かぐや様は告らせたい ～天才たちの恋愛頭脳戦～ 16

かぐや様は告らせたい ～天才たちの恋愛頭脳戦～[Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen] #16

by Aka Akasaka

エリートの集う秀知院学園生徒会で出会った会長・白銀御行と副会長・四宮かぐや…。この両想いであるはずの天才２人が、互いに相手に惚れさせ、相手から告白させようと日常の全てで権謀術数の限りを尽くす、新感覚のラブコメ!!　第16巻は、開始早々…怒涛のクリスマスが過ぎ、ついでに冬休みも過ぎ、いきなり新学期を迎える!?　ウルトラロマンティックな文化祭を経て急接近した白銀とかぐや様が、その間、特に何も――…無いわけがなく、更に急接近!!!!　一方、石上と伊井野、藤原と早坂の様子も何やらおかしく…各々が、一体どんな冬休みを過ごしたのか!?　回想形式でお届け!!

Genres: Manga, Romance, Seinen, Comedy, Young Adult, Humor, Slice Of Life

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2019

About the author

AKASAKA Aka
Name (in native language): 赤坂アカ

Zodiac: Virgo

Blood Type: O

Reviews

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaguya is the vice president of their prestigious academy’s student council and she's in love with, Miyuki, the president, and he with her! BUT both are well aware that in love there is always a winner... and neither wants to be the "loser!" As both are geniuses and quite proud they spend each day laying in wait for an opportunity to get the other to confess without losing face... only Chika, their secretary and Ishigami, their treasurer, seem ready to innocently mess up their careful machinations.

This felt a little anticlimactic to me. I guess I’ve anticipated them coming out as a couple several times through the series that I really didn’t expect it to happen in volume 16! It was still squeee worthy first love at its awkward finest. And I really loved how it was paired with Ishigami’s own forex into love. It was a great way to show young readers the realities of love.

I wasn’t really a fan of the way Mizuki’s father was intercut with their love confession. It was creative but distracting too. A bit of a storytelling gamble that didn’t pay off. Still I am curious where things will go from here. This is first time high school love. They’re meant to pull apart and go their own ways as they transition to college. I’m excited too see how the mangaka handles this.... will it be realistic or idealistic?

[Anushka Malik · Rating 3 out of 5]

-3 stars-

Chapter-wise breakdown and detailed review of Volume 16 :

Chapter 152: Nagisa Kashiwagi Wants to Conceal - Nagisa, you're not too bad. *wipes happy tears* The beginning of the volume seems promising!

Chapter 153: The Swallow's Cowry (Ice) - Gift shopping is a cute thing, especially if the gift is intended for someone special.

Chapter 154: Kaguya Shinomiya's Impossible Challenge: The Swallow's Cowry (Part 2) - Tsubame's christmas party! Pretty cool but I'm not invetsed so it doesn't have the same effect as Fujiwara's hilarious but ultimately cute christmas party had had.

Chapter 155: Kaguya Shinomiya's Impossible Challenge: The Swallow's Cowry (Part 3) - Yu and Tsubame, wowwww!

Chapter 156: Miko Iino Cannot Love (Part 2) - I really don't care about the other characters' stories! Gimme Shirogane and Kaguyaaaaa!!!!

Chapter 157: Chika Fujiwara Really, Really Wants to Eat - Fujiwara, you're cool but please make way for some Kaguya-Shirogane moments! That's what I signed up for!

Chapter 158: Miko Iino Cannot Love (Part 3) - Ohplease! I can't take much more of these pointless parallel stories!

Chapter 159: Kaguya..., Part 1 - KAGUYA AND SHIROGANE GO ON A DATE!!!! That's the stuff I waaaant. That's what I need from you Aka Akasaka. Oh, how wonderful!

Chapter 160: Kaguya..., Part 2 - Kaguya and Shirogane, you cutieessss! I really do tolerate the rest just to have a little time fawning over the two of you.

Chapter 161: Maki Shijo Wants to be Enlightened - It's a testament to just how boring I find the other characters that even a mention of one of them traveling to my own country (India) doesn't bring any excitement. *sigh*

[Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, my heart feels so full after reading this volume of Love Is War - honestly it might be one of my favourites of the entire series so far! 🥰

I love how this series can go from all the emotional feels in Chapter 160, there were tears in my eyes 🥹, to how funny Chapter 161 was. Finally Kaguya and Miyuki are a couple, but how will they navigate going on dates with how stubborn they both are with anything to do with relationships? 😅
India is the land of spiritual enlightenment!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The emotions of the characters still come across really well, and I think Yu and Tsubame's arc in this volume was the best of the lot. Kaguya and Miyuki are happy with their new love, nothin' new to see here. When your biggest worry is whether it's appropriate to hold hands, you're doing fine.

The humor in this one fell kind of flat for me--I don't think I chuckled even once--and for me this series is at its strongest when laughter and love drama walk hand in hand. It feels pedantic at times, most obviously when a couple of episodes end up being delivery vehicles for YA-level lectures on love, dating and relationships.

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: Kaguya-sama: Love is War, Vol. 16

Author: Aka Akasama

Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars



I am still having a great time with this one. In this one, we are still in the Christmas season and the characters are on winter break. This means that we are away from the school setting.



So many of our characters are coupling up and the we are seeing the start of these new relationships. It was nice, but it was not nearly as dynamic as all of the buildup. This could all change the deeper they get into their relationships. It’s the honeymoon period. It is cute and super sweet. I do feel like it is the calm before the storm. This series doesn’t go very long without having some kind of drama in it.



The calmness of these chapters was what the series needed. You can have all of the drama and the over the top, but sometimes you just need that moment to take a breather and get to enjoy the slower moments. The slowness will only make the relationships feel that much more real. It will make all of the ups and downs have that much more of an impact.



The artwork, once again, is what sells me on the story. The way the author makes their facial expressions and the whole awkwardness of the situation adds to the experience. It is simple, but, yet, it works for our story.



Overall, I am still enjoying this series.

[Facundo Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es 9/10. no pregunten

[di(vi) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly one of the best volumes

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm having so much fun binging this series! This volume focuses more on the side characters and I really liked that... any scene between Ishigami and Iino is pure gold in my book. To be continued!

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Alcohol consumption
Physical injuries

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[prathaaaaaaaa]

i was incredibly worried about that india chapter (it wasn't too bad, so)

[Daya · Rating 5 out of 5]

rip

[Adam]

Volume 16 switches gears off of our protagonists to catch up with the side cast, and yet still manages to bring the central premise of the manga to a close, kicking off an entirely new status quo as the characters head into a fresh school season. So let's break it down.

Ishigami vs. a flight of stairs
I've not talked much about Yu Ishigami in these reviews so far. He's absolutely the trickiest character for the series to pull off, given that he was originally one bad google search away from getting red-pilled, but as is so often the case, Akasaka's heart shines through to make him bigger than that. Ishigami embodies a lot of the tropes of the loner nice guy you might be familiar with, but each one is given direction, integrity and directed from a place of caring. There is a moral toughness to Ishigami that both steers him into trouble but also makes his sense of empathy and desire to grow feel that much more genuine. His chapters with Tsubame here illustrate it perfectly: trying his best to fit in with a party, to self-pity at Tsubame leaving him on his own, to fear at his situation when she arrives, to the gut-wrenching moment where he puts it all on the line and it isn't reciprocated in return.

That it leads to a moment of falling down the stairs whilst simultaneously wishing for a higher power to "kill me now" is another of those moments in the series which are a bit #tooreal, but so perfectly capture that blunt sense of self-loathing we can feel in that moment (note that he also hates himself for the selfless reason of hurting Tsubame's feelings - this isn't just about 'not having sex'). Big stuff for a character that the series still considers "background", but all in great service of someone whose gloomy exterior hides a caring soul. My younger, sixth-form self would have identified with him quite a lot - for whatever it's worth.

Fujiwara returns to the Ramen Dojo
The original ramen chapter was a fucking delight, and this one is - if not quite as good - also a terrific time. Turns out there's a lot of flexibility with what these food battle chapters can tackle: from an absurd parody of gatekeeping, to a loss of self-identity during old age. I can't fucking wait to hear what absurd noises Chika's voice actor is going to make when they put this scene in the anime.

Mika Iino vs All Reasonable Sense
I can totally believe that Miko Iino would be a largely disliked character by the audience - she's literally the fun police. But like everyone, she has delicate reasons behind her actions, and a hell of a lot of vulnerabilities. Her treatment of Ishigami is very transparently a way of her reckoning with those fears without actually acknowledging any of it to others or herself, which makes these chapters largely setup for a later arc. It was fairly clear it was coming, even long before Ishigami gave her the heart during the Hoshin festival, but it's good to see that Akasaka will make the characters work for the outcome.

Alright, we'll call it a draw
And so the battles of wits between Kaguya and Miyuki come to a close. I'm sure other battles will pop up in their place, but you couldn't ask for a clearer cutting off point between what this manga used to be and what it is about to become. For the record, I thought these chapters were a great way of handling it, couching this wonderful payoff in some well-earned screwball comedy (see: Kaguya mistaking Miyuki's bathroom suggestion for a sexual request). If anyone is looking for feedback, I'd say that the speech bubble placement during the double-page confession is a little confusing, and doesn't make it particularly clear whether Kaguya is confessing both pieces of dialogue (fantastic) or whether the "I love you" is Shirogane's (still good, but less great than the former). But fuck if I didn't shout out "finally!" when the chapter came to a close.

Maki vs....India?
A top-tier slice trolling, in which Akasaka goes on vacation and turns his holiday photos into a chapter. I clench in fear whenever a manga goes to a foreign country as to whether we're about to go straight to racist town (I blame Stardust Crusaders) but this seemed like a bit of a minor love letter, complete with a tour guide who is drawn so realistically that I can only assume that it was Akasaka's actual tour guide that he threw in the book as a tribute. It's as superfluous as it gets, but the charm radiating off the page is undeniable.

Thoughts for next time:
-What does Love is War look like when the main cast finally start dating?
-Will we learn what Tsubame meant by "Your Poyo is acrid"?
-What the fuck was going on with Fujiwara and Hayasaka?

[Rereader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I jumped the gun in my last review saying that Kaguya and Miyuki are a couple because the "officially" became one this volume, but I didn't give a shit because AHHHHHHH, THEY'RE SO CUTE!!!

This was an interesting volume for many reasons. I actually liked the multiple flashbacks and was amazed at how seamless they were. They were well placed in the story and there wasn't a lot of jumping from past to present, making it easier to follow. There was enough variety with the stories that you weren't dealing with love the entire time which kept the story from feeling too repetitive.

I have to say, probably my favorite chapters were the ones dealing with Tsubame and Ishigami. My heart broke for him and while I was kind of mad at Tsubame, I also completely understood where she was coming from. Something that this series does well is highlight teenage stupidity and poor decision making. Teenagers do and say stupid things because they're still learning how to deal with love and social situations, and while some stupid decisions may only cause cringey reactions from others, some decisions can do serious harm. In Tsubame's case, I don't think she had any malicious intentions for her decisions, but it still hurt Ishigami and he ended up hurting her. It was kind of hard to read, but because it was so realistic to real life.

While it was a little disappointing seeing Kaguya's and Miyuki's ultimate confession being done as a voice over from Miyuki's father, I did like the subtle message behind it. Miyuki's father has had terrible luck with love, but rather than be bitter and cynical when giving Tsubame advice, he uses his knowledge of Miyuki's struggles with Kaguya to offer hope that true love is possible. It was a nice touch and I appreciated it, even if it dampened the dramatic tension of the confession.

Anyway, this was another great volume. I'm curious to see what trials await Miyuki and Kaguya now that they're a couple, and what will become of Ishigami and Ino. Can't wait for the next volume!

[Vier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno de los mejores volumenes, pero a parte de lo que ya han mencionado otros, lo más interesante es lo sucedido entre Ishigami y Tsubame, triste y duro el ver cómo un simple acto puede dañar a otros sin quererlo y a si mismo como el lo dice si hay algo que duele o que nadie merece es un amor a medias

[Elizabeth Núñez · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Como disfrute los capítulos de Miyuki y Shinomiya! Iino date cuenta, por fa. Mi capítulo favorito fue el 159, el panel en el que están al lado de la máquina de refrescos Miyuki y Shinomiya pudo conmigo.

[rads · Rating 3 out of 5]

tsubame and ishigami made me physically sick

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas break has occurred and what could possibly have happened? As it turns out, a hell of a lot - and not just for the newly minted lovebirds either. This volume of Kaguya-sama has arrived and it is taking no prisoners.

Last volume I queried if this series could keep bringing its A-game now that things were sorted between Kaguya and Miyuki. Apparently the answer is, in fact, no, it will be better than ever.

The first chapter is a masterpiece, picking up after a clearly eventful break for all the student council and then promising to reveal how all these genius little story hooks came about. It’s SO very good at drawing the reader in.

The beating heart of this volume is wild and free and all over the place - we get a bunch of Kaguya and Miyuki being ridiculous and it’s nice to see that dating is just making them over complicate things in a new way - once Kaguya’s date classification system goes out of control, Miyuki is lucky to make it out with his dignity intact.

But the true star of this book is Yu. Poor, poor Yu. The triangle between Yu, Mio, and Tsubame is ill-defined - it might even be a tent - but it is there and as messy as the best shojo manga, exacerbated by Yu’s incredible capacity for self-loathing.

Tsubame’s holiday party provides the catalyst for disaster, as a chance encounter with liquor-filled chocolates (you can take two shots for somebody getting drunk on those, per the Generalized Manga Drinking Game rules) leads to... problematic opportunities.

Tsubame accidentally hurts Yu, who himself accidentally hurt Mio, by being, to her mind, incredibly thoughtful. Yu, however, doesn’t see it that way and hurts her back (by being the good guy, ironically) and the fallout from that leaves him in a really bad place.

That leads to the events revealed in the first chapter and while it’s good for the Yu and Mio pairing in one way, it is incredibly bad in another. Mio is in no way equipped to deal with the hand she’s been dealt and I am so interested to see that storyline going forward.

I do particularly like how Yu and Mio work together - she says she hates him but still thinks of him as a human being, while he constantly looks out for her because her incredibly sheltered nature means she has no maturity when dealing with either her feelings or romantic overtures.

As an aside, Mio’s room and her secret fetish (so on brand for her) really have to be seen to be believed.

It’s also still as funny as ever. I think the weakest chapter might be Fujiwara’s ramen adventure, but it’s still good and the final panel was my biggest laugh of the whole book.

There’s also a ridiculous side character trip to India, which feels like the biggest middle finger to manga school trips where they go sightseeing and there are a pile of photorealistic backgrounds and there’s not much of a point. It had me grinning the whole time.

Throw in a chapter where the narrative is dragging the book’s core premise (courtesy of a hilariously accurate [somehow...] palmist) while simultaneously, literally, being as sweet and romantic as its ever been and you have a book that is super confident in what it’s doing with the skill to pull it off.

Five stars. No hesitation. It is one of the best (quite possibly THE best) volumes of this series to date and for it to come 16 volumes in is really saying something. I’m not expecting to read a better book this week.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaguya-Sama: Love is War, Vol. 16 by Aka Akasaka is a masterpiece that continues to capture the hearts of readers with its clever blend of romance, comedy, and intricate character dynamics. With each volume, the series evolves and enthralls, and this latest installment is no exception. Akasaka's ability to weave a tale of love, rivalry, and personal growth is simply astonishing.

One of the standout features of this volume is the development of the central characters, Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane. Their dynamic has always been the driving force behind the series, and in Vol. 16, their relationship takes a significant step forward. Akasaka expertly portrays their internal struggles, allowing readers to empathize with their vulnerabilities and hopes. Witnessing their growth and witnessing their ever-increasing chemistry is an absolute joy.

Furthermore, the supporting cast members, such as Chika Fujiwara and Yu Ishigami, receive their fair share of attention in this volume. Akasaka explores their individual arcs, injecting both humor and heart into their stories. The depth and complexity of these characters make them feel remarkably real, and their interactions never fail to elicit genuine emotion.

The writing in Kaguya-Sama: Love is War, Vol. 16 is as sharp and witty as ever. Akasaka's dialogue is fast-paced, filled with clever wordplay and hilarious banter. The constant battle of wits between the characters is an absolute delight, keeping readers on their toes and eagerly turning the pages. It's impressive how Akasaka seamlessly balances comedy and emotional depth, providing readers with an experience that is both hilarious and heartfelt.

In terms of artwork, the illustrations in this volume are exquisite. The character designs are visually appealing, capturing the essence of each character's personality. The attention to detail is commendable, and the expressive facial expressions further enhance the emotional impact of the story. Whether it's a tender moment or a comedic exchange, the art beautifully complements the narrative.

Finally, the pacing of the story is impeccable. Each chapter builds upon the previous one, creating a seamless flow that keeps readers fully engaged. From lighthearted moments to intense romantic tension, the narrative transitions effortlessly, ensuring that the story never loses its momentum.

In conclusion, Kaguya-Sama: Love is War, Vol. 16 is an outstanding addition to an already exceptional series. Aka Akasaka's masterful storytelling, coupled with brilliant character development, sharp humor, and stunning artwork, make this volume an absolute must-read. Whether you're a longtime fan of the series or a newcomer, this volume will undoubtedly leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment. Prepare to be swept away by the rollercoaster of emotions that is Kaguya-Sama: Love is War.

[Deji · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me encantó por fin saber los detalles de las navidades de los demás. Pero esa escena iniciar de Kaguya con el presidente fue de lo más tierna! Y Kashiwagi intentando protegerlos se ganó mi corazón

Ese lado de Hayazaka me sorprendió... ¿Curiosidad o descubrimiento? Solo el tiempo lo dirá xD

Ahora, con lo que me pareció más interesante: la relación entre Miko e Ishigami... Desde que Miko se unió, se notaba que su relación con él era especial y después del final de la 3 temporada era más que obvio que algo iba suceder. Pero la manera en que se está desarrollando es muy interesante.

En la fiesta es obvio que Iino está celosa del acercamiento de Ishigami con Tsubame, al grado de ponerse "impertinentes" con gomitas y preguntarle porque no la trata como a ella. Y bueno, el tampoco es indiferente cada vez que alguien le coquetea, solo que su crush con Tsubame lo ciega.

Ella claramente no está disponible emocionalmente para enamorarse e intento "compensarlo" por ello, lo cual me dio mucha tristeza por ella. Me alegra que Ishigami se haya negado y la haya respetado a ella y a si mismo. Aunque espero que deje de sentir que se equivocó o que la "hirió" por rechazarla, por el contrario, la valoró como persona.

Tan mal quedó que entre que se tropezó y casi se lanzó por las escaleras. Espero pueda abrir los ojos. Iino pudo salvarlo y ahora está sacando provecho del pobre tipo, aunque sé que detrás de todo eso están los celos y deseos que la vea a ella, así no se haya dado cuenta... Aún. Pero está cerca de hacerlo y Koba lo sabe

"La próxima vez que caigas de las escaleras yo te protegeré"

Y como no, si el muchacho puede ser re tierno. Aún tiene esperanza de enamorar a Tsubame pero yo siento que en el proceso se dará cuenta de sus sentimientos por Iino.

¿Y la primera cita de Kaguya y Miyuki como pareja? ADORABLE. La pobre estaba con todo un revoltijo en la cabeza sobre el # de cita que era, algunas cosas no cambian nada xD Miyuki por fin consiguió su objetivo: Que se le declarara abiertamente y le pidiera ser su pareja. Son preciosos. Es increíble como todo el mundo se presentó en ese lugar justo ese día. La pregunta es ¿Por cuánto tiempo lo mantendrán en secreto? ¿Cuánto tiempo serán capaz de ocultarlo? Porque sutiles no son dksksk al menos el papá de Miyuki ya los vio jejeje

Y sobre el consejo que pidió Tsubame, espero pueda despejar su cabeza y tomar la mejor decisión para ella misma.

Siendo sincera lo que menos me importo fue la historia de Fujiwara y de Maki pero estuvieron entretenidas de todas formas.

PD: una pena lo de Kabo y el capitán pero se veía venir, ella no lucía muy interesada en él

[Elly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly loved this volume so much. Aka really knows how to juggle multiple characters’ development and storylines without it feeling overwhelming or underdeveloped. It really is incredible.

If you do not know: This series follows the members of the student council at an elite school. President Shirogane and Vice-President Kaguya like one another, but neither want to be the one to confess their love first. So, the battle of the brains begins as they try to make the other person confess. Very funny, cute, and at times, moving.

NOW! This volume goes over everyone’s winter break. We have character development and foreshadowing all over the place which is so great. However, I think the best part of the volume is the character relationships. It is really interesting specially to see dynamics change or to see new dynamics between different characters. One dynamic in particular is Ishigami and Iino’s relationship. We begin to see more of Iino’s desires when it comes to how she wants Ishigami to treat her, and her sadistic side starts to begin which is really fun to see lol. In addition, there is a chapter in here that kind of is a callback to the beginning of the series which was so cute and nostalgic to see. It really demonstrates how far Shirogane and Kaguya have come in their relationship which almost brings tears to my eyes. Almost. The penultimate chapter felt a little heavy handed with its message of love and confessions, but I can see why it was included. It was a sweet message on how true love may be hard to fine or maybe it is convoluted, but it is worth it.

Finally, my favorite chapters go to Fujiwara’s ramen adventure and of course Maki’s search for spiritual enlightenment. These two are my favorite characters, so I may be a little bias lol.

Overall, I gave this a 4.5 stars, but I am rounding up to 5 stars!

[Sarah Salisbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beginning my quest to write a review of every book I read this year with…a single manga volume about which I have very few coherent thoughts because I’m screaming internally, whoops. I accidentally skipped Vol. 15 because I thought I’d already read it, but I didn’t really have much trouble figuring out what had happened in the intervening time, and was able to jump right into Vol. 16 since it’s sort of more standalone-ish. (I am aware that I missed critical character development BUT I filled in the blanks online…? Anyway.)

This one has a heavy focus on Ishigami in the first half, which I loved. He’s getting a lot more depth and heart than he had at first, when he almost came off as comic relief (and he DID make me laugh - but depth is good!) as his budding romance with Tsubame builds. And…oh wow, I feel so bad for him :( and honestly a little bit upset with Tsubame. I’m really rooting for Ishigami and Ino now - partly because it’s going to be freaking hilarious to watch Ishigami die inside as he realizes he actually /likes/ Ino (if he does, in fact, come to like Ino), and partly because they’re both genuinely kind people and I think they deserve each other. Poor guy deserves better.

As for the rest: I continue to not really care all that much about Chika; Ino continues to be my baby; and Kaguya and Shirogane are so freaking adorable I could cry. I continue to laugh out loud at least six times a volume. I freaking love this series. Off to seventeen!

[Ade Fraser · Rating 5 out of 5]

ES OFICIAL!!!!!!! KAGUYA SHINOMIYA Y MIYUKI SHIROGANE SON PAREJA OFICIAL!!!! LOS AMO DEMASIADO 😍❤️

Hay planos maravillosos como en el que van cogidos de la mano, ella le coge a él del brazo o el de la máquina de refrescos, que no me puedo creer que la detective del amor no les vea jajajaja pero sin duda el premio se lo lleva la declaración mutua y el beso ❤️

Por otra parte la parejita protagonista de la portada está empezando a despegar al menos por una parte. La otra aún tiene que superar lo ocurrido. Me esperaba un rechazo pero no esa proposición que ha acabado afectando a la autoestima del pobre Ishigami, que de por sí no es que la tenga muy alta.

Maki en la India por favor JAJAJAJAJAJAJA familia de Kaguya tenía que ser, icónica. Nos presentan un personaje que sin duda algo hará en el futuro...Akasaka nunca introduce nada porque sí.

Que ganas del tomo 17!! Empezar el anime y posteriormente comprar y leer el manga creo que es de las mejores decisiones que he tomado en la vida 🥺❤️

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

They are dating!! I loved seeing Shirogane and Kaguya have their first official date and that Kaguya confessed first. I also liked that Shirogane's dad was giving Tsubame advice and his words about true love were used during their scenes.

After this volume, I really hope that Ishigami and Tsubame don't get together. It sucks that she rejected his confession but I'm glad that Ishigami didn't go through with having sex with her. I had a feeling for several volumes that Ino was starting to like Ishigami. I wonder when she will clue in about her feelings and I wonder if Ishigami will get over Tsubame and fall for Ino. (Also I love that Ino's friend with the glasses is so confident and cool and knows that she is the shit)

I still love the noodles chapters with Chika and the men of the noodle world.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume for me was by far the toughest one to rate. The story begins to go into a much different direction than all previous volumes. Maybe it is the raised adulting of the relationships, maybe it is the darkness of someone’s desperate need to be loved or desiring to be with someone, but it's DIFFERENT! I feel the story raised the bar on who the target audience may be…and while I did enjoy the book, it really gave me a different feeling for the characters than I thought this story was meant to show me. Again, was it good? Very much so! But it does feel like the story definitely started developing differently in this volume. Art and story are still by Aka Akasaka, but the subject matter has matured or rather changed a lot. We will see if this was a one off, or if this is where the story is evolving to.

[Neel Soman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one seemed more bonkers than the others. Is it just because this is the first part I'm reading that hasn't been animated yet? Perhaps, but I don't think that's all.

(Note: at the time I'm writing this the movie has yet to be released, but I'm just assuming it ends at chapter 151, at the end of volume 15. Technically I haven't *seen* volume 15 animated yet but whatever, that was more sweet than funny anyway so I'm not going to let it ruin my case.)

[Flyingpotato82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got me out of a shitty mood, would recommend.

Also it's kinda structured like a HIMYM episode. It's a lot more romcom-y and a lot less manga-y than previous chaptes if that makes sense. Relationships advance and degrade and a lot more depth is given to the exploration of the connections between the different characters and what it's like to date in Japan.

[Sheepy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually fond of alot of flashbacks which this volume has, although they were really enlightening on certain situations and really makes me think, not just about the main two characters but all the others too!

[Theo Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

December was the season of romance manga! After finishing the animated series I really wanted to see how Yu and Tsubame ended up and it was so well handled!! Once again nailing the highschool relationships and romance elements. So easy to fall in love with this series

[Andrea Legarrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

This was amazing.