Blue Box chapter 196 will be a crucial turning point for the manga

Blue Box, created by Kouji Miura, is one of the most beloved romance manga that is currently being serialized. Having been published since April 2021 in Weekly Shonen Jump, the series has garnered a dedicated readership through its balance of intense sports and wholesome romance.

Blue Box mainly revolves around Taiki Inomata, a hardworking badminton player, and Chinatsu Kano, his senior who plays basketball. Although the two harbored unspoken feelings for each other, they finally confessed and began dating. Since becoming an official couple in chapter 103 of the manga, up to the latest chapter, 195, their healthy relationship has remained the most captivating part of the story.

However, despite having been boyfriend and girlfriend for nearly a hundred chapters, there is one key step that Taiki and Chinatsu are yet to take—their first kiss. Chapter 196 of the Blue Box manga seems geared to finally showcase this iconic moment, and fans who have stuck through the unbearable romantic tension between the leads are more excited than ever.

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Blue Box chapter 195 recap

Chapter 194 of the Blue Box manga begins with Taiki and Chinatsu going on a date to celebrate their one-year anniversary as a couple. After a day of enjoyment and reaffirming their feelings for each other, Chinatsu realized that she was missing one of her bags.

Chapter 195 picks up from here, as Taiki and Chinatsu go in search of her bag. Despite Chinatsu being regretful of spoiling their date, Taiki assured her of his happiness as long as they stayed together. While exploring possible locations, the pair ran into Ayame, who was on a date of her own.

Sharing a short conversation, Ayame expressed how Karen had helped Chinatsu pick out her outfit for their date. Soon after, they encountered Yumeka, who was also on a shopping trip with her boyfriend. Yumeka explained that she was planning on playing basketball in college, inviting Chinatsu to join her.

Right before leaving, she commented on how Chinatsu was inexperienced in romance and was only on the offense when pursuing Taiki. While continuing their search, Chinatsu got a blister on her foot, forcing her to sit down while Taiki went to buy a Band-Aid. At this point, she thought about her relationship with Taiki and how she wished to take it to the next level.

While dwelling on these thoughts, Chinatsu was approached by two boys hoping to keep her company. In the nick of time, Taiki intervened, identifying himself as her boyfriend and chasing them away. Following this, he put the Band-Aid on Chinatsu’s foot, only to find her missing bag hidden behind her seat.

As they headed out and the day seemed to end, neither of them wished to part. Chinatsu then suggested that they go to her new apartment, having just received her keys. While there, she sat on the floor and asked Taiki to go near her. The chapter ends with Taiki receiving a flashback about the time Chinatsu kissed him through a cloth.

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Blue Box chapter 196 release date

Blue Box chapter 196 is scheduled to release on Monday, May 19th, 2025, at 12:00 am JST. This will translate to a release on May 18th for most other time zones, which is Sunday. Specific timings include:

• 8:00 am PT
• 11:00 am ET
• 8:30 pm IST
• 4:00 pm BST

The chapter will be available on Viz's Shonen Jump platform and the Manga Plus website by Shueisha.

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How Blue Box chapter 196 can make or break the series

Taiki and Chinatsu’s time together as a couple is certainly filled with cute moments, but it can also be frustrating to watch due to their inexperience with romance. Since both Taiki and Chinatsu are awkward and shy, taking even small steps such as holding hands and speaking casually takes a lot of effort.

As a result, it is no surprise that the pair are yet to share a kiss, with the most progress in their relationship being a hug and Chinatsu kissing Taiki through a cloth in between. Nevertheless, the recent chapters of the manga have foreshadowed the highly awaited moment finally taking place, with Chinatsu wanting to proactively move their relationship forward.

While Taiki may be the more sheepish of the two, being alone in an apartment with his girlfriend may help him pick up courage. With all eyes in the fandom on chapter 196 of Blue Box, there is no doubt that expectations are sky-high.

At the same time, should Taiki and Chinatsu fail to kiss, it may turn the frustrations of readers into outright annoyance. The main characters’ slow-burn development as a couple is certainly organic, but it risks losing fans' interest if it lacks noticeable progress.

Given that Blue Box is primarily a romance story, nearly 200 chapters with no kiss between the male and female leads may make the narrative feel like it's dragging. Hence, depending on the creator’s decision, the next chapter could make or break the series.