Are pages 186-188 supposed to be a flashback to before the series started? Seemed a weird transition.

Yes. Note the "Extra" at the top right; it's an omake extra, not a part of chapter 7.

Ah, I'd missed that. (Peril of phone reading?) Thanks.

Nooo, it ended on a cliffhanger!!

I need an update TT_TT

Random theory, I wonder if this like an FF8 situation, like maybe who we though is Hiro's mom is not her mom.