A heartfelt ending to a beautiful series.
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Kou Yaginuma
Translation/Adaptation: Hiroko Mizuno, Tomoe Tsutsumi, Nicole Dochych
What They Say:
Graduation looms for what is left of the Tokyo Space School’s first class. As the teens focus on their final days in school, many of them take the opportunity to finally share some long hidden feelings and settle a few differences. And finally, Japan’s first student astronaut is selected! Will Asumi finally be able to drive the rocket of her childhood dreams?
Content:
After a mysterious voice wakes him, Fuchuya begins putting his space school training to work and rescues one of the other passengers, a small boy. Though eventually rescue workers arrive, they are unable to find the source of the voice Fuchuya heard. After New Years and some last minute stargazing, it finally comes time for the announcement of who will be moving on. Everyone is already nervous, but it only gets worse with the news that only one student will be moving on to 4th year. Asumi ends up being that single student, leaving everyone with conflicting feelings of both joy and sadness. However, when school lets out, everyone from the astronaut program comes to cheer on and congratulate Asumi. Though Asumi is finally close to reaching her dream, she sheds lonely tears for her friends who got left behind.
Things continue to change as everyone considers what they should do with themselves. Mikan becomes the R.A. for the Seagull Dorm, Marika pursues the medical path in order to cure her illness and have a chance of eventually going to space, and Kei decides on becoming a photography major at a 4-year college. Fuchuya, meanwhile, decides to study flame-colors in order to follow his own dream. Everyone’s goals begin falling into place, and graduation commences while Asumi follows her own path. One last tearful goodbye occurs, and it is finally time for everyone to part.
After some flashing back, it finally comes time for the launch. Asumi makes a final call to her father the night before, thanking him for everything. Before the launch can start, though, an old friend comes by to offer Asumi’s father a job. The countdown begins, and everyone watches nervously as Asumi blasts off towards her dreams. A tear jerking look at Asumi’s past is followed by a beautiful display of Asumi in space.
Having achieved her dream, Asumi returns to the earth and it soon comes time for the Yuigahama fireworks festival. Another flashback occurs, and everyone begins to gather. While talking with Asumi, Mr. Lion admits that his time has come. Asumi says her goodbyes, and with a blast of fireworks Mr. Lion drifts off into the sky, with Asumi’s friends surprisingly seeing him as well. As the book comes to a close, we get one last look at everyone’s lives, with Asumi pursuing a teaching degree and a certain someone wearing a bunny head appearing before Akane, the little girl that inherited Asumi’s love of space.
In Summary:
This volume brings the series to an absolutely fantastic close, wrapping up all the loose ends and containing some rather beautiful scenes, both visually and emotionally. Seeing Asumi’s dreams finally come to light is depicted perfectly, showing what she’s accomplished and yet also showing how much more there is to come. And yet, we also get a nice touch of what happens to everyone else, showing how everyone is following their own path. As in the beginning, though, it’s Mr. Lion that steals the spotlight, in the process putting an incredibly touching end to the series. The amount of emotion and wonder in this single volume is simply astounding, and in every way lives up to this amazing series.
Content Grade: A+
Art Grade: A-
Package Rating: A-
Text/Translation Rating: B+
Age Rating: N/A
Released by: Vertical
Release Date: March 6th, 2012
MSRP: $13.95
