It actually depends on whether I like the second guy or not. As simple as that.

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“If I'm going to just live taking someone else's place, then it'd be better if I could just be a pebble. That way, there'd be neither misunderstanding nor confusion, and then even you wouldn't know me.” — Eine Kleine (Kenshi Yonezu)

It actually depends on the guy, like in Strobe Edge. I absolutely love Andou to be with the heroine rather than Ren cause Andou is like, betetr in all aspects imo.

Sometimes, in certain cases I feel very strongly that the second guy is more fitting for the heroine but in general, isn't that why the second guy is the second guy and not the first?

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Since 08.08.08.
Reine de ♠.

"Je crois de voler. Donnez-moi les ailes."

Don't really care whether it's the first or second guy, but I guess I'd be happier if she ended up with the one who was more fitting for her in as much aspects as possible. Hence the reason why I don't read a lot of shoujo nowadays.

I think it can sometimes be more exciting for people to root for the main guy because of something psychological like what this study (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.353231-Scienc e-Explains-Tsundere-Appeal) suggests. Maybe we tend to like the main guy since he's initially standoffish/dislikeable and any kindness shown afterwards instantly makes him more likeable, even though the second guy (usually kinder) was kind from the start.

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Yu Wo is my favourite genre.

Second Lead Syndrome is one thing I consider to be the worst that could possibly happen when I'm following a series (whether it's a drama, manga or anime, etc.), because to me, it suggests some really poor writing skills to possibly end up in that scenario.

Unless it's the intention of the author (and it rarely is) for the main guy to lose, it's not traditionally supposed to happen. Unfortunately a lot of smutty manga I've read tend to have male leads with really awful, horrifying sexist ideologies, and yet the main girl (who has no backbone) still ends up with them. I still wouldn't be happier if the main heroine ended up with the second guy in that kind of scenario though, because if I dislike the male lead, it's almost a given that the female lead will suck - and the second guy will end up being too good for her.

Usually the first guy is a douche, so yes.

On another note- I'd like a love triangle in which you legitimately can't predict who the MC's gonna end up with. Usually, you're certain who the MC will end up with, either from the get go or from prior to the midpoint/middle of the series. Then you're either proved wrong (e.g. due to a spontaneous car accident/death) or proved right. I'd like a series that keeps you guessing as to who the MC will end up with.

Ryuu no Hanawazurai pulled this off for about the first 4 chapters (flowers kept blooming on both arms + both guys made FMC flustered), but from then on it was pretty obvious to all/near-all readers that FMC would probably end up with Kuon. Ofc Kuon betrayed the FMC and she ended up with the white-haired guy instead, but most readers were put in a state of "oh yeah, she's going to end up with the black-haired guy" from the fifth chapter on.

Yes. I always root for the alleged dark horse, and it is almost always the second guy. No matter what the first guy does, he will usually get the girl. Why? I don't understand. They give the guys too many chances.

If I feel that way about a manga, it is usually not worth reading.

Last edited by yamaken-dono at 4:35 am, Aug 12 2014

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Elitism? If I am not elite, then who is?

There are some manga that I like the heroine to end up with the mc like Aoharaido and strobe edge
while there are others that I prefer the second guy.
One that I really like where the heroine end up with the second guy is

Yes! Infinitely yes!
I couldn't even finish Yumemiru Taiyou because I snuck a peek at the end and didn't like who she ended up with. OTL
Although in some mangas it is better for the heroine to end up with the first dude. But mostly as long as the second guy isn't some evil creep then they should end up with the second guy. (But if she likes evil creeps...then what the hay, she can date him too.) I mean, after so many shoujo mangas the rival love interest is pretty much redundant.

I am going to say the same as pretty much everyone else and say it depends on the situation. If the first guy is a complete a-hole and is abusive and aggressive to the girl, then the second guy is usually nice. So of course I prefer the second guy. But other than that, it depends on the characters. In Ao Haru Ride, I prefer Kou over Touma. Even though Touma seems like a perfectly nice guy, I like the depth in Kou and Futaba's relationship. But in HNR, I am definitely routing for Mamura over Shishio.

Although, I do think a lot of people root for the second guy simply because he's automatically the under dog.

Pretty often because I'm not really into the traditional leading man type. I was the one who preferred Hotohori back when everyone was reading Fushigi Yûgi. I just like that aristocratic type that very often ends up becoming a bad guy of the story... or dies.

I actually do, most of the time. Most of the time they're more caring and nice and it just makes me think like, "What if she gives him the time of day?" Hmn

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I think therefore I err.

I am incapable of caring about "shipping" and most romances are clear cases form the start I must add. If the "second guy ending" is how the story was originally plotted and build up then YES as a narrative must reach its unenviable conclusion. If it´s a stunt then NO.

It would be a more daring to have a romance (sub) plot end with the relationships not forming or being tested for real and not resolved with a bow and cherry on top but that needs to be properly structured beforehand too.


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I also read EU/US comics and am a librarian.
Manga-Masters, My ANN-Lists + Imdb

The typical shoujo ''solution'' is to prove that the heroine's love to the hero is pure and genuine and blahblahblah so even though there is someone who is kinder, she'd choose over the hero since she had dealt with the hero's bad traits and able to accepted it?
Yes, the ultimate power of love.

I'm always incapable of shipping the heroine with guys other than the hero. I'd be disappointed. It means the author wasnt able to make the right character development for both the main characters, hence she would end up with the second guy.

But i feel happy when the heroine spend some times with the second guy ー which makes the hero get jealous and try evaluating his bad treatments to the heroine.

BUT (again), i'd rather stop reading before the triangle-love goes to a whole retarded and overly-dramatic level.


Last edited by ririon at 7:19 pm, Apr 16 2015