Substantial progress has been made. This has to be the most Komi has ever spoken. She stepped up in a friend’s time of need. Also, a new take on love rivals they’re rooting for each other. May the best woman win Tadano’s heart. Pretty cute overall still with the weirdness you’d expect from this series. ( )

OMG!!! Komi communicates.

Back in my review for Vol. 10, I wrote,"After an onslaught of new characters who haven't contributed much of anything to the story, Komi's newest friend, Rumiko Manbagi, has an interesting personality and problems and could actually upset the status quo if a little crush hinted at continues to develop. Promising."

Promise comes to fruition in a manner beyond my best expectations, and it finally accelerates the glacially slow progress that has been made since this whole thing kicked off two-and-a-half years ago.

I generally don't linger on books, but I have reread pages of this volume numerous times in the last week. Writing this review has taken forever because I keep picking up the book and reading large sections of it between every sentence.

It's the dad in me, sure, but I just feel so proud of Komi's progress and so much protectiveness for her friend Rumiko. Total emotional engagement. ( )