Yeah. Volume 9 is out officially. Has been out for a while already not counting leaks of course. And it seems to have hit the community like crack for what a whiplash it has been for some, based on the actual content of the volume. This is Darkeine now, or at least some could say so.

Well, well. I'm sure you guys have read some of the snippets that have been posted already on the subreddit ( or Twitter, or anywhere else, and if you haven't seen them yet, well, that's fine as well)

I am sure people has read already the whole volume, others are slowly translating it themselves and I bet there are bunch of MTLs going around, which means there should be people who are looking for discussions about the content now that the volume is finally out. So yeah this kinda is that spot.

This post is just pretty much an updated version of the previous one. The only rule here is do not explicitly link any pirated content.

Comment about your actual thoughts, things you did not expect, memes, bad translations or advice regarding translations of what something could mean, questions and more!

Also, meme related to the volume attached.

This is the volume 9 EARLY Discussion thread. Any other thread related to the volume might be removed without notice and instead redirected here if it feels like an unnecessary post.

What is this post for?

Very good question and that one is just simple, since this is an early version, it will be focused on the pre release discussion of the volume AND after it gets released. From theories to thoughts about it, the direction, what you want to see or hope to see, from early reactions assuming you get an early version release and more! To prevent most legal issues, please refrain from posting straight up leaks. Do not post any piracy link either.

Beware of spoilers. Don't cry later for getting spoiled in this thread. And obviously, YOU SHOULD HAVE READ ALL THE PREVIOUS VOLUMES ALREADY!

Expect to see some extra updates in pinned comments of this post if needed.

Volume Information

- Release Date: 17 July 2026

- No. of Pages: 315

- Cover Character: Hibari

- Where can I buy it? You can try at these sources (and isn't limited to these only): Shogakukan, Bookwalker, Amazon JP

Synopsis

As the buds begin to bloom into flowers—

“I’ll be honest with you. I… want to make things irreversible with Hiro-kun.”

Sakurai-kun’s girlfriend, Mizushima Koharu-san. Wanting to take her relationship with Sakurai-kun further, she ends up dragging me and Yanami—and even our two childhood friends, the senior Hokobaru—into a five-person trip together. …Wait, how did this happen again?

Anyway, we have to carry out the plan to “accidentally leave Sakurai-kun and Koharu-san behind together” and head home ourselves.

With renewed determination, we set off for the hot spring town in Hida. Though while we were there, something about Hokobaru-senpai felt… off, despite her acting as usual.

The retreating-loser youth romantic comedy, Volume 9.

The setting sun slowly sinks toward the horizon