TAKOBOTO

with effort
I took the trouble to go and see him, but he wasn't there

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せっかくあいにいったのに、ともだちはいませんでした。

I took the effort to go and see my friend, but he wasn't there

せっかくいいだいがくにはいったのだからよくべんきょうするつもりです。

I worked hard to get into a good college, so I intend to study hard

ひとがせっかくつくってくれたりょうりをたべないのはしつれいだ。

It's impolite not to eat food which someone has taken the trouble of preparing for you. (from An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese)

せっかくかのじょにてがみをかいたのに、おくるのをわすれちゃった。

I took the effort to write a letter to her and forgot to send it.

せっかくははおやがかってきたシャツをどうしてもきようとしなかった。

After all of the trouble my mother went to buy the shirt, I did not wear it.

Is this just used when the outcome is negative?
I went to all the effort to do X, but 残念 it didn't work out...
like けっきょく

dc

sekkaku always seems to come at the start of a sentence

dc

I don't think the outcome is always negative as the exmplaes show.
折角・・・のに、（結局）negative.
折角・・・のだから、positive.

Miki