Chapter 3
This was heavy with information.
So No.6 WAS built recently! I knew ittt!
The weird artificial city design makes total sense now. Borders were closed sometime between Karen being in uni and having Shion so what, it got to where it is some ~20 years ago?
The mystery voice telling Shion to destroy everything is apparently his own thoughts be didn’t realize he had until he met Nezumi. /Suspicious. I mean, it could be his subconscious mind, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we get another interpretation.
We meet Inukashi (easy to remember name now that I know it’s “inu” and “kasu”). Feeding dogs costs money/resources. I’m not 100% sure on the food sources in the West Block yet, but it kinda seems less good of a business than it’s been presented as. Selling info pays more but if you tell me they break even by taking money off the guys who need a place to sleep and a dog to cuddle I wouldn’t be surprised. Lending dogs for warmth is a seasonal job, you still need income and uphold during warm months.
Talking to dogs… ?
Do we mean listening devices after all? Inukashi did get weirded out when Shion talked to mama-doggo and her puppies.
We get a glimpse at 2 scientists that seem to be behind the bees situation (?) and are aware of Shion’s existence, the fact that he survived the bee (??) and that he’s with Shion. Probably it’s the guy from the photo that Nezumi recognized.
Seeing two evil guy planning it for some Higher Goal AND seeing that one of them seems to be using the other one is poetic.
Theater work suits Nezumi and his weird system of values. His pseudoname is Eve.
While typing the above I managed to forget the journalist’s name, but anyway. That’s Karan’s friend from way back, who missed her very much but IS NOT Shion’s father.
Nezumi’s baiting got me used to the idea of a hidden father figure, so I am a bit disappointed but also glad it’s not that easy.
Shion getting angry for Nezumi’s sake in this chapter (rather, Nezumi’s genuine surprise) somehow made me tear up. The difference in experience is really brought up again and again in all these moments where one of them gets mad about something and the other one doesn’t see what’s wrong.
Shion’s having a day and my personal life experience is throwing me from one side to another between Shion and Nezumi. I enjoy very much how it feels like… There are two wolves in me and both of them are angry in different ways, so it’s a bit emotionally taxing to read.
Chapter 4
干し葡萄 - “dried grapes” is way better term than “raisins”!
Karan 
I really like her even though she didn’t do much in vol 1 (and she’s not an “action” character like Nezumi is). Just something about a mother that prioritizes her child and accepts consequences of his actions without ruining her relationship with him speaks to me in a good way.
I liked how she was portrayed here too. How she is with the kids, how the despair turned into hope and stopped the suicide ideation.
How she’s dreading getting the bad news and how she was ready to eat that note (also I thought about the same method of making sure no-one finds it so yay).
Anyhow, this was a strong chapter with a lot of feelings in it.
I didn’t think enough about their fancy satellite search system thing. Doesn’t it mean they can get Nezumi any time?? They do have data on what he looks like.
Safu… A motivated girl with (what she thinks is) nothing to lose is unstoppable.
For a moment there I was trying to imagine their living arrangements. I don’t quite see Nezumi taking her in as well, or the three of them living together.
But well. I’d rather think of that than of what the Public Security is about to do to her. The options range from bad to worse.
Poor Karan saw the kidnapping. If she didn’t, she’d assume Safu went to the West Block and that’s it…
Chapter 5
I still don’t know if I find Nezumi’s constant physical threats hot or alarming lol.
If Shion’s personality was even a tiny bit different, I’d feel closer to “girl, runnnnn”. But Shion is so… Enamoured? Consumed? By Nezumi and uh, has a surprisingly strong sense of self that warning him away doesn’t feel right.
Anyway, about their fight. Well, Nezumi, you see. If you share your reasons and Shion shares his, I bet you could find a middle ground and a No6 destruction both of you could enjoy.
Nezumi’s words are again “you wouldn’t choose me over no.6 and I want to destroy no.6 no matter what, so we will have to fight”, but. Well. It’s not like Shion likes No.6 or even really wants to protect it.
On one hand, Nezumi’s anger towards people who live their lives full of riches and safety that are yapping about things they don’t know online is so tangibly real that I could name a place or two that can burn today and I wouldn’t bat an eye.
On the other hand, from a POV of someone living in a place like that with a lot of misplaced hatred pointed towards it - yeah, maybe let’s destroy things a bit differently, Nezumi? Are you sure Shion’s mama specifically is your enemy?
Nezumi: do you think I can’t kill you???
Shion: yes
Nezumi: I can prove you wrong right now if you want
Also Nezumi 10 minutes later: I can’t bear the thought of Shion dying, that’d so painful for me, just be like being burned alive.
It’s too late for you, Nezumi. I’m sorry. You are so attached.
The migraine didn’t stop me from reading this all, but I’ll go collapse now.
