Grasping unknown feelings.
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Amu Meguro
Translation/Adaptation: Katherine Schilling
What They Say
Although Nao Kogure was once afraid of the delinquent Taiga Onise, she was soon touched by his kind soul. Taiga becomes a mentor to new student Miyabi Nishigaki. She develops a crush on Taiga and pursues him, which leads Nao to confide her feelings of jealousy to Futami.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
When Taiga begins calling Nishigaki by her first name, Nao recognizes it’s childish to feel jealousy towards Ryo’s little sister. Nao keenly figures out Nishigaki likes Taiga, but she struggles with how to bring it up if at all. Taiga notices Nao’s mood isn’t the same as usual and consults Futami with it. Futami figures it out right away. Just when the couple wants to mutually discuss it, Nishigaki insists on walking home with both of them. However, when Taiga stops calling Nishigaki by her first name and gives his reason, Nishigaki is full of tears.
Ryo happens to come by and rescues his little sister. When he sits her down asks why she’s crying, she says she doesn’t know why. Ryo figures out right away she has a crush on Taiga, but since she has never felt these feelings before she could not identify them. However, when Ryo tells her to give up because Taiga already has a girlfriend, she didn’t understand why she should back down. However, Nishigaki meets Taiga and Ryo the next day, she lies and says she was thinking about a pet that passed away.
When it’s time for a local festival, Nishigaki wiggles her way into an invitation with Taiga, Nao and their friends. Nishigaki asks Nao what kind of yukata she is wearing and shows up wearing the exact same one. Misaki and Yashiro head off on their own leaving Nishigaki with Futami, Taiga and now. Nishigaki starts copying everything Nao is doing with Taiga. Futami graciously tries to intervene, but Nishigaki bluntly says she prefers Taiga.
Futami and Nao get separated at the festival and Futami bluntly asks how Nao feels about this whole situation. She admits she’s worried, but is afraid if she says anything she will sound petty and she doesn’t want to be hated. Futami gently encourages what she feels is normal and that she has to tell both Nishigaki and Taiga exactly how she feels. She finds Taiga just in time. Nishigaki is trying to kiss Taiga as she learns that Taiga has kissed Nao. Nao finally spills her feelings. Nishigaki is at a lose of what to do if she can’t copy Nao. She asks to be alone to process her feelings, but Futami finds her and allows her to lean on him a little. It takes awhile, but all of them find their to apologize and come to term with the situation.
In Summary
This volume was again super cute. This story is adorable, but slow moving. The entire book revolved around Nishigaki and her feelings for Taiga. It doesn’t mean it was bad, but it doesn’t back the emotional punch some shojo stories do. Even though this is the second time that Taiga and Nao’s relationship has been threatened by another, the feeling that relationship might crumble doesn’t even exist. That, in itself, is refreshing. This manga is really recommended for those that love pure, innocent and lasting love.
Content Grade: B
Art Grade: B
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: Teen
Released By: Shojo Beat (Viz Media)
Release Date: July 4, 2017
MSRP: $9.99
