Kyoko will definitely see this badly because Ren put it on Kyoko's pinky finger. Weren't the other girl (the one claiming she got a ring from Tsuruga) have hers on her pinky finger too?
One of the best psychological manhwa I have ever read, down to the last drop. Even the last panel has a lot of meaning that can be interpreted different ways. I applaud the author by not only making the ending open-ended but meaningful. This was a wild ride from start to finish.
To the author, thank you for this masterpiece. I'm waiting for the fans' analysis on the ending; it's really the perfect ending for both Woojin and Hwon.
GOOD LORD for a shoujo the topic being handled at each chapter is so matured!! Even the characters' reaction and all their words are so matured!!
I mean sure, there's probably not a man as rich as that but if you think about it sometimes men hide things from their significant other for the same reason as stated in the manga; which is not being able to provide what they want to provide to their SO. (Or maybe hiding problems in general? Or people in general, not necessarily just men?)
I just love Hana's wake up call that 'hey, this is a relationship, we're supposed to support each other!' and how she finally expressed her real feelings clearly!!! Now THAT'S a character development! I can't wait for more (๑•ㅂ•)و✧
I really like okamoto here too... being a true friend no matter how much it costs him
"I like you... I don't want you to hate me that's why I kidnapped you."
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W H a T ? ? ?(⊙…⊙ )
"I know you will hate me, but I have to set you free"
I agree with the MC here, seme's watched way too many dramas. (￣∇￣")
I appreciate how the mangaka went for the realistic characterization for Yamasaki and I love that; but at first, Yamasaki was a typical mary sue. He was the kind, down to earth guy who's only known for being clumsy at work. This made him less realistic.
I get where people are going and I do think Yamasaki's response to being almost assaulted is very appropriate and human. The thing is he's being portrayed as a good guy but in actuality he's not. That's why a lot of readers hate him.
Yamasaki never asked to be loved by Hatakeyama, so it would be normal to him to ignore Hatakeyama's feelings, but outright twisting someone else's words for their own convenience is just harsh. He could have just rejected Hatakeyama, but he ended up putting words in Hatakeyama's mouth and that is not the right way to go.
Furthermore; if, say, he didn't like Hatakeyama at all or if he still considers Hatakeyama as dangerous, he would not have gone to the hotsprings with him - much less invite Hatakeyama together in the baths (Even if it's to prove a point. They were both alone in a secluded area.)
This kind of thing happened a few more times to the point someone might think twice if Yamasaki was doing this on purpose or not. I'm well aware Yamasaki never intended to.. say, "seduce" Hatakeyama, but he's putting his guard down wayyy low for someone he considers dangerous to be with.
Someone might argue it's because they both established that they are going to continue as friends that they can be THIS CLOSE - but you as a person; if someone told you their feelings and you rejected them, telling them you can only be friends, of course you wouldn't let them too close to you. This is why Yamasaki looked like he was leading Hatakeyama on and why it feels like he's toying with Hatakeyama's feelings. If a person knows their friend has feelings for them, they would usually set boundaries; but we weren't able to see those boundaries persist consistently through out the first few chapters.
Tl;dr: It looked like Yamasaki was leading Hatakeyama's feelings on that's why a lot of people hate him.
Yamasaki should have just turned down Hatakeyama firmly because it looks as if he's still leading Hatakeyama around by the leash with what he was doing. He never dumped him straightforwardly (which you should be doing in the first place if someone you know has had a crush on you for a long time and you don't like them) so of course the poor guy will think he still has a chance with Yamasaki if only he behaves. So you see, he's not entirely blameless either but I hate how the author placed all of the blame entirely on Hatakeyama.
Anyway this got too long Σ( ￣□￣||) I just want everyone to hear out some of the reasons as to why we hate Yamasaki.
I got the feeling that Yamasaki never feared Hatakeyama as much as he feared his own feelings. He feared being just a plaything for Hatakeyama since Hatakeyama never clarified his feeling for Yamasaki before his first "attack". This tells me that Yamasaki wanted a deeper relationship than sex friends. A hetero will not care if a gay guy is hitting on him for a one night stand or asking to marry him, he's gonna flat reject the offer. The same applies to anyone faced with being hit on by someone they really don't like. It's a flat rejection, not an, "I don't want to be your toy." Yamazaki was also afraid of eventual rejection due to his "boring" personality, as his first girlfriend so delicately put it. Yamasaki even admits this much later in the manga. He gave Hatakeyama mixed signals because he wasn't sure of his own feelings himself. He wanted something from Hatakeyama, but he just didn't know exactly what that was until he knew Hatakeyama not only loved him now, but had loved him from the start. Human minds are adept at filling in blank spaces. Unfortunately, what our minds fill in to those spaces is often wrong. So, we kinda need to see a full picture before it "clicks" in our heads what it is we're really seeing. When Yamasaki heard how his presence had changed Hatakeyama's life for the better, it finally "clicked". He finally saw the real picture instead of what his mind had been filling in.
I still found Yamasaki annoying and difficult, but I see all tsundere characters that way. If a real person acted the way tsundere manga characters act, they'd be hospitalized for schizophrenia or severe bipolar disorder. LOL
This here is so true!!!
I'm very satisfied with the ending. We don't fully know yet why Joohoon(?) actually helped Woojin, but hey everything worked out in the end ╮(￣▽￣)╭
A lot of people complaining that the foxy Han dude didn't get the punishment he deserved; but see, Lee Joohoon said "do you think I'll let your rude action slide" or something along those lines. So based on that very little information, I'm pretty sure we can assume that he got his punishment from Lee Joohoon. And we all know Lee's personality. Turns out foxy dude won't have light punishment after all. I mean his face looks so horrified in his last panel. You will be missed fox dude.
On another note, the title holds more meaning now. "What lies in the end" is the fact that Woojin sacrificed even his own identity for his only love; Taemin. Honestly the ending tells so much if you just look further into it. The author made the ending more symbolic and meaningful than outright showing what it was. Also, the open ending is closure in itself for me. I just really love everything in this webtoon. ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶
This could have had a better ending. Dunno what the writer was thinking. ┑(￣Д ￣)┍ feels like the author was just looking for another plot twist in the end that's why it ended up having no sense.
If Romeo isn't really Miharu in the future, then how do you explain chapter 7? When Miharu got hit on his right arm, Romeo was also affected, and at the same spot. But in chapter 1; when the "past romeo"'s arm got pulled by Miharu (when he was trying to save his friend) Romeo held on to his own arm as well.
I hope the next chapter adresses this.
(Also I'm still confused on their names like who is Mercutio and Sousuke? Whoops)(￣∇￣")
The partner is affected whether the young one is is past self or not
There are lots of Isekai stories out there but when talking of an adult reborn as a child, I think this here is more realistic. Being reborn again makes one an "old soul", and though it means that the person will be matured for their age, there will be times they act according to their actual age. Right now, Ria is a kid but not a kid; immature but not at the same time. It's interesting how the author interprets being reborn from adult to baby, because we never really know what happens if that is ever possible.
Some people are angry that her mind is "regressing" to that of a child but people are quick to forget she *is* a child. What use is a matured soul if your brain lacks the capacity to process it? What we mostly get from being reborn is experience, not the brain itself, and that's the reason why she may act like a child sometimes. Because she is. Well, her body is.
The story is slow, true, but that's only because the Author wanted to build up their story, and they'd like to center it around Ria and Caitel's relationship as a parent and a child. The romance part for Ria has always been a subplot right from the start, and the author made it clear by only giving POV to the important characters that would further "prove" that Caitel dearly loves his child despite everything.
I can't complain about the writing much, I think the author has done a great job to fill plots and to round each character to the best of their abilities. What I'm more concerned about is the fact that Dranste is asking Ria for her hand in marriage at such a young age, waiting for her to grow up so they could be together. Though he's a spirit, he's still an adult. Though she used to be an adult, she is still, technically, a child. I don't see this get mentioned anywhere at all, and that's concerning. Well, he might have been joking but it's still in poor taste. I do hope the author clarifies on this more.
I think when it comes to Dranste, you have to consider that although this is not a perfect representation of old Europe, it's still quite accurate. In those times it wasn't even unusual for siblings and cousins to marry, so a large age gap is considerably tame. Taking into account that it was also common to create contract marriages in the child's young age and marry them off when they mature, I think this is contextually correct.
Of course, it's still weird, and not morally upright, but it fits the era.
I enjoyed your analysis though, and generally agreed with your points. Thank you so much for sharing.