Chapter 7

## Chapter Chronology

**“Middle-Aged Obstinacy”** (オジサンは意地 (いじ) っ ぱり, *Ojisan Wa Ijippari*) is the seventh chapter of the *Kill Blue* manga series, written and illustrated by Tadatoshi Fujimaki. This chapter is both the seventh and final chapter in the first volume of the manga series.

## Summary

The chapter begins with Juzo and Noren swiftly exiting a crowd after Noren falsely declared them as a couple. Noren's strong desire to join the Home Economics Club had driven her to repeatedly request Juzo to act as her boyfriend temporarily, as the overwhelming attention she received from others shattered her initial excitement. Yielding to her persistent appeals, Juzo reluctantly agreed, unwittingly opening himself up to a new set of problems as he became the focus of threats from his classmates and schoolmates. This newfound attention marked a stark departure from the beginning of the series when Juzo, a transfer student openly sharing his enthusiasm for firearms, was merely a source of jest among his peers.

Initially, Juzo had faced potential bullying due to his unconventional interests, but beneath it all, he was an older individual struggling to connect with his younger classmates and regretting missing out on a conventional school experience. However, this unexpected turn of events presented an opportunity for him to reclaim some of what he had lost in life. While he had not experienced middle and high school during his youth, he now had a chance to learn and grow, even if dealing with middle schoolers could be somewhat vexing at times.

Later in the day, during a private conversation between Juzo and Noren, an older student approached and informed Juzo that the school community disapproved of his supposed relationship with Noren, despite it being a pretense. Noren clarified that they had already fabricated a breakup to shield Juzo from unwarranted attention and harassment from those interested in pursuing her romantically. However, much to Kotatsu's surprise, who believed Juzo wanted to terminate the charade, Juzo insisted that they were still together. Juzo had grown weary of younger individuals dictating his actions.

When the older student attempted to physically assault Juzo, he effortlessly blocked the attack with one hand, suggesting that the student should invest more time in gym training before attempting such actions. Noren, who was observing the scene, was astonished by Juzo's swift defense.

As they walked back to their classroom together, Noren advised Juzo to avoid saying phrases like "keep your hands off my woman" as they were considered cringe-inducing while they continued to feign a relationship. Kotatsu, who was listening on the other end, concurred with Noren's counsel, and Juzo agreed to comply. Unbeknownst to them, an individual positioned nearby, equipped with a long single binocular, observed their interactions. While Noren seemed to be the primary focus, this observer also took note of Juzo's actions, leading to speculation about whether Juzo might be involved in similar work to his own.

## Quick References

### Chapter Notes

* Noren falsely claimed she and Juzo were a couple to escape overwhelming attention and join the Home Economics Club.
	+ Juzo reluctantly agreed to this pretense, which made him a target of threats and bullying from classmates.
	+ Juzo, despite facing potential bullying, saw an opportunity to experience a more conventional school life and learn from his younger peers.
* During a private conversation, an older student confronted Juzo about his supposed relationship with Noren, leading to confusion and confrontation.
	+ Noren fabricated a breakup to protect Juzo from unwanted attention.
	+ Juzo surprised others by insisting that they were still together, expressing his frustration with being controlled by younger individuals. Juzo effortlessly defended himself when the older student attempted to physically attack him.
* An unidentified observer nearby, equipped with binoculars and is holding a pacifier in hand, focused on Noren but also took note of Juzo's actions, leading to speculation about his involvement in similar work.

### Characters in Order of Appearance

**Noren Mitsuoka**
**Juzo Ogami**
**Kotatsu Nekota**Other Line
**Takada**Debut
**Baba**Debut
**Higher Grader**Debut
**Shin Kohazame**1st Appearance