This report covers chapter 69 to 83. It is a reread.
To be fair, the rating should be 3.5. Why the drop of 0.5 from the consistent average rating of 4? Cause it was a little hard to understand Kariu's actions and feelings after everyone's honest declaration of their stance. I mean, I knew Kariu was stubborn and the most critical of herself. But after hearing what Honoka said, what Hishiro said, the support that Ohga and Arata provided, why is she still being so wishy-washy about appearing in the games? I suppose Kariu is the kind that prioritise results more than enjoyment of the process? Or maybe I am too far aware from the stage of life as a teenager myself.
That aside, this volume was great in seeing Hishiro stepping up and doing something, doing something right no doubt, for her friends that she had come to cared. We also understand better the origins of her inept social skills. Transitioning can be hard even for adults, not to mention a child like her.
I mentioned before school is like a mini replica of society, not just the academics part. Sometimes, I wondered if school was more of a society than work life would be. School is the "start" station where you find your fellow buddies, possibly forming life long buddies, to learn and explore things together and figure this thing called life - once you miss the train of adolescents and young adults, it's always arguably harder to find people that is in the same stage of life as you or resonate with. Not to mention, teenagers in school can be more harsh because we adults pick up skills to be more polite socially, even if we aren't the most emphatic. Hishiro was who she was at the beginning of the story because there were no one like Arata or Kariu that were patient with her, showed her how to be more aware, and be her friends. So after awhile, Hishiro stopped trying too.
We also explored the theme of expectations placed on you because you are exceptionally skilled. Your efforts are sidelined because you are talented to begin with. Worse than others envying you, you yourself could also sabotage your potential when you buy in to the belief of talent > effort - a term known as fixed mindset. After all, you really could achieve it with less effort compared to others. So, do you know if you have a fixed or growth mindset? What are you naturally good at? What are you doing about them?