>>8667331>That aside, things are like that so that there is a push-and-pull in the character dynamics. If both characters like each other and aren't shy about it and have no reservations with being together then there's simply no conflict in the character dynamics and as a result no push-and-pull. Friction is where the sparks fly. The friction is necessary, so the character dynamics are written around creating friction between characters. This is basic, standard, fundamental writing. And yes, it applies to commercial erotic manga. In real life, friction, push-and-pull, conflicts, etc, between two people or even among many individuals can arise from an infinite number of factors, even if those factors have to be of sexual nature. And real life is a like "subset" of fiction, not the other way around, so everything that exists in real life will also exist in fiction(if someone uses it in a fictional work), so there is nothing preventing Japanese authors from replacing this rather "tired" dynamic between anime/manga couples by something else. Therefore, the only possible explanations for such thing to be so common is that either the Japanese men(I'm not sure about Japanese women) prefer it that way or the industry, somehow, forced it on them for so long that it became a part of their "anime/manga culture"(in which case, it also means that they like it?).
>but when working with a publisher the publisher is trying to create a product that sellsYes, this is the most likely reason, if it sells, then it means that the Japanese men(I'm not sure about Japanese women) like this inverted world where the more unappealing the guy is by real-world standards, the more girls will fawn over him in the fictional (inverted) world. And, conversely, the more appealing he looks to real people the more disliked he will be in their fictional (inverted) world.