[Flying Dagger]

Spoiler for thoughts after reading 7-9:

Coming from the anime, there are minor plot inconsistencies and certain characters feel a little different. Mashiro for example is more talkative and "smarter" in the volumes I have read, and sometimes I question if she says all those misleading things on purpose just to make Sorata embarrassed.

Vol 7 and 8 are difficult to read: the majority revolves around Sorata refusing to pick between Nanami and Mashiro. The awkward tension and weirdness among them is painful to read.

Sorata was such an ass to Mashiro during the school trip... I want to punch something when Mashiro cried and screamed about Sorata not praising her on her clothes (she made it so obvious too...), refusing to hold hands, not calling her first name. making her feet hurt because Sorata walked too fast... He is the one who created the awkward tension ebtween the two of them.

His confession at the church was really cute though.

I am disappointed how Nanami's existence became null after Mashiro won. I expected her to at least have some presence but she got maybe 4 lines in the entire vol9.

I wanted to punch Sorata again in vol9 when he didn't want help from Misaki and (especially) Mashiro on the game project. I get the feeling that he is trying to force his ideals onto others. Ie: Mashiro likes drawing manga so she should just focus on that and not get involved. I mean, that goes against everything he has learned in the past, and after all the shit he gave to Mashiro in vol8, he should at least realize she gave him her unconditional love and wished for nothing beside staying by his side (lucky bastard).

7.5 = best volume.

Well, one more volume to go.

Spoiler for @ end of vol9:

Mashiro and Sorata were getting intimate when Rita interrupted them. A few days later, Misaki wrote in the logs, "--must make sekihan (red bean rice)"

Curious if they finally broke the last barrier