‘You’re so annoying’ and ‘heh, you’re lying’ in a conversation that ends with an accidental confession he thinks she’s cute…. I hope they never lose this I hope they get married and still annoy each other so bad I hope they’re like 40somethings with a needy cat and a wise ass kid and Mika still puts her cold hands on the small of Mukai’s back just to scare him when she comes in from outside
okay sorry sorry to prev, who for sure did not write these tags knowing that you were going to awaken the mikamukai manifesto I have locked and loaded at all times BUT I do have an answer for this. sort of. up to you if it's satisfactory.
in my opinion, mukai and Mika actually get a lot of the same things out of being in a relationship together!! The key point for both of them is being with someone who knows their flaws and accepts those flaws as a core part of themselves, rather than falling just for their facade. In Mika's case, we're already seeing her reach the point of self-acceptance without needing to be in a relationship, which is really amazing for a character who at the beginning of the series depended at least partially on male validation to feel any positive emotions about herself. and look how far she's come!!! through the combination of her friendships and her willpower :)
as for Mukai, he's only just begun to realize some of his own flaws. refer to the Christmas mukai-centric chapter.
and unfortunately, I think the ending of his relationship probably reinforced that, given the manner in which he was broken up with.
in my opinion, what mukai will really benefit from in a relationship is someone who sees that he's flawed and understands that that's part of his true self, and doesn't try to make him into someone he's not. or someone who accepts him as he is, in other words. one of the defining parts of Mika and mukai's relationship is that Mika sees right through him. like, laughably easily. hold on I need to get a compilation.
okay most of these are from chapter 80 (im lazy) but this is a level of understanding that most people just don't demonstrate with mukai. most people see him as serious and chill but I think Mika has always thought of him as flawed and fun to poke fun at. that's something I think he benefits from having in his life. it doesn't entirely go both ways, because mukai can be a little nervous and a little obtuse, but he has always made an effort to understand Mika in a way that many people just... don't.
so for me the main point in favor of mikamukai being a good pairing is that they understand each other and/or are willing to make an effort to do so. and mukai shows a repeated concern for Mika that comes from the knowledge of her that he gained through the confession arc. he's really really worried about kousaka hurting her!!
(I dont think he would show this type of consideration towards her feelings if he didn't have the understanding that she has a pretty sensitive core underneath her exterior. I mean, we've seen his behaviour with sousuke)
but bringing it back to what mukai gets out of the relationship, I think he gets someone who understands him and is willing to show concern for him and his feelings when a lot of people don't necessarily do either of those things. returning to this:
it's very sweet that they worry about each other like this.
okay, and regarding obuchi: yes I do actually see that as being a problem for him lmao. I don't think they're going to get together in like... the next chapter although sensei does seem to be setting a fast pace with this storyline. but in the event of mukai realizing feelings for Mika, I don't think he's the sort of person to honor 'bro code' and stop himself from liking Mika because obuchi liked her too. NOT because I think he's a bad friend, but because I think that he thinks of romantic feelings as superseding platonic feelings.
whether or not this is a flawed belief to hold is up for debate, and I personally don't agree with him on that front, but as a character I think it's an opinion he's been demonstrated to hold.
in my ideal world, the resolution of the obuchi plot line would involve mukai maybe thinking a little harder about how he thinks about women, and if it's cool for him to think of Mika's romantic life as something that he can influence so his friend gets the girl rather than something that should be up to her. I'm not sure if that's the direction the manga will go, I honestly couldn't say. but in either case, what I got from chapter 80 is that Mika mightttt be nursing a very small crush on mukai, now that she knows he's a) her type (the type of guy who can see right through her shallow facade) and b) she's HIS type, and that mukai has realized that Mika is attractive but isn't really emotionally intelligent enough to think 'maybe I should date her'. but only sensei knows what the future holds!! I'm excited!!
NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR INTELLIGENT ANALYSIS!!! i feel like i went fishing to hear the water cluck and feel the wind on my face and then i caught a 200 kg salmon. GAH!! also i love going insane over skip and loafer! i hadn't concidered mukais flaws being seen by mika in that way! also your ideal for the the obuchi plot line seems very likely to me. never stop skipping and yapping!!
