氷の城壁

Probably because while in Blue Box the love triangle was the main source of drama for an entire cour, in Ramparts the main source of drama is instead the inner psyche and emotional bagage and hangups of these characters. The love triangle to break the stalemate is purely a tool for development instead of the plot itself, and thus there's no point in her showing up until when she's needed in the plot as she would just detract from it otherwise

And it's not from a lack of trying on Koyuki's part. She actually tried to extend an olive branch to Manatsu. In a different series, that would've been the catalyst for them becoming genuine friends. But nah, that girl is just a rotten egg. Hell, even if she didn't try, she was just trying to live her damn life. It's pure bad luck she got under the crosshairs of the pettiest prick ever that hated her for no good reason.

Almost everyone was fine to me when I was growing up, which makes it weird that I first met someone like Manatsu in grad school . Someone who only is nice to you if they have something immediate to gain from you, on a psychopathic level. If you had value to him, he'd act like the greatest guy in the world. If you didn't, he'd just offload his crap onto you and talk about you behind your back. It was nuts watching him flip the switch going between different people. Anyway, he's a professor now. Sorry for everyone at that university, and his research field.

The quality of the episodes just keep increasing undeniably so! As I said on last weeks discussion, with the series' best cliffhanger / ending song transition, Koyun definitely messed up by dating Igarashi just to get back at a bully. But MAN, the confirmation with the amazing flashbacks is the PEAK Ramparts that continued being amazing for 8 whole minutes! That middle school love triangle involved 3 kids who were just immature and kept hurting themselves and each other, it's a pity, and we know that 2 of them, Koyun and Igarashi, are the two who's being haunted by their past. You just have to wish for the best for Koyun!!! As for the rest of the episode, the dynamic of our 4 initial characters have now stabalized and been put into place after delivering us amazing interactions until now. Now, we're entering new grounds with this 3 new characters and MY GOD they're definitely interesting! One thing I love about this show, that I don't see people point out, and I don't think it's even common in the first place, is how AMAZING this show is as a mystery. It gives you the right amount of questions and the right amount of answers, nothing more, nothing less, and in a very entertaining show! GODDD, I love this show. It's amazing... also I'm a Minato x Koyun since episode one, I mean, you can just feel it in the first interaction but HERE WE ARE NOW. The cute romantic moments, the greatly-written characterization, the amazing presentation and direction, the STORY? Too many praises, this show. This show is THE BEST! ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS EVER!

One thing I love about this show, that I don't see people point out, and I don't think it's even common in the first place, is how AMAZING this show is as a mystery. It gives you the right amount of questions and the right amount of answers, nothing more, nothing less, and in a very entertaining show! You never really get a full sense of anyone, their true personality, problems, background, etc. until the show is ready to fully unveil it to you.

Akine and Momoka have only just been introduced YET you get sucked in into what's been shown of their characters so far! It's just little bits but they already feel like interesting characters, you can't help but be curious about what they're personalities are even though some of their personalities are being shown! It's genuinely amazing writing at this point from the author of where they are to put the details of this and that into the random parts of the story.

What's underrated is not only the depth of the characters but the economy of the writing that makes depicting that depth possible. Like coming up and imagining well thought out deep personalities is hard enough. But then showing the reader/viewer what those personalities are in interesting and revealing ways in as short a span as possible (in a few frames, a few scenes) is crucial. Because nobody wants to spend 20 minutes learning about the backstory of a side character without advancing the main plot, but if that same amount of information can be conveyed in 20 seconds, it becomes inredibly interesting context and depth. Communicating lots of information is one of Agasawa's greatest strengths and that's what really makes these huge ensemble casts work,

I also feel bad for igarashi, HOWEVER, the little part where minato was like “omg i know that!! I like that story too” when he asks koyun what book she was reading and koyun thinks back to how igarashi didn’t really care/know about her interests really shows why she probably never fell/liked him more romantically. she wasn’t touched by his actions, personality, or whatever, but with minato she is !! he interacts well and tries his best and they’re able to communicate very well , it’s so cute and i understand koyun in that sense.. like make the effort to show interests in me and what i like if you actually like me !!! yk?!?

My immediate theory is that Akine is probably a red herring. I think that even if she dislikes Koyun, it'll get resolved quickly when they interact, but if she's just indifferent to Koyun then that friendship will happen even faster. I suspect (especially with how she did not seem to enjoy that picture at the end) that she knows her sister is a bitch and any curiosity about Koyun stems from that and wanting to know who Koyun actually is. Akine will join the group, and quickly I think. But Monoka is definitely not a good addition. I already dislike most of her behavior and see her becoming aggressive and problematic. The character writing in this show has been really good though, so I hope that Minato will be able to step up even more.

"GODDD, I love this show. It's amazing... also I'm a Minato x Koyun since episode one, I mean, you can just feel it in the first interaction but HERE WE ARE NOW." Its amazing how the author turned Minato into such a likeable character. I didn't liked him at first for his wannabe Ayanokoji antics, but as the series progressed and we get to know more about him, I can't help but root for Minato atp and I want Koyan X Minato to happen

Oh man. Looks like Momoka will be the one to finally push Minato over the edge and get him to accept that he actually likes Koyun; we already have everyone (Minato included) under the false impression that Koyun and Yota like each other. The fact that Momoka is being (or plans to be) that aggressive in pursuing Minato, while Minato does not appear to be that receptive, suggests that something won't work out and will crash in a spectacular way. (This is also suggested by what Koyun says about love compatibility in the restaurant.)

Igarashi looking less and less antagonistic now. He was just a guy trying his best for the girl he likes. Honestly, doesn’t even seemed like he did much wrong. Maybe a bit rash but was forward with his interest, waved off other girls’ interests and protected his gf. Unfortunately, Koyun just couldn’t develop similar feelings. And funny even Koyun sees how hostile she was being towards Minato now that she knows him better. Who knew Minato’s in-your-face approach would come back to help her now lol

Honestly even if she doesn't have a good side she isn't like a lot of empty bullies you see in most shows and be like why is she liked. Manatsu was apparently really good at basketball, had the other girls look up to her, even before starting bullying she tests the waters with simple statements before escalating it. She is a user and she is damn smart, and also realistic. She doesn't bully for no reason. The way things escalated. Waah I got chills during the flashback

Yes Koyun is amazing. Anime onlies were being too protective of her and putting all hate and fault on Minato. Not saying he wasn't wrong but as a manga reader it felt unfair to give her that much slack where she never says what she wants clearly and lashes out and somehow it is supposed to be fine because she is a victim. It is probably another reason and why her going to apologize not only makes more sense but is way more of a big deal for her character. Like she is retracing her steps and the way she was with Igarashi and somehow that guilt lessens a bit because this time she can apologize for causing hurt. She never thinks of herself as the victim, she is flawed but also kinda strong for giving her as good as she got in the end

no one is innocent here, which is why its nice writing. and tbh I see his actions as more "dumb kid who doesn't know better", vs Koyun's deliberate (even though she regretted it soon after i think) words to hurt him during their breakup, or even the whole agreeing to date him in the first place to get back at Manatsu honestly, it's no surprise Koyun doesn't like who she used to be, because yeah she was quite problematic even if justified in Manatsu's case

Koyun's decision was half to protect herself, half to honestly try to love him, especially after Miki's speech about how Igarashi is at least constant in his "love". Guy was pestering her for a year, got the least enthusiastic "yes" I've ever heard, and kept putting her down just like he did when he was "flirting" with her. He deserved all he's got, and frankly Koyun is beating herself up way too much over shitty people in her life.

She was partially protecting herself from her bully by dating the guy he likes. And you're excusing the shit out of Igarashi here too, painting him as only "kid that doesn't know better", when we know he was shitty boyfriend (as expected by his method of flirting) against Koyun who was pressured to date him anyway, by him and others around her, and gave up in a moment of temptation when she thought that she can both get her bully and honestly tried to like Igarashi.

It helps a lot that her mentality wasn't "I want to escape this situation" and more like "I don't think I'm wanted here, Imma dip..." I get the second one a lot , I have bowed out of situations and conversations where it just feels like I'm not really wanted or relevant and... float away. If someone grabbed me and essentially told me that, yeah, I am wanted there in that conversation, it'd definitely be gratitude and thankfulness and not a freak out. Minato correctly understanding that she'd just float away otherwise is pretty neat though, they're finally getting to the point where they understand each others' natures and how to interpret the other.

I think Momoka might be the push Minato needs. While he clearly has feelings for Koyun and he has taken notice of them, I don't think he has fully accepted yet that he likes Koyun. Now in the past when a girl were to ask him out he would accept, hence he has had so many previous relationships. But I believe that when Momoka will ask him out he'll realize that this time he doesn't want to accept. It'll force him to confront his feelings for Koyun properly and make him actually take action Momoka also doesn't seem the type to turn toxic after being rejected