WataMote Chapter 208

Chapter 208
Information
Volume Number	23
Chapter Title	Because I'm Not Popular, Yuri?
Published	September 7, 2022
Previous Chapter	Chapter 207
Next Chapter	Chapter 209-1

私がモテないのはどう考えてもお前らが悪い!

Watashi ga Motenai no wa dō Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui!

No Matter How I Look at It, It’s You Guys' Fault I’m Not Popular!

Synopsis

Tomoko remarks that recently, because they are successful, there have been a lot of "BL" dramas. I'm doing 2 to 3 on terrestrial, don't you think." The next panel reveals that she is in the school hallway chatting with Yuri and Mako. She continues that, in her mind, BL is something one engages in manga and games secretly; however, she wonders if the general public will see it as normal. She then asks them if they view it. Yuri replies that she has seen BL and "homosexual" movies and such. She mentions a movie censored in the Japanese Original™ that she does not think Tomoko knows. Angry Chibi Tomoko inwardly retorts that that pisses her off.

Mako cheerfully admits that she is watching one now, and she just plays it when she studies. Chibi Tomoko is inwardly shocked: "Even Crazy Yuri?!" Over the imagination of first a herself shocked as she reads a manga with two boys on the cover, then her calmly watching her television, Tomoko adds, "If it's a BL-type manga, I get a little excited, but that's not the case with live-action drama." Tomoko imagines sheepishly asking "Mako-san" if when watching "that," she masturbates, and, in her imagination, Mako cheerfully replies that she does. With a bit of a blush, Tomoko inwardly admits that she does expect her to answer that. She instead asks Mako how she feels watching BL dramas. "How do I feel?" Mako pleasantly replies.

"(From a yuri's point of view)" Tomoko clarifies, "To watch is it interesting, boring, or is like exciting?" Mako pleasantly replies that she would watch it like a normal romantic drama: "I don't get excited about it." With strawberries in the background, Slightly-Blushing Chibi Tomoko responds, "Fūn Not so much. Well, the ones on terrestrial TV don't have much sex." Happy Chibi Mako giggles.

Shown: That Yuri
Not That Yuri

Tomoko continues that, "Maybe there will come a time when yuri becomes popular in general." "Yuri?" Yuri questions, but Tomoko quickly corrects that she is not talking about "Yuri-chan," but "YURI. Homosexuality. Love between women, the female version of BL." She continues that it is not as major as BL, but it is a historical genre. Tomoko then explains that because she cannot talk to a guy, she could not put a male-female romantic element in her movie. "When you think about it," she continues, if it is yuri, she can put romance into it.

Chibi Tomoko then continues over an imagination of Mako, Yuri, and Tomoko auditioning Emiri. "Because WataMote Wiki cares," the Japanese Original™ and the Fanilated . . . Original™ will go in the Gallery. "Now to search for Yuri's partner?" Chibi Tomoko openly muses. Chibi Yuri asks who will come to be submissive. In Tomoko's imagination, she sits with a sign identifying herself as the "director (監督・kantoku)." Next to her, Yuri sits with a sign that reads "Tamura Yuri (田村ゆり)." Mako, however, sits pleasantly with a sign that reads, "Yuri Role Acting Coach." Behind them is a large sign that reads, "Tamura Yuri Partner Audition." A sign in front of them reads, "Sexual acts from the actor in the main role. Please be prepared for assault."

As Tomoko imagines Shizuku, Fūka, Miho, Asuka, and Hina all striking poses in a group, Yuri asks her that if she wants to do that, why does she not just do it with the ones she has. Tomoko admits there there is a lot to choose from. She then asks Yuri whom she wishes for and would she make out with her. Yuri replies that it does not matter, since it is an act, and she will do it with anyone. "Just hearing those words makes you seem like a slut," Tomoko replies. She then imagines a smiling, blushing, anonymous girl with long blond twin tails sitting next to Yuri. Tomoko continues that since Yuri is an unfortunate negative person, her partner would be a combination of her and a cheery person. As Mako listens, Chibi Yuri asks if that is not like Mako. Sheepish Chibi Tomoko agrees: "honor-student type."

Shown: "The Strong Eyes of Yuri!"

Tomoko next imagines Yuri coughing as she smokes next to Masaki. Chibi Tomoko suggests that she can go with the honor student and the delinquent. Chibi Yuri asks if she is going to play that role in the film. Normal, Tomoko turns to her and asks how far she will go with "Yoshida-san": "Can you kiss her?"

Also Shown: "The Strong Eyes of Yuri!"

Yuri and Mako both stare at her, with Mako expressing a bit of a smile. Horrified, Tomoko inwardly screams, "The strong eyes of yuri!" She sweats and stammers. Inwardly she suspects that they are mad at her since she has been casually discussing lesbians (yuri) so the "serious lesbians (ガチ百合・gachi yuri)" are mad at her. She stammers that kissing is probably overdoing it. Yuri frankly remarks that she is not sure if Yoshida would submit, but she, herself, would if the script called for it. Chibi Tomoko replies that while hers is a clumsy performance, her spirit for the movie is amazing. Over a background of, well, lilies, Happy Chibi Mako insists that "Yoshida-san" can also do it. A Blushing and Sheepish Chibi Tomoko stammers that they can put her in the second half. Mako then adds that she will also do it, which elicits an "E?!" of Shock™ from Tomoko.

Mako explains that she does not think "Yoshida-san" is good at that sort of thing, so she would like to do it with Yuri. Yuri turns to her and emits a softer "E. . . ?" For her part, Tomoko wonders, "maybe because she wants to be yuri with Yuri." However, Yuri flatly refuses: "No, I said with anyone else, but I can't do that kind of thing with Mako, even if it's acting." Twin-Shocked Chibi Mako and Tomoko inwardly shreik, "Yuri-chan?! Yuri. . . ?!"

Somewhat embarrassed and sweating, Mako bows slightly towards Yuri as she inwardly protests that while she also does not really care to do it, but Yuri should not say that. She asks Yuri, "E? Why? I thought you and I were friends." Yuri gently replies that doing that kind of thing with her would be like doing it with her mother and would feel weird. Mako inwardly rages that it is Yuri's fault that she seems like a mother.

Tomoko blushes and sweats. Inwardly, she wonders if they are upset because she created yuri material. She suggests that "yuri" is not suited for "Yuri-chan" and suggests that Yoshida may be better. She then imagines a Student Council chart where the assistant Masaki has been raped in the past by the members: President Miho, Vice President Fūka, Secretary Emiri, and Treasurer Kaho. To the side, a smiling Yuri is part of the Literature Club that opposes the Student Council, and the Student Council wishes to abolish it. Chibi Tomoko asks that since Yoshida is a student council officer, can they assume she is being sexually assaulted by the entire Student Council? Chibi Yuri asks if that is what yuri is.

Shown: "Mako Shark"

Back to reality, Mako smiles but stares intently at Yuri and Tomoko. "Another Sticky Glint of the Yuri!!" Tomoko inwardly marvels. Keeping her stare, Mako firmly commands, "Do not sexually assault Yoshida-san." A Cowed Chibi Tomoko whispers agreement since "Yoshida-san's more of a doer, right." "No, that's not it," Mako corrects. As a chibi, but still with her stare, she insists there will be no sexual assault, even in that setting: "A gentle setting that suits Yoshida-san would be good, I think." Chibi Tomoko gripes, "Yuri's difficult, . . ." then thinks, "you, yourself, attempted to rape me in the bathroom. . . ."

Yuri asks Tomoko if her younger brother, Tomoki, could pull off romance with a man or woman. Tomoko admits that since he is a member of her family she did not think about it, but she thinks with Yoshida it will be fine. She adds that she can destroy "Komisomething's brain" while she is at it. Mako continues to stare with a slight smile. Chibi Tomoko suggests that her brother will date her secretly and get her pregnant. Mako replies that if that is the case, they should go with the previous setting. This elicits a Surprised E?!! from Surprised Chibi Tomoko.

With a view of the outside of the school, Tomoko calls out to Masaki, and Masaki acknowledges her. The next panel reveals the two in class. Masaki sits at her desk looking at her phone whilst Tomoko stands in front of her desk. She acknowledges that Masaki is off tomorrow, but she needs her for her movie. "A- the one you were talking about?" Masaki replies without looking up from her phone. Tomoko explains that she is shooting a scene where Masaki basically plays baseball, but she needs her to act as if she is playing baseball after getting sexually assaulted by her teammates.

"What kind of movie are you shooting?"

Characters

In order of appearance

• Tomoko Kuroki
• Yuri Tamura
• Mako Tanaka
• Emiri Uchi
• Shizuku Hirasawa
• Fūka Sasaki
• Miho Narita
• Asuka Katō
• Hina Nemoto
• Masaki Yoshida
• Kaho Kusunoki
• Tomoki Kuroki (mentioned)
• Kotomi Komiyama (mentioned)

Referbacks

• Crazy Lesbo: In Chapter 99, feeling guilty about not having lunch with Tomoko and believing, incorrectly, that Tomoko is upset, she follows her into the bathroom. Koharu and Sachi are there and are badmouthing Tomoko. Mako aggressively claps her hands to Tomoko's ears so she cannot hear them. Tomoko's imagination runs wild as usual, and she wonders if Mako is a lesbian coming on to her. To be precise, she consciously engages in a bit of hyperbole.
• Audition: Emiri underwent an audition for a role in Tomoko's movie. The irony is obvious; however, Tomoko probably just remembers that audition.

Cultural References

• "Consider the Lilies of the Field": the yuri in the title is "that yuri" (百合).
• Happy Together (Chinese: 春光乍洩): as the linkypoo explains, the English title comes from a song covered by one of the characters.

Trivia

• Popularity of BL and Other Gay Manga and Anime: this article from two years previous discusses this popularity. This article specifically concentrates on the BL genre and why it is so popular amongst women and girls.
• Audition: the Japanese Original release of Volume 23 has an altered sign as shown in the Gallery. The altered sign reads, "Note/Caution: Violent behavior from the actress in the main role. There is a sexual performance coach from the director."

Memorable Moments

• "A Girl Does Not have a Name": The kanji for Yuri's name is thus far not revealed. However, it is clearly not the same as "that yuri" which means "lily" and . . . so much more. . . . Interestingly, when Yuri says her own name, she also says it in the hiragana.
• "Flower Power": one can only make so many "lilies of the field" references. Nevertheless, it is interesting that Tomoko possibly openly suggests to Mako that she thinks Mako is a lesbian. Mako could interpret Tomoko asking her to consider it from a lesbian perspective rather than directly asking her, "as a lesbian," to give her opinion. Previously, Tomoko has inwardly conceded that her characterization of Mako was just a joke. WataMote Wiki will spare the Noble Readership the reams of Fan Speculation™ of "Mako X Yoshida," "Mako X Kibako," "Mako X Ogino," et cetera, but note that Tomoko usually does not express her prejudices that openly, unless she is provoked or it involves Masaki and her choice of pantsu! For her part, Mako does not seem disturbed by the suggestion. Finally, it is clear irony that Tomoko imagines Emiri auditioning as a role of a lesbian. Light still doth not dawneth upon Marblehead.
• Detente: not really a true "Referback," but Tomoko's imagination of Fūka has softened since their argument over the proper manner in which to gain access to the contents of a beer can . . . beer can . . . it was a clay penis beer can!

Quotes

• "In my mind, BL is something you do secretly in comics and games." – Tomoko Kuroki
• "If it's a BL-type manga, I get a little excited, but that's not the case with live-action drama." – Tomoko
• "Mako-san, do you masturbate when you see something like that?" – Tomoko
  • "Yeah, I'll masturbate." – Mako Tanaka
• "Maybe there will come a time when yuri becomes popular in general." – Tomoko
  • "Yuri?" – Yuri Tamura
  • "Not Yuri-chan, YURI. Homosexuality. Love between women, the female version of BL." – Tomoko
• "Because I can't talk to a guy, I couldn't put a male-female romantic element in the movie." – Tomoko
• "Now to search for Yuri's partner?" – Tomoko
• "Do you have a preference? Like, do you want to make out with this person?" – Tomoko
  • "I don't care. It's an act so I'll do it with anyone." – Yuri
• "Since you're an unfortunate gloomy character, maybe you'd go best with a cheerful girl" – Tomoko to Yuri
• "Yuri-chan, how far can you go with Yoshida-san? Can you kiss her?" – Tomoko
• "I don't know what Yoshida-san would think, but if that's what the script calls for, I'll do it" – Yuri
  • "For someone who sucks at acting, your dedication to this film is amazing..." – Tomoko
• "Maybe because she wants to be yuri with Yuri." – Tomoko about Mako
• "No, I said with anyone else, but I can't do that kind of thing with Mako, even if it's acting." – Yuri
  • "E? Why not? We're friends, aren't we?" – Mako
  • "Doing it with you, Mako, would be like doing it with my mom. It just feels weird." – Yuri
• "Do not sexually assault Yoshida-san." – Mako to Tomoko and Yuri
• "You, yourself, attempted to rape me in the bathroom. . . ." – Tomoko thinking about Mako
• "Your younger brother . . . Tomoki-kun could not fall in love with a man and woman?" – Yuri
  • "Ah . . . I didn't think of that idea because I'm so close to my family, but with Yoshida-san, it's okay." – Tomoko
• "We're shooting a scene where you're basically playing baseball, but I need you to act like you're playing baseball after getting sexually assaulted by your classmates." – Tomoko
  • "What kind of movie are you shooting?" – Masaki

Gallery

Original Art from Nico Tanigawa Twitter

Shown: "Mako-san, do you masturbate when you see something like that?"
Also Shown: "Yeah, I'll masturbate."
[Citation Needed – Ed.]

The Japanese Original™ and Fanilation

Altered Version in released volume