I almost didn’t make this post because neither the series nor the author are worth our time or money (thankfully, MangaDex exists).
Like I said in the previous chapter discussion, there isn’t really a redemption path for Sakura without turning Shinobu into the story’s punching bag. And this chapter only reinforces that idea with the timeskip, which exists solely to avoid a confrontation between Sakura and Shinobu (if it ever happens). It’s also completely absurd because, during all those months, neither Shinobu nor Sakura even tried to contact each other. I’m no expert in human behavior, but if you’re reading this, you’ve probably gone through a breakup or even lost a close friend before. When that happens, you usually want to know why things ended. Here, there’s absolutely none of that. It’s as if the previous 129 chapters meant absolutely nothing and had no emotional weight whatsoever. I mean, throughout all those months, Sakura never once wanted to know why Shinobu, the guy who had done so much for her, was kissing another girl? She just moved on as if nothing had happened? I wish I had that kind of ability to detach myself from people lol.
As for Shinobu, you can tell it meant something to him because he spends months dwelling on it, even coping by telling himself that as long as Sakura is happy, that’s enough for him. Meanwhile, Sakura makes it feel like she just changed socks and moved on without a single ounce of guilt or regret. Like I said before, it’s as if everything they went through together meant absolutely nothing to her. She sends a breakup text and immediately moves on. And like someone else said (sorry dude, I forgot your username…), it honestly feels like she never loved Shinobu in the first place.
I don’t actually think that’s what the author intended, but as a reader, that’s genuinely the impression you get. Shinobu comes across as much more human and far better written in comparison, whereas Sakura feels like she’s being forced to act this way purely to milk the drama and drag out their breakup.
This chapter also brings some people back to reality, especially those expecting Sakura to face karma. I wouldn’t say it was guaranteed, but considering the author’s track record, I would’ve been more surprised if Sakura had actually faced the consequences of her actions.
In the end, it’s empty drama. It’s painfully forced drama farming, and this is where the author’s limitations really show. In her doujins, she’s free to do whatever she wants, especially with NTR stories, which are often built on absurd premises anyway. Stuff like, “If you want your husband to get a promotion, you’ll have to sleep with me,” or “You own a sex toy? If you don’t want your neighbors finding out you masturbate, sleep with me.” The characters have to act irrationally, otherwise there’s no story to tell, and those stories usually rely far more on the artwork than the writing.
The problem is that this is a weekly manga. Even if readers enjoy a bit of spice, they’re ultimately here for the story. And when the author isn’t capable of handling that side of things, it becomes painfully obvious and ends up killing the series—exactly what’s happening here.
