Despite the impressive amounts of growth Tomoko has received to this day, she is still often played as the “underdog” friend. The weirdo who amuses her more well-adjusted friends like Nemo or Katou. Yuri is a special case in that she used to be that “looking-after-you” friend. But as we learned more about her flaws and insecurities, we’ve come to understand that she and Tomoko are actually equals. Tomoko has knowledge, skills, and sensibilities that Yuri lacks, and vice versa. And as this chapter illustrates, that balanced partnership is why Tomoko and Yuri arguably have the closest friendship in the series.

Chapter 151: Because I’m Not Popular, I’ll Win



I want to point out that Yuri’s bangs look a little too long in this shot, but I’m too distracted by the beautiful lighting and questionably platonic caption.



Yuri, pull back your enthusiasm! You’ll wear yourself out.

I also noticed she ditched the jacket this time. A+++ character development.

Maybe it’s just me, but Nemo’s M.O. is slightly different for Yuri than it is for Tomoko. With the latter, Nemo makes catty remarks sometimes just to rile her up, but Nemo’s considerably softer when engaging with Yuri, even when saying things that could be viewed as teasing if said to Tomoko.

Don’t let your guard down, Nemo. Yuri’s got fangs, too.

Oh yeah, there’s no homosexual subtext in that text at all.

Proactive Yuri is the Best Yuri.

I’d imagine if this were the Yuri of the past, she’s wouldn’t care about how good is she. Unless her friendship with Mako was at risk, there simply wouldn’t be anything to lose. But after seeing Tomoko’s decent skills and how that gravitated her to girls like Hirasawa, she now feels left out. And that enough is worth the effort.

You’re absolutely right, Tomoko. But in more ways than you know…

Love hotel?

Bless you, translators for going the extra mile.

I’m trying to pick apart the reason why Tomoko is tugging on Yuri’s sleeve like that (which is adorable, mind you). My best guess is that Tomoko was trying to urge Yuri to speak up, while also not having to deal with the male receptionist herself. After all, if given the option, Tomoko will transfer the burden of talking to someone else.

That’s…completely expected.

I only know this from reading others’ comments, but this whole setting-up-the-scene sequence is almost directly copied from a chapter of Write Sisters, Nico Tanigawa’s other manga. Hell, the description so spot on, that it’s pretty much confirmed to be the exact same facility. Nico Tanigawa-verse, anyone?

By the way, here’s a link to the actual place, Aprecio Makuhari, looks like. Damn, that looks nice.

I reserve this space for the inevitable Yoshida crack.

Scenes like this are totally irrelevant at first glance, but they do offer some characterization when (over)analyzed. There are a few times when neither Tomoko nor Yuri fully understands what they’re getting into, and while they might’ve quit if alone, that uncertainty doesn’t stop them from doing it together.

Huh, so it really wasn’t just a headcanon.

Ohhh, I remember this chapter (could be a different instance, but it still included ping pong) from the spin-off series. That time when Tomoko got traumatized because she got busted for buying a Yandere Boys CD with her parents’ credit card. Good times.

Komi getting special treatment as always.

That’s actually pretty solid advice, as fundamental as it is. Tomoko-sensei endgame, ya’ll.

Ah yes, the ol’ “Diet-Coke Diet”. Or generally speaking, when you deceive yourself into thinking you’re getting healthy just from exercising, not realizing it’s off-set by unhealthy eating habits. Naturally, Tomoko loves the foibles of human nature like that.

Don’t worry, Yuri. You’re not missing out.

Peeping never looked so adorable.

I can’t exactly disagree with that sentiment, and I know their options are greatly limited, but there are plenty of other college games that usually come to (my admittedly Western-influenced) mind. Like strip poker, for one. I’m sure there are certain fans who’d like to see that.

Priorities, right? Why bother trying to win against fellow students in front of your friends when you can beat random strangers?

Tomoko is a natural half-asser, but she’s known for becoming weirdly competitive at the oddest times, where the only competition is the one in her head. Normally I don’t think she’d be petty enough to make an issue out of it, but the fact that the two they saw are likely a romantic couple probably set Tomoko over the edge. The “unfairness” of it all can only be beat then, in Tomoko’s eyes, by being an even better couple with Yuri.

Yes, I deliberately wrote it out that way,

I love the Tomoko-style of throwing, which is just a hair’s breadth away from flicking her fingers. Awkward techniques as it’s finest.

As opposed to the Yuri-style of throwing, which results in massive property damage.

I’m sure many of us expected it at this point, but it’s nice to see a confirmation on Yuri’s “stats”, that what she has in raw strength, she lacks in precision. Regularly punching your friends in the shoulder will do that to you.

This is totally a reference to, “That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime,” which is airing at the time this chapter got posted. Not bad at all, Nico Tanigawa.

I think the mangaka took note of the criticism they got about how Yuri smiles less than she initially did, which is why they recently have her go back to casually smiling as a “return to form” for the character. Thankfully, it isn’t jarring since Yuri mellowed out after crossing the “First-Name Basis” mountain.

Is that how the game works? Meh, nothing Futaki can’t handle (though she did say luck-heavy games weren’t her forte).

I thought playing darts was taking a short break? What lovable slackers.

This is my personal fan-service (no, not like that). I’ve always liked the idea of Tomoko and Yuri just chilling in a quiet space reading manga because I felt it’s an image that encompasses their relationship. Though Yuri reading upright while Tomoko is all curled up on the bed didn’t cross my mind, it makes total sense given their personalities.

Little did they know they were given a couple’s bed. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

I second that.

Reasons Yuri-chan Likes Darts:

70 % - Starved for Victory

25% - Likes the Game Itself

5% - Suspension Bride Effect

That’s one of the few truly admirable things about Tomoko: She’s open-minded (at least, now she is). She can be pretty judgmental initially, but when given a glimpse that there’s something more involved, she’ll give it a shot. And she won’t disregard the experience either, even if she spills the spaghetti.

Space unreserved.

Is that development I smell? It appears that Yuri has begun to realize that Tomoko has meaningful relationships with the other girls, and that they weren’t just trying to “steal” her away. Like with Mako, Yuri has slowly gotten less possessive after realizing that her friendship with Tomoko is stable. Sure, she may be phishing for validation by bringing them up, but she also didn’t have to bring them up. It’s a school-age lesson, but Yuri’s learning that if you care about your friend, you’ve got to let them go sometimes.

My heart physically melted at that line.

R.I.P. ToonStarterz

Cause of Death: Heart Attack via Literal Angelic Smile

And of course, Watamote pulls me back from the grave with the classic cringe.

Tomoko often has overblown ideas about the supposedly rampant sex that goes on in places like karaoke bars, but this may be the first time that’s been validated, assuming that’s exactly what’s going on now. Score one for Tomoko.

When she makes that face, nothing that won’t end in disaster.

This chapter has several literal and figurative competitions that are to be “won”, but this might be my personal favorite.

Illicit Sexual Activity! This manga needs to be rated R18 now!

Prude jokes aside, I’m actually surprised by how unfazed Yuri is to suddenly watching porn with her friend. Maybe the idea that Yuri is a closet perv isn’t totally off-base…

This might be the closest we’ve gotten to Yuri and Tomoko sharing earphones. What a tease.

Honestly…maybe she does.

The more I think about it, the more I can see why Yuri is going along with all this. While Yuri isn’t as petty as Tomoko, she still has those moments, and she’s not so self-righteous that she’d oppose some cheap vindication. In other words, I think she may be projecting her own jealous desires onto Tomoko.

We all knew exactly what was coming…

…it went exactly as we thought…

…hilarity still ensued.

A good friend will comfort you when you’re embarrassed.

But a true friend will share in the humiliation.

Also, mutual blushing is adorable asf.

My mind immediately went to that time Tomoko made a shoddy erotic audio file that her mom overhead because of a misplaced jack, but that doesn’t match Tomoko’s description here. Is she fudging the truth, or is this a new memory we haven’t seen before?

I think this is the reasoning behind the “boys will be boys” mentality. There’s something weirdly cathartic about hanging out with your pals and doing (non-abusive) stupid, embarrassing shit together.

Emoji Mark II’s about to pull something straight out of the Matrix.

Sometimes (a lot of times in Tomoko’s case), you just draw the short straw.

As mentioned earlier, Nemo teases Kuro, but she’s more sensitive to Yuri. Isn’t it endearing?

…

Wait for it…

I noticed that gripping one of her arms behind her back is another one of Yuri’s mannerisms. I’ll leave it up to you fans to decide how innocent that looks.

Almost there…

She wins.

This is, hands down, the smuggest Yuri has ever looked. And while the sexual connotations may or may not be in the original, that’s no doubt Yuri is flaunting her relationship with Tomoko. The title of this chapter is “…I’ll Win.”, and while this is deliberately set up to imply a sports victory, the real battle was obviously the match against Nemo, of which Yuri took home the gold.

From here on out, love is war.

You know, this whole chapter is absolutely riddled with sexual tension between Tomoko and Yuri, and there’s no way that’s an accident on the mangaka’s part. Now it’s very easy to cry foul and say Nico Tanigawa are baiting the yuri fans, but I don’t think that’s the only case. There’s still a lot about Yuri’s interests we don’t know yet, and while she may not be eager to be an accomplice in Tomoko’s schemes, she’s not totally against it either. Perhaps Yuri is just comfortable about her sexuality, lack thereof or otherwise, but it could just as well be that Yuri finds the prospect of sexual escapades with Tomoko kind of enticing.

Now that’s getting into headcanon, and I still believe platonic friendship is the main theme here. But given the current atmosphere, I’d like to officially say that if maybe, just maybe, Yuri is revealed to be desiring a romantic relationship with Tomoko…

I’m all for it.