ボクガール 5

This volume completely changed who I was rooting for, and I was seriously disappointed with the author's choices for Takeru. It completely undermined their character and their entire relationship until that point. The author could have done those scenes just a bit differently, and it would have been way more interesting and way less gross.

To be specific: it's the non-consentual nature that bothers me, not the fact that Takeru is acting on his feelings. While there's some grey to the situation, Mizuki did repeatedly tell him to stop. The whole thing is also made grosser by the fact that Takeru just seconds before laughed off Mizuki's dad's abusiveness, grabbed Mizuki's hand and said つらいんだったら今は…これくらいさせてくれ, and also added "don't forget you're a girl right now", as a prelude to this. It's believable for a high school character, but it's still gross, and I kinda hate the "boys can't control themselves" trope

A few things I did like about this volume: Fujiwara's reaction to Mizuki's reveal is really sweet. And despite my issues with Takeru's actions, Mizuki's struggle accepting his own enjoyment of it, and accepting that he's getting more used to living as a girl is enjoyable. The way the love triangle progresses at the end of the volume is really nice to read, tho I feel bad for Mizuki and Fujiwara both

In a very Ranma 1/2-esque manner, yet another far-fetched character is introduced, Nanatarou's fiancee, who he ditched and wants nothing to do with, who of course declares war against Mizuki (Shampoo & Mousse, anyone?), leading to Mizuki and Nanatarou going on a date, with Mizuki opening up to more girly things, and Nanatarou acting normal human being for the first and probably only time, in the while series. The way Fujiwara helps Mizuki prepare for the date is also really sweet