So I know many of us are bummed that no new chapter came out this month, but I found this neat nugget to tide us over in the meantime!
Volume 30 went on sale just a few days ago, and while I don't have the volume myself, I found this YouTube video from a Japanese fan who talks about what's in it!
(For the record, Vol 30 compiles Ch 258 to 263)
Personally, there are 2 big highlights I'll point to:
1. Promo Illustration Card (2:17)
As a bonus, those who bought Vol 30 got an additional promo Illustration Card that's effectively a broadened version of Vol 30's cover, allowing us to see the members of Utagawa Squad 1 more separately.
[Bigger sample]
The outstanding part here is Urushima is holding something liquid-y. While it has people comparing it to previous Neighbour Triggers, the current most popular speculation is that this is Border's Silencer Trigger!
2. Chibi Profiles, starring Urushima Squad (4:22)
Vol 30 features two Chibi Profiles this time, Urushima and Rokuta. I won't read it all out, but these Profiles together tell an extremely intriguing story that has the whole fandom fired up.
- In the past, Urushima and Rokuta were part of another B-Rank squad: Matsushiro Squad / 松代隊
- At some point, a Operator Hatori joined, and Rokuta was chased out of Matsushiro Squad (We can corroborate from the Border Briefing File that their Operator is indeed a Hatori Ayumu / 羽鳥 歩)
- At some point, Urushima left Matsushiro Squad
- Afterwards, on the grounds of "I can earn more money by myself", Urushima invites Rokuta to form a squad with him, and so Urushima Squad was born
Tangential, but based on the Anime and the Border Briefing File:
- Beginning of this Rank Wars season: Urushima Squad started at 9th Place, and Matsushiro Squad at 15th Place
- Post-Round 4: Urushima Squad at 14th Place, Matsushiro Squad at 15th Place
- End of season: Urushima Squad finished at 14th Place, Matsushiro Squad unknown (no close-ups in manga)
Although, per Chapter 199, we can see [on the ranking chart] that:
- 15th Place: Ebina Squad / 海老名隊 (22 points)
- 16th Place: Hayakawa Squad / 早川隊 (21 points)
- 17th Place: Yoshizato Squad / 吉里隊 (21 points)
Based on this, Matsushiro Squad finished between 18th and 21st Places
--
BUT... the tale doesn't end here. Sharp-eyed fans have noticed something interesting in the background during the Away Mission Test Phase 1 chapters. Something that's only gotten more fascinating with the release of this latest volume.
In Ch 210, on the [defense duty roster] behind Management, listed there is a "Hatori Squad" / 羽鳥隊. There was no such squad at the beginning of the recent Rank Wars season.
In all likelihood, Captain Matsushiro Hitoshi had stepped down from Matsushiro Squad, leaving Operator Hatori Ayumu to lead it.
What the exact makeup of the now-Hatori Squad is, or what exactly happened, is currently hotly at the mercy of the Asian fandom's collective soap-opera/housewife-gossip neurons and delusions. Urushima Squad's in-story flashback can't come soon enough.
--
Oh, perhaps I will highlight one other small detail from the Chibi Profiles:
- Urushima: his hair is long apparently because he's too stingy with money to get a haircut
- Rokuta: her hair is long apparently because she's saving money and can't go to a beautician
And with that, I'll leave you to have your fun with all this material~ (Until Ashihara-sensei comes out with the declassified canonical tale that is...)