And this stubbornly continues not quite living up to its potential.

It almost worked - Kitoraka is an intriguing addition to the cast, and like Ru-chan, she’s blithely confident that she can win Yuu’s affection, unaware that Yuu is exclusively Atorisexual. She’s also pretty sharp, like Suzu, so she figures out some of the nuances that the others don’t get, even regarding Atori.

But it’s still somehow not gelling - the characters aren’t meshing. There isn’t that comfortable breeziness you get in the best ensembles, like YuruYuri or Gabriel Dropout or K-On, when every character plays a part in the greater whole.

It’s not bad - it’s just not particularly good either, and the clock is ticking.

“Wow. You’re an idiot, Waku.”

Yeah - I like her. She’s just the kind of wingman he needs.

Ah - my bad. I’m still catching up with the past chapters, so I didn’t even read these yet.

Let me poke around a bit. I might delete these…

I was sort of waiting for him to say it directly to her face.

Not that he ever would though.

Or that she’d get it even if he did.

They’re about the most disadvantaged would-be couple I think I’ve ever seen.

Makes me cheer for them just that much more though.

I really hate her mother.

That’s an intriguing reveal.

There was that chapter earlier when they were on their date and he saw an ad featuring “Akarin” and it seemed then that he suddenly figured out her secret, but then decided to just leave it alone. But I was never sure that that was exactly what happened, so haven’t been sure whether his later references to her sister were sincere or just him playing along and keeping her secret for her.

And presumably she figured out, but isn’t going to tell him, that she was jealous.

More progress in 8 chapters of this than 100 chapters of most.

They’re so good for each other.

I think the key is that they were both brave enough to stick their necks out the first time. The manga standard is that they never even manage to do that, so they never get any positive feedback and can’t move ahead. But these two both took a chance and made themselves vulnerable, and it worked out for them. They’re still scared and insecure, but in the end, they manage to ball up their courage and go for it, and it keeps working out.

And I’m pretty sure they just got their first in-universe shipper.

Just finished binging everything that’s out so far - 41 chapters.

The art is adorable, but the story very much is not, and the combination of the two is just right. The story is a really impressive sort of equilateral love triangle and it’s raw and surprising and gut-punching and very, very good. It could’ve been very dark and ugly, but there’s real warmth between the three principals that keeps it from slipping too far over the edge, but that also makes it all that much more vital. I’m very impressed, and looking forward to more.

D’awww… 😍

This still might come together. It feels like it has a fair amount of potential, but it just hasn’t quite found its groove yet.

Atori is slowly revealing herself to not just be a troll, but a bit of a sadist, which is keeping pace with Yuu’s growing masochism.

Ru’s entertaining in and of herself, but she hasn’t quite slotted into the ensemble yet.

Suzu needs some more character development. She’s the most aware of the lot of them, and there were hints early on that she has a long-time crush on Yuu, but that’s been about it.

Still giving it a chance…

Ooh… art by Yom. I’m going to have to check this out - Ganbare Douki-chan was adorable.

Mmm… Relena Peacecraft was my first anime crush.

Unfortunately, being completely ignorant of kanji, I’m stuck waiting. And waiting.

And yeah - Ysley and Paula shocked me all over again, just like they did in the anime, and just as with the anime, I had to remind myself that I’ve already seen them recover from worse, And worse that they’ve gotten at Rin’s hands.

Heike’s my hero.

My sentiments exactly.

It most reminds me of Wakaba Sanchi no Aoi Koi, in that it’s really tropish, but it’s so cute and done so well that it feels fresh anyway.

Yeah - that was an unexpected but effective combo.

I didn’t even consider the possibility that Nagisa would join in with Himemiya, not because she wouldn’t necessarily, but because she couldn’t, since she doesn’t get any of Himemiya’s innuendos.

As it turns out, she didn’t need to get them in order to play along, and it wrecked Ichinose either way.

Most recently, Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song. Every episode ends on a twist or a shocking reveal, which just demands going on to the next one. The only thing that stopped me from watching it straight through was that I started it late enough in the evening that I fell asleep.

On the other end of my timeline, the first one that did that to me was Elfen Lied. I sat down to watch the first episode and see what it was about, and six hours later, I was still there, finishing up the last episode.

86 did that to me so thoroughly that I only have really clear memories of the early episodes and the late ones - most of the in-between is a blur.

Madoka Magica can still do that to me, even after all these years and rewatches. Just something about the way the story unfolds sweeps me along with it.

Akudama Drive too. It takes a bit to really get going, but it hits its stride at about episide 3, and doesn’t let up until the epic ending.

In a completely different vein, if my mood is right Nichijou will do it to me.

Somehow Mai has become my favorite secondary character. She just has a sort of calmly philosophical approach to things that I really appreciate.

I’m still withholding judgment on this one. It hasn’t fully grabbed me yet, but it’s still promising.

Senpai is a surprisingly and amusingly determined troll, and Yuu is such a perfect target for her (reminiscent of Raphael and Satania in Gabriel Dropout). The dynamic between senpai and Suzu is interesting too, since they each seem to fully understand the other, while Yuu understands pretty much nothing about either one of them.

Yuu getting bullied by kindergartners was especially amusing.

Looking foward to getting to know Rura next episode - she might be the missing piece that’ll make this four girl ensemble complete.

And if nothing else, I do quite like the ED. - BAD SURPRISE