Thread: Chapter 226 Discussion

Originally Posted by reinard-fox

I belive that the process of him losing interest in Tenma would at least involve gradual reduce of passion in his behaviour towards Tenma, which i don't see - at least 25 chapters ago he was pretty passionate around her.

In a real scenario, I think someone like Harima would need some time to lose his passion. However, School Rumble is a story, and the problem with Harima gradually losing his passion is it makes it too obvious what's going to happen, and there's no surprise unless it's suddenly clear he no longer likes Tenma.

Originally Posted by ultraness

Tenma spent a chapter learning how to make curry, and says it's the only thing she can make. Capable of turning Onigiri into something terrible =/= same ability to turn curry into something vile.

I was just using the onigiri incident as an example of how bad of a cook Tenma is but she did learn how to make curry. I completely forgot about that chapter. maybe it is just the appendicitis. well we'll know later on when KJ makes some new chapters. =_=

any guesses on whos coming to visit poor Harima in the hospital? a school nurse perhaps?

Originally Posted by ultraness

In a real scenario, I think someone like Harima would need some time to lose his passion. However, School Rumble is a story, and the problem with Harima gradually losing his passion is it makes it too obvious what's going to happen, and there's no surprise unless it's suddenly clear he no longer likes Tenma.

In this rate it is nothing wrong for Eri to suddenly give up on Harima after ch217 as well. Which, to my mind, would be pretty stupid. My opinion about KJ is way too high to assume that he can pull out something like that.

Originally Posted by _Vincent_

any guesses on whos coming to visit poor Harima in the hospital? a school nurse perhaps?

I would like too see her after such a long break, though it wil most likely not happen And we already know names of 2 visitors.

Originally Posted by _Vincent_

I was just using the onigiri incident as an example of how bad of a cook Tenma is but she did learn how to make curry. I completely forgot about that chapter.

I remembered that chapter after I read Chapter 225, but I dismissed it since I thought that Tenma simply had the ability to turn any food into something frightening.

Originally Posted by _Vincent_

any guesses on whos coming to visit poor Harima in the hospital? a school nurse perhaps?

I find it suspicious that Karasuma did not visit Harima at the hospital.

Originally Posted by reinard-fox

In this rate it is nothing wrong for Eri to suddenly give up on Harima after ch217 as well. Which, to my mind, would be pretty stupid. My opinion about KJ is way too high to assume that he can pull out something like that.

It appears Eri did not give up on Harima, thanks to Nakamura, so I believe whether or not she gave up on him is a non-issue, as of Chapter 226.

Nonetheless, the context of the situations in which they may have given up are completely different and makes it highly unlikely Eri gave up. In Eri's case, it seems like she does give up on Harima, while Harima does not seem to give up on Tenma in this chapter (making it quite probable he did not give up on Tenma). Remember, the element of surprise is crucial, and it's only present if Harima gave up.

Originally Posted by ultraness

I find it suspicious that Karasuma did not visit Harima at the hospital.

He is probably mad at Harima because of his lies, so now Karasuma is preparing a plan for revenge. Scaaary.

Originally Posted by ultraness

It appears Eri did not give up on Harima, thanks to Nakamura, so I believe whether or not she gave up on him is a non-issue, as of Chapter 226.

I know that Eri didn't give up. I mentioned her only to show that Harima's sudden surrender is not less lame than Eri's.

Originally Posted by ultraness

Nonetheless, the context of the situations in which they may have given up are completely different and makes it highly unlikely Eri gave up. In Eri's case, it seems like she does give up on Harima, while Harima does not seem to give up on Tenma in this chapter (making it quite probable he did not give up on Tenma). Remember, the element of surprise is crucial, and it's only present if Harima gave up.

In other words, none of them gave up? If yes, then i agree.

Originally Posted by reinard-fox

He is probably mad at Harima because of his lies, so now Karasuma is preparing a plan for revenge. Scaaary.

Ha, I doubt that. I find his absence suspicious because he should have been there (since Harima is his protégé and he passed out at Karasuma's house), while his absence gave Harima the perfect opportunity to confess to Tenma.

Originally Posted by reinard-fox

I know that Eri didn't give up. I mentioned her only to show that Harima's sudden surrender is not less lame than Eri's.

It wouldn't be a surrender if Harima loses interest at this point since he would have rejected Tenma on a relatively high point for Oudou (Tenma went out of her way to visit Harima at the hospital; Harima should be jumping with joy), while it would be a surrender if Eri gave up since Chapter 217 was one of the lowest moments for Flag. This difference is what makes me think it's possible, if not probable, Harima no longer loves Tenma and that it's not lame if he no longer does.

Originally Posted by reinard-fox

In other words, none of them gave up? If yes, then i agree.

In other words, Harima giving up works according to fictional norms while Eri possibly doing so does not, and it's probable neither of them did.

Originally Posted by ultraness

Ha, I doubt that. I find his absence suspicious because he should have been there (since Harima is his protégé and he passed out at Karasuma's house), while his absence gave Harima the perfect opportunity to confess to Tenma.

Well, this doesn't mean that he wanted to give Harima a chance to confess, does it?

It wouldn't be a surrender if Harima loses interest at this point since he would have rejected Tenma on a relatively high point for Oudou (Tenma went out of her way to visit Harima at the hospital; Harima should be jumping with joy),

Nothing changed form volume 2 (?), when Tenma came to hospital after Harima was hit by the truck - expept for the fact that back then he tried to confess. So i don't think that it is that much of a high point (although nothing prevents Harima from thinking that it is) - Tenma is Tenma as always - her friend is hurt at her sight -> she helps. Same as in situation when she tried to help Ichijou to get Imadori - Harima is not special here.

while it would be a surrender if Eri gave up since Chapter 217 was one of the lowest moments for Flag. This difference is what makes me think it's possible, if not probable, Harima no longer loves Tenma and that it's not lame if he no longer does.

Depends on how you judge about this lowest point - Harima was actually troubled enough to forget about his "avoid ojou" tactics and play active part. I'm not sure if this is that much of low point if we look from this position - perhaps it's otherwise. The fact of Eri dissapearing from the screen (why - we don't know - it is her own desision or KJ just wanted to focus on Oudou for now) doesn't mean that Flag is dead. We still do not know what Eri think about this scene and can't assume that she is smashed by Harima's "rejection".

Originally Posted by reinard-fox

Well, this doesn't mean that he wanted to give Harima a chance to confess, does it?

No. It would mean Jin Kobayashi wanted to give Harima a chance to confess, and that's why I view Karasuma's absence with suspicion.

Originally Posted by reinard-fox

Nothing changed form volume 2 (?), when Tenma came to hospital after Harima was hit by the truck - expept for the fact that back then he tried to confess. So i don't think that it is that much of a high point (although nothing prevents Harima from thinking that it is) - Tenma is Tenma as always - her friend is hurt at her sight -> she helps. Same as in situation when she tried to help Ichijou to get Imadori - Harima is not special here.

What matters is that it would, or should, be a high point for Harima. I guess I wasn't specific enough in my last post. I regret using faction names instead of mentioning the highs and lows refer to the characters.

Originally Posted by reinard-fox

Depends on how you judge about this lowest point - Harima was actually troubled enough to forget about his "avoid ojou" tactics and play active part. I'm not sure if this is that much of low point if we look from this position - perhaps it's otherwise. The fact of Eri dissapearing from the screen (why - we don't know - it is her own desision or KJ just wanted to focus on Oudou for now) doesn't mean that Flag is dead. We still do not know what Eri think about this scene and can't assume that she is smashed by Harima's "rejection".

I guess I shouldn't have called it a low point for Flag, since I meant it's a low point for Eri (although the two mean much of the same thing).

Originally Posted by ultraness

No. It would mean Jin Kobayashi wanted to give Harima a chance to confess, and that's why I view Karasuma's absence with suspicion.

If KJ wanted to give Harima chance to confess then Karasuma's absence is only natural, isn't it: Harima can't try to confess in front of Karasuma.

What matters is that it would, or should, be a high point for Harima. I guess I wasn't specific enough in my last post. I regret using faction names instead of mentioning the highs and lows refer to the characters.

Yeah, now it sounds different. This hospital moment was a great chance for Harima, but he missed it. You are right, it is not like Harima. Taking a break from a fight after losing a battle to Karasuma and suffering phisical pain, huh.

I guess I shouldn't have called it a low point for Flag, since I meant it's a low point for Eri (although the two mean much of the same thing).

Well, I'm still not sure how Eri feel and what she thinks about this episode. I'm not sure if she understood what Harima was saying - although yeah, i find it strange if she didn't - but her reaction was way too calm and her face afterwords was not in pain either. I would prefer to wait for her next appearence to judge about her current feelings.

Originally Posted by reinard-fox

If KJ wanted to give Harima chance to confess then Karasuma's absence is only natural, isn't it: Harima can't try to confess in front of Karasuma.

Well, it seems Kobayashi went out of his way to give Harima a chance to confess, but then did nothing with it, which seems odd to me.

Originally Posted by reinard-fox

Yeah, now it sounds different. This hospital moment was a great chance for Harima, but he missed it. You are right, it is not like Harima. Taking a break from a fight after losing a battle to Karasuma and suffering phisical pain, huh.

Moreover, he seems to be happy he missed this chance on the last page, although I'll stress that Harima is rather ambiguous in the last two pages.

Originally Posted by reinard-fox

Well, I'm still not sure how Eri feel and what she thinks about this episode. I'm not sure if she understood what Harima was saying - although yeah, i find it strange if she didn't - but her reaction was way too calm and her face afterwords was not in pain either. I would prefer to wait for her next appearence to judge about her current feelings.

Whether or not Eri understands Harima's intent, she can't be thinking he's being nice to her. Coupled with her appearing to lose interest in Harima, it's a low point for Eri (and Flag as well), or, at the very least, appears to be one, and my point was it would be a very unsatisfying end for Flag, as a result.