Adachi and Shimamura, Vol. 3

So, we finally got the first names of the two main characters! 
Shimamura: Hougatsu
Adachi: Sakura

Well, it is getting better, with Sakura trying to be more confident, but it's still quite awkward between them.
As Hougatsu observed it herself: Hino and Nagafuji are on the same wavelength, whereas Hougatsu and Sakura not so much. 

Sakura is getting a bit more confident, as said, but Hougatsu keeps being so oblivious. She does see the signs, she keeps thinking about how different Sakura's behavior is to her other friends, but she always keeps coming back to the conclusion that it must be Sakura's character. (The amount of times she said, "it's so very Adachi-like"...)
I don't think she's homophobic or anything, maybe she's just confused about her own feelings or where it may lead to, once she realizes why Sakura acts like that... but it's still a bit weird. Very back-and-forth, story-wise.

The flashback of Sakura's childhood and the reason why she's so socially awkward... well, it was creepy, ngl. The way her parents were portrayed, I mean. 
It was good, though. Makes sense. I hate how much I could relate to that, though.

I loved the two parallel chapters, where Hougatsu travels to Nagayo – one time with a childhood friend, and the other time with Sakura. Also shows how close the titular characters have gotten. The billboard thing and the hug were cute. There's hope for their relationship becoming a romance.

Yashiro is cute as well, I'm just wondering what her purpose is (other than being Sakura's "rival") and what the storyline even is for. I mean, it doesn't have the magical realism tag, but technically it should have... I do like Yashiro – she's an interesting and cute character, and it might feel empty without her –, it's just a very random side-plot. 

<spoiler> I found the one-year time-skip quite unexpected and too much, considering their relationship barely changed. If at all. </spoiler>

-17.04.2024