Creative Staff
Story: Nagaru Tanigawa
Art: Puyo
Translation/Adaptation: Paul Starr
What They Say
Yuki – that is, the “Yuki Nagato” from before her accident – has recovered. Before she awakens, however, she is able to meet the Yuki who had taken her place while she slept. Her other self found the courage to tell Kyon her feelings directly. Now that she’s back to normal, is it time for this Yuki to do the same…?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
With the alternate Yuki persona having given way to the original it would seem that events could return back to normal for the small group of friends but that is easier said than done as the effects of the book loving Yukie’s presence still stick in everyone’s mind which leads to some quiet moments as everyone tries to process what happened in that span. For Yuki it seems things would be somewhat easy as all she appeared to have gotten directly out of it was a new taste for books (though she is still a gamer first, second and third), but the truth is that Yuki isn’t oblivious to those around her and she picked up on the reactions of Ryouko and Kyon who got to adore the ‘other’ Yuki as well and now are trying to deal with a very complicated situation with the ‘original’ Yuki back.
But sometimes the best way to shake out of a somber state –especially when it is hard to talk about- is to envelop a different pace …and a different pace is coming even if it isn’t necessarily therapeutic as Haruhi has finished her exams and comes swirling back in with her usual brand of chaos as she isn’t going to just let everyone enjoy (or to her mind suffer) a quiet summer break as she has plans to make it a memorable one. From collecting a bamboo stalk to celebrate the Japanese festival of Tanabata to a trip to the beach and courage test Haruhi will make sure everyone has fun…and yeah, that is kind of a threat actually.
But Haruhi isn’t blind and despite her tendency to go overboard in everything she does and her appearance to ignore and simply overpower anyone with ideas different than hers she does have a kind heart and is attentive enough to pick up on the changes that have happened in the group dynamic. Haruhi is bold enough to ask Kyon questions directly about his current state which allow him to express thoughts he can’t tell anyone else about how he is trying to deal with the loss of the ‘other’ Yuki and she helps give him the strength to think about it and possibly be able to move to where he can talk with his other friends as well…to some extent anyway…about it and help everyone move a bit forward. But all Summers must someday end and when the party starts to wind down it is time to get ready for school, but has Kyon forgotten something important himself that may lead to a bit of a crisis and perhaps a bit of wishing for an Endless Summer…
The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan has been a title that has been getting progressively better since the start and this latest collection of chapters looks to have found a perfect stride as the author carefully balances a lot of emotion with enough levity and quiet moments that help accentuate the overall tale in such a way that no one reading needs to know the original Haruhi books to follow the emotional journey of the cast but those who have a familiarity with the source novels will find that there are a ton of references that add depth without ever taking away from the current material. That is reason enough to recommend the book as the deft touch that uses expectations and familiar settings as an accent to the overall story that compliments the environment and which does so without having to be garish enough to call attention to it and become the focus or just be a joke that only fans can get is a skill that is rare in most media- especially spinoffs- that frequently don’t strike quite such a perfect balance.
Of course the thing about accent (in décor anyway) is that it is to serve to fill out a space and strengthen the overall theme and not become the center of the focus and the events here in Yuki-chan are served perfectly by this as the meat of the story is given over to its main characters trying to cope with the major changes that the ‘other’ Yuki brought and how they have impacted the dynamics that had existed before. It is going to be an individual thing of course, but for myself I found the pace near perfect in exploring directly or through indirect actions just what fall out must come from the events in the previous book and I believe the author was incredibly perceptive as to how to show these actions, either through direct comments or actions or through careful use of placing characters that spoke volumes as to where things were at any given time.
I can’t lie though and the framing of these events against some of the more memorable places in the main franchise gave me more than a little thrill and it was interesting to see just how some events occurred in this less fanciful universe of characters where aliens, time travelers and espers don’t seem to exist (or aren’t the focus here anyway) and how the material played off some of the events in a hilarious way, zigging where one might expect sagging but never getting so lost while doing so that the real direction for this story is lost or delayed for this bit of maneuvering. Yuki-chan is a gem of a title that even people put off by the main franchise may be able to enjoy as a different focus and pace mixes perfectly to create an unforgettably sweet time. Recommended.
In Summary
The Nagato Yuki from before her accident has returned and though she has a few minor changes –being more interested in books for example, though not at the expense of her cherished videogames- she seems to be none the worse for wear for the period of time another personality experience in her place. But while Yuki may not be greatly changed by those events her friends are still trying to cope both with the joy of her return as well as the sorrow of the other personality’s departure and so a subtle but noticeable change has impacted their interactions. While there is a saying about time healing all wounds, it may be that time alone isn’t all that will be required as it may need a little help from the whirlwind that is Haruhi in order to help the trio of friends find a new balance again that still incorporates the changes but reaffirms what it was that brought them together in the first place. And hey, if that means the story can make some references to the main title, show off a bit skin with a trip to the beach and overall have a pleasant summer of fun that pretty much seems like a complete win for everyone. The volume really stands strong as one of the more precious and sweet titles that isn’t afraid to laugh with –or wink at- its source material which makes for one another fantastic volume of one of the more special titles on the market today. Recommended.
Content Grade: A
Art Grade: A-
Packaging Grade: A-
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: February 18th, 2014
MSRP:$13.00
