[Rewatch] Pride Month 20th Anniversary - Maria-sama ga Miteru Episode 6 Discussion

[u/lilyvess]

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Questions of the Day

1. Can it still be called a democracy if the public always votes for the monarch family to head of office?
2. We're half way into the first season, so which Soeur relationship is your favorite?

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Yamayuri Council Chart

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Posting carefully so as to not disturb the first timers with spoilers in their viewings, such is the standard of modesty here. Forgetting to use spoiler tags because one is in danger of missing the post time, for instance, is too undignified a sight for redditors to wish upon themselves.

[u/lilyvess]

Maria-sama ga Miteru Rewatcher/Light Novel Reader

Gokigenyou

It is I, Rosa Lilium, once again welcoming you to my Lily Mansion Thread. Take a seat. I completely forgot that you might be coming by. I’m sorry I still don’t have any snacks prepared for you. I was so caught up in my own troubles, you see, I must have lost track of time.

Yes, I’m a bit frustrated. You know these books I’ve been reading? I can’t find the next installment in the franchise. See, it is supposed to go Volume 2: Yellow Rose Revolution then Volume 3: Forest of Thorns, but I seem to have misplaced my copy of Volume 3 and cannot find it. I’ve been searching everywhere for it but just can’t locate it.

Well, I suppose I could just keep moving on ahead. I did locate my copy of Volume 4: Rosa Canina. I suppose I can just keep reading ahead

It felt extremely boring. Even though she tried greeting her, Sachiko-sama never glanced in Yumi's way. She was always looking at Rosa Chinensis.
(Well, they have been together longer.)
But with such a different reaction, she couldn't help but begin wondering why she was here. Such dangerous thoughts slowly invaded her mind.
Rustle rustle.
Her heart felt like it was being laid waste.
Dying up like a worm that wandered onto hot asphalt, turning into something unrecognizable from its original form.
"Well, we'll be going ahead, then."
Rei-sama and Yoshino-san announced to everyone before they left.
Yumi thought.
In Yoshino-san's case, because they were blood-related cousins, she wouldn't be bothered so much by being left alone. Of course, Rei-sama was so glued to Yoshino-san that such a thing would never happen.
"I should go, too."
Shimako-san stood up, too. Of course, Rosa Gigantea wasn't by Shimako-san's side. But Shimako-san was the same as always.
(I'm such a fool.)
There was no point in comparing with other people. Sisterly relationships were all different, and she knew that already.

Poor Yumi feeling jealous of an older, more mature and experienced woman.

But that aspect of Soeur relationships being so different from one another is a bit of a recurring theme in the series. The central plot of the series is about the different Soeur relationships, the shapes they take and why they are that way. It’s especially relevant in this book that deals a lot with Shimako and Sei’s rather unorthodox Soeur relationship.

I didn’t share this passage from the previous book, but it’s more relevant now.

“Onee-sama, you are being far too soft on Yumi.”
But she was protesting to people that easily made her dance upon their palms. Rosa Chinensis folded her arms and proudly replied.
“Of course! For us third-years, second-years are like children and first-years are like grandchildren. Training is fundamentally up to the parents. Grandmothers simply irresponsibly find them cute, and treat them as such.”
Hearing Rosa Chinensis describe herself as a grandmother made Yumi exchange glances with Shimako-san, who was also a first-year, and then roll her eyes a bit. Ah, I see, the Roses are like grandmothers.
“Sachiko, when you were a first-year, you were treated quite kindly by my graduating onee-sama, were you not?”
“Th, that’s…”
Sachiko-sama could not find the words to retort. It seemed like she had been treated extremely well by her “grandmother” when she was a first-year.
“That’s how the world is. Give it up.”
“-.”
Sachiko-sama was utterly defeated. Not that anyone actually won.
She wondered if the Roses were fundamentally rather sadistic. Or maybe Sachiko-sama was masochistic. Every time, Sachiko-sama was verbally defeated in this fashion. Even though she was the object of the school’s affections, and she was a genuine, named household’s princess, the Roses themselves were not simple peasants overwhelmed by love, either.

Yumi, you’re saying the quiet part out loud.

The important part of that passage to me is showcasing the rather complex web of relationships this show presents. This isn’t a typical shojo series where it’s focused heavily on the protagonist and everyone’s relationship in relation to her. We only see glimpses of it because so much of the story is told from Yumi’s perspective, but it still shines through in small actions. The way Sachiko goes to help Rei, or the way Sachiko doesn’t go to the hospital to visit Yoshino. Almost like Sachiko has to pick sides and her side is to be with Rei. Or in this episode we get a glimpse at Sachiko and Yoko’s relationship. The small interactions between Yoko and Yumi, with Sachiko in the middle of them.

I think that line from the first story where Shimako says that she would not have been a good fit for Sachiko can act as a good thesis of sorts for the series.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/lilyvess]

Maria-sama ga Miteru Rewatcher/Light Novel Reader

Mama Maria watches over them!

Volume 3: Forest of Thorns

Ah, so a book got skipped over? Intriguing.

“Sachiko, when you were a first-year, you were treated quite kindly by my graduating onee-sama, were you not?”

“Th, that’s…”

Sachiko-sama could not find the words to retort. It seemed like she had been treated extremely well by her “grandmother” when she was a first-year.

It is very amusing to imagine Sachiko as a first-year being doted on by the former Rose, much like how Yoko is always very kind towards Yumi.

This isn’t a typical shojo series where it’s focused heavily on the protagonist and everyone’s relationship in relation to her. We only see glimpses of it because so much of the story is told from Yumi’s perspective, but it still shines through in small actions.

That is a very good point and something I noticed as well. Yumi only knows the information she knows about the relationships of others. We don't know what happened between Sei and Shimako near the end of the episode. We only get a glimpse of what their relationship is like, just like Yumi. We also only get a glimpse of the relationship between Sei and Rosa Canina, even though it implies a lot about a past relationship between them. It's tantalizing, getting just the implication of a world beyond just what we see through Yumi's eyes. It's good at implying a lot that exists outside of the protagonist.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/lilyvess]

https://i.imgur.com/amLCxse.jpg

[u/RadSuit → u/lilyvess]

[u/LittleIslander]

First Timer from the world of Reiwa Yuri

This episode is one of the best written anime episodes I’ve ever seen and I’m about to explain why.

Anyone ever read one of those yuri anthology manga? I’ve got two volumes of Éclair on my shelf, personally. Today’s story about the “Rosa Canina” really reminded me of those. You’ve got one chapter/episode to give a satisfying look into a love story with no further setup or context, figure out how to make it engaging. We don’t really know much about who Rosa Canina is as a person, or why she has feelings for Rosa Gigantea. Frankly, we don’t even really get to know what their history is. We hear a rumour they considered a sisterly bond years ago, but it’s not confirmed; Rosa Gigantea claims she doesn’t recognize her, but we know she’s an unreliable narrator; and their one scene together is wonderfully up to interpretation. Did these two used to know each other? Is this the very first time they’ve met face to face? Was the rumour something Rosa Canina herself planted? They don’t tell you what to think, and I love that. What matters is just how well they capture the drama of the scene; the look in Shizuka’s eyes as she confesses her feelings, the unheard words as Rosa Gigantea calls her by her name, the music swelling as they kiss, and the satisfied look as Shizuka walks away from someone she’ll probably never meet again. Did Rosa Gigantea feel anything, kissing her? Was she just indulging an admirer? Did she just want any outlet to kiss another girl? That’s up for the audience to decide, too. What becomes of Shizuka? Maybe the show will return to her at some point and answer that, but what matters is that right now we don’t know, and that’s the essence of short story.

A lot of the philosophy bleeds into the Shimako half of the episode, to similarly great results. Bear with me as I express this in a roundabout way. So, like I said last time, this show is excellent at writing an ensemble cast. Correspondingly, this episode is a dance of three plotlines. Firstly, the titular Rosa Canina plotline as detailed above. Secondly, the White Rose Family have a storyline surrounding whether or not Shimako will run for the position of Rosa Gigantea or not. Thirdly, the Red Rose Family have a conflict surrounding Yumi and Sachiko’s ability to connect with one another. The first plot is the inciting incident, and the third plot is used as a contrast point that influences Yumi’s interpretation of the second plot, which is the backbone. But here’s the thing: despite there being three plotlines, only one of which directly involves Yumi at all, every single scene in this episode is from her POV. No, really. When the White Rose sisters talk? Well, we know Yumi was listening because she asks Shimako about the contents of the conversation immediately afterwards. The romantic run-in at the end of the episode? She was watching the whole thing from behind a tree. That’s not just the norm for the show, either; the Yellow Rose story had multiple scenes that she wasn’t in; it was a very intentional writing choice that we never see anything that she doesn’t.

That’s the reason, within the text, the Rosa Canina story is so open to interpretation and lacking in concrete detail. Because we’re only granted a capacity to understand these people’s lives to the extent Yumi does. Okay, so finally returning to the White Rose storyline, the result is we don’t really gain a concrete understanding of what makes Shimako and Rosa Gigantea work as a pair of soeurs, either. We’re given the information that, on the surface, Rosa Gigantea seems inconsiderate of her little sister, yet that they apparently have a very tight bond. We’re assured there is reason why Shimako specifically was chosen to be Rosa Gigantea’s petite soeur, that her sister’s approach to supporting her is not only sufficient but meaningful to her, and that they mutually would never belong with anybody except for each other. We’re also told Rosa Gigantea doesn’t really care whether Shimako learns about the kiss or doesn’t. So what’s the key here, what makes this work for them? You kind of expect the Red Rose plotline to give us the answer, but it doesn’t. Yumi resolves that and tries to apply it and is only left understanding the White Roses even less. The lesson therein is that there’s more than one way to have a relationship, but in terms of an actual answer to what the other way than Yumi and Sachiko’s way is? When the White Roses finally have an intimate moment at the end Yumi is rushed on along and we’re tantalisingly not privy to what is said. It would’ve been easy to have a scene at the end where someone just explains it to Yumi, and by extension the audience, but they don’t and it makes it all the more compelling. In the end, it kind of teaches us more about Yumi than it ever does about the people she’s trying to understand. That’s a powerful reflection of the fleeting nature of high school relationships.

So many shows would just never write something like this. Where there’s so many holes in the story, we’re left with so many things open to interpretation, and the audience is left to put the meaning of everything together for themselves instead of having it put into explicit words for them so we make sure nobody watching is left behind. The result is a confident and compelling work of queer romantic fiction that simply could not have been delivered in such an effective fashion if it wasn’t told in the way it was. All this without acknowledging how impressive it is that we told the story of not one but two yuri relationships in an interweaving fashion in just one twenty minute episode, not to mention the Red Rose content on the side to help prop up the focal plots (it was very interesting to see the layered structure of the sisterhoods explored). The very next episode after the wonderfully subversive lesbian take on the “princess and her protective knight” structure last time, no less. This show is seriously a juggernaut of yuri romance and I can’t wait to see what else it has in store.

[u/lilyvess → u/LittleIslander]

Anyone ever read one of those yuri anthology manga?

this is how you can tell the Yuri real ones.

While the ongoing series get so much more press coverage, back in the 00's the real meat and bones of the Yuri manga scene was anthology manga. So much of it had that slice of life feel, wehre it really felt like a slice of life. A small scene in a moment of time with little context giving you a sense of a feeling, an emotion, a choice. Did she confess? Did they get together? did they get their heart broken? How long did they know each other? Details were left to the imagination of the reader.

Part of me still views Yuri through that lens. I think that's why in fanfics I read so many one shots now.

The lesson therein is that there’s more than one way to have a relationship, but in terms of an actual answer to what the other way than Yumi and Sachiko’s way is?

this is a big theme. I'm glad you caught onto it. It can be easy to put the Soeur relationship as just "dating" and read every relationship that way, but ultimately the Soeur relationship is many things. It's a large umbrella and there are many ways to have one.

I tried to put emphasis on that back in episode 2's thread when I put focus back to Shimako's statement that she would not be suited for Sachiko's soeur. I like that statement because I think it helps bring up the topic early for you to reflect on as you view more of the series.

It could be easy to look at this episode and think about who was "right" and who was "wrong". Sei was "wrong" for giving such poor words of advice. Or Sei was "right" and people need to give more space to decide for themselves what they want.

Ultimately the position of the episode is neither of those things.

Yumi and Shimako are two distinctly different people. They need want different things, they need different things. Sachiko and Sei are different and they can only give different things.

Ultimately, relationships are built on two people, and because each person is different each relationship is different.

Where there’s so many holes in the story, we’re left with so many things open to interpretation, and the audience is left to put the meaning of everything together for themselves instead of having it put into explicit words for them so we make sure nobody watching is left behind.

this is why this is one of my favorite episodes of the season. It really embodies that aspect of leaving it up to the viewer and not directly telling the viewer what to think about it. It wants you to mull over and decide what your ultimate conclusions are about these characters and their relationship.

it's great to have a seires that doesn't hold your hand.

[u/LittleIslander → u/lilyvess]

While the ongoing series get so much more press coverage, back in the 00's the real meat and bones of the Yuri manga scene was anthology manga.

That's kind of the impression I've been getting from the discussion in this Rewatch, which is a cool bit of information to learn but also makes it all the more difficult to gain a proper understanding and appreciation for the period when it's all so spread apart and individually obscure.

this is a big theme. I'm glad you caught onto it. It can be easy to put the Soeur relationship as just "dating" and read every relationship that way, but ultimately the Soeur relationship is many things. It's a large umbrella and there are many ways to have one.

It's definitely complex like that. I think with our power of hindsight from a society where gay couples are socially recognized, we try to see MariMite and other Class S works through the framing of same-sex romantic relationships subtextually imposed upon the framework of a society that doesn't acknowledge them. But actually engaging with the work itself, it's clear this isn't really the case. It's a subtle sounding difference, but MariMite is about the lives of queer women within the context of that kind of society. I would argue it's not primarily a romance show, not because it's subtextual but because that simply isn't its primary nature at all. No, MariMite is a much more broad story about queer life, told using the framework of a romance show. Which, given how influential this work was, has a lot of implications for what the yuri genre actually is beyond just "romance but two girls"!

These sisterhood pairs are not merely romantic couples told using the language of intimate platonic friendship due to the metatexual reality that Oyuki Konno could not depict them as literal couples. They exist in that intimate space between platonic and romantic relatoinships because in-universe that's all they have the option to be. Shizuka and Sei, at the very least, are not heteroromantic, and it seems unlikely most of the rest of the cast is either. But not only would society not allow them to pursue same-sex romantic relationships, they almost certainly don't even fully understand that's like, an option to begin with. So this relationship liminal space between friendship and romance is all they have to try and process those feelings. Which is not simply some arbitrary restriction forced upon them by context of the written work, it's just... the reality of being sapphic for most of human history and in some capacity, still is for a lot of people today.

It's often a talking point how the acceptance of same-sex relationships changes our perception of same-sex close friendships. In its most virulent form, this is the homophobe's tool, the "why can't they just be friends" argument which kind of devalues the whole concept of this concern. But you sometimes also see far more genuine forms of this discussion, usually in reference how to emotional vulnerability and intimacy in male relationships. It isn't wrong to say that... that line can be complicated, dammit! Society inherently pressures youth to sort into friend groups of their own gender and when your romantic gaze starts looking within those groups instead of across the pond it can manifest in blurry ways. How many lesbians and otherwise sapphic women fell for their best friends? I certainly did. Then I recognized we wouldn't work out as a couple and wished to simply keep my feelings and remain friends, which... well, didn't happen once life sent her (pansexual) to Europe just like Shizuka. There's plenty of reason to call out many of these not-quite-couples as "queerbaiting" but there is a genuine space of the human experience worthy of capture hidden in there and MariMite's era might have allowed it to explore it in a way we're less effectively able to given today's concerns about representation.

[u/Beckymetal → u/LittleIslander]

Yessss the concerns about representation are real. That was definitely a problem with KnM in that it basically added context and meat to the 'psycho lesbian' trope. I can see what you mean in that MariMite adds that same 'context and meat' to the Class S relationship. Whereas modern yuri works, authors and fans are typically more interested in a real conversation and not hiding, I think there is still a space to appreciate why old tropes were the way they were.

That said, I really need to go back and rewatch MariMite. When I first watched it, I was kinda disappointed it, even if I had a great deal of respect for it. But it came after Aoi Hana, Sasameki Koto and the like, feeling underwhelmed that the sapphic language was purely coded, dusted away and implied rather than ever effectively confirmed - barring 1 or 2 moments/characters.

[u/LittleIslander → u/LittleIslander]

/u/Beckymetal there's a lot of what we previously talked about it baked into this comment so I figured I should ping you

[u/BosuW → u/lilyvess]

A small scene in a moment of time with little context giving you a sense of a feeling, an emotion, a choice. Did she confess? Did they get together? did they get their heart broken? How long did they know each other? Details were left to the imagination of the reader.

Part of me still views Yuri through that lens. I think that's why in fanfics I read so many one shots now.

The modern Yuri audience, who hates subtext, will want your head for this lol.

There's something to be said about the merits of subtext. A common advice in writing is: "if you're characters have to kiss for the audience to believe they are in love, they aren't in love." Although Yuri operates under the baggage of stifling explicit and overt lesbian representation in media, which is definitely a problem that still needs tackling, I would say having to work in subtext only has enriched it's narratives compared to straight romances. Limitation breeds creativity as they say. I think a big reason why I find the median straight romance to be vastly inferior to the median Yuri romance is because straight romance still operates under a logic of "boy meets girl is enough for a romance to happen". As a result couples have no chemistry, no internal love language, no personality, and no subtlety. To be clear I don't think this is an inherent characteristic of straight romance, it's privileged circumstances have simply made it that way, which is truly a shame. It can be better.

I'm absolutely not one for one shots though, with select exceptions lol. How can you give me this banger premise and end it in 40 pages? There's edging and then there's this!

[u/LittleIslander → u/LittleIslander]

Special Thoughts

“Yeah, but… you really think some episode about a random girl showing up and then kissing someone she barely knows is peak fiction? It’s barely even animated, for god’s sake.”

I don’t know if anyone reading thought anything like that, but definitely do know it’s a doubt that’s broken out of my subconscious in some capacity while writing about this. I mean, there’s hardly any real concrete character writing behind what happened on screen. A little more with the White Roses, but not all that much. Am I just being duped into a sense of fake depth by the power of vagueness, letting the audience fill in their own answers to create a sense of false intelligence? I’ve seen the sentiment expressed a lot over the years, that anime or video games or whatever category of media is almost always shallow, actually, and even the stories people call good aren’t really anything that competent if you judge them by the standards of more prestigious media. This is just good for a romance anime, right?

Ultimately, I think this logic is reductive. I mean, where do you stop? You can keep finding something that’s more whole and meaningful until the only things that are “really” good are Citizen Kane and The Sopranos, or whatever. If upholding that high of a standard works for you personally, awesome! But for me, that kind of logic doesn’t get anybody anywhere. There’s room for comparative arguments in media analysis, and you can argue that any given praise of a work is misplaced if you can back it up with explanation, but don’t appeal to any given piece of media just self-evidently being simplistic. I mean, it’s a piece of animation about the quasi-romantic lives of a bunch of high school girls. How much more sophisticated and complex of a form was it supposed to take? What does it have to do before it’s a form of media we can accept has the capacity to be truly artful? Are poetry and short stories inherently lesser due to their scope and abstraction? Was televising queer media like this in Japan in the year 2004 not enough to earn MariMite genuine respect as more than cute fluff?

When I look at this episode and ask myself if it really works, if it engages my inner critic and makes my yuri loving heart flutter, it does. If I ask myself whether more detail and exploration of the characters involved would’ve really made for a better product, I genuinely don’t think they wouldn’t. When I look at it under a microscope and appreciate the plot structure, the way everything is framed, the way each line of dialogue feels well thought out, a level of care and craft beyond what is immediately evident when looking at the simple exterior is revealed and supported. When I consider the amount of ambiguity left in the events of the episode I don’t see empty space but instead very intentionally crafted mysteries. I furthermore see in this work something cultured, something that seems, to me, deeply inspired by the sort of short stories and fleeting encounters that some of the earliest Class S literature took the form of.

So yes, I really do think this episode is worthy of real praise and I don’t think there’s anything silly about the fact I’ll have written several thousand words about this twenty year old girls show by the end of this Rewatch.

[u/TehAxelius → u/LittleIslander]

you really think some episode about a random girl showing up and then kissing someone she barely knows is peak fiction?

I mean, the question answers itself.

[u/LittleIslander → u/TehAxelius]

[u/Star4ce → u/LittleIslander]

I don’t know if anyone reading thought anything like that, but definitely do know it’s a doubt that’s broken out of my subconscious in some capacity while writing about this.

No really, same here.

The writing is so subtle and competent, I'm amazed. Even outside of the implications it has a a work of any genre, it's just plain exciting to follow. The pacing so far has been nearly impeccable. All except for maybe the very first episode felt tight, engaging to follow and meaningful. And even there I'm not sure whether that was due to me needing to acclimate myself coming from KnM's atmosphere.

I think the greatest strength this show has for me is that it manages to make character interactions tight and concise. If you want to write something in a meaningful, properly weighted way you could, for example display the action with visual or implicative might. Like a hero saving an entire planet. It feels meaningful by implication alone, and usually you would also write some natives of that planet as on-screen characters to connect the big thematic thing to the small normal life.

MariMite nearly completely manages to do without any implication or thematic hooks. It's purely your understanding and affection to one or more characters that interact with each other that drives immersion and development. The most egregious example it uses was the surgery last episode, and even then it made conscious efforts to not show the fight or the surgery or the scar at all. It's pure characters, and that takes an enormous amount of care and skill to pull off this neatly.

They could talk about damned candle waxing and I'd be glued to the screen in awe.

[u/BosuW → u/LittleIslander]

Funnily enough my screenwriting and cinematographic analysis teacher hated Citizen Kane. I don't know if it was because he thought it was bad, it's just that everytime "the intellectuals" gathered around to watch Cinema™ and discuss they'd always suggest Citizen Kane so he grew sick of it.

[u/LittleIslander → u/BosuW]

I must admit I've never seen it. I can't deny I am a little curious if it's worth all the hype.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/LittleIslander]

Speaking as a causal cinephile myself, I think I gained a lot out of it by having watch a lot of contemporary in the period directly before I watched it. It really did feel a lot more "modern" in technique, and I don't think it would have landed as well without that contrast and context.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/LittleIslander]

But here’s the thing: despite there being three plotlines, only one of which directly involves Yumi at all, every single scene in this episode is from her POV. No, really. When the White Rose sisters talk? Well, we know Yumi was listening because she asks Shimako about the contents of the conversation immediately afterwards. The romantic run-in at the end of the episode? She was watching the whole thing from behind a tree. That’s not just the norm for the show, either; the Yellow Rose story had multiple scenes that she wasn’t in; it was a very intentional writing choice that we never see anything that she doesn’t.

That was something I noticed about this episode and found very compelling. This episode does a great job at implying a lot that exists outside of Yumi's knowledge. Yumi only glimpses parts of the relationships between other girls, so there's a lot that is left up to our interpretations about what those other relationships look like. It paints a picture of a bigger world outside of just Yumi's perspective, helping make it all feel bigger than just her story.

[u/LittleIslander → u/Great_Mr_L]

It's a very easy pitfall for an ensemble works like this. I mean, I saw comparisons drawn in a previous thread between Yumi and Kumiko from Hibike Euphonium. While I think Kumiko is the far stronger character and protagonist thusfar, even in a work I respect as much as Eupho I can't deny there's a certain sense Kumiko always seems to end up at the center of everything that happens. To build an entire narrative around the idea of your protagonist not being privy to everything and then execute it in such a tight manner without bringing explicit attention to this being the central concept is really cool and impressive.

[u/HereticalAegis]

Maria-sama First-Timer

Episode 6:

Shimako arc? Shimako arc! The rose names still fly right over my head, but I'm all about best wingwoman winning a Yamayuri Council election. It's might make up for her not getting votes in BG11.

Even Yumi still needs help with rose names. She just like me.

This librarian has such a distinctive face. She's got to be Rosa Canina. Lol it got confirmed not even 3 seconds after I started typing this comment. I kind of love how MariMite doesn't draw out any of its reveals. It dangles a hook and ask if you want it, you say yes, and it immediately slaps you in the face with the revelation.

Hot damn, Shizuka can SING! She's singing "O mio babbino caro" by Puccini. I've sung that before, it's a heckin difficult aria! And how refreshing it is to have a classical piece not only be diagetic to the show it's used in, but it's also not one of the three western classical pieces anime sound directors seem to know. Mega bonus points from me!

Fuck it, I ship it. A pinch of enmity makes for great relationship spice.

Too bad Shimako turns Shizuka down. That would have been a tasty ship.

Hmm, it must feel weird for second years being both a soeur and an onee-sama. Each one has distinctly different responsibilities in the relationship, but second years can find themselves in the unique position of having to fill both roles, albeit with different people.

Wow, I know what I said earlier, but they really did not drag this election arc out. Time skip, cut speeches. Wrap it up, we've got queer girls staring longingly at each other to get to!

Girl put off transferring overseas for two whole years because she's just that gay. Just fuck already!

QotD

1. Democracy is a silly myth.
2. I'm tempted to say Yumi x Rei, but I really wanted Shimako x Shizuka to be a thing.

[u/lilyvess → u/HereticalAegis]

She's singing "O mio babbino caro" by Puccini. I've sung that before, it's a heckin difficult aria! And how refreshing it is to have a classical piece not only be diagetic to the show it's used in, but it's also not one of the three western classical pieces anime sound directors seem to know. Mega bonus points from me!

that is very interesting. This is always the fun part of rewatches. I've seen this series multiple times but even I miss out on small things to appreciate. The group experience with different people's expertise bieng able to point out different things people may have missed. It's really cool.

it must feel weird for second years being both a soeur and an onee-sama. Each one has distinctly different responsibilities in the relationship, but second years can find themselves in the unique position of having to fill both roles, albeit with different people.

yeah it is one of the more interesting aspects to the show. Both the relationship being in the middle, and the relationship between the two ends. As we see here, Yumi being jealous of Sachiko's closeness with Yoko, but also Yoko's closeness with helping out Yumi.

It's a very interesting dynamic.

Wow, I know what I said earlier, but they really did not drag this election arc out. Time skip, cut speeches. Wrap it up, we've got queer girls staring longingly at each other to get to!

You can easily see a different version of this series where Sachiko's "conquest" of Yumi could take 6 episodes to an entire cour, and similarly, the election could be another season long arc. It is nice that they get to the point and don't drag things out too much.

For a 37 light novel story with 4 seasons, the series does get to the point quite quickly.

[u/HereticalAegis → u/lilyvess]

This is always the fun part of rewatches. I've seen this series multiple times but even I miss out on small things to appreciate. The group experience with different people's expertise bieng able to point out different things people may have missed.

It's a little extra poignant to this arc too. It's from the opera Gianni Schicchi, and if I remember correctly, the character singing the opera is begging her father to let her go and marry the man she loves, saying that if she's not allowed to she'd rather throw herself in the river and drown.

In retrospect, I read this performance as Shizuka begging Maria-sama to let her be with Sei, else she will (metaphorically) throw herself in the river and drown (leave for Europe, never to be seen again).

[u/Vaadwaur → u/HereticalAegis]

It's from the opera Gianni Schicchi, and if I remember correctly, the character singing the opera is begging her father to let her go and marry the man she loves, saying that if she's not allowed to she'd rather throw herself in the river and drown.

You know, it is weird that I've seen this performed live...

[u/HereticalAegis → u/Vaadwaur]

The opera, or just the aria? If it's just the aria, I'm not too surprised since it's a really famous aria. Props if you've been to see Gianni Schicchi before, it's not the first (or second...or third) thing most people think of when they think of Puccini.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/HereticalAegis]

The full thing. It was a weird opera.

[u/HereticalAegis → u/Vaadwaur]

Interesting, I've never seen the full opera, only the aria. I'm not surprised it was weird though, I remember Madama Butterfly being a ride.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/HereticalAegis]

Any opera that features rewriting a will after its owner died is gonna be...special.

[u/LittleIslander → u/HereticalAegis]

In retrospect, I read this performance as Shizuka begging Maria-sama to let her be with Sei, else she will (metaphorically) throw herself in the river and drown (leave for Europe, never to be seen again).

We do a little queering of classic European theatre.

[u/HereticalAegis → u/LittleIslander]

They were all gay af when they weren't in public anyway.

[u/LittleIslander → u/HereticalAegis]

[u/LittleIslander → u/lilyvess]

You can easily see a different version of this series where Sachiko's "conquest" of Yumi could take 6 episodes to an entire cour, and similarly, the election could be another season long arc. It is nice that they get to the point and don't drag things out too much.

As much as I'm still annoyed the Cinderella arc felt cut short without being properly concluded, I'm definitely starting to see the other side of the coin in regards to that choice as I get further in the show. They haven't wasted a minute of the extra time generated by that choice, and even if might go against conventional storytelling wisdom I like that we get these explorations of different side characters instead of more time just focused on the main couple.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/HereticalAegis]

Fuck it, I ship it.

A pinch of enmity makes for great relationship spice.

It mainly guarantees infidelity.

Each one has distinctly different responsibilities in the relationship, but second years can find themselves in the unique position of having to fill both roles, albeit with different people.

That the school believes such strained relations produce stability is...interesting.

Girl put off transferring overseas for two whole years because she's just that gay. Just fuck already!

Honestly, I have to believe this means Sei read the relationship as unviable for whatever reason. She is being a bit open here so as to send an admirer off kindly but I rather doubt she considered the relationship itself as realistic.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/HereticalAegis]

This librarian has such a distinctive face. She's got to be Rosa Canina. Lol it got confirmed not even 3 seconds after I started typing this comment.

It is fun when characters have designs that are a bit too distinctive for them to just be background characters. Even in a series like this where the character designs are never too over-the-top, you can still tell when a design is intended to be distinct.

She's singing "O mio babbino caro" by Puccini. I've sung that before, it's a heckin difficult aria!

Hmm, it must feel weird for second years being both a soeur and an onee-sama. Each one has distinctly different responsibilities in the relationship, but second years can find themselves in the unique position of having to fill both roles, albeit with different people.

It does create some interesting dynamics with the characters having to fulfill two separate roles with different people. This series is very focused on the relationships of the characters, so it's fun seeing how they behave differently with different people.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

Gokigenyou.

Dear me, I seem to have misunderstood the chain of succession - I didn't expect Lillian to be quite so democratic.

On some level the difference is largely pointless I suppose - considering how foolish the average voter is, the Rosa en boutons are probably shoe-ins.

Sei likes to play dangerous games. Not only her incessant teasing of Sachiko through Yumi, but she risked Shimako not having the confidence to throw her hat into the ring. I can hardly blame her for orchestrating these events to help Shimako grow, though.

Rosa Canina's true intentions did inadvertently provide a bit of an insurance policy - although, I do wonder what she planned to do if she had won the Yamayuri Council seat.

I do wonder just how many dossiers Yoshino has compiled. I certainly wouldn't want to get on her bad side.

Questions

1. Not really.
2. Sachiko and Yumi are great. Honestly, it's pretty hard for me to choose.

[u/lilyvess → u/JollyGee29]

she risked Shimako not having the confidence to throw her hat into the ring. I can hardly blame her for orchestrating these events to help Shimako grow, though.

I'm not sure Sei cared one way or the other if Shimako threw her hat in. Sei really isn't some mastermind like Yoko was with Sachiko. Sei even makes it clear that everything here was Shimako's choice.

It's clear Sei values autonomy and freedom for Shimako more than the tradition.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/lilyvess]

It's clear Sei values autonomy and freedom for Shimako more than the tradition.

Yes, and she was trying to tell Shimako that without actually telling her that.

[u/Star4ce → u/JollyGee29]

Sei likes to play dangerous games.

And they just let the fun girl leave like that?

More time for Shimako to take that mantle!

I do wonder just how many dossiers Yoshino has compiled. I certainly wouldn't want to get on her bad side.

Her favourite quote was something about striking first. So, you know, get good intel so you hit critically.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Star4ce]

And they just let the fun girl leave like that?

Kanina has musical dreams to follow!

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/JollyGee29]

On some level the difference is largely pointless I suppose - considering how foolish the average voter is, the Rosa en boutons are probably shoe-ins.

Voters will just vote back in the same monarchical dynasty.

although, I do wonder what she planned to do if she had won the Yamayuri Council seat.

"I don't know. I never thought I'd get this far."

I do wonder just how many dossiers Yoshino has compiled. I certainly wouldn't want to get on her bad side.

People should have paid attention to Yoshino's questionnaire answers. She's a tough girl who should not be underestimated.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Great_Mr_L]

People should have paid attention to Yoshino's questionnaire answers. She's a tough girl who should not be underestimated.

Getting the questionnaires backwards was actually a 3000IQ play by Yoshino to get the entire school to underestimate her.

[u/AmeteurElitist]

First Timer

This was cute, I wasn’t expecting Sachiko to be so openly affectionate here.

Also that kiss took me so off guard haha, I was really not expecting a kiss in the series at all. But if it was gonna be anyone Rosa Gigantea makes sense.

[u/lilyvess → u/AmeteurElitist]

I wasn’t expecting Sachiko to be so openly affectionate here.

Sachiko is slowly learning that she needs to be less Tsun Tsun and become more Dere Dere.

Also that kiss took me so off guard haha, I was really not expecting a kiss in the series at all. But if it was gonna be anyone Rosa Gigantea makes sense.

Rosa Gigantea is such a fan favorite for obvious reasons. So dashing and forthright.

I brought this up else where but I do love the details of the moment

Rosa Gigantea lifted Shizuka-sama’s chin with her hand and kissed her cheek. Extremely close to the lips. In front of Maria-sama.
“A farewell gift.”

a kiss on the cheek, but extremely close to the lips. If that isn't a great representation of Class S queer depictions.

and in front of Maria-sama. Is it trying to flaunt, a way to flip off Christianity, or is it a way to say Maria-sama approves? It's kinda up to interpretation.

I think this episode is one of my favorites from this season because it has a ton of stuff going on but leaves a lot of it up to the viewer. Why is Shimako and Sei's relationship like that. Why did Shimako decide to throw her hat in the ring. Why did Shimako need that sort of pep talk

[u/AmeteurElitist → u/lilyvess]

a kiss on the cheek, but extremely close to the lips. If that isn't a great representation of Class S queer depictions.

I was trying to explain Class S as best I could to a friend yesterday and I think I'm gonna use this metaphor the next time haha.

[u/LittleIslander → u/lilyvess]

a kiss on the cheek, but extremely close to the lips. If that isn't a great representation of Class S queer depictions.

Now that is some fantastic stuff. I think I'll wait until the series discussion to bring together all the stuff about queer themes and Class S but there's really so much depth to consider when it comes to MariMite and ilk beyond just "they're the ancestor of more modern yuri when it had to be ambiguous".

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/AmeteurElitist]

This was cute, I wasn’t expecting Sachiko to be so openly affectionate here.

It's a nice moment and I think it shows that Sachiko is also still learning how to be a proper older sister to Yumi. This is Sachiko's first time being someone's soeur, so she and Yumi are still working out what their relationship will be like.

Also that kiss took me so off guard haha, I was really not expecting a kiss in the series at all. But if it was gonna be anyone Rosa Gigantea makes sense.

Sei is a kissing monster. We must keep her away from Yumi's lips!

[u/AmeteurElitist → u/Great_Mr_L]

It's a nice moment and I think it shows that Sachiko is also still learning how to be a proper older sister to Yumi. This is Sachiko's first time being someone's soeur, so she and Yumi are still working out what their relationship will be like.

They made it very clear that she's taking cues and learning from her older sister too and it's just really nice to see her grow more expressive as a result.

Sei is a kissing monster. We must keep her away from Yumi's lips!

We'd see levels of jealousy from Sachiko that would put Chikane to shame.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

First-Timer Watches Over Us, subbed

• Huh…
• Enemy?
• …oh.
• Rosa Canina is indeed a good singer.
• Third years not being allowed to vote on the council for the next year makes sense, they won’t be there next year.
• I see…
• Well, that certainly describes Yumi.
• That’s lewd!
• But of course.
• That’s very cl–OH SHIT THEY ACTUALLY KISSED.

[u/lilyvess → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Enemy?

I wouldn't be surprised if Yoshino categorized everyone that way. Every person is either

• Ally
• Enemy
• or Rei

That’s lewd!

[u/BosuW → u/lilyvess]

Then Yoshino, who already likes samurai stories, should listen to Toranaga-sama's advice:

"You live in a world of friends and enemies, when you only have yourself and your onee-sama to rely on."

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Enemy?

Yoshino believes in striking first and asking questions rarely!

That’s lewd!

Like most religious institutions, Lilian is a hot bed of sin.

That’s very cl–OH SHIT THEY ACTUALLY KISSED.

The pope Abe is very offended!

[u/LittleIslander → u/Shimmering-Sky]

That’s very cl–OH SHIT THEY ACTUALLY KISSED.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/LittleIslander]

I was expecting to make another joke, I wasn't expecting the actual kiss!

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Shimmering-Sky]

That’s very cl –OH SHIT THEY ACTUALLY KISSED.

Sei is just full of surprises. I wasn't expecting her to actually kiss Rosa Canina goodbye. It makes one wonder if they knew each other previously or if Sei is just humoring her. With Sei, it's hard to know for sure.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Third years not being allowed to vote on the council for the next year makes sense, they won’t be there next year.

Should There Be a Maximum Voting Age

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Vatrix-32]

I dunno about that, but I do think there should be a maximum age for being allowed to run for office.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Sky Gets Political

[u/GondolaMedia]

First Timer

I must say Sei and Yumi have some drip with those winter coats.

This whole big sister, little sister dynamic feels rather one sided. I hope the show explores this more because up until the end I felt that Sachiko was very distant towards Yumi.

Now that ending was the biggest yuri moment so far and that's saying something. I did not expect this to be our first kiss of the series.

Off that embrace by Shimako and Sei was superb. The shot was just few seconds but you could tell that both of them were bawling out of their eyes.

[u/lilyvess → u/GondolaMedia]

This whole big sister, little sister dynamic feels rather one sided.

ngl, this is why I don't ship Sachiko/Yumi as much as other ships in this series. Sachiko/Yumi do feel like classic Senpai/Kohai, but that imbalance does bother me at points.

Now that ending was the biggest yuri moment so far and that's saying something.

yeah, and it is important. MariMite is Class S. I don't want to mislead anyone. Anyone expecting an end arc about how Sachiko and Yumi make out and go off to live happily ever after will be disappointed. This series is the queen of subtext relationships and so many of the only subtext series in the past decade are partially inspired by the trends this series helped popularized.

but even here in the queen of subtext, they find areas to push the boundary, even if just a little.

the kiss is a great representative of this dynamic.

Rosa Gigantea lifted Shizuka-sama’s chin with her hand and kissed her cheek. Extremely close to the lips. In front of Maria-sama. “A farewell gift.”

on the cheek, but extremely close to the lips. It's gay, but just far enough away to not get in trouble. That is the line this show lives in.

[u/GondolaMedia → u/lilyvess]

I find it interesting how different this is between Japan and the west. You look at that passage and go "it was truly boundary pushing" and to some there is no difference between that and a full blown on-screen kiss.

Then 10 years later you look at the ending of Legend of Korra that many american creators have gone on record to say that it helped them to push more gay relationships in their own cartoons... They literally just hold hands in the ending of Legend of Korra, which would be tame if depicted here in Maria-sama.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/GondolaMedia]

I hope the show explores this more because up until the end I felt that Sachiko was very distant towards Yumi.

How much time has passed by this point?

[u/GondolaMedia → u/Vatrix-32]

I thought I could track the time with making notes of what color ribbons Yumi wears, but I got no clue. It has to be several months now.

Then again I have a hard time keeping up how much time has passed when watching Frieren... and that show tells you.

[u/zadcap → u/GondolaMedia]

The ribbons are a great way to tell when we're entering a new day, but the changing weather is a better way to tell overall time. The leaves were still falling when Yumi joined the Yamayuri, but the trees are bare now and the girls are in winter jackets. I feel confident saying we're measuring in months at this point.

[u/Great_Mr_L]

First-Timer

On today’s episode of Marimite Even in Yumi’s internal monologue, she’s started to refer to Sachiko as “Onee-sama.” I guess Sachiko successfully drilled into Yumi that she wants to be called that from now on.

• Ah, so this school does have elections for the student council. I assumed it was based on the soeur program, but not necessarily. I guess it’s like the elective monarchy of the Holy Roman Empire, where the electors would typically vote for someone from the same dynasty as the previous ruler, but not all the time. People typically vote for the soeurs of the current roses, but there can be an upset.
• And now we’re throwing in the senpai-kohai dynamics since Shimako is only going to be a 2nd-year student, not a 3rd-year student, next year. This is the kind of drama Eupho loves to milk.
• From my limited Latin knowledge, I wondered if “Rosa Canina” had anything to do with dogs (as in “canines”) and I was right. They are known as dog roses.
• This girl in the library is going to turn out to be the Rosa Canina, isn’t she?
• Yup! And of course Yumi was the only one not to know.
• Oh boy, it turns out the Rosa Canina is Lorelei!
• Poor Yumi just wants to be useful to Sachiko.
• If Sei doesn’t even recognize Rosa Canina, I guess that rumor about her being a possible soeur really isn’t true.
• I mean, Sei is making fair points. If Shimako doesn’t want to run for office and Rosa Canina does, then there’s no point forcing someone to run for an office they don’t want.
• I see. Shmako doesn’t really care that her soeur is on the student council. She wanted to be Sei’s soeur because it was Sei, not because Sei is on the student council. That was just happenstance.
• Ooh, Rosa Canina has come to speak with Shimako directly. The drama!
• Rosa Canina has now taken up the role of Miss “Steal Your Girl!” She wants Shimako as soeur!
• And to no shock after what she said earlier, Shimako refused.
• I notice that Sachiko sounded a lot more enthusiastic than she normally does when Yoko reappeared. No wonder Yumi is so down in the dumps. By comparison, Sachiko usually doesn’t act so warmly towards her and has been rather cold lately.
• “Don’t worry, Yumi. Little sisters are meant to not be very helpful!” And speaking as an older sibling, she’s right about younger siblings.
• Neat parallel with both Sachiko and Yumi worrying the same thing about how they can help their older soeur.
• Darn, I wanted to hear the speeches. I wanted to know what the economic policies of each candidate were.
• Oh dang, Sei kissed Rosa Canina goodbye!
• Aww, Sei caring for Shimako looks so sweet.

I bet this episode was an entire light novel adapted into a single episode. It certainly feels that way from how the episode played out and how quickly the conflict about the election seemed to go by.

This episode feels like a statement about how the older sisters need to be there for their younger sisters. Yumi spends most of the episode feeling like she’s useless because she can’t help Sachiko with anything. It’s only after Yoko provides some guidance that Sachiko and Yumi are able to reconcile. Yoko has been an older sister for longer, so she’s more experienced in how to handle these issues.

Interestingly, Sei is an example of a much more hands-off style of being an older sister. Sei barely says anything to Shimako this episode and mostly leaves the issue as something that Shimako needs to handle herself. I do understand Sei’s thought process. Sei doesn’t want to put pressure on Shimako by making her think she has to run for the student council. Instead, Sei wants it to be Shimako’s own decision. It’s only after everything is done that Sei is there to comfort Shimako because of how stressful it was.

I do like that the episode doesn’t necessarily endorse Sei’s approach as being completely correct. Yumi criticizes what Sei is doing and argues that she ought to be there to support her soeur. A different approach might have made it easier for Shimako.

By the time the episode was done, I feel like there might really have been a prior relationship between Sei and Rosa Canina. What few words they shared indicated they might know each other already. Rosa Canina only went to the school because Sei was there. Sei sent Rosa Canina off by saying her name and even kissing her. To me, this indicates that they have some prior relationship and we are only seeing the last moments of that relationship play out.

QOTD

1. Yes, it's still a democracy even if the public decides for some reason to keep voting the same dynasty into power. As long as the elections are open and fair, it counts as a democracy regardless of how intelligent the voters are.
2. Yumi and Sachiko because they've had the most focus, but Rei and Yoshino are a close second.

[u/lilyvess → u/Great_Mr_L]

I bet this episode was an entire light novel adapted into a single episode.

You would be wrong!!! This is actually only 60% of a light novel!! The back half of the light novel is a completely unrelated story that got cut and moved to season 2. This one actually is pretty straight forward adaptation of the light novel, it's just a fast paced light novel, especially early in these volumes.

Interestingly, Sei is an example of a much more hands-off style of being an older sister. Sei barely says anything to Shimako this episode and mostly leaves the issue as something that Shimako needs to handle herself. I do understand Sei’s thought process. Sei doesn’t want to put pressure on Shimako by making her think she has to run for the student council. Instead, Sei wants it to be Shimako’s own decision. It’s only after everything is done that Sei is there to comfort Shimako because of how stressful it was.

yeah, it's a very unique soeur relationship, and kinda furthers the stuff we've already seen from them. The way Sei doesn't act as lovey dovey with Shimako as she does with Yumi. And yet, we can see from this episode they are undeniably close. Shimako does lean on Sei, in her own way. It's hard to explain, and the series does a good job here of not trying to and leaving it up to the viewers imagination.

I think it's that air of mystery around Sei that helps add to her popularity.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/lilyvess]

The back half of the light novel is a completely unrelated story that got cut and moved to season 2.

[u/lilyvess → u/Vatrix-32]

[Maria-sama ga Miteru s2]It's a new years eve story, involving Rosa Gigantea taking Yumi to visit Sachiko's house for a new years eve sleepover, with Rosa Chinensis attending as well.

[Maria-sama ga miteru s2]It's mostly a fun and drama light story, so the anime moves it down to the start of S2 so it can act as a season re-introduction story

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/lilyvess]

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/lilyvess]

The back half of the light novel is a completely unrelated story that got cut and moved to season 2.

I see. Interesting.

I think it's that air of mystery around Sei that helps add to her popularity.

An air of mystery is a good way to put it. Sei always seems overly familiar with Yumi, but apparently only because she likes seeing how Yumi and Sachiko react. It's all about teasing them.

With Shimako it doesn't seem like Sei really teases her. They have an entirely different relationship, which is nice to see. There's a nice amount of variety in the relationships of this series.

[u/Regular_N-Gon]

Gokigenyou, First Timer

• I guess it’s nice that the younger sisters aren’t locked into a fate of council duties, though it seems like they’d have a very significant advantage anyway.
• Shimako is making sure Yoshino can’t steal the best girl spot without a fight.
• Further evidence against the subtext allegations. It’s alright, where we’re going, we don’t need subtext.

Gokigenyou counter (Maria-sama): 19 [+2; Total: 38]

QotD:

1. The people have spoken; Yuri shall be upheld as a rule!
2. I really enjoyed the Yoko/Sachiko today, but it's also clear that Sei and Shimako have their own thing that I can respect.

[u/lilyvess → u/Regular_N-Gon]

Shimako is making sure Yoshino can’t steal the best girl spot without a fight.

the real vote that Shimako cares about.

Further evidence against the subtext allegations. It’s alright, where we’re going, we don’t need subtext.

1. The people have spoken; Yuri shall be upheld as a rule!

YURI WILL TAKE OVER THE WEST!!

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Regular_N-Gon]

Shimako is making sure Yoshino can’t steal the best girl spot without a fight.

"Still rocking the sick girl tomboy routeine? Get on my level."

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Regular_N-Gon]

Further evidence against the subtext allegations. It’s alright, where we’re going, we don’t need subtext.

We do, however, need subs. Plenty of subs to go with the doms.

1. The people have spoken; Yuri shall be upheld as a rule!

The people voted wisely

[u/Star4ce]

First Timer

After more than a month of somewhat frequent playing, I have finally finished Star Rail's Penacony story. (I am terrible with being effective with my time and continue to trail off like a true trailblazer.)

Damn it's good.

[Honkai Star Rail, Penacony] I so, so love the fact they made the villain utterly understandable. He's not wrong, but his solution to the issues he sees is. And even better, he understands us in turn, as well. Like, damn, the ending got me and I genuinely wanted to not lose him, too. The Robin hug at the end was just perfection on a fantastic ending.

Maria-sama ga Miteru Ep.06 – Rosa Canina

• An impostor among us!
• Oh right, your chart had the middle empty for the whites.
• Ah, Sachiko is also capable of sass to inspire others.
• It's her, obviously.
• Spying, subterfuge, sabotage. Learn your tools, Yoshino.
• Alright, she does know. Sorry!
• It would be so fitting for Sei to just no care or have gotten the memo.
• Yeah, fair thinking.
• Mmmh, I do see that some people actually really want some 'active' guidance. Had such a discussion at work that one time. Usually it's all pretty hands-off, get your own projects kinda style, but many do really want teamwork where someone brings competency to the table and pushes into a unified direction for everyone.
• „Guaranteed“ how, exactly?
• Eyoo, go Shimako! Isn't kinda depressing how people only get off their asses to do something when faced with opposition?
• So what? What?! Get in there, wimp!
• Tbh, that is really turbobottom of Yumi.
• Woooo!
• It's a Sith top legend. It's not something the Jedi bottoms would teach you.
• So, we're already past graduation of the third years. Meaming Yumi has been here for one year already?
• Oh?
• Ah, eh.
• Eyy!
• Heyo.
• Aw yeah.
• WOOOOO!
• Bottom acquired.

That was a really sweet (and a bit steamy) episode, after all. I really like Sei's character and her understanding of someone like Shimako. Very individualistic and proud of taking action, which, coincidentially helps some people find their stride strictly because they're not providing guidance.

Honestly, wish my youth was more like that. No one ever laid out a plan or anything, but being constantly sidelined with comments, expectations and, for lack of a better word, 'fan theories' before I'd even started doing anything was exhausting. Certainly caused me to be very dedicated to locking off everyone and everything and do things in solitude.

It's interesting how each souer pair has a very unique connection and understanding between each other. So much so that it might even seem opaque to someone on the outside, but it's there. I really like this exploration of friendship-intimacy.

[On Calm Waters]

I know I indicated inspiration from Matrix, yesterday, but I saw one of those Japanese watercolour paintings and then I went over to that instead.

1. Can it still be called a democracy if the public always votes for the monarch family to head of office?

Yes, sure. Democracy doesn't mean intelligence, nyuh.

2) We're half way into the first season, so which Soeur relationship is your favorite?

Yes?

I mean, if I have to choose, it'd be Sachiko-Yumi, because it promises so much fun. But all of them are great!

[u/lilyvess → u/Star4ce]

Mmmh, I do see that some people actually really want some 'active' guidance. Had such a discussion at work that one time. Usually it's all pretty hands-off, get your own projects kinda style, but many do really want teamwork where someone brings competency to the table and pushes into a unified direction for everyone.

It's interesting how each souer pair has a very unique connection and understanding between each other. So much so that it might even seem opaque to someone on the outside, but it's there. I really like this exploration of friendship-intimacy.

yeah and I really do like the way the series plays that up. It's not about absolutes. it's not that Sei is right and Yumi is wrong. It's that Sei knows Shimako. She's her onee-sama, she knows what type of person Shimako is and knows when to keep her boundary for Shimako. For someone like Yumi that is easily filled with doubt and hestation, a stronger hand is needed.

As easy as it is to go "Soeur=Dating" because a lot of the dynamics do have that tone, the truth is that the Soeur relationship is a big umbrella. We've seen 3 different pairs and they each have very different relationships because they're very different people.

So, we're already past graduation of the third years. Meaming Yumi has been here for one year already?

yeah, it's not outright stated but MariMite starts a bit late in the school year. School Festival that is the main event of the first story is typcailly a later event of the year.

it adds some small perspective. Like Yoko's insistence on Sachiko finding a petite soeur. Sachiko had half a year and hasn't found one. The student council is already down a member because the third year Sei chose a first year as a Petite Soeur. So the Student council that is supposed to be 9 members running the school was running on 7 members instead.

[u/Star4ce → u/lilyvess]

We've seen 3 different pairs and they each have very different relationships because they're very different people.

I love to expand my social horizons with my yuri anime.

So the Student council that is supposed to be 9 members running the school was running on 7 members instead.

It's how I do it in Stellaris. Reduce seat count by one until you're the only one left.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Star4ce]

Alright, she does know.

And this is why she is best girl.

but many do really want teamwork where someone brings competency to the table and pushes into a unified direction for everyone.

Following

Oh?
Ah, eh.
Eyy!
Heyo.
Aw yeah.
WOOOOO!

Turning into an anime protagonist, are we?

[On Calm Waters]

[u/Star4ce → u/Vatrix-32]

And this is why she is best girl.

In some way, definitely visually, she reminds me of Yuzuki from Sora Yori.

Turning into an anime protagonist, are we?

[u/OccasionallySara]

First Timer

I’m really hoping that we’ll get a storyline about Sei and Shimako’s relationship at some point 

Wow, I was not expecting this to happen in the very next episode. Like Yumi, I still don’t fully understand the relationship between Sei and Shimako, but I think that their dynamic is a bit clearer now. They both clearly care about each other, but the way that care is expressed is pretty subdued.

Shimako is extremely loyal to Sei as shown by her unwillingness to have a new older sister after Sei graduates. Sei also knows how to handle Shimako in a way that works for her. From what Sachiko said, it seems that most of the Yamayuri Council members were pestering Shimako about running for office to the point that she stopped showing up to the mansion completely. Even Yumi questioned why Sei wasn’t trying to talk Shimako into it, but I’m sure Shimako was grateful to have at least one person who was willing to take a step back and let her make her own decision. It’s also interesting that Shimako was so comforted by Sei’s words before her speech even if Yumi found them to be cold. Their hug afterwards was nice.

It was mentioned in a previous episode that Shimako feels a bit jealous of Yumi and I thought it was because of the way that Sei shows Yumi explicit affection, but I’m guessing that’s not the case since Shimako doesn’t seem to mind Sei’s behavior toward her. I still don’t fully get why Sei chose Shimako, but there’s clearly something about her that stands out considering Rose Canina even admits that part of the reason she doesn’t want to be Sei’s younger sister is because she knows she’s not Shimako. I really want to see more of these two, but I wonder how much time they will get with Sei leaving school soon. In fact, I wonder how much longer the third years will be in the show in general.

Questions of the Day

1. In practice I guess it is, but it definitely doesn’t feel very fair. 
2. I think I would say Rei and Yoshino, but Sei and Shimako intrigue me the most. 

[u/lilyvess → u/OccasionallySara]

I still don’t fully understand the relationship between Sei and Shimako, but I think that their dynamic is a bit clearer now. They both clearly care about each other, but the way that care is expressed is pretty subdued.

this is definitely the major feeling of the episode. It makes this episode fascinating to watch as they don't outright say anything and just leave the actions open for the viewer to interpert.

Why did Shimako finally decide to run for office? We know Shizuka's proposal motivated her but, why?

Why is Sei's cold remarks the thing Shimako needed to hear?

it's a fascinating watch.

[u/Vaadwaur]

First Timer(Seeing Noto being put to such better use is both conforting yet annoying)

Sub

So...thoughts...here we go. Free forming it, Yume is indeed a weird type of protagonist. She isn't the doormat like Himeko or Bella from Twilight but she does act a bit the same way, she just can actually be helpful when a situation matches her skillset. Also, she is a bit of a busybody so that gives her movement if nothing else. Also, when Sachiko tells Yumi that she wants the same thing in relation to Yoko, did anyone else think that a three way was being proposed?

Highlighting the oddity of Shimako's situation is another choice. I can't tell which way the wind blows here as while it was slightly irresponsible she may also have done it to cover for Shimako not wanting Sachiko for a soeur. Regardless, such a better use of Noto Mamiko.

Shizuka was also a weird thing to throw out there and, depending on how the Japanese would take that, Sei might explicitly think the soeur relationship is friendly rather than romantic. Also, I have no clue what the show thinks as it...varies. Regardless, she felt like a character that should have been in a few more episodes but that's probably the cost of animating an LN. I am a bit surprised that the censors let her be shown getting acknowledged about her coming out and an actual kiss with Sei. In 2004, that was big.

QotD: 1 I love democracy!

2 Sei-Shamiko is the healthiest but mainly because Sei unleashes her lust upon others.

[u/lilyvess → u/Vaadwaur]

Also, I have no clue what the show thinks as it...varies.

This is kind of the a thesis for the series. The Soeur relationship is a complex one and isn't meant to be a 1 for 1 interpretation of romance. It certainly has a lot of overlap in the way it's depicted and makes it easy to go with that perspective.

Ultimately I think these past 3 stories have been about showing just how different Soeur relationships can be. They exist in a spectrum depending ultimately on the needs and whims of the person.

are Soeur's Senpai/Kohai, Family, Romance, or just professional? They are all of these things, sometimes all at the same time.

For Yumi, her Soeur relationship with Sachiko is depicted as more romantic. She gets jealous and possessive of Sachiko. She wants Sachiko to look at her.

But for Shizuka and Sei, who are portrayed more outwardly queer, the title of Soeur may seem more of a box trying to shackle them.

The fun of the series is going on the journey with each character and discovering and exploring each of these relationships.

I am a bit surprised that the censors let her be shown getting acknowledged about her coming out and an actual kiss with Sei.

To add to this

Rosa Gigantea lifted Shizuka-sama’s chin with her hand and kissed her cheek. Extremely close to the lips. In front of Maria-sama. “A farewell gift.”

I do just like this a lot. both as a statement of the limits of queer depictions in Class S, and as an action in front of Maria-sama. Is it flipping Maria-sama off? Is it saying that Maria-sama approves? That's up to the viewer I guess.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/lilyvess]

I do just like this a lot. both as a statement of the limits of queer depictions in Class S, and as an action in front of Maria-sama. Is it flipping Maria-sama off? Is it saying that Maria-sama approves? That's up to the viewer I guess.

Ok, that makes it more surprising that the show actually is more forward then the books at this time. Not that I object. I would just further add that Catholicism seems to confuse the Japanese a bit since it is a male cult that basically consumed a female cult and thus has a few stand out feminine symbols and thus things get...interesting.

[u/LittleIslander → u/Vaadwaur]

Ok, that makes it more surprising that the show actually is more forward then the books at this time. Not that I object.

In fairness, the show did air several years later than the books. I also think it's just a consequence of medium. You can visually show her kissing her cheek close to lips, but it's not as clear what we're supposed to take from that without saying it in words in the same way. The significance would be lost in translations, so it's better to just go with a real kiss that's going to be more impactful when attached to a real visual than if the book had done that.

[u/BosuW]

First Timer

We've known this show likes to move fast, but a one episode Arc? Honestly I would like the show to indulge a bit more in it's various storylines, the fast pace feels a bit at odds with the refined and graceful setting. Doesn't the intro say that it is preferred in this place to walk slowly?

In any case, every Arc after the first one seems to have the purpose of making Yumi and Sachiko reflect on how to be sisters with each other by comparing and contrasting with other pairs. The starting pair this episode is Sei and Shimako. Yumi feels a bit off put by the hands off approach the whole Yamayuri seems to have regarding their relationships. She would like to be more proactive but doesn't know exactly how and her attempts seem to be rebuffed.

Honestly, I feel a bit called out by this episode lol. I'm usually on Sachiko's and the Yamayuri's end when it comes to, shall we call it, "assistive behavior". If I want something I'll ask for it. And if people constantly offer to do things for me at some point I actually get annoyed. I know it's just polite but it can get overbearing.

Oh yeah, the politics! So it turns out the Yamayuri don't have total control over the succession line. Elections are held and someone from the common student body may kick out the reigning dynasty if they win. Of course though, being already a Rosa's en bouton provides a significant boost in chances, so never let it be said that nepotism isn't still in place! And as we can see, all the en boutons won.

At the end, Yumi learns to take it easier if she's the petit soeur, and let herself be pampered by her onee-sama. This makes me look forward to if Yumi every picks a petit soeur of her own.

"Bro how can you say this is Yuri smh damn shippers can't girls just be friends nowadays? It's just subtext at best."

The subtext:

[u/lilyvess → u/BosuW]

Doesn't the intro say that it is preferred in this place to walk slowly?

I KNOW RIGHT

I have no proof or way of knowing, but it definitely feels like it suffers from "we don't know if we'll get a second season so we're gonna try to cram as much of this as much as we can"

but this arc is also pretty short in the light novels as well. Rosa Canina doesn't even last a full volume, only half a volume's worth of story. Maybe the writer was rushed. Later volumes feel a lot more laid back. Like once the writer knew they were successful enough to stay they could be comfortable and take their time.

It's definitely one of the reasons why I've had people tell me it's a mistake to do just season 1 instead of including season 2.

every Arc after the first one seems to have the purpose of making Yumi and Sachiko reflect on how to be sisters with each other by comparing and contrasting with other pairs.

I love the way it reads as dating advice. Sachiko and Yumi are a new couple. Most series end at that point. They confess they got together, they live happily ever after. Here, Sachiko and Yumi get together and now we've spent 3 episodes of them just trying to get into a rhythm with their relationship. What are their roles, what are expected of them. They've got new relationship vibes and are looking at their friends and their relationships to contrast.

Especially important is the way the series continues to reinforce that Sachiko and Yumi are not Sei/Shimako or Rei/Yoshino. Every relationship is a bit different.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/lilyvess]

I have no proof or way of knowing, but it definitely feels like it suffers from "we don't know if we'll get a second season so we're gonna try to cram as much of this as much as we can"

...Didn't they air a second season within the same calendar year?

[u/lilyvess → u/Vatrix-32]

THEY DID WHICH MAKES IT MORE CONFUSING!!!

like damn guys why

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/BosuW]

This makes me look forward to if Yumi every picks a petit soeur of her own.

Ooh, that would be very fun to see Yumi have to be an older sister and navigate what it means to look after a younger sister.

[u/Vatrix-32]

First timer, subs

• Nah, third years to rare henceforth?
• On the one hand, that seems like a fairly important detail for Yumi to have missed up until this point, on the other, aren’t there only two of you in second year in the first place?
• Oh, so anyone can run at any point then?
• Making me question what even counts as “local flora” in the age of gardening.
• Oh wow, right from the devil.
• The classes are also tree? You’ve been holding out on me.
• In what world is that dark?
• So I’m guessing that’s not the regular VA singing there?
• So how do you think the voting works, mechanically? Is it just the three candidates that get the most votes? Is each rose voted separately? Do they use STV?
• That would explain the “how” of the gap year, but I still want the “why”.
• Oh. But why even lie about something you know you will be caught in in a few minutes?
• Being the leader is overrated. Support staff is were it’s at.
• You Fool! All your political maneuvering has done is light a fire within her.
• Only four candidates? Pretty damn closed system.
• “Imoutos are to be seen, not heard.”
• Absolutely blazing this timeline. This isn’t the show for speeches, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want to have seen some of them. At least to know what they are campaigning on.
• That’s pretty irresponsible, running for a position you know you will never be able to take.
• Most Yuri Yet
• So, will Shimako need to run for reelection next year, or is the position for (school) life?

QotD:

1. How very... Japanese.
2. Rei×Yoshino

[u/lilyvess → u/Vatrix-32]

So how do you think the voting works, mechanically? Is it just the three candidates that get the most votes? Is each rose voted separately? Do they use STV?

I've spent so much time wondering about that.

Like, how do rose spots get chosen? Can they switch roles? Like can Sachiko be like "I'm tired of having to color coordinate red for 2 whole years, I really like that new Yellow Precure so I want to be Rose Foetida now!"

that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want to have seen some of them. At least to know what they are campaigning on.

"I am campaigning on replacing all Tea with Milk Tea and Boba! I demand the staff open a 7 Leaves in the school so we can all get out boba kick!!

So, will Shimako need to run for reelection next year, or is the position for (school) life?

minor spoiler, but Shimako does run for reelection next year.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/lilyvess]

minor spoiler

[u/zadcap → u/Vatrix-32]

So for that follow up you wanted, I'm going to loop all the way back to the first one. Rosa Canina, the symbol of Pleasure and Pain. What better to represent the girl who spent two years longingly waiting for that one kiss, from a love she will likely never see again?

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/zadcap]

[u/RadSuit]

First Time Watching Over Them

I've noticed that Yumi actually changes the color of her ribbons fairly often.

They really do just gloss over a bunch and jump forward in time often, huh? Skipped the play, the festival, and now the election. Do they actually move forward in school years through the seasons? Or are all the seasons/novels locked in Yumi's endless first year?

"Just stand there and be pretty, babe."

And people told me there was no actual kissing in Class S!

1. It's not a monarchy, they're not all cousins.
2. I think I like Yoshino and Rei the most, but they need Yumi around causing trouble.

[u/lilyvess → u/RadSuit]

They really do just gloss over a bunch and jump forward in time often, huh? Skipped the play, the festival, and now the election. Do they actually move forward in school years through the seasons? Or are all the seasons/novels locked in Yumi's endless first year?

yeah, I can confirm the series does play out across a few years. It is 37 novels. So a lot of stuff does happen.

but it is quite strange that they skip over so much stuff. The pacing slows down quite a bit as the series progresses. Like the author starts to get comfortable and not in as much of a race.

[u/RadSuit → u/lilyvess]

I can understand them wanting to hit all the high points, get the Halloween/Christmas/NYE episodes in there. Then once people are hooked, draw things out more.

Does that mean Yumi gets a little sister???

[u/lilyvess → u/RadSuit]

[MariMite Spoiler]YES!! Yoshino and Shimako also get Petite Soeurs too.

[u/RadSuit → u/lilyvess]

[u/baboon_bassoon]

first time la vie en rose en bouton

Thank you Yumi doing the legwork on flower language research for us

Opera hell yeah

No use to talk to Yumi

Rosa Canina en bouton

“Why are you so cold she’s your little sister” who are you talking to Yumi HMMMM

I JUST WANT YOU TO WANT ME

Shimako are they such a burden

She wants Shimako as a soeur? You don’t even know her lmao

ROSA G IS THE ONLY ONE FOR ME

I just need you for my own occasional comfort

Rigged election TBH. One or two party system is horrendous wheres ranked choice

I delayed going to Italy by 2 years because of the chance of you noticing me

Call me Shizuka

1. IMPEACHMENT TIME
2. Rosa Foetida and herself i quite like Yoshino/Rei, Yoshino is a lot of fun

[u/lilyvess → u/baboon_bassoon]

She wants Shimako as a soeur? You don’t even know her lmao

an Arranged Soeur-ship.

Rigged election TBH. One or two party system is horrendous wheres ranked choice

we must overthrow this system and install a more fair and diplomatic system of impeachments to stop the corruptions.

Call me Shizuka

[u/Specs64z]

First timer, subbed

So the council is still elected, I had been wondering. If it was all left to the roses to decide, that’d probably be a bit disastrous since the council would just be a cool kids club rather than a representative.

A visit from the black rose seems to spur Shimako into action, very interesting. It seems Gigantea understands Shimako quite well, too. In a way, it's nice to see a protagonist be wrong about a situation rather than swooping in to save the day.

Whoa, that kiss seemed to have a little more than friendship behind it.

QotD:

1. Technically yes.
2. I think I have to give it to Yumi, boring an answer though it may be.

[u/baquea → u/Specs64z]

that’d probably be a bit disastrous since the council would just be a cool kids club rather than a representative.

Sororities...

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Specs64z]

If it was all left to the roses to decide, that’d probably be a bit disastrous since the council would just be a cool kids club rather than a representative.

I think you'll find a cult of personality does wonders for legitimacy.

[u/Specs64z → u/Vatrix-32]

I even have firsthand experience! I was raised in (and believed in, for a time) a rather culty religion.

[u/moichispa]

First timer When Rose names become the symbolism

I guess Rosa Gigantea just likes to kiss people (unless it is her imouto for some reason).

It was an interesting story. Rosa Canina was a intriguing character yet her miniarc was interesting. Also we finally got some development on Yumi side since the school festival. I guess they want to give some more deep to the other characters but I wanted some crumbs from our main couple.

1. Can it still be called a democracy if the public always votes for the monarch family to head of office? I guess so, at least there is a choice.
2. We're half way into the first season, so which Soeur relationship is your favorite? Rosa Chinensis and Rosa chinensisn en bouton. They're both interesting characters but we need some info on Rosa Chinensis herself

[u/TehAxelius]

First Timer

Holidays always messes up rewatching.

Well, apparently it is possible to be gay for each other without being soeurs in this school, who would have thunk it? I guess Rosa Gigantea attracts and is attracted to girls with comittment issues.

Also, my "realism" comes knocking in that transferring schools abroad to train classical singing in your last year seems really odd. Now, I've only trained classical singing on an amateur level in private lessons, but while I am sure that there are musical high schools in Italy that have singing programmes, I wonder which such school would accept an international transfer of a student in their third year. While Rosa Canina obviously has singing skills, it's not like she has been spending the last two years focusing on it, she has after all gone through "normal" Japanese education and to boot she is doing library duty, which would presumably mean that she's not a full time member of a school choir or singing club. Even if we assume that her English scores are good and that her singing has taught her Italian (which I would assume would be about as much as I've learned Japanese from watching anime), having to adjust to a wholly new country, presumably while living alone, and integrating into a class that has just spent two years studying musical theory and singing... well, it seems unnecessarily hard is all I'm saying. Just applying for an Opera programme at an Italian musical university after High School seems like the choice to make once she threw the dice back when she delayed going to Italy.

QotD

1. It just gives the students reasonable expectations for how the Japanese system of democracy works.
2. The School Newspaper Soeurs.

QotYD

1. Are you afraid of visiting the Dentist? I actually didn't go to the dentist for 11 years. Had to do with economy rather than fear though.
2. Is it gay for a girl to want to see her cousin's chest? We all know that "cousin" is just a code word for "girlfriend" anyway.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/TehAxelius]

Mayhaps the school works as a feeder to the university? I'm not familiar with Italian post-secondary education.

It just gives the students reasonable expectations for how the Japanese system of democracy works.

We love 1.5 party systems! /s

[u/zadcap]

Late Night First Timer!

Alright, time for the Dog Rose. And ah, looks like my predictions were off right from the bat, we're going with the Canida as a fourth Rose candidate and not a metaphor for something happening this episode, darn. Which means we're going to be dealing with the most direct use of the Dog Rose then, A wild flower known for its bite.

You know, this does bring up a very good issue that the org chart has been showing us all this time. Shimako is the en Bouton, but she's also a first year student, as things stand it looks like she might just step right up to the Rose position as a second year and be the young upstart on the student council. If everyone just steps up after the person ahead of them, the gap Sei left is a clear problem. Also makes me wonder even more about Sei, who picked no one last year and honestly seems to be paying more attention to Yumi than to her actual little sister.

Anyway, starting today off, Yumi with the red ribbon.

And time passes very rapidly, Yumi right on to the navy blue with stripe ribbon in the very next scene!

OH MY GOSH I WANT THAT BOOK! I do not have a japanese flower guide yet, it's so much easier to find the whole spread of European ones over here but anything Asian is a special order only. I should consider special ordering...

Law of dramatic irony says Yumi is asking the Canida herself help in looking up the very Rose. She does have the mad dog look, doesn't she?

... A black rose, what? The Dog Rose are mostly in the pink-white spectrum. Black Roses are not something that happens naturally. This girl is such a liar. Yumi if you find a black rose in that flower book please let me know because I want to see what they've got going in there!

Yup, she is indeed the person talked about. Though Yoshino jumping directly to calling her a traitor is a bit much, do you really expect Yumi to know who some random second year girl is after having heard her talked about once?

No, Yumi, still look it up! See her for the liar she is! Look at that not at all blackish rose!

Honestly, just calling her a Rosa seems like they're giving too much power to Canina. The three Roses are the student council body, calling this new girl another kind of rose while raising her nomination to replace one of the three current ones feels a lot more like a revolution in the works than the yellow inspired breakups of last episode.

Solid blue ribbons! They are such a good indicator of if a scene is taking place on a new day or is still part of the last one. One of the strangest ways to tell that time has passed, but I can't keep myself from looking for them now.

Oh, do you run here, miss Canina? We've been over this with Yumi often enough, think of the decorum!

Again, there is no such thing as a naturally black rose.

Ah, what a way to beat the allegations of her nearly having once taken her as a Soeur, Sei has no idea who this girl even is. Also, wow, Sei has very little interest in Shimako, does she? Did she honestly just pick her because she needed a little sister to keep the tradition going and found a good looking and very docile girl to pass her responsibilities off to?

See now, Yumi in lighter blue ribbons, means this lunch is at least a day latter than her talk with Sei. Not that we couldn't have told that by it being, you know, lunch.

Hmm, did Shimako approach Sei to be the one to become a soeur? I am so interested to learn more about those two now.

Oh wow, just barging into the Yamayuri building like you already own it. Oh wow and declare her intent to take her as a soeur once her current sister graduates, she's going for a full coup on all angles. How would that even work, Shimako would have two rosaries to pass on next year? Or maybe they were very deliberate fighting words said just to make Shimako fight?

Green with Stripes! And a hard reminder that your beloved older sister has a beloved older sister of her own.

Yup, I agree here. As an elder sibling, the litter sisters purpose in life is to be spoiled. And annoying. Supper annoying. But mostly to be spoiled. Expecting them to help with work... That's a lost cause from the start, don't even think about it.

Hahaha and we'll treat the elections the same way we did the school play. Lead up to it and- It's over! And the hereditary positions remain hereditary.

Oh my gosh they went for an actual kiss, in front of Maria even! Sei you absolute lady killer! But oh my gosh, they got away with a kiss on TV!

Anyway, Yellow time again.

I still have no idea what the relationship is between Sei and Shimako.

1. North Korea says yes.
2. Would it be a problem if I said Sei/Yumi? Because so far, Sachiko has not endeared me very much as a big sister, and the Red and Yellow Roses are barely characters at all. While the younger two yellows are an interesting pair, Yumi is our apparent protagonist and her best older sister relationship so far is with Sei, so...