By Kaoru Tada. Released in Japan by Shueisha, serialized in the magazine Bessatsu Margaret (“Betsuma”). Released in North America by Digital Manga Publishing.
Wow, there’s a lot going on in this volume. No, Kotoko doesn’t suddenly grow up and get mature, nor does Naoki come out with an amazing love confession. But in their own way, they inch forward, and this volume has more moments that I really enjoyed reading, both romantic and dramatic. Tada-san has also shown herself to be very good at tension-building cliffhangers, including one right at the end of the book.
The main thrust of this volume, even though it doesn’t technically start until almost halfway through, is Naoki’s father having a heart attack. Naoki has been keeping his transfer to the medical school from his father, mostly as he knows there will be a giant argument once it’s discovered, and sure enough, he’s right. The heart attack is a surprise though, and is played very seriously. It also gives us Kotoko’s best moment in the manga, as unlike Naoki’s hysterical mother, she stays level-headed in the crisis, calling the ambulance right away and going to the hospital with food and supplies. Naoki even gives her one of his rare smiles – and praises her!
Unfortunately, life is getting in the way of Naoki’s dream. With his father recovering, someone needs to run the toy company – and Naoki seems to be the only one who can, given the company is not doing very well. His leave of absence from school is rather sad, but not played for melodrama (except maybe by Kotoko) – it’s just life throwing grenades into your path, that’s all. Speaking of life, Kotoko is starting to finally realize that she’s a flake – she talks with Naoki about her future dreams, and sadly notes they’re all ‘I’m helping Naoki in whatever profession he’s in’ rather than any dreams for herself. Naoki manages to cut her down *and* give her some support – which is becoming his specialty.
On the romance front, Matsumoto finally makes her move here, confessing her feelings to Naoki. He’s slightly nicer about rejecting her than he would be with anyone else (including Kotoko), but it’s still a definitive rejection – complete with Naoki noting he’s kissed Kotoko before. Kotoko, of course, is listening in to all of this, but still doesn’t get much relief. Especially as we’re then introduced to Sahoko, the daughter of a colleague of Naoki’s father who gets set up with him for an omiai. She is, essentially, the perfect Japanese woman, a type we’ve been missing here with all the sporty girls and ditzes. She also likes Naoki, and appears to be the perfect match for him. Naoki being Naoki, he accepts their meetings somewhat straight-faced, but doesn’t really show his feelings outwardly.
Kotoko, meanwhile, takes this badly, as you might expect. So badly that she’s even willing to go out on dates with Kin-chan. It’s pretty clear that her mind is elsewhere, however, and there’s no suggestion she sees him as anything but a friend. However, we’re moving to a crisis point. The relationship between Naoki and Sahoko is going so well that Kotoko’s family is moving out of the Irie home. And what’s more, Kin-chan is doing the same thing that Matsumoto did earlier this volume, confessing his feelings in order to make them transparent even to her. He goes one step father, though, actually proposing. I actually regard this as sort of desperate, given how he knows that she’s still broken up over Naoki’s actions. But then, desperation os Kin-chan’s character. Hopefully Kotoko won’t overreact.
Still very happy DMP is bringing out this series, though some of the translation can read awkwardly. “I have kissed… with Kotoko.” being the main culprit that leaps out at me. Naoki continues to bottle everything up and show his true feelings only rarely. And that’s just not working anymore. Given Kin-chan’s proposal, something has to give soon. Will Vol. 6 be the one where we finally get the long-awaited confession? Hopefully we’ll find out soon…
