I adore every single little thing about this chapter and these developments. I don't even know how to approach everything I'd like to touch on but here goes.
Firstly, this is more of a joke than anything else, but the dashing prince hit Mini Hinata hard, and I'm very amused by that.
Some time ago I commented that I was hoping Sakura would get involved in the play, and while that itself didn't happen, I'm absolutely loving the idea of the collaboration between the clubs. For one, Takamine just pretty much helped bring Sakura's club to life with that, as well as give her (all the more) reason and justification to hang out with herself and the other friends she made over there. Then there's the implication that Sakura and Takamine will work together since I doubt that the theater club will release its clutches from her, and with Sakura being more present, Takamine herself will voluntarily be more present as well. The idea of Sakura writing for/about Takamine was something I was drooling for from the moment it became a possible option, so please and fucking thank you! But more than anything, and I'll slide it into the next section:
In my eyes, the crux of the chapter and of the play, and you could also say of this arc, is (in) the sentence "You were the one who made this world, just for me," and Takamine did just that. She made an entire world, both figuratively one of possibilities and opportunities and literally of welcoming friends and loved ones, all for her. And all because of her, as well. The sentence and idea behind it go both ways, since the world Takamine is seeing right now, one that was entirely foreign and alien to her, was made thanks to and with the help of Sakura and her presence in her life. It was incredibly sweet how in this chapter she realized and admitted that what she was feeling was excitement from the idea her friends, and Sakura in particular, would be there to watch her, and that is directly thanks to Sakura.
I don't know where this development leads and what the idea behind it is, but I absolutely love it. I believe there's so much room for it to develop and so many paths for it to take, and it's also just a perfect backdrop for the main focus of the story which is the developing relationship between Takamine and Sakura. It also just generally screams hey this series is gonna run for a while longer which just in and of itself is a good thing.
I also like how the story slid into revealing Takamine's surprise. It struck me really odd on page 14 that Mikemori and Sakura would be introduced to one another because, like, why? But as pages roll and the full picture is assembled it came as a surprise not only to Sakura but to myself as the (very) invested reader as well, which for whatever reason just made me feel super fucking happy and excited.
It also gave us the bottom panel of page 21. In a series that, for lack of a better way to put it, is known for how warm and affectionate and wholesome it is, this is, probably by far, the most affectionate, warmest expression in the series so far, and it is absolutely gorgeous. Especially with the given context. My eloquence is failing me at this point, but there are like 'girl in love' expressions and then there's this, which is all that and more, the sort of expression that says 'you are my everything', and I just love it so, so much.
And lastly, poor Takamine, the lass cannot get a second alone with Sakura. But I also love how this is contrasted by how both of their lives are visibly fuller and more fulfilling with all those "distractions" and "disturbances".
So yeah, no clue where this leads, what the endgame is, or why, but with a ride this enjoyable and competently executed, I don't really even care. Just give me more. More. Sugar.
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