Hino seems to have a lot of past trauma/baggage. I don't expect any true romantic development before we get a ''Koguma helps Hino come to term with stuff'' arc

Yeah, I mean, it generally is easier to work through issues when you've got someone near and dear helping, and it's been clear from the first volume that there are issues. Tropes generally don't develop in a vacuum. We still don't know any details about them, which is kinda remarkable 96 chapters in, all we have are hints and theories. Hino mentioning her grandma in this chapter stood out to me as well in that regard.

hino's grandma knowing the area is interesting in itself.

we know extremely little about hino's family, but we do know she's moved around a bit. i'll have to go back to a very early chapter with a flashback and try to suss out more details.

when kogu stays over one night (and shares a bed with hino in her underwear), hino tells her that she doesn't expect her parents to return that night. kogu also notices a family altar.

does hino live alone? is her grandma around? if so, why haven't we seen her? we can assume her grandma (if she's real) has lived in the area for a while at least. is hino lying about her grandma to hide the fact that she spent a lot of effort trying to find the perfect spot for a kiss on her own? or is hino's grandma dead and she remembers her grandma showing her this spot as a kid? maybe her grandma is in a hospital? etc.

... tbh, I don't really care that much as long as there is more teasing. all i really need to sustain myself is loving bullying. it's what gives me life.

you need air and water? i need gentle bullying manga.

The theory was that her parents are both dead, explaining the altar and why she is living alone and the fact that she is vague about her parents.

The theory was that her parents are both dead, explaining the altar and why she is living alone and the fact that she is vague about her parents.

sure, but i'm more curious about her grandmother.

but we hadn't heard anything about her before. they obviously don't live together, or she would have had someone to care for her when she was sick. etc. etc.

They shoul just keep using BAKA instead of JERK.
Pretty cute series.

I'M DEAD
WE GOT ACTUAL PROGRESS
[legit screamed out a little "woo" at page 10 while I was reading the chapter]

For a normal human, yes. But for a manga protagonist, you can never underestimate their denseness.

I'm just imagining Hino's brain making dial-up modem sounds for three minutes as she tries to make a connection. Or more probably, struggles intensely to accept the obvious connection.

Re-reading the first chapter has shown me how far we've come without moving an inch.
The lines remain just as applicable and representative and the formula still applies.
Koguma be like "If you're okay with me..."
Hino be like "You don't have any obligation to go that far for someone like me." (all the while Koguma starts holding hands with interlocking fingers)
And it all ends with "Hino-san you jerk!"

It's all mostly been recontextualized through ever-so-slow development, but I'd say Hino's shell of self-loathing is starting to crack. She's seen that she can do well academically, her leathercrafting receives positive resonance, she might finally be just about ready to accept herself and their mutual feelings. A little push will be required. You go, little bear!

last edited at Mar 10, 2022 6:31PM

I never even noticed but the art style has developed quite nicely over the run

She dodged the question mates ;_;. Lots of Doki Doki sfx, but my heart had twice as many dokis... all for nothing but the same ol' undefined teasing!!!
(ノ｀Д´)ノ彡┻━┻

If this series gets axed, they may as well take an ax to my heart because I'll be heart broken. Please God sell a decent amount of copies of this in Japan.

last edited at Mar 11, 2022 5:31AM

Not as far as I hoped, further than I feared! Good chapter.

FINALLY WE ARE GETTING THEEEEERE

I'm fully hoping for a #reversal in the next chapter. I hope that Koguma's adorable little "sleeve grab" at the end of the previous chapter turns into her pulling Hino into a kiss on the lips. Especially after having waited for three full minutes with her eyes closed and lips pursed. A kiss on the cheek is definitely progress in the right direction but a thirsty little cub can only wait so long before she'll take things into her own hands and Koguma obviously wants it as much as Hino. We've had reversals in the past and I think (hope) the sleeve grab is a precursor to another reversal.

Kinniku Tarou's PC died so next chapter delayed

I just saw the preview image for chapter 97 on the authors twitter... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

^ is the scream behind your spoilers from the actual chapter or your reaction to whatever's happening in the chapter?

But something intimate DID end up happening Kogu...you held hands!

But something intimate DID end up happening Kogu...you held hands!

my headcanon is that kogu knew that hino was disappointed they didnt get to cuddle or anything, so she did that to be nice to her, which is really cute.

also, sorry this one was so late. just been exhausted and busy lately... :(

Oh ho, just a little bit of handholding for a treat.

also, sorry this one was so late. just been exhausted and busy lately... :(

No worries, always good to rest up and prioritize your health! Thanks as always.

But something intimate DID end up happening Kogu...you held hands!

my headcanon is that kogu knew that hino was disappointed they didnt get to cuddle or anything, so she did that to be nice to her, which is really cute.

also, sorry this one was so late. just been exhausted and busy lately... :(

No prob mate

I'm so upset.

I usually like choco girl just fine but I sorta hate her right now XP

I wanna know what the first movie she pulled out was~

I wanna know what the first movie she pulled out was~

same. i also want to know if she pulled it out on purpose to tease kogu, or she just legitimately got it for herself as research material. probably both knowing her...

...

Holding hands?!

my headcanon is that kogu knew that hino was disappointed they didnt get to cuddle or anything, so she did that to be nice to her, which is really cute.

also, sorry this one was so late. just been exhausted and busy lately... :(

I like that idea, would definitely be in character.

Any no worries, you give your time and energy to do this for us. You come first, we can be patient :D

-MISSION FAILED SUCCESSFULLY-