One thing I can say about Otoyomegatari (among many) – it’s a series that never lets you settle into a routine.  I never quite figured out the initial release schedule, but I guess it was every six weeks, supposedly.  It went on hiatus in December as it (and several other series, including the brilliant Hokuhokusei ni Kumo to Ike) switched from Harta to a new publication, Aokishi.  And this one is bi-monthly, so the wait it going to be even longer between chapters.  But what’s that against the wait for an anime that may never arrive at all?

In point of fact the hiatus was extended by two months because Mori Kaoru published a new chapter of Shirley in the first issue of the new mag.  But Otoyomegatari is back to remind us that yes, it’s probably the best manga in the world right now when you factor everything into account.  I don’t blame anime for being scared of it even as popular as the manga is – it would be very hard to do Mori-sensei’s art justice, and this is not a series which could ever be done on the cheap (which is the default mode for almost everything not expressly commercial in anime these days).

My love for A Bride’s Story has never wavered from the moment I read the first chapter.  But that said, I’ve always felt this series was at its best when it focused on Karluk and Amir, the mot important and most engaging couple in the entire cast.   Their appearances have been pretty rare for a couple of years but with Henry Smith’s arc seemingly (seemingly) finished, the timing seemed right for the main couple to return to center stage.  And so they have, though they’re sharing it with the historical events which have increasingly driven the narrative in recent arcs.

We’re reminded that “almost a year” has passed since Amir and Karluk were married.  Which means Karluk is now thirteen, and it’s no secret that a year is like an eternity to a boy that age.  Karluk has, of course, been living out on the steppes with Azel and Amir’s other brothers – an attempt to man himself up, certainly, but also to get to know how Amir’s family and others like them live.  There’s a big divide in this place and time between the townsmen and the nomads, but larger events have forced them to realize that what unites them is even greater than what divides them.

In that light there are two storylines playing out in this (and presumably the next few, at least) chapter.  We have the negotiations between the townies and the steppe folk on banding together to fight off the Russians (the reason why Azel and the others have come to Karluk’s village), and the reunion between Karluk and Amir.  Karluk has gotten taller (he makes sure to assert this to Amir) and she notes that he’s heavier (because she does love lifting him up and hugging him).  Karluk is, in practical terms, close to the point where he’s expected (by no one more than himself) to fulfill all the duties of a husband.  But for now, he’s mainly concerned with trying to change Amir’s maternal love for him to something more akin to that for a life partner.

He may get an opportunity to move the needle a bit – to show off his newly acquired archery skills to his wife.  Meanwhile the village head is trying to fast-forward the alliance between his people and the nomads by uniting the nomads – quite shrewd, for if they remain a disparate and contentious mob, any alliances the townsfolk form is meaningless.  His plan is to marry Azel off to one of the other steppe tribes (the Halgal cannot marry outside their larger family stock, apparently), but the Halgal are hardly a prize catch as far as they’ve fallen (thanks to their defeat at the hands of Karluk’s village).

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend” is the adage at the heart of this development.  The nomads squabble with each other but agree the townies are the enemy.  The townies consider all the steppe folks enemies.  But Russia is a greater, more dangerous foe – and much more of an outsider.  A united nomadic force on the steppes is a buffer for the townsmen against the invaders, and they’re willing to offer significant financial enticement to make that happen.  It’s going to be fascinating to watch this dangerous and difficult dance play out – but as ever, I’m sure the deepening bond between Amir and Karluk will prove the most fascinating and riveting element of Otoyomegatari.  It’s great to have them – and it – back.