[1197] Brightest Bulb
└ posted on Thursday, 23 July 2020, by Novil
Update [25 July 2020]: I improved the wording of Hitomi’s dialog in the last panel.
- Richard: Hitomi, what are you doing here?!
- Hitomi: Hitomi was missing Richard very bad!
- Richard: That’s, uhm…, nice to hear. But you really should have called first!
- Hitomi: Hitomi called several times two day ago, but Richard didn’t answer.
- Richard: But don’t you think you should have waited for my answer before flying six thousand miles?! That wasn’t super smart, if you ask me…
- Hitomi: …
- Hitomi: When Hitomi told she failed 10th grade and became waitress, Richard should have realized that Hitomi isn’t brightest bulb on the cake.
Aw. I was sad the Richard in Japan arc ended the way it did but at least we get this blessed content now.
Kawaiiiiii!
I love the “bulb on the cake” 😀
I foresee lots of funny mishaps caused the this “bulb”. So maybe the dark prognosis of a catastrophe approaching isn’t so far off… 😉
Brightest bulb on the cake?
We’ll give her the benefit of the doubt and blame it on the translation.
Nobody wrote:
The catastrophe might be Hitomi showing with the intention of testing out possible marriage to Richard through living with him.
Her first trail will be accepting and getting along with Sandra
oh so that is who was calling on that phone in [1194] while Richard was outside doing work on the Lava Moat.
…is Novil suggesting that all waitresses are dumb, or am I reading in to this too hard?
the question still remains am or pm?
Richarddddddddddd, you’re being a real “Dick” right now
Tomas wrote:
I’ll take the answer to my grave! >:-)
@ radarhead:
In Strip 603 it was claimed that gender equality could only be achieved by castrating young boys and drilling holes into them. I don‘t think we can take everything his characters say as his direct opinion XD
Dude, a pretty girl just flew SIX THOUSAND MILES because she missed you.
I think you could be a little nicer to her. Especially since you haven’t even let her in your house yet.
I have the distinct feeling Ye Thuza is going to ship them as hard as she ships Sandra and Cloud…
JohnGB wrote:
,blockquote>
Her first trail will be accepting and getting along with Sandra
They’ve already met via Skype.
So we go from “Hitomi I love:you” to “that wasn’t super smart.” Maybe try “wow, it’s great to see you.”
He’s really got a way with the ladies, no?
Not a wonder that he is still single.
radarhead wrote:
I don’t think it was the intent, but it very much does come off that way.
Well her heart’s in the right place.
Instead of linking intelligence to waitress duties – certainly in Australia many bright young people take on waitress jobs while studying – let’s try this …
“After several days in Hitomi’s company, Richard should have realized that Hitomi isn’t the brightest bulb on the cake.”
Because, you know, every person deserves to be judged on their own performance. Several days of observation is usually a fair basis for evaluation of prominent characteristics.
I think Hitomi’s most prominent characteristic is a big heart. Such a caring person!
Did you guys notice that suitcase she came with!?
That’s not an “i’m comingo for a week or two to visit my boyfriend” suitcase, that’s an “i’m moving to a new country with my boyfriend” suitcase!
Where is TLC? We need another 90 Day Fiancé.
@ radarhead:
You might be reading too much into it. The prevailing attitude in Japan, last I checked, was that jobs such as waitressing, convenience store clerk, etc… Were for foreigners, underachievers, or misfits. That’s not endorsing the view, but realistic portrayal of a character.
@ Tony5n:
Not to disagree, but an alternative view would be study abroad or work abroad. My own suitcase was about that size when I moved to Japan.
This definitely can’t be good.
I mean… Sandra’s nightmare, Professor Tyson’s cataclysmic predictions, lava moat. And now Hitomi suddenly appears. Nothing good can come from it!
@ dragonsister:
Lots of people fresh out of university take whatever jobs they can. You’ll often find very smart people in jobs which they are overqualified for simply because they need money.
Of course, we can forgive Hitomi because she states she isn’t “the brightest bulb on the cake” (I must create a cake capable of powering lightbulbs…), so she may not realise that there are lots of smart waitresses.
Soooo, who’s room is she staying in? How long is she staying? What does Ye Thuza, who was a young woman from a worse country think about Hitomi?
Richard should be used to freeloaders, he has a daughter.
Is Hitomi going to dress up Woo as a RPG tanuki?
Richard, shut up and be happy she’s traveled all the way to see you… 🙄
Aaaand here come all the comments from offended waitresses. 😛
>_>
…Somehow I’m now curious if this storyline will have a sappy ending with an electrically lit cake for Hitomi-chan, making this flubbed metaphor into foreshadowing (or a callback at that later page, however you choose to think of it)..
Vicious Sand wrote:
I’m shipping this!
Thank you internet.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jenscakesandtreats/8223107898
Looking back, the actual prediction was for “a dramatic event that will turn your life upside down.”
I would say meeting your future Step-mom would count, lol.
She is playing dumb, but is not. She is bilingual and knows enough about finances to have the money to visit. She is above average in displayed capability. Navigating passports and visas is another nightmare too.
That was kinda mean towards waitresses. Well, I guess she knows what she does. She’s confident enough in the fact that he won’t send her home. Actually she probably doesn’t take the greatest risk because of her job. If it doesn’t turn out well, she probably can go back pretty easily
@ Bur Nitall:
32@ Bur Nitall:
A professional writer friend says: “Writers have a term for people who think that any opinion expressed by a character is an opinion of the author. That term is ‘idiot’.”
Hitomi‘s reply is a highly intelligent and rhetorically excellent statement. She totally turns around the „dumb“ argument without even openly contradicting.
Richard, beware! :o)
Too bad Sandra and Woo lives somewhere in northern USA. And not somewhere like Halifax, Canada.
Because of such were so, the confusion of AM or PM could be understandable since the time zones difference with Japan (after factoring Daylight Savings) would be then exactly 12 hours apart.
Jim R wrote:
It’s a pity that Richard’s brain isn’t
Evilbob wrote:
Alas, it would also be closer to 7000 miles instead of 6000 miles if it were Halifax. And while I know Sandra lives in the USA, it is still pretty close to 6000 miles if going from Japan to Germany, interestingly enough.
could never be upset at her…unless she tries to boot woo then i have very mixed and conflicting feelings.
dont worry hitomi, richard isn’t that bright either, or else he wouldnt search for aguments against you coming over …..
Vicious Sand wrote:
Cruel but fair.
Hmmmm. Do “cats” and racoons get on?
She followed you home, can we keep her?
Also:
Tomas wrote:
Clearly this is AM – everyone relaxes and at PM we learn why the lava moat seemed like a good idea.
@ Tony5n:
yeah, my thoughts exactly….i didn´t even knew they made suitcases that big anymore! looks like the modern day version of a steamer trunk – and those were used to travel overseas when such journeys still took several months
Hitomi is back!
PRAISE THE LORD!
It doesn’t matter. She’s pure dee adorable! < 3
She’s bilingual, she can’t be THAT dumb. Lots of people are irrational enough to fly across the world without doing much planning.
@ Tony5n:
No, that are just all her cosplays 🙂
Love how she so matter-of-factly explains that she’s not bright and uses bulb on a cake to do so – as if for emphasis. ^_^
Waitresses should take more credit, the job requires a certain level of grace, sociability and a good memory. At least in the states where tips are expected, a good waiter can make loads of money in tips. Some make more than “smart” people.
Anyway, now I wonder how Sandra reacts to her Dad’s new girlfriend. 🙂
Gilly wrote:
That is what I am suspecting right now as well.
I improved the wording of Hitomi’s dialog in the last panel. The previous version was shorter, but could also be perceived in an unintended mean way when interpreted in a specific way.
However, this still doesn’t justify the completely overblown, now deleted, comments by a few posters. This is unacceptable behavior on the personal website of an indie artist! Some people seem to think they’re morally so superior that they’re justified to use the strongest condemnations for very minor moral violations. SPOILER ALERT: You’re not!
@ Novil:
Blow ’em away, Novil. The vast majority of us greatly appreciate your work.