☕ 夜カフェ 3 ☕ Offshoot Book Club Discussion Thread

Japanese Language Book Clubs
21

I read chapter 8 the other day just in time for the new discussion week!

Chapter 8 thoughts

After giving it some thought, I figured Yamato’s sudden change of attitude was due to Yayako lying that Hanabi has fallen for Ryoma, but it looks like the drama she stirred is reversed to make it sound like Ryoma likes Hanabi.

It’s interesting to see that discourages Yamato from wanting to compete though. Is it because of the age difference? Maybe he thinks Hanabi would be better suited with Ryoma who’s only a year or 2 older (forgot if he was a 2nd year or 3rd year) and going to the same school vs. Yamato who’s a year older and currently living abroad and even if he returned to Japan, they would be in different schools.

Honestly in a realistic situation, I’m not too fond of the idea of a 1st year JHS student and 1st year SHS student in a functional relationship. Just looking at all the JHS kids I teach, the maturity levels between 1st and 3rd year alone are vastly different. Senior high school isn’t even obligatory in Japan, and in a lot of ways, the kids in high school are more 大人ポイ than college students here.

I don’t like the unnecessary drama they’re putting Aiko-san through so that Hanabi can learn to stand on her own two feet. I’d rather Aiko-san to just tell her straight up “There are some problems you need to solve on your own” and just leave her to explore what she meant.

22

Since it’s technically midnight here, I’ll post a little early. Please start Chapter 9 discussion from here!

Chapter 9 Participation Poll
  • I’m reading along
  • I’m behind and will catch up later
  • I’m from the future and reading way later
  • I’ve already read this part
  • I’ve decided to drop the series

0 voters

23
re: age

Ryouma’s one year older than Hanabi, while Yamato’s three years older. While I kinda like (or at least am fine with) Hanabi’s one-sided crush on Yamato, I’m not too fond of the idea of him returning it. Three years is a lot when you’re that young, and tbh I don’t think a 15/16-y.o. would even see a 12/13-y.o. as a romantic interest? I mean, she’s just a kid compared to him (they are both technically kids, but). I know when I was in high school, I didn’t see middle schoolers as peers. Sure, that was me just a few years before, but they’re so young! You’re right, there is a vast difference in maturity level between middle- and high-schoolers. tbh when Ryouma was introduced, I’d thought he was gonna be a more realistic love interest for Hanabi… (and they would be sweet, but after this development, I don’t hold out much hope).

24

Changed my vote after a few hours as I’m back up to date and reading chapter 9.

Chapter 8 ended up being a fairly easy read.

25

We’ve reached the last week of volume 3, so feel free to discuss any part of the book including the extra pages!

Chapter 10 Participation Poll
  • I’m reading along
  • I’m behind and will catch up later
  • I’m from the future and reading way later
  • I’ve already read this part
  • I’ve decided to drop the series

0 voters

26

Haha, I just realized I forgot the poll for the last chapter. I edited the previous post for anyone who wants to mark their participation status!

27

I’m too tired to say anything more (maybe I will later, idk) but what hell was that last chapter. And oh, god, I think the atogaki confirmed my suspicions that we’re supposed to feel for Yayako now and be understanding and forgive her for her years of mistreating Hanabi even though Yayako hasn’t done anything to warrant any of that…