People are complex systems. Relationships are complex systems made up of complex systems. Even with clear boundaries, even when sex is not an issue, relationships get messy when humans are involved.
Ruriko has always like Kurumi. But she’s very aware that their “marriage” is not rooted in romance. They have agreed on clear boundaries, on rules that draw clear lines about being together, or not. If you think about that for even a moment, you’ll understand how silly it is to think that any kind of partnership can just be dissolved with no consequences.
In Onna Tomodachi to Kekkonshitemita, Volume 2 (女ともだちと結婚してみた。) Kurumi breaks one of the rules and almost destroys their marriage. Here’s the thing – the rule she broke wasn’t about falling for someone else, or not holding up her end of a chore. It was a decision that failed to acknowledge idea of the partnership being just that – an actual partnership.
To combat the cracks, Kurumi and Ruriko rewrite and reaffirm their rules, including a new one – a day for them to just bond and communicate. They share brief embraces, about which they feel many things, but do not discuss that. However, when they see an older married couple, they wonder if that will be them one day.
An extra chapter delves into their school days. We can see that they haven’t changed that much at all.
Usui Shio-sensei is best known here for Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon, which is an unconventional story about a couple finding affection. This series is similar in the sense that this is not a typical romance, but is about familial bonds and affection. The dynamics of the couple are wholly different, but this too is a series that gives us a chance to see a relationship that is not the typical framework of – dating-romance-partnership. And, in doing so, give us a chance to see partnership as something more than just an outcropping of love and sex. For that alone, I love this story, honestly, But I also really enjoy the small dynamics of Ruriko and Kurumi finding themselves relaying on each other…and on the idea of each other being there. This series makes me long for a legal platonic partnership option for the world. Why shouldn’t we be able to form families any damn way we want? Why should hormonal flareups be given more legal validity than desire for financial stability? Or friendship? Maddening, honestly.
That aside, what this volume gives us is the thing I crave most in stories about relationships…good communication. ^_^
Ratings:
Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Service – 0
Yuri – 5 Ruriko is besotted, Kurumi is…?
Overall – 9
I’m always rooting for Kurumi and Ruriko. I don’t know that they will ever be lovers, but they make good spouses. ^_^
Still waiting for the final volume of “Doughnuts…”. But from what I’ve read so far, this author can do no wrong. Can’t wait to see this other series in English too.
Yeah, right now, Usui-sensei is killing it on the ways bonds of intimacy and affection form that aren’t just romantic/sexual interest.
Doughnuts is such a good manga, and I’ve been including this manga every time I fill out the Seven Seas monthly survey. I really hope Doughnuts is selling well enough to make publishing this manga financially viable.
They’re going to kiss in about ten years.
Or never. And that’s okay.
This sounds lovely! I’ve been really enjoying Doughnuts, I’ve found it strongly relateable in many ways, so like Addie I’ll be adding this to my list for the Seven Seas survey (I need some new manga to suggest since happily enough most of the titles I’ve been holding out for have been licensed ^_^’)
I was thinking about this recently when reading the new English release of “I want to be a wall”, about an asexual woman and a gay man in a marriage of convenience. “Despite” not being attracted to eachother, I actually found their partnership to be one of the healthiest I’ve seen in a manga. I’d love to see more of this in media, no matter someone’s cirumstances I feel there’s a lot of good to learn from it.
Agreed!