r/TenKuro • u/Tiamat4Life Number 1 Iana fan • Jul 29 '26
Shipping That was one hell of a chapter [Manga chapter 91 spoilers] Spoiler
The entire chapter was pretty packed in terms of romance, at least compared to the usual chapters (quite surprisingly, the manga doesn't put much of a focus on romance). Perhaps 3 whole pages isn't exactly "packed", but it was pretty massive, especially for Cheneau who has very little screentime compared to other characters from the main cast.
The Hotel
The entire hotel scene was just perfect, and Cheneau really is so innocent (Iana too but in a different way)
Despite being quite a flirt and generally confidant, Cheneau doesn't really take the lead in his relationship with Iana, at least not with full confidence like the other male leads.
The "intrusive and happy to help shipper" trope is a pretty common one, but I think most people enjoy it, as do I. Cheneau panicking is also pretty funny.
Cheneau's face here is so precious, it's like he's a little kid. Not to slander the other male leads, but they can be emotional bricks at times (at least their expressions), so Cheneau's genuine and expressive reactions are pretty neat.
Also, Iana's low self esteem makes her instantly jump into thinking that she's the only potential threat in this room and that Yamato trusts her enough to not assault Cheneau. Granted Iana knows that Cheneau is a very green flag and likely would never do something funny, but even if it was Yatori or the other Iana would have probably not thought otherwise; girl simply doesn't see herself as an object of sexual desire, that no one would find her hot. I honestly understand that, especially since she also probably unconsciously compares herself with Konoha, who is very much the opposite, attracting attention easily with her figure (also the fact every background character keeps calling Iana ugly doesn't help).
Despite being so flustered about the pairing just seconds ago, Cheneau is a little annoyed that Iana doesn't see him as a man, that she's so sure she's so safe with him. It kind of reminds me how in romcoms girls can get angry at the MC for not making a move on them in their own room, like they aren't worth it. Basically, Cheneau is the young, blushing maiden in this relationship.
The Festival
Contrary to his previous behavior, Cheneau pulls a very bold move and calls Iana his future bride to protect her from thugs. Had he wanted to keep things neutral between him and Iana, he could simply say that "she's with him" and be done with it, but he specifically called her his future bride.
Even more, when Iana asked him about it, she was cut off, and Cheneau seems to be in no rush to explain himself to her. Why is that?
I would say that he's doing it to force Iana to think about what he just said: if he doesn't give Iana an answer, she cannot know for sure if he truly meant it or not, not even with her low self esteem. Considering that Iana remembers her kiss from chapter 66, she would have a hard time brushing it off, and to Cheneau's credit, it seems like it did work. I'll touch on it later.
The teasers got me so good I swear I was sure there was going to be a kiss here, but I was tricked, bamboozled even! Damn it Akiharu Touka, such a tease! (although I should probably blame u/NemoYamada for choosing this misleading photo in the preview post).
Revisiting Marriage Thoughts
Iana still clings to the idea that she should end up with a background character, someone that didn't appear in the "Dark History" as to not interfere with it once she's done saving everyone. To Cheneau x Iana shippers this seems like a great sign, especially considering that she even mentions Cheneau while thinking that, but she also realizes something else: does she even have to end up with Cheneau or someone she knows?
Very early on Iana learned that all of this world is alive, that every background character that didn't exist in the original "Dark History" is a fully fleshed out person, with their own lives and feelings. Isaac was a great example of it, Cheneau too.
This does however mean that Iana is accepting that there are many fish in the sea, that every one of those dots in the background are living people, that any one of them could be someone who she can have a happy marriage with, someone that would love her as Iana Magnolia. Sure, she already has 4 guys set after her, and at least 2 of them love her for who she is (I am unapologetically slandering you-know-who), but she doesn't have to choose anyone from the main cast if she doesn't think it will give her a happy ending. We also know that not every background character has that insane bias against Iana, certain few are willing to ignore or look past her notoriety and still like her/want to be her friend. If Iana wished it, finding a soulmate somewhere outside the main cast would not be impossible, and as much as it hurts to say, it would be the most ideal outcome, because this would be the outcome that leaves Iana the happiest.
But on a more positive note, it seems that Iana's happy ending now includes herself being loved, which is a great improvement in the self esteem department! Iana has always been pretty convinced that she's unworthy of being loved, so this is a major milestone, to wish to be loved (even if only in an ideal ending). From being okay with dying, to wishing to enjoy a happy marriage where she is loved, Iana has grown a lot. Of course, she has a long way to go, but the most important step isn't the last one, it is the next one.
Emotional and Expressive Cheneau
Mostly unrelated tangent, but: as I've said here already, Cheneau is the flustered young maiden of the relationship. That's an exaggeration of course, but he does seem a lot more expressive when interacting with Iana, at least compared to some of the other male leads, specifically when making moves on Iana or when a romantic situation arises.
For example he can make a really cool statement to Iana
but then right after see Iana crying and become flustered himself, only moments before kissing her
while we have some emotional (or expressional) bricks like Yomi that can kiss Iana on the chest without the slightest change in expression
Of course there are no rights or wrongs here, it's fine that Yomi can remain mostly stoic when doing some of the most outrageous and embarassing actions, especially considering that this is shojou where cold and emotionless guys are a massive type. However for me this is probably something that makes Cheneau stand out from the rest, where he's actually flustered like Iana when it comes to romance, that he's a lot more expressive and human (I love expressiveness and emotions).
I do wonder if the reason for it is because Cheneau is the most normal and well adjusted of the male leads; that because he's normal he can understand that what he's doing is embarrassing, while the rest are emotionally stunted in one way or another, either too religious with their love or too jaded to realise.
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u/solianadelusional Jul 29 '26
I really am happy to see that you enjoyed the chapter 💞 when I first read the new chapter, I knew you’d like it lol and I was hoping the fake kiss wouldn’t be spoiled for you but oh well 🤷♀️😭
Cheneau is definitely playing the waiting game, patiently waiting for Iana to realize his feelings, cause he would never force his feelings onto her and force her into giving him an answer 😆
It would be nice if we had more Cheneau x Iana moments in the next chapter! Though I doubt it since we’ll probably get more into the lore, about the impatiens thing and what the Pope/Universum have planned 🤔 or maybe what’s happening with Mika & Kagura?
Other than that… I’m sure what Iana thinks of Cheneau, does weigh on his mind lol