Fifth graders have important questions
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Akira Hiyoshimaru
Translation/Adaptation: Alethea and Athena Nibley
What They Say
Though Kaho and Kanade break up due to Kanade’s own immaturity, the fifth grader soon realizes just how precious Kaho is to him. Which leads to the completely mature actions of chasing her home, serenading her with piano-accompanied love songs, and even making an emergency marriage proposal?! Surely the age gap between the two means marriage is impossible–but Kaho and Kanade tentatively exchange vows! Meanwhile, it seems like a new threat is waiting to test the young couple’s relationship–and that busty high school girl and devilish college student are at the center of it!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
On the first page, a color leaf, we find crabs making prostitution jokes. No, not that kind of crab. This continues until we see Kanade has been providing the dialog for the crabs. Apparently, these are the kinds of lines spoken in Japanese soap operas. Kanade seems intent on buying a crab, and Taga is put out having to purchase it. We don’t know how we arrived at this location or why Kanade must buy a crab, but it appears Taga is driving Kanade and Kaho back to Kasumi Residence.
Volume 4 gives us three new chapters of the main story arc and three chapters of episodic extras.
After a reminder of the last chapter, the trio arrive at home where Kanade has been told his father is marrying. We see Kanade’s view of marriage as a permanent commitment enacted in a very surreal way. For Kanade, his late mother remains alive in his father’s commitment to her. This perception seems very sad to one of the tenants who sees it as a growing fondness without any hope of them ever seeing their loved one again.
While this has been going on, Kaho’s odd older brother, Daikoku, has arrived. Kanade walks in on him in the bath, thinking Kaho would be bathing. After an awkward scene where Daikoku teases him, Kanade walks in on Kaho changing. Kanade does not react as Kaho would expect, and she begins to question Kanade’s interest in her. The sadistic Taga manipulates the situation, but his intentions have become unclear as his interests seem to be guided by attraction and not hatred.
While light on narrative, the three chapters of the main story arc continue to develop both Kaho’s understanding of Kanade as well as her uncertainty about his capacity to feel for her. Both seem to be growing up, but they do not appear to be growing closer.
Like the last volume, this collection contains extra stories that are episodic in nature and develop the side characters. We learn that the fifth graders are obsessed with the softness of boobs, men have secret treasures under their beds, and Kaz’s butler is very creepy. The side stories in many ways feel more substantial than the main story arc. The main arc operates like a slow moving soap, stretching the content until it is as thin as a balloon ready to pop. All of the side stories tend to be focused on developing the characters in naturally paced narratives. We learn the most about Kaz in these, both his insecurities and his willingness to follow his romantic heart.
Artwork in this volume seems to be more focused on the characters than the previous chapters. Most pages offer clear drawings of the characters. When there is screentone and flourishes, they seem to be much more reserved. In fact, I think the clearer approach opens the characters up to more empathy than when stylized emotions take up the page. The other thing about this volume seems to be fan service. First there is the nude, effeminate Daikoku standing in the bath, then there are pages of Kohu in a bra and strawberry panties. Based on her embarrassment, it seems readers should be attracted to her. I’m not really sure what to make of the sequence, but it does seem to create a new sense of anxiety for Kohu.
In Summary
Volume 4 adds three chapters to the story arc, and we see Kohu forced to mature. The art seems cleaner in this volume, making the characters more present on the page. Three extra chapters offer fun character interactions focused on the side characters. In many ways, Akira Hiyoshimaru seems to be maturing as a storyteller and artist, making this volume my favorite of the series. Specifically, the characters have become grounded, even in scenes that have cartoonish characteristics. Thanks to the inclusion of the episodic “extra” chapters, this series has improved with each new release.
Content Grade: A-
Art Grade: A-
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: Teen
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: April 26th, 2016
MSRP: $13.00
