To stay or not stay with the one you love.
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Karuho Shiina
Translation/Adaptation: Ari Yasuda, HC Language Solutions, Inc.
What They Say
The festival is over, and everyone’s spirits are down. Ryu’s baseball team is in the semifinals, and Chizu doesn’t know where her loyalties lie. She wants him to be happy, but she doesn’t want him to leave her. At the same time, Kazehaya and Sawako confront each other since he made her cry.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The theme of the future continues in this volume of Kimi ni Todoke, starting with Sanada and Yano’s relationship. The big baseball game arrives and winning and playing more baseball is all Sanada wants. Yano struggles over what she wants more, supporting Sanada and supporting his dream of continuing baseball in college or staying by his side. During the crucial part of the game, Yano firmly decides that her place is to be the place that Sanada can call home.
About midway through the volume, the focus switches to Sawako and Kazehaya. Sawako and Kazehaya are amicable, but the touchy subject of where Sawako wants to go to college remains untouched until a small party for Sanada. Sawako and Kazehaya end up in a fight as Kazehaya keeps telling Sawako that she will be okay on her own and that he doesn’t mind if they are separated. Sawako sees this as Kazehaya not really caring if she is near or not and it is hurtful for her.
The volume ends with summer vacation starting with no resolution to Sawako and Kazehaya’s argument.
In Summary
This volume was far more emotional than the last volume, and I liked it a lot more because of this. Though the theme isn’t new, I’m left really wondering what will Sawako choose for a college. I honestly don’t know what she’ll chose and I honestly don’t know which one I want her to choose. This sense of dilemma mixed with her relationship with Kazehaya is very good.
I also really love seeing the evolution of the relationships in this manga, and I can’t wonder how much of this manga is there left? With volume 26 out in Japan and graduation soon in sight, I’m very curious to see how the mangaka will end this series. I’d like to see it go a little past graduation and into the college years. Until then, I’ll just eagerly wait for the next volume!
Content Grade: A
Art Grade: A
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Viz Media
Release Date: September 6th, 2016
MSRP: $9.99