Satoru Noda has a real talent for messing with your emotions. Just when you think you’ve figured out who to trust or root for, he throws everything into question. We’ve known for a while that there’s so much we don’t fully understand about Asirpa’s father, Wilk. But it’s easy to overlook how little we actually know about Tsurumi too. What’s driving him? What’s his real goal? Up until now, we’ve only had hints, but the new revelations in this volume completely shook my perspective. Honestly, I don’t even know who I’m rooting for anymore.

What keeps this volume engaging is the way it blends heavy, emotional themes with just the right amount of comic relief. I had a good laugh on some moments which gave a nice breather from all that intensity. 

With only a few volumes left, Noda is clearly building toward something big, and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together.