The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl Manga Is Even Better After the Leads Get Together

Since The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl manga is a josei series, it means that we see a lot more of the relationship after the two lead characters actually become a couple and addressing of situations that happen in mature relationships between adults. That means less high school drama. Not that there’s absolutely none, as some things do come up, but this series has generally portrayed the growth of a healthy relationship between two coworkers who mutually respect and care for each other. With the tenth volume, they’re firmly in a relationship, and I feel like the storyline since the ninth volume where they finally became a couple feels even more entertaining.

Editor’s Note: There are some spoilers for volume 10 of The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl manga below.

Volume 9 was a big one for The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl, as that’s when Himuro Yukiya, who is descended from a yuki-onna snow spirit, finally confessed to his stoic-looking coworker Mio Fuyutsuki.  As a result, the friendship and crush we’ve seen develop into real feelings over the past volumes finally turned into a real relationship. It took about two years in-world, which makes sense and did make it feel like there’s a solid foundation. It also means the two are basically entering Couple Mode as volume 10 begins, with Himuro and his little sister Yukimin shopping for Christmas gifts. 

Since there’s this new dynamic, there’s an upgrade to intimacy and us getting to witness various “firsts.” Himuro getting jealous over his girlfriend for the first time. Conversely, there’s also Mio getting jealous over her boyfriend for the first time too, which is just as fun. Even better, since it turns out she is the type to more immediately act, while we get these fun chapters of Himuro stewing before he really starts to respond. Plus there are lighter ones like their first photo together as a couple.

I also loved the situations that come up in this new volume alongside the new character Ambrose Sakuba. He’s descended from a succubus, so there’s the same supernatural element as with Himuro. Except now we’re seeing a little bit of fun jealousy over his appearance and closeness to Mio, since they worked together when she was overseas. But at the same time, it’s different than a typical “love triangle” possibility in a manga. That’s because of the clever execution of the dynamic on Miyuki Tonogaya’s part. Ambrose doesn’t feel like a threat and we know Mio and Himuro are good, but the nature of things means we get to see the exploration of emotions and situations in the vein of a “competitor” because of Himuro’s feelings and Ambrose’s nature as a succubus descendant.

Which I really like, because Ambrose never acts or comes across as a true threat. Once he and Himuro meet for the first time, he acts just as flirty toward him as he does to Mio. He even says, “I’m an equal opportunity kind of man. I’ll escort you both.” When he doesn’t want to be alone on Christmas in a foreign country, he lays it on thick to “both” of them and wants a bunch of people to be involved. We also see other people under his same sort of influence because of that Christmas party. It feels more like a friend who can help offer more comic relief situations and, because of what seems like affection for both Mio and now Himuro, a new supporter for the primary couple. 

It feels like The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl hit a really great stride, with the pacing of the manga still being on-point. While nine volumes to get together seems like a lot, it went from two strangers becoming valued coworkers and friends to something more, so that made sense. Now that they are officially together in the tenth volume, the pace changed a bit to reflect that closeness. Plus the introduction of a new supporting cast member feels designed to enhance that, rather than throw a wrench in the gears for drama. It’s great.

Volume 10 of The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl is available now, and Square Enix doesn’t have a release window for the 11th volume of the manga yet. 

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