MANGA REVIEW | "How Do We Relationship?" - Volume Twelve
And just like that, we are back to square one. It seemed pretty obvious that the writing was on the wall for the main couples of How Do We Relationship?. Even as both Miwa and Saeko found compromise with their girlfriends, Tamaki and Yuria, it felt like something was amiss. And as Volume Twelve of How Do We Relationship? shows, that feeling can grow into an inevitable gut instinct to just break things off.
The first casualty is the pairing of Miwa and Tamaki. Even with the amount of love the two had for each other, the needs of one couldn’t be satisfied by the other. In fact, a night of sex transforms Miwa into an emotional wreck, with her unable to even look Tamaki in the eye afterwards. It evolves into the realization that the two just really aren’t compatible. Yes, they love each other, but what Miwa wants in life, Tamaki can’t deliver without exiting her comfort zone.
Said comfort zone is exactly the thing that makes or breaks a relationship. Being intimate is a big part of dating, and if one person can’t offer that without mentally hurting themselves, then that certainly is a make-or-break situation in dating. Some can hold back; others can’t. And while Miwa was willing to compromise to make Tamaki happy, she comes to terms with the fact that this could lead to a very unhealthy relationship.
Which leads to Saeko and Yuria. They find a good compromise where Saeko doesn’t always stay over Yuria’s. It allows the latter to have some alone time and deal with her mental issues. At first, it all works out great, until Saeko realizes just what kind of woman she really is, one that likes to be depended on. It results in the two going back to the regular dating they were doing before, until Saeko decides that, for the best, it is time to end things.
Basically, this manga shows that no matter how much two people love each other, one obstacle can cause a breakup. For Miwa, it’s finding the right person to be intimate with. Saeko, on the other hand, just likes to be helpful to the woman she loves. And when both friends find that their lovers want to be opposite, it opens their eyes to realize that compromising on their needs does more damage than good for both parties.
As Miwa says, “It’s not that dating is hard for two women. Dating is just really hard, period!” That in a nutshell sums up why I love How Do We Relationship?. Yes, it’s a yuri/LGBTQ story, but just because it’s categorized as such doesn’t mean that only those in that demographic can relate to Miwa and Saeko. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve seen myself in these characters and their girlfriends, with some of their highs and lows mirroring a lot of what I personally dealt with (and still deal with!) in the world of dating. Because of its relatability, Tamifull’s series makes for a solid look into the world of romance, despite one’s sexual orientation.
Where it also gets it right is how these two deal with the aftermath of breaking up. Yes, shit gets awkward. However, these are also grown adults who can be mature about their conundrums. It’s why Tamaki can still be in the band with Miwa, and why Saeko & Yuria can still be chummy friends after they close the book on their partnership. Just because the relationship ends doesn’t mean they can’t exist in their lives. Friends love each other, and that sort of love doesn’t have to go away if a relationship goes south.
But now, one can’t help but wonder where this will go from here. How Do We Relationship? tried to have Miwa and Saeko together, only for them to break up. Then it tried to have them date other people, which also led to separation. Do our main two characters go back together, or do they just keep on supporting one another as friends hoping that love will come for either of them? There’s something that Saeko says in this volume that stands out though: “I might still have feelings for you without realizing it?!” I don’t know about you, but that certainly sounds like an opening to me!
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
