Ladies versus Butlers

[Ryllharu]

To clarify, the issue between the two of us is whether or not Tomomi has a distinct advantage, which I found to be baseless given the four things you mentioned. I certainly believe if she has an advantage it is because of past history and childhood first crush status. Akiharu is more comfortable around her, and does confide in her from time to time. That does not mean he trusts her, nor is the first thought when he thinks of her is that she is a girl, he thinks of her as the dreaded Tomomi, terror of his childhood.

He thought of her as a first love before she began her reign of terror on him. That was eroded under her onslaught until he was terrified of her. To her credit and further evidence, her methods of "torturing" him are a rather convincing sign that she did like him. Little girls that age absolutely pick on the boys they like. The difference is perhaps that Tomomi never recognized that aspect of her terrorism. In fact, I think she has only started to realize it. The closest thing Tomomi has to "friends" are those whom she frequently abuses. Selnia is both her rival and the person she spends the most time with. Akiharu is her only true confidant. She plays pranks on the other main girls, who also seem to trust in her to a reasonable level enough to show parts of themselves they had kept secret before now.

But I don't believe she has a distinct advantage. Tomomi may be the closest to Akiharu, but even if it was out of obligation, Selnia has made the first move. The two are on each others minds quite a bit. Selnia is too dense to realize she likes him, Akiharu doesn't know what to make of it yet, and Tomomi is starting to realize she has pushed him away. I think they are all about equal distance from each other, though Akiharu probably is the furthest along in determining his own feelings, for whomever they may be.

[David75]

There's something very important to factor here, Tomomi and Akiharu are slowly getting away their chilhood and will become adults.
They are at a time when views change and Akiharu can't forever hold a grudge or be afraid of Tomomi.
He's portrayed as slightly uninterested in women for the moment (but gets body reactions), but that will change too.
From there, everything can change.

Regarding Selnia, it is strange to think that in a way Akiharu treats her a little like Tomoni does treat him. You would think that he likes her enough for her to be his favourite partner. Same could be for Tomomi, that's what she tried to find out this episode at least.

[shinta|hikari]

To clarify, the issue between the two of us is whether or not Tomomi has a distinct advantage, which I found to be baseless given the four things you mentioned. I certainly believe if she has an advantage it is because of past history and childhood first crush status.

But this was the first thing I mentioned.

Akiharu is more comfortable around her, and does confide in her from time to time. That does not mean he trusts her, nor is the first thought when he thinks of her is that she is a girl, he thinks of her as the dreaded Tomomi, terror of his childhood.

But I never said that the first thought when Akiharu thinks of her is that she is a girl. I said that he still considers her a girl, despite also being a terror. Rather than this being an advantage, I noted it as a condition that allows Tomomi to be a candidate. If Akiharu did not even consider her a girl, then she would be out from the get go.

But I don't believe she has a distinct advantage... I think they are all about equal distance from each other, though Akiharu probably is the furthest along in determining his own feelings, for whomever they may be.

I didn't say distinct advantage either. I just said Tomomi still has an advantage, one that she retained from before when Akiharu still didn't know much about Selnia. I also think it is a very close race, like you said.

[Ryllharu]

But this was the first thing I mentioned.

You specifically mentioned, "Childhood friend that he previously liked," where I just wrote it as an advantage if the fact remains that he still likes her, which I have my doubts. Fair enough then, I will formally concede this one, which is why I went on to focus on your second and fourth points. They aren't sufficiently distinct enough phrases to make an issue out of it.

But I never said that the first thought when Akiharu thinks of her is that she is a girl. I said that he still considers her a girl, despite also being a terror. Rather than this being an advantage, I noted it as a condition that allows Tomomi to be a candidate. If Akiharu did not even consider her a girl, then she would be out from the get go.

And I don't think he does still consider her a girl after all the terrorism he suffered. He thinks of her as Tomomi, like a figment of a nightmare. Perhaps he is beginning to reconcile with that notion, but not anywhere completely, even in episode 9.

There's something very important to factor here, Tomomi and Akiharu are slowly getting away their chilhood and will become adults.
They are at a time when views change and Akiharu can't forever hold a grudge or be afraid of Tomomi.
He's portrayed as slightly uninterested in women for the moment (but gets body reactions), but that will change too.
From there, everything can change.

I agree, but is certainly hasn't happened yet, which is why shinta should not be considering it as an advantage for Tomomi. However, I do think he has begun to get interested in Selnia recently, where to contrast he no longer thinks of Tomomi as anything but a past childhood romance.

Regarding Selnia, it is strange to think that in a way Akiharu treats her a little like Tomoni does treat him. You would think that he likes her enough for her to be his favourite partner. Same could be for Tomomi, that's what she tried to find out this episode at least.

I'm not sure what you mean by this here (or I'm not remembering). He's only gone on one outing with Selnia, and that was because he knew that she couldn't abuse him as she had hoped. Like you said above, it seems that he is generally disinterested about women, and more concerned about finding a partner for the exercises at all (because most girls in the school are scared of him). He has typically taken the first offer made to him. It's worked out that either Selnia or Tomomi just missed their opportunities, usually resulting in comedic shock for Selnia or mild surprise for Tomomi. Care to give a few examples of what you mean about Akiharu treating Selnia the way Tomomi treats him?

[David75]

Well, the comparison with Tomomi's behavior was a bit strong, but Akiharu always calls Selnia "Drill" to have her react. To my knowledge, she's the only one he treats in such a way being averagely polite to everyone else except Tomomi of course.