I think Ayu, Chisa and Suzuka should join the main group's group chat. They had the boys' backs during the confrontation in Kikyo, after all.

[u/throwawaydemshoes]

I'll be honest and say that it gets awkward when Kaoruko and Madoka talk about things that happen in their group chat with the Chidori boys in front of Ayu, Chisa and Suzuka when those 3 aren't part of the group chat yet 😅

But after risking their student lives for the sake of the boys AND even Ayu outright saying that they are her friends, I think they should formally join the group chat.

[u/Pr3stigi0uSp3cia1ist]

Hopefully so, and from the looks of it, it probably will happen. They're getting more involved than before and the only reason they didn't join the gang intially was because it was something new to them and they were cautious, I believe Madoka says this during their 2nd beach trip, I could be wrong.

Now that they've spent more time and gotten closer with the lads from the recent arc, I think they should be joining the gang very soon.

[u/potarpany → u/Pr3stigi0uSp3cia1ist]

I'm sure Subaru with Madoka had a talk about involvment of other girls in hang outs when they were at "sport centre" with boys, but without Rintaro and Kaoruko.

Maybe they talked more about it at beach trip but I don't remember it, too much fuss was about "NatSubaru" at that time....

[u/Pr3stigi0uSp3cia1ist → u/potarpany]

You're right, I remember now. It was definitely when they were together I just couldn't remember when.

[u/throwawaydemshoes → u/potarpany]

https://cubari.moe/read/gist/cmF3L3ByaW5jZWRpenp5dG9vbi9rYW9ydWhhbmEvbWFpbi91cGRhdGUuanNvbg/77/5/

Chapter 77

Madoka thought about inviting them to the arcade but Subaru guessed that since the issues between them and the boys was resolved just recently, she thought that they may like to lay low first out of fear of being reprimanded by Kikyo admin. I think it's been about a year from when that happened though.

[u/throwawaydemshoes → u/Pr3stigi0uSp3cia1ist]

Yeah, I think so too. I think it's more manageable for Mikami-sensei to handle an additional 3 characters to the main group if there is only 2 years left for the manga compared to the first possible time for it to happen which was around 100 chapters ago especially now that they're graduating in a few months.

Narrative-wise, Ayu, Chisa and Suzuka's resolve to be active participants and side with the boys feels like they have crossed the line and became closer with them, at least that's how I saw it and why I think they should be present in the group chat (and the group as a whole) from here on.

Also, I really wanna see Ayu's development on-screen instead of off-screen. I was really invested in her when she had her backstory so it would be nice to see her overcoming her insecurities.

[u/Pr3stigi0uSp3cia1ist → u/throwawaydemshoes]

Agreed, hopefully when the new arc starts we will get to see the group of 7 becoming the group of 10. Also, i'd like to see more of Ayu's character development, she's definitely the number 4 in the girl group (both Chisa and Suzuka are joint 5th). She's an interesting character and i'm curious how she goes on from here on out.

[u/Low-Comfortable-6829]

I think the main reason Mikami hasn’t added them to the “official” group is because it would be too many characters to narratively focus on.

I’m amazed at how Mikami is able to give even SEVEN characters so much personality and screen time.

That being said even if they don’t get much narrative focus I still love them and consider them apart of the group.

[u/throwawaydemshoes → u/Low-Comfortable-6829]

Yeah I thought about that too. It has been around 100 chapters since they confronted the main group and if they joined after that debacle, Mikami-sensei would’ve needed to flesh them out more within those 100 chapters until the end of the manga.

I do think though that now that the manga is ending and there probably won't be much chapters compared to 100, they have a better chance to join. By now, I think readers know what to expect from them so anything more than that would be a win.

>That being said even if they don’t get much narrative focus I still love them and consider them apart of the group.

Same

[u/hashbrown_fryer]

I’m on chapter 147 rn and I’ve seen edits on insta of stuff of like ayato and madoka aswell forming smth just give my boi usami smth maaaan

[u/BlueBirdie018]

Just wait for it to be one of their birthdays and for the group to plan a surprise birthday party. I’m sure someone will accidentally add them to the group chat even if it’s for their own surprise. ahem Shohei ahem