This is gonna be a LONG 1.
Quote from Filetmignon19
Completely agree. The ending was seriously the most disappointing ending I've ever seen, beating Death Note by far. I don't understand why Manaka is so indecisive for around 150-60 chapters. At the start of the manga I definetly preferred Satsuki over Toujo because Toujo's affection didn't make sense at all.
Toujous affection made no sense to you? That was her first love. Only one person have read the novel inside her math book. Because of this bond, it create alot of memories between them. Not to mention, Toujou sacrificed(if you wanna put it that way) herself to go to the same school as Manaka.
Quote from Filetmignon19
She likes Manaka a lot but gets mad at him easily for stupid things such as having girl's underwear, completely masks her feelings, and doesn't even attempt to make a move until very very late in the series.
When you are jealous and timid.. thats what happens. Its never easy to express yourself in front of the person you love, especially when its your first love. How is showing signs of being jealous stupid/irrational?
Quote from Filetmignon19
It wasn't until near the very end of the series that i started feeling bad for Toujo as she basically gets wrecked. I mean the whole manga is about his dream to find the girl with the strawberry panties, he's dumped Nishino because of his affection towards Toujo, he's rejected Satsuki's advances, Kozue's advances, you would think that he would naturally end up with Toujo as they went to the same high school in order to be with each other and planned on going to the same university for each other. I don't know what went wrong with the author when she decided that Toujo and Manaka wouldn't work out. After manaka's crush on her for most of the series he's suddenly somehow able to find it in himself to go out with Nishino AGAIN and completely reject Toujo?
I share the same feelings. I felt bad for Toujou as well. But by no means was it a "dream" nor was the MAIN plot to find the girl with the strawberry panties. But yes I did think that they would end up together. You are forgetting the point that Manaka thought that Toujou found herself a boyfriend. Heartbroken and wrecked, somehow ends up in Nishinos care. While vulnerable they ended up going out. Manaka didnt REJECT Toujou. If anything it was a misunderstanding that wasn't resolved until it was too late.
Quote from Filetmignon19
This is when the series starts sucking in my opinion. Satsuki's basically gone, Kozue doesn't even appear anymore except for like a couple pages, he sacrifices his dream of making movies with Toujo in order to be with Nishino who basically wears the pants in the relationship. Ok not really ridiculous yet but Manaka, being the indecisive guy he is, decides to break up with Nishino to become a construction worker. Ok so let's get this straight: He rejects Satsuki who he gets along the most easily with, rejects Toujo who's his first love/shares his passion for films/practically destined lover, accepts Nishino who's not that bad but doesn't really have anything in common with him at all, and then basically decides "ok just to spite satsuki and toujo more, after rejecting them I'm gonna dump Nishino too to add insult to injury." Ok so he basically threw his friendships, dreams, and crushes all away. All of this is somehow supposed to relate to the novel that Toujo wrote, and his wanting to be independent, but I didn't realize that being independent meant screwing over every character in the series other than Nishino. Ok so who's happy in the end?
I believe his dream was to make movies. It wasnt necessarily with Toujou. The fact that he broke up with Nishino shows that he feels remorse for the damage he done to all the girls. The Novel that Toujou wrote was based on the decisions Manaka made. He didn't screw anybody over. Considering Satsuki decided that she would take over that family business. Toujou following her own dreams(maybe not exactly dreams..but goals) attending the BEST school possible.
Quote from Filetmignon19
Satsuki- Becomes some waitress or something, STILL likes Manaka but has NO chance at all. NOT HAPPY
Satsuki - She never really had a chance. When Satsuki stole the bag with Aya's bra in it. Manaka told Satsuki that he was going out with Nishino. her reaction was...you going out with Aya? With that in mind, She places Aya above her and by Manaka picking Nishino at that point meants Satsuki would be below them both...which is really out of reach...She will end up OWNING that business! It is a family business and was passed down to her. = HAPPY, cept she doesn't have a guy.
Quote from Filetmignon19
Toujo- Because of her inability to give any hints to Manaka and his own idiocy, she misses out on the person who she's loved for 3 years. Sure she's a well-known author but she's seen him once since Graduation (the reunion). Somehow believes that not ending up with Manaka is a good thing= wtf doesn't make sense! NOT HAPPY
I agree that it was her fault that she was unable to express herself to the person she loves and just because she's famous now doesnt mean she is happy. But you argument of them only have met once since graduation is weak! None of the other characters really hung out with Manaka. From there reactions, They where extremely surprised, not just the girls, even Komiyama and Sotomaru were surprised. Manaka was the reason she ever wrote anything. By taking this experience and MOVING ON, her writings where LIMITED like it was before. = HAPPY, cept she doesnt have a guy as well(WHERE IS AMACHI lol =P)
Quote from Filetmignon19
Kozue- Still likes Manaka (i'm assuming since she isn't shown), basically gets totally disowned by Manaka NOT HAPPY
Manaka didn't "disown" Kozue. Manaka never had any feelings for her.
I would be assuming that Kozue likes Migishima and are a pretty good match. = HAPPY
Quote from Filetmignon19
Chinami- W/e she's a little devil girl HAPPY
LOL AGREED!
Quote from Filetmignon19
Yui- not shown at the end. Apparently she's like a little sister to Manaka, but I gotta say she's one really really bad sister. She makes fun of Manaka all the time, constantly meddles in his affairs and gets him into huge trouble (she makes him feel guilty on the day of the exam and he fails it). Only after he fails it does she realize it was her fault for meddling too much and apologizes. "Uhh... you failed the exam and won't be able to get into college and instead of working on movies you'll have a day job being a construction worker.... but i'm apologizing so it's all good."
Yea I was surprised that she wasn't shown in the last chapter as well. I guess you dont have a little sister lol. I have 1 and I dont think its that much different than the description you provided lol.<-- Im serious lol.
Quote from Filetmignon19
Manaka- he's so messed up, doesn't realize that liking 3 girls at once is a bad thing
Considering how it is his FIRST TIME in such a predicament. Can you really blame him? The feeling of being loved by multiple girls is nice. Being as UNPOPULAR as he was during middle school, to being the most loved guy by the most beautiful girls in school. He didn't want to hurt any of them DIRECTLY. But by not taking care of any of the situations he hurt them or indirectly. Also..another reason for his indecisiveness was because he was never shown so much love before. He doesnt want what he has right now to be gone. Might seem selfish but definitely common to see that he wants to keep what he has. Keeping that in mind, by choosing any of them would mean he would have to stop being with the other 2.
Quote from Spanky151
EXACTLY, Nishino struggled through nearly the entire series to get Manaka. If Aya truly loved Manaka the way she said she did she should have shown it FAR earlier there were many chances where one move from her would've sealed their relasionship and left Nishino behind. As far as Satsuki is concerned, she was too selfish, her drive was always for her personal reasons she rarely stopped to think what Manaka might think. In the end I really think Nishino was the best match for him because, Aya was too introverted and far too similar to him, and Satsuki was too self absorbed. Nishino and Makana balance each other out and, yes I know it's corny, complete each other.
Indeed, Nishino did struggle majority of the series to be with Manaka. Showing/Telling someone that you love them is a REALLY hard task especially when its your first love. She WAS really timid, even more before she met Manaka. That wouldn't be a strong enough reason to say that Aya's love is INFERIOR to Nishinos toward Manaka. You gotta remember that Aya did attend the same high school as Manaka which she was not obligated in any manner to do. That was out of her own heart because she wanted to be with him. Contrary to Nishino, she went off and took Oumi tests, unknown to even his boyfriend at the time[not like Manaka woulda listened lol]. I do agree that Nishino and Manaka complete each other though. She was the 1 I liked the most and was cheering for Manaka to end up with. But by no means is Aya's love towards Manaka any less than Nishino's.
PS: wow..I didnt think I would spend so much time on this post lmao. Spent over an hour on this I believe doing all the quotes and everything..T.T Look how much i love this manga lol.