Shonen Beam

[scanlation by iMangaScans]

Actually, Seiji, “Please don’t meet with Touru” is exactly the worst possible thing you could say.

Eri’s crudely-drawn map would have been much funnier without her facial expression and self-deprecating gesture. Your audience isn’t stupid, Sasuga; we get that the map is bad.

The first people that Seiji finds who know Yuki immediately launch into a lengthy flashback about Touru. That’s both depressing and unrealistic. I understand cultural differences between societies, but is it at all realistic for complete strangers to go into lengthy detail about a common friend’s personal life?

Yuki’s mom is certainly excited to see her daughter’s friends. She seems not to have much contact with Yuki.

Were the speed lines necessary?

A heartwarming reunion between Seiji and Yuki (and friends) is overshadowed by the arrival of Touru. Worse still, his friend reveals that Touru attends school in the same city where everyone lives. So much for positive, uplifting progress; surely, drama is imminent.

Final Flash: The brevity of the trip to Yuki’s house is appreciated, but this chapter had both too much angst and too much setup for future angst.

[scanlation by Eat Manga]

What a forlorn look on Yuki’s face when she hears the news of a proposed trip back home. Let’s hope this doesn’t shift the focus away from her again.

Nice flashback scene of Seiji and Yuki having fun at the waterpark. We need to be shown scenes like this more often. There’s been too much drama lately.

Seiji is completely right about the agony of being apart from the one you love, but rolling around on the floor in front of your parent is not exactly a mature way of handling it.

Now Seiji is practically bragging on his way to morning practice? You’ve been a miserable, two- (or three-) timing scumbag for the past several chapters. One chapter of keeping your eyes on Yuki does not earn you enough glory to be able to boast.

Wipe that undeserved grin off your face

Well, at least Seiji is properly shaken up by news of Yuki going back home. That’s more dedicated than he’s been for a while.

The conversation between Shou and her friend begins awkwardly and a bit too direct, but eventually Shou is revealed to be handling what happened between herself and Seiji as maturely as could be hoped. She’s acting just like our protagonist should be, while Seiji is off panicking and fantasizing about anything and everything.

Seiji is following Yuki to her home. A similar storyline greatly reduced the overall quality of Kimi no Iru Machi; let’s hope that Good Ending can present such a storyline in a more interesting and less angst-ridden fashion.

Final Flash: One chapter after reestablishing Yuki as the “right” choice, she’s pushed further away, and the spotlight again shines on Shou. Make up your mind, Sasuga.

[scanlation by iMangaScans]

Excellent color pages. The swimsuits are not overly gratuitous, and the coloring is fantastic.

The exchange between Oonuma and Izumi is some excellent humor.

It's okay, being short builds character

Seiji is actually confronting Yuki about trying to set him up with Shou. Good. Stand up for yourself, Seiji, and maybe she’ll follow suit.

Eri has cemented herself as my favorite character in the series. She’s funny, straightforward, reliable, and a great friend… so of course, she isn’t a love interest.

Excellent observation by Izumi. This is a great chapter for him, out of nowhere.

"Perhaps"?

Even Eri’s reactions are excellent.

How to explain this to the doctor...

Finally, a moment alone for Yuki and Seiji. It seems she took care of him, too. Excellent ending to a much improved chapter… even if Seiji looks thoroughly ridiculous on the last page.

Which is worse: His face or his arm?

Final Flash: It doesn’t make up for recent developments, but this chapter was just enjoyable, which is a welcome and overdue relief.

[scanlation by iMangaScans]

Seiji is a lost cause. He’ll never have the decency to stay true to Yuki.

Wow. Not only is Seiji unable to focus on one girl, but he’s not even able to focus on the girl in front of him, instead picturing her naked. That’s pretty awful.

Saved by a phone call, and then they both play the whole thing off like a joke. It’s official: I can’t stand our protagonist.

Hilarious

Seiji’s friends are so much more interesting (and tolerable) than he is. Really, this manga has developed an interesting supporting cast for a protagonist who ruins the whole thing.

How to summarize plot

Oh, hey. It’s Yuki.

Final Flash: Hugely disappointing chapter. I have no reason to root for the main character anymore.

[scanlation by iMangaScans]

Clearly, Shou’s invitation is indicative of what happens between two nervous teenagers left alone in a house. They discuss tennis matches.

For once, Seiji is on the verge of showing some conviction, but his is overcome by Shou’s own conviction. At least someone has backbone; it’s just not the right person.

Just as evidenced in the corresponding scene at Yuki’s house, it seems that Japanese mothers have no greater wish than to give their daughters away.

Certainly not American ones

Even if Seiji is trying to stay distant, rambling on about Shou’s ex-boyfriend is a pretty awful thing to do.

Cliché accidental intimate situations, one after another. Shou’s mom and sibling peeping from a ladder was a decently funny moment, but this is entirely too straightforward.

Final Flash: If ever there was a time for Seiji to grow a spine and be decisive about his feelings for Yuki, next chapter is that time. I can’t say I have any confidence.

[scanlation by iMangaScans]

Yuki counters Seiji’s date offer with a different date offer of her own, but her attitude and delivery make it quite clear that this won’t be a straightforward date.

She set up Seiji and Shou on a date together. This is absolutely unacceptable. There’s only so long I’m willing to root for Seiji to get the “right” girl if she’s constantly going to be putting up ridiculous obstacles in her own path to happiness. What a horrible plot development.

Meanwhile, Seiji compounds the problem by going along with the date. He’s almost as frustrating as Yuki.

Shou’s cheating ex-boyfriend is here, too. Surely this will lead to a moment of closeness between Seiji and Shou.

There’s the “accidental” hand-hold.

... you're dumb enough to forget Yuki.

To top it all off, a sudden rainstorm. This is embarrassing writing, really. One or two coincidences here and there are acceptable; an entire chapter of perfect arrangements is not. The pieces are all lining up, they’re just the wrong pieces forming the wrong result.

Shou invites Seiji to her house. She deserves credit, at least; she’s direct and honest with her feelings. Even if she’s the “wrong” choice of Seiji’s potential love interests, her character integrity alone makes her a better character than either Yuki or Oonuma.

Final Flash: This series continues to move away from everything that made it good. It’s still not beyond hope, but as always, its redemption depends entirely upon Seiji growing a backbone, which looks less likely by the page.

[scanlation by iMangaScans]

Who cares if the text is long? Just send it! Be done with this.

He calls instead, and the issue is circumvented. That’s not a good sign.

No matter whether Shou should be in the harem again, it’s still sad to see her this distraught over the situation.

Yuki being so perceptive of Shou’s troubles is both a kind character trait and slightly worrisome. It’s great that she’s such a good friend, but I worry that she might use her guilt as yet another self-imposed obstacle in the way of her feelings for Seiji.

Shou is certainly a fan of ice cream.

This is an awkward flashback. It’s a little late to be seeing Shou in such a positive light. I don’t want to be rooting for her anymore; she had her chance already. That’s not to say I dislike her character, but the story needs to progress without her in the spotlight as much.

It seems Yuki is conflicted after all. I can only hope she doesn’t ask Seiji to resume morning practice.

Final Flash: The potential displayed at the end of last chapter hasn’t been realized at all.