Kamiina Botan, Yoeru Sugata wa Yuri no Hana Ep.09 - That final scene between Ibuki and Botan...

Episode 9 of Kamiina Botan: Yoeru Sugata wa Yuri no Hana continues with developments in the relationship between Ibuki and Botan, though, honestly, I am still captured mostly by Chang Chin-lan, who continues for yet another episode to be the most interesting girl in the entire cast.

I mentioned developments, but it's hard to actually put them into words because the series itself makes it difficult to understand what is going on. Botan finally realizes that Ibuki loves her after she pretty much declares it, and then... they start crying and say that they shouldn't be friends anymore?

Every reaction from Chang Chin-lan brings me joy. Girl really is trying her best to cheer up Kanade.

Kanade lighting up at the very thought of yuri with Chang Chin-lan. Joking aside...well maybe not joking...

They were about to kiss and are clearly into each other, so what was the crying all about? Did the kiss happen, or was it imagined? Are they a couple, or are they fighting? I'm honestly baffled when they leave the viewer in such uncertainty, and now we have a week of waiting before we know what exactly they meant.

Not that I am hugely interested, to be honest, not as much as in the developments between Chang Chin-lan and Kanade. Hopefully, we can get Kanade to smile again soon, because the poor girl has been playing third wheel to Ibuki and Botan for far too long to be bearable.

Oh, and where are Yaeka and Akane? As usual, there was very little about them, and I genuinely wonder why they are even considered main characters, considering they are barely NPC material in terms of screen presence. Even the newcomer, Chang Chin-lan, seems to get more attention.

The art was fine this week, not amazing like in the first episode, but serviceable. I didn't like the direction in this episode, though; it relied too much on a melodramatic style that really doesn't click with me. You know when the drama is overblown and it's hard to take seriously? That's what I felt.

Why is she crying? Honestly can't see the reasoning considering that she technically agreed right? What is Botan unhappy about?

Ibuki is a mysterious girl, she got hurt by a passing line from an unknown character and still carry the 'trauma'. I'm baffled...

Either way, we are back in the waiting room, and with only three episodes remaining, I am genuinely curious to see where they are planning to leave the story. The manga is technically ongoing, and I wonder where the relationships are going in it. Is it still teasing, or are they an actual couple facing other challenges?