Kaguya-sama: Love is War vol. 12

Now that we’re past the Great Translation Consternation of 2019, where does this series stand?  In a pretty good place, actually.  Even if this volume is almost entirely setup for the Shuchiin School Festival that will be happening in the next one.  That leaves Kaguya modeling outfits for the welcoming party in an attempt to put pressure on Miyuki, only for the president to completely turn the tables on her.  Meanwhile, Fujiwara is busy living down the trauma of her last few teaching sessions with Miyuki when it looks like he’s about to call on her skills one more time.  Then there’s Ishigami and Ino who, are working with the festival committee both to help the event and further their own goals: Shutting down the jerks who’re trying to impress festival head Tsubame and to have a bonfire as part of the festival, respectively.

The comedy is as solid as you’d expect, with mangaka Aka Akasaka still finding clever ways to subvert your expectations after thirteen volumes.  Most notable in that regard is the shift in Miyuki and Kaguya’s romantic approaches. The former has decided to finally get serious about things (now that he’s on a deadline) and the latter is finally starting to own up to her own feelings.  It’s some actual dramatic movement on the romance front, and is underscored well by the final chapter in the volume. Which provides some straightforward backstory about what Miyuki and Kaguya were like back when they were first-years at Shuchiin.  It’s quality stuff all around, made even more appealing by the fact that I know we’ll be taking a trip to the fireworks factory in the next volume.

(Definitely taking a trip to the factory.  Not sure about whether or not we’ll be setting them off.  My memory’s hazy on that part…)