36 - Vol. 3 Ch. 16 - The Fallen

[MangaDex]

 

[skywardgem]

Anzu's just an absolute whirlwind of a girl isn't she? You can really feel all the Changes coming together in the aftermath of the live show, from Meiling's absence (please be ok wherever you are......) to Natsumi's new look (that new color does look awesome on her, and don't think I didn't notice that careworker certification book!) to the band going all out on their first CD (it's gonna be Wild if/when Shunpei manages to catch onto Anzu and Ikoma's wave)... it's only been a few chapters but it feels like a big step forward in an exciting way lol, I love it

and the Miyako portions of the chapter, man, can't even begin to imagine the amount of stuff racing through her head after everything, the setup of her watching the band's show at the beginning was fascinating trying to read her expressions but I was still about as shocked as she was hitting those last few pages lmao. I really like that it's a pretty quick and punchy series of panels too, like despite leaving Miyako in tears it was just another casual whim of Anzu's

thanks for the chapter!!

 

[mrboxeater]

shes turned into a monster like her mom haha

 

[outinthegardener]

Anzu has started acting demanding and demeaning, just like her mom. The horror! Anzu, don't be a dick. This feels like a time-bomb. Like, a Fleetwood Mac recording Rumours time bomb.

 

[DMan_chine]

Oh no. That kiss at the end... Anzu is gonna start a toxic relationship with her friend. She's supposed to represent that freedom from the shackles her mom created, but all that is happening now is she's reflecting the same energy her mom is creating around her people. Ikoma doesn't seem to care, he's too free to think this will ever affect him (and he's right, he could just stop caring about her and leave, he's just having too much fun right now).

 

[DMan_chine]

and the Miyako portions of the chapter, man, can't even begin to imagine the amount of stuff racing through her head after everything, the setup of her watching the band's show at the beginning was fascinating trying to read her expressions but I was still about as shocked as she was hitting those last few pages lmao. I really like that it's a pretty quick and punchy series of panels too, like despite leaving Miyako in tears it was just another casual whim of Anzu's

I am going to suffer liking this story. I would have not expected to like a character like her. I guess this is why a lot of us start liking toxic people. They seem fine at first, especially because they have rough circumstances, then they end up showing how their bad past has shaped them into the wrong person. This is going to be next bit of the arc, I guess, Anzu learning about he flaws... or the opposite, being told about them but not learning from them.

 

[UdenEmpati]

We're going to witness Anzu get worse before she gets better.

The point of note, though, is the specific circumstances of Anzu's, and whether they differ significantly from her mother's. Does her mother have an  Ikoma in her own life? Because he's quite the confounding variable in how Anzu is perceived by those around her.
We see even Shunpei being slightly mollified by Ikoma when it comes to dealing with our Budding Diva. And for the moment, that might come down to Shunpei idolizing Ikoma more than he dislikes Anzu--but the result is the same: as long as Ikoma & Anzu are a package deal, Shunpei will bear it.

So with Aznu already showcasing some behavioral characteristics reminiscent of her mother, the important point in this will be whether she realizes it, before crossing the Social Rubicon and alienating everyone around her. As someone else said--Ikoma can simply walk away; he's a free agent of chaos, simultaneously existing outside of Anzu's sphere of influence and attaching himself to her as they feed off one another's energy. But like Anzu, he's also only in it for himself--once it's no longer interesting/engaging, he'll disappear, and with him goes Anzu's tether, and her bulwark against everyone else.

And as we see--she already has her detractors. Even as The Happy Meals is exploding, it's all built on that energy of their debut show. The moment that momentum falters--for  any reason--things will fall apart real quick. And that's leaving Anzu's mother aside, assuming she won't directly interfere.

And on that note--it would be interesting to see Anzu behave this way around Mom. Would game recognize game? Would it knock sense into Anzu, to hear her mother compare them? I kinda wonder if we'll get that, at a point where Anzu's collapsing in on herself as her connections fray and she finds herself in freefall due to her ego. But that's speculating at plot, and I cannot say I can predict where this will go next.

I think their musical career will take off, though, and we'll bear witness to a joint rise for them in the music community and a fracturing and rotting of the inner circle as Anzu clashes with everyone around her in her feverish desire to continue pushing forward.

The trick will be the balance, and whether she has her moment of clarity before her tether snaps.



Thanks for the TL. Easily one of my top 10 series for the past year.

 

[WojtekTheCat]

Anzu becoming like her mom isn't honestly surprising, it is really hard to break off your parents' toxic traits and behaviours, especially when she is like 16? Those realisations about how shitty person you are, may or may not come to you in your 20s at earliest imo. Especially since Anzu is overachiever due to her mom views on success, so Anzu unknowingly projects all of that on her band. It will explode it right in her face.

also what the hell was that kiss at the end 😭

 

[themanthemyth]

wow this was the first chapter where i actually thought anzu was annoying