December 10th, 2014 
AstroNerdBoy ユーキューホルダー! Manga Review
UQ Holder Chapter 61
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
Touta and Santa pay a visit to Sayoko’s grave, where Santa decides to join UQ Holder since that’s what Sayoko would have wanted.
Touta pays a tired Karin and Kuroumaru a visit in the library, where he’s chastised for not helping them write the massive report on Sayoko and the zombie attack. Touta helps them finish, whereupon they walk back to the dorms. They are met by Kirie and Ikkuu, though Touta is more interested in talking to Santa, something noted by Kuroumaru and Kirie.
Touta suggests they go the the giant bath-house at the school, so they do. Karin has to stop Kirie from going to the men’s side, questioning Kirie if she’s in love with Touta. Meanwhile, Kuroumaru is lost in thoughts about Touta and discovers too late that they are in the male bath. Since it would be too awkward to leave, Kuroumaru cautiously joins Ikkuu in the bath.
Meanwhile, Karin and Kirie have a chat about Kuroumaru’s lack of gender and the fact that Kuroumaru is acting like a maiden. Kirie decides that Kuroumaru is a maiden in trouble for being in the male bath and rushes off to assist.
On the male side, Santa joins Kuroumaru, where Ikkuu reveals Kuroumaru is worried Santa will steal Touta away. To Kuroumaru’s horror, both Santa and Ikkuu know about Kuroumaru’s lack of gender, something they get to see first hand. Kuroumaru acts like a girl in attacking the two of them while proclaiming a non-female status. Ikkuu says that Kuroumaru looks at Touta like a girl in love, not as a male friend. As such, he challenges Kuroumaru to think of the things Kuroumaru has to offer and is trying to accomplish.
Elsewhere, Kirie spies Touta.
Thoughts/Review:
So, we get to the aftermath chapter and things turned funny. ^_^
I had stated my thoughts that Sayoko was extremely powerful. Here, Karin basically confirms this, citing one would have to be at Eva’s power level to stand up to her. Well, it always made sense to me. Sayoko may not have been a melee fighter, but in terms of raw power, she came off as very powerful. Plus, she could raise an army of undead, possess immortals, use them as part of her defense, and to top it all off, she had telekinetic abilities, as seen when she buried Karin deep into the ground.
Now, onto the laughs.
One of the cliched notions is that the Japanese love massive amounts of paperwork. (How true this is, I couldn’t say.) So the fact that Kuroumaru and Karin spend the night working on this massive report for the incident that didn’t actually happen (ah, the joys of time resets) and Karin’s subsequent irritation at Touta for not helping made me laugh.
(As an aside, Touta mastered a new skill — report writing.)
Next on the laugh chart is Kirie. Her reaction to being ignored by Touta was humorous, but her blatant attempt to go into the male bath section and Karin’s response made me laugh out loud. I guess Kirie is crushing on Touta.
Karin’s and Kirie’s conversation about Kuroumaru’s lack of gender was also funny, especially since Kirie used Kuroumaru’s maiden-like appearance as an excuse to help a fellow maiden in distress.
Next up is Kuroumaru’s, Santa’s, and Ikkuu’s chat regarding Kuroumaru’s lack of a noodle, and Kuroumaru’s very feminine protest about not being a girl. That really made me laugh.
Ikkuu is right — Kuroumaru does look lovingly at Touta and is always concerned about what Touta thinks about Kuroumaru personally.
I’ve said this before, but seriously, Kuroumaru should just become a lovely girl already and have done. After all, wearing a chest wrap (something warrior babes in anime/manga do), blushing, covering up one’s front, etc. are all signs of being female.
To be honest, I think that in the end, Kuroumaru will be officially made female.
The question remains, will the further two months Karin mentioned they’d have to stay at the campus city actually pan out into a further story? It would be awesome to get more information about Sayoko and how she came to be some eighty years ago.
In the end, a refreshingly funny chapter with a scarily cute Kuroumaru, Karin, and Kirie.
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[…] Here are SPOILER images for the upcoming UQ Holder chapter 61, courtesy of MK. (My review of UQ Holder chapter 61 should come out tomorrow.) […]
I probably said something on the same lines before, but while Kirie is tending to Touta right now, I do think she will ultimately end up with Ikkuu. At least it does seems like Ikkuu likes her.
I hadn’t thought about it much, but now that I do, it does seem as if Ikkuu dotes on Kirie.
What gave me that feel was chapter 36. There you have Ikkuu apparently bothered that Kirie told Touta the secret of his immortality and not him. He also says later on that chapter that “I’d rather not left behind in a world where you committed suicide” when wondering about what happens to the timeline after Kirie’s power activate.
You have a point there. I think I’ll keep a closer eye on how Ikkuu acts around Kirie.
I think Sayoko’s living time as stated on her grave is interesting. If they really stay for the next two months for investigation purpose, I kinda hope to see some connection between Eva and Sayoko.
And yeah, this is a refreshing chapter ^_^
But, is Santa really officially become a number holder? Won’t we get to see some kind of test for him?
I believe the answer to the first question is “yes” and the answer to the second question is, “remains to be seen.” It may be that this incident counts as his test, much like in Jedi training, whereby a Jedi successfully battling and defeating a Sith without going to the dark side was considered a Jedi without having to take the official testing.
Awww, c’mon Kuroumaro, why would you act as a girl if you’re not a (future) girl ? Search your feelings, you *know* it to be true! XD.
So, Kirie also has a thing for Touta ? She must have loved stepping on his face.
Kuroumaru is a girl in denial. 😉
I had a very wrong thought there. *lol* I’m working too many hours. ^_^;;;;
A little something I noticed. When they are undressing Karin has a bra with snowflake motif. You think she wants Eva to appreciate it?
I missed that, but that could easily be the reason.
I really enjoyed this chapter, Akamatsu is still great when it comes to comedy.
I found it interesting that Sayoko died the same year that Negima took place, I hope this is some sort of tease on Akamatsu’s part.
I guess Kirie is going to be Akamatsu’s Deus Ex Machina for the series, I don’t really mind because it means that characters can go all out in battles but I hope he doesn’t rely on her for every arc.
I hope we stick around Mahora for some time longer. I can see Touta and the others getting to see the Class 3A roster. I would imagine that Negi is a hero at Mahora. Maybe we’ll even run into someone from Negima, like Chachamaru, or one of class 3A’s descendents.
Also I haven’t forgotten that Santa hacked the UQ Holder database and found out that Touta is 4 years old, I hope we see a follow-up to that but it probably won’t be for some time. I’m guessing he might be some sort of artificial being, perhaps created by magic or something.
Yeah, that’s a plot thread to be picked up at a future point.
Also, I wonder if we’ll see pactios at Mahora, seems like a good place to introduce them to UQ Holder.
A this point, seeing how pactiones have never even been mentioned, I wonder if we’ll see the system mentioned at all.
It’s weird that we haven’t seen them. I guess he trying to differentiate this series from Negima. Maybe minor characters will use them.
It’d be pretty interesting if something had happened to the pactio system, wasn’t someones bloodline in Negima connected to the pactio system, Arika’s or the Lifemakers?
I think that could be the case.
However, considering the amount of (weak) proper mages in this manga, I don’t think it’s that weird not to see any pactio. Even in Ariadne, a school specialized in magic, people are surprised to see Yue’s pactio. I won’t consider pactio in UQH! impossible though, maybe there are some in Fate’s Ala Alba who have it.
I would have figured that just from a marketing gimmick standpoint, the pactio system would be brought in right away to sell cards, as happened with Negima.
Rather than being connected, it’s just that the statue that symbolizes the pactio is supposed to be Amateru and her someone else. Where Amateru is Lifemaker’s daughter, the first queen of the Ostia line.
As an aside, I still think Amateru is alive, but that’s just me.
I liked this chapter, and Kuroumaru gets more adorable with each chapter. I seriously hope he chooses to become a girl in the end. While I looked at him as a guy in the beginning(albeit an insecure one), now he totally looks like a girl, not only in appearance, but in his demeanor as a whole. X)
Kuroumaru has looked and acted like a girl many times. I see Kuroumaru as in denial about being a girl. (But it was funny when Ikkuu and Santa got a look at the lack of goods down there. *lol*)
well apart from kuroumaru in that char spread there was only 4 chicks i think? eva karin kirie and one other while theres seven guys. i will be really surprised(and dissapointed) if kuroumaru becomes a guy
Yeah, it seems that Sensei is really pushing the “Kuroumaru is a lovely girl” route, so it would be disappointing if the character doesn’t go girl.
Excellent after battle chapter!
1- Completely nostalgic enviroment (Mahora Springs!!!)!!!!!!
2- Touta lecturing Karin?! And it’s working?!
3- Kuroumaru’s reactions are more and more like Setsuna’s lol And everyone knows about his/her (lack of) gender, except Touta haha. Ikku was “kuul” (is he waterproof? lol) giving “love lessons”;
4- And Kirie… hahaha! Her reaction after being ignored by Touta, her dialogues with Karin, that “walking” by the end… XDDDDD And seems like she’ll fall straight on the “prize”!!!
In the end, an excelent chapter smelling strongly like Negima!XDDDD
P.S. That’s true, 2 more months of school life! I look foward to it!^^
Just confirming it, because you kinda remind me of him… Are you the user called Ultracursed from the Negima! community in the old Brazilian forum(the one with the Albireo pic)? If not, I’m sorry, I’ve mistaken you for someone else. If you ARE him, well, nice to meet you again. It’s Fate Averruncus here, from the same forum. X)
FAAAAAAAAAAAATE! XDDDDDDDDDD Yeah, it’s ME! I just can’t believe someone would recognize me! How did you do that?! LOL
Anyway, I have moved to VK and changed names. I even made a UQH community, with only one member of the old one…^^’ I couldn’t even upload a picture yet. How about about you join us, to make 3 ppl group lol I’ll be waiting there!^^
P.S. Still impressed by how you knew it’s me. Seriously, how did you do it?O_o
Sorry to interfere on your convo, but interesting to see two other Brazilians in an English site like this. Seems like Akamatsu’s Brazilian fanbase is strong. Although I never went to a Brazilian Negima forum myself.
Oh, so you are Brazilian as well? Then, join our forum in VK!^^
Seems like. Back in the Negima days, blog traffic from Brazil was quite high.
Setsuyume: Well, I noticed because your comment style reminds me of… You. LOL As for the invitation, I think I’ll pass, for now. I have been quite busy recently, so my forum days are over for a while. Good to know you’re still around, though. But one thing is for sure: I’ll remember the good old times of Negima Genocide Battle Revenge XX forever. LOOOL
Chaos Prophet and Astro: Indeed, though the abrupt ending of Negima might have had a negative impact on it, I don’t know. Well, since even Shaman King got a proper ending years later, a small part of me still has a (very) faint hope of seeing the rest of the series someday.
She’s falling for him. 😉
I wouldn’t count on much. I suspect that this will get us through December, after which, a new arc will start and it will have nothing to do with the school.
I agree with you. I also think this and next chapter are just to give us a break in December so he start next arc in January.
It was a funny chapter.
Touta can do anything, it doesn’t matter how difficult will be lol
The part of the Kirie and Karin take a bath together, It made me laugh “As a fellow maiden, I cannot abandon him in his time of need” X’D
I think that Kuroumaru will be a girl at the end (although Kuroumaru still has to wait until she/he reach the age required for decide it)
The page that Kirie is on top of the wall and Touta is calmly taking a bath, so all it need Kirie falls down about the poor Touta XD
About the drawing bra of Karin.
It can be. Maybe because she wants that Evangeline notices about it. But, I don’t think that Evangeline has seen the drawing of snowflake of the bra to notice it.
I wonder if Evangeline knows about the strong feelings of Karin towards her.
I can see Kirie falling from her peeping perch.
Having read volume 2 recently, Eva seems to know full well.
Was this an off week for UQ Holder’s magazine? Last chapter didn’t mention anything about a break at the end, but ch. 62 isn’t up on Crunchyroll, and when I click on it is says the next simulpub isn’t until next week.
Yep. As I understand it, we are back on next week, then off another week, then back on regular time.
2ch text spoilers are out:
http://hello.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/wcomic/1418900719/6
一層賑やかに
W痴女の乱入で男風呂はわやくちゃに
刀太は九郎丸が気にしてたことよりも
普段の稽古で手加減されてたことにご立腹
Seems like a female gets into the male bath (Kirie fall there?)
Touta is angry with Kuroumaru that he held back on their everyday training.
今の世界線ではチンピラのままの不良学生とすれ違う
カッコよくなっても世界が終わるよりは今のほうがずっといい、と
三太は怒鳴られても気にしてない
They meet the thugs who still are thugs. But Santa says that it’s better the way it’s now than he becoming cooler but the world ending.
さて後日
早朝稽古中に刀太が一空を見つけ、相談しようとすると
そこに80年前とあまり変わらぬ容姿の龍宮真名が
At a later date
During early morning practice Touta spots Ikkuu and goes to ask hims some advice, but there is Tatsumiya Mana who didn’t change much from 80 years ago.
A bit more of detail from another post by same person. Kirie invades the male bath, and Karin goes there to take her back but also get labelled as a pervert.
Thanks!
Thanks!