Love is complicated, in all its forms.
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Aya Shouoto
Translation/Adaptation: JN Productions
What They Say
Himari Momochi inherits Momochi House, an estate which exists on the barrier between the human and spiritual realms. Thanks to Himari’s journey in the spiritual realm, Aoi is able to remember his past. While preparing a party to celebrate, Yukari tells Himari that Aoi shares a special connection with her parents…
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Wow, the back of the book straight up tells you the outcome of the cliffhanger. Well, okay, it’s not much of a spoiler to assume Aoi would get his human form back. That’s not the shocking part of all of this anyway.
I would not have guessed, after the declaration at the end of the previous volume, what the words ‘Aoi is dead’ actually meant in context.
The reveal that they don’t really refer to the Aoi we know is surprising, and also entirely depressing for a whole host of other reasons. The truth about Aoi’s sister Akane and her relationship with ayakashi isn’t as dark as it first appears. The fact that Aoi’s family lost a son they never knew they had, then thought they also lost a daughter, is dark. This series hasn’t shied away from some of the darker dealings with ayakashi, but this feels far more personal.
Himari is determined to prove that ayakashi and humans can coexist peacefully together, but in her small efforts in this volume, she fails at no fault of her own. Kasha is a sore loser if there ever was one, but at least Aoi is returned to his human form. There’s a fragility to his existence that Himari is determined to root to the human world.
Yukari, after seeing what Himari gave up in order to save his master, finally relates some information to her about her family. Aoi had found her mother’s diary long ago and learned something of the fate of her family and those of Momochi house that can’t carry the burden of being the gatekeeper. It’s disappointing that the information comes indirectly from Yukari rather than Aoi.
After volumes of making bedroom eyes at each other, we finally get some payoff at the end of this volume with Himari and Aoi. After Aoi regains his memories of his father and his home he finally allows himself to admit his affection to Himari. It’s one of the most blatantly constructed romantic scenes I’ve seen in shoujo in a long time, and it works. The whole last chapter feels more like a series finally than the ending of a story arc. It left me wondering where the story goes from here. Sure, there’s still the issue of Kasha and his history with the Nue, but it really feels that if the series ended here I’d be all right with it. Maybe we’ll get to see what happens when a shoujo relationship moves forward past the will they, won’t they. I just hope they don’t walk back from the confession!
Viz continues to include color pages in this release, and the opening illustration is beautiful, as always.
In Summary
This volume of Momochi House has a lot of long term payoff for fans, combined with the lovely art which drives this light romantic fantasy. Along with closing out the story about Aoi’s family, for now, it also provides answers to what happened to Himari’s parents and her fate as the heir of Momochi house. It feels more like a closing volume for a series rather than the end of a story arc, and it will be interesting to watch where Himari and Aoi’s relationship goes from here and if Himari can make her dreams a reality.
Content Grade: B +
Art Grade: A –
Packaging Grade: B +
Text/Translation Grade: A –
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