Fantastic, thank you for another enjoyable scanslation!
Really feeling like we're in the final arc. Last chapter I thought they sort of cleared the mystery box of events that set off the story, but I really appreciate that they're letting Nozomu now take his life into his own hands. He may not get to stay in the country side because of it -- if it's cleared up back home in the city -- but these are the tough choices that make a good story.
I wasn't expecting Kagosaki Umi-san to develop a crush after last few chapters where it seems like she was just awkward and wanting to apologize. But I also think there's a possibility for reconciliation with the other guy and that sort of pairing the spares would clear the way for a "six years later" time skip romantic reunion between Nozomu and Sou. Or something like that.
I LOVED Mikoto's reaction last chapter and still think she's a shipper on deck rather than a romantic rival, but I'd have liked to see more with her character if this is truly the end of the series approaching. I also think the sister is underdeveloped as a character, but there's potential for a "shared universe" spin-off story about the sister in the Idol business. I also think it's kinda fun to have such a notable side character who is to the characters really important, and has a very interesting backdrop for days in the limelight, but rather than turning it into a whole part of the story, it's allowed to sit there as just that - a lime light. Too often these days authors gets stuck trying to explore every interesting facet of their worldbuilding and character ensemble to the point that they lose track of the narrative and fail to get to the ending. I'm looking at you, George RR.
