Thread: Chapter 208 (*Spoilers*)

Originally Posted by ultraness

The less an outsider gets involved with the conflict, the more Eri's character can develop. Tenma is trying desperately to clear things up with Eri, and she'll have succeed eventually if she keeps it up. Kobayashi chooses not to show us Eri's face on the last page after she sends her reply to Tenma, so we can't be certain Eri is not feeling guilty for her cold answer.

It's not likely. Over the past two chapters, Kobayashi hasn't shown Eri's face for many of her interactions with Tenma. Tenma has nothing to clear up with Eri, as Tenma has (practically) zero control over Harima's feelings for her. Eri is just being mean out of jealousy, and nothing Tenma can say or do is likely to change that.

The Eri-Mikoto rift lasted about five chapters, albeit one chapter was much longer than the average chapter. The rift between Eri and Yakumo did heal and was non-existent for about eighty chapters, but Yakumo re-opened the wound recently with the potato shrimp. I guess you could say the shrimp gave the rift scurvy.

The comparison to Naruto is kind of ridiculous. I seriously doubt Eri will ever give up on Harima now and Tenma has her own love interest in Karasuma, so the scenario with Tenma ending up with Harima is getting more and more unlikely by the chapter.

I would say it's getting more likely by the chapter. At the critical moment, Eri has chosen the wrong path. She's being mean to Tenma for no good reason at all and pursuing Harima out of pride. If anyone deserves Eri's wrath, it's Harima for being a generally oblivious jerk. But Eri is being extra-nice to him and extra cold to Tenma. Eri is probably going to get worse before she gets better.

I think Eri having trouble that Harima likes Tenma more than her has more to do with Eri misunderstanding that Harima liked her for 150 chapters than Eri having a superiority complex.

Eri showed that she could accept Harima liking Yakumo, but Harima liking Tenma completely blew her mind. It took several chapters before Eri could admit it to herself.

Eri has had her most success with Harima when she simply acts like herself and disregards her pride. Thus, I find Eri’s thought that “In this situation I have to be forceful no matter how it makes me look!!” to be critical.

But Eri isn't acting like herself; she's doing whatever it takes to win. Eri has never tried the charm approach on Harima before. She's reverted to treating him like she probably treated all of the other boys she briefly dated. Eri was far more sincere (and nervous) when she first asked Harima to the oyster bar; this second demand is more like a spoiled princess.

Harima's become a bit of a wildcard in recent chapters, so we can't be too sure how he'll react to everything anymore. We’re not shown what he’s thinking as often before, and almost never when his thoughts concern Eri. Nonetheless, Harima seems to be changing his attitude towards Eri slightly. For example, earlier in the series, Harima would have turned down Eri immediately if she asked him and she would have had to tried harder to convince him to come with her to the oyster bar. Also, during Chapter b43, Harima hesitates when Eri asks him to go with her house when the alternative is going to Tenma’s house. Then add the times Harima has gone out of his way to do nice things for Eri (without Tenma as his ultimate motivator), and that’s enough evidence to argue that it’s possible Harima unconsciously likes Eri and any time he denies it is just his ego mentally suppressing this knowledge from himself.

Harima may feel something for Eri, but it is probably 90% friendship. Harima is a genuinely nice guy who has tried to be kind to Eri from the beginning. Anything Harima feels for Eri is totally overshadowed by his feelings for Tenma.

If that’s the case, Eri just needs to do something strong enough to cut through his ego in order to make Harima realize this. A confession just might be enough to do this. To simplify my message, I used math:

Sigmund Freud FTW + Freudian Psychology supporting Flag = Flag FTW

... And just to make my Freudian psychoanalysis of Harima complete, I’ll mention that Itoko serves as Harima’s surrogate mother figure, and that Harima treats Eri and Itoko very similarly, implying that Harima views the two as similar. This leads to the conclusion that Harima views Eri as a surrogate to his surrogate mother figure. Thus, due to the Oedipal Complex, Harima must love Eri.

I'll grant you that Eri and Yakumo seem to have slight Electra complexes that have focused on Harima, but saying that Harima has an Oedipus complex is a huuuuuge stretch.

Originally Posted by ultraness

The comparison to Naruto is kind of ridiculous. I seriously doubt Eri will ever give up on Harima now and Tenma has her own love interest in Karasuma, so the scenario with Tenma ending up with Harima is getting more and more unlikely by the chapter.

Why it is getting more and more unlikely? Eri->Harima->Tenma->Karasuma->Curry situation lasts for 200 chapters already, it has not changed a bit. Yes, Harimas opinion about Eri changed - now he thinks that she is not that much of a bitch as he used to think but Tenma's opinion has changed as well - now she thinks that spending time with Harima is much fun. I fail to see how this makes Tenma X Harima ending less likely to happen.

I would say that this comparison is funny, not radiculous.

Harima's become a bit of a wildcard in recent chapters, so we can't be too sure how he'll react to everything anymore. We’re not shown what he’s thinking as often before, and almost never when his thoughts concern Eri. Nonetheless, Harima seems to be changing his attitude towards Eri slightly. For example, earlier in the series, Harima would have turned down Eri immediately if she asked him and she would have had to tried harder to convince him to come with her to the oyster bar. Also, during Chapter b43, Harima hesitates when Eri asks him to go with her house when the alternative is going to Tenma’s house. Then add the times Harima has gone out of his way to do nice things for Eri (without Tenma as his ultimate motivator), and that’s enough evidence to argue that it’s possible Harima unconsciously likes Eri and any time he denies it is just his ego mentally suppressing this knowledge from himself.
If that’s the case, Eri just needs to do something strong enough to cut through his ego in order to make Harima realize this. A confession just might be enough to do this. To simplify my message, I used math:
Sigmund Freud FTW + Freudian Psychology supporting Flag = Flag FTW
... And just to make my Freudian psychoanalysis of Harima complete, I’ll mention that Itoko serves as Harima’s surrogate mother figure, and that Harima treats Eri and Itoko very similarly, implying that Harima views the two as similar. This leads to the conclusion that Harima views Eri as a surrogate to his surrogate mother figure. Thus, due to the Oedipal Complex, Harima must love Eri.

Since we do not no his thought it is hard to judge what he is thinking. And can you please give examples of those nice things he did to Eri without having Tenma in his mind? Yes, he is changing his attitude, but he is still far from love. Example: in ch208 thinking about if he can go or not hes says: "I can you a break". Not very emotional to me. And his facial expression is far from "exited" and more like "Oh well".

I thought that he is acting like he used to towards Eri because he hated or at least disliked for near 150 chapters and it is now a habit.

And are you sure that KJ is fan of Freaud too?

Wasn't Freaud about "I saw watermelon in my dreams = means you...hate your mother " - just kidding.

L deduction : I'm giving Flag 40% - cause at least Eri is 90% prepared for what's coming up - she won't falter. The only problem is Harima..Tenma was crushed by Eri and if she appeared in the middle of their date, I would find it lame (there are better ways of killing relationship, not by showing a girl the guy likes).

@ Ultraness: here is an illustration to your words:

Originally Posted by Ultraness

Harima unconsciously likes Eri and any time he denies it is just his ego mentally suppressing this knowledge from himself.

Here you can see: at the left corner - picture from ch208 - while Harima is working at his manga, Eri entered - his face shows his heaction at her appearence and words.
At the bottom - while Harima is working on his manga at Tenma's house (ch146) Tenma entered and started to talk with him. Where does he look more happy?


You may say that ch146 was 62 chapters ago and a lot had changed. But did we see any signes of Harima liking Tenma less then back then? I don't remmeber any. And picture from ch208 shows his present attitude to Eri - to my mind it is no more then frendship, or else he would look much happier.

Please don't pay attentimon to my version of Harima's thoughts, it is just a little joke of mine (maybe stupid but still) and has nothing to do with my argumental base.

In the last page, Eri said ''Eh...''. Hesitation ?
I guess she'll cancel the date and gonna apology Tenma instead. (After thinking that she's the wrong one)

@ Rakk: I don't think so. She has put too much effort in getting Harima already to just lose her chance like that. And she is still mad: "Do whatever you want!". So I doubt that she will go to Tenma instead of date with Harima.

Originally Posted by Rakk

In the last page, Eri said ''Eh...''. Hesitation ?
I guess she'll cancel the date and gonna apology Tenma instead. (After thinking that she's the wrong one)

Probably disappointment. "Hm... I guess I did do that... I can go tomorrow I suppose. I could use a break," is just about the least enthusiastic response possible. The opposite of love isn't hate; it's indifference, and that's where Harima is moving with respect to Eri.

I think when Eri said "Let's go now" she meant..now Not tomorrow Her plan was changed a little (at night it would be romantic, while it's day...a little less).

Originally Posted by Kolox

I think when Eri said "Let's go now" she meant..now Not tomorrow Her plan was changed a little (at night it would be romantic, while it's day...a little less).

Yeah, that does make the most sense.

Also, with another day happening before the date, there is a much greater chance for Tenma to get involved. She could enlist Harima to find out the truth of Eri's grudge for her or even be invited to the oyster bar by Harima. Whatever happens, it shouldn't go smoothly for anyone's plans.

If Tenma is going to apologize in front of Harima.... can be really deadly for Flag.
But can be deadly for Odou too, because Harima (again :/) will notice that Tenma has actually no feelings for him and she wishes happiness for him and Ojou