As Fumiya’s arc comes to a close, we start to focus more on Touji, one of Zen’s friends. Just as he’s lamenting that all his friends are too focused on girls, an unstoppable force makes its way into his life. Perhaps he’ll be able to learn something through observing Zena and Risa?
You can read a free sample of volume one below!
Author
Genre & Tropes
Info about this series (ongoing)
There are nine volumes published in Japanese, and eight digitally in English.
My thoughts on this volume (Spoilers!)
As Fumin is my favourite side character, I was so happy reading the first half of this volume! The amount of character progression he has made over the past nine volumes is incredible. Fujimomo really has a talent for humanizing each and every one of her characters.
While I do think Risa can can take some credit for inadvertently softening his edges, I think a lot of his growth came from him taking his life into his own hands. His decision to go through with taking that notoriously difficult entrance exam, passing it, and then turning down that acceptance? SUCH a power move. While he says he did it all to prove to his family that he is capable of doing anything, I think a little part of him also did it for himself.
I was a tiny bit worried when he made the decision to confess his feelings to Risa—it’s clear from the beginning that she would never accept his feelings. I was worried about how he would react to the inevitable rejection…but thankfully he was an absolute gentlemen about it, even offering to help her study should she need it. I really don’t know why I was so worried, he’s never been malicious to Risa, even when he was more villainous.
The second half of this volume focuses a lot on Touji and his newfound feelings for Kuma. While of course Zen and Risa are still in the spotlight, I was very happy to see these two get more time on the page! Up until now, Touji hasn’t had all that much character development. I understood him to be a boy that idolized Zen and disliked Risa because she stole Zen’s focus. Him realizing he has feelings for Kuma changes his outlook on why Zen does what he does, and watching him make that realization was incredibly funny.
Things I particularly enjoyed (spoilers)
❤️ The boys tailing Zen and Risa on their date, with Touji absolutely freaking out at the completely normal things Zen does—How could he happily take pictures of her!?
❤️ The little snapshots of how Fumin expected his big confession to do—I too wanted to see the fireworks.
❤️ Risa saving Fumin from the hooligans in the park, completely ruining any chance Fumin had at a cool confession.
❤️ Zen talking sense into Risa, convincing her to go visit the cat they saved together.
❤️ Zen eventually taking the cat in so Risa can see it whenever she wants!! Why didn’t he just do that from the start?
❤️ Zen helping Risa skate by pulling her around everywhere. I have a feeling she’s going to take skating lessons after this.
Maddies Manga 
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