Yancha Gyaru no Anjou-san Vol 05,06 - Three couples from the looks of it, but really...
Volumes 5 and 6 of Yancha Gyaru no Anjou-san delineate the direction the series is taking far better than the previous installments. Anna and Seto are still the central focus, of course, but many of the chapters now prominently feature Toyoda and Inuyama as a secondary couple, and even introduce a third pair.
The third pair is rather unexpected: Toyoda's younger brother, who looks like a host who lost his way to the nearest club, is deeply in love with the gluttonous Chita, Anna's other friend. I knew there had to be a misunderstanding when they showed Anna and Toyoda walking next to this guy, but I wasn't expecting him to be her little brother. He seemed much older!
The developments are otherwise pretty standard, with Anna becoming more serious under Seto's influence, just as Seto becomes more aware of his surroundings thanks to Anna. Each gives something to the other, improving their lives, making it the kind of wholesome dynamic that many love to see.
The focus is on growing up, of course, and figuring out what to do once high school is over. Toyoda wants to draw for a living, Seto is unsure about his future (he doesn't really have a hobby), and Anna reflects on her connection to her mother's profession. It's never overly dramatic, but rather nicely woven into their everyday interactions.
At the same time, I have to admit that a bit of fatigue is setting in. While it's always great to see cute new moments, there is a limit to how many layers of teasing they can cycle through before you start thinking, "Just go out already!" Of course, that can't happen immediately, as it would alter the initial premise altogether.
Seto technically already got the seal of approval from Anna's mother, as they had a small chat while she was half-drunk. She doesn't pry too intrusively, gently nudging them along while finding amusement in how much her daughter has changed because of him.
This brings up the question of where the series wants to go from here. It's clear at this point to everyone, including the characters themselves, that they're in love with each other. Will the manga eventually shift to depict their relationship as an actual couple instead of merely revolving around teasing?
There are 11 more volumes to go before I catch up, and I'm curious to see where it leads. I'm not a huge fan of the side couples, but Anna and Seto are compelling enough to make me want to read "just one more volume" to see what happens. I'll be back soon with more thoughts!