With so many things happening … how can Chiaki be so clueless?
Creative Staff:
Story & Art: Ato Sakurai
Translation: Caleb Cook
Lettering: Bianca Pistillo
What They Say:
Chiaki can’t deny it – he has a whole harem of girls in love with him. But what’s a boy to do when he doesn’t understand love, much less feel it? Then later, Orthos gets a whiff of some stinky food and he’s knocked unconscious! Who’s this new guy appearing in his place…?
Valentine’s Day is two weeks away, but Chiaki already has admirers fighting for the right to give him chocolates! However, when Orthros kidnaps Chiaki, it kinda kills the romance. Can the gang find a way to the underworld to mount a rescue? More importantly, can they accomplish their mission once Orthros’s true scheme is revealed…?
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
When Roze suddenly confirms her feelings for Chiaki the sudden shock is too Shirogane and she does not know what to do, forcing the normally aggressive side of Cerberus to retreat into her room and hide away from everyone. Even as the boy in question is unsure of what to do in this situation, his friends try to give relationship advice all as the sisters try to coax their sibling out and discuss what is wrong. However as Orthos in his usual fashion is unconcerned with the crazy behavior around the house, he is unprepared by the discussion of a familiar but stinky dish between Minnie and her childhood friend, immediately knocked unconscious by the noxious odor of natto forced into his face. But as the two overlook the foul mouthed protector with concern a strange change occurs as the dog child transforms into someone entirely different, black hair replaced by blonde and he now referring to himself as Hikari.
The now polite brother of Cerberus explains he is the left head of Orthros, normally asleep as the right side is the one presented to the world, with even Kuro unaware her little brother had another personality. But as the curious conversation is cut short by the imminent expiration of a sale at the grocery store, this kindly side of Minnie’s servant volunteers to carry home the shopping, but the trip is soon interrupted by a surprise attack by a monster known as Arachne. With its adhesive webbing gumming up all efforts to free themselves the spider-like being launches an attack at Chiaki, however as Kuro breaks free to defend her master new strands immediately wrap around even more tighter causing the explosive temper of the Hound of Hades erupt again, but she cannot arrive in time to save him. In a last-ditch effort to save his new friend, the normally passive Hikari suddenly dashes forth and stops the fangs of the beast with his arm, but is this enough to stop the creature or will someone else need to interfere?
With the immediate problems of the sisters’ relationship now settled, the group rushes off to school the next morning only have Chiaki be reminded by an ever energetic Haruna of the upcoming holiday – Valentine’s Day. At the same time Hinata bashfully declares she will be giving chocolate to her friend even as the Cerberus girls are still unsure what they are supposed to do, but this happy moment is soon crushed once Minnie threatens all that her prospective fiancé will only accept sweets from her. But as the two groups head to lunch, Chiaki suddenly remembers he forgot his textbook in their last class and heads back just as Roze gets a hostile feeling something is approaching their master. However, as he enters the room instead of finding his missing book there to greet him is the mischievous Hikari boldly stating he has come for something important, swiftly rushing past and snatching the precious jug which Lady Persephone gave him to once again feel emotions. It is only then do the sisters arrive in time to see their traitorous brother pushing through the chalkboard, gleefully stating without fear he will be waiting for them on the other side … but what can he have in store for them and will they be able to retrieve the vessel to save their beloved Chiaki?
In Summary:
As we approach the end of the series, it still seems as Sakurai-sensei is still uncertain as how to bring this title to a satisfying conclusion with so many plot holes left to be fixed and new actors introduced with each volume. And while the motivations of Hikari are tangible, why were his intentions left until now as being the main antagonist of the title when he just debuted a few books ago? After all there have been so many more challenging monsters chasing Chiaki for various reasons and yet none of them were deemed suitable until now when a rookie character takes center stage with no indications as to why is holds such hatred. The development of this menace is hollow, with no clues left for the reader to ponder why he is so mischievous or what happened in the past due to an overabundance of humor shadowing any serious story. As such you cannot take this betrayal seriously and the further incidents afterwards are lackluster, making it seem as if this incident is a joke due to the brother’s nonchalant attitude and overconfidence which usually ends with a clichéd ending.
Today’s Cerberus is more preoccupied with creating a romantic comedy and as such it never takes itself seriously even when the events call for bold actions to create tension for life or death moments. And while the title may attempt to give us excitement within the monster fights, Sakurai-sensei cannot help but to slip in a joke at the most inappropriate times as such ruining any anxiety which the pressure emphasized and thus deflating the event. Hopefully, as we reach the final fight between siblings we will be treated something which resembles true animosity, but sadly with the trend which has been created thus far it seems it will result in a half and half conclusion – but we can always hope we will be proven wrong.
Content Grade: B/B
Art Grade:A/A
Packaging Grade: A/A
Text/Translation Grade: B+/B+
Age Rating: Teen
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: August 21, 2018/January 22, 2019
MSRP: $13.00
