Smut, smut, and awaaay! Asumi’s sexual journey has come at a literal price, so while she’s in the pink, her wallet is less so. Luckily Nanao, her kouhai, needs a live-in maid for a bit, but proximity to Asumi means bumping up against her… lifestyle….
Well, after her really charming platonic outing with Asumi last volume, Nanao ends up falling down the rabbit hole and that took a real turn that I wasn’t unhappy to see. Nanao and Asumi are such a fun pairing that it really makes this volume sing amidst all the moaning.
I had just sort-of assumed Nanao was a one-off character, or at least a minor background presence, but she is all over this volume as Asumi takes on a role as her maid, which amusingly doesn’t go anywhere you’re immediately thinking it does, and the two begin cohabitating.
Nanao’s flustering goes into overdrive and she’s clearly crushing very hard on Asumi, who doesn’t notice a thing. It’s utterly adorable and the way Asumi’s sexual liberation is paving the way for Nanao’s is just a perfect development. Inasmuch as this story can have cliffhangers, the one we end on here is a belter (if Nanao ends up with Mai, I might die laughing).
If Asumi ever seemed innocent, she’s nothing on the slightly privileged Nanao, who can’t quite figure out what her crush is up to, but is determined to find out while also entertaining every sort of wrong alternative scenario. And maybe getting incredibly fidgety at the same time (Nanao’s panties get some great laughs this volume).
In fact, even though Mai is still likely the destination - the synopsis pretty much indicates it - I wouldn’t be sad to see Nanao and Asumi get together. I mean in the long term; I have a hunch they’ll manage at least one close encounter before series’ end.
Oh, right, there’s also a lot of sex. Credit, as always, to the mangaka, who manages to keep things both hot and varied as Asumi continues her journey. Not all encounters are created equal, but these are decent.
The lube story is probably my least favourite, honestly, as Asumi’s partner is a little pushier than I tend to like, but it’s not terrible. There’s another one about pacifiers that’s okay too, which isn’t going where you might think either.
The showstopper this time out is the swimsuit/pool story, which is almost the equal of the threesome story from last volume. And mostly revolves around its participants staying (partly) clothed, proving that you don’t have to take your clothes off to have a good time. Until later, anyway.
I wouldn’t call this a gentle story, per se, but man this is better than it has any right to be. An author who knows what they’re doing makes all the difference and, yes, this might be pandering but it’s trying to pander and doing a mighty fine job. This story makes sex seem natural and joyous in a way many manga do not.
4 stars - all that Nanao stuff is absolutely top shelf and so much fun. Not all the sex is amazing, but some is, and I think 4 stars is a good compromise there. Not for the prudish, but a hell of a good time if you’re here for it.