08/19/2024
The latest chapter of How Do We Relationship was incredible. I didn’t expect to be so invested in Miwa and Saeko—I've always leaned toward Yuria/Saeko—but Tamifull’s writing continues to impress me. The mix of lighthearted moments, the comfort they now share, and the way Saeko has become so much more considerate and thoughtful really stood out. The scene where Saeko acknowledges Miwa’s discomfort and gently reassures her without making a big show of it was particularly... wow. They’ve both grown so much, and it feels like they’ve truly earned their happiness, even if I feel like thing might be moving a bit too fast for Saeko (though I suspect Tamifull will touch more on her issues soon).
On another note, seeing the discourse around How Do We Relationship is a bit like watching people try to solve a Rubik's Cube by smashing it with a hammer. There's so much valuable commentary out there, but it's disappointing when discussions flatten the characters into binary labels like “toxic” or “victim.” Sure, Saeko, Miwa, Tamaki, Yuria, and the rest have their issues, but the story’s real power is in exploring the messy, intricate dynamics of relationships—how people can hurt one another and still find ways to heal together. Reducing them to simplistic good-or-bad categories misses the point entirely.
I get that How Do We Relationship might not be everyone’s cup of tea—I felt a bit lost with it at first too—but it's frustrating when conversations don’t dive into the series’ deeper themes. The story is more than just a blame game. When characters are flattened into one-dimensional roles, it feels like the richness of their development—and the entire narrative—is being lost. Tamifull crafted these characters to challenge us to think more deeply about relationships and our own selves.