How Do We Relationship?, Vol. 12

How Do We Relationship? #12

by Tamifull, Abby Lehrke (Translator)

Shy Miwa has always dreamed of finding love, but living in small-town Japan made finding the right match difficult—especially since she likes girls! Even going away to college didn’t seem to help, until one day her outgoing classmate Saeko suggests they might as well start dating each other since it’s not like either of them has other options.

Miwa is trying so hard to make things work with Tamaki, despite the strain their mismatched libidos put on their relationship. Saeko is throwing all her energy into supporting Yuria’s dream of becoming a beautician, even though Yuria doesn’t seem to want her help at all. They both love their girlfriends so much, but sometimes love isn’t enough…

Genres: Manga, Yuri, Romance, LGBT, Queer, Lesbian, Graphic Novels

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 19, 2024

Reviews

[Mark]

I think the opening pages of this volume are worth five stars on their own. There’s something heartbreaking about two people who love one another, but are too different to make it work. And it acknowledges the even worse feeling of relief that can sometimes accompany such a difficult decision.

This is the volume where it all falls to pieces. Again. It stings less because these relationships have felt very off for a while now and there were obvious, obvious problems. It still, however, clearly stings.

As somebody so adroitly puts it, wouldn’t knowing that your partner is happier when you’re apart just make you feel worse? And no matter what you might try and do to make it right, they know how you feel. Some relationships have paths to reconciliation. These do not.

But some relationships do. We get the telling admission that Saeko may have been harbouring lingering affection for Miwa this entire time, never truly getting over it. And as much as these implosions have felt like an inevitable conclusion, well, that affection has been sitting there the whole time.

Of the two, I think Miwa and Tamaki are more interesting. They are absolutely crazy for one another, but their incompatible sex drives are so far apart that it demolishes everything they’ve built. The shame Miwa feels in the beginning of the volume is gut wrenching and visceral.

Saeko and Yuria have been a looming breakup for a while. Yuria’s self-care is very important and necessary for her, but it freezes Sae out completely. Which is completely antithetical to her entire being. When Yuria tries to bring things to a middle ground, you can tell it’s for Sae and not her.

The story does right by everybody; there are no villains. Even Tamaki’s lashing out is rooted in her nature and her own views on relationships. And she knows that it’s wrong. These are people who know it’s over, pure and simple. The real story is how they deal with it.

While Saeko remains somewhat adrift, it’s Miwa who really shows how much she’s grown. Even though she has a real bad moment at the beginning, she recovers in a way she wouldn’t have before. There’s a confidence she didn’t possess at the start of the series that’s a welcome change.

Which is what I hope brings us full circle soon - the more mature Saeko and Miwa getting back together and making it work this time, using everything they learned along the way.

Even if it doesn’t, there’s no doubting that the two of them are quietly making the transition from students to adults and seeing them happy, with or without one another, will have been worth it.

5 stars - this is one of the most elegant and enjoyable yuri I’ve had the pleasure of reading. It handles so many emotions and handles them well, making for a journey that happily isn’t over just yet.

[Anna Quilter]

Coming back to this after a while....

it's just so we'll put together...

Ex partners Miwa and Saeko's relationships seem to be running on a parallel downward spiral...for vastly differently reasons.

"but sometimes love isn't enough"

[Rod Brown]

The answer to the series title's question this volume is, "Not well."

College is nearing an end, and so are some relationships. Are we building to an ending or a new beginning? I'll be back to find out, for sure.



FOR REFERENCE

Contents: Chapters 104-113 -- Bonus Manga 1-2 -- Commentary Track -- Author Note

[Craig Schorling]

This is one of the single best volumes of a romance manga that I have read. The first couple chapters are heartbreaking but in a way that feels necessary and real. Then we get some buildup to another emotinal gut punch but this one has been in the works more clearly for a while now. The way this has flowed and focused on relationships without the usual tropes and dragged out plots has made this a top tier read. I haven't been this impressed with a romance manga since Sweat and Soap.

[Joseph]

Truly sucks that this series has such a cringe millennial title in its US release bc this thing is SOOOO good. This volume in particular really captures the misery of the leadup to ending a relationship and the person having to recognize like 'these are the final good moments we'll get to have together' and whatnot.

[Marisa]

Their all so emotionally mature, I hope more high schools get this so teens can see it’s okay to break up for a variety reasons and not just bc someone cheated or did something terrible.

[Cynthia]

More of the same realistic dynamics, where no one is wrong or right, and where their love means doing what's best even when it hurts. I also appreciated the support the main characters offer each other despite being exes.

[india :)]

LET ME BE HAPPY UGHHGHGH SHOOT ME!!!! goddamn am i happy that Tamaki and Miwa broke up, honestly didnt see that coming at all. the way that i was finally able to breathe. guys yall literally had no redeeming qualities. let the girl have sex. BUT OF COURSE THIS FEELING COULDNT LAST!!! WHY THE FUCK DID YURIA AND SAEKO BREAKUP YOURE JOKING THIS HAS TO BE A PRANK. that was so uncalled for like im actually mad. it was so out of left field, the author just wants saeko and miwa to be able to get back together but i dont even want that anymore. their whole journey of yuria realizing she needed to have alone time so they should live apart so she can enjoy her time with saeko and then realizing she is focusing too much on work and moving some priority to spending more time with saeko, it was just beautiful to see. i loved them together it was so healthy. like they break up because saeko wants to be in a codependent relationship with someone??? dont piss me off girl. worst thing to have happened and im not playing. i just knew when they brought up that saeko still has feelings for miwa and that they both got jealous that it was over for me. im not even gonna be happy when they get back together, ill be reminiscing on what couldve been :/ i thought it was cute that because of miwa talking about her lesbian relationship, the guy was able to come out a little, yay!

Quotes:
- ' I love her, and I love her body... but I just can't love her desire.'

[Snail]

Wow. I was really moved by this volume and how the different relationships continue to develop. The writing is really, really good! I love how they explore different parts of the characters and their relationships including sex in such a straight-forward way (that also feels realistic). I continue to be really impressed by this whole series! Bravo!

[Larakaa]

I cried so much reading this one, damn.

[malts]

At last, both Miwa and Saeko end their respective relationships—each choosing to part ways through their own words.
The reasons behind the breakups are entirely different, yet it’s still painful to watch couples who clearly care for each other decide to separate.

That said, I also couldn’t help feeling that ending both relationships at this point didn’t entirely sit right with me. In both cases, the conflicts felt like obstacles that could potentially have been overcome. It made me wonder: is it really necessary to demand perfection from a relationship?

Perhaps this is simply a result of youth, or perhaps it reflects reality more honestly than a neatly resolved romance ever could. Still, part of me can’t help imagining that, in a fictional story, there might have been room for a different outcome.

There is still more story to come, so it’s hard to draw conclusions yet. But I find myself increasingly curious about what kind of adults these two will eventually become.

[Ace]

The order I'm reading these is determined purely on library availability, but it was a SHOCK to see the improvements in writing over the last six years of the series running.

The author admits to wanting to show realistic conflicts in relationships, and OH MY GOD.

The series really does deliver: It legitimately feels like these are human beings, which is very rare for any romance???

I get why people love this series. The first few volumes weren't the best, but it really does get better with time.

[rocío]

amo la dirección que está tomando la historia<3 la vida, el tiempo es circular ... empecé este manga cuando tenía 19 todavía y ahora vuelvo a él con 21 años... me hace tan feliz ver sus character development, siento que estoy sufriendo creciendo aprendiendo a la par de ellas... las quiero

[Bentgaidin]

Continues to be very good, heartfelt, sometimes painful look at very real tangled relationships. Love seeing all of them trying their best, and want them to keep growing and finding better ways to be themselves.

[Maja]

sooo i dont actually know which chapter this ends at but let me just say, Saeko’s approach to the job hunting and stuff stressed ME out

[EKC]

5 ⭐️

just bingedddd so cute

[moffy]

i love saeko so much she is redeemed in my head i need them together, loved, and married yesterday

[Aidan]

Every volume I say I'm done and then I end up reading the next volume anyways.

[nelly]

God…. I just love them so much, this is the best yuri manga. So raw and real when it comes to relationships with people and with yourself. I adore it!

[Sucre]

sigh. I have a feeling of where this is going and I don't want it. this was a real painful volume, but done so well.

[Charles Hennessy]

seriously heart wrenching stuff

[peep ✧]

never thought id see a healthy break up in this story

[axi ♡]

thought i was starting a fun lighthearted yuri but this genuinely would have change dumbass uni me's life. yuria saeko break up has me on the floor man i'm a mess rn

[Rebecca Jane]

4.5 stars.

[ad]

the breakup volume

[Reuben Thomas]

Gorgeous as always. It’s so mature and healthy and communicative and ugh I just love this series so much.

[Amara]

4.25 stars

I really like how the author is highlighting and tackling so many different facets of relationships

[Sreeha Reddy]

unfortunately i get yuria bc if i had my alone time impeded on like this id crash out. i also get miwa. i will not be elaborating any further

[Maggie]

Um peak

[Carina Stopenski]

the best volume yet. it’s actually refreshing to see these characters make some healthy decisions for themselves.