Creative Staff
Story/Art: Hiro Fujiwara
Translation/Adaptation: JN Productions
What They Say
Misaki continues to realize just how different her and Usui’s family backgrounds are after witnessing a huge party thrown for Usui’s birthday… And later, a mysterious newcomer appears at Maid Latte—someone who stirs up a lot of mixed emotions in Misaki!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Now that Usui is at Miyabigoaoka, other students are trying to cozy up to him and get to know him more. Usui isn’t interested and isn’t about to be swayed by others. Even though a trio tracks him and Misa down at the café, he still maintains his usual ways.
It’s Usui’s birthday and he promised the only person he was celebrating it with was Misaki. However, when she decides to surprise him earlier in the day, she sees him leaving with a large group of students from Miyabigoaoka. She follows them to a super fancy venue that where Usui is showered with attention and gifts. She realizes how different they are and backs away. However, Usui doesn’t intend to break his promise and still meets up with Misaki to show just how much he really wants to be with her.
The Miyabigoaoka crew keeps trying to make friends with Usui. This time a duo follows him all the way to Misaki’s school. Their original goal was just to snap a picture with Usui as proof they are trying to be friends to their family. However, a giant chase ensues as one of the duo chases Misaki’s sister trying to do her make up.
The maid café is having another event. This time it’s forest themed and a new chef has started. He’s a bit older, but seems like a nice guy. However, when Misaki arrives for work and her sister happens to show up, they are confronted with the fact the new guy is actually her father. The whole back-story of how Misaki’s father left and why is revealed. With many emotions on the table, Usui and Misaki’s father have a cooking battle at the café. Whoever wins would stay and the other would leave. Usui wins, but feelings get sorted out and Misaki’s dad gets to stay as a part-time cook.
Café life continues as Misaki’s dad and Usui remain working in the kitchen. Misaki continues to struggle with the sudden change of her father in her life. Aoi’s voice is changing and he struggles with losing his cute and adorable identity and is challenged what to do next. It’s also almost Tanabata and everyone has to carefully consider their wishes. Usui also takes a chance to get Misaki alone and tell her how he misses her.
As university exams loom in the near future, Misaki thinks heavily on her dreams. One day, Usui surprises her and takes her to Miyabigoaka to show her around campus since they haven’t had much time together. He then springs it on her that he’s returning to England so he can face his problems directly. She lets him go with her support by telling him he better do so with determination.
Usui has returned to England and it turns out his family lives in a castle in addition to be very wealthy. Usui confronts his brother and wants to talk directly to his grandfather who is ill. His brother won’t allow it, but also doesn’t share that his own health isn’t too great either. Meanwhile, Misaki is doing her best to deal with her worried heart.
Usui is basically trapped at the castle with his brother even taking his cell phone away. Misaki is trying her best to focus on exams, but she’s worried about not getting a reply from Usui. She is also thinking a lot about to close the gap between Usui and her. She ends up going to Miyabigoaka and unbelievable they are ready to transform her and send her to England. As Misaki decides to go to England, Usui finds out that his father was actually a butler to his mother. The situation that he has fallen for a maid does not go unnoticed. He is also given his mother’s diary to read.
In Summary
This is the second to last omnibus for the series. It also includes two fun bonus stories of minor characters. The series has definitely been much better as we head into the final stretch. I’ve said this before, but I’m not huge fan of tons of gag and jokes in a story unless that is the point of the story. However, when a story is being told, I want to read it and not take a million different avenues to get there. Learning more about Usui was long overdue and it felt good to put pieces of the puzzle together about him. I definitely like humor and this story has just the right balance now.
Content Grade: B-
Art Grade: B
Packaging Grade: B-
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: Teen
Released By: Shojo Beat (Viz Media)
Release Date: May 2, 2017
MSRP: $14.99