The conclusion to the manga like most Japanese slice of life and coming of age drama adds an expected air of ambiguity. But for one, we could not escape an Evangelion reference and talk musings on (or in Will’s case rant on) our nostalgia baiting consumer culture having a harmful effect on us maturing into adults. Skip plot summary @ 3:03   Email:   115: Welcome to the NHK vol. 8 Chapters 31 to 35, Welcome to the Party! and Welcome to the NHK! Story by Tatsuhiko Takimoto Art by Kendi Oiwa English Translation by Katherine Schilling and Zachary Rau Lettering by Star Print Brokers   Misaki decides to have sex with Megumi’s brother but in doing so questions if any of her actions will make her happy. She quickly hears Sato’s voice and puts her clothes back on. Megumi’s brother realises he cannot give Misaki what she wants. Sato, Kaoru and Misaki are all together. Kaoru has a plan to grow seeds to help his revolution, Misaki convinces them to let her join and eventually the seeds turn into flowers. Misaki and Sato begin a relationship, Misaki using a check list to help nurture that relationship but the following pages show a deeply troubled, bizarre, mentally and draining relationship as Sato comes with Misaki who displays BPD. Eventually it all accumulates to Sato and Misaki in the attack of their old apartment building. As its ready to be demolished they talk about their feelings and everything else between them. Sato makes an escape and Misaki follows both of them claiming their hatred and love for one another. Cut to a couple of months later we see Sato trying his hardest to live a decent life, he looks at pictures of everyone he knows and say they are all doing good. One of the pictures is a smiling Misaki holding a degree in her hand to show she graduated.   Topics:   ·       Borderline Personality Disorder. ·       The Hardships of relationships. ·       The ambiguity of relationships at the manga’s conclusion. ·       Differences from the manga to the anime. ·       Consumerism and the “Nostalgia baiting” effect as a detriment on growing up.   References:   ·       A reference to ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ is seen in volume 8, with Sato resembling the main character Shinji Ikari.    

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