Looks like Akasaka is getting restless. From the fourth-wall breaking admission that Ishigami and Ino's scenes are becoming predictable, to a bizarre meta-commentary on fan-service, to the final swerve into thriller territory(?), Volume 18 paints a picture of a writer that can't let things settle. And that's good! It makes sense that Love is War would settle back into low-key episodic mode now that the two leads are together, but I'm glad that Akasaka isn't letting his series' newfound ambition go to waste. I have *no* idea whether corporate scheming is the most obvious route to go down, but I have to assume that things won't be that simple. I think its telling that the series took the time to paint a picture of how harsh Hayasaka's days are before turning up the narrative heat - hopefully, Akasaka keeps the needs of his core cast at the centre of the action.