So they're just rushing a personality change, he will suddenly fall in love with someone other than Ponko? Terrible.
I'm okay with that. He always seemed into Ponko as a tech nerd, not because he had feelings her. And Ponko never seemed at all interested in him. And there have been hints that he's not
totally uninterested in Akane. But only hints.
Part that feels off is creepy older guy + 16 or 17 year-old high school junior. Then again, she's been into him for at least a year and a half at this point, so I dunno. It's a "maybe".