Things definitely came to a head in this volume, with tensions running much higher than at any previous point in the story. The common manga trope of the biggest, most horrible looming (and sometimes fully actualized) disasters coming about because people hold stupid grudges and never actually talk to each other about the details came to the fore here, but unlike in other examples I recall reading (or watching in anime) from recent years I did not find myself exasperated or frustrated by it all. Rather, it has made for a quality story, and I want to read more.

The plotting is not only well-done by the author, but also by the characters manipulating events behind the scenes. I'm pretty sure I understand what they were all doing, and why -- and how even things that look like they spun well out of control are, in fact, playing directly into their hands. Part of the reason I can see it, of course, is the fact that I have a more (ahem) "godlike" perspective as the reader than the characters trapped in the story, though. In short, this all looks pretty masterfully plotted by the author.

I normally dislike blatant cliffhangers, but this case is an exception. It just makes me want to read the next volume. Given the quality of the plotting, I find the way the anime has started diverging from the manga storyline a little disappointing. ( )