Aju and Tsukasa's relationship and "determination" are really well done. I definitely get the sense that the mangaka wants to talk about systemic issues through the lens of this ogre vs human thing, and this is the first time we really get to dig into it.
I also really like both characters. Tangents focused on side characters like this are often hit or miss for me, but in this case they're super compelling in their own right, and also fit the larger themes of resisting the pathways set before us by our forebears that Hinata and Naori are also dealing with.