May 9th, 2017 
AstroNerdBoy ユーキューホルダー! 魔法先生 ネギま！2 Manga Review
UQ Holder! Mahou Sensei Negima 2
UQ Holder!: Magister Negi Magi! 2 Chapter 136
UQ Holder Chapter 136
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
Yukihime sends Kirie and Touta on an “extended vacation” to Kyoto to start investigating Touta’s great-grandfather, Nagi. Kirie is flustered on the train because Karin worked her over, getting Kirie to concede that she loves Touta. Further, Karin encouraged Kirie to have sex with Touta.
In Kyoto, Touta is excited because this is the first time he’s been here. Touta informs Kirie that they have to visit several famous site in order to undo seals around Nagi’s place. As they travel, Kirie becomes conscious of the fact that their actions could be seen as going on a date. That evening at the ryokan, Kirie decides to take Karin’s advice and attempt to seduce Touta. She steps up the effort over dinner in the room. It is all to no effect. Indeed, after consuming a bit of alcohol, Touta falls asleep.
Kirie is in the bath thinking about things when Touta enters. He attempts to leave after realizing his mistake, but Kirie invites him to join her in the bath. After they talk a bit, Touta attempts to leave, but Kirie grabs him and confesses her love for him. She gets Touta to say what drives him regarding Yukihime — the 16 year old Eva that he met. At the end of their discussion, Touta says they are going all the way. Kirie thinks he means sex, but after he kisses her and attempts to leave, she realizes he knows nothing about sex and attempts to give him a textbook education.
The following day, Kirie and Touta head for Nagi’s place. Kirie wonders if Touta really was as dumb as he seemed regarding sex. However, she has decided to stay with Touta for life. They arrive at Nagi’s former residence (workshop), where they see the pictures from Nagi and then from Negi. As they examine the photos, someone shows up, asking them who they are.
Thoughts/Review:
With UQ Holder chapter 136, Kirie is not firmly in Touta’s harem and we start an investigation in Kyoto, calling to mind Negi’s similar investigation in Negima.
Kirie’s Immortality
Although most of the chapter is dedicated to Kirie’s final fall for Touta and firm, willing placement within Touta’s harem, one interesting element that came out is confirmation that Kirie does not physically age. According to Karin, if you don’t count the resets, Kirie is 19-20 years of age. From a legal aspect, Akamatsu-sensei is doing this to play things safe. That way he can have his ecchi loli content for a girl who looks 12, but who’s actually so much older. It is a standard ploy for Japanese artists doing lewd work to have their loli characters actually be an adult.
I did find it interesting that Akamatsu-sensei came up with a reason for Kirie to halt her aging at 13. I actually appreciate that as it doesn’t come off as some kind of retcon to fit the current situation.
Kirie’s Position in the Harem
For whatever reason (I’m thinking partially the lolicon aspect), Akamatsu-sensei has been working on the Kirie x Touta ship. We’ve seen Kirie slowly fall and with UQ Holder chapter 136, Kirie has completely fallen. She is now on a new path, one where she accepts and appreciates the notion of being in love with Touta. Although at the end of the chapter, Kirie used what I presume was “oneechan” (I can’t consult the raw to confirm) to describe her position with Touta, I interpret this to mean that Kirie knows she won’t be in the top slot in the harem. However, she has vowed to stay with Touta, which I thought was sweet.
That said, after Kirie and Touta’s Kyoto adventure is over, I want to see Karin broken down and forced to admit she has feelings for Touta. 😉
As an aside, I think it is pretty clear that Kirie is taking Chisame’s place from Negima. I think she’ll become a trusted advisor. While I am hoping for a harem ending, it is possible that Akamatsu-sensei has Touta end up with Kirie just to be a substitute for the Chisame x Negi ship.
The Neo Kyoto Arc
So in addition to the trip to Kyoto being an opportunity for Akamatsu-sensei to dust off his old Kyoto artwork files, it also is a way of redoing the Kyoto investigation that Negi did in Negima. I think that Akamatsu-sensei got blown off his original plans in Negima during and after the Kyoto arc. For example, Akamatsu-sensei was clearly planning the original girls for Negi’s battle harem, but some of those girls (Ayaka and Makie spring to mind) didn’t get pactiones until much, much later in the series. As such, where did Negi’s Kyoto investigation take him? A giant spider web and a wyvern. The investigation ends and Negi is later handed pieces when Al introduces himself and when Negi is directed to the Magic World.
With that in mind, Akamatsu-sensei has a new opportunity to do this investigation properly. Whomever the workshop-home’s caretaker is, I’m guessing they know about Nagi and Negi. To that end, they would help in Touta’s and Kirie’s investigation. Further, with no class of female students along for the ride, Akamatsu-sensei can keep things focused and not lose track of the narrative, as I think he did in Kyoto. (Not that I have anything against the Kyoto Arc in Negima – it is a good one and we got to see just how powerful Eva truly is. But I recently reread those volumes and the whole East vs. West conflict was abandoned after Kyoto and then attempted to be reworked into something else.)
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
I’ve got another busy, busy week in progress, so let me wrap this up so I can hit the hay.
- Seeing Nagi’s old place, I was reminded by the stark fact that there are no pictures of Arika there, nor where there any pictures of Negi’s mother found there. And yet when Nagi was at Kyoto, he was supposedly married to Arika. That’s one of the reasons I think Arika is a retcon/afterthought.
- I tend to think Touta is truly as innocent as he seems when it comes to sex. I’m guessing that in the end, this is partially because he’s actually only a few years old. Also, I’m guessing that since he was apparently made for battle, a strong sex drive wasn’t part of the equation, even if all the girls swoon over the power that comes off of Touta.
- Someone theorized that the figure at the end of the chapter might be Setsuna. The theory is sound as Setsuna is only half-human (as is Mana), thus she should still be alive and looking fairly young based on her youkai half.
In the end, UQ Holder chapter 136 is full of ecchi filler, but does serve the purpose to firmly establish a now willing Kirie into Touta’s harem. Further, it would seem to begin to mirror Negi’s own Kyoto investigations. Hopefully, Touta’s has better success.
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I don’t mind chapters like these but they work far better in a weekly series than a monthly one. It feels like while the story was pushed ahead not much happened otherwise. With Cutlass still on the loose and Asuna taking care of the Lifemaker and her friends it feels like there were opportunities missed to check out what’s going on in those situations. I’ve already had my fill of Kirie and forcing more fanservice on her just feels… wrong at this point. Karin and especially Kuromaru are criminally underutilized and they might as well just make Kirie x Touta canon at this point.
It’s nice to see Kyoto again, hope a lot happens there.
I’ve kinda noticed this on a story like the Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card Arc manga. Lots of pages, but little actually happens.
As to Kirie, I think the forced fanservice on her is about over. Obviously, there will be additional stuff done as this is Akamatsu-sensei we are talking about. But now that she’s resolved her feelings and such, the plot can move forward. (And then it is Karin’s turn to fall. 😉 )
I’m just wondering if Karin has already been broken down. Remember that arc when Tota goes berserk with eating tainted candy that was on Eva’s office desk? Both Karin and Tota end up in ‘detention’ in that phantasmagoric classroom building. Tota basically fights Karin till Karin is naked, and unable to continue to control her feelings, was soo close to admit her feelings of love to Tota when the detention ends and Eva is standing there in front of them. Karin also wants someone else to like Tota so her feeling can be kept hidden.
This made me think of Kuromaru too… when she was on a date as a blonde with Tota. In this case she saves Tota but almost gets killed by Xiao before changing back to himself. There too Kuromaru admits her feelings about helping Tota before transforming back to himself and winning the battle. He/she also makes a vow to stand by Tota’s side.
Tota has seen Eva, Karin, Shinobu, Mizore, Isana, Honoka, and Kirie naked, and does the respectable thing and doesn’t take advantage of them as they expect. Like Kirie, Tota has earned a whole bunch of respect from them.
Tota after all of this is – has his heart still focused on Eva, but is waiting for her to make her decision about Negi – and Tota is the only one that can free his grandfather Negi…. that is one tough situation.
She’s at the start of that journey. Her actions with Kirie were her desperate attempts to get off of the Touta harem path. But she hasn’t been forced to accept the situation like Kirie has. Kirie’s journey has been going on for only a little longer than Karin’s.
As to Kuroumaru, yes, she did vow to stand by Touta’s side. What hasn’t been resolved there is Kuroumaru becoming a lovely girl rather than being without gender. Until that happens and Kuroumaru is firmly established as accepting a role as a girl for Touta in Touta’s harem, her story is not concluded.
And as an aside, I wish we could learn a whole lot more about Kuroumaru’s past. Karin’s too.
On the “no pictures of Arika” thing, I like to imagine he kept them on his person at all times. Whether that’s for a surprisingly romantic reason, or he keeps on forgetting to remove from his stuff would be a good question though.
Generally speaking, one would have pictures of your sweetie on your person AND in the places where you work and/or sleep. 🙂
That person who was hidden is definitely SETSUNA! she was a long existence for a long time( it was mentioned at the end of negima manga) and HEY! they’re in KYOTO so basically that must be her! i hope so 😀
Once someone proposed that the figure be Setsuna, I started liking the idea more an more. One thing, it provides a link to Honoka and Isana.
Ah, this chapter is so daring..haha.
From comments elsewhere people keep talking about the next few hentai mangas for this series now. Oh well.
anyway as for the character at the end if it is setsuna, yes it would make sense. But I am of the opinion that since she is a half human she’ll still age, just more slowly. I’ll think she looks in hear 30s, maybe 40s at this point.
Maybe. Going off how mana looks right now doesnt work cause she’s part demonfolk and i have no clue if they even age at all.
Remember, Mana and Setsuna aren’t the same kind of ‘demon’. Mana is half mazoku (I think) while Setsuna is half hanyuu. Mana should be closer to Zazie, who is a pure mazoku.
Setsuna is “hanyou” — half-human, half-youkai. We don’t know the lifespan of mazoku or the different youkai groups. But youkai should live a long time. I believe Setsuna will look fairly young, but still look as an adult.
I know Negima had some H stuff. I don’t know if UQH does though.
And that would make sense.
“With that in mind, Akamatsu-sensei has a new opportunity to do this investigation properly.”
He couldn’t do it properly when he had a weekly series with more pages a month, he was fairly younger and more vital, and he didn’t have the baggage of a previous series to worry about. And back when he was a better writer, or had better assistants helping with the plot. And this time he’s allegedly more involved in overviewing anime on the side than back then. Like hell he won’t waste the opportunity again.
Regarding the lack of pictures of Arika, one must consider she was supposed to be dead at the time, right? And the Senate had agents at Mundus Vetus/Earth too, meaning she was better off leaving as little evidence of her existence around as possible.
Haha! Once can always dream. 😉
Officially, yes. But considering how active she and Nagi (and Al) were on Earth after her supposed death, there’s no way agents didn’t know she was alive.
That aside, Nagi having a photo of Arika from the time when she was officially alive wouldn’t be evidence of her being alive now.
Random detail that I noticed reading the chapter, and that I wanted to share: the Negi pictures aren’t just any random pictures, but are part of those that appear in Ch.352 of Negima, the chapter in the “Bad Future”. In particular, it can be seen the talking photo with Negi, Chisame and Chachamaru.
I had missed that photo at the top. ^_^; Thanks for pointing that out.
The negima class and group pic has been seen also in the following chapter – 353 – opening page. This made me skim over the last 10 chapters of negima.
When Kirie exposes her neck to Tota, the way she was drawn a bit differently, and looked very similar to how Chisame was drawn too, more so with the glasses. This was the second time. The first time was when Kirie was at her desk when some stocks plummeted and Kirie lost thousands of yen, was similar to Chisame sitting at her desk looking at the computer screens.
Chapter 353 aso brought up Negi is immortal via Eva like Tota … so how can they kill Negi-MotB?
If this safe house is a place is known to Eva, why keep the seals protecting the place, and more so why maintain seals if Nagi is supposed to dead, and with Negi being possessed and considered dead, then there is no need for this safe house. If un-occupied. It would be — if its still in use to hide and protect someone, which becomes obvious but not revealing who by the end of the chapter.
At the end if Negima, it stated Setsuna married. Since Kuromaru is from the same fencing school, and kinda drawn similar but not exactly to Setsuna if she finally becomes a girl, I thought maybe there may be a possible remote connection. Moreso if Kuromaru is protecting another Konoe family member – ie Tota. I think its really way remote…but it did cross my mind.
Haha! Good question. Maybe we’ll get an answer.
The meal … probably a Kyoto ryokan ‘kaiseki’ traditional dinner, moreso with their checking into the place around dinner – I see the yakimono (fish), sashimi, rice, miso or suimono and tofu block, nimono veggies and pickles, and even a nabemono hot pot. Haven’t had one of those in many years. Also dressed in casual or maybe considered more formal, in kimonos and sitting on tatami mats on the floor. I don’t see the sake ceramic bottle or wine bottle or Johnny Walker Black or Red label, so I thought they were drinking tea (there is a tea pot) — but they had wine glasses too that they spilled.
Heh … made me think about worms or parasites in sashimi. But I’ve grown up eating hawaiian poke and so far no problems. I’ll pass on the raw ebi and salmon sashimi.
I’m not big on raw fish, mainly because I don’t like the texture. Cooked fish will always be best.
Change kimono to a yukata – had forgotten the right word for it, its kinda like a kimono, then again one can generalize a hopi coat used during O-bon season too as similar…
Understood. ^_^
If I ever get back to Japan, I’ll have to try one.
It was nice side story in a drama / adventure / comedy. At least its not full-on Harem. The series is trying find it’s nitch. I just read through whole UQ Holder manga (as we stand now), i think it should have stuck with first arch’s mentality of adventure/drama/comedic moments than full on Comedy-Harem-Action. I say it in that order since, that how it feels that focus of the series kept shifting.
The Kirie romantic romp with Touta is fun but i have issues with it. Touta is still a real true blood 14 year old boy. You can’t play it safe with that. I feel unsafe buying this manga in the store in with these later chapters with all the nudity in it and how some places where I live bag/arrest people having them. I’ll be glad if they get away from that sort stuff. I doubt they will.
Anyways, after having read the entire series, I get the impression that if one was to read it way i did verses by chapter. It maybe easier to digest the manga’s story. I have no idea what the anime will look like, i sense it will be a full on comedy/adventure and be it’s own beast. Given how short the series will be (13 episodes), i suspect it will be RUSHED through all the plot. Maybe that’s why Akamatsu-sensei took time off or seem to have done some filler. It would make sense, if anime get the attention of potential new readers it would bolster the manga’s survival.
I’m curious to see who was living in Naga’s old hidden apartment. Only guy i know of would be Konoka Konoe’s father, Eishun Konoe (who was living in Kyoto and Naga’s old friend) but he would be waaaaaaaaaaaay to old by now to be living there.
I think you are right. The nudity is why I won’t get this for my nieces and nephews. It makes me uncomfortable, and I know my brothers and sisters wouldn’t want their kids reading stuff with all of the sexually suggestive, Barbie Doll nudity stuff.
That’s why it makes sense for it to be Setsuna. She’s from the area, associated with the Konoe family, and she was a close comrade to Negi.
yes setsuna or Kotarou
Ah yes. Kotarou is a viable option as well.
What about his kid? Natsumi was clearly pregnant in chapter 1…
Well, his kid wouldn’t have as much of an impact in my mind, unless it looked exactly like Kotaro or Natsumi.
I keep looking at that shadow profile of the mysterious person at the door, and I look at the characters in the promo pic. The profile looks like a female form, in a business type dress shirt with rolled up sleeves or short sleeve and vest and possible tie. It could be the girl to the left of Karin and Gengoro in the promo pic.
I’m hoping its a new character — the one with the long blonde colored hair which I thought was Eva, but Eva/Yukehime is to the right with her elbows and sword up above her. Her stance at the door is kinda close to the stance in the promo pic.
I hope it is a new character verses another reason to introduce yet another old character back into the mix. How many these guys lived into the 2090s?!?
What is the point of bringing more new characters in if they’re going to be handled as badly as the rest of the UQ originals? At least with old characters we might get some sense of closure and we already know their deals, saving us a lot of character building time and room, but creating all new characters with all new baggage when we barely know anything at all about everyone who already exists here? On a limited page count and a very slow publishing and narrating pace?
That would be interesting, but we’d be attaching a new character to Negi. Somehow, I don’t think Akamatsu-sensei will do that, but we’ll see.
Mori’s Otoyomegatari made it into the near top 50. With 300K, atop of alot of established franchise’s.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-06-01/top-selling-manga-in-japan-by-volume-2017/.116863
Thanks for the info.
Filler like this makes me keep feeling this series would be great if he managed to get away from the harem stuff entirely. Maybe even drop romance altogether; oh well.
UQ Holder was still pretty bad even before the harem stuff returned, so it seems pretty moot.
I don’t know about that. I think UQH’s biggest problem has been a lack of focus. I’ve long believed that Akamatsu-sensei wanted to make UQH something like Fairy Tail — simplistic, self-contained adventure stories with only a slight story arc over the whole thing. While Mashima-sensei can get away with that due to his established writing style, Akamatsu-sensei could not. Fans wanted proper story and a resolution to the Negima elements.
What will happen about his love for yukihime ? That’s what I need to know.
Touta’s or Negi’s?