective.
I know right? Because it is from the friend's perspective (and that friend is in love with her), it's a default mode for the readers to root for MC (making other love interests 'rival/antagonist' like that bubbly girl as you call her). I don't have anything about romance (maybe just tired of it), but if this about a friend rooting for her trans friend in her love life (and life in general) then that'd be more palatable.
Yeah I agree that it would be nice if the friend wasn’t in love with her and was just trying to be supportive. I did like how it seemed like the bubbly girl kinda called her out on that and that she was preventing Akira from making other friends because she was jealous and thought that she could be the only one that could understand Akira. I hope that in the future she can put Akira’s wants before her own personal feelings. I still maybe hope that it could work out for the two of them, but I don’t think it will in the end and that Akira will fall in love with someone else and the Mc will have to accept it.
I kinda wish it ain't a romance. Sometimes it undermines the plot of the story and instead the focus is more on it. Besides, knowing that the MC is in love with Akira will make us more bias towards her thus any other characters will be viewed as rivals. Can't this just be friendship manga?
Please I just hope this won't turn into another disappointment ╥﹏╥