1. 

   T_I
   January 20th, 2008 - 11:33

   Can I choose between Asuka and Eriko instead?

   I’m not really interested in furnitures and drama queens.

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2. 

   Shirukii
   January 20th, 2008 - 11:46

   Mao ftw.

   Also, Futami.

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3. 

   CCY
   January 20th, 2008 - 11:59

   Somehow I think it’s different from what you said regarding support for coupling: at least personally, I like to support the underdog ones, or the ones that will never realistically happening. I’m a card-carrying member of the Nayuki Club like that, I guess. ^^

   And you didn’t even have to scratch the surface of Kazuki’s (or his girls’) dilemma either. Although, I think the popular consensus there is Eriko. It’s funny, because that’s the opposite of what people are thinking is a right fit for Kouichi. For him, Yuumi seems popular, because of her ideal characteristics and emotion invested. Yet, Asuka, much the same in at least the latter part, looks to be losing out in favor of ye old ‘teach a girl to love’ trope Eriko. Although, I don’t mind that at all. XD

   I’ve only skimmed your writing since I’m up to episode 13 with KimiKiss, but I think that Yuumi’s probably the odds-on favorite and right choice, firstly because of how far she’s gotten, and also because Mao has a fall-back in Kai. Yuumi’s only other real choice aside from going boxcutter (impossibly improbable at best) is getting removed from the story by force through her moving away, but like you said, that’d just be too mean!

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4. 

   Zzz...
   January 20th, 2008 - 12:01

   Well Kouichi certainly isn’t bad as harem leads go, he certainly isn’t a douchebag like Aihara, but I just don’t feel he is as good as you claim he is. I’m a little confused here so enlighten me.

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5. 

   getback
   January 20th, 2008 - 12:52

   I hate the whole childhood friend thing, so I’m going with Yumi. Actually, childhood friend is fine I suppose but it annoys me how Mao was portrayed as being different and actually supportive and then it ends up as some melodramatic thing about how she really likes Kouichi and is still friendly with Yumi as well. Now, she’s just a cliche to me. I can’t really respect the struggling she does while forcing Yumi and Kouichi together. If you feel something, stay out of it and let it work itself out. Butting into a relationship is just stupid, especially when you are half in love with the guy.

   Also Yumi having to move and therefore basically making her ability to actually “win” in the end less and less likely is kind of lame. If they must do the contrived love triangle, at least do it in a better way. It’s a bit of a cop out to me since neither is really going to have to make a choice since Yumi would just be gone and it’s understandable they would break up. So Mao isn’t doing anything TOO wrong since it’s not going to last anyway. Like I said, lame.

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6. 

   HInano
   January 20th, 2008 - 14:12

   Yumi’s been pretty “daitan” lately. I’d love to see her stand up to Mao and be like listen BITCH you set us up, don’t be fucking pulling a Sekai on me now or I’ll nice boat your ass back to last year!

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7. 

   Sherman, the Ramni
   January 20th, 2008 - 17:53

   It has taken 13 long minutes to realize I can’t choose a girl. If I were Kouichi, I’d just keep going with Yuumi.
   Both are just GREAT, in so many ways (Yuumi with her lady-like, well-behaved manners and DIABEETUS love, and Mao with her HYPER attitude and powerful seduction capabilities).
   Ah nooo… if I were Kouichi, I’d just date both (knowing that only leads to a NICE BOAT, of curse) v_vU

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8. 

   usagijen
   January 20th, 2008 - 19:39

   wow, I think you just inspired me to write an Eriko vs Asuka post, Stripey! \o/

   I’ve had a bit of a struggle in terms of deciding between Yuumi and Mao myself, but the latter has really grown on me with the past episodes. Yuumi x Kouichi is sweet, dreamy, almost perfect, but until now I don’t see much depth in their relationship (though of course “depth” is subjective). I don’t have anything against their puppy-love-like relationship, but I would be more moved if the series will end up with Mao x Kouichi instead.

   At this point, Kouichi still hasn’t acknowledged the possibility of a non-platonic relationship with Mao, because she conceals her feelings well. She puts on the facade of a sister, which Kouichi believes to be nothing else but that. Things will change once Kouichi finds out that Mao loves him, more than a brother or a friend. Though, I would prefer it if Kouichi gets to realize that he loves Mao first (once he realizes how much Mao-nee has done for him, how she became the catalyst to the change in his passive old self, how she mediated his relationship with Yuumi; or perhaps if he experiences how he can’t live without Mao or something lol), before she confesses to him, or it’ll seem like he will choose her for pity’s sake.

   Argh there are still so many things I want to say… but I’ll just urge you to read my thoughts on KimiKiss episode 14 Stripey >_< (once I get to post it… I’m still in the process of finishing it)

   One thing I noticed when I read the 1st volume of the KimiKiss novel (Kouichi x Yuumi route), which might just indicate that the anime is heading towards the Mao x Kouichi ending is this…

   ▼ Show

   in the novel, Kouichi thought of the movie / play idea, a memory for her to cherish before she transfers to another school. Yuumi is still unaware that Kouichi already found out about this (from Hiiragi), and accepts the role of being the lead actress in the play. Kouichi became the lead actor, after much persuasion from his companions. Yuumi never backed out of the performance, and thus had the kissing scene with Kouichi at the end of the play, which finally brought her to tears. She runs off, finding all this too unbearable, and Kouichi runs after her. He tells her that he knows about her transfer, but believes that they’ll meet again someday. The end.

   simply put, not casting Yuumi as the lead actress for the movie might just be a clear sign that they’re paving the way for a Mao x Kouichi ending. Though in the end the decision will still be up to Kouichi.

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9. 

   usagijen
   January 20th, 2008 - 19:41

   …and those last two paragraphs are supposedly under spoiler tags, but it doesn’t seem to work x___x

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10. 

    Stripey
    January 20th, 2008 - 20:11

    T_I: heh, I’ll write a post later about why Kimikiss is all about Mao X Kouichi X Yumi for me. For now, I put my weight behind Asuka

    Shirukii: Yay for another Mao sympathesizer

    CCY: Despite what I say, I’m a fanclub of eternal underdog goddess Shirakawa Kotori myself My problem with Kazuki’s dilemma is that Eriko’s characterisation feels too extreme to the extent she’s almost one-dimensional. As for Kazuki, it doesn’t feel like love, more like he trying to get some. As mentioned, I’m behind Asuka because she seems to have the right motivations for liking Kazuki. Looking forward to your thoughts after ep 15. it really heats up.

    Zzz…: Heh, Kouichi is a real SNAG (sensitive new age guy – although that’s not very popular nowadays) You can see he respect womankind a great deal and unlike most hot-blooded 17 yr olds, he takes his time to get intimate with Yumi as her comfort. Yet he’s not laid back. When he realised Yumi was going away, he reacted strongly and surely about persisting in the relationship with a part-time job. He is also sensitive to people’s needs as shown by his concern for Mao’s unusual behaviour which is oblivious to Kazuki. Great fellow.

    getback: heh, maybe I’ve been in the situation before and (yes egged and was egged) to pursue other interests so I’m a lot more sympathetic to the characters in the story. XD It’s a typical coming-of-age story but personally it’s not going to get old anytime because it’s just what it means to be human. I actually enjoy the growing process very much because I know that through it all, Mao will become a more honest person with herself, having a better grasp of her true feelings.

    Hinano: LOL! I love your take on these romances. I get pretty much the same reaction from my wife when she sees what females seem to universally agree to be backstabbing. Since I’m a guy who like the idea of the male lead receiving much worthy female attention, I’m more sympathetic and maybe even approving of Mao’s actions XD

    Sherman, the Ramni: Ah! One of the same mind! Now if we’d get the 3 of them to sit down together and work out some sharing policy

    usagijen: Ah I think this is exactly what CCY mean in his post about Kimikiss being “unpredictably predictable”. When the play element was introduced, I thought it’d be THE vehicle for Mao to make inroads into Kouichi’s heart. So I was thrown off balance when Yumi took the path instead. But ep 15 seals the deal since the part they were rehearsing was about a childhood friend confessing and we all love the plot device of using plays as a proxy to conveying real feelings. Ah the sweet irony! With the play, I have no doubt it would be a Mao X Kouichi end only that I’m worried about having a credible change of heart on Kouichi’s part without making him look like a heartless cad. I look forward to your ep 14 post but more than that, I look forward to your ep 15 post since Mao said a lot of thing which would come back to haunt her.

    edit: Apologies about the spoiler tags. I tagged it already and am investigating to right the problem. Thanks for bringing it up.

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11. 

    Sixten
    January 21st, 2008 - 13:53

    (I tried to leave this comment on another blog but it didn’t seem to stick…)

    As a J.C.Staff whore, I feel obligated to wade into this discussion.

    I would feel ripped off if Yuumi left, leaving Mao to snatch Kouichi away. That would put Kouichi in a relationship that he didn’t really have to work to obtain. Although Mao is a good match for him and seems to know him very well, Kouichi could remain passive and spineless and the relationship would still work. Mao could do all the driving.

    With Yuumi, I like to believe that even after Kouichi discovers how hard it is to maintain a long-distance relationship, he perseveres and makes it work nevertheless. Think Megumi from Mahoraba. You’ve seen how the threat of separation has made Yuumi break through her shyness. In the same way, Kouichi will grow out of being the boy who couldn’t go anywhere in love without being pushed by his childhood friend.

    When Kouichi talked to Eiji after Mao became melancholic, Kouichi seemed to think that Eiji was the one who could make Mao happy. The final proof of Kouichi’s new maturity would be a role reversal where he’s the one to give Mao a push in her relationship instead of the other way around.

    With a Yuumi ending, Kouichi will try harder and grow more.

    Go Yuumi! Yuumi supporters represent!

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12. 

    suguru
    January 21st, 2008 - 17:35

    Great post–I can’t wait for the rest of Kimikiss either, this is probably the series I’m looking forward to the most each week. It’s definitely getting interesting, and although I like Mao better than Yuumi, Yuumi’s by no means a bad person either.

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13. 

    Stripey
    January 21st, 2008 - 20:23

    Sixten: That has to be the best argument I’ve read so far for a Yuumi X kouichi pairing. But I guess it can be argued both ways. Kouichi is growing admirably because of his love for Yuumi and Mao. He is sensitive to their needs and strives to bring happiness to them. So as long as his feelings for Mao is authentic, he’ll grow. He’s just that kind of guy who rises to the occasion drawing strength from his love. So I’ve no doubt that there is still plenty of room for maturing even if he and Mao becomes an item I guess for now, his challenges with Yuumi are just more evident.

    suguru: I think the both of us enjoy a good coming of age tale. That said, I wouldn’t mind if the series ended with Yuumi X Kouichi but Mao alone. I think Mao is way out of Kai’s league given that Mao has tasted the tenderness of Kouichi which Kai can’t measure up.

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14. 

    suguru
    January 22nd, 2008 - 20:17

    Yeah, Mao x Kai doesn’t really hit the right note for me either…on the one hand, they say opposites attract and Mao’s outgoing and energetic while Kai is reserved, but on the other they just don’t seem to have a whole lot of chemistry together. Kai could be one of those people who’s normally serious but every once in a while will just bust out some deadpan hilarious comment, but so far he doesn’t have a lot of personality.

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