Zoom me down to the latest volume, please!
- Vol. 4 - The resolution of the Kihal-and-Popo-the-bird mission, the beginnings of Shirayuki and Zen's romantic relationship, Mitsuhide's backstory and a tragic loss for a younger Zen, and a fun squad outing: a day trip to a busy town.
- Ch. 13 - During the misson for Kihal's bird, Popo, to fly from the castle to the watchtower, Shirayuki thwarts Viscount Brecker's efforts to sabotage the mission. Last chapter he locked Shirayuki in the watchtower, so in THIS chapter she jumps out the window and into the pond below. Obi arrives and helps her look for the bird-call stone in the pond. Then the bird is shown to have reunited with Kihal at the castle, and everyone regroups, and later Zen kisses Shirayuki in the watchtower.
- Ch. 14 - Shirayuki is very noticeably flustered for several days after having been kissed by Zen and is avoiding him as she confronts her own thoughts and feelings. Zen tells Mitsuhide how he feels about Shirayuki. Obi urges Shirayuki to go running off into the woods, which leads to her and Zen having a heartfelt talk/confession/agreement to begin their relationship.
- Ch. 15 - It's the Mitsuhide backstory chapter, part 1! It's revealed how Mitsuhide met Zen and became his retainer, as well as a look at a younger Zen who lacked the social support structures he has in the present. Zen is close friends with an archer at the palace named Atri.
- Ch. 16 - It's the Mitsuhide backstory chapter, part 2, this time with more death and tragedy! Unfortunately, Zen's friend, Atri, was only pretending to be his friend and is in fact a covert member of a rebel group. A bloody confrontation between the rebels and the palace characters (Zen, Mitsuhide, Prince Izana) breaks out and results in Atri's death. Zen is deeply hurt by all of this but learns to trust and accept Mitsuhide more afterwards, whom he didn't really respect or want to get to know at first.
- Ch. 17 - Shirayuki and the squad go out on a fun day trip to the bustling town of Yurikana. Obi wins a fighting tournament (hand-to-hand combat) and gives the prize, a beautiful hair trinket, to Shirayuki (who is seen wearing it in later chapters as well).
- Vol. 5 - Shirayuki's captor from earlier chapters makes a reappearance, only to inform her she's become the current target of someone else. Also, Shirayuki and Zen must spend time apart while Shirayuki, accompanied by Obi, is invited to visit Prince Raj in Tanbarun as a royally-welcomed guest.
- Ch. 18 - Mihaya, the rogue who kidnapped Shirayuki in Vol. 1, Ch. 2, makes a return. He has come to the palace to report that he met a boy on a ship who is searching for Shirayuki, presumably threatening to kidnap her.
- Ch. 19 - Prince Izana breaks the news to Shirayuki and Zen that Prince Raj, the lackluster prince of Tanbarun, has invited Shirayuki to a banquet as thanks for the meaningful impact she has had on Raj since their last encounter. Zen is devasted that he and Shirayuki will be apart for a month--especially while she's being targeted by an unknown individual--but knows he must show strength and compliance to his elder brother's commands and expectations. Shirayuki is also keeping strong and up to the task--Prince Izana ordered her to take dancing lessons before she departs. Obi ventures out with Mihaya to look for Shirayuki's pursuer, but they discover nothing. Zen requests to send one of his retrainers with Shirayuki on the trip as her escort. He picks Mitsuhide at first, but Obi later defeats Zen in a sparring match and asks that he may go with her instead.
- Ch. 20 - Joined by Marquis Haruka (up until the border), Shirayuki and Obi depart for Tanbarun. Shirayuki asks Zen for a memento before they part, and he hands her a pocketwatch. Prince Izana dispels to Zen some of his deeper motivations in pushing Shirayuki to visit Tanbarun, which is the hope that Zen and Shirayuki's relationship won't survive the time apart (I think?). Shirayuki and Obi arrive in Tanbarun and meet up with Prince Raj at his palace, who quickly lets down his facade and admits he wasn't actually expecting Shirayuki to come.
- Ch. 21 - Raj and Shirayuki, with Obi in tow, aren't having such a great time trying to put on a good face and get along. Raj invites Shirayuki to a tour of the palace, but they're annoyed by the lack of privacy with many nosy guards around, so Raj decides to take them through the quieter underground passages. Raj ends up getting lost, the passages are full of traps, and Obi discovers they're still being followed--this time, it's Raj's twin younger siblings, Princess Rona and Prince Eugena. Shirayuki and Raj exchange some harsh words as things grow tense between them, but being honest with each other later helps their trust and understanding grow. Meanwhile at Wistal Palace, Zen receives a visit from Kihal, and Prince Izana tells Mitsuhide his goal for Zen and Shirayuki to part. Mihaya escapes from Wistal Palace and reunites with the boy pursuing Shirayuki.
- Bonus Chapter - Obi gets to know Ryu better.
- Vol. 6 - After a few more scenes highlighting the development of Shirayuki and Raj's friendship during her visit to Schenazade Palace in Tanbarun, Shiryuki's pursuers catch up with her. She is tragically kidnapped by Kazuki and Itoya of the Lions of the Mountains, the banquet is called off, and Zen and Obi separately make haste to try and rescue her. Then, Shirayuki (with Kazuki) is double-kidnapped by the Claw of the Sea, a pirate gang. Zen, Raj, and their aides join forces with the Lions of the Mountains to enact a major rescue mission. We learn about the motives of Shirayuki's captors and who the Lions and the Claw are.
- Ch. 22 - Zen learns from Mihaya that Shirayuki's pursuer is aware she's in Tanbarun, so Zen confronts his brother, Prince Izana, to inform him he's leaving for Tanbarun immediately (as well as state upfront why Shirayuki means so much to him). Meanwhile, at Schenazade Palace, where Shirayuki and Obi are visiting Prince Raj, the residents of the Palace take note of a change--a marked, unexpected improvement--in Raj. Trying to finally make sense of their relationship, Raj starts seeing Shirayuki as a genuine friend, and says something mature about wanting to be a better prince for his country. Rona and Eugena pull a little scheme to make Shirayuki trip, but Obi catches her. Shirayuki assures Raj that she'll speak well of him before Zen, to Raj's surprise. Obi and Shirayuki have a conversation on the balcony before calling it a night. Afterwards, Obi wistfully reflects on the physical contact from saving Shirayuki from falling a few times, saying it didn't mean anything but clearly, oh, it does mean something to Obi (he might not even realize it). The banquet's about to begin, Obi receives a warning letter from Zen, and then Shirayuki's pursuer appears! It is dramatically implied she is taken (to be addressed in the next chapter), and at the same time Zen departs from Wistal Palace in Clarines.
- Ch. 23 - Obi and Shirayuki put up a good fight, but in a moment of distraction, Obi is knocked out and Shirayuki is whisked away by her two captors. The banquet is called off, and Obi is furious with himself for not keeping Shirayuki safe. Zen arrives, devasted but not losing composure, and speaks with Raj, who is handling the situation with unexpected maturity that impresses Zen and the others. Obi has already left to track down Shirayuki's captors, and Raj offers information on a likely target: the Claw of the Sea. Raj's father, the King of Tanbarun, requests a meeting with Zen and Raj in an effort to assist in Shirayuki's rescue. Meanwhile, Obi catches up with one of Shirayuki's captors in the forest, who has discovered that Shirayuki and the other, "pretty boy" captor are missing. Shirayuki wakes up from sedatives in an unknown room beside her captor, and then are confronted by Sea Snake, leader of the Claw of the Sea (pirates). Sea Snake punches the boy in the face and informs Shirayuki, chillingly, that she will not escape (and thus, ever see Zen again). Shirayuki's original captor, now ally, explains his name is Kazuki and that they'll need to cooperate to escape from the Claw of the Sea. Shirayuki comically realizes she's techinically been double-kidnapped.
- Ch. 24 - Shirayuki and Kazuki succeed in escaping the boat, only to find they're in the heart of the Claw's territory and were going to be put onto another boat anyway. Zen speaks with his aides as he prepares to learn the palace in Tanbarun to rescue Shirayuki, and Raj shares information that they should head for the mountains to meet with the Claw of the Sea's enemies: the Lions of the Mountains. Meanwhile, Obi has just arrived with one of Shirayuki's original captors among the Lions of the Mountains. Popo, Kihal's tracking-bird, appears, having led Zen and his cohorts to Obi. So altogether in this reunioin we have Zen, Kiki, Mitsuhide, Kihal, Mihaya, Raj, and Raj's attendant, Sakaki, (whew!) meeting with the leader of the Lions. Shirayuki's captor, whose name we finally learn (Itoya) explains his friend, Kazuki's, motive in capturing Shirayuki. After some discussion, the leader of the Lions decides to help everyone find and save Shirayuki, so they head to the docks. Meanwhile, on the main ship of the Claw of the Sea, Shirayuki and Kazuki are facing some rough treatment, and then the ship disembarks. They nearly lose hope before discovering that Kiki has been taken onboard as another captive.
- Ch. 25 - This chapter opens with the conversation that lead to Kiki offering herself as a captive to reach Shirayuki. Also, Mihaya reveals he knows the location of the Claw of the Sea's secret hideout. Kiki brings some incredibly reassuring information to Shirayuki and Kazuki that Zen and "Pops", the leader of the Lions, are coming to save them. Raj, in another impressive sign of growth, rallies the harbor townspeople to lend their ships to assist in Shirayuki's rescue. Heading up to the deck of the ship, Sea Snake and Shirayuki spot Raj and his fleet of ships out on the water. Raj yells across the water that he's come to rescue his friend, and Shirayuki is relieved. Shirayuki is given a nasty cut on the cheek by Sea Snake, who then pulls her ship into the Claw's cave hideout. Kiki springs into action and is quickly joined by Mitsuhide, along with everyone else who's been lying in wait at the cave. Zen rushes in to shield Shirayuki from the fighting that's broken out, and then Obi shields Zen in turn. As the Lions of the Mountain and the Claw of the Sea face off, Zen gets Shirayuki to safety, and they have a tender and brief reunion before Zen returns for the fight.
- Bonus Pages - Short comic of some banter between Mihaya, Kiki, Mitsuhide, Zen, and Obi following the early events of Chapter 25.
- Vol. 7 - Resolution of the Claw of the Sea and Lions of the Mountains capture of Shirayuki, a surprise appearance of Shirayuki's family member, a couple of lighthearted chapters to settle down after the previous action-heavy volume, and some reflection on the direction Shirayuki and Zen's relationship.
- Ch. 26 - Clash against the pirates (Zen squad & Raj squad & Lions of the Mountains vs. Claw of the Sea) concludes. After her rescue, Shirayui meets with the leader of the Lions of the Mountains, who turns out to be her father, Mukaze! The Lions hold a party to celebrate Shirayuki's safe return and the defeat of the Claw. Raj holds another banquet that DOESN'T get sabotaged this time, sending Shirayuki off back home on a good note.
- Ch. 27 - After the main squad returns to Clarines and some time passes, it's Palace Exhibition Day! In this lighthearted breather of a chapter, Shirayuki and Zen fill in during a theater performance when two of its actors are injured.
- Ch. 28 - Zen is flustered after, at the end of the last chapter, Shirayuki kisses his hand as thanks for her rescue. Spacing out, he is accidentally hit by a carpet dropped by the maids, and Mitsuhide is concerned. Mitsuhide accidentally inhales a medicine that skews his personality a bit, making him very earnest for the chapter. It's a chapter that focuses on Zen and Mitsuhide's relationship.
- Ch. 29 - Sakaki, Prince Raj's aide, comes to formally present Shirayuki with a title: "Friend of the Royal Family." Prince Izana meddles in Zen and Shirayuki's relationship again. Shirayuki is distraught, and has a heartfelt conversation with Zen about the status of their relationship. These chapters are building up to a sort of "what's next for them?"
- Side Story & Bonus Pages - Mini chapter on Raj's backstory, and a cut scene from the Lions' party.
- Vol. 8 - Shirayuki holds her head high before the increasing pressure she faces from the public, and most especially Prince Izana, over her relationship with Zen. The couple talk about the status of their relationship together, and visitors from the previous arc in Tanbarun are sent off. The squad spends a fun night at an inn, and Obi is given some long-awaited backstory with the introduction of his old friend, Trow. Then, Shirayuki--now on her first big mission as a newly full-fledged herbalist--and Ryu set off to new encounters in the Northern reaches of Clarines in Lilias, the "City of Academics."
- Ch. 30 - Shirayuki and Zen continue their heartfelt conversation from the previous chapter, in which they discuss their feelings and future together. Sakaki gives Shirayuki a thoughtful letter from Raj, and Mihaya has a conversation with Shirayuki in a carriage as he leaves Wistal Palace. After sending off their guests, Shirayuki, Zen, Mitsuhide, and Kiki realize they need to find someplace to spend the rainy night, since it's too late to head back home.
- Ch. 31 - The squad chats while bathing and then dining, enjoying themselves, and then they are approached by a rather forward woman allegedly looking for a date. Then Obi, Shirayuki, and Zen have a really sweet conversation outside about how Obi puts them at ease. Inside, Mitsuhide and Kiki talk about Zen. Later, as the squad settles down to sleep, Obi sneaks out into the night to meet up with the woman introduced earlier in the chapter (earlier they pretended not to know each other, but here it's clear they know each other from before the events of the comic). Obi's friends notice he's missing and are disgruntled.
- Ch. 32 - After some friendly sparring, the woman, Trow, asks Obi if he'd like to accompany her on a mission like old times. She and Obi know each other well and reminisce as they track down a runaway boy named Kido Deena. We even get a flashback! Yay, finally, some Obi backstory! Also lots of cool panels of Trow and Obi scaling the walls of an abandoned mansion. Later, to his surprise, the squad finds Obi and tells him how upset they are that he left them without saying anything. Shirayuki treats Obi's and Trow's minor wounds, and there's a lot of love for stray cat Obi finding a place where he belongs with his new found family of sorts. Trow is surprised that Obi has changed so much and doesn't really understand the transformation. Obi isn't really sure what he feels about it, either, but he's certain this is where he should be right now, and he doesn't want to go back to his old life doing shady jobs and scraping by.
- Ch. 33 - The squad bids farewell to Trow and heads back to Wistal Palace. There, in the herbalist's wing, Chief Garak bestows upon Shirayuki and Higata (her fellow fledgling herbalist) new lab coats. She also announces she's sending off Shirayuki and Ryu on a mission to Lilias: a cold, far-off region that has been unresponsive as of late. Izana and Zen have another precarious conversation about their futures, and later Zen sends Shirayuki off.
- Ch. 34 - Zen is furious not to have realized that Izana is also traveling to Lilias at the same time as Shirayuki and Ryu, but on separate business. The two herbalists arrive in snowy Lilias, which is an impressive academic hub. They meet lots of other herbal scholars (Yuzuri, Suzu, Shidan, and Haki), who put a bit of pressure on Ryu, causing him to briefly run off. He bumps into another young boy, who isn't allowed in the facility. Then, to their shock, Shirayuki and Ryu run into Prince Izana, who asks them to accompany him and address him as "Louen" (Mitsuhide's other name) and pretend he's Ryu's assistant. Then they run into the boy Ryu met earlier, who needs them to help his injured friend. Meanwhile, in Wistal Palace, Zen misses Shirayuki terribly, and then receives a letter from Izana summoning him to Wirant (near Lilias, in the North of the kingdom). He, Obi, Kiki, and Mitsuhide ready themselves for departure.
- Bonus - Some silly sleepover antics, extras from the night spent at the inn.
- Vol. 9 - With the help of Ryu, Prince Izana, and her fellow researchers in Lilias, Shirayuki works towards learning about the mysterious illness that has befallen the city in hopes of finding a cure and saving its people. Also, some surprise guests join in!
- Ch. 35-39 + Bonus (Comment for the whole volume) - Okay so I'm just not feeling like writing out chapter synopses this time... Don't get me wrong, this is a good volume though! Surprisingly, Obi gets to stick around and we get a lot of Shirayuki-and-Obi time, which is pretty great as always. Ryu works hard with the Lilias researchers on finding a cure, while Shirayuki and Obi venture out to find the source of the illness: a plant called the Orimmalys. It's toxic, but has a pretty glow. It turns out that Shidan, Kirito's uncle, has been studying the plant for a year now, hoping it could one day brighten up dreary Lilias. Chief Garak shows up and works closely with Shidan, pressing him to share his findings while also ensuring he can continue his research with nothing to hide.
Also, there are some interactions between Shirayuki and Izana; it seems he's finally learning to trust, understand, and respect her a little. Shirayuki and Obi end up getting sick for a little while, too, after their investigation of the hazardous Orimmalys plant. They're quickly cured, but the volume ends with them dreading Zen's reaction (they're both sure he'll be angry at them for endangering themselves). Lots of bonus content in this volume, too, like extra mini 4koma comics and outfit-swap sketches. Also there's a flashback comic that reveals Shidan had feelings for Garak back when they both worked in Lilias (and, judging by his reactions in the present in this volume, he likely still feels that way). That caught me by surprise! Kinda recontextualizes most of Shidan's words and actions in this volume.
- Vol. 10 - The Lilias sickness arc wraps up, and Zen and Shirayuki go shopping together for a nice date. Then, the spotlight's on Kiki! We (finally) learn Kiki's backstory, motivations, and what the future may hold for her! Her relationship with Mitsuhide is important here, too.
- Ch. 40 - Everyone has a big party in Lilias celebrating relief from the Orimmalys infliction. Zen and Shirayuki have a nice quiet moment together in the library. The next day, Shirayuki's new friends give her a warm send-off as she leaves to return home.
- Ch. 41 - Zen and Shirayuki go out for a date in town.
- Ch. 42-44 - Can it be? Finally, the Kiki backstory & focus arc? ...It is!!! Mitsuhide's pretty important here, too. We get a flashback of how Kiki met Zen and Mitsuhide; we meet Kiki's father, the Viscount Lord Seiran; and we meet the slimy, sexist jerk, Lord Hisame Rougis, who wants to marry Kiki to avoid competing with his older brothers for a chance to head an honorable house. Kiki bests him in a swordfight (if he won, he'd get to marry Kiki), but Kiki says she wants to duel him again one day. (Ugh, so we're gonna see him again!??) Anyway, Kiki's pledge to become the head of her family, the house of Seiran, is revealed. The tension between Kiki's committment to her father and family versus her committment to supporting Zen (and now, Shirayuki), and the strain this puts on her relationship with Mitsuhide, are the focus of these chapters.
Poor Mitsuhide just found out that after being at Kiki's side for 5 years, she's going to be leaving next year to go back to her family! But they talk it out and decide to convince her father to let Kiki stay at Zen's side indefinitely, until Zen and Shirayuki can get married (if I understand correctly).
Okay, now I'm a little confused. Does Zen need Kiki's help in order to marry Shirayuki eventually? Why will Zen stop needing Kiki's support afterwards?? I think I missed something here... Anyway, bottom line is, Kiki's got some other agendas and she might not stick with the squad forever, and that's going to make Mitsuhide really sad. (Me, too.) Also, she's going to marry someone eventually whom she deems suitable for leading the house of Seiran with. She's really serious about this. Who knew?
- Bonus - Mini comics about the gifts Zen gave to his aides (that he bought while out shopping with Shirayuki), as well as an interaction between Lord Hisame and Mitsuhide. Apparently Hisame's been training as a knight back where Mitsuhide used to do the same (a place called Sereg). Mitsuhide still hates his guts, as you'd expect.
- Vol. 11 - Shirayuki's new pals from Lilias pop in for a chapter, and Izana's meddling leads Zen to go on a fake date with Kiki. A few juicy tidbits about Kiki's and Mitsuhide's thoughts on one another come up, too. But the main focus of this volume is Shirayuki--along with Obi, Mitsuhide, and Kiki--moving into the royal quarters! It's a big step for bringing Shirayuki and Zen closer together, but it's not without its dangers. How will Shirayuki and Zen stand up for themselves as word of the move spreads throughout the castle? And what antics will arise from the squad becoming roommates?
- Ch. 45 - Shirayuki's friends from Lilias--Suzu, Yuzuri, and Kirito--come visit Wistal Palace.Together, along with Ryu and Obi, they brew a tea to help calm Chief Garak, who's stressed from overwork, by following Shidan's note. Also, Kiki cuts her hair short! And Mitsuhide asks Obi (poor choice of confidant) if he knows if Kiki likes anyone romantically.
- Ch. 46 - Marquis Haruka brings to Izana's attention the matter of marriage candidates concerning both Izana and Zen. But Izana focuses on Zen and presses him to send a message to the kingdom by going on a date with someone from the candidate list. So, Zen goes on a fake date with Kiki to get it over with. During which, Kiki tells Zen she actually intends to propose to Mitsuhide at some point! Surprising to get a confirmation of her interest! Anyway, afterwards, Zen tells his aides, and then Shirayuki, of his plan to take his own step forward and ask his brother, Izana, for permission for Shirayuki to live in the royal quarters, closer where Zen and Shirayuki could actually see each other more often. Izana approves, however he requires that Mitsuhide, Kiki, and Obi move in to the royal quarters, too. Roommates!!!
- Ch. 47 - The squad moves into their fancy new living space. Later, Shirayuki, accompanied by Obi, has a bit of a polite showdown with the rude Lord Yuha in the reference room, as an example of what sort of negative attention she's attracting by visibly getting closer to Zen (as well as an example of how to elegantly deflect that attention, getting a laugh out of the onlooking Lord Zakura. ...He doesn't seem important but he's a named character, so, here's his name!).
- Ch. 48 - Zen meets up with Obi and Shirayuki in the reference room for a little while. Everyone's trying to put up a strong and unwavering yet polite and dignified air to prove their confidence and worthiness in the decision to move Shirayuki, and the aides, into the royal quarters. Then Shirayuki goes to work with Ryu, Garak, and her other coworker in the medical wing. When Shirayuki is dismissed from work, Ryu checks if she has a fever, and is surprised not to find one. Later, Zen shows Shirayuki the outdoor garden attached to her new living quarters. They have some cute moments... until Shirayuki falls asleep sick. Mitsuhide helps Zen get her back to her room, and she sleeps for a while. When she wakes up, she feels ill and tries to go to the medical wing, but falls asleep on a bench on the way there. Obi helps her, as Lord Yuha happens to come by. Turns out Shirayuki overworked herself into a fever, and now news has spread around the palace that she collapsed.
- Ch. 49 - Chapter opens with some panels showing how Shirayuki, Mitsuhide, Kiki, and Obi each wake up and start their day in their new rooms. (Does... Kiki sleep with a sword at hand?!?) Later, Obi comes to Shirayuki and Ryu saying that Zen, Kiki, and Mitsuhide have pressed him to do the cooking that night. Shirayuki agrees to help, so we get some panels of her and Obi cooking together. Turns out they can both cook pretty well! ...Mitsuhide does something extradionarily embarassing... Then in high spirits, the squad enjoys dinner as prepared by Obi and Shirayuki. The next day leaves us at a cliffhanger for the end of this volume: Prince Izana unveils that the queen is returning to coronate Izana as king in four months. Looks like next volume, we're finally gonna learn something about Zen's and Izana's parents!
- Bonus Chapter - It's a fully-inked flashback mini-chapter about Zen, Kiki, and Mitsuhide from when Lady Kiki Seiran just became Zen's aide and she and Zen are trying to get one another to drop formalities. Mitsuhide struggles, as you can imagine (and much to Zen's amusement).
- Bonus Pages - Outfit design notes on the Lilias crew, and "Night Off", a very funny short comic in which Zen loses a bet from playing cards with Obi and Mitsuhide.
- Vol. 12 - Prince Izana is coronated as king! Queen Haruto, Izana's and Zen's mom, returns to Wistal Palace (for a little while)! Festivities ensue, but a great change is announced. After the joys of being roommates with her friends and finally being closer to Zen than ever, Shirayuki's life is about to take a huge and difficult turn.
- Ch. 50-55 - Yeah, I'm being lazy again, lol. Coronation time! That jerk, Hisame Rougis, Vice-Captain of the Sereg Knights who has his sights on Kiki, shows up. Prince Raj attends the coronation and gets to spend some time with Shirayuki, he's so happy to see her again he briefly tears up. Also later Shirayuki shows him her hair has grown out, it's really sweet. Zen's and Izana's mom, Haruto Wisteria, Queen Dowager of Clarines, is shown to be a bit more like Izana: cunning and having been quite a team with her eldest son in running the kingdom in the past. It's no wonder Izana's like that, haha. Still no word on Zen's and Izana's father or other possible relatives. Lady Haki from Lilias is here, too, and spends some time at Izana's side. I'm 99% sure she's Izana's girlfriend, as much as it is possible for Izana to love anyone. (Harsh, I know.) Zen's nervous about supporting his brother during it all, but with the support of the squad, Zen does well and feels really happy and proud of his brother, the new king. It feels like Izana and Zen are getting along better than ever... except for what Izana does later in the volume. He sends Shirayuki (and Ryu) away to Lilias!!! ;_;
It seems maybe his reason for doing it is that he saw firsthand how important Shirayuki was to solving and curing the illness that befell Lilias during his visit. And maybe he's worried about Lady Haki's safety and he'd feel more at ease knowing Shirayuki's up in Lilias, too, to assure her safety (just my guess). And Izana did discuss it with Chief Garak, who approved of it as a way for Shirayuki and Ryu to get more experience as researchers/botanists/clinicians. But, oohhhh, how sad!!! To be separated from all her closest friends and partner at a month's notice, without giving her a choice, king's and chief's orders... ;_; Shirayuki doesn't leave for Lilias until next volume (presumably). This volume ends with her spending some now all-too-precious time with her squad, on the way back from a brief prep-trip Shirayuki took to Lilias (but not her actual full leave), while Zen's team had some business up north as well. Surprisingly, Kiki is trying to set up some alone time for Shirayuki and Zen. Thanks, Kiki! (Though she may be rather bold in how she does it...) Also, there's some good squad time camraderie, chatting and celebrating the festivities, in this volume. And a brief run-in with some kids causing trouble. No bonus content this time.
- Vol. 13 - This volume is a much-needed step-back-and-prep for Shirayuki's transfer to Lilias. Emotions swell for Shirayuki, Zen, and Obi especially.
- Ch. 56 - Shirayuki's in tears; she has a heart-to-heart with Zen about their feelings for Shirayuki's imminent departure.
- Ch. 57 - Back in Wistal Palace, King Izana reveals that Ryu may be permanently stationed at Wirant's medical wing in the future, and that Ryu's and Shirayuki's stay in Lilias will last for 2 years. It's kinda like they're being sent off to college (idk if it's more comparable to grad or undergrad, tho). The next day, Shirayuki hugs all her pals good-bye in a touching send-off.
- Ch. 58 - Zen discusses with Obi his plan: to send Obi to be with Shirayuki and Ryu in Lilias. Obi's response is to, surprisingly, put off the decision for a bit. Then Obi, Zen, Kiki, and Mitsuhide have some business to take care of that involves boarding a ship. Obi's on edge, wistful, and clearly struggling with some complicated thoughts and feelings he won't let out (yet). When they get off the ship, they run into Kazuya and Itoya (of the Lions of the Mountains) at the port. Obi decides to grab a meal with them and chat a little about his plans--he's considering going solo again like his old ways! Afterwards, Obi and Zen being a heart-to-heart conversation back on the ship beneath the stars. Obi's ready to give a proper response now, and he confesses to Zen he "likes" both Zen and Shirayuki. Idk what word's being used in the Japanese, but I feel like if you haven't picked up on Obi's not-so-platonic devotion to both Zen and Shirayuki up to now, you've been missing something.
- Ch. 59 - Obi and Zen continue their conversation of sorting out their feelings and officiating the plan to send Obi off to Lilias. I hope Zen's line, "I've been a fan of your for quite a while," isn't the most we get through the rest of the comic for how Zen feels about Obi, because Shirayuki is also clearly deeply emotionally devoted to both Zen AND Obi, so Zen-->Obi feels like the weakest link in this polycule. At the very least, Zen places immense trust in Obi, but I'd really like it if the comic was upfront about pushing its main trio as queer rep, y'know? Like, Obi and Shirayuki are almost certainly bi, but is Zen??? It's a little less obvious. Anyway, after agreeing to go to Lilias, Obi also nudges Zen that he should start thinking about proposing to Shirayuki, to which he has a rather flustered reaction. Later, Zen says to Obi he has something to give him (Oooh, what is it? We don't get to see yet!), and then Zen, Kiki, and Mitsuhide throw Obi a little drinking party send-off the night before he leaves for Lilias. Zen wanted to see Obi off the next morning, but unsurprisingly, Obi races out on his own in high spirits.
- Ch. 60 - Whew, I desperately needed those last four chapters to prep for Shirayuki's transfer to Lilias (which we finally arrive at this chapter)! Now it doesn't feel so sad since we got to spend plenty of time digging through everybody's feelings, very cathartic and reassuring. So, now in Lilias, Shirayuki and Ryu meet up with their pal--now colleague--Suzu, who shows them their new lodgings. Kazaha, a fellow scholar of herbalism, is introduced memorably by challenging Shirayuki to an arm-wrestling match (he loses). Also mentioned, Chief Garak's last name is Gazeld, apparently! Shidan's there, too, as is another new face: his assistant, Izuru. She and Kazaha are from the same region, Suzu says. Later, Shirayuki wakes up in her new bedroom to a scream! Something sneaky startled Ryu... Donning a gorgeous fox-mask, Obi arrives! Yaaayy!!!
- Bonus One-Shot Comic: Beyond the Drops
- (Also there is a teensy mini sketch comic about why Obi calls Kiki "Princess Kiki" which leaves us with more questions than answers.)
- Vol. 14 - Shirayuki's new research team in Lilias is hard at work looking for a breakthrough on the Orimmalys's glow, which they find in a luminescent mineral, the Wunderock, and a very hard-to-reach noble researcher, Rata Forenzo. This volume builds up to a Soiree in Wistal Palace for the next volume, which will be not only a social opportunity for Shirayuki and Obi to reunite with Zen and his aides, but also their only chance to meet with Rata Forenzo.
- Ch. 61 - With Obi and Ryu at her side in Lilias, Shirayuki tries over and over to learn how to crystalize medicine properly. Kirito shows up, too, and he has grown a bit.
- Ch. 62 - Obi and Shiryuki dramatically run out into the woods, watch the sun rise, and profess their intentions to one another. Obi lays down his blade before Shirayuki--so that's what Zen gave him!--and declares his desire to remain by Shirayuki's side, dedicated to her and to Zen, and if that's all right with Shirayuki. Of course, she agrees. And Shirayuki, in turn, reveals she has set her mind on proving herself worthy of being stationed at Wirant Castle, like Ryu will likely end up in. She wants to do her best and win King Izana's utmost respect, to bolster her own and Zen's positions. And so, these are our characters' new paths going forward!
- Ch. 63 - Wisteria Castle is planning a Soiree, and Obi and Shirayuki are invited--they'll get to see Zen again! Zen, Kiki, and Mitshide receive Shirayuki's and Obi's RSVP letters from Lilias, and Obi asks Zen if he knows anything about a person named Rata Forenzo. So, the Wisteria gang visits Chief Garak for information (and to discuss Shirayuki's and Ryu's work). Then we backtrack to the Lilias research team's efforts to learn more about the Orimmalys. Searching for a breakthrough, they scour the field of botany to no avail. But when looking in minerology, and Ryu's chance encounter with a glowing Wunderock bracelet, the breakthrough they've been looking for arrives and points to Rata Forenzo, a noble and researcher of Lilias focused on Wunderocks.
- Ch. 64 - (Still backtracing) We learn a bit more about Wunderocks, and Obi and Shirayuki try to track down Rata Forenzo in Lilias, who is a man who seems to detest company and is actively avoiding those who seek him out. Then, Shirayuki and Obi receive invitations to a Soiree at Wistal Palace: an opportunity to see Zen, Kiki, and Mitsuhide again, yay!
- Ch. 65 - ...And, the Soiree invitation is an opportunity to finally meet Rata Forenzo, too! Since he's a nobleman, he was also invited--lucky for Shirayuki! Anyway, on their way back to Wistal Palace after leaving Lilias, Obi and Shirayuki bump into Zen, Kiki, and Mitsuhide at a fort And by "bump into" I mean they see them from a distance, and then Shirayuki and Obi playfully sneak up on them and surprise them, hehe. Then Zen finally takes the opportunity to ride a horse together with Shirayuki (usually, it's Obi, haha).
- Bonus - Kiki and Mitsuhide train with the knights, and so Lord Hisame is there. Kiki and Mitsuhide end up having to spend the night in the same room; Mitsuhide can't really sleep like that, but he does succeed in making Kiki smile/laugh before they decide to get separate rooms. A genuine panel of Kiki chuckling?!? Is this canon or not...? :o
- Bonus One-Shot Comic: 00 Days of Summer Vacation
- Vol. 15 - Will Shirayuki and Obi succeed in meeting with Rata Forenzo at the Soiree at Wistal Palace? And what will become of the Lilias botany team's research of the Orimmalys flower?
- Ch. 66 - Shirayuki and Obi attend the Soiree and manage to win Rata's favor, he agrees to consult with them about the Wunderocks later!
- Ch. 67 - The Soiree continues! This chapter's more about Shirayuki, Obi, Zen, Mitsuhide, and Kiki socalizing. Shirayuki catches King Izana by surprise by telling him she intends to aim for working at Wirant Castle like Ryu. Izana is impressed, and tells her that she and Obi will have the diplomatic mission of bringing the glowing Orimmalys flowers to all the bases in the North, if her team's research in de-toxifying the plants succeeds during her 2 years in Lilias. Also, Izana gets Zen super duper drunk with some vodka-spiked chocolates, jerk. We get some really cute panels of Zen and Shirayuki dancing together under the stars until poor Zen can no longer stand or speak clearly.
- Ch. 68 - Shirayuki and Zen, now sitting down, have an emotional and not-so-sober talk about Shirayuki's decision to aim for being stationed at Wirant Castle in the future. Zen is a little sad but supportive. Then he can barely stay awake, so Shirayuki helps him get into bed so he can sleep off the alcohol. Obi, Kiki, and Mitsuhide come to check on them and find the two of them asleep on a couch (Zen didn't make it to the bed lol, he sat down and that was it). The awake trio re-accomodates the asleep duo, and there are some shenanigans when Zen and Shirayuki wake up before Obi figures out what happened with the vodka-chocolates and eventually everybody has a clearer picture of what happened. The next morning the whole squad rides out, shares a meal, and then Zen and his aides send off Obi and Shirayuki, who shall return to Lilias. This'll be our last Zen-Shirayuki-Obi group hug for a while :,( .
- Ch. 69 - Back in Lilias, Obi and Shirayuki meet up with Rata Forenzo, who shows them what kind of Wunderocks they'll need to advance their experiments. But they're super expensive! So in order to afford the rocks (precious gemstones), Shirayuki and Suzu run a stand selling medicinal Liliwis Tea (Lilias-Wisteria I think; it's the tea they made for Garak some chapters ago). Obi helps, and Kirito and Yuzuri show up as well. Successful, Shiryuki is then to buy the Wunderocks.
- Ch. 70 - Rata comes to Shidan's lab and meets the whole Orimmalys research team. We get an explanation of how the Orimmalys's glow and toxins work, and Rata agrees to teach Shirayuki and Suzu how to combine Wunderocks to fit the experiment's needs. It's a complicated process of heating, cooling, and carving the stones; Suzu and Shirayuki need a lot of practice and guidance before they get the hang of it. Their goal is to create a wunderock that gives off constant heat in order to keep the Orimmalys seeds warm. Rata makes for a somewhat grumpy but knowledgable and careful teacher. Later, Yuzuri pops in and gives Shirayuki and Suzu a special flower that grows inside of a mineral, as a gift. The chapter conclude with the research team's revelation that Orimmalys seeds need not only a heat source to glow, but also some exposure to the cold as well: the temperature difference between that hot and cold is key.
- Ch. 71 - The research team is briefly stumped by last chapter's news, until Ryu gets an idea that clears the hurdle: embed the seeds into the Wunderock, just like the plant Yuzuri gifted them. So, Suzu and Shirayuki are back at it again in Rata's lab, trying to make more combined Wunderocks that can contain the Orimmalys seeds. Shidan's lab crew makes a special mixture to help the seeds be easily removed from the Wunderock. A couple weeks later, the research team extracts the glowing substance from the new heat-and-cold seeds to compare how much they glow to original seeds, and it's a successful match! So, now the team awaits the seeds to grow into blooming flowers and hopefully see their research pay off. Also, Shirayuki tells her teammates about King Izana's plan to have Shirayuki and Obi spread the glowing flowers throughout the Northern bases if their research is successful during Shirayuki's 2-year stay in Lilias.
- (We also get a couple short and silly 4koma comics, nothing major.)
- Vol. 16 - Timeskip in Lilias after the research team achieves seeds of Orimmalys that will produce glowing, non-toxic flowers! And we spend quite a bit of time with Zen, Mitsuhide, and Kiki at the Sereg knights' base as a new plot unfolds involving Lord Hisame (ewww), a new pair of characters, and all else of Kiki Seiren's suitors.
- Ch. 72 - The Orimmalys research team of Shirayuki, Ryu, Shidan, Suzu, Kazaha, and Izuru are on the verge of wrapping up their project in Lilias; Obi, Kirito, and Yuzuri are here, too, of course. At some point, the team will need to come up with a new name for the non-toxic Orimmalys. Obi's been enjoying his new duties as a knight. Winter hits Lilias, and the research team gets very busy treating flu patients.
- Ch. 73 - Shirayuki convinces Shidan to write to Chief Garak about their success with the Orimmalys: yes, they now have seeds for glowing flowers that bloom in the cold and aren'tpoisonous! One year passes off-page... and Ryu has finally grown taller!!! Now he's almost as tall as Shirayuki; nothing besides his height has changed (and no other character looks any different). Shirayuki's and Obi's mission to spread the flowers throughout the northern bases is on the horizon! To prep for it, Rata teaches Shirayuki to ride a horse (Obi's there, too). One winter--half a year--remains of Shirayuki's and Ryu's stay in Lilias.
Meanwhile, back at Wistal Palace, King Izana tells Zen that he should say it when he wants to go to Wirant, and also he sends Zen, Kiki, and Mitsuhide to visit the knights' base at Sereg.
- Ch. 74-75 - When our trio discuss the new mission, we hear about the dynamics in the North/Wirant: how Queen Haruto came to Wirant and re-balanced the Bergat nobles' stronghold on the region by involving the Arlions of Lilias. Mitsuhide mentions it might be in Zen's future to take Queen Haruto's place up North in the future.
Anyway, back to Sereg... *sigh* yes, that means Lord Hisame shows up and gets plenty of screen time. And yes, *big sigh* he still wants to marry Kiki. And yes, he and Mitsuhide are still prickly as ever. Vice-Captain Hisame tips Zen off--who later tells his aides--about two new young recruits of the Sereg Knights: identical twins Tsuruba and Tariga of House Bergat. (Tariga has the braided ponytail, Tsuruba's is loose.) But they're training at Sereg under the aliases Nahiga and Loyle, apparently because they don't want to be underestimated for their age. (But they say they're Kiki's age, so, that's surprising.) Anyway, Kiki and Mitsuhide meet the twins, and then they (and Zen) observe the twin's sword skills. Then Zen gets to personally meet Tsuruba and Tariga, and together they watch Kiki and Mitsuhide demonstrate a swordfight. Evenly matched, Zen calls it off as a tie so it doesn't drag on forever.Then, Hisame shows up and *hiss* challenges Mitsuhide immediately after his duel with Kiki for a duel of their own, which ends in a tie.
- Ch. 76 - Zen runs into Tsuruba and Tariga again at night. Then Kiki, Mitsuhide, Zen, and Hisame get word of a mysterious string of attacks on noble sons, which is the next arc's focus. Hisame tells Mitsuhide that apparently there's a rumor that he (Mitsuhide) is the reason why Kiki hasn't accepted a marriage proposal yet.
- Ch. 77 - Then, Hisame has the gall to propose to Kiki! (Zen and Mitsuhide are aware and appropriately shaken--Hisame tells them he's going to do this right before.) Kiki's response, other than asking why, is not revealed in this volume. The next day, we learn that the three men attacked weren't just noble sons, but high-ranking suitors of Kiki Seiran's. (It's a little unclear, but Hisame may have shared this information with Kiki last night.) Two out of five targets remain, and Kiki is given guards--along with Hisame--for extra protection as she visits her father, Count Seiran. He tells her that the three attacked suitors stand below a new proposal: one of the Bergat twins. He suggests that he did not turn down the proposal for one of them to marry Kiki--something I'm sure we'll get more details about in the next volume. (Like, what?!? Is Kiki going to be forced to marry neither Mitsuhide nor Hisame???) The volume ends on a gripping cliffhanger: Sir Obi receives a letter from Zen from a knight, who also mentions he heard that Mitsuhide is suspected of ordering the attacks on Kiki's suitors. What a terrible rumor! :o
- Bonus Chapter - Mihaya and Kazuki come to visit Shirayuki in Lilias.
- Vol. 17 - Wow, things are really heating up in the north for Kiki and her crew! What looked like a surprising push for Kiki to get engaged has now turned into a deadly situation where everyone BUT Shirayuki is in danger! It's been a while since we've had a bloodbath, but Zen, Kiki, an unarmed Mitsuhide, Obi, and even Hisame--joined by twin knights Tsuruba and Tariga Bergat--now find themselves in a life-or-death political power struggle.
- Ch. 78-83 - Good news is that I was wrong about the implications of the last volume's ending: Kiki's father, Count Seiran, has NOT agreed to marry off Kiki to one of the Bergat twins. That aside, matters are getting very serious, very quickly. Obi parts with Shirayuki in Lilias to be by Zen's and Kiki's side, where he's needed most right now. Mitsuhide, under suspicion of being behind the attacks on Kiki's suitors, is being held without his sword in an isolated room. Poor Mitsuhide! In a dramatic flashback, we get insights into Tsuruba's and Tariga's backstory and situation. It turns out their older brother, Toka, will do anything to regain power in the north as a Bergat: he killed his father, the previous head of house Bergat; he plots to kill Zen and his aides; and his twin younger brothers have spent most of their lives obeying Toka out of fear that he will kill either of them.
So, yeah, this is about SO much more than just "someone REALLY wants to marry Kiki." It's "someone wants to sabotage Mitsuhide's reputation (and maybe marry Kiki?) in order to oust Zen's aides in order to get close to and kill Zen himself, who will eventually become the person of power in the region after Queen Haruto." It's a good thing this manga probably won't kill off our beloved main characters, because Toka and his hired assassins are all too ready to go on a murder-spree. But we're definitely in for a lot of close calls, fight scenes, and unexpected twists. AKA excitement! But will Tsuruba, Tariga, Hisame, Kiki's father, and Mitsuhide's reputation (not life, I presume) come out of this unscathed and alive?
Really, it's just good to know that the twins are innocent, and even Hisame's behavior has been more tolerable as of late. We learn that Hisame's proposal to Kiki was actually a ruse (sort of) serving as a tool Kiki can use to protect herself. That is, until we learned what's going on with Toka and that so much more is at stake in this complicated scenario. Toka is going to cause SO much trouble in the next volume for sure, to put it lightly. Also, I REALLY hope someone rescues Mitsuhide early into the next volume, because this one ends with him trapped, detained and unarmed, in a burning building! And if anything happens to Zen, Mitsuhide's been set up to take the blame and would surely lose both the right to be Zen's aide, and his status of being potentially worthy of marrying Kiki. :,(
- Vol. 18 - What is the conclusion (and aftermath) of the sharp battle between Toka of House Bergat versus Zen's team, plus Hisame and the twins? Will Mitsuhide be okay? Could there be a period of peace and calm in the wake of conflict? See how it all plays out in Volume 18!
- Ch. 84 - Whoa, everyone's thrown into the fray of battle! Injuries are happening! Zen confronts Toka! Hisame breaks Mitsuhide out of custody(!) and he rejoins Kiki's side, giving her a sweet head-pat as the pair run to find Zen. Aww.
- Ch. 85 - B-L-O-O-D-B-A-T-H!!! Zen and the twins face off against Toka. We get a flashback proving that Toka's motivations have been sinsiter and greedy for power since a young age. Kiki and Mitsuhide arrive at Zen's side. A furious Mitsuhide has an epic swordfight with Toka. Oooh!!
- Ch. 86 - The battle concludes. Toka's last effort is thwarted heroically by Tariga and Tsuruba. Now, everybody needs rest and their wounds tended to. Later, Mitsuhide and Obi have a nice conversation (by this point, did you notice the Wunderock necklace Mitsuhide's wearing on the USA cover of this volume?), and when Kiki strolls by, Mitsuhide pulls her and Obi into a tender gratitude-filled and "glad you're safe" group-hug. Awwwww. Zen continues to encourage the twins, and later he reunites with Obi, Kiki, and Mitsuhide, who is so excited to see Zen up and conscious that he pushes his injured body a bit too hard. Oops.
- Ch. 87 - Back at Wistal Palace, King Izana passes judgment on the twins and house Bergat. It's pretty serious, but not as bad as it could be; notably, Tsuruba and Tariga will be sent on separate duties. Nonetheless, with Zen's support, they are determined to right the wrongs their family has wrought. Afterwards, Obi shows up. Zen's surprised he returned to the palace so soon, and Obi, Mitsuhide, and Kiki reveal a surprise they had to keep in: Shirayuki's here! Next chapter, we're in for a heartfelt reunion!
- Ch. 88 - Zen and Shirayuki have a sweet and dramatic reunion. There are plenty of tears and smooching. We also get a flashback of when Shirayuki met up with Obi, Kiki, and Mitsuhide, glad to see them safe and back in the palace. I find the panels of Obi voluntarily picking up Shirayuki, twirling her around, and laughing while saying he's in pain from his battle injuries to be particularly funny. In the present, Obi, Mitsuhide, and Kiki are chatting and playing cards while Zen and Shirayuki have their quiet moment in the library.
- Ch. 89 - This chapter is all about "So, what's next?" Zen and his aides have been given some much-needed off-time. Kiki and Mitsuhide will be going back to Sereg, and Zen announces he wants to spend time with Shirayuki and Obi in Lilias. There are a lot of cute moments in this chapter between Zen, Obi, and Shirayuki. Also some pretty funny exchanges between Obi and Zen (Obi has a reputation of sleeping in Zen's room all the time like the cat he is, but now he finds himself in the reverse situation where Zen wants to stay in Obi's room). Really, it's just so nice see our trio relaxed after all the tension and fighting in previous chapters. Always a nice reward after a high-action arc.
- Bonus Comic - We get a one-page sketch comic of Ryu being frustrated with his Lilias pals' very inaccurate presumptions about Shirayuki and her cohorts.
- Vol. 19 - A moment of calm after the Bereg conflict allows for Zen, Obi, and Shirayuki to have a pleasant trip together in return to Lilias. Meanwhile, Mitsuhide, Kiki, and Lord Hisame attend a harvest festival with Kiki's father, Lord Seiran, and the topic of utmost importance is: who will marry Kiki?
- Ch. 90 - On the way to Lilias, Obi, Zen, & Shirayuki are enjoying eachothers' company. Obi returns the glowing stone necklace to Shirayuki, but she tells him to keep it.
- Ch. 91 - The trio wait out the rain in a cave and Ryu, Kirito, and Lord Rata show up. In the next town, they all decide to go camping for the night--lots of fun interactions. Shirayuki thinks about how Zen wants to tell Izana he intends to move to Wirant Castle, among other things.
- Ch. 92 - Meanwhile, Mitsuhide and Lord Hisame have a chat at the Sereg Knight Base. They discuss the upcoming harvest festival (near the Seiran Estate) which Kiki expects them to attend. Later on, Mitsuhide confronts Kiki directly about whether or not she wants to marry him. Their interaction is sweet but Mitsuhide's response might kind of make you hate him, too... Anyway, Kiki's great.
- Ch. 93 - Kiki and her father kick off the festival. Hisame invites Mitsuhide to a drink and asks him about whether or not he's going to marry Kiki. He tells Hisame he rejected Kiki, and Hisame cuttingly calls him a coward for putting her down in the way that he did. It's mean, but it's exactly what Mitsuhide needs to hear. So, Mitsuhide thanks him, and then goes back to Kiki to try to apologize and reject her *properly* this time. His "Zen comes first" logic is kinda weird but at least he's being fully honest with Kiki (who is again, great). Anyways, Hisame's grown quite a bit and he could've been way more of a jerk after learning Mitsuhide isn't going to marry Kiki, but he isn't. He's even approaching something of a begrudging friendship with Mitsuhide.
- Ch. 94 - Kiki and Hisame discuss Mitsuhide's dedication to Prince Zen. Meanwhile, Lord Seiran asks Mitsuhide a piercing question about what feelings inside him drive him and give him strength. (He seems to be taking it pretty well that Mitsuhide rejected Kiki, too.) Later Hisame, Mitsuhide, and Kiki hang out together, and Mitsuhide ends up letting Hisame stay in his inn room since he couldn't procure lodging for himself. That night, Mitsuhide asks Hisame about the question Seiran asked him; he helps Mitsuhide process his thoughts and feelings on it more clearly. See, friends! ...Sort of.
- Ch. 95 - Our favorite throuple has arrived in Lilias, along with the snow! Not hiding that Zen is a prince, so Shirayuki's botany pals are a little shocked, haha. Anyway, the trio make an awesome snowman together and have lots of winter fun in town. That night, Zen starts to fall under the weather, and asks Obi not to tell Shirayuki because he hates being overly doted on as a sick prince. Obi leaves and Zen and Shirayuki
play 7 minutes in heaven spend some time in one of the cozy tents together. As you might've guessed, there's no fooling Shirayuki--she notices Zen has a fever right away. Before they get a little too cozy, their tent time is over, and then they regroup wth Obi.
- Bonus Ch. "Heartbreak for Yuzuri the Plant Collector" - In this short, fully-inked chapter, Shirayuki and her Lilias cohorts try to figure out what's got Yuzuri down. Everyone seems to think it's a romance problem, but actually... someone beat her to a plant discovery!
- Bonus Ch. "Ryu's Second Year in Lilias" - Ryu's growing up! Literally! He shares his feelings about growing taller (and having settled into life in Lilias) with Obi, Suzu, and Shirayuki. (Also: brace yourself for probably the single funniest "meanwhile, in the palace..." panel in the entire manga.)
- Bonus - Page of outfit sketches for Kiki--gorgeous!
- Vol. 20 - The rest of Zen's, Kiki's, and Mitsuhide's visit to Lilias unfolds. Savor the experience of having the five of our main characters together again for a while. Mitsuhide has the pleasure of telling his friends about how he responded to Kiki's feelings, getting some tough love from Zen about it. Otherwise, lots of snow and smiles in Lilias.
- Ch. 96 - More awesome banter and camraderie between Obi, Shirayuki, and Zen until... Shirayuki and Zen see Obi hanging out with some mystery girl and are feeling confused and nosy. So, like the good friends they are, they do the reasonable thing and decide to spy on him. (I am being sarcastic.) Obi puts them in their place and shows them what fools they were to think they could secretly follow Obi. Obi! Nobody's sneakier than him! Anyway, he doesn't rub it in once he's had his laugh, and let's them know what's going on. This girl is a suitor of Obi's, and while he rejected her upfront, he hopes she finds someone good for her. Really funny and mirthful conversation over a meal for our trio--and moving, too. If you're invested in this throuple, your heart will swell this chapter. And then... hey, wait, is that Kiki and Mitsuhide dining here, too?
- Ch. 97 - Our trio becomes a quintet at the table as Kiki and Mitsuhide join in and tell Zen, Shirayuki, and Obi about the events of the harvest festival. The banter continues to be extremely funny. Then Shirayuki is too tired and tipsy to keep up, so Obi walks her home; it's a sweet interaction. Obi rejoins Zen, Mitsuhide, and Kiki just after she reveals her rejected proposal to Mitsuhide. Zen goes to speak with Kiki alone, leaving Obi to give Mitsuhide a piece of his mind. Needless to say, Obi and Zen are shocked. Kiki trusts that Zen can help take care of Mitsuhide--she knows (and he knows she knows) that Mitsuhide needs to tell Zen something important.
- Ch. 98 - Now Kiki and Obi go off to have a chat while Mitsuhide's with Zen. Obi and Kiki have a nice, honest (and funny) conversation about where their romantic interests lie, and Obi explains why he calls her "Princess Kiki". Zen and Mitsuhide's conversation is far less smooth, but an important one. Mitsuhide tells Zen that protecting him really, deeply means everything to him, and that after coming closer than ever to losing Zen during the Bereg incident, he's feeling shaken. Scared. It's kind of heartbreaking to see Mitsuhide like this, but it's good for him, too, in a cathartic kind of way. There's a lot of yelling and crying. Mitsuhide needs time to heal after recent events, and Kiki and Zen are there with him.
- Ch. 99 - Obi's in high spirits, especially around Shirayuki (since he's realized in a new way that she's a large part of the happiness he's found). Zen pretends to be a knight (not fooling anyone) so that the other knights may duel him. Shirayuki hangs out with Kiki and Ryu. Obi and Mitsuhide hit the bathhouse. Mitsuhide tells Obi that he and Kiki have been trying to figure out how to give Zen and Shirayuki some alone time together. Also, Obi asks Mitsuhide to admit that having Obi as a roommate has been helping him feel at ease and sleep properly. Zen's happy to overhear that Obi and Shirayuki are making a name for themselves in Lilias; then he catches up with Kiki and Mitsuhide. Shirayuki's lab crew finish deep-cleaning their workspace. Obi joins 'em, then Shirayuki leaves for a bath before meeting up with Zen. Their friends gave them a map to find a restaurant. Then there's... a blizzard! Also we get a sketch comic page of Ryu and Kirito's bathhouse trip.
- Ch. 100 - Zen and Shirayuki are trapped at a restaurant-inn during a blizzard, and have no choice but to spend the night together in the room that Obi, Kiki, and Mitsuhide rented them. They have a nice time but when they figure out what the situation is, they're embarassed as hell. But hey, they get their alone time.
- Ch. 101 - ...Okay, not exactly. Shirayuki and Zen realize that Obi, Mitsuhide, and Kiki are in the same inn, so they split up sleeping rooms by gender. Zen and Obi have a nice chat about how they're gonna miss eachother, then Mitsuhide gets teased (as usual). The next morning, Shirayuki chats with Kiki as she brushes Shirayuki's hair. She talks to Kiki about what it means to belong somewhere, among other things. Then, it's time to wrap things up. The time has come for the royal retinue to depart from Lilias. :,( Shirayuki, Obi, and Ryu see off Zen, Kiki, and Mitsuhide with a smile. For the coming months 'til spring, it's back to work in Lilias and in the palace.