I think it counts in the sense that "a character was here, and now she is not". It also made your comment in the episode 5 thread about her not being all there somewhat . . . is there a word for "that's funny and wince-worthy at the same time"?

>Also, wow, you weren't kidding about the last five minutes being the
>last 14 episodes.

I think they're overcompensating, or something, for the pacing of the manga. For comparison, the repair and refit at Iwo Jima, with Hyuuga, happens around chapter 30. The most recent chapter is 57, and they're just now getting ready to try and breach Kongou's blockade line.

"This is probably a stupid question, but . . ."