First thing, thank you for being a fan until now, and of course I do know that I can't please everybody, and I hope you take this reply in good spirit.
While I've tried to abstain and let people perceive things how they want to, I like taking part in this community, and this take is one that I want to discuss because it is quite a controversial take, so ayt, let's go through this.
--
At the start of chapter 12, Yukine announced their open relationship only to their "close circle." The harem has always been a secret that is exclusive to them, and the same people that know about it are also the same people that know it's a ruse.
What the public, their friends, and their family know before chapter 27: Yukine and MC are a couple; everyone else is officially single.
What the public, their friends, and their family know after chapter 27: Yukine and MC are now also officially single.
What their group + Akemi know before chapter 27: We're a harem, but Yukine is official.
What their group + Akemi know after chapter 27: We're a harem.
Yes, while not explicitly stated, it is heavily implied that Dice knows, and Thonk knows, they did help spread the fake news after all.
"The harem has always been officially single to everyone but their inner circle," so your statement confuses me. The only change was Yukine.
Hatsumi and Chitose, even though they are part of the monkeys, have not been privy to that information ever since.
--
Yes, it fits MC's character to reject Yukine's proposition, but because he is a Yukine simp, that's why he initially did. But what fits MC's character even more is his ensuring that "ALL THE GIRLS" are safe from scrutiny and judgment, especially those with public statuses. And he would never ask this of Yukine himself (more on this point below).
Well, I established earlier that nothing NEW was exactly hidden, so I'm focusing on the "out of nowhere" part. I've never once asspulled a narrative in MTWY; everything has been set up and hinted at, albeit some not explicitly, but in this case, yes, and Yukine expressed the reasons herself.
What hasn't been said yet is that Yukine knew the inevitability of her relinquishing her spot as the official/main LI (it will be discussed later on in Chapter 30-31, so I may have spoiled things slightly). Everyone else directly looking at their relationship is the straw that broke the camel's back, specifically Hatsumi and Azami. And the thing was, MC loves her too much to ask that of her, so she took the initiative.
Yukine is highly perceptive, and her personality and decision-making have always been "others first," even to the point of self-destruction. Even her decisions in Lost Time align with what she did in this current chapter.
Anyways, it's fun discussing the game again, so thank you for that, and I wish you well on your other ventures.
Yeah, me too!!! I agree!
One and it's quite simple. But I do like that, but the narrative has not been kind to me being able to make a scene like that again.
--------------