[...] and Hideo’s relationship go, volumes 6 and 7 offer more of the same from the first five volumes. What is captivating in these two volumes is watching the relationship between Katsun and Kyouko [...]

[...] Book 5 [...]

A club isn’t mandatory, but I think it’s easier to join one than to keep explaining why you’re not in one or having to turn down offers to join. Remember in Japan you are expected to be part of the social network. So a high school student living on her own and not involved in any aspect of the school social culture would be under intense scrutiny. Best to join the least popular group of people to avoid as much contact as possible. Plus, if you can manipulate the group to keep them from getting any information about you, then that’s even better.

It just seems that inaction is a lot easier than limited action.

Maybe it WAS a sort of cry for help? A subconscious desire to have someone like her, even if consciously she “knew” he never could?

At the series beginning, Kurumi doesn’t want to make any significant friendships. She joined the least popular club when she was being sought out by all the other clubs. She chose the Roman Club & Hideo because she felt they were people she could control and keep at arms length. She could manipulate Hideo’s fascination with her so that he never learned anything about her and she would never have affections for him. I think she also believed that he would tired of her control and then leave her alone. As we see none of her hopes or assumptions are correct.

I think your comments on her own body image are dead on, and I appreciate you pointing it out. I think I spent so much time focusing on Hideo’s problems and thoughts and feelings that she wasn’t so much a real character as she was a 1dimensional foil in my mind, someone only there to really contrast with the main character to further develop him. But you nailed it, it’s easy to see now. It’s nice to see her change, it’s nice to see her begin to open up more and really see him in a different light.

I really hate this manga. I hate that I am so addicted to it and intrigued by it and I really, honestly want to find out more of the story. That’s certainly not how I WANT to feel, at least about something like this which has so many screwed up things in it. I want to just dismiss it as…well, smut. But it has me thoroughly and completely hooked at this point. I can’t imagine actually getting someone I know to read it without WAY too much explanation beforehand. Just handing it to someone seems like a way to get people to look at you strangely in the future.

I have to recommend you read my previous reviews. They will explain in detail my self-loathing over this series. In the comments, other will express similar feelings.

Can you elaborate on the self-loathing
you felt after reading the previous volumes? I saw someone else allude to
that on a different forum.

[...] and Manga Reviews) David Brothers on vol. 1 of Path of the Assassin (4thletter!) Ed Sizemore on vol. 5 of Sundome (Comics Worth Reading) Zaki Zakaria on vol. 1 of Tsubasa: Those With Wings (The Star of Malaysia) [...]