
If I'm not mistaken Kayden said the Jiyoung is just a little older than Jiwoo so she's in her early 20's. Some says she's 21. She may looks older because of her responsibilities in the company as she's one of the strongest awakener in SK and she became her brother's parent at a very age.
Her and Jiwoo's relationship has always been there. I mean, it's very obvious especially Jiwoos golden retriever attitude with her but it's wasn't emphasize since it's not the main genre of the story.
I'm not sure what u mean about not liking the progress since it's inevitable that while the story is progressing, the characters are also improving especially Jiwoo. It's actually exciting to see him getting stronger and getting recognized by all the awakeners all around the world as Kayden's trustworthy student. And if your actually reading the story, Jiwoo's friends not appearing in the recent chapters was because they're training as they mentioned it after the fight with Giselle's subordinate.

I cant speak for their ages but I personally like the story progression because I think if it focused solely on the cats then it would be stagnant. Jiwoo is the protagonist and I think it fits his arc as a Top 10 pupil to finally get out of his nest and have some adventures. He’s out of the training stage and this is a dangerous world that will come for him if he doesn’t go to it first. The cats were comforting but ultimately like he can’t be protected all the time.
I do/did also like taller Jiyoung. She is badass
And I agree it would be nice to see his friends more but I know they’re off having timeskip training arcs. It’d cool if we could get chapters showing what they’re up to. I think Tower of God balanced that aspect well with showing us the friends arcs even if the MC wasn’t present.

Oh i know, im not blind, i never said i didnt see the attraction between them, I said im concerned with their age only so thank you for the age clarifications. I never said i hated the progress as well, all i said was it was lacking because as amazing and exciting it is to see jiwoo become better, what made him a great main character at the beginning was his kindness and respect for everyone and always having a warm smile on his face. Also yes im reading the story and i know the kids wanted to get better to protect themselves/others but as i said, it would be great to see how theyre doing from time to time as well since im interested in the life of the side characters.
Just have to ask, how old was our jiwoo when he met jiyoung? I dont mind bland romances because god when you read stories like these? Its bound to happen but why it feels so off to me is because jiyoung felt like a much older character to me? Like shes 23-30+ years old vibe and jiwoo was a highschooler- still is? so that gives us the fact that hes very young. Thats why its so weird to me.
I am also kinda sad cause i remember jiyoung being taller than jiwoo? I know hes a growing kid but i kinda feel like they made him taller just for the romance trope?
Ill be honest with you, this story had me on a chokehold from the start because the main plot was amazing and fun like fighting, powers, pets, friends, family and learning kindness with that darkness happening in the back thats bound to happen…now i barely see the cats, i barely see friends, i barely see him just enjoying his life as a teenager or something. Like i get that he has to experience all this but they took away what i fell in love with in the first place. Just personal opinion, still like the story overall.