Kaguya-sama: Love is War (2018)
[ใใใๆงใฏๅใใใใ ๏ฝๅคฉๆใใกใฎๆๆ้ ญ่ณๆฆ๏ฝ]
Volume 9
Author/Artist: Aka Akasaka
Publisher: Young Jump Comics
Synopsis:
Hayasaka helps Shinomiya develop a technique to keep her from getting flustered around Shirogane.
Story/Characters:
We open with the development of Shinomiya's "routine", which helps relevel the playing field, which has been tipping in Shirogane's favor. It's not flawless, but it does give her a little more emotional control. (The fact that she needs it at all speaks volumes about how she's developed from the time before the series started.) Next we have Ishigami joining the glee club in a bid to fit in more socially. This is the springboard for some major developments for him, so look forward to that. Also, we see how much his relationship with Shinomiya has changed. After that is a look at the Shirogane household, particularly with Shirogane's relationship with Kei, but Papa Shirogane also gets involved. We follow this with the latest educational adventure with Mama Chika where a rival appears. Next is another observation chapter, this time with Iino's friend Osaragi in the driver's seat. We get a look at a range of subjects, but particularly with Iino and Ishigami, which foreshadows the big goings-on to follow. We dive into the Sports Festival after that. Papa Shirogane has some fun and we also get to meet Fujiwara's dad. It's amusing how plain and unassuming he is given how... unique his daughters are. The fun and games continue until it's Ishigami's turn in the barrel. We go back to the incident in his past which made him a pariah and work through it. Now, Ishigami would've been perfectly acceptable as an antisocial otaku with a penchant for meta-commentary, but this arc really puts the work in to flesh out his character. Not only that, but it does some big things for the rest of the gang too with their support of him, both overt and covert. After such a big emotional payoff, we close on a lighthearted note with the student council playing a balloon game with a delightful display of cowardice and conniving.
Art:
Particularly in Ishigami's sequence of the Sports Festival Arc, the art really does its part to sell the big emotional moments. I like the detail of other characters' eyes being obscured to represent Ishigami's perspective how he barely acknowledges most of the people around him as fully human (initially, at least).
Other:
The main relationship chart gets an upgrade to include Iino and the stinger for Chapter 86 has a relationship chart for the Shirogane family, how they relate to each other and to Shinomiya.
Conclusion:
Normally the big emotional payoffs in this series focus on our lead couple as you'd expect, but here we get some major development for Ishigami that helps further cement his place as a fan favorite. Our boy has been through some stuff, but he's come a long way. This is one of the best volumes in the series and is definitely worth having in your collection.
Rating:
Own It