A quick recap
There is quite a bit of unnecessary drama in volume 3, and I’m not going to lie, it stressed me out. After Kusakabe causes Iroha to get upset with him and run away, he returns to the friend group. He apologizes off-handedly to Iroha’s friends for the mean comment he made about them, but he never actually apologizes to Iroha.
While they were seperated, Iroha was alone with the boy who confessed to her.. And even though she turned him down once, he felt the need to shoot his shot again and pulled her into a hug. She later admits that the hug flustered her, and she feels incredibly guilty about this for a long time.
When she later goes to make up with Kusakabe, she admits to him that she did hug another boy. Kusakabe tells her straight that usually that alone would be cause enough for him to break up with a girl, but since she’s extra special to him, he forgives her.
I’m really not sure why Iroha was the only one apologizing in this scene, as in my eyes she did absolutely nothing wrong, but moving on…
A few months later, Kusakabe is complaining to his male friends that he and Iroha have done nothing even remotely romantic since they kissed during the school trip – months ago. He doesn’t tell his complaints to Iroha though, opting to instead avoid her.
Iroha confronts one of his friends to figure out exactly why she’s being avoided, and the friend lays everything out to Iroha and her friends.
Iroha decides to try and confront Kusakabe at her house, finally doing some of the couple-y things that he seems to be longing for. When he gets there though, he clashes with her younger sister almost instantly. He spends basically all of their would-be alone time arguing with a 5 year old, and by the time the argument is just about finished, their group of friends also arrive at Iroha’s house.
By the time they’re finally able to sneak away, Iroha tells him rather bluntly that she wants to do couple-y things, like kiss, with him, but he turns her down! He tells her he’s terrified to touch her, and asks her to wait for him.
My Thoughts on the Volume
I think Kusakabe is my least favourite male love interest out of everything I’m currently reading. He’s childish, doesn’t apologize even when he’s wrong, and argues with children.
I understand both he and Iroha are young, and Iroha has absolutely no experience with men, but I just find them rather frustrating. Kusakabe is rather mean to Iroha’s friends, and Iroha apologizes for basically breathing at this point.
The only reason I’m continuing to read this manga is because I’m curious to see where the story goes. I’m really not rooting for anyone, but I am here to watch the trainwreck.
There really isn’t any visible character growth, especially in Iroha. The romance is rather toxic in my eyes, and I think Iroha needs to make male friends before finding a serious boyfriend. Kusakabe needs some therapy.
Interested in reading this yourself? You can read a free sample of volume 1 here on Amazon Japan!
Maddies Manga 
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