Hmm, very interesting… It seems that a lot of what’s been going on this whole time plotty-wise isn’t quite what it appears right beneath the surface, nor even beneath that surface. It runs far deeper than probably anyone involved, be it at the top, the bottom, the middle, or branched off, may fully understand. However, I like this. And it appears that the CCC was never actually bad. Zero One was forced into a deal she didn’t want to have to make, and Queen and Zero Two/Kikuhara wanted to protect her but also stick it to the government. The bad things the CCC did was by “contract” of sorts or rather by orders from someone who could not be refused, not even a politician could refuse them. But now, they’re at liberty to shape the CCC into a different image and they have been doing so…and more. What exactly is Shirase’s/Zero One’s terrorist attack? Is it going to be far worse than the suicide bombing bereaved parents? Likely so…
And romance is still bubbling and churning at every waking corner. I really love all the representation this mangaka normalizes by depicting it as it would be today— and then delving into the issues the people involved have to face, such as with Eka and Queen.
Nine and Nanako’s admiration and love for Kikuhara is also endearing most especially when they also love each other similarly but also very differently, in ways neither quite understand or are comfortable with yet.
I really like seeing all the walls broken down, both with story and with love. Only two volumes left. I’m excited to close this series. I really desire to consume it all, and perhaps this time I can really burn the memory of an good or decent ending into my brain. Though I think I have my guesses of how it will all end. We’ll see!