Reviews

TLDR: Awesome volume. If you have enjoyed the series, then you will like this one.

Longer Review: You're at volume 14. If you didn't like the series, then you should have dropped it. Also, Kaguya court comes back so that is cool!

Spoiler Review:

Right off the bat, the tone is much more serious. We see Kaguya is nearly ready to confess. Hayasaka feels bad for her. Honestly, the stakes have almost never seemed higher. She is about to lose Shirogane. It is pretty big. Chapter 2 is a little more comedic. Ishigami is actually really likeable so I like all of the character development that he is getting. Between his conversation with Tsubame and just the general increase on "screen time" that he gets I really enjoy getting to see his character. Also, we all knew Shirogane was Arsene, right? But like, he honestly pulls it off pretty well. And then that Chika line. "Every mysterious thief awaits a private eye to find them." Like that honestly takes me back to grade school crushes (not that I was a thief, but that yearning for the private eye to notice you). Chpater 3 is an excellent example of setup. It is so beautifully setup and then the ending with Shirogane and Kaguya both coming to the battle without an edge is just brilliant. Chapter 4 with the confessions is awesome too. The stress between the "does she love me, does she not?" I feel this manga does an excellent job at capturing that sense. Chapter 5 shows us really how smart Shirogane is and develops his character. Often, in the series, Shirogane is playing a defensive position. He is trying to respond to Kaguya's attacks. In more recent volumes, he has been playing offensive. Trying to trick her into confessing. But this chapter shows the use of all his intelligence. I think it is really nice to see. Most men have a story of how they pulled together a bunch of random resources they have to impress the girl they like. So, for Shirogane to do it now shows how committed he is. I feel it is both realistic (although idealistic) and also wonderfully executed. The interaction after over Shinomiya applying to Stanford is also hilarious. Comedic, but touching. To also see them both so vulnerable after all this time is also very rewarding. The next chapter shows Shirogane pulling on some of those favors. I really liked it and it is a nice follow up to the preceding chapter. It also gives each of the characters some progression and closure. I liked it. Even Miko gets a happy ending (I think?) I also loved the warning that the story would get more silly now. Then Kaguya opens up about the French kiss and I about died of laughter. The call with Kashiwagi was also hilarioius. Then the whole interaction with small kaguya was funny too. Then, I mean, if you are shipping Ino and Ishigami then this volume is definitely your main source material. I like it, but wow. And then we finally get the return of the Kaguya court. I loved the first appearance of this court and looked forward to it returning. While I feel this one was a bit more comedic than the previous one, that didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. Overall, a solid volume.

bluehairedreads's review against another edition

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4.5

4.5 stars.

They kissed!! I'm not going to lie, I almost cried when Shirogane released all of those heart shaped balloons in the air. That was one of the most beautiful things ever. Also seeing their headspaces and the reasons why they want the other person to confess first... ahhhhhh

I'm curious to see how cold Kaguya is going to interact with Shirogane. I loved the moment where she yells at the other versions of Kaguya saying that she was the first one to fall in love with him.

ellythehuman's review against another edition

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4.0

Be aware! This review will have spoilers for previous volumes. You have been warned…

With this volume, the culture festival arc officially makes it end. All I have to say is that the end of this arc was an absolute banger. I could not put this volume down as I was reading it. That is how great it is.

This volume covers the second and last day of the culture festival. In the previous volume 13, we saw Shirogane declare to Shinomiya that he has been accepted into Stanford. This revelation rocks Kaguya as she now has to decide whether she should finally confess her love, even if it means losing in this unspoken mind game they have maintained since the beginning of the manga. Meanwhile, Ishigami is unintentionally making inroads with his relationship with Tsubame, and we begin to see what seems to be a new feeling emerging from Iino by the end of the volume. All the while, Chika’s role as the master of chaos has subsided since there is a mysterious heart balloon thief on the loose!

Out of all of the volumes up until this point, 14 is one of the most serious and shojo manga-esque of them all. In addition, the full-page panels sprinkled in the volume adds even more emotional impact to the story. It is quite amazing how Aka is able to juggle various characters within this arc as each one had their own respective development. I really loved seeing the progressions each character made in their personal relationships, or what seems to be foreshadowing for future dynamics. However, the plot is back to its usual antics with slice of life chapters in the student council room. Except there seems to be something odd happening with Shinomiya which is obviously the beginning to the next arc!

yuujinchou's review against another edition

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5.0

finally !! and i cried :((((( i love them so much

aini12aian's review against another edition

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5.0

I really like this volume

samksnow's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

ruthsic's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 stars

It's the final day of the festival, and while Chika and her friends are still uncovering the mystery of Arsene, Miyuki has something big planned after he drops the news of his Stanford admission to Kaguya. Kaguya, meanwhile, has been fretting over what to do - with less than a year left (you know what? I am not even going to comment on the timeline of this series. It is too confusing) for him to go, she wonders how to confess her feelings. Ai, relieved to finally have a deadline hastening this long-standing mess, makes a plan for her, but Kaguya's still-forming plans are not needed, as she realizes what Shirogane has been trying to say. The biggest advancement in this book is that while they don't exactly say it in words, they do confess their feelings to each other - Shirogane by a grand romantic gesture (and it is described how he made it happen), and Kaguya by kissing him.

The aftermath, though, is still pretty messy. Kaguya is ashamed at having taking such initiative to french kiss him (a move Ai declares too lusty and equal to intercourse - like give me a break *eyeroll*) and when she discusses it with Ai, she only gets more worried about how much she gave in. Also, she agrees to his request to apply for Stanford, which she still has to get her strict father to agree to. Meanwhile, Miyuki is wondering if the intense kiss really meant what it meant, and wants to discuss it with her, but Kaguya has had an, uh, change in personality. These two need to DTR ASAP.

Aside from these two, though, there is another love emerging. Ishigami's crush on his senior may work out in his favor, as the said girl asks him for time to make her decision; he later on realizes what exactly his actions during the festival meant. His and Iino's bickering might go in a romantic direction, as the latter starts to show signs of being flustered by him. To tell the truth, I don't see it working out currently, but who knows how the author might convince me!

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