For all the complains and criticisms about Saburota being a lousy writer, the fact she gets so many people in a fuzz about the situations she puts the characters through is proof enough that she writes compelling characters.

Anyways

Important note, at no point was it confirmed that Mei has a fiance. That is purely Matsuri's supposition. Himeko does not make a statement one way or the other; it is likely she doesn't know whether it's true or not, and Shirapon is also guessing. It seems unlikely, given what we know of Mei's family situation, that that would be the case. So this may just be yet another dramatic misunderstanding.

Shame about the art. Needless to say, this was a really important chapter. Everything came spilling out, to everyone. It's all out in the open now. It's fitting that one of the proper pages was page 16 though...that look. Matsuri is coming for you, Mei. Public and passionate Yuzu-love declarations may be your only chance this time.

This is right on the money. People really needs to chill.

And here's a small tease of the anime that came with the digital version of YH

Yes, they are. Mei, again, has lost all agency of her own and now needs Yuzu to be a bigger part in her life in order to change it. The test of her character growth is that she was caught continually lying? Looks like she already failed the test, if only they had already dealt with this exact situation a long time ago...

So you have read the next chapters already? Because so far there's nothing at all that supports your reading. Mei was ready to confess this chapters before Matsuri (like the readers) jumped the gun and started to scream bloody murder over speculations from characters that aren't the ones up to date with whatever happens on the Aihara family household.

It's literally a direct parallel since it's the same exact situation. Mei is once again engaged to another arranged fiance without Yuzu's knowledge and requires Yuzu to step in to save her AGAIN.

Yuzu knew form the get go that Mei was engaged to the teacher so your comparison falls apart from the start.

You have got to be joking. Foreshadowing and easter eggs? Come on, please, where was the foreshadowing that Mei somehow got engaged again without anyone knowing? The fact that the mother doesn't say anything just shows that Saburouta is just pulling this out of her ass.

And that is precisely why I'm waiting to see where is Saburota going with all of this. Is not the firs time that people here creates huge narratives without basis. Just last month we had people 100% that Mei was dying

There have been four love triangles: Amemiya, Himeko, Sara, and Matsrui. Now here comes a fifth in the form of another arranged marriage. At this point Citrus can qualify as a harem manga with how many people are trying to get into Mei's panties.

Yuzu and Mei weren't into a relationship, let alone know each other when Amemiya was a factor on the plot and Yuzu step in not because she was in love but because she thought it was the right thing to do.

Himeko and Matsuri are the only ones who have actively try to force their feelings over the crushes. And Sara's confession wasn't a real love triangle since she was fast to step up as soon she was made aware of the situation and her role actually pushed Yuzu and Mei into a relationship.

Except they're not, the circumstances are the exact same. It's literally "SURPRISE! Mei has another arranged fiance! Isn't that so dramatic?"

No they aren't. The teacher was there to show the way Mei had lost any agency of her own and to allow Yuzu to make a dramatic entrance on Mei's life. Now this is a test for Mei's grow as character and one that will kickstart further development on the supporting cast.

Unless this is just a red herring and they are referring to the first arranged marriage that was called off then the parallels are there. At the very least it's lazy writing, ironically goes hand in hand with the lazy art.

What parallels are there? The teacher was an actual factor where he was a villain of sorts while here the fiances are complete non-entities since the focus is on the girls' actions and not them.

Come on, I've defended this series too from critics, but I have to admit that "clever" is not how I would describe Saburota's writing. You can only have so many different love triangles before they get repetitive.

She peppered the entire story with meaningful background events, foreshadowing and easter eggs. And there haven't been real love triangles other than Matsuri and Himeko

The circumstances between the first chapters and now is very different to say they are the same. Is like people claiming this summer trip was an exact mirror to the school trip where Yuzu met the twins, the context of both plots is completely different and people is seeing parallels that aren't there.

Furthermore, as previous chapters have shown Saburota is actually a pretty clever writer and one that doesn't stretches outside conflicts on her plots. Remember how the whole thing with Matsuri's blackmail was solved on a couple of panels?

Wow, someone did not make it to deadline I see. Half of this chapter were barely sketches.

She had to work on the extras for Volume 8.

Personally I feel people are overreacting here and jumping the gun no unlike Matsuri herself is doing. We know Yuzu and Mei are endgame so arranged marriages is just the next obstacle to overcome and is pretty in line with the "We have to live for ourselves and make our own decisions" theme that has driven the entire story. And that is assuming Mei does indeed have a fiance and is not a red herring.

So, according to this

https://www.anime2you.de/news/162727/gamescom-marvelous-will-keine-spiele-zensieren-und-plant-uppers-lokalisierung/

The reason Valkyrie Drive got banned on Germany and Australia was the USK having issues with the game's DLC, not the game itself.

Per Google Translate

Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni's Steam Steam Release in Germany:
Marvelous is still in talks with the USK to see if a solution can be found to offer the game yet in Germany. As Marvelous sees the situation, the release of the Vita version was denied due to an error. Because the main reason for lack of age release is not the content of the game in itself, but an optional DLC. It is therefore hoped that the game will once again be presented to the USK in order to have it evaluated again.

from a recent interview with Takaki

KT: The game’s setting has the girls – they’re ninjas, they’re in ninja training school. It’s a very harsh life that they’re leading. And this is based on the way relationships form among girls who are on the same sports team, for example. They form very intense relationships – they’re teammates. And whether you want to see it as romantic or as something else, that’s maybe up to everyone to interpret on their own. But it’s [my] idea that people who spend very close time together, working very hard together on something, will have this sort of bond between them. And that’s basically what [I’m] trying to show. And just the idea that we shouldn’t shy away from these things. There’s beauty in a relationship when it’s two women together.

http://operationrainfall.com/2017/10/11/interview-senran-kagura/

From a recent interview with Marvelous Europe we finally have actual confirmation VD was a success both in Japan and worldwide.

'Valkyrie Drive, for those unfamiliar with the IP, is another series by the same producer: Kenichiro Takaki. Far more gratuitous than Senran Kagura, this sees players guide a lesbian couple through various over the top battles where stimulating one girl will allow her to transform into a weapon for the other.

It isn't hard to imagine how difficult it must be to sell or even promote either Valkyrie Drive or Senran Kagura in the West, where sensitivities to such content are much higher. Nevertheless, sales for the earliest titles encouraged Marvelous to continue rolling out the latter series across Europe.

"It surprised everyone," says Holmwood. "First of all with its success in Japan, and then with the success outside of that market. We didn't really know what to expect when we put out Valkyrie Drive on Steam, but in the first week it sold as many as we were forecasting for the first year. So clearly there is a demand for this."'

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-10-09-selling-the-sexualised-senran-kagura-to-the-west

Now all we need is the next VD game to have an SK character DLC.

Hopefully it will happen next.

By the way, the Bikini Party Edition is available worldwide now

https://twitter.com/PQubeGames/status/916302089244106752

Also, Mana Wara had some words to share about Rinka and Ranka's addition to PBS. Passed through GT so the wording is wonky but understandable I believe

It is already two years since Valkyrie Drive.
VD thanked you for your success line

Mr. Takagi was a person who thought very importantly about paintings and characters.
I hope to do something together again

And there's new information on Valkyrie Drive.
Rinka and Ranka will appear as playable characters in my favorite Senran Kagura!

Senran Kagura with nice characters ... ...! I am happy. (O ^ _ ^ o)
It was good, Rinka, Ranka

https://twitter.com/Mana_Wara/status/916224372313960448
https://twitter.com/Mana_Wara/status/916225301939593216

last edited at Oct 6, 2017 10:54AM

https://youtu.be/LdIJpwytqGc

Rinka and Ranka are DLC for PBS

So out of nowhere Takaki tweeted the following (I'm using Google Translate so the translation is wonky)

It is 2 years since broadcast animation version "Mermaid" of VALKYRIE DRIVE project started early on broadcasting. Because Kagura EV and Bikuni were making at the same time, it was quite difficult every day, but it was one work that could realize similar directionality. Also……

Please be sure to charge the PSN wallet as 10/5 will be released variously, including new information, follow-up & update, reservation and so on. Gulp

https://twitter.com/kenichiro_taka/status/915605817532940288
https://twitter.com/kenichiro_taka/status/915608519247765504

last edited at Oct 4, 2017 1:13PM

https://store.playstation.com/#!/en-gb/games/themes/valkyrie-drive-bhikkhuni-theme-(bikini-party-edition)/cid=EP4293-PCSB01011_00-ETH0000000000841

https://store.playstation.com/#!/en-gb/games/valkyrie-drive-bhikkhuni-bikini-party-edition/cid=EP4293-PCSB01011_00-0000000000000BIK

If you are in Europe, you can buy the Bikini Party theme and the Bikini Party Edition for just 1.99 and 30 Euros respectively.

Just got confirmation from PQube that it will be available on the US soon
https://twitter.com/PQubeGames/status/913077860797173761

last edited at Sep 27, 2017 12:37PM

Well, back when the series was airing, Izawa, Iguchi and Kubo were together on a radio show and a recurrent joke was that Izawa hadn't tell her parents about the show. They were constantly teasing her about that on every episode. It was quite fun.

Somewhat related and since it lacks a proper thread, SK newest game finally let Daidouji go full lesbo for Rin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKsLV0M1GyM

I love it.

Turns out the series' best chapters are those focused on its main characters. Who knew?

last edited at Sep 25, 2017 1:54AM

That ending killed me.

The best part of these bonus chapters is that they out Yuzu as a massive yurifag. How long until she adds videos to her collection?

I love Matsuri proclaiming herself as Harumin's GF but why did she felt the need of running away at the end? To avoid Nene slipping in front of Harumin?

I think it has a nice head start from Harumin side as well, given her unusual concern for Matsuri through this chapter.

It's over guys, there nothing that will ever top that title.

So this chapter pretty much confirmed that Harumin/Matsuri is end game, right?

Mamori's Seiyuu, Mikako Izawa turned 23 yesterday

https://twitter.com/izawamikako/status/905084509023903744

Happy Birthday!

I wonder if she finally told her family about VD

https://youtu.be/-G9XAwlP5V8

Anime coming in January

It always make me smile to read things like these.

In the context of this discussion because being fictional characters the ones involved, is completely harmless.