Sakura, Saku, Vol. 3

サクラ、サク。 [Sakura, Saku.] #3

by Io Sakisaka

A mysterious boy comes to Saku Fujigaya’s rescue when she falls ill on a train, but he leaves before she can thank him. After this experience, Saku never ignores strangers in need of help to emulate the boy who helped her.

Now that Saku realizes she’s in love with Haruki, she finds her heart racing for a new reason every day—until Haruki and Kotono start pretending to be a couple to protect Kotono from her ex-boyfriend. Then the blunt-speaking Iryu gets involved in Saku’s life, causing even more trouble!

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

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 25, 2022

About the author

Io Sakisaka (咲坂伊緒) is a Japanese manga artist. She also designed the characters for the anime movie HAL. Her works are:

-Call My Name (2001)
-Watashi no Koibito (2002)
-Bye-Bye, Little (2002)
-Blue (2006)
-Mascara Blues (2007)
-Strobe Edge (2007)
-Ao Haru Ride (2011)
-Sono Omokage o Shitteru (2013) (oneshot)
-Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare (2015)
-Otome no Itari (2020) (oneshot)
-Sakura, Saku (2021)

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eeeehh...this one isn't BAD per say, it just...felt a little lackluster to me? And the love-shape between the four characters and this other guy who MIGHT become a point on the weird love-shape going on is just...a bit much for me.

The drama was a bit...too much? The jerk ex won't take no for an answer, so the poor girl being basically stalked is fake dating the guy her BFF likes, but she doesn't know her BFF likes him and then the stalked girl seems to end up catching feelings for the guy who is helping her out, but really only has eyes for her BFF...it's just a hot mess. Not really sure what they could have done about the stalker guy, but uhh, maybe get the adults involved?

The one thing I REALLY don't like in a lot of MG and YA books is that the adults are usually INVISIBLE. Where are the parents? The teachers? ANY adult these kids can go to and say, "Hey, I'm being stalked, can you help me?"

Nope, guess they are all on their lunch/smoke breaks?

3, I will give this one more volume but the bloom is coming off of the rose for me on this one, stars.

[Miss Akacia . · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOFF EL SALSEO Y EL DRAMA

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that Kotono’s free of her ex, everything should be fine. Except he’s got some ideas about that and breaking him of them might require the application of one of the dumbest tropes in manga. And with Saku caught in the middle, honesty might be the best policy, but it doesn’t necessarily prevent you from getting hurt.

Lately I have been worried my appreciation of the genre is on the wane, but it turns out it just needs to be done well. Here comes a story about fake dating to save the day.

Cough.

Fake dating. This is probably the biggest, greatest, most annoying trope in all of shojo for me. While Io Sakisaka is not going to suddenly change my mind on it, she knows how to use it to twist the knife in inimitable fashion.

A single adjustment to the normal usage (guy and girl fake date and then love happens) and this turns into all the heightened drama you want (and expect) from this mangaka. Here, it’s not our lead girl, Saku, who’s fake dating the dear boy of her dreams. No, that’s entirely too obvious.

Instead, her best friend Kitono, recently split from her super creepy boyfriend, is “dating” Haruki to try and get her ex to take a hint. It’s not the worst plan, but boy does it ever sit well with pretty much nobody but Kitono, whose own motivations remain somewhat shrouded for lots of this volume.

This is, in a word, delicious. I feel that somebody must have done this before, but talk about putting life into one of the most boring genre staples. Poor Saku is stuck supporting her friend while it’s making her absolutely miserable. That’s dang clever.

And when Saku and Haruki get together after missing one another for a bit, the chemistry between them is palpable. You can tell just how much they want to be together and how they dislike this stumbling block that should have a time limit, except Kitono is really set on extending it.

Plus, Iryu, the guy who inserted himself in the narrative at the picnic, keeps tossing out his blunt assessments of the situation and how Saku’s acting. He’s working with half the knowledge and being a judgemental dink, but parts of what he says aren’t wrong either.

Iryu is the type who thinks the truth is best, no matter the cost, and Saku is not inclined to be honest when it hurts her friends. She bottles her feelings to make sure Kitono is safe and secure. Her take isn’t wrong, but Iryu has a point too. So far he seems to be in the story to make Saku feel bad, but I’ll allow it.

Naturally, this all explodes in spectacular fashion and, in another brutally telling swipe at the way of romance manga, Saku decides that she needs to clear the air and be honest with her friend. Which immediately precedes things becoming worse for her.

It’s an examination of the difference between love and friendship, wrapped up in the problems that erupt when the two are suddenly in conflict with one another. Sure, we’ve seen this before in some fashion, even by this author, but not quite like this and rarely this well.

This is really, really fun in the way of Sakisaka’s best work. Saku’s a super likeable lead character and Haruki makes a solid match, even if he feels a bit less developed. Thus far I think it’s doing more for me than Love Me, Love Me Not did. The plot is different and it feels fresher.

5 stars - heck with it; this is the best thing I’ve read from Io Sakisaka in ages and I hope it is a sign of further complications to come.

[Lucille · Rating 3 out of 5]

J’ai beaucoup aimé les deux premiers tomes mais je trouve que l’idée de départ est vite oubliée pour re tomber dans une romance lycéenne plutôt habituelle. C’est toujours mignon et sympa cependant

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tío no… paso… CÓMO ME HACES ESTO ES WUE TODO MAL, YA VALE NO? DEJAD DE PONERME ESE CLICHÉ PORQUE MATO A ALGUIEN

[dora♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i fucking knew it🧍🏼‍♀️

[emma ⁠☆｡⁠*⁠♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my FAVOURITE series!!!! every panel is so pretty and the relationships between the characters are all so important to me!!!! they communicate very well and it's all very well written and every second page I'm losing it over something new. I love this series so much. io sakisaka love of my life.

okay so my guess is that the next volume is going to have saku assume kotono is into Haruki and there'll be a bit of drama over that only!!!! for it to be revealed that kotono actually likes saku. that feels so real and true to me. the hand holding at the start??? the way kotono has always had more of an affinity for saku (as opposed to Haruki)???? I'm never going to shut up about this if I'm right. please let kotono be sapphic <33333333

I think mitoshi might like kotono as well but I'm less confident about that.

[Ailbhe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am just in love with this series, by volume 3 I’m absolutely hooked!

When kotonos ex is giving her trouble our lead haruki decided to say they’re dating to get him to leave her alone this has a major knock on effect as saku stats to realise her feelings for him. And if that drama isn’t enough kotono starts to get feelings for haruki too!

With funny moments and no end to drama I am loving this series and can’t wait for more volumes to come out!


Thanks to NetGalley, viz media and shojobeat for the arc

[Eri &#x1f338; · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ⭐️

Still super cute and I love the moments between Haruki and Saku! The moment he came to see her after work to talk was so 🙈🙈🙈

I’m so sad it looks like the besties are both going to like Haruki tho. They’re so cute and wholesome and I hate to see girlies fighting. I hope it doesn’t result in backstabbing in the future.

I do wish Saku would be a bit more honest about her feelings tho. This is why all the misunderstandings are gonna spiral (but I’m so sat).

Wonder what role Iryu is gonna play (giving me 2nd lead vibes rn) in the future.

Cute I will be reading the next one :)

[oce⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

JVAIS PETER MON CRANEEEEEE COMMENT CA KOTONO EST AMOUREUSE D'HARUKI ???? NONNNNNNN SACRILEGE✋🏻
le putain de triangle amoureux ????? on en parle ???? stop jvais mourir c trop

pfffff saku et haruki c mes chouchous pq elle vient se mettre dedans l'autre😓😓😓😓
avec leur câlin si chou on peut pas rester insensible✋🏻

[elif sinem · Rating 1 out of 5]

sauceless NORMAL PEOPLE introduced a love triangle with a reason so mindnumbingly god awful I really wish saku had hit her head there for a concussion to bring us some actual drama. will sakisaka realize you can be a good person and still do shitty things or will we keep being this toothless about everything?

[Lesaffairesdelouise · Rating 3 out of 5]

J’ai gloussé FORT !
Bon j’aime pas du tout Iryu. Kotono j’espere que tu vas pas me saouler en fait, je t’aime bien moi 🥲
Et puis bah Saku et Haruki, changez rien les cuties 🥹

[Alizée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plein de rebondissement. Saku et sakura me font chier quand vont t'ils déclarer leur putain de flammes ! Mais à parts ça le manga est trop bien !

[Loue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kotono 🗑️

[Rebecca Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Martina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Troppi viaggi mentali inutili con i soliti fraintendimenti proposti dall'autrice in ogni sua opera che si ripetono ancora e ancora e ancora...

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic volume! No spoilers here but there was so much that happened in this volume. I love that we really got to see a lot of the other characters. I can't wait to read the next volume!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG OMG JE LES VEUX ENSEMBLE OMG

[Marika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quattro stelle sulla fiducia. I fraintendimenti che ci sono in questo volume sono un po' troppo inverosimili.
Haruki è stupido, altrimenti non si spiega.
Staremo a vedere col prossimo volume.

[Hisgirl85 · Rating 4 out of 5]

High 4 stars. Ahhhh...so good

[Tachan · Rating 3 out of 5]

J’ai toujours beaucoup aimé les romances lycéennes écrites par Io Sakisaka et ce dès les premiers tomes, mais force m’est de constater que ce n’est pas pareil ici. Il y a quelque chose qui me dérange dans cette série et m’empêcher de pleinement l’apprécier comme les autres.

C’est loin d’être un ratage, je ne dis pas ça, mais je trouve jusqu’à présent le titre moins lumineux et entraînant que ceux que j’ai pu lire précédemment et le focus sur Kotono dans ce tome n’arrange rien. Je n’accroche pas du tout à l’écriture de ce personnage. Je comprends les intentions de l’autrice et ça me plaît qu’on dénonce une certaine forme de masculinité toxique à travers son ex- et qu’on montre comment une fille peut s’en sortir, mais Kotono est un peu le prototype d’amie pas si amie que ça avec l’héroïne que je n’aime pas. Je la trouve fausse, hypocrite, se servant de Saku par moment, et ça me déplaît fortement. Du coup, ça plombe ma lecture alors que jusqu’à présent, dans les titres d’Io Sakisaka, c’était l’amitié entre les protagonistes qui souvent sauvait tout quand les situations se compliquaient.

Heureusement, nous assistons aussi à la naissance d’un autre personnage dans ce tome, l’étrange Iryu et là, je sens que je vais l’adorer. Garçon qui n’a pas la langue dans sa poche et est d’une effroyable honnêteté, celui-ci met régulièrement les pieds dans le plat, pensant aider nos héros, mais les mettant un peu mal à l’aise dans cette quête. Je trouve le personnage très frais et contrebalançant à merveille l’hypocrite Kotono. Là où elle est plein de manière, lui est très frais et simple. Il va ainsi venir titiller Haruki, sans s’en rendre compte, qui ne va pas apprécier de devoir partager l’attention de Saku avec ce nouveau venu. Carré amoureux, nous voilà !

Même si j’ai aimé par le passé les complications amoureuses de l’autrice, je dois avouer être moins séduite cette fois. Si je trouve Saku attendrissante dans ce premier amour qu’elle s’empêche d’exprimer par peur de faire du mal à son amie, je trouve qu’ils se prennent vraiment la tête pour pas grand-chose et que l’autrice exagère. Haruki est peut-être plus juste au final, n’arrivant pas encore à mettre les mots sur ce qu’il ressent pour Saku et se retrouvant pris dans un imbroglio à cause de sa trop grande gentillesse. C’est vraiment Kotono qui induit au final une dynamique et une ambiance que je n’aime pas. Sans celle, ce serait bien plus serein et lumineux, car vraiment les petits moments où Saku et Haruki sont ensemble, se cherchent, se parlent, vont l’un vers l’autre, sont adorables. On ressent toute leur pureté et leur bonté naturelle à chacun, ce qui est rafraîchissant.

Moins séduite que d’habitude avec l’autrice, je reste néanmoins sur le qui-vive de ce qui va se passer ensuite, notamment grâce à l’arrivée d’Iryu, ce personnage un peu anti-conformiste qui apporte l’honnêteté et la fraîcheur qu’il manque à cause du personnage de Kotono, qui plombe la série à mes yeux. Je retrouverai cependant avec plaisir Haruki et Saku qui semblent entrer dans une jolie phase de jalousie dans le prochain tome à la fin de l’année 😉

Avis complet : https://lesblablasdetachan.wordpress....

[Chiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

COMMENTO PERSONALE: Mi sono avvicinata a quest’opera in quanto ho capito che ha diviso letteralmente i suoi lettori: chi dice che è adorabile e poi peggiora, quelli che non la consigliano affatto e quelli che ne sono indifferenti in quanto non si tratta del loro genere. Per adesso, giunta al terzo volume ammetto che continui a coinvolgermi e che ci siano degli sviluppi inaspettati. Per me Saku sbaglia quando decide di non rivelare i suoi veri sentimenti alla sua migliore amica che vede coinvolto in primo piano proprio Haruki, che essendo gentile non poteva sicuramente rifiutare la sfida lanciata dall’ex della migliore amica di Saku. Lei invece si avvicina inconsapevolmente a una persona che viene detestata da Haruki che non si spiega affatto il comportamento strano di Saku. In quanto nuovo finto ragazzo di Kotono ci sono degli atteggiamenti che deve assolutamente evitare ma tra lui e Saku la comunicazione e l’imbarazzo avvengono meglio quando riescono a confrontarsi di persona. Infatti una sera, dopo il part time di Saku Haruki la aspetta e cercano di stare un attimo soli. Si riesce a percepire la chimica e l’elettricità nell’aria tra questi due e… con molta probabilità le cose però dovranno cambiare perché cosa potrebbe succedere se la nostra protagonista e la sua migliore amica si innamorassero dello stesso ragazzo? Non vedo l’ora di andare avanti.

Ed eccoci giunti anche stavolta al termine di una nuova avventura. Voi come avete iniziato questo mese? Per una volta riesco a essere al passo tra letture e recensioni quindi con molta probabilità leggerò meno. Alla prossima.

 

 

Kicca

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saku and her friends try to help protect Kotono from an ex-boyfriend who doesn’t take no for an answer. To help get the message across Haruki pretends to be Kotono’s new boyfriend, which means Saku can’t talk to Haruki as much as before. Saku is also looking for a job, but the one that looks appealing is where Iryu and Ryosuke work and she’s afraid they wouldn’t want her there.

Saku is slowly learning to not be quite as concerned about what others think and standing up for herself, but it is a path with a lot of bumps. I hope she stands up for herself more in the next volume. Japanese society as it is portrayed in this series is extremely strict about who you can talk to if you are supposed to be dating someone. I can’t believe Saku feels like she can’t even be seen talking to Haruki if he’s dating someone else. Seems a bit possessive and unhealthy to me, but I know cultures can vary a lot, this is just one portrayal, and this could be a high school version of it.

Notes on content:
Language: Maybe 1-3 minor swears (can’t remember for sure)
Sexual content: None. There is a former boyfriend who doesn’t take no for an answer, but the girl’s friends surround and protect her from him.
Violence: None
Ethnic diversity: All are Japanese
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Possible love triangle(s) forming

[Hilary Fudge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every time I read another one of the books in this series I have to go back and skim the others because I can never remember what this series is about. Once I start reading it, it slowly comes back to me, but also in a confusing kind of way. There are so many details that I forget, and even at some points the main point of the first book. Which to be honest, I don't even know if that is a factor in the story anymore. There are a lot of similarities between the 2 main characters in this story and Kou & Futaba from Ao Haru Ride, but there are some differences too. There is even a scene drawn very similarly when they look into each others eyes - which I think is one of the more iconic scenes from Ao Haru Ride. It was like a cute homage to herself. I can remember that story better than this one and I read it years ago, I'm not sure why this story isn't sticking with me like some of her others. We still have some problems with friends and miscommunications - hopefully these start to become less of an issue as the story goes on.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an advance e-copy of #SakuraSakuVol3 by Io Sakisaka to read and review.

[Alejandra Bran (Blue Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you must know, Io Sakisaka is one favorite shojo Mangakas. Her art is beautiful. Her stories usually pull up my heartstrings and give me stomach butterflies. I love how she is able to draw those moments where you can see the emotions and energy that is happening between the characters, even if they’re not saying anything and they’re just staring at each other and this is not the exception.

From all her MMC Haruki is by far my favorite… (I’m sorry Kou 🥹) he is honest, kind and always taking the first step whenever approaching Saku. I loooove the way he ALWAYS looks for her. He is a walking green flag I swear!

Saku in the other hand, like her but I hate when she can communicate effectively but I get it is not like I could at her age either lol.

Please publish the volumes FASTER!

[Brit · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite volume thus far, because of the lowkey drama. Fake dating, to catching real feelings possibly. If that’s the case, friends having feelings for the same guy. Along with some jealousy with some miscommunication sprinkled in.

I’m already obsessed with the art style of this mangaka, so I always try to pick up her series when they come out.

But it’s even better when I get more interested in the story and the progression of these character’s relationships in addition to the art.

I’m curious how this story will go moving forward. Will everyone continue to get on, despite the trouble they have gotten themselves into? I’m intrigued.

[The Book Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saku feels awful about not coming clean about Kotono's ex cheating on her. And Iryu's comments aren't helping. But the ex isn't done, so somehow Kotono and Sakura are fake dating to get him off her case. But that means Saku can't talk to Sakura like she wants to because she wants to do what's best for her friend and...

There's something to be said about shojo problems because most of the time, they're stupid. Like jumping to conclusion or miscommunications. But this one is dancing all over the coincidences and eavesdropping, and it makes sense narratively. I love when the characters make sense and aren't stupid just to make plot happen.

This series has 9 volumes.

[Fallon · Rating 3 out of 5]

New characters and Saku's first doubts. We're picking up speed.
With Iryu, we now have a character who really shakes Saku's view of herself and where Haruki helps her see things more clearly again. I think that's really nice because you can see how important the two are to each other and there are some really great moments. The first conflict is slowly forming, and I'm curious to see how Kotono will deal with it, or Saku, and I feel sorry for Mitoshi, but okay. Now it's getting complicated and exciting. What I find unfortunate is that her search for the person is taking a back seat; I still want Saku to meet him. But this volume was really great and promises even more in volume 4.

[Shamsah Noor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leaving this series at volume three. It's the same pattern as in Blue Spring Ride. FMC makes a new best friend and falls for a guy. Then the FMC's best friend falls for the same guy, only later, even though she could see the MMC's eyes following the FMC. I would rather read about the main character's budding friendship or a NORMAL FRIENDSHIP with the best friend. The chemistry and banter between the main characters would have been so much better if it existed instead of this whole drama, the same stunt the author pulled in Blue Spring Ride. No hate, though its just that unnecessary drama is not my cup of tea right now.

[TheReadingAngel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Volume 3 of Sakura, Saku continues right where we left off. Saku is trying to be a good friend to Kotono, but is also trying to be true to herself. Will her goody two-shoe-ness be rewarded on the end? Or will she forever remain a side character?

Nooooooooooo~ why was it so short :(((((
I hated and loved the plot all at the same time. Like I understand we need drama but pleaseeeee no more drama.

Again, ever since Ap Haru Ride I have been an avid stan of Io Sakisaka. I will devour every book they release from now until the end of time. (Except Strobe edge lol)