FuuuuuUUUUUUCK. She's drunk, he confesses to her, maybe she confesses to him, either way she forgets it happened because she's drunk. Mark it. That's what's going to happen. Not a big revelation to those who have followed and are frustrated by the lack of progression, but I can almost promise that this is what's going to happen and progression is going to hard reset. I guess there's maybe a shot that something real comes from this given that Mizuhara had that conversation involving Kazuya's feelings for her, but come the fuck on like anyone is holding their breath for that.
I think what makes the non-progression so frustrating is that even if this series has devolved into nothing but a cash grab, there is still PLENTY of story to write and all sorts of narrative potential while not keeping the characters in the same damn place for 3 fucking years. Even if their relationship goes mostly smoothly (or smoothly enough), there's still plenty to write about to keep this slice-of-life and light romantic comedy and all that. If there was actually something building in this incessant start-and-stop or that it was indicative of some part of the meta-narrative, then that would be great, but there is no evidence that there is a greater plan at play or that there's a fucking point to how drunk Mizuhara is almost assuredly going to throw a monkey wrench into what is developing and waste any potential of what could be/come of this current little arc or w/e. It's just a little ironic that carrying on with stifling progress and more or less resetting the story to square one could actually be a device for progression. This could be handled as a commentary on life, Japanese society, any elements of society and the human experience that are largely universal, etc. And then you can drag out them not confessing to each other for literal years as dude has been because you're still telling a meaningful and in-depth story, even if it's not exactly what people are expecting. But yeah, nothing is happening and it really seems like the mangaka is subtly warning us that nothing is going to be happening again, and nothing will come of this date stuff, or Mini telling Mizuhara about Kazuya's feelings, or any of that.
But my stupid ass will be back next week, hoping my prediction is wrong but bracing for the likelihood that it isn't.