A Star Brighter than the Sun, Vol. 4

太陽よりも眩しい星 [Taiyō Yori mo Mabushii Hoshi] #4

by Kazune Kawahara

Sae vows to confess her feelings to Koki at the school festival but ends up spending more quality time with Ayukawa than the true object of her affections. Finally, she and Koki are alone together decorating an exhibit with glow-in-the-dark stars. But their art project goes awry, and then Sae spots Koki tenderly caring for another girl!

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

184 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2022

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

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, I am the person who finds the relationship between our two leads as interesting as boiled potatoes. I feel bad, there’s skill in the art and writing here, but I do not find Kamishiro interesting, not one jot.

Luckily, that boiled potato is surrounded by an amazing supporting cast. If I watch the anime, it will absolutely be because of the other characters and not the people we’re supposedly here for.

From Izawa completely striking out and then turning out to be an utter dope when it comes to pretty much anything, to Kagawa being a real force of organizational nature, it helps make this do much better than it would be. The two of them presenting the options for the school festival and the contrast of their personalities is hysterically funny.

Sui and Kagawa on their own are such a delight. They have all the best lines and Sui would be really easy to write in a less favourable light than she comes off. Here, she’s enjoying the springtime of her youth and it’s great.

Genuinely, Iwata and Ayukawa seem a lot better as a couple. They interact so much more and in ways that are believably chill. Yes, I know, it isn’t who Iwata likes and the casual nature is because she’s not thinking of it. My point remains.

Although, credit to the mangaka here - there are times when Ayukawa tries to get a little closer and he totally whiffs it. There are subtle hints that the bond just isn’t there, beyond what is narratively required.

It’s certainly more interesting than whatever vague hints or misinterpretations there are of Kamishiro’s relationship with his super-popular cousin. That’s another part that just doesn’t work for me. Her painting is more interesting than the regular shojo stuff and I wish there had been more of that.

I’m bluntly annoyed that Kamishiro and Iwata do not engage me as a couple. It portrays their awkward attempts to overcome their previous friendship and become something more, yet I cannot buy into it.

Iwata is fine. She is the perfect lead for this and her friendship with Sui and Kagawa is literally everything when it comes to my enjoyment of the series. Kamishiro does not seem to be anything but exactly what he is and thus does not interest me.

Is there enough here for me anyway? Absolutely. There have been many series where the side characters are more interesting to me, but this might be the most extreme example yet. Which is all to say that if you do love the two leads this is going to hit real hard for you and do enjoy it.

3.5 stars - I’m not sure I can round this up when I’m so divested from what should be the main reason to be reading it. Still, there’s so much good stuff besides the main plot that it’s an easy recommend and for some lucky people it will be flat-out amazing.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ship her with Ayukawa, not her childhood crush. It’s so annoying to read.

3, I think I’m tapping out here cuz my ship is gonna sink and I’m salty about it, stars.

[Hisgirl85 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4 stars. This is pretty cute, though slowly developing. I'm enjoying it.

[Jess | jadecanread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore this slowburn! It's cute, wholesome, and full of misunderstandings in a fun way haha.

Recap: Sports day, oh I should confess during the school festival, festival prep, ayukawa shows some interest and such, more prep, and then misunderstanding with his cousin.

I really don't understand the whole cousin issue WHY does she think the cousin is an issue??? xD

[marcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vol. 1 ★★★★☆
Vol. 2 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 3 ★★★☆☆

An eye-roll inducing volume. Iwata needs to get real: Kameshiro is not about to start dating his cousin any time soon! That cliffhanger is just stupid. Also, it's a shame that Iwata has more chemistry with Ayukawa than her actual crush.

[Luana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

Oh mamma, la faccenda si sta ingarbugliando. Il punto di partenza è sempre lo stesso: i nostri due geni del male sono innamorati l'uno dell'altra, ma entrambi sono convinti di non essere ricambiati. Qualche anima pia dovrebbe intervenire e fargli capire che in realtà è vero il contrario. Per di più, a complicare ulteriormente la situazione, c'è l'interesse crescente di Ayukawa per la nostra Sae - la ragazza non l'ha ancora capito, mentre Koki se ne è già accorto. Se già prima era difficile pensare di vederlo confessare i suoi sentimenti (dopotutto non si sente all'altezza della protagonista ed è convinto che lei sia infatuata già di un altro), adesso sembra addirittura impossibile. A questo punto forse è Sae quella che deve fare il primo passo e parlare in maniera diretta, senza farsi sopraffare dall'imbarazzo e dalle insicurezze. Vedremo se ce la farà alla fine del festival scolastico (ho perso il conto degli eventi organizzati in quella scuola, io non sarei durata un mese 🫠).

Comunque, Sae mi fa tanta tenerezza: è una ragazza che si fa in quattro per gli altri e che incassa sempre con un sorriso commenti che, nel migliore dei casi, sono fatti con noncuranza, ma spesso anche con malizia. Lei si è abituata, ma non alza mai la voce (quello lo fa Koki, che non permette a nessuno di alzare troppo la cresta), ormai tristemente abituata a commenti sul suo fisico. O sul suo amore per il cibo. Commenti che avranno sicuramente lasciato un segno sulla sua autostima. Sono curiosa di vedere se, mano a mano che la storia procede, Sae saprà dare voce ai suoi sentimenti (non solo quelli nei confronti di Koki) e imparerà a prendere più consapevolezza del suo valore.

[evi ౨ৎ˚⟡˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cutest shojo manga. Like, I just want these two to hurry up and say they like each other. BUT at the same time, I'm loving the slow burn because these two are too cute.

This felt very much like a "middle" volume because not a lot happened and the character development was minimal, but I love spending time with these characters so I give it a pass. The pacing has slowed down but I'm here for all the cute Sae and Koki moments, so no complaints from me.

Koki is the greenest flag. He was so considerate and caring here to try his best to help Sae with the work for the festival.

And, we have a love triangle forming where I think I actually like both male leads? And one of the male leads isn't trash? And I think it would be perfectly fine for Sae to choose either of the male leads? Real life miracle right here.

I want Sae and Koki to finally tell each other their feelings but I'm enjoying the will-they-won't-they just as much. I just want these volumes to be released faster. Give me more Sae and Koki moments.

[Esopion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been a very good series so far with slow-burn high school romance. Since in Japan there are 13 volumes out already, it's a bummer that there are only 4 volumes out in English as of February of 2026. The anime even goes past what's published in English.

The art is wonderful, the way the author uses screentones is magical and really conveys heroine's feelings effectively! I loved her previous series, "High school debut" too, so it's nice to read another manga by Kazune Kawahara.

That being said, I find it really odd that Sae, the heroine, thinks that Kouki has a crush on his COUSIN? That's just really weird and I find that hard to believe. I'd rather the story take a better turn than Sae thinking Kouki is in love with his own cousin. Wishing the English volumes could be released faster, it's been a very good read so far.

[Ángel · Rating 4 out of 5]

este es el último volumen publicado en inglés creo entonces creo que voy por aquí. típico viaje escolar que os cuento… tengo ganas de que sea ya 🤭 en este volumen han metido a un personaje nuevo y todavía estoy que no se como me cae

este volumen sin embargo me ha gustado menos porque la prota tiene la “típica” distorsión corporal de adolescente que crees todo el rato que estás gorda cuando no lo eres y me da pena que ese tema no se esté hablando mmm. un poco decepcionado con eso porque todo las demás cosas a nivel emocional que van apareciendo se van hablando y por eso me gusta tanto pero bueno, supongo que en cierto modo es una adolescencia realista

por otro lado me encanta el peso y relevancia que se le da a las amigas en esta historia

[Aidan]

I think I'm starting to get kind of tired of this series. I don't usually mind slow burn romances, but honestly this just isn't even remotely fun as a slow burn. The yearning and pining for each other was fun for maybe two volumes, but I think it's just too slow and getting tired. I also don't mind the rivals for our main characters affections, but why is one of them the main male leads cousin? That just really doesn't sit well with me, and no one thinks it's weird in the manga, like others think it's hot.

[nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was silly of me to see hints of a love triangle and think “surely there won’t be a love triangle” 😭 but hey maybe this was the push kamashiro needs to confess his feelings for iwata 🤷‍♀️ feel sorry for ayukawa tho 😭 he’s such a sweet guy im gonna hate seeing him go through a heartbreak bc there is no way that our fl is gonna end up with the 2nd ml 😔

love triangle aside, this volume was not as exciting as the previous ones. i felt like iwata didn’t do much and she was just there as everything happens around her and not really adding to the narrative

[MoonieMoon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I…cmon! It’s unbelievably frustrating reading her genuinely worry about the relationship between Kagawa and his cousin. HIS COUSIN! Like?? Could the writer not come up with another random girl for Iwata to be jelly of? Seriously it’s so annoying and I hated this one.

My favorite part was reading about Ayakawa since his scenes are so unbelievably chill and Ive always had a soft spot for the quiet male leads. Genuinely my worst favorite of the four mangas I’ve read so far.

Seriously, his cousin???? 🤢🤢🤢🤢

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a love hate relationship with this manga. It’s is very sweet and innocent but not a lot happens. Like each of this chapters… can we really say they did anything from a plot perspective. This entire volume was me wishing the 2nd ml was a main character cause he has more depth and personality than with of our MCs. It was literally all her trying to make sure she was near the guy she is into and building up the confidence to confess….

[Eli Gimeno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voy a ser honesta, no me importaría nada que Sae acabase con Ayukawa. Sé que no va a ocurrir porque desde el primer momento tanto Sae como Kamishiro están enamorados el uno del otro (aunque sean tan cabezones que no pueden ver la realidad), pero siempre quedará en mi cabeza la posibilidad de que estén juntos.
Me encanta ver como la relación de amistad de las chicas avanza, siempre es una de mis partes favoritas cuando leo este tipo de historias.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how many times I have to say this, but I think the author does a phenomenal job at being in the mind and thoughts of a teenage girl. I see so much of my teen self in Sae and I just want to give her the biggest hug and tell her everything is going to be okay.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great! I’m happy Iwa is so determined to tell Kamishiro. He’s a little dense, even when his cousin tells him straight out…. She went out with you one on one and said she wanted to do it again, dude!!! Can’t wait until the next volume comes out in March!!!!!

[🧸♡뀨♡🐣 · Rating 4 out of 5]

文化祭！還好選擇的是表姊弟的設定，而且終於啊終於～等下一集兩人在一起

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahhh the school festival arc. I actually don’t care for it lol.

[scarlettraces · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ayukawa for sure

[sammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

untouchable by taylor swift - "untouchable, burning brighter than the sun"

[Kellyn Dove · Rating 3 out of 5]

really short, not a ton of progress on either of the main characters fronts, easy to get through. Hoping the next volume that theres at least SOMETHING that happens to push their relationship even slightly forward because it's getting slightly tedious

[Khari · Rating 3 out of 5]

この子達は遠慮過ぎ！

相手と話しなさい！いつも相手の気持ちを想像してだけを辞めなさい。

も～。見るが辛い。両方は頭の中でモヤモヤして何も進めない。