Another day that I’m grateful to be in the universe that holds this manga.
*spoiler-free!*

We throw terms like “peak” around often, but I must state that after my hiatus from reading fighting-type shonen, this has quickly made its way to being my favorite series.

In volume three, we meet new contenders, and the story really starts to take shape. The pacing gives the story time to breathe as Team Chihiro maps out their next steps while still showing the time crunch they are on.

I will omit panels that give spoilers. Not just because I want you to read it, but every panel felt like a spoiler for this arc. The moments in this volume filled me with so much emotion that not only did I cry, but I had to do the full processing motion of pausing, re-reading, and sitting in silence, which are defining traits of an amazingly well-written story. You can really see that this is a turning point for all the characters with their growth and direction going forward.

Knowing about the auctions of the Sazanami clan, every character now has a question asked of themselves that teeters on the line of “can you live with yourself?” This line is reflective even in our current climate, but it’s still nice to see antagonists also have a moral compass, and hopefully, it will lead to a change of heart.

We see more of the Sazanami family dynamic, which, honestly, felt a little bittersweet. The pressure of being a part of an elite family and the weight of trying to uphold your family’s pride and beliefs isn’t a new topic. It’s something that I appreciate in every story, as every family is different, but the story is the same. The strength it takes to endure. The pain that comes with grieving and letting it all go. It’s all done so beautifully in this volume.

Of course, I have to mention that the stand-off and fighting scenes were just as spectacular as they were in the other volumes. Even though I only have the first four, I will definitely keep buying the physicals. This is sure to be a hit once it goes into the mainstream.