my ch31 predictions
I think Hirano will like/not mind kissing and it will make his heart race, thus allowing him to feel like he’s on the same wavelength as Kagiura.
okay so my basis for this is that:
1. Sensei is excited for ch31
2. Ssmya is officially together by 31, it wouldn’t be shocking if she wanted the chapters to match at that
3. Hirano does not seem repulsed at the idea of kissing inherently, but does need to feel in control of the situation
a. It’s been established with hugging he freezes up whenever Kagiura’s done it, but felt comfortable initiating himself in a position arguably far more intimate
b. He’s shown more /curiosity/ over how everyone wants to kiss their love interest more than anything. Compare this to how the idea of having to flirt immediately disgusts him.
4. Hirano’s missing that heart-racing element from touching, but he does get it from earnest emotional expressions and longing.
a. This in part comes from not distinguishing romantically-intentioned ones from platonic ones.
(Honestly as an arospec person this is sooo valid. I think if I was in his position I’d totally fail to see what Kagi’s getting at)
b. And of course, he blushes all the time with any sort of intense presentation of emotional intent, whether from himself or Kagiura
While I absolutely do think all of this could be synthesized into a greater conversation about being aro/ace in a relationship or qpr’s, I don’t think this will explicitly happen. Obviously it’s happening implicitly to us as readers, but y hey’re supposed to just be teenagers, not really equipped with the knowledge or experience or language for that kind of meta-discussion about their relationship.
Narratively, they have a shared goal of getting Hirano to return Kagiura’s feelings romantically.
For Hirano, finding a moment of touching that makes his heart beat is what he thinks is missing.
Clearly, Kagiura thinks they’re already there.
So this is where ch30 ends off, which for me leaves two main scenarios for ch31:
A. Hirano does not like being kissed, pushes Kagiura off, and they have to have a difficult conversation about how Hirano doesn’t feel like he’s where Kagiura needs him to be.
I don’t think this will happen purely from a narrative structure perspective. It’s realistic, sure, but narratively we have a setup where Hirano is missing something and he’s potentially been given it. Given the implications they’re physically involved later on as well, I’d say this is the less likely option sheerly because the other way would resolve more conflict.
or
B. Hirano does not mind being kissed, and such opens a new avenue of affection for him to be on the same page as Kagiura.
I really think this is it. Touch that they weren’t doing as just friends? Earnest emotional expression? Potential for heart-racing? Ability for Hirano to have his arms free and stay in control of the situation? Just narratively, it ties so much together.
How I’d imagine it going would be something along the lines of: The kiss sustains for a moment as Hirano’s heart is pounding, and he pushes Kagiura off in shock. He tries to explain what he was going to say about wanting to be together but failing to feel the same way about touching, but realizes mid-explanation that kissing was intimate and exciting and instead asks to try again. And that resolves into a conversation where they’re relieved to be on the same page and to have finally found a physical touch they’re the same on.
If Hirano ends up liking kissing, it literally would wrap up all this turmoil and confusion with a neat little bow. Not to say there’s not still conversations to be had, but it would just allow things to click into place. And based on ssmya, I think that’s what Sensei intends to do in ch31 as well.
I’ve been totally wrong in the past and may be again this time, but I’d love to hear other thoughts!!! Leave them in the notes!!!
