People giving this manga shit for its progress feels so absurd to me, but then I watched the anime before I came here, so I already knew the story beats and how well they felt like they fit together.
And compared to a lot of other manga, the progress has actually been pretty good. Especially considering where we are at around 100 chapters in compared to how most are at this chapter count (with the exception of shorter stories where 100 is about how long they are, like SukiMega or Sono Bisque, I suppose). Either way, there's been gradual, constant progress, more or less, where otherwise there'd be jolts forward with 'big events' and then mostly stagnation in a new status quo as they play the usual trope jokes. Here, even things that seem like a step back set things up so further steps forward can be made later, generally, but noticing it requires paying better attention than most manga demand.
Just about everything has a purpose, and these two keep moving forward. It's part of why I fell in love with this story from the 25 episodes over two seasons of the anime. And hope that the next four volumes (after Vol12 is out, anyway) after this one get adapted into a third season eventually, too, even though I do intend to read them, since I'm already here.
Besides, it isn't just about the romance having progress; it's also about Kyo's personal growth, which is absolutely vital to his relationship status (as they say, you have to love yourself before you can love others). The sports festival arc we just resolved last chapter was a very important part of that personal growth- an event he absolutely despised previously, which became a cherished memory, I feel, this year and a significant event reinforcing his male friendship(s), let alone a hard lesson of humility for, arguably, the principal male friend, losing in so many ways despite his official 'victory'.
Part of the pay-off to this series is witnessing as Kyo learns to enjoy school, such as school events that he used to hate having to participate in before spending time with Anna regularly.