Creative Staff
Story/Art: Sakura Tsukuba
Translation/Adaptation: Sheldon Drzka
What They Say
Kanade and friends come back from their eventful trip, but the life lessons that began on the road continue after they return home. Eri has calmly accepted the news of her best friend Kanade’s ability to see into the future. Her response is very different, however, when she learns just what Arou can do. But Arou has his own problems. His uncle is determined to see him uncover the truth about his own late mother’s past. And when a crime wave hits the school, one of the “sighted” kids is implicated.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Eri has readily accepted her best friend’s extraordinary power, but how will she feel when she learns of Arou’s? When Arou uses his ability to bring an arsonist to justice and track down a student that has been stealing at school, Eri realizes that Arou isn’t an ordinary teenager either. She confronts him directly about it, and when he tells her the truth, her behavior around him changes markedly. Shortly thereafter, a near miss with an automobile accident leaves Eri shaken, and when Arou attempts to cheer her up, she withdraws from his touch. Her rejection wounds him, and the painful moment may be enough for Arou’s uncle to get what he wants…
The first half of this volume is comprised of fluffy one-shots about the changes in Namiki’s life and the deepening relationship between Arou and Kanade. Chapter 32 is actually quite silly. Kanade is unique enough already without having to add “superhuman strength when ill” to her traits. And I find it difficult to believe that her mom would just invite Arou to dinner instead of castrating the boy after she discovering them the way she does.
Going into Chapters 34 and 35 though, Tsukuba plunges Arou through the emotional wringer as Sou’s motivation for reconnecting with his nephew comes to light. Sou’s a sly character. Despite his talk about acting in Arou’s best interest, he doesn’t hesitate to force Arou through past traumas for his own selfish purposes. Previous volumes have touched on it before, but this volume really brings to the forefront the different nuances in Kanade’s, Arou’s, and Namiki’s abilities. As Sou remarks in Chapter 35, Namiki can use his power at will with effort, and Kanade’s glimpses of the future occur sporadically. Arou’s ability, however, is constant and at times overwhelming. As exemplified in the Fall Festival in Volume 7, it’s not so much Arou possessing his power as it is his power possessing him. It makes me wonder if Sou really knows what he’s asking for in pursuing Arou’s “power without limits.”
This volume includes a table of contents and Tsukuba’s usual “Sakura Mail” with a mini-manga about Namiki’s pet turtle tucked inside.
Content Grade: B+
Art Grade: B+
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: CMX Manga
Release Date: June 30th, 2006
MSRP: $9.99
