Introduction: A Turning Point in Shoujo History For fans of the beloved, emotionally layered shoujo manga Suki desu Suzuki-kun!! (I Like You, Suzuki-kun!!) by Go Ikeyamada, certain chapter numbers are etched into memory. Chapter 32? The cultural festival arc. Chapter 50? The first major time skip. But for those who have followed the tangled web of unrequited love, doppelgängers, and theatrical passion, Chapter 72 stands as a monumental pillar of the series.
He admits to using Chihiro as a sounding board for his feelings about Sayaka. He admits he knew she loved him and that he weaponized that love for his own comfort. He says the words: "I was a coward. I kept you close because I was afraid of being alone, even though I knew I was hurting you." suki desu suzukikun manga chapter 72
Why? Because at that exact moment, Chihiro’s phone rings. It’s her mother, reminding her that her younger brother is sick and she needs to come home. The moment shatters. Chihiro leaves. She does not look back. Hikaru stands alone in the empty street, clenching his fists. The final panel of Chapter 72 is a close-up of Hikaru’s face, rain dripping from his bangs, as he whispers to himself: "I think I was in love with you this whole time. And I just let you walk away." Introduction: A Turning Point in Shoujo History For
He says: "Chihiro, I think I..."
Chapter 71 ends on a cliffhanger that made the fandom hold its collective breath. After Chihiro decides to give up on Hikaru for good—believing she will never be "good enough" for him—she walks away in the rain. Hikaru, watching her retreat, realizes the terrifying truth: the girl he needs is leaving. He sprints after her. Warning: Full spoilers for Chapter 72 ahead. The cultural festival arc
Released during the height of the manga’s serialization in Sho-Comi , Chapter 72 represents a perfect storm of narrative tension. This is the chapter where metaphorical masks begin to crack, and the quiet yearning that has defined the series for over a dozen volumes reaches a fever pitch.
For long-time readers, this is cathartic. The "perfect" twin finally shows his ugly, human underbelly. As the rain begins to lighten, Hikaru steps forward. He reaches out to touch Chihiro’s wet hair. The panel zooms in on his eyes—wide, vulnerable, nothing like the flirtatious prince we met in Volume 1.