In the Volume 16 Epilogue:
The J Novel translation is:
There was no sensuality in his touch, only the compassionate concern you might show a sick person.
My life might be easier if you would get aggressive.
If he tried something outrageous, then she could get angry at him, and the fury might drive Kokuyou from her mind.
Originally the Japanese was
壬氏が猫猫の背中を 撫でる。そこに情欲の 類はなく、ただ病人を心配するような優しさがあった。
（いっそ 嚙みついてくれたらいいのに）
理不尽な行動に対して怒りでもわけば、克用のことなど頭から薄れるかもしれない。
Currently, the translation for "いっそ 嚙みついてくれたらいいのに" has been rendered as:
"My life might be easier if you would get aggressive."
I believe this phrasing is unnecessarily vague and fails to capture the specific emotional nuance of the original Japanese text.
In the preceding lines, Jinshi is stroking Maomao’s back with a gentle, platonic care described as lacking any "lust" (情欲) and resembling how one treats a patient:
壬氏が猫猫の背中を 撫でる。そこに情欲の 類はなく、ただ病人を心配するような優しさがあった。
Maomao’s internal response "いっそ 嚙みついてくれたらいいのに" is a direct, sharp contrast to that gentleness. She is wishing for a physical "bite" specifically to trigger a sense of indignation or anger, which would help distract her from the distressing thoughts regarding the Kokuyo situation.
The choice of "get aggressive" introduces several issues:
Ambiguity: "Aggressive" can imply a wide range of behaviors, including physical violence, beating, or choking, which distorts the character's intent.
Loss of Specificity: The original Japanese is straightforward. Maomao isn't asking for general aggression; she is specifically thinking of a "bite" as a counterpoint to the soft stroking she is currently receiving.
I suggest a more faithful translation that retains the specific imagery of the original text. Something closer to:
"I almost wish he’d just bite me instead."
"If only he would just go ahead and bite me."
These options maintain the author's intended contrast and preserve the internal logic of Maomao’s monologue without introducing the broader, more violent connotations of "aggression."
