Pink & Habanero, Vol. 4

ピンクとハバネロ [Pink to Habanero] #4

by Mika Satonaka, Alethea Nibley (Translator), Athena Nibley (Translator)

Mugi’s finally made a move on Kurose! She mustered the courage to ask him out and got a shocking “yes” in reply! But on the day of, it looks like their lovely date is dead in the water when they get into a fight in an aquarium… Up until an irate Kurose blurts out “But I just can’t hate you!” and Mugi replies “Well, I really, really like you!” Did she just stumble into making a life changing confession!?

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

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2022

Reviews

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this a great story? Probably not—BUT it is one of my fave “guilty pleasure” series right now~

[灰 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the perspective of highlighting high school students both with likable and dislikable personalities. We get constant misunderstandings, classic emotional distress, and of course the drama. Everyone and everything walking has frustrated/annoyed me in this series one way or another. Although I’m at my wits end with this series I love the friendship bonding, I love the slow development, and I especially love looovveeeeee. KUROSE NEEDS TO GROW TF UP AND CONFESS IM OVER IT!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate that this manga remembers how godawful high school can be and also remembers that, while our schoolmates can be a big problem, some of those wounds are absolutely self-inflicted.

This is not as funny, nor as sweet, as previous volumes, but it’s still an interesting look at a shojo relationship that isn’t entirely conventional. The cool boy is kind of an idiot and the hapless girl is also, well, kind of an idiot in her own way.

The mangaka’s description of Mugi as a charging bull feels more apt here than it did last time, as she blunders ahead with all the bluster she can muster. This can, perhaps appropriately (or at least species-adjacent), lead to Mugi having blinders on.

So when it turns out that a lot of her female classmates see her as a slut (Mugi’s own interpretation of things, albeit accurate), this comes as a shock. Especially since Mugi’s just doing what she can to get by and her previous attempts at friendship with other girls have been rebuffed.

This is all bundled up with her current attempts to make friends with Maasa, a girl in her group for an overnight camping trip. Maasa’s got her own issues, as it turns out, and I like that she has walls up around Mugi that slowly come down without ulterior motives.

The dramatic work in this volume is what carries it, since Kurose remains affably hostile to Mugi’s feelings. He’s incredibly bad at expressing his feelings, or at least really against said feelings for Mugi. Maasa, for her part, struggles to find Mugi as genuine, but mostly because of how awkward Mugi can be.

I do like that Mugi is kind of a disaster area. She’s trying to figure things out, like many teenagers and many shojo heroines, but unlike the latter she really steps in it a lot of the time. And not in a communication mishap sort of way - well, not those usual ones, anyhow.

She’s sometimes embarrassingly awkward and trying to land an incredibly cool guy, but one who is also a butt. It’s interesting; Kurose is definitely flying close to insufferable a lot of the time, but it also makes his actual decent moments (the cafe scene this time is perfect) really stand out.

This isn’t standard shojo, but it’s also undeniably shojo. By going for that prickly relationship from a different angle, it makes this feel a lot more refreshing and different than something of similar plotting. Both leads can be frustrating at times, but it feels slightly more real because of it. Also, that might be the funniest that sweet potatoes have ever been.

3.5 stars - not as funny, but I think of this as a quieter sort of good volume. Not flashy, but just putting in the work to be reliably solid at what it’s doing. Still a nice change of pace.

[Heather’s Reading Bubble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this volume. Mugi is such a disaster but I say that lovingly. Multiple times I was laughing at her in this volume. Kurose is still Kurose not much has changed with him. I am interested to see where the story goes after that cliff hanger and I found it very different that they showed that teenagers can be cruel and obnoxious. Anyways I have no complaints.

[Leila Naue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately this one did not hit as much as it should have, something fell flat and I’m not sure what it is. But it does have scenes that will impact the story from now on. Enjoyable, but I hope for more❤️

[Janis Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starts with a literal LOL moment and ends with a literal LOL moment with something 😮 worthy before the final cut scene! Seriously, this is a really great rom com and everyone should read it:)

Can’t wait for volume 5!!!

[Kastie Pavlik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is more serious and has Mugi taking a look at herself and deciding she wants to be like someone else. She's navigating high school as the most awkward girl in school and self doubt seeps in as she learns how the others perceive her. Which leads to an eventual epiphany. The volume focuses on this the most, so there's limited time with Kurose, but it's worth it by the end. I opted for 4 instead of 5 stars simply because this volume is missing the entertainment factor the previous three had and the lack of humor is noticeable, which makes it integral to the story. Still a great series and I'm looking forward to 5.

[Maude · Rating 4 out of 5]

he needs to stop leading her on bro 😭😭

[Lau Ra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters are actually very interesting, Mugi has a lot of character development but is still very relatable.

I really love this series.

[miranda nikole 🧮 · Rating 4 out of 5]

2026 Goodreads Challenge - Manga #1/20

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I don't love Tsundere characters cause I like my men into the female character and even though I didn't love the previous chapters, I think our female lead stands up for herself more in this volume against others and his dismissiveness. So I liked her so much more. And I liked her new female friend. I can't believe the next one doesn't come out till next year.

[telle · Rating 4 out of 5]

kurose should learn how to express or deliver his feelings nicely towards mugi without causing any confusion. i hope he's getting his character development sooner, he can't just be like that forever.

[michi · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ch 19-24] 3.5/5 he’s honest but still leading her on like pick a side bro 😭😭

[Martina Koa Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Che peccato che questo manga sia in calo, con tutte le belle prenesse nei volumi scorsi! Mugi sta iniziando a diventare veramente cringe e fastidiosa, e se prima Kurose riusciva a bilanciare con il suo personaggio adesso non basta più. Carina comunque la storia, anche se semplice.

[Ami 乁⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠o⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠ㄏ (written by Jane Austen) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐🌟💫 (3.75 stars rounded up to 4)

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where there’s pretty boys, there’s petty bitches… Ugh I hate stupid girl drama. Why can’t this camping trip just be cute and fluffy???? Lol

[nibha ⋆˚꩜｡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

idk kurose kinda makes me rlly fucking mad 😐

[shiori no nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

leo valdez tsundere letsgoski

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5*

[dobpizzazz · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.25)

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

they're just so cute i can't ugh

[Justina Ozelski · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it

It’s awesome. I love the story it’s sweet. Lately I’ve been all about romance manga and this one is in my top ten I would say.

[Samvander · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Leila ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

4 de 5 estrellas.