This time, it’s Daisuke Niwa who’s being taken away, courtesy of the Second Hand of Time. It’s up to Dark to get Daisuke back, only it’s not going to be easy. Not when the only clue Dark has to getting to where Dasiuke is a painting Daisuke gave to Riku and a clueless Riku is getting underfoot (so what else is new?) It may be in part up to Daisuke to figure out what’s happening, trapped in a magical world with a fairytale heroine. Only he’d better hurry and un-riddle the situation, because whatever magic sustains Freedhert’s world is unraveling. Besides the chemistry between Dark and Satoshi isn’t the same without Daisuke and it’s starting to affect the school play.
This time, Dark and Daisuke shared in a more serious storyline involving the world of Ice and Snow, trying to solve its mystery while Satoshi got more of the comedy, finding himself ironically cast in the school play as Phantom Thief Dark. Satoshi still got one of the most interesting lines in this volume, brings the reader’s attention to his ancestors, their artwork, and their connection with the Cultural Revolution. He also gives dark an intriguing snippet of enigmatic advice to deliver to Daisuke, for Satoshi is well aware that the boy he’s come to care for is no longer occupying his own body. Even Kenji Saiga is aware of something being off with Daisuke and Riku picks up an odd vibe. The three people who find Daisuke cuter than Dark can all sense his absence and even Dark, who wanted Daisuke’s body for himself, finds it’s not the same with Daisuke gone. Lots of sweetness and emotional growth mingled alternately with a touch of epic fantasy and comedy in particular story arc, making it one of the best we’ve had in the manga yet.