One thing that makes this volume stand out in spite of these issues is Sugiura’s treatment of Chigusa’s complicated feelings for Rakan. It’s clear that Chigusa’s primary goal is to drag Rakan into the desert world in order to take advantage of his plant-reviving powers, but the goofy sentimentality with which Rakan treats everyone is starting to make Chigusa aware of the feelings of love and guilt he’s hitherto suppressed. Although the narrative draws dangerously close to getting sappy about Chigusa’s problems - “He’s calling back the emotions ... that I lost somewhere along the way,” he reflects - Sugiura undercuts it with comedic interludes. Chigusa goes for advice on dealing with his feelings not to Narushige but to Koh (i.e. the snake mascot character), who offers expert seduction lessons as Narushige looks on in vague horror.

The plot of Silver Diamond moves at a leisurely pace—most of this volume involves the group of bandits and their hopelessness—but is still a pleasure to read because the characters are so great. They’re warm and funny and easy to root for. When Rakan steps up at the end of the volume and declares his intention to make the world green again, one is actually proud of him. He seems to be on the verge of collecting a motley group of followers, and the parallels with my favorite manga, Basara, in which a kind-hearted revolutionary leader strives to make a withered world bloom again, are not lost on me.