I said I wouldn’t write another review for this series BUT I’m mad because I’m disappointed. This volume started off so strong, what happened?!
The first half was excellent with Fushi finally realising that by bringing everyone back after they died for his own selfish reasons has screwed everyone over. His friends all telling him that they were finally going to go their own way (and show a little autonomy over being set dressing as I’ve mentioned in my previous reviews) was great! This leading to one of Fushi’s childish tantrums over not wanting people to leave and face being alone is harkening back to one of the key fears Fushi had in the first couple of arcs. Honestly, I loved how dark the realisation was that Fushi could make his friends live over and over again. An immortal fearing change and being alone is such a good character conflict and is really what I’m here for. Seeing how they progress into this acceptance and finally mature a little by attending and graduating school was great! Seeing Gugu leave for his old home was also excellent (even though I’m not too sure about some of the continuity in those chapters??).
Truly, the first half of the volume was excellent. The characters all seemed to have stagnated since volume 13 but now it finally feels like they’ve been having some growth and moving on from Fushi which he has finally accepted he has to allow.
Second half wasn’t great however. When Mizuha reappeared near the end of the volume, I felt this sense of dread, not because of the threat she poses but because the Nokkers were making a return after all the previous good stuff. The set up for the disaster at the school was fine, if a little fast, but the poorly timed comedy really took me out of whatever threat was being posed towards the characters who went to rescue Mizuha and is honestly all I can think about from that final chapter.
Not the discussions or the threats.
Just these throw away jokes.
I understand these are teenagers but I think even they would understand the gravity of the situation they were in, it felt a little patronising for any teenage readers of the series (is this really how you see some of your audience Oima??).
Ultimately, I feel like the plot is getting in the way of the story now. I really love Oima’s interpersonal dives with the characters which is what the first part of the volume had and what a lot of the first few arcs were also built on and what she does so so well! In the early arcs, the Nokkers were just enemies that helped Fushi understand something deeper about the people around him and how much they mean to him but now we’ve added in this (*Pinky and the Brain voice*) taking over the world motive it’s not really landing for me.
It feels like this arc is almost over and I’m praying for it to be. Even though it might be a big jump, I’d love for everyone to just grow up and live their lives, it’s not like we haven’t had a top down view of the characters living their lives and dying on one page before so just do that again I guess? Honestly, if we’re going to continue after another volume, I’d just love to see a new cast of characters that Fushi becomes involved with and learn from.
(Side Note; I’m still bitter (and, yes, very upset) about March’s suicide in volume 12. The expansion to that section of the story in this volume doesn’t make it any easier or better for me personally.)
TLDR: First half was perfect. Second half, not so good. The Nokker plot is getting in the way of the internal struggles which was what I first started reading for.