To be straightforward, No. The two didn’t end up together or were even together. In fact, after Tsubaki’s confession, Yamada made it clear that he had feelings for Akane instead. Although Tsubaki was initially heartbroken, she came to accept Yamada’s feelings, as she had expected this outcome when she decided to confess her long-hidden emotions. Even though it was painful for Tsubaki to hear Yamada’s response, she still cherished the memories she shared with Yamada and was grateful for his kindness towards her. While their romantic connection did not flourish, their friendship remained unshaken.
Who Is Yukari Tsubaki?
In chapter 22, we’re introduced to Yukari Tsubaki – a high school student with long black hair who is blind without her glasses, she is also in the same class as Yamada, and they’re both close with their buddy Okamoto. Despite Yamada being pretty popular around school, he’s got his own tight-knit friend group within their class, with Tsubaki standing out as the school-motivated president, while Okamoto is the opposite who’s laid-back and cheerful. Tsubaki is often seen doing school duties with Yamada and also loves playing video games.
Watch the trailer here to see Yukari Tsubaki:
In What Chapter Did Tsubaki Make Her Debut?
In chapter 24 of the manga, we get to see how Tsubaki first meets Akane. Tsubaki notices Yamada and Akane together at the culture festival in Yamada’s school, where he invited the Chocolate Rabbit Guild. Curious about Akane, Tsubaki asks Yamada if “that girl” was with him. However, Yamada seems to be too focused on following Akane, who he thinks is feeling bad and has walked away. Eventually, Yamada manages to catch up with Akane and stops her from walking away by warning her that the stairs are dangerous. Tsubaki, noticing this, reminds them not to run. Afterward, Tsubaki leaves, but her interest in Akane has been piqued.
As depicted in chapter 26, Tsubaki posed an intriguing question to Okamoto and Yamada, questioning whether people could truly form a romantic bond based on a fortuitous encounter. In response, Okamoto jested that either he or Yamada would have a good shot since they both have never had a girlfriend and their main hobby is playing video games.
Afterward, Tsubaki expressed her gratitude to Yamada for introducing her to the guild master, Ruri-chan, but is met with a cold response of “Sure” from him. Okamoto chimes in and comments on Tsubaki’s secret gamer side, but Tsubaki retorts that it’s not really a secret, she just doesn’t talk about it with her female friends because they only talk about dating. Okamoto asks if she has any interest in that, to which Tsubaki replies with a nonchalant “Not really.” This prompts Okamoto to happily exclaim that they’re all the same and jokingly adds that they’ve all offered their youth to video games.
Tsubaki gazed at Yamada, who appeared preoccupied with his phone. Suddenly, Yamada’s phone began to ring, making Okamoto question whether he planned to answer it, saying that perhaps its a girl confessing her feelings. Okamoto went on to wager that Yamada could easily secure a romantic partner if he so desired. However, Tsubaki interjected, asserting that Yamada isn’t really good with love and relationships. Her keen observation of Yamada’s tendencies spoke volumes about her depth of insight into his character.
When school ended, the trio hung out together. Akane called Yamada, and they waited for him to finish his call. Tsubaki gave Yamada a cold stare, while Okamoto whispered something to her. After a while, Yamada and Tsubaki were left alone, and she asked if the girl he was talking to was the same one from the culture festival. Yamada was surprised that she remembered and confirmed her suspicion. He mentioned that the girl was in the same gaming guild as him, and Tsubaki was likely to meet her soon. Tsubaki then asked Yamada “What’s she like?” he thought of Akane’s weird facial expressions but found them cute. Tsubaki then asks Yamada “Do you… Like her?” He didn’t know how to answer Tsubaki’s question if he liked her, and the manga cut off to Akane’s perspective.
Does Tsubaki Like Yamada?
The burning question on everyone’s mind is finally answered in chapter 28. At first glance, Tsubaki might come off as the distant and cold school friend of Yamada. But as fate would have it, Tsubaki has been secretly harboring a crush on Yamada for years. This is revealed during a conversation between Tsubaki and Okamoto.
While walking together, Okamoto playfully suggested that Yamada might already be involved with another girl. However, Tsubaki passionately denied this possibility, knowing all too well that Yamada was not the type to pursue romance. Sensing Tsubaki’s unrequited feelings, Okamoto encouraged her to confess her love to Yamada before someone else swooped in and stole his heart. This poignant moment moved Tsubaki to tears, as she realized that she may never have a chance with Yamada. Despite her heartache, Tsubaki remained hopeful that someday, Yamada would find happiness with someone else.
How Did Tsubaki Liked Yamada?
Chapter 28 finally sheds light on how Tsubaki’s affection for Yamada came to be. As it turns out, the two had been acquainted for quite some time while attending school together. Tsubaki took the initiative to introduce herself to Yamada, approaching him about a game they both played, GOS:E, and mentioning that they had played against each other the previous night. She then expressed her desire to watch him play, saying she had something in mind. Yamada, being his straightforward self, asked her why she wanted to watch him play, to which Tsubaki replied with a mysterious answer. Okamoto, being the joker that he is, teased Tsubaki about suspecting Yamada of cheating and laughed it off.
In a later scene, the trio visits Yamada’s home, with Yamada inviting Tsubaki and Okamoto to watch him play video games. As they settle in, Yamada politely asks them to leave once they’ve finished watching. Tsubaki readily agrees, while Okamoto eagerly boasts about his own gaming skills. In the next panel, Okamoto is sound asleep on Yamada’s bed, while Tsubaki watches Yamada intently as he plays on his computer. Time seems to fly by, as Tsubaki marvels at Yamada’s impressive gaming abilities, suggesting that he should consider going pro. Yamada responds with a rare smile, marking the first time he’s shown such a reaction to another girl in his past.
Read more: My Love Story With Yamada-kun at Lv999 Reveals Main PV, More Cast, and Theme Song Artists
Why Doesn’t Yamada Know How to Love?
Chapter 29 delves into the mystery of why Yamada appears to be so clueless when it comes to matters of the heart. Tsubaki provides some insight, narrating how well she knows Yamada. Despite Yamada’s seemingly aloof exterior, Tsubaki reveals that he possesses a quiet and unassuming nature, with a kindness that belies his sometimes-cold words. Those who are close to him are aware of these qualities. However, Tsubaki also admits that Yamada can be cruel at times, suggesting that perhaps this trait may be linked to his lack of romantic experience.
Tsubaki overhears some girls gossiping about Yamada, speculating that he may not be interested in girls. Dismissing their baseless rumors, Tsubaki thinks to herself that it’s sad how some people are so quick to talk behind others’ backs. During class duty, she brings up the topic with Yamada, expressing concern that he’s still single despite being so popular, which has led to these unfounded rumors. However, Yamada seems unfazed by what others may think, insisting that he doesn’t care about their opinions. Tsubaki empathizes with his situation, feeling bad about the gossip he has to endure. She probes further, asking if he has a type, to which Yamada simply replies “Not really.” When she asks if he’s ever been in love, Yamada responds with a straightforward “No” to her question.
Tsubaki experiences some regret after pressing Yamada with personal questions about his love life, fearing that she may have crossed a line. However, much to her surprise, Yamada opens up to her, revealing a touching anecdote from his childhood. He recounts how there was a girl who had a crush on him but was bullied so badly that she hardly ever came to school. Living nearby, Yamada was tasked with bringing her homework and other things. On the rare occasions that she did come to school, she seemed to feel out of place if he wasn’t there. Wanting to help her feel more at ease, Yamada made a point to be near her as much as possible. Tsubaki is moved by this story, realizing that there may be more to Yamada than meets the eye.
After Yamada shares his childhood story with Tsubaki, she asks him if he had any romantic feelings for the girl in question. Yamada’s mind drifts back to a poignant moment, where the girl in question had expressed a desire to always be together, to which young Yamada simply replied that he was only bringing her homework.
Despite his best intentions, the bullying never stopped, and Yamada admits to feeling regretful about a time when he made her cry. Over time, Yamada has found that it’s easier to just avoid getting close to girls altogether, knowing that he may inadvertently hurt them. His past experience has left him with a deep-seated fear of making similar mistakes in the future.
Tsubaki finally understands that Yamada’s past experiences have left him emotionally guarded, and unable to recognize when others show him affection. She begins to wonder if this is a deliberate defense mechanism, allowing Yamada to avoid getting someone hurt again. However, Tsubaki can’t help but feel conflicted, realizing that falling in love with someone as emotionally detached as Yamada would only lead to heartache. She vows to protect her heart, knowing that loving someone so seemingly cruel would only cause her pain in the end.
Does Yamada Like Tsubaki?
In Chapter 36, it becomes clear that Yamada does not have romantic feelings for Tsubaki and only sees her as a friend. As they are caught in bad weather, Tsubaki finds herself without an umbrella. Okamoto, aware of Tsubaki’s feelings for Yamada, encourages her to ask Yamada to share his umbrella. Tsubaki worries that she may come across as weird, but Okamoto reassures her that Yamada won’t think any less of her for it. Meanwhile, Yamada is preoccupied with his own thoughts, eager to get home as Akane is waiting for him.
Despite her reservations, Tsubaki musters up the courage to ask Yamada to walk her to the station under his umbrella. Yamada agrees and, true to form, proves to be a gentleman throughout their walk. However, as they make their way through the rain, Tsubaki can’t help but feel a twinge of sadness when she realizes that Yamada has someone else on his mind. Suddenly, she decides to take a leap of faith and confesses her feelings to Yamada, who is taken aback by her sudden declaration.
Tears well up in Tsubaki’s eyes as Yamada looks on with a pained expression. Without a word, he takes the umbrella and puts it over Tsubaki, leaving himself exposed to the rain. It’s clear that Yamada’s heart is elsewhere, but he still cares enough to shield Tsubaki from the downpour. After confessing her feelings to Yamada, Tsubaki apologizes for putting him in an awkward position. She makes a bold request, asking him to spend some time considering her feelings. Surprisingly, Yamada agrees to her request, even going so far as to cancel a meeting with Akane.
Later, the two meet once again under the shimmering moonlight on a bridge, setting the stage for what could be a pivotal moment in their relationship. When Tsubaki bravely confessed her feelings to Yamada, she knew deep down that he would reject her. But she had been carrying this secret for so long, she just had to let it out and ease her heart.
She tells Yamada that she’s had feelings for him since their very first day of high school, but she’s been hiding them all this time so as not to make things awkward. Tsubaki admits that she tried to bury her feelings so deeply that Yamada wouldn’t even notice, but ultimately, she decided to be true to herself and confess. Despite Yamada’s lack of reciprocation, Tsubaki feels a sense of relief, knowing that she has no regrets about sharing her feelings.
Tsubaki pours her heart out to Yamada, sharing every little detail about what she loves about him. Yamada is left utterly speechless as Tsubaki continues to express her feelings with a smile on her face, but tears stream down her cheeks. She confesses that, despite the fact that many other girls may have liked him over the past three years, she knows that she’s liked him the most. Tsubaki’s heartfelt confession feels like a huge weight has been lifted off her shoulders, and she feels proud of herself for finally mustering the courage to speak her truth. Her beaming smile is met with Yamada’s stunned silence, unsure of how to respond to this unexpected declaration.
Despite Tsubaki’s heartfelt confession, Yamada gently but firmly tells her that he cannot return her feelings. Though it’s a painful realization for Tsubaki, she accepts his answer with grace. However, her attention is soon drawn to a drawing on Yamada’s palm – a marker-drawn doodle by Akane. Tsubaki’s face lights up as she recognizes Akane’s handiwork, and she can’t help but ask Yamada about it. When Yamada confirms that Akane is the person he likes, Tsubaki can’t help but cry even more, feeling both happy and heartbroken at the same time. Despite the rejection, Yamada thanks Tsubaki for liking him and apologizes for not being able to return her feelings.
Tsubaki had been observing Yamada’s behavior towards Akane and had already guessed that he had feelings for her. She tells Yamada that it’s okay that he doesn’t feel the same way about her and thanks him for listening to her confession. Yukari then decides to head home, but unfortunately, she bumps into a pole. Yamada offers to walk her home, but she insists that she can handle it on her own and that she’s not weak. Yamada looks at her with a sad expression, knowing that he has caused her pain.
Tsubaki heads home with a heavy heart, thinking about Yamada and how kind he was to her until the very end. She feels grateful for his kindness, but also sad because she knows she will never be able to be with him. With tears streaming down her face, she admits to herself that she truly loved him.
Read more: In What Chapter Did Akane and Yamada Confess Their Feelings?