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おとなになっても [Otona ni Natte mo] #2
Even Though We're Adults, Vol. 2
Ayano has told her husband that she has feelings for another woman. Now her marriage is on the rocks, but Ayano just can’t stop thinking about Akari. Can the two women figure out their feelings for each other?
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2020
15 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Takako Shimura
161 books210 followersTakako Shimura (native name: 志村貴子) is a manga artist primarily known for her manga works published in Japan which feature LGBT (especially about lesbian and transgender) topics. Originally from Kanagawa, she now resides in Tokyo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 18, 2021
I’ve mistaken regular-ass horniness for the cosmic pull of destiny before. And I always ended up worse off for it.
You would like to think that being an adult means you wouldn’t make the dumb choices you did in your youth, but, as it indicates in this very title, really it means you still make dumb choices, you’re just way more cognizant of it.
This series is truly remarkable and this volume maintains the high quality bar from the first instalment while piling on to our heroines like nobody’s business. How much do you want to upset your life in order to get what you truly want? Or to avoid it? These are the questions staring down our characters this time out.
Traditional Japanese family life doubles down on Ayano, who is saddled with an incredibly obnoxious mother-in-law of the ‘mean-spirited by way of being helpful’ variety, who quickly susses out the problem and then proposes an awkward solution to it.
Then, her husband decides to sublimate any sympathy he had engendered thus far by siccing Ayano’s sister on Akari (although she turns out to be much less an instrument of vengeance than you might have thought) and later by essentially refusing Ayano’s own desires. Phew.
We also get two very separate but very interesting looks at depression, one of which is so smartly real in depicting a particular type that it deserves praise. The other is left a little murkier for now, but I suspect it was even more serious than the one we do hear about.
And this is all before we even touch on Akari, who’s still unable to get over her fascination (I think infatuation might be more apt, but they’ve been going at this for a while) with Ayano. The two have one hell of an awkward home visit that pretty much sums up this series in a nutshell.
There is SO much here and it’s all interesting and all worth talking about. This is one of the most interesting manga I have ever read and it’s only been getting better. When Akari tears into Ayano, super-deservedly, but then can’t bring herself to cut ties? That’s good storytelling and completely fits what we know of her experiences.
To say nothing of the very ‘school yuri’ flashback we get, which ends up showing how Ayano was once a ‘prince’ in an all girl’s school and some other girl’s brief fascination with her ended up awakening something far more in Ayano. The friction between the traditional and these people who don’t tick those “normal” boxes is a big theme this whole volume.
Do I have quibbles? Sure, a couple. The art is delightful, especially the food (you try reading this and not craving a skillet), but some of the character design is a little too same-y because of the art style.
One section switches from one person to another who’s a dead ringer for them, but this second one is a new character and it’s not super obvious until squinting way too much. There’s also a little narrative contrivance sneaking in here and there, but you can always chalk that up to destiny if you want.
5 stars, easy. Yes, there are some small flaws but the overall package is so strong and everything so compelling. This makes manga focused on adults look so easy that you’ll wonder why more authors don’t do it.
You would like to think that being an adult means you wouldn’t make the dumb choices you did in your youth, but, as it indicates in this very title, really it means you still make dumb choices, you’re just way more cognizant of it.
This series is truly remarkable and this volume maintains the high quality bar from the first instalment while piling on to our heroines like nobody’s business. How much do you want to upset your life in order to get what you truly want? Or to avoid it? These are the questions staring down our characters this time out.
Traditional Japanese family life doubles down on Ayano, who is saddled with an incredibly obnoxious mother-in-law of the ‘mean-spirited by way of being helpful’ variety, who quickly susses out the problem and then proposes an awkward solution to it.
Then, her husband decides to sublimate any sympathy he had engendered thus far by siccing Ayano’s sister on Akari (although she turns out to be much less an instrument of vengeance than you might have thought) and later by essentially refusing Ayano’s own desires. Phew.
We also get two very separate but very interesting looks at depression, one of which is so smartly real in depicting a particular type that it deserves praise. The other is left a little murkier for now, but I suspect it was even more serious than the one we do hear about.
And this is all before we even touch on Akari, who’s still unable to get over her fascination (I think infatuation might be more apt, but they’ve been going at this for a while) with Ayano. The two have one hell of an awkward home visit that pretty much sums up this series in a nutshell.
There is SO much here and it’s all interesting and all worth talking about. This is one of the most interesting manga I have ever read and it’s only been getting better. When Akari tears into Ayano, super-deservedly, but then can’t bring herself to cut ties? That’s good storytelling and completely fits what we know of her experiences.
To say nothing of the very ‘school yuri’ flashback we get, which ends up showing how Ayano was once a ‘prince’ in an all girl’s school and some other girl’s brief fascination with her ended up awakening something far more in Ayano. The friction between the traditional and these people who don’t tick those “normal” boxes is a big theme this whole volume.
Do I have quibbles? Sure, a couple. The art is delightful, especially the food (you try reading this and not craving a skillet), but some of the character design is a little too same-y because of the art style.
One section switches from one person to another who’s a dead ringer for them, but this second one is a new character and it’s not super obvious until squinting way too much. There’s also a little narrative contrivance sneaking in here and there, but you can always chalk that up to destiny if you want.
5 stars, easy. Yes, there are some small flaws but the overall package is so strong and everything so compelling. This makes manga focused on adults look so easy that you’ll wonder why more authors don’t do it.
August 25, 2024
The plot slows to a crawl and the cast suddenly doubles to help vamp for time.
I'm seeing that there are 10 volumes in this series, and I have to say, that seems excessive for the simple set-up here. I'm worried I'll lose interest in the long run, but I'll try another volume or two if they show up at my local library.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Chapter 6. Family Game -- Chapter 7. Seriously Only You -- Chapter 8. As Long as You're Here -- Chapter 9. What Would You Do? -- Chapter 10. Signs -- Afterword -- Next Issue
I'm seeing that there are 10 volumes in this series, and I have to say, that seems excessive for the simple set-up here. I'm worried I'll lose interest in the long run, but I'll try another volume or two if they show up at my local library.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Chapter 6. Family Game -- Chapter 7. Seriously Only You -- Chapter 8. As Long as You're Here -- Chapter 9. What Would You Do? -- Chapter 10. Signs -- Afterword -- Next Issue
November 3, 2021
I like the direction that this story is going - although it’s a slow, meandering, slice-of-life story, the characters and their dynamics are interesting. I like that we’re getting more about Wataru’s family, and the main characters’ lives outside of each other… They feel really well-rounded.
November 6, 2021
The level of emotional nuance in this book is phenomenal.
August 25, 2021
I think the author is directing trying to address the main issue of the manga - why is this character pursuing someone who she barely knows and is married.
The premise of the manga makes this impossible to take seriously. Unless the characters stop seeing each other, and *maybe* get together like a year later - it doesnt feel very genuine.
AND the husband said he's not divorcing his wife who is attracted to this other woman. AND the wife is keeping her husband in the loop, like when she visits her crush.
It's just really really weird.
And the next volume reveals they're going to be neighbors, even after the crush gets a new job.
Ugh :/
Maybe I will try another yuri.
The premise of the manga makes this impossible to take seriously. Unless the characters stop seeing each other, and *maybe* get together like a year later - it doesnt feel very genuine.
AND the husband said he's not divorcing his wife who is attracted to this other woman. AND the wife is keeping her husband in the loop, like when she visits her crush.
It's just really really weird.
And the next volume reveals they're going to be neighbors, even after the crush gets a new job.
Ugh :/
Maybe I will try another yuri.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2021
The first volume, I found quite promising. This was, was kind of disappointing. I mean, the characters are complex and there are a lot of layers to it but it failed to entertain me as much as the first volume... It's lacking something and I'm not sure yet what is it. But also, in this volume the characters I disliked quite a bit, it's like they lost the self respect they had in the first volume. Dunno, I can appreciate certain things that were done with the story and the characters but it didn't do it for me...
Might try and see how's Vol.3 when it comes out, but my main reason will be Akari. I really wish to see more of her!
Might try and see how's Vol.3 when it comes out, but my main reason will be Akari. I really wish to see more of her!
December 12, 2024
this got so boring and lost the plot and the story is juggling too many side plots. this felt like a filler manga and it’s literally the second volume??
February 18, 2025
girl why are you moving in with your in-laws when you said you wanted to get a divorce? i'm confused
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2021
Complex and well written
A brilliantly written and drawn story about a group of adults who seem to fail at adulting. This volume focuses more on the husband's family,which has it's own brand of dysfunction without the added drama of a daughter-in-law who has fallen in love with another woman. The overbearing mother-in-law is brilliantly crafted. She is just sympathetic enough to prevent the reader from feeling she's a 'sneering evil villain', but her forceful way of dismissing other people's concerns and leveraging Ayano's infidelity to get her way is positively Machiavellian. The final chapter of the volume gives valuable insight into Ayano's past and shows that her falling for a woman wasn't something purely out of the blue. Highly recommended!
A brilliantly written and drawn story about a group of adults who seem to fail at adulting. This volume focuses more on the husband's family,which has it's own brand of dysfunction without the added drama of a daughter-in-law who has fallen in love with another woman. The overbearing mother-in-law is brilliantly crafted. She is just sympathetic enough to prevent the reader from feeling she's a 'sneering evil villain', but her forceful way of dismissing other people's concerns and leveraging Ayano's infidelity to get her way is positively Machiavellian. The final chapter of the volume gives valuable insight into Ayano's past and shows that her falling for a woman wasn't something purely out of the blue. Highly recommended!
August 7, 2021
I can’t stand the plot and I hate the art style
March 12, 2022
It's a real rolleecoaster of emotions.
April 26, 2022
Je suis pas fan de cette série. J'ai un peu envie de secouer tout le monde. Surtout le maris de l'héroïne, typique "nice guy", qui se révèle être un vrai con ...
May 12, 2024
2.75/5
Also perfectly fine.
Also perfectly fine.
September 14, 2024
Toujours aussi chill et doux
June 6, 2022
L'histoire est touchante et les sentiments des protagonistes sont bien développés, j'aime beaucoup !
April 18, 2023
4,5/5 🌟
March 30, 2022
I can see potential here but I probably won't continue this series. The characters are all so flat at this point and the drama keeps getting side-lined by the husband's family so it's hard to care if our two main ladies can work it out!
Not to mention: not so subtle biphobia throughout and none of the relationships seem healthy
Not to mention: not so subtle biphobia throughout and none of the relationships seem healthy
June 12, 2022
For some reason this volume felt rushed, and some of the characters decisions were too rash. They’re contracting themselves. I know that love and new experiences can make us do those very things though, so I’m not giving up on the series just yet, already have volume 3 anyways 😅
May 20, 2023
the problem is simply that I don’t really still see the chemistry between the main two characters tbh because we just fucking speed ran their relationship set up in vol 1 and now all of the series will suffer for it. but anyway, liked this volume better still
July 19, 2021
I'm dropping this. I don't like any of the characters, the story's not interesting to me, and I'm really frustrated with how the cheating aspect is being handled. This is just not for me.
August 16, 2021
This is such a good story, yet so sad, on several fronts.
We have Ayano, who's supposedly happily married to Wataru. One night Ayano goes into a cheap bar and gets chatted up by a gal that works there. One thing leads to another, and now, Ayano has cheated on her husband. Well, sort of. However, the Bible says "If you look at a woman with lust in your heart, you've already committed adultery." So, regardless of what base Ayano and Akira made it to, the fact still stands that she strayed from her husband. Now that he's been told about things, and even gone with Ayano to meet Akira, Wataru is actually taking this whole matter very well. He's not mad. He's not wanting to dump Ayano asap. He makes it clear that he still loves Ayano, and wants to stay together and try to work things out. Along those lines, Wataru's mother finds out what Ayano did, and she insists that her son and Ayano come live with them. A fresh start, if you will. Ayano goes to tell Akira that she's moving, and staying with her husband. However, it's obvious that's not what she truly wants. Well, Akira thinks she's seen the last of Ayano. She gets a special invite to return to work at the famous salon she used to work at. Akira also decides to move, determined to get a fresh start. Then, one morning, she walks out her front door and looks up, shocked to see none other than Ayano coming out of the house across the street... just when they both thought they had made a clean break and were moving on, the flying fickle finger of fate throws the two gals right back together. There's some very real issues in this book. Depression, anxiety, bullying, heartbreak, shutting one's self off from the world, denying one's own heart, lying, frustration, angst, and suspicion. This is such a good story, but be ready for an emotional roller-coaster ride! By the by, this series is by the same Mangaka who did Sweet Blue Flowers. If you haven't already, I strongly suggest you check it out.
We have Ayano, who's supposedly happily married to Wataru. One night Ayano goes into a cheap bar and gets chatted up by a gal that works there. One thing leads to another, and now, Ayano has cheated on her husband. Well, sort of. However, the Bible says "If you look at a woman with lust in your heart, you've already committed adultery." So, regardless of what base Ayano and Akira made it to, the fact still stands that she strayed from her husband. Now that he's been told about things, and even gone with Ayano to meet Akira, Wataru is actually taking this whole matter very well. He's not mad. He's not wanting to dump Ayano asap. He makes it clear that he still loves Ayano, and wants to stay together and try to work things out. Along those lines, Wataru's mother finds out what Ayano did, and she insists that her son and Ayano come live with them. A fresh start, if you will. Ayano goes to tell Akira that she's moving, and staying with her husband. However, it's obvious that's not what she truly wants. Well, Akira thinks she's seen the last of Ayano. She gets a special invite to return to work at the famous salon she used to work at. Akira also decides to move, determined to get a fresh start. Then, one morning, she walks out her front door and looks up, shocked to see none other than Ayano coming out of the house across the street... just when they both thought they had made a clean break and were moving on, the flying fickle finger of fate throws the two gals right back together. There's some very real issues in this book. Depression, anxiety, bullying, heartbreak, shutting one's self off from the world, denying one's own heart, lying, frustration, angst, and suspicion. This is such a good story, but be ready for an emotional roller-coaster ride! By the by, this series is by the same Mangaka who did Sweet Blue Flowers. If you haven't already, I strongly suggest you check it out.
March 4, 2025
*this review is for the series - not just vol 1.*
So a lot of people seemed to have some really negative things to say about the first volume... so let's address it.
Yes - There is cheating. It comes up a lot through out the entire series.
Yes - There is what could be considered biphobia.
There is also gossip, minor bullying, dysfunctional family dynamics and talks of abusive relationships ( nothing shown ).
There were also people complaining about the troupe of a woman who marries and then finds out later she is into women.
If the above listed things are hard 'no's for you then I recommend simply not picking this read up. But if those things are grey areas for you and you are open to experiencing a story that is culturally different and addresses many things from parental relationships and expectations, personal acceptance and ownership, a variant of agoraphobia and dips it's toes into a number of other things... then maybe give it a try.
That said - this was an interesting read. The way the initial cheating situation is handled is different than most stories I've come across. I'm not sure if it's due to culture differences and expectations or if everyone was just real chill cause there's only ever like... one big freak out in the series and it's not from one of the people you would expect it from. There are some very sweet moments sprinkled in and around this series.
I give it a 8/10 simply because there is a bit of lull in the story at times as the pace of it has been rather slow for me. But I think that overall this story achieves what it set out to do which is that life is messy and no one ever really knows what their future holds. So be true to you and make your choices to live a happy life even if it's not the easy path.
So a lot of people seemed to have some really negative things to say about the first volume... so let's address it.
Yes - There is cheating. It comes up a lot through out the entire series.
Yes - There is what could be considered biphobia.
There is also gossip, minor bullying, dysfunctional family dynamics and talks of abusive relationships ( nothing shown ).
There were also people complaining about the troupe of a woman who marries and then finds out later she is into women.
If the above listed things are hard 'no's for you then I recommend simply not picking this read up. But if those things are grey areas for you and you are open to experiencing a story that is culturally different and addresses many things from parental relationships and expectations, personal acceptance and ownership, a variant of agoraphobia and dips it's toes into a number of other things... then maybe give it a try.
That said - this was an interesting read. The way the initial cheating situation is handled is different than most stories I've come across. I'm not sure if it's due to culture differences and expectations or if everyone was just real chill cause there's only ever like... one big freak out in the series and it's not from one of the people you would expect it from. There are some very sweet moments sprinkled in and around this series.
I give it a 8/10 simply because there is a bit of lull in the story at times as the pace of it has been rather slow for me. But I think that overall this story achieves what it set out to do which is that life is messy and no one ever really knows what their future holds. So be true to you and make your choices to live a happy life even if it's not the easy path.
June 22, 2022
Akari and Ayano continue to struggle with their feelings and their relationship. The weight of traditional Japanese family life crushes Ayano and forces her and her husband back home where old habits and patterns quickly resurface. Akari tries to make a new start with her new, old job but the spectre of Ayano continues to haunt her.
This is such a coming and complex manga - one of the few to really tackle adult relationships which come with adult baggage. True love’s course never runs smooth and here it’s as uneven and rough as can be. But are these two women destined to be together? Even they don’t know but one thing is for sure, something has definitely changed between them and neither of their lives will be the same.
Introducing the rest of Ayano’s extended family, we also get a meaningful treatment of mental illness, specifically depression, and the challenges of traditional family life, how much of a struggle that can be for women and especially for those deemed non-traditional or non-conforming.
Takako Shimura writes all of this with nuance and poise, giving a measured and careful look at the real challenges of being honest to yourself, of adult relationships, of adult same-sex relationships, and married life. Throughout this, you’re hoping that Akari and Ayano will end up together but this isn’t a fairytale or a schoolgirls series. This is painfully real life and even though they’re adults, there’s still much they can’t control.
This is such a coming and complex manga - one of the few to really tackle adult relationships which come with adult baggage. True love’s course never runs smooth and here it’s as uneven and rough as can be. But are these two women destined to be together? Even they don’t know but one thing is for sure, something has definitely changed between them and neither of their lives will be the same.
Introducing the rest of Ayano’s extended family, we also get a meaningful treatment of mental illness, specifically depression, and the challenges of traditional family life, how much of a struggle that can be for women and especially for those deemed non-traditional or non-conforming.
Takako Shimura writes all of this with nuance and poise, giving a measured and careful look at the real challenges of being honest to yourself, of adult relationships, of adult same-sex relationships, and married life. Throughout this, you’re hoping that Akari and Ayano will end up together but this isn’t a fairytale or a schoolgirls series. This is painfully real life and even though they’re adults, there’s still much they can’t control.
January 25, 2023
Uuuh, que malament que comença aquest volum! Amb la sogra ficant cullerada a la relació i gairebé forçant-la a anar-se'n a viure amb ells. Fatal, i a sobre ella una bleda submisa que tot ho accepta! També coneixem una mica més el passat amorós i de perruquera de l'Akari. Francament, retiro tot el que vaig dir sobre el marit, ara em sembla un imbècil quan diu que no accepta el divorci. Mira, xato, això fa aigües per tot arreu. Molt curiosa la relació de l'Eri, germana peculiar del marit, i l'Ayano. Sembla que s'entenen, que es fan costat i qui sap si comparteixen alguna cosa més.
January 29, 2023
i love the art and the main characters but i especially love how the book handles a couple side character’s depression and their history of it. you can see how it reflects many of our own households with the younger generation being more understanding of the complexities of it and the older generation wanting to help and loving the person but being so lost at what is best to do. honestly, i might be just as excited to see how that turns out than the main arc
June 21, 2022
This volume goes deeper into the unspoken rules of married women and wlw in Japan. It is very frustrating as a reader to see them struggle so miserably but it is realistic and I truly appreciate this. I will say that I hope the two main characters can grow from the experience rather than be further traumatized, but also I don't see how they can end up in a healthy relationship together.
July 11, 2022
Apparently the scanlation was quite slow, since this volume already goes beyond where I had read before.
I like how Ayano interacts with her husband's younger sister, Eri, and also the bit about Ayano's past that we see. I'm not really sure where this is going, but it continues to be interesting.
I like how Ayano interacts with her husband's younger sister, Eri, and also the bit about Ayano's past that we see. I'm not really sure where this is going, but it continues to be interesting.
June 9, 2024
Loving the series and hating the husband more and more..
I do have one question though about the title : why is the English title "even though we're adults" when in french it's more like "If we were adults" which doesn't even make sense like the characters ARE adults, it got me so confused because I first thought the book was about teenage girls or something idk it's just a weird choice
I do have one question though about the title : why is the English title "even though we're adults" when in french it's more like "If we were adults" which doesn't even make sense like the characters ARE adults, it got me so confused because I first thought the book was about teenage girls or something idk it's just a weird choice
July 2, 2021
A surprise turn, as the two ladies try to deal with the fallout from their encounter by diverting themselves to other things. But even changing jobs and moving doesn't get them away from themselves or their feelings. Be interesting to see where the reunion at the end takes them.
October 3, 2021
Still a solid story, though this volume focuses more on Ayano's husband's family and less on her possible relationship with Akari. I'm excited to read the next volume based on the preview at the end of this one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews