No I don't think it's that, Maekama doesn't like Shimizuku (sorry can't remember names really well) so Shimizuku doesn't want to push her feelings on her, she's okay with just staying friend with her and wants to support her overall (which is quite brave btw), but obviously we all know that Maekawa is going to fall in love with her
Ah! Ok... So Maekama doesn't really have a crush on Shimizuku... More like an excitement around a shared hobby/passion (manga)?
I need to re-read. I guess I thought the attraction started out with Maekawa but she was holding back for fear of messing up the friendship. When she didn't respond to Shimizuku's strong advances... that's where I became confused.
I think there is indeed something between the two of them and Maekawa seems to start liking Shimizuku but she's not sure about that and in the past she never really liked anyone, I think she just doesn't even understand what that truly means :/
"I love them too much" isn't really a trope, manga or otherwise.
Shimizu likes Maekawa, romantically. She was in denial, but has finally accepted that, however Maekawa is still denying her feelings for Shimizu. She keeps acting impulsively affectionate, and up until this point, she's played off those impulses as teasing or joking around. Shimizu took her at her word, and so she thinks Maekawa is straight and doesn't really want a romantic relationship. She's trying to be a good friend by holding back and not pressuring Maekawa into a relationship she doesn't want.
On Maekawa's end, she's a bit stubborn, and doesn't want to admit she was lying before, but also every romantic relationship she's ever had ended badly with hurt feelings because she couldn't reciprocate their feelings the way they wanted. She's afraid that if she admits her feelings to Shimizu, she'll end up hurting her and spoil their friendship in the process.
So Shimizu is holding back because she doesn't want to pressure Maekawa, and Maekawa is holding back because she's afraid of hurting Shimizu and ruining their friendship.
Sure it's a "trope"... because I made it one in my comment. It represent a scenario that runs its course in about 70% of manga romance. For some reason this one didn't fit and I was trying to put the pieces together.
But thank you for the description. Maekawa's behavior was difficult for me to understand but it makes much more sense now.
Tropes aren't tropes because somebody says so, they're tropes because they're commonly reused plot or story elements. If it showed up in 70% of manga romance, that would be a trope, for sure, but I can't think of any times I ever noticed it, which is why I said it isn't a trope. But I digress.
I super relate to Shimizu's perspective. Maekawa's is harder for me to grasp, but I've seen other people struggle with similar situations, so I feel like I understand her to some extent.
Relationships are hard.
Guess we'll agree to disagree on that point... but here are 3 that have updated within the last week alone... all fitting my "trope". ;-)
Lady and Her Butler
Mushoku Tensei
Domestic na Kanojo
I'm having a really tough time understanding what exactly happened in chap 11... MC is gay but doesn't want that kind of relationship with the other person? But they have strong feelings for them??
Is this one of those la.e manga tropes where 1 MC won't date the other MC because they "love them too much". Like that happens... ever.