Possible Future of the natsubaru after ch 189
So, in Chapter 189, we got Rintaro looking sad about something. We also learned more about the other Kikyo girls, Chisa and Suzuka, and saw an emotional side of Madoka. There was also a panel where Saku and Subaru were in the same frame having a short conversation about a mock exam question before being interrupted by the others.
After this chapter, I started thinking about several possibilities, and here are some things that might happen:
No Natsubaru Confession in 2026
In the manga timeline, we are currently in late October or early November. According to me, it’s most likely early November because they mentioned the mock exams that happened in October, which indicates October has already passed. ( Refer to image 2-5)
Subaru’s birthday is on November 19, and many of us were hoping for some Natsubaru development there. However, in the last chapter, Usami mentioned that he has entrance exams in late November (refer image 4), and the others are also busy. Because of that, Mikami might skip Subaru’s birthday entirely, just like Saku’s birthday.
If that happens, then we most likely won’t get any major Natsubaru development until the entrance exams end, which is usually around January or February. Instead of focusing on Natsubaru, the story may focus toward Kaorin.
Rintaro’s worried expression (refer image 1) could indicate that we are about to get an arc focused on how Rintaro and Kaoruko manage their time and deal with possible misunderstandings. Of course, those misunderstandings would probably get resolved through communication, since that’s how this manga usually handles conflicts. Mikami might also take their relationship to the next stage and show more intimate Kaorin moments similar to Horimiya, which could possibly happen around Chapter 200.
So There’s also a chance that Chapter 200 won’t be a Natsubaru confession at all.
I also think 10 chapters is too little time to properly develop Subaru’s feelings if mikami keeps putting them on backseat with no conversations . Saku is not doing anything to progress the relationship either. He’s a very stubborn guy who will hold himself back out of consideration, even if Subaru indirectly hints at her feelings like she did in Chapter 137.
Because of that, there are two possibilities:
We get a Natsubaru confession during the ending phase of the manga.
Or, in the worst-case scenario, their relationship gets an open ending like many side ships , similar to Tairazuma, Ishimiko, or side ships in Horimiya.
Introduction of a Third Party in Their Relationship
In the last chapter, we saw a convo between Saku and Chisa. Rintaro and Kaoruko also gave Saku a side-eye and subaru looked flustered ( refer image 2)because only the boys’ group and Waguri and Subaru from the girls’ group know about Saku’s target university, T University, yet Chisa somehow knows about it too.
It’s possible they talked in the background and gradually bonded with each other. Their conversation after feeling motion sickness from the ride also seemed pretty chill and natural.(Refer image 3)
Because of that, there’s a possibility that mikami can have chisa develop a crush on Saku. That could create some drama and jealousy from Subaru’s side, which might finally push her to properly understand and differentiate her feelings toward Saku.
However, this would be somewhat unusual for the manga since it generally avoids heavy misunderstandings and love triangle tropes.
This Is the Sweet Dream Scenario
We might get another study session with Saku and Subaru alone after the outing ends, followed by a little bit of development on Subaru’s birthday.
A major development on her birthday still seems unlikely because the whole group will probably be there if birthday isn’t skipped due to everyone’s schedules keep in mind that Shohei’s exams are at the same time.
if Mikami somehow fully commits to Natsubaru within the next 8 to 10 chapters, we could get a Chapter 200 confession with proper pacing and a good payoff of slow burn.
On the other hand, if she tries to force a confession within just 3 or 4 chapters for the sake of keeping manga's event symmetry to make ch 200 Confession without developing them in the upcoming chapters, it would feel rushed after such a long slow burn and will be a bad move from her side.