Video Girl Ai Chapter 79 Discussion

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                        This is so stupid though.

Like, both of them.

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Have any suggestions on where I can read online?

I've been really enjoying this manga, but this is the first time I've felt the drama is totally forced in a frustrating way. Yota had no good reason to not answer the phone, or to not leave messages -- even when Ai accidentally spilled the paint, Yota probably would have heard the phone ringing, and could have either quickly answered and said "I'll call you right back, Moemi" or just call her after the mess was cleaned up. Yota's excuse of "I can't hear her voice or else I'll want to see her" is very, very stupid and unbelievable.



EDIT: Also, doesn't Yota have an answering machine? Remember when he found out that Nobuko left like 16 messages back when he was on that vacation with Ai, Moemi, and Takashi? Why hasn't he or Ai checked his answering machine at all? Moemi called 20 times. She left no messages? Yota says "If Moemi is lonely, then she would call me." Well, Yota, maybe check your answering machine? It's not believable because, even if Yota is to neglect checking the phone, Ai is still checking the phone! This is a bad oversight on behalf of the mangaka. ~end of edit~



I feel like this whole answering-machine fiasco was just a half-hearted excuse for the mangaka to have Ai stand a chance in getting together with Yota... and I have been wanting Ai to have more romantic moments with Yota, and I want her to win, but... for her to win, because of this? It feels totally cheap, as if Ai is getting some stupid handicap help, help that she doesn't even need, in order for her to win Yota's heart instead of Moemi.



If Ai is to win Yota's heart, I want it to be fair, and for it to make sense. Yota could have called Moemi every day. He could have went on dates with Moemi on Sundays, or at the very least spend time with Moemi at school, or, best yet, Moemi could have continued to drop by with cake and cook dinner. And even with things continuing smoothly with Yota and Moemi's love life, Ai would still very much have a fighting chance in being able to get Yota to fall in love with her -- without even trying, to boot! Ai's charms, her interactions with Yota, should be what gets Yota to fall for her, not some "misunderstandings" (more like, deliberate neglect) between Yota and Moemi.



If I wrote this manga, I'd have had Yota have cute and romantic moments with Ai, where he gets warm feelings in his heart and remembers his past with her. He realizes "My love for Ai never truly faded, did it?" And then, the tipping point would be when Ai reveals she regained her memories. Ai and Yota can't resist picking up where they left off, and finally sharing their first kiss, a kiss that was the most passionate kiss Yota has had yet.



Boom. No unnecessarily cruel and stupid decisions made by Yota. No neglecting Moemi. No giving Ai some unneeded handicap help. Instead, Yota falls for Ai naturally. And then, organic drama could come about after that. Perhaps then, Yota could think "I'm sorry Moemi, but I want to spend time with Ai" and then he goes out with Ai (and Ai could wear that special dress from her first date!) and misses Moemi's calls. Who knows, it could be anything. But drama should never be forced like it was in these past two chapters.



Also, as it is, Yota hasn't shown a peep of romantic interest in Ai in the longest time. If Ai is to actually be the one Yota falls for (I hope she is), then it just hasn't been portrayed well at all that Yota loves her. Back when Yota dated Nobuko, it was clear as day that he loved Ai. But there hasn't been any sign of his love for Ai since volume 6 (and this chapter is in volume 9). Even when Ai cries in front of him in the chapter with her "screenplay" on the date with Moemi, Yota didn't react much at all at finding out Ai still loves him.

It's pretty disappointing. I like this manga a lot, but Yota's romance with Ai could be handled much better. Here's hoping future chapters rectify the mistakes these last two chapters made, and to have Ai win over Yota's heart fair-and-square with her own charms.