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Jan 19, 2011 10:07 PM
#1

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Oct 2008
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So I know there has already been a lot of discussion over this topic, but I think the subject of Shuu and Hagu's relationship needs its own thread. (If nothing else, this serves as my own personal rant page.)

I'm fairly certain when Hanamoto-sensei, or Shuu-chan, said that he loved Hagu, he meant he loved her romantically. For one thing, he was blushing. For another, in the conversation he had with Yamada afterwards, he's embarrassed, she's shocked, and he's exasperated at her comments about him, like, "I guess he is a man despite his age." All of that suggests he loves her romantically. For me, this was TOTALLY unexpected.
He also says, when pressed by Yamada, that the way he came to love her is embarrassing. How do you think he came to have romantic feelings for Hagu? For some reason I get the feeling it had to do with that flashback where Hagu is a young girl and Sensei is a teenager, and they fall asleep together under a blanket...

Another part of my personal confusion: What did Hagu mean when she asked Sensei, "Please give me your life"? Was she simply asking him to travel with her, and teach her about art, and support her in her recovery and work thereafter? Or was she also asking him in some way, to love her forever? To love her how? Romantically? This was another thing I felt was equivalent to a bomb dropping. I definitely was not prepared.

I don't like nor feel comfortable with the switch from father-daughter type relationship to love interest in the last 2 episodes. I mean, I loved Honey and Clover, I liked the more heavy-hearted sequel despite a few drawbacks, I loved the character of Hanamoto-sensei, and was even fond of Hagu-chan. But this development left me troubled. I mean, Sensei even said in the very beginning of H&C,"I'm like a father to her." The whole, "She chose Sensei" (over her main love interests throughout both seasons) business really bothered me.

One thing in particular is that in Honey and Clover, after her upsetting date with Morita, Hagu told Shuu-chan that she wished she could only be with him forever. Shuu-chan later makes a narrative (I think) remark about how even though she thinks that now, she will come to love other men (namely Morita at this point..) in her life other than Shuu-chan himself.

I just feel that Sensei was such a father figure to her, and that Hagu loves him so much in that way. (Not to mention, he is something like 10 or more years older than her. And on a side note, just because I am unclear- Were they cousins or uncle and niece? I think it was cousins...)

In the end, I just feel sad for the both of Hagu and Sensei. Sensei is going to be supporting her in many ways for the rest of her life, probably, and has what I believe are one-sided romantic feelings. Hagu is in love with Morita, but she chose art.

I guess at the end of the day what will help me sleep is that one theme in H&C was the many different types of love there are (for example, love among friends, love that is one's "bittersweet treasure", love that knows no distance)-- That Shuu-chan may love her as a woman, but as for the romantic part it's a dormant sort of love. That he loves her simply as a precious person to him and someone he wants to heal and protect, and, like the professor said, is healing himself in the process. Also, I get the feeling that Morita will return in the future (after all, he said "it's not over) and he and Hagu-chan will be together. Though that's another thing that's sad for Sensei, it helps ease my mind a bit. As my last thought, I have to say that Hagu's narrative-- "Shuu-chan is my rain." "He is very precious to me."-- was poignant and beautiful and overrides the majority of negative thoughts I have about their relationship.

Now what are your thoughts?!
Apr 12, 2011 10:59 PM
#2

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Apr 2010
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I pretty much got the same vibes as you.
Apr 13, 2011 12:27 AM
#3

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Jun 2009
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I'd have to see it again to weigh in, but I'm pretty sure from what I remember that Hagu went back with him to recover or something. Sounds like a great reason to re-watch Honey and Clover though...sounds tempting...
"Yes, I have been deprived of emotion. But not completely. Whoever did it, botched the job."

- Geralt of Rivia
Aug 25, 2013 4:33 PM
#4

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Aug 2010
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Pretty sure it was confirmed in the anime that in fact yes, shuu-chan loves hagu. It was one of the later episodes in season 2.
Aug 31, 2013 9:43 AM
#5

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Apr 2008
2146
The thing between those 2 is sibling love.
Shuu-chan is like a brother to Hagu-chan.
It would be pretty much like incest if those to became lovers.

Edit: Ok, I take it back.
Seems like Shuu-chan loves her.
But I still think it's pretty much incest :P

Though, no matter who Haug-chan choosed, I still think it's very odd. She looks like a 10 year old :P
FluffyDangoAug 31, 2013 10:06 AM

Jan 1, 2014 12:45 AM
#6

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Jul 2012
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Clous said:
I pretty much got the same vibes as you.

^

Des said:
Though, no matter who Haug-chan choosed, I still think it's very odd. She looks like a 10 year old :P

She would be okay with the other two guys because they're pretty childish.
Mar 17, 2014 7:45 PM
#7

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Jul 2011
148
I pretty much felt the same as the original poster....enjoyed the series very much, but even I was like wtf at the end. Ah well =(
Personally, I was rooting on Yuuta x Hagu
Apr 10, 2014 2:07 PM
#8
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Aug 2013
46
In the end it was obvious that he did. But honestly, until they made it very explicit I only thought of it as a sort of father daughter thing. Bit overprotective though.
I was actually really rooting for takemoto. Still feels a bit wrong, the whole shuu thing. I have to say though that it is impressive how much emotional stories they have put in. Unrequited love, love, love triangle if you can call it that, serious injury, being lost and sooo much more (money, revenge, brothers, friendship, work...).
Dec 29, 2015 11:58 PM
#9

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Nov 2011
2817
Isn't Shuu also LITERALLY HER UNCLE? They share the same last name and I think in S1 they mention once that he is, in fact, her uncle.

And that scene where she fell asleep with him when she was young- He was NOT a teenager, he already looked like he could be 30 there.

I'm the same as the OP, except even more upset. This is the Usagi Drop manga all over again, except even more out of left field because there were other main characters that would have made much more sense for her to end up with.
Nov 14, 2017 7:44 AM

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Nov 2017
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I have the same feelings and from the comments in the Internet I see that the vast majority of viewers were confused about the Shuu and Hagu relationship, too... How could someone even come up with something like that? I mean it's one thing that she chooses to stay with him to have the best care and be able to continue with drawing which is the most important thing to her. It's bitter, but can be understood.
But the fact the Shuu has a romantic feelings towards Hagu although it was mentioned that they are relatives and for the whole series their relationship was shown as father-daughter or at least big brother-little sister?? That's not acceptable for me. It's incest and I really cannot believe it happened in that story. I like the show, I accept the sad and bitter moments in it although I'd like to avoid many of them, but this one point is just a no no no. Just to imagine them both kissing or even doing, em, more stuff? Oh, please.
One good side here is that Hagu doesn't seem to have romantic feelings to Shuu (that would just ruin the show completely...) and still holds them for Morita. I don't quite understand why she had to choose between Shuu and Morita, while the first one is like father and the latter a romantic love. Can't she just live with Shuu, but date Morita? But I guess she just chose to give Morita freedom so that he can follow his path. As they promise to watch over each other, I believe they can stay in touch, will see each other again and maybe still have hopes for something more. At the moment Morita wouldn't give her safety she needs to recover and find her place in the art world, but maybe in some years they could try to be together... Hagu is still very young, will be changing, her needs will evolve. I know in reality the story ends where it ends on the screen/pages, but it's always nice to think about it like about the parallel world that is continuing somwhere behind the curtains : )
Aug 31, 2019 12:01 AM

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Just finished this and I'm so shocked. They are cousins. I thought of him as Hagu's father. Was totally unexpected. He was blushing and said he was madly in love with Hagu. I thought it would either be Morita or Yuuta. I was rooting for Morita cuz he's so weird. But Yuuta was so sweet. I thought he was just protecting Hagu from Morita cuz "fathers" don't like boys going after their little girls. So i'm absolutely stunned. Incest was not what i was expecting from this cute anime.
Oct 23, 2019 3:20 PM
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Jun 2013
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besides the story writing and character development this show was VERY difficult for me to watch all the unrequited love and love triangles are big turn offs for me and at the end the whole shuu and hagu thing became the icing on the cake, i’m glad i’m done with this. I literally lost respect for an anime character... but it is what it is, and i didn’t make it so i’ll just have to accept the authors creativity. This show just reminded me that some shows aren’t for everyone
May 15, 2020 8:01 AM
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May 2016
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I know I am so late to the party, but I just finished, and I AM SO SHOCKED! WHAT?! I thought it was so clearly a father-daughter type of relationship. I think, in the end, he had romantic feelings for her, but Hagu didn't feel the same. I keep thinking about when they went to Mongolia, and Shūji kept saying the little girl reminded him of Hagu, even though she is of age that creeps me out. I think this unexpected relationship makes you rethink the whole anime as well. It completely changes the dynamic, the first season, and the first part of the second season. Also, I thought that Shuu was in love with Rika or maybe even Harada by some of the things he said to Takumi, and through the flashbacks. This development was way out of the left-field for me. Not only were they related, but also it got a weird pedophile to feel to it. I was rooting for Morita but even would not have minded Yuuta. BUT HER UNCLE! So out of nowhere.
Nov 1, 2020 1:55 AM
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Nov 2020
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I dunno if I should still say this when this post is almost 10 years old but I just want to clarify something. I think Shuu-chan doesn't love hagu that way. When Hagu chose Shuu-chan it's because she knew that Shuu-chan could support her financially and without sacrificing anything. If she chose Morita who promised he would take care of her financially, it would be like taking away his desire to create art cause he has to focus on her. If she also chose takemoto (tho we all knew she wouldn't), it would be the most unfair to him coz she doesn't love him romantically but she's gonna strain him financially and even asking him to carry to burden of taking of her. But with Shuu-chan who has pretty much taken care of her (like he did with Rika pre/post Harada's death), she would rather choose the one she knows would be willing to do everything for her. ALTHOUGH, Shuu-chan does love Hagu but it's more like a sibling love. Mayama did say to Yamada that there is more to love than romantic feelings, tbh that was the only no awkward scene for both of them.
Nov 9, 2020 9:33 PM
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EguTockismyGOD said:
I dunno if I should still say this when this post is almost 10 years old but I just want to clarify something. I think Shuu-chan doesn't love hagu that way. When Hagu chose Shuu-chan it's because she knew that Shuu-chan could support her financially and without sacrificing anything. If she chose Morita who promised he would take care of her financially, it would be like taking away his desire to create art cause he has to focus on her. If she also chose takemoto (tho we all knew she wouldn't), it would be the most unfair to him coz she doesn't love him romantically but she's gonna strain him financially and even asking him to carry to burden of taking of her. But with Shuu-chan who has pretty much taken care of her (like he did with Rika pre/post Harada's death), she would rather choose the one she knows would be willing to do everything for her. ALTHOUGH, Shuu-chan does love Hagu but it's more like a sibling love. Mayama did say to Yamada that there is more to love than romantic feelings, tbh that was the only no awkward scene for both of them.


I personally chose to believe this as well, I think the author was going for other kinds of love, especially considering how Shuu had also loved Rika and Harada very deeply as friends, no romantic feelings there either.
Nov 10, 2020 4:52 AM

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Yakarin said:
EguTockismyGOD said:
I dunno if I should still say this when this post is almost 10 years old but I just want to clarify something. I think Shuu-chan doesn't love hagu that way. When Hagu chose Shuu-chan it's because she knew that Shuu-chan could support her financially and without sacrificing anything. If she chose Morita who promised he would take care of her financially, it would be like taking away his desire to create art cause he has to focus on her. If she also chose takemoto (tho we all knew she wouldn't), it would be the most unfair to him coz she doesn't love him romantically but she's gonna strain him financially and even asking him to carry to burden of taking of her. But with Shuu-chan who has pretty much taken care of her (like he did with Rika pre/post Harada's death), she would rather choose the one she knows would be willing to do everything for her. ALTHOUGH, Shuu-chan does love Hagu but it's more like a sibling love. Mayama did say to Yamada that there is more to love than romantic feelings, tbh that was the only no awkward scene for both of them.


I personally chose to believe this as well, I think the author was going for other kinds of love, especially considering how Shuu had also loved Rika and Harada very deeply as friends, no romantic feelings there either.


I would also like the love between them to stay as it was, a love that suits the father-daughter relationship they had so far. The change of his feelings for this relationship was a bit too abrupt and is personally disturbing me for quite a few reasons.
But, I finished the manga yesterday and it's stated very clearly that Shuu-chan is in love with Hagu. At this point she doesn't know it yet, and she probably still sees him and loves him as a father figure.
After reading the crossover chapters with 3-gatsu no Lion, it's mentioned that Hagu is Shuu-chan's girlfriend. (Just as Rika is Mayama's, and Ayu has become Nomiya's wife).
MelodyNov 10, 2020 4:59 AM
Nov 15, 2020 4:34 PM
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Nov 2020
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Melody said:
Yakarin said:


I personally chose to believe this as well, I think the author was going for other kinds of love, especially considering how Shuu had also loved Rika and Harada very deeply as friends, no romantic feelings there either.


I would also like the love between them to stay as it was, a love that suits the father-daughter relationship they had so far. The change of his feelings for this relationship was a bit too abrupt and is personally disturbing me for quite a few reasons.
But, I finished the manga yesterday and it's stated very clearly that Shuu-chan is in love with Hagu. At this point she doesn't know it yet, and she probably still sees him and loves him as a father figure.
After reading the crossover chapters with 3-gatsu no Lion, it's mentioned that Hagu is Shuu-chan's girlfriend. (Just as Rika is Mayama's, and Ayu has become Nomiya's wife).


Yup In manga "March comes in like lion ch-152-153" there is appearences of characters but its not stated as Shu X Hagu clearly. Though from ending of HnC what i conncured that Hagu was quite naive and childish before and came to like Morita because of his passion for art as herself and was not aware clearly what love was still till the end , same goes for Takemoto but she was sure of her love for art and Hanamoto Sensei in a sibling sense.The accident gave her a prespective change and she grew as a person and favoured Hanamoto and her art over her un-clear likeness for Morita. She also realized selfless Takemoto's love for her, thats why she wished for his happiness.

I think Morita also understood Hagu's love for art was what made her like him. Thats why the scene where Hagu was unable to focus to draw he didnt intervene even when told by Hanamoto, because he knew it was Takemoto for whom she was lamenting (who was on his bicycle journey) thats what i think.
So i think in the end Takemoto won the heart of Hagu but lost the war as Mayama said there are more things in life then romantic love.
saddy98Nov 15, 2020 4:38 PM
Nov 15, 2020 5:31 PM

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saddy98 said:

Yup In manga "March comes in like lion ch-152-153" there is appearences of characters but its not stated as Shu X Hagu clearly. Though from ending of HnC what i conncured that Hagu was quite naive and childish before and came to like Morita because of his passion for art as herself and was not aware clearly what love was still till the end , same goes for Takemoto but she was sure of her love for art and Hanamoto Sensei in a sibling sense.The accident gave her a prespective change and she grew as a person and favoured Hanamoto and her art over her un-clear likeness for Morita. She also realized selfless Takemoto's love for her, thats why she wished for his happiness.

I think Morita also understood Hagu's love for art was what made her like him. Thats why the scene where Hagu was unable to focus to draw he didnt intervene even when told by Hanamoto, because he knew it was Takemoto for whom she was lamenting (who was on his bicycle journey) thats what i think.
So i think in the end Takemoto won the heart of Hagu but lost the war as Mayama said there are more things in life then romantic love.


I said that it's mentioned Hagu and Shuu are a couple because of what Nomiya said in this scene of chapter 152.

In my opinion, it pretty much confirms that the two girls are the guys' girlfriends. I doubt that word was used as a joke by Nomiya, just because they like the girls.
I agree with the rest of the stuff you said.
Nov 15, 2020 6:04 PM
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Melody said:
saddy98 said:

Yup In manga "March comes in like lion ch-152-153" there is appearences of characters but its not stated as Shu X Hagu clearly. Though from ending of HnC what i conncured that Hagu was quite naive and childish before and came to like Morita because of his passion for art as herself and was not aware clearly what love was still till the end , same goes for Takemoto but she was sure of her love for art and Hanamoto Sensei in a sibling sense.The accident gave her a prespective change and she grew as a person and favoured Hanamoto and her art over her un-clear likeness for Morita. She also realized selfless Takemoto's love for her, thats why she wished for his happiness.

I think Morita also understood Hagu's love for art was what made her like him. Thats why the scene where Hagu was unable to focus to draw he didnt intervene even when told by Hanamoto, because he knew it was Takemoto for whom she was lamenting (who was on his bicycle journey) thats what i think.
So i think in the end Takemoto won the heart of Hagu but lost the war as Mayama said there are more things in life then romantic love.


I said that it's mentioned Hagu and Shuu are a couple because of what Nomiya said in this scene of chapter 152.

In my opinion, it pretty much confirms that the two girls are the guys' girlfriends. I doubt that word was used as a joke by Nomiya, just because they like the girls.
I agree with the rest of the stuff you said.


Idk in the english translated version Hagumi was referred as "Koro-pok-guru" and its true Nomiya did called them as other peoples gf.

Still Hagumi was introduced as Shu's cousin, so wouldn't that count as incest. Though there was no boundment for such cases meaning Japan has cases of first cousin marriages, if thats the case it may suffice. Though on a global prospect its still hard to digest.
Nov 16, 2020 3:37 AM

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saddy98 said:
Melody said:


I said that it's mentioned Hagu and Shuu are a couple because of what Nomiya said in this scene of chapter 152.

In my opinion, it pretty much confirms that the two girls are the guys' girlfriends. I doubt that word was used as a joke by Nomiya, just because they like the girls.
I agree with the rest of the stuff you said.


Idk in the english translated version Hagumi was referred as "Koro-pok-guru" and its true Nomiya did called them as other peoples gf.

Still Hagumi was introduced as Shu's cousin, so wouldn't that count as incest. Though there was no boundment for such cases meaning Japan has cases of first cousin marriages, if thats the case it may suffice. Though on a global prospect its still hard to digest.


I believe it's the same translation, Nomiya refers to both girls as "koro-pok-guru" a couple of pages before the one I sent.
Besides, even if that isn't enough of a confirmation for some to believe they are a couple now, the issue here is that Shuu started to love Hagu romantically.

I saw somewhere that Shuu is the cousin of Hagu's mother. I don't know how distant this is considered for Japanese people, but it is one of the things that bothered me, too. What bothered me the most though, is that Shuu has been doting on her as a father would on his daughter, Hagu knew him since she was a kid and she pretty much grew up with him as a father/sibling figure. And then suddenly, it's stated that Shuu is in love with her a couple of chapters before the end. There was absolutely no build-up to that change of his feelings, too, it just came out of the blue, without getting fleshed out.

It's not like this made me dislike the manga, it's certainly one of the best I've read and I enjoyed many aspects of it. But I can admit that this final development, along with a couple more things, left me with a bit of a bad taste. Since the manga showed all kinds of love (romantic love, love between friends and family, love for art, etc), it wasn't necessary for a "father/daughter" relationship to suddenly turn romantic, in my opinion.
MelodyNov 16, 2020 3:44 AM
Nov 16, 2020 6:01 AM
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Melody said:
saddy98 said:


Idk in the english translated version Hagumi was referred as "Koro-pok-guru" and its true Nomiya did called them as other peoples gf.

Still Hagumi was introduced as Shu's cousin, so wouldn't that count as incest. Though there was no boundment for such cases meaning Japan has cases of first cousin marriages, if thats the case it may suffice. Though on a global prospect its still hard to digest.


I believe it's the same translation, Nomiya refers to both girls as "koro-pok-guru" a couple of pages before the one I sent.
Besides, even if that isn't enough of a confirmation for some to believe they are a couple now, the issue here is that Shuu started to love Hagu romantically.

I saw somewhere that Shuu is the cousin of Hagu's mother. I don't know how distant this is considered for Japanese people, but it is one of the things that bothered me, too. What bothered me the most though, is that Shuu has been doting on her as a father would on his daughter, Hagu knew him since she was a kid and she pretty much grew up with him as a father/sibling figure. And then suddenly, it's stated that Shuu is in love with her a couple of chapters before the end. There was absolutely no build-up to that change of his feelings, too, it just came out of the blue, without getting fleshed out.

It's not like this made me dislike the manga, it's certainly one of the best I've read and I enjoyed many aspects of it. But I can admit that this final development, along with a couple more things, left me with a bit of a bad taste. Since the manga showed all kinds of love (romantic love, love between friends and family, love for art, etc), it wasn't necessary for a "father/daughter" relationship to suddenly turn romantic, in my opinion.



Well its was a real heart breaker. Except the ending is still bizzare. I think it is what it is. I guess I should just stop thinking about it and enjoy it.
THANKS for bearing with me.
saddy98Nov 16, 2020 6:06 AM
Nov 16, 2020 7:40 AM

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Dec 2015
536
saddy98 said:
Melody said:


I believe it's the same translation, Nomiya refers to both girls as "koro-pok-guru" a couple of pages before the one I sent.
Besides, even if that isn't enough of a confirmation for some to believe they are a couple now, the issue here is that Shuu started to love Hagu romantically.

I saw somewhere that Shuu is the cousin of Hagu's mother. I don't know how distant this is considered for Japanese people, but it is one of the things that bothered me, too. What bothered me the most though, is that Shuu has been doting on her as a father would on his daughter, Hagu knew him since she was a kid and she pretty much grew up with him as a father/sibling figure. And then suddenly, it's stated that Shuu is in love with her a couple of chapters before the end. There was absolutely no build-up to that change of his feelings, too, it just came out of the blue, without getting fleshed out.

It's not like this made me dislike the manga, it's certainly one of the best I've read and I enjoyed many aspects of it. But I can admit that this final development, along with a couple more things, left me with a bit of a bad taste. Since the manga showed all kinds of love (romantic love, love between friends and family, love for art, etc), it wasn't necessary for a "father/daughter" relationship to suddenly turn romantic, in my opinion.



Well its was a real heart breaker. Except the ending is still bizzare. I think it is what it is. I guess I should just stop thinking about it and enjoy it.
THANKS for bearing with me.


There is something good to be found in this kind of bittersweet ending, too.
Don't say it like that, haha. I enjoyed the conversation, so thank you, as well!
Nov 16, 2020 11:58 AM
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Nov 2020
6
Melody said:
saddy98 said:



Well its was a real heart breaker. Except the ending is still bizzare. I think it is what it is. I guess I should just stop thinking about it and enjoy it.
THANKS for bearing with me.


There is something good to be found in this kind of bittersweet ending, too.
Don't say it like that, haha. I enjoyed the conversation, so thank you, as well!


I am sorry it not like that,HnC i really enjoyed it.And your deduction is quite correct Hagumi was Shu cousin's daughter not his cousin ( misconception on my side).So its feasible like that. I think HnC depects the true nature of a Slice of life portraying the thoughts of characters involved,their passion for things and ofcourse love. It was quite a mix. Loved it and always will. Its just the ending that's uncommon not that i am against it but such endings are rare and HnC is one of them.Thanks again for replying to me.
saddy98Nov 16, 2020 12:01 PM
Feb 1, 2022 5:19 AM
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Meruto said:
So I know there has already been a lot of discussion over this topic, but I think the subject of Shuu and Hagu's relationship needs its own thread. (If nothing else, this serves as my own personal rant page.)

I'm fairly certain when Hanamoto-sensei, or Shuu-chan, said that he loved Hagu, he meant he loved her romantically. For one thing, he was blushing. For another, in the conversation he had with Yamada afterwards, he's embarrassed, she's shocked, and he's exasperated at her comments about him, like, "I guess he is a man despite his age." All of that suggests he loves her romantically. For me, this was TOTALLY unexpected.
He also says, when pressed by Yamada, that the way he came to love her is embarrassing. How do you think he came to have romantic feelings for Hagu? For some reason I get the feeling it had to do with that flashback where Hagu is a young girl and Sensei is a teenager, and they fall asleep together under a blanket...

Another part of my personal confusion: What did Hagu mean when she asked Sensei, "Please give me your life"? Was she simply asking him to travel with her, and teach her about art, and support her in her recovery and work thereafter? Or was she also asking him in some way, to love her forever? To love her how? Romantically? This was another thing I felt was equivalent to a bomb dropping. I definitely was not prepared.

I don't like nor feel comfortable with the switch from father-daughter type relationship to love interest in the last 2 episodes. I mean, I loved Honey and Clover, I liked the more heavy-hearted sequel despite a few drawbacks, I loved the character of Hanamoto-sensei, and was even fond of Hagu-chan. But this development left me troubled. I mean, Sensei even said in the very beginning of H&C,"I'm like a father to her." The whole, "She chose Sensei" (over her main love interests throughout both seasons) business really bothered me.

One thing in particular is that in Honey and Clover, after her upsetting date with Morita, Hagu told Shuu-chan that she wished she could only be with him forever. Shuu-chan later makes a narrative (I think) remark about how even though she thinks that now, she will come to love other men (namely Morita at this point..) in her life other than Shuu-chan himself.

I just feel that Sensei was such a father figure to her, and that Hagu loves him so much in that way. (Not to mention, he is something like 10 or more years older than her. And on a side note, just because I am unclear- Were they cousins or uncle and niece? I think it was cousins...)

In the end, I just feel sad for the both of Hagu and Sensei. Sensei is going to be supporting her in many ways for the rest of her life, probably, and has what I believe are one-sided romantic feelings. Hagu is in love with Morita, but she chose art.

I guess at the end of the day what will help me sleep is that one theme in H&C was the many different types of love there are (for example, love among friends, love that is one's "bittersweet treasure", love that knows no distance)-- That Shuu-chan may love her as a woman, but as for the romantic part it's a dormant sort of love. That he loves her simply as a precious person to him and someone he wants to heal and protect, and, like the professor said, is healing himself in the process. Also, I get the feeling that Morita will return in the future (after all, he said "it's not over) and he and Hagu-chan will be together. Though that's another thing that's sad for Sensei, it helps ease my mind a bit. As my last thought, I have to say that Hagu's narrative-- "Shuu-chan is my rain." "He is very precious to me."-- was poignant and beautiful and overrides the majority of negative thoughts I have about their relationship.

Now what are your thoughts?!


kaisu_m said:
I have the same feelings and from the comments in the Internet I see that the vast majority of viewers were confused about the Shuu and Hagu relationship, too... How could someone even come up with something like that? I mean it's one thing that she chooses to stay with him to have the best care and be able to continue with drawing which is the most important thing to her. It's bitter, but can be understood.
But the fact the Shuu has a romantic feelings towards Hagu although it was mentioned that they are relatives and for the whole series their relationship was shown as father-daughter or at least big brother-little sister?? That's not acceptable for me. It's incest and I really cannot believe it happened in that story. I like the show, I accept the sad and bitter moments in it although I'd like to avoid many of them, but this one point is just a no no no. Just to imagine them both kissing or even doing, em, more stuff? Oh, please.
One good side here is that Hagu doesn't seem to have romantic feelings to Shuu (that would just ruin the show completely...) and still holds them for Morita. I don't quite understand why she had to choose between Shuu and Morita, while the first one is like father and the latter a romantic love. Can't she just live with Shuu, but date Morita? But I guess she just chose to give Morita freedom so that he can follow his path. As they promise to watch over each other, I believe they can stay in touch, will see each other again and maybe still have hopes for something more. At the moment Morita wouldn't give her safety she needs to recover and find her place in the art world, but maybe in some years they could try to be together... Hagu is still very young, will be changing, her needs will evolve. I know in reality the story ends where it ends on the screen/pages, but it's always nice to think about it like about the parallel world that is continuing somwhere behind the curtains : )


OMG!! I know! I'm very late on this topic, but I just watched the anime and I really needed to vent and find out if anyone else felt the same as me. And I'm glad to find this, I totally agree with you guys! It was really awkward and hard for me to watch the last episodes. I never expected something like this. As Kaisu said, "why did he have to choose between Shuu and Morita, while the former is like a father and the latter a romantic love? Can't he just live with Shuu, but date Morita?" I thought that ALL the time, WHY?! Why does she have to choose? And it makes me feel so sick the fact that he is her uncle, also more than 10 years older than her, is he insane and perverted, even a pedophile? I really didn't expect such selfish and twisted possessive love that Shuu ultimately shows towards Hagu.

I also want to think like Meruto and believe that one day in the future Hagu will recover, grow up and with that she could notice the unhealthy relationship she has with her uncle and maybe even get away from him and follow her true heart's desires towards Morita. I'm very glad that at least from Hagu's point of view, she sees Shuu as a kind of father or an older brother, something precious, like she said, but not like how she feels towards Morita, who clearly after her "fever" when received Morita's kiss shows, among other things, the passion she feels towards him.
Mar 27, 2022 2:10 AM

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Sep 2016
138
Currently watching this show and boy does this relationship ruin the whole thing for me (along with Hagu looking like kid), just.. they hell were they thinking?
Apr 28, 2022 5:24 PM
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Feb 2018
1
My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined :(
This is too creepy 😢
May 18, 2022 10:08 AM
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May 2022
1
I just finished watching, and I know I'm very late to the party. But the ending was a big WTF. It would have been better if Hagu didn't end up with anyone and just worked on her recovery. The anime certainly didn't need the part with Shuu confessing his romantic love for her.
Jun 27, 2022 2:32 PM

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Melody said:
saddy98 said:


Idk in the english translated version Hagumi was referred as "Koro-pok-guru" and its true Nomiya did called them as other peoples gf.

Still Hagumi was introduced as Shu's cousin, so wouldn't that count as incest. Though there was no boundment for such cases meaning Japan has cases of first cousin marriages, if thats the case it may suffice. Though on a global prospect its still hard to digest.


I believe it's the same translation, Nomiya refers to both girls as "koro-pok-guru" a couple of pages before the one I sent.
Besides, even if that isn't enough of a confirmation for some to believe they are a couple now, the issue here is that Shuu started to love Hagu romantically.

I saw somewhere that Shuu is the cousin of Hagu's mother. I don't know how distant this is considered for Japanese people, but it is one of the things that bothered me, too. What bothered me the most though, is that Shuu has been doting on her as a father would on his daughter, Hagu knew him since she was a kid and she pretty much grew up with him as a father/sibling figure. And then suddenly, it's stated that Shuu is in love with her a couple of chapters before the end. There was absolutely no build-up to that change of his feelings, too, it just came out of the blue, without getting fleshed out.

It's not like this made me dislike the manga, it's certainly one of the best I've read and I enjoyed many aspects of it. But I can admit that this final development, along with a couple more things, left me with a bit of a bad taste. Since the manga showed all kinds of love (romantic love, love between friends and family, love for art, etc), it wasn't necessary for a "father/daughter" relationship to suddenly turn romantic, in my opinion.

Even when I read chapter 152 of 3-gatsu, it is unlikely that Hagumi and Hanamoto is in romantic relationship, since the term 'kanojo' in Japanese could be interpreted as 'the girl/woman', and in that context, it could more possibly refer to Rika Harada and Hagumi as 'those girls' in general, rather than meaning 'girlfriend', since the men talked a bunch about them previously.
SgtBateManJun 27, 2022 2:50 PM
Help! I need somebody. Help! Not just anybody. Help! You know I need someone. Helpppppp!

Jul 3, 2022 10:07 PM

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Jul 2017
26
Melody said:
saddy98 said:


Idk in the english translated version Hagumi was referred as "Koro-pok-guru" and its true Nomiya did called them as other peoples gf.

Still Hagumi was introduced as Shu's cousin, so wouldn't that count as incest. Though there was no boundment for such cases meaning Japan has cases of first cousin marriages, if thats the case it may suffice. Though on a global prospect its still hard to digest.


I believe it's the same translation, Nomiya refers to both girls as "koro-pok-guru" a couple of pages before the one I sent.
Besides, even if that isn't enough of a confirmation for some to believe they are a couple now, the issue here is that Shuu started to love Hagu romantically.

I saw somewhere that Shuu is the cousin of Hagu's mother. I don't know how distant this is considered for Japanese people, but it is one of the things that bothered me, too. What bothered me the most though, is that Shuu has been doting on her as a father would on his daughter, Hagu knew him since she was a kid and she pretty much grew up with him as a father/sibling figure. And then suddenly, it's stated that Shuu is in love with her a couple of chapters before the end. There was absolutely no build-up to that change of his feelings, too, it just came out of the blue, without getting fleshed out.

It's not like this made me dislike the manga, it's certainly one of the best I've read and I enjoyed many aspects of it. But I can admit that this final development, along with a couple more things, left me with a bit of a bad taste. Since the manga showed all kinds of love (romantic love, love between friends and family, love for art, etc), it wasn't necessary for a "father/daughter" relationship to suddenly turn romantic, in my opinion.


Sorry for the reply years later, just finished HnC and wanted to say that I totally feel the same way you do, even though I don't feel like its bad that Shūji loves her, it was so sudden that it really felt out of place.
I will remember the show as if Shūji never loved Hagu that way and thats it XD
Jul 4, 2022 8:57 AM
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Jun 2020
412
This is why I research most animes before diving in. That whole deciding to be with your cousin that described himself as sort of father figure that he took care of most her life? Yea no I dodged myself a bullet here. Plus what's with dodging one of your good friends just because he confessed his feeling and she was too coward to answer. How did this get an 8?
Jul 26, 2022 2:59 PM

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Apr 2009
77
So I recently finished this series. It definitely had some great highs for me as well as some lows. But I agree with others the ending tarnished an otherwise good series. Look at this blurb for example, this is the description on hanamoto MAL page:

“ Shuuji is a professor at a Tokyo art university, and Hagumi's overprotective cousin. Growing up together, Shuuji was the only real father figure Hagu had, and he took to his role, becoming highly devoted to making sure Hagu was happy, and taking pride in her amazing artistic talent. As for his teaching, Shuuji used to be a student at the college, and although he wasn't a talented artist at all, his talented friends and roomates, Rika and Harada, always came to him for help with their classwork. Shuuji is a wise man, able to give out good advice when he's called upon, but also becomes quite nervous at times and stutters.”

Overprotective cousin..
Father figure…

This coupled with the fact that in entirety of the show there was no build up leading to the fact that hanamoto had romantic feelings for Hagu, and all of his affection is portrayed as fatherly/family, you can clearly see why the ending is problematic. Now the final nail is that Hagu loves Morita and Morita loves Hagu. I truly did not see any logic in why they had to separate just because Hagu wants to continue pursuing arts, a passion that Morita of all people will completely understand. It’s so half assed really. They literally made zero effort to be together. I also don’t see why being with hanamoto automatically takes Morita out of the equation, if Hagu only sees hanamoto as family/cousin. Morita can still pursue his passions while still keeping in touch with Hagu, and Hagu can take that time to work on recovery. But instead they walk away. There is no conflict yet they walk away from each other. Why? Makes no sense. Does that mean even Hagu is aware of Hanamoto’s romantic love for her and chose to accept it? That would be even more bizarre.

Overall the ending doesn’t make sense, introduces a concept last minute that conflicts previous build up and leaves a bad taste in mouth of what would have otherwise been a mostly wholesome series.
Oct 7, 2022 6:01 AM
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Sep 2018
1
Just finished this show and I’m glad the comments said what I was thinking. When he said he loved her I thought “ohh, as a guardian or a family member right?”. Then you can see him blushing talking about it and different things implying otherwise too. I had to go and see what people were thinking and maybe I misunderstood what he meant. It’s just so weird since he’s basically like a father figure to her. This is kinda like Usagi Drop all over again lol. I’m glad this thread gave me clarification but it wasn’t the answer I was hoping for haha. Still a great show but the ending left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth.
Mar 11, 2023 12:08 AM
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Dec 2013
8
🤮 didn’t expect the series to end in incest, and for Shuu to come out as a creepy pedo groomer.
Jun 3, 2023 11:44 PM
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Jun 2023
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Oh god. I came here after rewatching the whole thing. I can’t believe when I watched this as a teen, I was blind to the red flags of shuu sensei being an actual pedo groomer 🤮. Literally the lies we were fed of us thinking he was the sweetest father figure to her. Why did it end up this way?? I was pretty young when I watched this series, it was on my top 5 favorites, so I felt like rewatching the whole thing again to relive my childhood nostalgia. I guess my stupid brain conveniently "forgot" the part where sensei, Hagu’s FATHER figure, confesses his feeling about her in order to spare me from disappointment so I got shocked all over again. UGH GROSS NO! WHY?? Literally such a good anime ruined.

I know anime always downplays pedophilia especially back then, but literally how everyone was congratulating him and his stupid "adolescence" shit for confessing your feelings literally made me want to crawl into a hole and die. And how Yamada said, "I guess sensei is still a man despite his age". Yeah??? How old is he?? Old enough to be her father for sure! 💀 And how Mayama cried and hugged him and congratulated him made me also want cry. CRY IN SHOCK. Literally the whole scene where Hagu and that sensei are sitting outside the hospital and he asks her to express herself, and he says something around the lines of, "I still remember when you peed yourself when you were young"…. Literally i thought he was reminiscing about "father-daughter" times where he took care of her, and in a way he was reassuring her that he would always be by her side cuz he was like a father to her or even an older brother. BUT NO???? He was looking at her in the way of a romantic fucking interest??? Like what other ways is he imagining her in??? It doesn’t help that the author never ages her up, she still looks and acts like a child 🤮 Sorry for the rant, had to let it out. 
Jun 3, 2023 11:55 PM
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EvolKarma said:
🤮 didn’t expect the series to end in incest, and for Shuu to come out as a creepy pedo groomer.
For real! Literally so shocked and grossed out 🤮 I felt like I got hit by a bat from behind like where did that even come from? HuH
Jun 28, 2023 2:58 AM

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Jul 2021
5979
no way i don't believe he loves her romantically. i just can't see it that way, all his actions uptil now defy that. he's like a father figure to her. no way

The end of an era. Thank you Wit, Mappa and Isayama.
Feeling half happy, half sad.
  

Kawaii waifus
and precious
  best girls <3333
                                             


Dec 22, 2023 9:32 AM

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Jul 2009
55
She's around 23, people, get a grip.

The ending is not the one I was expecting, but totally believable and she is definitely in good hands, if you think she isn't just because you "thinks it's creepy", congratulations, you'd be eager to ruin people's lives just to feel "comfortable" about some arbitrary standard that clearly isn't affecting them negatively.

One think should be added: Rika.
Shuu loved her first, and decided to become a teacher out of being lost in life, once Harada died and Rika became a shell of her former self.
Then Hagu came to the university, at about 18, and he developed feelings for her over the 5 years, as he healed from his love for Rika.

STILL, he meant to keep his feelings to himself, appeasing all of you. He let her fly by herself and choose the other men available.
Yet she came back to him.

There is no taking advantage of anyone here, and if his feelings were a surprise to you, that's because it was meant to be. He was the "strongest" character in all this for a long time, not showing it even to us, the viewers. That's why the comic relief involves every single character in the show getting shocked by it, his whole archetype is the idealist guy who'd let his own happiness go away for the best of others.
Yet she came back to him.

Because he was the best for her, not the morality police.
And I think he'd be fine with her not loving him back and remaining in this platonic relationship, as long as he can be her safe harbor.
If she reciprocates, however, it's all legal tender and nunya bidness.
CAMPAIGN: If you write an anime review, please make it short.
You're not a writer, Jim, I want meta-information, not a teenager's impression of a clickbait journalist.

Mar 12, 3:54 PM

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Nov 2012
8
Reply to Barusamikosu
She's around 23, people, get a grip.

The ending is not the one I was expecting, but totally believable and she is definitely in good hands, if you think she isn't just because you "thinks it's creepy", congratulations, you'd be eager to ruin people's lives just to feel "comfortable" about some arbitrary standard that clearly isn't affecting them negatively.

One think should be added: Rika.
Shuu loved her first, and decided to become a teacher out of being lost in life, once Harada died and Rika became a shell of her former self.
Then Hagu came to the university, at about 18, and he developed feelings for her over the 5 years, as he healed from his love for Rika.

STILL, he meant to keep his feelings to himself, appeasing all of you. He let her fly by herself and choose the other men available.
Yet she came back to him.

There is no taking advantage of anyone here, and if his feelings were a surprise to you, that's because it was meant to be. He was the "strongest" character in all this for a long time, not showing it even to us, the viewers. That's why the comic relief involves every single character in the show getting shocked by it, his whole archetype is the idealist guy who'd let his own happiness go away for the best of others.
Yet she came back to him.

Because he was the best for her, not the morality police.
And I think he'd be fine with her not loving him back and remaining in this platonic relationship, as long as he can be her safe harbor.
If she reciprocates, however, it's all legal tender and nunya bidness.
@Barusamikosu surprise! its still incest and borderline grooming. Also, people are allowed to dislike something, specially things that make them uncomfortable :)
Apr 2, 5:58 AM

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Jul 2009
55
Reply to Z0mbieB0y
@Barusamikosu surprise! its still incest and borderline grooming. Also, people are allowed to dislike something, specially things that make them uncomfortable :)
@Z0mbieB0y Extremely uninsightful post, a weak attempt at getting the last word in with no elaboration of any point I've made, just rote memorized catchphrases.
Your post made me unbelievably uncomfortable, hopefully you will delete it to abide by your own belief system.
CAMPAIGN: If you write an anime review, please make it short.
You're not a writer, Jim, I want meta-information, not a teenager's impression of a clickbait journalist.

Apr 4, 12:56 PM

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Nov 2012
8
Reply to Barusamikosu
@Z0mbieB0y Extremely uninsightful post, a weak attempt at getting the last word in with no elaboration of any point I've made, just rote memorized catchphrases.
Your post made me unbelievably uncomfortable, hopefully you will delete it to abide by your own belief system.
@Barusamikosu "wah wah wah i hate people with different opinions!!"

Just because I got to the point of why it made me uncomfortabe, doesnt mean it was all... that. you simply didnt like it and now youre trying to bait me into a pointless argument lmao

hopefully you will delete it


lol you first.
Z0mbieB0yApr 4, 1:25 PM
Nov 1, 2:51 PM
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Jan 2024
8
Weighing in in 2024 too - I agree with OP 100%. Completely unexpected. Completely unnecessary. A betrayal of people loving the story.

If you want to hook up with a girl you've known since she was 3 (and you an adult), do a world a favour and take a running jump off a tall cliff.

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