Dreamless, i totally agree with you.
I think the character developments is the major strength of Hiroya Oku, the mangaka (if you ever read "Hen"); and I like it very much~ so i don't really mind with the "1-page-fighting" plot of the ch172~~
the focus is on Kei and Tae~
(don;t think Tae will get killed though -- it will be funny if Kei got killed though, lol )