Sakurako Busujima in Grand Blue Season 3: Screen Time, Romance, and Arc Expectations
When Grand Blue Season 3 was finally confirmed, most fans immediately started talking about one thing: the return of the insane comedy that made the series legendary. The diving club, the drinking parties that somehow get even more out of control every arc, and Iori’s endless suffering are obviously reasons enough to be excited. But after revisiting the manga, I honestly think there’s another reason why this season could become the best one yet.
For me, that reason is Sakurako Busujima.
She wasn’t always my favorite character. In fact, during her first appearances I couldn’t stand her. She felt manipulative, loud, and almost intentionally impossible to like. Then the story kept giving her more screen time, and somehow she transformed into one of the funniest and surprisingly most layered characters in the entire cast. If Season 3 adapts the chapters everyone expects, anime-only viewers are about to understand why manga readers have been talking about Sakurako for years.
Does Iori End Up with Chisa in the Palau Arc? Grand Blue Relationship Explained
From Workplace Chaos to One of the Best Character Arcs
One thing Grand Blue has always done well is taking characters who seem one-dimensional at first and gradually revealing new sides of them. Sakurako is probably the biggest example of that.
She starts as Iori’s difficult coworker, constantly provoking him and creating unnecessary drama. Almost every interaction between them feels like a disaster waiting to happen. Yet that’s exactly why their chemistry works so well. Neither of them behaves like a typical romantic lead, and every conversation somehow turns into either a verbal battle or complete comedic madness.
Instead of relying on predictable anime romance clichés, Grand Blue lets their relationship grow through constant conflict, misunderstandings, and hilarious workplace interactions. Before you realize it, you’re actually looking forward to every scene they share.
That’s something I rarely say about a character I originally disliked.
Season 3 Finally Gives Sakurako Room to Shine
If the anime follows the manga at its current pace, Grand Blue Season 3 should begin around Chapter 46 and continue through some of the series’ strongest story arcs.
This is exactly where Sakurako stops feeling like a supporting character and becomes someone who actively influences the story.
Major Highlights Fans Should Expect
- Her increasingly entertaining work scenes with Iori.
- The hometown storyline that introduces new complications.
- The build-up toward the Palau trip.
- Several emotional moments hidden beneath Grand Blue’s ridiculous comedy.
- A major romantic turning point that manga readers have been waiting to see animated.
What I appreciate most is that none of these moments suddenly rewrite her personality. She doesn’t magically become sweet or innocent.
She’s still sarcastic. She’s still aggressive. She still causes complete chaos. But underneath all of that, the story starts showing someone who’s genuinely confused by her own feelings.
That contrast makes her surprisingly believable.
Why Her Dynamic With Iori Feels Different
One thing I’ve noticed after rereading these chapters is how natural Sakurako and Iori actually feel together.
Most romantic anime rely on awkward misunderstandings or endless hesitation. Grand Blue certainly has misunderstandings too, but they’re usually played for comedy instead of dragging the story down. Sakurako doesn’t wait forever. She doesn’t spend dozens of chapters silently watching from the sidelines. She takes action. Sometimes it’s reckless. Sometimes it’s embarrassing. Sometimes it’s completely insane. But it’s never boring.
That confidence makes her stand out from many modern rom-com heroines. Even when she completely fails, she’s still driving the story forward instead of simply reacting to everyone else.
The Palau Arc Could Become the Season’s Biggest Highlight
Let’s be honest.
The Palau storyline already has everything fans want from Grand Blue. Beautiful tropical scenery, ridiculous drinking sessions, excellent comedy, plenty of diving, and complete social disasters. Now imagine throwing Sakurako into that mix when she’s already struggling to understand her own emotions.
That’s exactly why so many manga readers keep calling this one of the strongest sections of the series. Every interaction feels like it could explode into either heartfelt romance or absolute chaos. Usually both.
The Romance Finally Gets Serious… Sort Of
Without revealing every single detail, it’s safe to say that Season 3 contains one of the biggest romantic developments in Grand Blue so far.
What surprised me while reading wasn’t necessarily what happened. It was who made it happen. Sakurako refuses to sit around hoping things magically work out. She decides to be honest. Considering how absurd Grand Blue usually is, those genuine emotional moments hit much harder than I expected.
Even then, the series never abandons its identity. Right after giving you an unexpectedly heartfelt scene, it reminds you that you’re still reading Grand Blue, and someone is probably about to lose their clothes or get dragged into another impossible drinking contest.
That’s exactly why the emotional scenes work. They never overstay their welcome.
Is Sakurako Actually Best Girl?
This debate has been going on for years, and honestly, I don’t think there’s a wrong answer.
| Character | Biggest Strength | Why Fans Love Her |
|---|---|---|
| Chisa | Calm and reliable | Strong chemistry with Iori and natural character growth. |
| Sakurako | Bold and unpredictable | Creates constant tension while keeping every scene entertaining. |
| Aina | Surprisingly relatable | Great comedic timing and emotional honesty. |
If you asked me before these manga chapters, I would’ve picked Chisa without hesitation.
Now? I’m honestly not sure anymore.
Sakurako simply became too entertaining to ignore. Even when she’s making terrible decisions, she somehow becomes the person I’m most interested in watching.
Comedy Is Still the Real Star
One thing I hope new viewers understand is that Grand Blue has never been a traditional romance series.
It’s first and foremost a comedy. A completely unhinged one.
Every character is ridiculous. Every friendship is dysfunctional. Every celebration somehow ends with somebody being embarrassed beyond repair.
Looking at Sakurako through that lens makes her personality much easier to appreciate. Yes, she’s manipulative. Yes, she’s overly competitive. Yes, she sometimes goes way too far. But literally everyone in Grand Blue behaves like an absolute disaster. That’s the joke.
Trying to judge these characters by real-world standards misses the entire point of the series.
Why I Think Season 3 Will Change Anime-Only Opinions
I’ve seen plenty of anime-only fans say they don’t understand why manga readers love Sakurako so much.
I completely get it. Right now, the anime has only shown pieces of what makes her interesting.
Season 3 should change that.
Instead of simply being another source of comedy, she’ll become one of the emotional centers of the story while still delivering some of the funniest moments in the franchise.
That’s a difficult balance to pull off, yet Grand Blue somehow manages it.
If the adaptation keeps the manga’s pacing and comedic timing intact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sakurako becomes one of the breakout characters of the entire anime season.
Final Thoughts
I’ve always watched Grand Blue for the ridiculous humor, outrageous facial expressions, and surprisingly gorgeous diving scenes. Those elements aren’t going anywhere, and that’s exactly what makes the series special. But this time, I think the biggest reason to tune in isn’t another drinking competition or another shirtless disaster.
It’s Sakurako Busujima.
Her growth feels earned, her chemistry with Iori is stronger than ever, and her willingness to chase what she wants gives the story an energy that’s hard to ignore. Whether you’re firmly on Team Chisa or ready to support Team Sakurako, one thing seems almost certain: by the end of Grand Blue Season 3, she’ll be one of the characters everyone is talking about.
