Ch 32 + A story about Niibashi
Or how we're one step closer to KGHR becoming official
Life, once again, ran me over, so I haven't been able to be as active as I would like. I’ve had to scream alone about the Black & Pink merch (I already have some items in my hands… I still can't believe how beautiful they look!), the new covers and others things because I’m an independent adult who must work to pay for my hobbies… but I think the worst is over now and I can better enjoy what I like (I need December to arrive!).
Although both parts of ch33 have already been released, I didn't want to leave my thoughts on these two chapters unwritten. Even though they are short, they give us context for what’s to come, and well, I'm writing this without seeing spoilers or anything from ch33, so please no spoilers! (I've made a huge effort not to read ch33a because I wanted to finish this review first… I am the queen of self-control!).
Now then, onto ch32: “Have you been tamed?” I LOVE IT! Of course I think it's an allusion to Hirano, and honestly, I doubt they were able to tame him hahahahaha, my precious blond is not that easy to tame, and that is one of the things I love about him, he's always so authentic... I truly liked the cover, they look so relaxed together, it gives me the feeling that they are at Kagi’s family’s home… I would love if sensei did a chapter about summer vacation. I know Hirano is going to be full-on preparing for exams this summer because he's a senior student, but I hope he can take a few days off to go see his precious…
…
…Well, if Kagi doesn’t know what's going on with Hirano, neither do I hahahahaha. But one thing is clear to me: it was his ex-girlfriend who asked him out, and it's too obvious that he wasn't interested at the time (just as uninterested as he was about the Valentine's chocolates)
My little guy is experiencing his first real love, and he's so confused that it seems like he has zero experience!
I thought it was adorable that they fell asleep that morning 🩷
They have been so tense during those months that they finally really managed to rest (maybe I'm so tired right now that I can totally empathize with that feeling that the wait is finally over and you can, after so long, sleep and rest). The day before was totally a catharsis (even if they don’t know what they are, they both felt relief).
When I saw that Kagi still had the red cheek
thought about how much of a liar he was when he said it hadn't hurt
I say it and I stand by it: Hirano really is very strong. Not only did he send him flying with a push, but he did it with his left hand and even left a bruise… He’s going to have to manage that impulsivity, since they can't continue solving things that way.
Now, what I really loved was Kagi racking his brains trying to remember if Hirano had really confessed! And coming to the wonderful conclusion that in theory, he had said it!
t's exactly what I thought! Ok, Hirano didn't fully verbalize it because Kagi interrupted him, but afterwards he did tell him how important he was to him and that he wanted to be with him, so what would be the ambiguity
And Kagi thinking that Hirano isn't violent, he seems to have forgotten the times he threatened him with his fist to get him out of bed!
And how cute they both look waking up that morning!
💛💚
I have three thoughts about this page:
1st: WTF, Kagi is so flexible!! In my basketball days I never achieved that, it's absurdly difficult to do those exercises like that, so all my admiration for my handsome basketball player.
2nd thought: How gorgeous Hirano is! I will continue saying it today and until the end. For me Hirano has the most interesting character design in the entire ssmy universe. Not only is his wardrobe the one with the most personality, but his design is also the most versatile or at least, the one with the most variations (I have a draft about this from a few months ago that I hope will see the light of day soon).
• 3rd thought: and this is the one that left me most confused: If they both confessed their feelings (even though Hirano didn't actually say the words), why are there so many doubts?
And on the next page Kagi continues to amaze us with his elasticity. If the previous posture had left me impressed, now I was left speechles. Seriously, how does he do it!What discipline, folks! Which leads me to stand up and give him a big round of applause because, despite the fact that his head is a monumental mess, he still concentrates on his practice. I LOVE how focused he is on his goal, so I hope he really achieves his dream of becoming a professional (at least in the AU he is, so I have high hopes). And not only is he focused and persistent, but he's also a cheeky guy! What's with Kagi thinking about kissing Hirano's hands, and then thinking about the lap pillow??? Did I understand what he wants to do correctly? How is that less intimate than a kiss?
And while our boy trains totally focused on his goal (but with the shadow of doubt haunting him), Hirano isn't doing much better...
Damn young man! That unfriendly face would definitely scare anyone away! I doubt his classmates could believe that Hirano has that tender and kind side with Kagi, when in class he has that aura of death around him.
But it catches my attention that the mess in his head is not just because he doesn't know what his current situation with his roommate is, but he also thinks that his feelings could change…
And even though he's so sure he likes him, he doesn't know if things will stay the same, and that's where my paranoia kicks in and I think: what if Hirano knows he likes him, but isn't 100% convinced about dating Kagi? Because he wants more of both of their desires to overlap, but he is so, so, SO lost on what dating someone implies that I'm even left wondering what he expects "dating someone" to be. When he thinks about the contract it's like… Dude, you lived in society with a family with a father and mother, you weren't raised by wolves, you must know something about human relationships right? And then he says he doesn't understand. My hopes of seeing KGHR go official this year are fading a little... So I have faith that ch33 will bring us some progress, please!
Oh my god how cute they are! even being physically separated, they share one neuron. Hirano blushing in class, and Hanzawa looking at him out of the corner of his eye, how scary! And Kagi eating as always and just reflecting on his romatic status❤️ A short chapter, but one that opens us up to the new challenges of this, not yet, couple.
This chapter left me thinking about the issue of why they think they are not dating. I spent a long time thinking about how absurd it was, but I think I understand the reason now, and it is because there was no actual confession or “Kokuhaku” which would be the formal step to establish a romantic relationship. When Hirano was going to confess at the end of ch30, Kagi doesn't let him continue and kisses him, and ch31 is about how they resolve the fight that ensues from that stolen kiss, so there was never really a confession as such and the consequent proposal of "go out with me please." Neither Kagi nor Hirano said it, so they were left in this limbo of not being clear about the other's position, and also, in Kagi's case, he hasn't even received a confession since he interrupted Hirano before he finished the sentence. So, will they have to go on a couple of dates before they actually have this confession and start dating?
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A little story about Niibashi Juuya
And finally we get a little more of Niibashi and Kagi's story! I loved seeing part of their history and finally getting a glimpse of their relationship outside of their roles as “Hirano's eternal lover” and “marriage counselor”. We can finally see them more as friends, because we have known Niibashi superficially and here we also understand why he puts up with all of Kagi's diatribe and his love for his roommate…
I love that it's explicitly stated that Kagi is sociable (which is why it hurts me so much that he's lost this characteristic in the AU💔), It's a side of him we haven't been able to see, as there are no characters around him who describe him in much detail (unlike Hirano, whom we see in the ssmy manga),so seeing a little of this side of him as a friendly, sociable, and active schoolboy is a breath of fresh air. And I'm impressed by how sociable he is since he immediately gets involved in Niibashi’s conversation, even though he heard him respond not very kindly to his old schoolmate. Kagi doesn't get intimidated by anything.
And how precious he looks here! I'm sorry, and I run a risk saying this, but Niibashi has one of the prettiest eyes in the ssmy universe.
Just look at that profile, bro! And how beautiful he was in middle school! The uniform made him look even more adorable (even though he wasn't really
This is the precise moment when he falls for Kagi's good-boy charm!
And I understand it so much! Kagi is that adorable puppy you want to adopt and take care of… I think that friendship is so genuine, because in the end they support and accept each other, despite being so different from each other, they get along well, they take care of each other and learn from each other. I just hope we can see more chapters like this, I would love to see their friendship explored in more depth, and although we did get a glimpse of it in the 2024 birthday art, it felt like very little to me.
And back to the present… I hope Niibashi supports his friend again and helps him untangle that mess of thoughts he has. He has definitely been his guide, lighthouse, and a sort of cupid in this relationship, where he has been the voice of reason. I hope he is more practical and tells him to talk directly and not assume anything, because Kagi is very good at getting lost in his thoughts. Come on, Niibashi! I'm counting on you 👍
I was rereading the manga, and I feel that from chapter 30 onwards, we're going to see, along with Hirano, all those parts where his feelings overlap with Kagi's. Initially, he only thought that they shared the desire to be together, but in chapter 31, he realized that he also wants to touch him, I feel that little by little he will discover that he is not that far from what Kagi feels. Although I love the slow burn, I feel like it's killing me...
Maybe the next chapter will be Hirano talking to Sasaki (i.e., set in ch15 p28 of ssmy)
And we can also see Kagi's side talking to Niibashi because…
HE HAVE TO TELL HIM EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED!! If I were Niibashi, and I had been listening to my friend who is madly in love with his roommate for over a year, and finally there was an advance of this size and he doesn't tell me… he would be in serious trouble.
And in ch 34 we get a full confession from Hirano’s side. I don’t think he is going to stay with the doubt for long (he will barely put up with it until the afternoon).
I don't think this misunderstanding will last long. It's not the style of the manga and above all, they are both very honest when it comes to talking, so I think as soon as they have the opportunity they will address it (probably in the dorm, as they don't have the peace and quiet they need to talk at school) what I do see is that, ok they like each other, but now they will have to agree on their expectations and set boundaries. The good thing is that Kagi is aware that Hirano has to go step by step (even if he is dying to kiss him, touch him, and do several other things to him), but it will surely be a negotiation, a bit like how they came to the 10-second agreement.
Okay, I've pulled all this out of my drafts and system, so now I'm going to read chapter 33a.
