WE'RE SO BACKKKKKKKKKK AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
first before anything else. fight scene really hot
alright it's very striking to me kyo's reaction to the entire exposition dump from yaichi. it might just be indicative of the way yatsuda teki perceives similar scenarios in the real world, or it might just be the writing decision they happened to make that's the best for how they want the story to go. but it still sticks out to me so much. because, and in the modern age this is more evident than ever, human beings are really difficult to have change their minds. if someone has staked their belief on any given thing, particularly staked so much of their belief it's their entire identity, even when presented with undeniable evidence to the contrary they will stick stubbornly to those false beliefs. kyo reacting so volatilely to learning the truth in a way he can't deny is very real and very well-done, but i would've expected him to dig his feet into the ground and refuse to budge. to continue defending kano regardless of anything, even and especially to the detriment of himself. i'm glad that's not what happened to kyo because he would've been even more doomed than he already is. not that he isn't any less doomed like this!
even though i'm sorta in disbelief at how well (comparatively 💀) kyo is taking this revelation, i'm also not that surprised since this was fairly predictable. look at yaichi. he carefully and meticulously planned every single part of this. he with pinpoint accuracy at every turn, in both physical and emotional terms, foresaw kyo's reaction beat for beat. he tailored everything he did and said accounting for every single detail and nuance that makes up kyo, the person and the IF, and made sure he could match it all. kyo believed, accepted, came to shaky terms with the truth in such a shockingly positive and safe way for him, vulnerable as hell position he's in, thanks to yaichi's machinations and planning. he really, truly wants to save kyo
i need to know yaichi's story expediently. for half a second, before remembering the pace of this manga and knowing my hopes were in vain, i thought yaichi would've had kyo use his ability to sync with the memories of other IFs to show him his life's story. it's clearly too early in the game for that and yaichi himself as a person obviously isn't ready to be open about the master he is IF to. i think i predicted a guaranteed plot beat that's to happen eventually in whatever manner though - the way we learn of yaichi's backstory and likely his master is going to be through kyo's eyes. and i don't think any of us are ready for or are gonna like what we eventually see
and then there's the really good fuckass shit vani is up to. i love his awful ass so much. it's perfect and genius and diabolical the way that he's crafted this personality and these reactions to flawlessly manipulate haruno, all with total deliberation. he made sure she would be captivated by his dangerous and noble ambitions, would yearn and fight and risk everything for a chance to be useful to him. that, most evilly of all, the reaction to all this that she would get from him is him earnestly prioritizing her and her safety and her place in his life above his ambition and her usefulness. there's no coming back from that for her. now she's doomed - like everybody else in this damn manga. i wonder if vani will give her a merciful end at tbe least
i'll always love you guys for your hard work and the love. see y'all next month i CANNOT wait to get worse!!!!!