Hmm, I'm still deciding whether I want to continue this or not. Inititally, I started this series because I've watched the anime and I was always curious to know what happens next. But since it was years ago when I did so, I'm starting to think I've grown out of it. I don't know. I'll read a few more volumes and decide then.
New villains show up to both Aya and my annoyance. Strike that. One villain is annoying, yet she’s more capable than she pretends to be. I think she’s meant to be annoying, because she acts like many a bubble-headed boring romantic interest I was ever forced as a reader to accept while grimacing. At least she’s not the romantic interest this time. The other villain is an intriguing mystery, one we’ve been waiting for, who picks a personal fight with Akira by picking on Kengo (and through Akira with Shirogane). Poor Kengo. His relationship with Akira is so messed up, yet so sweet, a contradiction, yes, but one strong enough to take a beating and continue to endure. At least Akira ended up acknowledging it in the final chapter. Aya develops further, getting a little stronger while Shirogane reveals just how much he’s hiding. All this happens while the battle with the kokuchi rages on, taking a more personal twist. For depicting all of this in the same gorgeous art style shown from the very beginning, I give this four stars.
The plot thickens slowly, we're getting some more meat as to why Akira has to be the one helping Shirogane with this huge mess, we're also getting some more insight into who Shirogane is and what brought him to earth in the first place.
I don't think Akira will ever stop rubbing me the wrong way. If he was just honest with himself and talked to his goddang friends maybe he wouldn't be a walking grouch his whole life, I swear this child needs a bit more than just resolve.
The entertainment value is definitely increasing, and I am very excited to see what happens next.
Akira's demand for answers is finally met by Lulu, a shin from the enemy's side, and from Shirogane. Akira finds out that Shirogane is actually one of the two kings of the Shadow World, and that it is Shirogane's mission to annihilate Homurabi, the evil of the two kings whom wishes to turn the Shadow World and the Light World (our world) into despair and chaos. Akira also finds out that for every thing in existence, there is its counterpart. The counterpart of shin and kings are called rei, and Shirogane tells Akira that not only is he Shirogane's counterpart, but he is one of the two rei kings.
In this volume, Aya and Kengo are strong inspirations to Akira, I think. Them, giving him reason for a resolve to fight and to protect. Without this resolve, it is obvious that Akira cannot even hold up a fight anymore. Also... is this shounen-ai?! Because there really isn't much sexual tension between /any/ characters here, except for some big-boobed girls that flaunt all over Akira and Shirogane. I really think that Kengo and Akira need to kiss..! A discussion board got the idea in my head that they do and now I want it to happen! D':