Marin has a surprise in store for Gojo, but she’s in for a shock of her own when it turns out her lifestyle as a young girl might not be compatible with her life as a model. Then another cosplay event is on the go and Marin’s on the other side of the camera while Gojo isn’t good with names.
If you were following this for burgeoning romance, this will not be your volume. If you were after it for ample fanservice, same. But if you love the utterly wonderful friendship between Marin and Gojo just as it is, welcome to heaven.
Of course, we know these two are crazy for one another - the volume starts off with Marin gushing over Gojo so hard I honestly thought I missed the volume where they became a couple. Marin remains such a stand-out character in this series. Her attitude is like pure sunshine.
Then we get the dreaded weight gain storyline, but it’s mostly played for laughs after the initial shock and, to be fair, it’s coming from her modelling management so if anybody is going to give somebody stick over weight, it’s probably them.
I don’t blame anybody who’s over and done with these storylines, but I do like how it’s handled. Marin shames herself by, essentially, cleverly allowing the mangaka to stuff in some additional fanservice where she tries on her costumes to see what fits.
What really works is that none of her friends notice, or care, and when she thinks Gojo is going to be upset that nothing fits her again… he offers to let the old costumes out. There’s just no shame besides her professional obligations, so that’s as good as that can be done, I think.
One of the best chapters comes when Marin decides to get new socks (even I have to admit I love that style, dang it), along with a new camera. Naturally Gojo takes a turn with it and the way the story is framed as her talking over a series of photographs he’s taking is the perfect bit of low-key stunning. It’s a lovely bit of creativity.
The cosplay convention has Gojo moving on to making swords and props, which lets another aspect of cosplay get explained, and he meets up with Akira, who thinks he’s a girl. And who he thinks is a guy. It’s not the most exciting set-up, plus you can tell exactly where it’s going early on.
But, you know, it does get interesting. Akira clearly has some odd beef with Marin we’ve yet to explore and the after party promises a big old group cosplay shoot next time and brings back some old favourites for another round. There are a lot of really awesome characters in this series and having them come back is never a bad thing. I cannot wait to learn more about that murder mystery game…
Between the characters and the stellar artwork you’d already be near perfect, but throw in the way it cleverly adds in just enough technical detail as it goes (a rare talent) and its general theme of acceptance and you have a winner in every respect. And you even learn the hilarious truth behind why Gojo has no parents…
5 stars - I mean, knock it down a bit if you’re not here for the weight stuff, or want this to be more romantic. This is absolutely high grade comfort food and I think it nails the characters especially well and makes even spending time with them goofing around a pleasant proposition worthy of praise.