High School Debut, Volume 9

高校デビュー [Kōkō Debut] #9

by Kazune Kawahara

R to L (Japanese Style)

Back in junior high, Haruna Nagashima was only interested in two things: softball and manga. Now that she's starting high school, Haruna's focus has changed--she wants to snag a boyfriend and have the romance of her dreams!

The school sports meet is coming up, so everyone's gearing up for some fierce competition! Even affairs of the heart become a competitive event when Yoh suspects his friend Asaoka may truly have feelings for Haruna...

Genres: Manga, Romance, Shojo, Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Comics, Manga Romance

184 pages

First published July 25, 2007

About the author

• Birth Date: March 11th, 1972
• Blood Type: A
• Zodiac: Pisces

Kazune Kawahara (河原和音) made her manga debut at age 18 with Kare no Ichiban Sukina Hito (His Most Favorite Person). Also, while thinking of her manga, she often spaces out and brings grocery baskets home. Adores her nieces.

Reviews

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels SO good to be enjoying this story again! I'm really having fun reading and absolutely LOVEDDDDDDD our main couple in this volume! They are so stinking adorable together and seeing their relationship deepen has been so fulfilling to see as a reader. Haruna has come a long way in that she might have the occasional insecurity, but she is confident in knowing that Yoh loves her.

And speaking of Yoh, I feel like a proud parent! LOL! He has grown so much in this volume! He's stepped out of his comfort zone and done some brave things. He might have not wanted to step out, but I love how he doesn't want to let his classmates down. He also looked SUPER cool in his uniform!

I am not sure what to say about Asaoka without going into possible spoilers, but despite this interesting development, I still like his character a lot. I think he really is Yoh's best friend and that even if he has feelings for Haruna, he will still honor Yoh. Just he has to give Yoh the hardest time possible in doing so! LOL!

Overall, I deeply enjoyed this volume! Our main couple is just amazing! *happy sigh*

[Dev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone is busy preparing for the sport's festival. Yoh has become the unwilling school captain. But Haruna is proud of him and amazed by his commitment to becoming a good captain. She is unaware of a certain male having feelings for her, but Yoh is all to aware.
This turn in the series shows the development of their relationship. It will be interesting to see what happens when Haruna find out who likes her and how Yoh is trying to deal with this issue.

[Jillian -always aspiring- · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread in 2019

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

And so the Sports Festival Arc begins, and I am not sure if I am liking it. I was liking it up to the point that Asaoka suddenly, magically started to like Haruna again and started creating a fuzz. Really, I HATE it when this happens. Plus I think it is just highly disrespectful towards your best friend. You had so many times to be honest about your feelings (way before they go together), but now that they are happy, suddenly you want Haruna too? Oh Lord. *rolls eyes* I definitely don't get why this needs to be added. Why can't our main couple be happy without this kind of crap happening left and right.
Thankfully there are also cute parts, like Haruna being very supportive and sweet towards Yoh (she is really growing up it seems), or Yoh getting stronger and better (even though he still wants to run away :P), I was also applauding for Yoh for trying to set boundaries with Asaoka, too bad it didn't help. I guess I can see this friendship end soon.
Well I need to buy the rest of the volumes soon. Probably next month.

[Leila ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Los sport festivals siempre se me hacen re aburridos y pesados, and even though this one wasn't necessarily an exception...

...it could've been worse.

3.5 de 5 estrellas.

[ʚ amelia ɞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5/5 ⭐️

[Evieee · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s such a guilty pleasure. It’s all my teen girl fantasies wrapped up into a couple hundred pages. This was the first manga I ever read and it never gets old. It never fails to make me blush or at times turn away from the pages from
Overwhelming emotions! Now that I’m older, there are a few things I side eye. I hate Asami. Asaoka, though charming, is just not a good friend. Yoh needs to get over so many issues. Also the storylines constant hammering of how Yoh is too good for Haruna. But Haruna… I see so much of myself in her. And so, I find the manga inspiring. To always be myself, no matter how strong and forthcoming I may come across. To be passionate, and I will always find people who will appreciate that fiery side of me. I love it!

[yoonmin03 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the review on vol 7-9 because I read them all at once in a 3-in-1 book. These volumes were a good addition to this series. They were not as juice as the first few vols but that is to be expected because it is just development of their relationship. With this being said it was still very good and I appreciate that their relationship is not toxic. Also, there is kind of a cliff hanger at the end of vol 9.

[Arunima]

reread: prep for sports festival volume. yoh and haruna switching their roles because they thought the other person would prefer the other role and they want to do it together>>
I think i like the small gestures of love and affection in these kinda like yuki breaking the chalk for machi- it's loud for one person but unnoticeable to others. It's so personal. Sorry for these shitty reviews also i am sick woohoo ugh

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, I love the antics of sports days in manga. Always so intense for some reason, and then you get out of high school and they become memories. Reminds me of pep rallies lol. But Haruna’s dedication is so cute and Yoh is going outside of his comfort zone! They both really push each other in great ways. And of course there always has to be a little bit of drama to make it all interesting.

[nibha ⋆˚꩜｡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

NOPE NOPE NUH-UH ASAOKA KYS, doing that to a best friend and saying those things is just weird man.

yoh's rooting scene was so attractive i'm ngl. haruna and yoh are perfect as always, yoh's char devt is honestly so shocking, they're so much more comfortable around each other and the pacing of their relationship is perfect.

[Flan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting volume for sure! Preparations for the Sports Festival were in tow and we saw some development of our side characters...interesting development yes, I mean Asaoka. How very innnnnnnteresting...

[Zian B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally didn’t think Asaoka was serious but I’m really curious now; I want to know where his emotions are coming from all of a sudden, or if he was just hiding it all along. I think he’s a bad friend to Yoh but I feel like this is a lovely plot twist/form of conflict for the overall series.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really like this one that much.

[✨Sky✨ ♏ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars

[Lea]

At this point I am just reading these so I can finish the series.

[Isel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of expected it but... Not really.
He's just really... Forgettable so I didn't think of him but I figured someone close to Yoh 🤷‍♀️

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asaoka’s always pushing Yoh’s buttons. But I really do like him though... And I don’t want any friendships ruined by this!!!!

[Raghad Marwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really admire Yoh's drive to give his all to his commitments, even if he doesn't want to do them.

Also...Asaoka, what on earth are you doing bro? This won't end well for anyone.

[Mango · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am writing about the overall series. I finsihed reading the entire series on January 7, 2011.

The overal series was pretty great. I gave it a 4 star rating. Let's talk about some things now.

I. Love. Yoh. I just love him. He is so adorable! Andd I hate that I have to say that. But I can't help myself, he is SO ADORABLE! ANd cool, and awesome, and hot(lol) and all those other wors to descibe him. I love his personality and I love how he is easily embarrassed. He is just so ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!!! I want him. And for all of you who think this is creepy(which it kinda is), I tend to fall for awesome fictional male characters. I LOVE YOH. And you would too if you ever read the manga.

Haruna. In the beginning of the manga I thought she was realy, really stupid. REALLY STUPID. And then later on I thought she was realy, really annoying and too much of a perfectionist. In the end, I ended up liking her. Maybe not in the ending because I didn't know my feelings for her in the end. She kinda made me have this weird angry-nice-weird-awkward vibe towards her. Her character is really thought out though. But overall, she's all right.

In the beginning of the book, I thought the whole concept was really kinda dumb. I mean, a love coach. That's just kinda ridiculous and desperate, which Haruna was, but pathetic. Though that whole concept fades later n, it was just really ridiculous. Ri-dic-u-lous. Ridiculous.

THere are many parts that made me laugh or gag when I was reading this manga. Let's look back in my brain and take a moment to laugh at them. HAHAHAHHA! LOL! LAWLS! OMG! OMG! HUH... FUNNY! AHHHAHAHHA LMAO!AHHAHAHH!hhohohohohohoho! omg! HILARIOUS.... Sigh... Huh... Funny.

Overall, the series was really great and funny and entertaining and sweet and sad and I recommend it to everyone I know and don't know. Though, the guys out there might now like it.

P.S. I really hate Assa.
I like Fumi.
I love Asaoka. ♥♥♥

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm, I liked this one better than some of the recent volumes, but it was still a bit bleh to me. I think the main thing that turned me off was the whole sports meet plot. It might just be me though because I'm not into sports at all. I'm not gonna lie, I was definitely confused for a majority of the volume. I don't exactly get what's going on with the whole sports competition and all the team leaders or whatever, but it's cool. I'll just pretend like I understand. Either way it doesn't hinder how enjoyable this manga is.

The best part of this installment was the addition of some type of potential love triangle. Not that I wanted Asaoka to get with Haruna, but just because I liked seeing a jealous Yoh. I know Yoh likes Haruna, but sometimes he doesn't seem to show much passion towards her. Though I thought the whole 'rest your head in my lap' moment was cute! As for Asaoka, what the hell is his deal? Does he really like Haruna now or is he just messing around??? Dude's sending mixed signals left and right. If he was my friend, it would make me uncomfortable for him to act that way. It's not endearing, it's weird that he's hitting on her so easily and then acting like nothing's out of the ordinary. I just want to shake him and tell him to stop playing mind-games. At the conclusion, it seems like he really does like her, but part of me thinks it's an act. Gah..only time shall tell, I suppose.

As for the box-boy, I still have no idea what his name is or what his purpose is in the story. I kinda wish he was the third part in the love-triangle. At least box-boy is cute and isn't a bipolar weirdo.

[kuristina- tabreez · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the biennial school sports festival comes around, Yoh and Haruna are elected nominees to be Grade Captains! There are two Grade Captains for each grade, each one has one male and one female, when Yoh wins the election for his grade but Haruna doesn't, Yoh becomes too busy to even walk home with her! Asaoka sees this as an opening to become closer to Haruna, and Yoh notices something off about him... Now Asaoka and Yoh have challenged each other to outdo the other in all the sports in the festival! And the prize is Haruna! Which one will win? And which one will Haruna choose if she ever finds out?


This one really made me reminisce, eheheh. I've been in a situation with these same feelings before. It was difficult. I can't say I'm against Asaoka, but Yoh and Haruna really truly love each other and they're already dating anyway so... I'm rooting for Yoh! GO YOH, GO! RAAAH! Well. The tenth volume is already waiting for me at my library and I have to go there for a meeting in an hour or two anyway so... I'll be reading it soon! :3 Signing out!

[Estara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having just said in the review of the last volume, that the story could have perfectly ended there - I really love this volume, too. Not a weak bit in it.

It's the big school sports festival and Haruna, lover of sports, and Yoh participate on the same side. Both of them join the same special group for the White side, the cheering team (after a lovely bit of compromising for the sake of being together from Yoh's side). But Yoh gets chosen as White side cheering captain! And that leads to lot more extra time.

We and Haruna learn to appreciate that even though Yoh doesn't enjoy what he's been chosen to do, he really wants to do his best to not let his side down - and he deeply appreciates all the little ways Haruna has in supporting him.

Others see that support too, and one of them, Asaoka (you remember, the guy who successfully managed to make Yoh jealous, supposedly teasingly) decides he wants to rile the happy couple a bit - being envious? Just that?

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, this book is still funny as usual, but this is what I dont understand. I mean, I understand, but why would these characters do what they do. This is wat happened: Yoh and Asaoka both like/love Haruna. Which I dont understand why. Anyways, (Laughs) they make a stupid bet about if one of them wins more in an athletic meet or watever, that person gets to date Haruna. See wat I mean by stupid? Obviously, Yoh won. I dont understand why Asaoka would try to make a bet and try to date Haruna. What does he see in her? .................................... Actually, nevermind. He kinda has a point though. She's pretty, funny, and smart. But she is just too crazy! But, you have to admit, she is crazy in a very funny way. Anyways, I guess I better hurry and finish this series. I have got a WHOLE other series to finish.

[Tani · Rating 3 out of 5]

In which there is a special sports day at the school, and You gets chosen as the head of the cheerleaders, basically. Oh, and Asaoka has decided that he's in love with Haruna and creates some drama by threatening to confess his feelings.

I had a hard time getting into this one, and I'm not very interested in the sports day plot. I'm kind of disappointed that it will continue into the next volume. I continue to be amused by the antics that You and Haruna get up to, though.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yoh wins the spot of captain for his class year for the school sports festival. Some of the guys plan on ignoring Yoh. Haruna overhears their plans and tells them off. Yoh realizes Asaoka is serious about liking Haruna. Asaoka tells Yoh he's going to confess to Haruna if he places first at the sports festival.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that we see more of Yoh's feelings for Haruna in this volume. I like to see him have some insecurities, especially since Haruna was originally the one not sure of herself. This volume really leaves you with a cliffhanger. I'm so glad I already have the next one ready to read.

[Jenny Derochemont · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow so Asioka and Yoh are going to compete for Haruna. Even so I believe Haruna's heart belongs to You. All Asioka can do is reveal his feelings and confuse Haruna.

I'm glad to see that Asami has toned it down a bit. She's still a Bratislava but she'll learn one day.

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the school festival and Yoh has a lot to learn since he's a Captain. Also Yoh's friend is acting weird especially around Haruna. Is there a reason? So sweet how Haruna supports Yoh. Can't get enough of this manga series.