Snark Kingdom

Norman talks strategy during a training session with Suzuki and Aki. What is the "Curse of Fusako Yagami", and how can they lift it? Then, their coaching team finally becomes complete when Nino arrives to join them.

Full summary and highlight images under the cut.

This is mostly a set-up chapter with a lot of dance terms (kind of like #21 back in volume 4), but I'm happy that Inoue-sensei added enough fanservice for us to pay attention, lol. The shots of Suzuki taking his shirt off... Thank you... Upon more viewings people are also noticing the armpit hair and a second piercing (!!!) on Suzuki's left ear, which feels very bisexual. During pride month????? Inoue is trying to kill us! Now that he's no longer sulking and finally in a relationship with his man, his sex appeal is even more terrifying than before.

Norman is getting back to business by not screwing Suzuki and actually teaching the pair (not that he wasn't before). He's still in the process of making Suzuki and Aki unlearn the things they were taught by Sugiki, but old habits die hard. Norman tells Aki to forget the fact that Sugiki told her to move less than she would in Latin. My guess is that he's trying to draw out their own personal style instead of copying any single dancer (and break the "Curse of Yagami Fusako"). This might be more exciting in the future when they're competing in Standard dance where their Latin flair still comes through and surprises the floor? I wonder how Sugiki will feel about this, given that he is a jealous bitch, lol.

I'm also a huge fan of Aki's three pigtails, she's adorable! I could make a post about her various hairstyles through the years just because she's gone through a lot of styles. We also get a lore drop of Aki's first/Western name that we've never seen before -- Eida! Aki is already easy to pronounce but Eida is also a pretty name. I previously assumed that Aki is full Japanese who is likely a 2nd-gen immigrant, but the fact that she has a Western name makes me think otherwise, and that maybe her family has lived in Cuba for longer (we discussed this in the comments). It's interesting to compare to Suzuki, who has a Cuban mother but does not adopt a more "Western" name and stuck with just Shinya. I know Inoue has her backstory, please give it to us!

Nino finally arrives in Japan and the running gag of Aki fangirling too hard still gets me. She missed Nino and Fabio back in Blackpool, missed Alberto and Dolores, but now she's going to be coached by the Legendary Champion all of a sudden! Becoming a frozen owl seems like the appropriate response, haha. I love how she was so shocked she couldn't speak in either Spanish or Japanese properly anymore.

I really liked the dancing in this chapter, especially this shot, they look so cool! I know we will be shifting focus to Sugiki and Fusako next update, but I'm also dying to see Nino's coaching style and what advice he's going to give this pair. I hope the next update comes soon!

Inoue knew that the first thing we needed to see after a lengthy break was Suzuki with his shirt off. Mmm, yes, thank you for knowing what the fans want! I honestly didn't even notice Norman looking at the watch at first, since I myself was too busy thirsting lolol. And Suzuki actually calling him "master" like he wanted, omg do NOT indulge this middle-aged perv's fetishes like that (Norman should just play out his kinks with Max already).

It's interesting that after all this time, Aki gets that little bit of lore added by revealing she has another name as well. It's never been specifically said if she's mixed like Suzuki (I always assumed she was fully Japanese), but this revelation hints that she could be. Definitely would love to learn more about her history and family.

We get beautiful art of dance techniques and practicing as usual, and then the manstealer, the myth, the legendary DILF Nino joins the party! Aki is so cute and funny...after missing out on all the other opportunities to meet big industry names, she's finally face to face with one. And her reaction is to become a startled owl who can't keep her Spanish and Japanese straight haha. Suzuki stays casual as usual, he's used to this by now (that whore, meeting so many famous men already).