The manga is finally ending rejoice!

All I can say, is that it is about time. The story was really dragging its feet and not going anywhere. In fact I was really beginning to hate some of the characters I loved like 10 years ago.

It used to be one of my favourites but really dropped down in recent years. I expect once it finishes in June and I can read it all in one sitting I will appreciate it better again.

http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2015/04/14-1/kei-toume s-yesterday-wo-utatte-manga-to-end-its-18-year-serialization

I remember I started reading this in highschool back in 2010. I really liked it and kept up with it for a couple years. Anyway I finally came back to it and I'm not sure if it's because I'm over 10 years older now or what but holy crap you're absolutely correct the quality takes a nose dive about half way through the manga. I'm so disappointed and just like you said I ended up hating Rikuo and Shinako towards the end. They had 0 character development. It was pathetic. Even Haru had uncharacteristc choices. I wish the Author didn't lose sight of what the they originally wrote because it turned into a completely different manga in the last half. I feel like someone killed the characters I was so attached to a decade ago.