The computer that runs my manga server got borked this week so I’m running behind. Could I have read this just fine not using Mokuro? Of course, but that would have been more work
I have made it far enough though that I was ALSO waiting for @simias’s comment
Also, to be fair, we had a bit more information than @simias, I definitely remembered the scene in Hachi’s room clearly so there was no way I could ever like Takumi, even though the author tried!
The scene early in their “relationship” where he brags that he’s already had her and then goes back to her to spite Trapnest was also reason enough to hate him forever.
That’s the idea, although それより is very idiomatic and is more like “beyond that” or “putting that aside” or something like that. He’s basically disregarding what’s going on before that and makes it about himself.
Not my favorite chapter.
My favorite chapters are when there’s a lot of Nana + Hachi interaction, or a lot of Hachi, so this definitely wasn’t one of them
I do like Yasu a lot though, so at least there was that. Pretty stand-up guy as usual. His ex comes crying to him, and he doesn’t take advantage of her.
Looked up 仮面ライダー, it’s a show that ran from 1971 to 1973, too old for me, didn’t have the reference :o
I also liked Nana and Nobuo’s talk. Nana feels like she wanted to help him and ended up using him one more time instead, but I do think it helped him too, when she told him how much it had meant a difference for her that he has always been there for her.
Excited for BLAST’s デビュー, sounds like it’s going to be anytime now! (and possibly with some drama, if the paparazzi keep at it)
Also maybe it’s time I ask, somehow I’m not clear on everybody’s background.
Nana met Ren at 15, he was 17 and playing with Nobu and Yasu. I think they had two years together as a couple before he left to join Trapnest, by then she was 18. Then at 20 she went to Tokyo too.
Yasu was in a relationship for 2 years with Reira/Layla while the two of them and Takumi were (highschool? college?) students at the same place. I think I remember reading at some point that Takumi was 26 now? Yasu same age, Reira 1 year younger?
My two big question marks are, are all of those from the same town (Nana, Ren, Yasu, Takumi and Reira)? And how old were Yasu / Reira / Takumi when the Yasu - Reira relationship happened?
Could work if it was before Nana met Ren. Then Yasu was the one left behind by Takumi and Reira because he wanted to stay to become a lawyer. Then Takumi came back to steal Ren.
Yeah not the most interesting chapter, but it seems to be setting up a lot of drama at least!
I didn’t bother piecing together the backstories but it’s true that it all feels a bit murky. I still wonder if we’ll eventually get an explanation for ナナ getting expelled and the prostitution rumors. Surely the author didn’t set that up randomly?
Caught up after busy holiday mumbo jumbo and starting on chapter 31!
Thoughts and prayers
Whew…yeah this volume has been heavy so far. In the last volume, I part of me could appreciate that Takumi was taking thing so seriously (a SMALL part of me). But in this volume, he is an absolute unforgivable monster. The scene with Nana, Hachi, and Takumi all at the kitchen table and Hachi unable to say a word…it’s so, so painful.
The scene of Nana and Nobu having dinner was very special. Nana is always teasing Nobu, or demanding things of him, so it was nice to see her leaning on him.
Reira obviously is in love with Takumi. Does Takumi not have any lingering feelings for her? I feel like I can’t quite piece that apart.
The scenes of Reira alone in Yasu’s apartment listening to the Eric Clapton CD, and Shin trying to learn the song “Layla” on guitar are somewhat amusing if only because that song is like…dad rock, but the scenes on the page are so much more elegant and poignant than the song. I dunno, I like a lot of classic rock, but I lowkey hate Eric Clapton.
