Clam bakes, swimming, BBQ…. it must be summer.
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Takuto Kashiki
Translation/Adaptation: Taylor Engel
What They Say
Full and pleasant, the lives led by Hakumei and Mikochi might seem comfortable to most. But this intrepid duo isn’t afraid of challenging themselves! Hakumei, hopeless in water, learns to swim, while Mikochi enters a fashion design contest. And they’re not alone in their attempts at stepping out of their comfort zones! Friends like scientist Sen, builder Iwashi, and beautician Jada all try their hands at something new and show off some unexpected sides, to boot!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
This volume of H&M had me thinking a lot about fashion. Mainly the fact that the girls seem to usually be wearing the same outfit unless the story calls for something different. It may not look much like summer in this volume, but all the activities the girls and their friends participate in have the hallmarks of summer. From making the most of a flood to finding a secret rooftop clambake, there’s something very fortuitous about the timing of the release of this volume.
Things kick off with a flood and the revelation that Hakumei can’t swim. The neighbors try their best to teach her and she flounders in the water, sinking. Not that I can blame her, that swimsuit has a lot of extra fabric weighing her down. Not as much as what Mikochi was wearing though. Seriously, I spotted one extra in the background wearing a bikini and everyone else seems far too overdressed for treading water.
The talk of swimming reminds the girls of the nearby seaside town. They take a trip but instead of sunbathing and swimming they end up wandering the crowded streets. There hear about a secret rooftop clambake and climb the maze of buildings upward, searching for an illegal BBQ operation the locals run. Why illegal? Well, some of the shellfish has the tendency to explode when quickly grilled. (I have never seen this happen, and could only find a warning about oysters shattering. Creative license, I suppose.)
Mikochi decides to enter a fashion contest, and almost backs out when she learns her favorite designer is also entering. The mystery designer doesn’t appear in person but does send an outfit for the competition. We get to watch Mikochi dress up Hakumei in multiple outfits, but that isn’t the only fashion escape for this volume. Hakumei gets her hair chopped short once again and we learn Jada has a not-so-secret admirer, who is an actor to boot! Jada is a real mystery. Despite her constantly stoned-as-hell expression she is surprisingly prickly and tries to hide from him to little avail. (Personally, I think he’s adorable and she should go on a date with him.)
Jada wasn’t the only other person having a rough time this volume. The badger brother and sister have words once again, and the poor librarian gets run through his paces with some tough customers. Sen also has to deal with a drunk Conju over at Honey Manor. Closing this volume out is a renovation project which has Hakumei enlisting Iwashi’s help with making an outdoor kitchen, which turns into a larger undertaking then Hakumei thought it would be.
There’s an author’s afterword comic where he talks about the anime adaptation and a couple of pages of translation notes for extras.
In Summary
This volume makes for excellent summer reading with the clambake and swimming chapters, and it’s always nice to see the girls making progress with their careers and hobbies. I’m still fascinated by the culture of their mixed-species society, and I’m very curious as to why the only bird we’ve seen talk is a penguin. I love the escapades of the expanded cast and the general feeling that not everything revolves around the girls. Hakumei & Mikochi continues to remain delightful.
Content Grade: A –
Art Grade: A +
Packaging Grade: A –
Text/Translation Grade: B +
Age Rating: Teen
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: June 18, 2019
MSRP: $15.00 US /$19.50 CAN
