#That smile Jihyeon gives to her in chapter 80 lives in my head rent-free

[bathsaltvendor]

Surviving Romance Rant (Spoilers)

I know the Author's already said something to the effect of Surviving Romance not really having a strong focus on romance plots, but consider this.

I see comments both for and against Chaerin/Kim falling in love and I can understand why people wouldn't want her to be in a relationship. With all the focus upon how empty Kim's attempts to force love with someone who's ONLY trait as a person is to love her really is, it would be a good message if at the end of it all, she doesn't find someone and is satisfied with having bonded with her classmates.

BUT WHAT IF, Kim DOES end up falling for another person, and this time around, it's a true, healthy romance with mutual understanding from both parties instead of mindless romanticism?

I don't think Mihui should be a romance option since I personally feel that the importance she has in restoring Kim's will to live shouldn't be tied to romantic attraction. I absolutely love her character, but I feel what she does is more meaningful in a platonic light.

Jihyeon however, is somebody Kim's come to know from the ground up. Jihyeon barely gets mentioned in the original novel, so how do they even get close?

They just interact with each other.

Kim gets to have these small moments with Jihyeon like with how she learns of Jihyeon’s music hobby and Jihyeon confidently stating they’ll recover from their injury and become a volleyball player after laughing off Kim’s admission of lying to her. Hell, half of chapters 23 and 80 is just the two of them, talking and enjoying the others company.

They work rather beautifully as an emotionally isolated girl getting along with someone with their own life and identity, but still maintaining that gentleness Kim Huisu so desperately wished for at the start of the story.

Who knows, maybe from that something special could blossom….

(I swear if they become endgame I could just die happy)