Does 'Just Between Girlfriends' Discuss Long-Distance Friendships?

I just finished binge-reading 'Just Between Girlfriends', and yes, it absolutely tackles long-distance friendships in a way that feels raw and real. The story follows two best friends separated by continents after one moves abroad for college. What struck me was how accurately it captures the little things – timezone struggles making video calls impossible, sending care packages with hometown snacks, that weird jealousy when your friend makes new connections. The manga doesn’t sugarcoat it; there are moments of resentment and drifting apart. But what makes it special is how it shows friendship evolving beyond physical presence. They develop rituals like watching the same movie simultaneously while texting reactions, or playing online games to stay connected. The emotional payoff when they finally reunite had me tearing up – it’s a masterclass in showing how true friendship can survive distance if both parties put in the work.

As someone who’s studied relationship dynamics in literature, 'Just Between Girlfriends' offers one of the most nuanced portrayals of long-distance friendships I’ve encountered. The author doesn’t just focus on the emotional aspect – they delve into the practical challenges with startling precision. One chapter meticulously details how the characters navigate different academic calendars; while one is buried in midterms, the other is on vacation, creating communication gaps that feel painfully authentic.

The manga brilliantly contrasts two types of long-distance relationships: one where friends gradually grow apart due to lack of effort, and the central friendship where both characters consciously adapt. They invent shared experiences through creative means – collaborating on a digital scrapbook, mailing handwritten letters alongside digital messages, even syncing their reading schedules. What’s groundbreaking is how the story acknowledges that some friendships change form rather than end; a subplot follows a secondary character who maintains a more distant, but still meaningful connection with her childhood friend through annual meetups.

The artwork enhances these themes beautifully. Panels showing empty spaces where the friend used to be – a vacant seat at their favorite café, one side of a shared umbrella unused – visually hammer home the absence. Yet the color palette gradually shifts from melancholic blues to warmer tones as the characters find new ways to bond, symbolizing their emotional adaptation. This isn’t just a story about missing someone; it’s a roadmap for sustaining connections across distances.

From a psychological perspective, 'Just Between Girlfriends' nails the science behind long-distance friendships without ever feeling clinical. The manga highlights how physical separation forces friends to transition from shared-environment bonding (like school or neighborhood) to intentional relationship maintenance – a shift many real-life friendships don’t survive. It shows the characters initially relying too much on reminiscing about past memories, which psychologists call ‘retrospective intimacy,’ before learning to build new shared experiences digitally.

One powerful arc involves the characters hitting a wall when they realize video calls feel forced without spontaneous daily interactions to discuss. Their solution – adopting a ‘parallel play’ approach where they do individual activities ‘together’ via call (studying, cooking) – mirrors actual therapist-recommended techniques for long-distance relationships. The story also acknowledges the role of third-party connections; when one friend starts dating, the manga explores how including the new partner in occasional group calls helps maintain balance rather than creating jealousy.

The most insightful element is its take on friendship ‘seasons.’ Some characters fade away naturally as lives diverge, while others reconnect later when circumstances align again – reflecting how adult friendships often operate in cycles rather than being all-or-nothing. This nuanced approach sets it apart from stories that portray distance as either friendship’s death sentence or an easily overcome hurdle.