#but I'll reserve talking abt those two until i read the new ln

[liquidstar]

I think ishigami/miko were really good conceptually as a couple, they're really interesting foils with their approaches to justice, and the most compelling part of their dynamic is that these convictions constantly lead them to help each other out behind their backs. A rigid sense of morality and justice is the center of Miko's character, and this means she always does what the Right thing to do is- including standing up for someone she thinks is a pain in the ass. On the flip side, Ishigami doesn't care about rules or whatever but he cares a lot about people, and can't stand to see someone being treated unfairly and thinks this should be corrected. But both of them agree, maybe out of pride, that they don't need to be rewarded for their help, so they don't really say anything. Instead they just keep helping each other out, whether it's Ishigami protecting Miko from bullies, Miko protecting Ishigami from within the public morals committee, Ishigami convincing Miyuki to help Miko during the election (Albeit in a different way than he thought), or Miko convincing teachers not to hold him back during his suspension. All that stuff.

But since they don't KNOW about the stuff the other person has been doing for them, they also feel resentment because of their attitudes seeming so laissez faire, which is the real source of most of their bickering. Like, "ohh after all the shit that I've done for this motherfucker they're seriously going to be a pain in the ass again today I'm going to KILL them. But yes I'll also keep helping forever obviously." And ultimately this fits really well with the themes of Kaguya-Sama as a whole, being about open and honest communication. And how, just like Kaguya and Miyuki, all their relationship issues really stem from just Not Talking To Each Other without masks on.

It's a REALLY good set-up and I think it's executed fairly well too, but I also think that after a certain point it becomes over-developed with drama on Miko's end since she realizes her crush way before him. But somewhat under-developed on Ishigami's end due to the ending getting rushed (which ik is out of the story's control), because he went from being in love with Tsubame to Miko a bit too quick and it didn't get to feel as natural.

So I kinda understand the manga ending on the note of "Now they're going to go through their version of Kaguya and Miyuki's love story." I do. But it also feels like wasted potential that we didn't see the actual ending of their arcs and I wish the story didn't just get rushed like that. SAD!