Blue Box (Ao no Hako)

It was supposed to be a joke haha.

Chapter 49: You know what they say about what absence does for the heart.

Yes, but fondness is not what Taiki's heart needed more of.

Edited by thatother1dude on Apr 17th 2022 at 9:56:49 AM

Taiki does realize he’s gotten greedier for Chinatsu time, which is nice.

I can’t remember, do we know if Kyo has feelings for Hina already?

Anyway, Hina’s going on the offensive again, and maybe trying to stir up her unsuspecting rival too.

No. That character in his imagination clearly isn't Hina, and she doesn't have a boyfriend.

Yeah, I got confused for a sec.

Anyway, chap 53 (damn, this series is a year old already…)

That’s… That’s a bold move, Hina. >.>

~Why we do it in the class~

Hina assures everyone here that the kiss is practice, nothing more. Taiki wouldn’t want to get called a bad kisser by Chinatsu, would he?

Somehow she keeps that same line of argument up and it escalates until they're married with two kids. As practice.

Dopants: He meant what he said and he said what he meant, a Ninety is faithful 100%.

Well, if Taiki and Chinatsu keep chickening out, that could work.

I'm seriously curious how Taiki could justify turning down Hina's advances. Is he honestly gonna say there's no chemistry between them, or that he's saving himself for Chinatsu while still insisting he doesn't have a chance with her? The latter would either be some serious Doublethink to excuse his inaction or require admitting he'd rather stay single than ever get over her current crush.

Edited by thatother1dude on May 23rd 2022 at 9:43:53 AM

What do you mean Taiki doesn’t think he has a chance with Chinatsu? He’s been trying to close the distance between them, even in the early parts of the manga. And anyway, Taiki likes Chinatsu. Some people don’t go out with someone out of simple chemistry.

Doujin writers are furiously taking notes.

Chapter 54: Hina predictably and unfortunately doesn’t get that kiss. Meanwhile Taiki has to learn to reinforce his strengths (and confidence) instead of focusing purely on eliminating his weaknesses.

I feel for Taiki here. He's between a rock and a hard place.

Dopants: He meant what he said and he said what he meant, a Ninety is faithful 100%.

I don't mind this resolution per se, but I've long since lost patience with this series turning Pseudo Crises into chapter-ending cliffhangers.

I’m starting to think the author just keeps running out of pages at the worst moments.

Chapter 55: Hina scurrying around like a small animal is cute.

Chinatsu with those loaded pauses is cute. Her friend shouldn’t worry, there’s no [beep]-ing going on.

Edited by fillerdude on Jun 5th 2022 at 2:42:41 AM

The aplomb with which she says "nothing happened" after that pause is quite astounding.

Does she just mean they met when training in the early morning, or are we getting the "secret childhood friend" cliche?

Dopants: He meant what he said and he said what he meant, a Ninety is faithful 100%.

There was a poll in the magazine for the best drawing of Chinatsu, much like the "best Anya expression" poll in Spy×Family.

Chapter 56: The most sportsy this series has ever been.

Tripping on your own sweat is a hell of a way to fall.

Yeah, his hamstring must have shrieked in pain.

Must've taken the author a lot of effort to have an entire chapter of sports with minimal longing looks and mixed signals.

Dopants: He meant what he said and he said what he meant, a Ninety is faithful 100%.