An out-of-interesting-stories experience.
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Rumiko Takahashi
Translation: Christine Dashiell
What They Say
While investigating a stray komainu shrine-dog spirit, Rinne and his friends run into the disembodied spirit of a shrine maiden. What’s her connection to Tsubasa? From ghosts at the athletics festival to all kinds of turmoil between Renge, Ageha, and Kain, regardless of the season, Rinne’s always busy!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
As the volume opens, we’re treated to an odd story in which an upper classman in the Folk Music Club gets possessed by a cicada ghost. Apparently this was the result of a lingering attachment that the two shared for the girls they loved. Unsurprisingly, this wraps up quickly and neatly by the end of the chapter. Following this, Left and Right make yet another troublesome scythe, and Rinne has to deal with a tatami mat that’s gotten a little touchy-feely. Afterwards, Rinne’s dad ends up in quite a pinch thanks to a questionable cursed cashbox, and Ageha’s forgetfulness unleashes a curse that at least results in a halfway amusing chapter. We then get some bland one-offs about a ghost runner and Left and Right trying to summon a guardian spirit.
Finally, we get the one multi-part story in the volume. It kicks off with a runaway komainu spirit, but it quickly becomes clear that another presence is involved. This turns out to be the disembodied spirit of a shrine maiden that Tsubasa once knew named Sakaki. When it becomes clear that Sakaki is having trouble controlling her spirit due to her feelings towards Tsubasa, will he be able to put away his obsession long enough to recognize her love?
In Summary
Once more, we’re treated to an exceptionally, excessively bland entry into this dull series. Pretty much all the one-shot chapters making up this volume are flat and routine, and just feel like more going through the paces. At the very least the one with the curses is worth a chuckle or two perhaps, but there certainly isn’t much to love here. Even the multi-part story is pretty uninteresting, and the character introduced within almost feels like a background character. Hopefully things will start to pick up again soon, as things have gotten quite mundane. For now, though, this book simply isn’t worth bothering with.
Content Grade: C
Art Grade: B
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: B+
Age Rating: 16+
Released By: Viz Media
Release Date: March 10th, 2015
MSRP: $9.99
