No clue what to make of Boner guy yet but I'm liking the conflict between different hunter philosophies. At first I was thinking we were killing too many animals - not an ideological thing, I just wanted to see more focus on how Much meat was being created, since it seemed like, despite being told Asirpa will waste nothing, the main characters were making one meal out of each animal between two people. But this volume went a bit more into what happens when they have to move on quickly, and how everything they don't eat gets used by other parts of nature, so that resolved that worry for now.

Once again, Asirpa and Sugimoto’s expressions continue to push me into near hysterics. But I appreciate just how willing they both are to experience each other’s food! Sugimoto deserved the not-so-gentle reprimand Asirpa gave him for leaving her when he knows she has abandonment issues.

Tsurumi is a really great opposing force to this group. He’s so unhinged and wildly unpredictable, it makes him super interesting to watch. The way he makes choices leaves me confused yet I also want to see him more. He clearly fears no punishment and does whatever the hell he wants! A man not beholden by rules is a man where you can’t tell what he will do next. Also, still no status report on Ogata and I’m getting antsy…

I’m intrigued by this hunting arc, and I like the weaving way we progress through the plot by basically stumbling onto other map-bearers. It’s a satisfying level of forward momentum, though I will say the food focus has ramped up considerably! I’m not complaining - some of this I wish I could try if I didn’t have textural food issues lol. So glad I picked this series as my focus for the month, I’m thoroughly enjoying myself.

Okay maybe NOW I'm starting to understand this world. It's all survivalist vibes. The actual probability of all the prisoners our daring duo is looking for just constantly turning up in the extremely specific neck of the Hokkaidan woods that they are in is irrelevant. The story comes to find them, because they possess such a gravitational pull.

More specifically, I am loving the horror movie scary Lt Tsurumi, and I'm glad to see Sugimoto poking fun at Asirpa's fun fact-loving nature, rather than just taking her as a walking encyclopaedia.

The facts nevertheless continue to be wonderful. As well as the vibes, of course.

I'm stuck between 3.5 and 4 stars so maybe 3.75?

The story is definitely starting to pick up a bit more now and the plot is slowly starting to kick in. I love the characters we have so far and the fact it's quite a history heavy story as I love a bit of history! I'm excited to see how everything continues to unfold

I'm so bummed my library doesn't have the other volumes!