Frenemies: Uncooperative Parents in Manga

One of the most common solutions in manga to Romeo & Juliet parents--you mustn't date that person!--is....

To bow. 

It's quite different from such romances in the West where the common solution is to walk away from or tell off the parents. Although Shakespeare likely meant Romeo & Juliet as a cautionary tale (along the lines of "teens are soooo stupid"), the plot of Romeo & Juliet has shaped the West's response to romance: when the home life gets rough, elope. 

And it's not an entirely awful solution--depending on the parents and the situation.

It highlights, however, the difference in manga. In Megumi & Tsugumi, when Megumi's father remains unconvinced that his son should be dating Tsugumi, not only does the son try (several times) to discuss the matter directly with him--alongside a bow--Tsugumi responds by saying, "Okay, so what do I have to do to impress you?"

The amusing aspect here is that Tsugumi is the most unrepentant, obstreperous, belligerent young man in existence. But he is honest and sincere. The same quality that leads him to confront fellow students in fights also leads him to say, "If that's what I need to do, fine, I'll do it." Unlike the arguing parents--and even his boyfriend--he stays on-track. Personally, he believes that trying to convince the non-supportive parent is a waste of time. But Megumi wants it, so why not actually do it, rather than arguing about it?

It's a fascinating variation on the "wait for the parent's approval" trope (again, far more common in BL than Western M/M literature) because it is so entirely individualistic. Tsugumi comes across, for once, as the most level-headed person in the room.