Lala was in this chapter, looking particularly fresh sporting a forward-tied hair style. Irresistible!

She's not much of a major character thus far because, frankly, she's a fairly static character and always has been. Nothing really gets her down, and she's too easy going and straightforward in what she wants to get any real growth out of her character. The only place the author could really go with her is maybe make her become more mature (in order to become Galactic Empress at Rito's side), but then she really wouldn't be herself anymore.

That's why I like this direction they are going focusing on Momo and Yami with Rito caught in the middle. Momo has always been ambitious enough and deceptive enough to have some real momentum in character development. The same goes for Yami, figuring out what kind of person she wants to be. Pretty much an Eve 1.5, just like she's always been since her first appearance.

To that end, I greatly enjoyed Yami's comment to Momo that she was at last seeing the "real" Momo. Of all the girl's in Rito's vicinity who can sense killing intent, Yami would be certainly the best at it. Momo really meant it. Momo's goal is a good one too. She devoutly wants Rito to wed her sister and take everyone else in as a concubine. It's the only way that all the girls could be happy.

Nana isn't much different from Lala, though it has shifted to her wanting a bit more carefree and normal life. Since Nana isn't anywhere as naive and innocent as Lala. The rest of the girls never really struck me as need much character development since most of them are rather flat stereotypes. Kotegawa is the tsundere, Haruna is the selfless nice girl and Oshizu (ghost girl) is the klutz. Run was one of the few girls late in the series to get any real development at all during the Kyoko mini-arc.

@Arch: Both the author and artist are male according to manga-updates. Yabuki Kentaro (the artist) is male for sure.