I'm a librarian who loves anime, manga, and reading a wide variety of genres.
I'm finally getting back to this.
Surprisingly, the author has managed to set up a potential love interest for Rise who doesn't suck. This, as it turns out, was not exactly part of the plan. There's an author's note at this point in the volume where the author is literally begging readers to root for Azusa (the series' supposed actual love interest) more than Akamaru (the accidental better love interest).
I have a feeling Jun Yuzuki gives her editors ulcers. Earlier in the volume, she included a couple examples of her rough drafts, as well as a list of comments she often gets:
"I can't tell who's who. And I can't read your writing."
"Can't tell who's who, and I also can't figure out what they're doing."
"I mean, it's indecipherable."
"I have no idea what's happening until the final draft is sent to us."