This story is really conflicting, on the one hand the characters are very fun and light-hearted and yet at the same time the kind of 'game mechanics' of the world are really dark. Still got to admit it's probably one of my favourite ongoing series.

Always kind of baffled by the people who hate this series so much, but are still so endlessly obsessed with it.

I probably fit into this category. I even read some comments about the latest chapter hating on it and almost decided not to read it. I think its because it feels like it has been the same drama repeated for a large amount of the story. Its like you feel like you know how it will (or hope) it will end, but it is taking the most convoluted way imaginable to get there. Also out of the four main characters, one is clearly detestable, one is reasonably so, and another is almost just getting in the way. It gets compared to Citrus a lot, and I feel at least with that series, although it also has drama for drama's sake, at least the characters are nice.

With Citrus it feels like 2 steps forward, 1 step back (It didn't use to be like this imo, i think recently its improved)
For this it feels like 1 step forward, but then get thrown backwards and kicked on the floor (as i said i probably fit into the category of 'endlessly obsessed').

Still, can't wait to see how angry the next chapter makes me!

why am I still reading this, every chapter always leaves me feeling like I've just been punched in the stomach

then the next chapter comes out and I think maybe things will start getting better!