Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko! Volume 3

彩香ちゃんは弘子先輩に恋してる [Ayaka-chan wa Hiroko-senpai ni Koishiteru] #3

by Sal Jiang

「――私、弘子先輩が好きです！！！」
数々の猛アピールをするも、なかなか想いが伝わらなかった彩香ちゃんが会社のみんなの前で大告白!
「オトす」と宣言を受けた弘子先輩の反応は…!?
自分の気持ちに正直な彩香ちゃんと過去の経験から自制する弘子先輩…両想いなのにすれ違う、"じれキュン"オフィスラブ、完結の第3巻!

Genres: Manga, Romance, Yuri, LGBT, Graphic Novels, Queer, Contemporary

178 pages, Paperback

Published June 16, 2026

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it ended. And it tried, it really tried (I looked back and said this exact thing for the first volume), and I appreciate that. Even with such a quick wrap-up, I even appreciated the ending, as unearned as it felt. But this was kind of a mess the whole time and never felt believable.

It starts off on what I’d suggest is the wrong foot, with Ayaka loudly proclaiming her love for Hiroko in front of the whole office. Even if everybody just brushes it off as Ayaka’s own feelings, that’s perilously close to outing somebody against their wishes just so you can date.

Ayaka is meant to be depicted as headstrong, but I felt like her dominant characterization was being thoughtless and pushy. She acts like she’s never heard of the term ‘in the closet’ before, which makes sense since it wouldn’t fit beneath the rock she must be living under.

Ayaka pursues Hiroko relentlessly and tries everything in the book, including dressing up as Hiroko’s old boss who was forced out of the company in the last flashback. None of it makes sense or reads terribly well - some of her outfits feel like no company in Japan would let her work there.

This series focuses on the wrong thing, expecting this pairing with basically zero chemistry to draw the audience in. For my money, it’s actually Hiroko who’s the interesting one and this should have been more focused on her and her journey.

While I’m really not fussed with the story, I did say it tried hard and, well, it does. It wants to be making a point about old values versus new and showing how all the department supports Hiroko no matter who she is or what she does.

I mean, I know Japan has gotten a little better and all, but this doesn’t feel likely for a second and it’s all just kind of meandering. Does Hiroko’s old flame show up in a surprise cameo? Of course! And for no good reason? Also of course!

My major complaint is the total lack of chemistry here, as noted. Minus one hell of a move by Hiroko at the end, there’s nothing here that feels like these two really want one another. Part of that is definitely down to Ayaka’s lack of emotional maturity.

Still, the very ending is interesting because of where it leaves our leads. It’s where you think, but also not quite where you think and its quiet message that love doesn’t solve every problem was rather unique.

Was it worth the trip to get here though? Eh, it’s tough, I don’t know that I would read this a second time (the perils of buying all these out of pocket). There are a couple of moments here - Hiroko’s past as a womanizer made for an amusing side story - but it fell a bit flat overall.

3 stars - points for effort, as they say. It came, it saw, it tried its best. Much better than the alternative, even if the outcome is much the same.

[Heather’s Reading Bubble · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have you ever wanted to love something so much that you just keep ignoring things that would normally make you DNF?That’s me with this final volume.

Ayaka was beyond obnoxious here, and I think it was supposed to be cute/funny. She is basically stalking Hiroko and not at all respecting her boundaries. She also pretty much outs her without her consent and dresses like her ex. How am I supposed to root for or want these two together when one of the people in the pairing acts like this?

For me the good in this volume was when it showed Hiroko and comments that have been made that make her feel she has no other choice but to hide who she truly is. I wish we got more time with Hiroko, who is the much more likable of our two main characters.

I’m undecided on if this will leave my collection as i really enjoy the art as well as Hiroko.

[pears ✧ ☽ ☼ ଳ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series started off cute and I loved the angst but it just got kinda annoying tbh 💀

[§ïå ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

I was really frustrated with Ayaka at the start of this volume bc I felt like she was taking things too far by proclaiming her love for Hiroko in front of their coworkers and turning up the harassment at work. Ik that Hiroko was being difficult by keeping her worries to herself and shutting Ayaka out, but even then, I thought Ayaka's response was inappropriate. Frankly, I'm shocked she wasn't fired for her behavior lol. I understand that Hiroko's worries seemed outdated, but they were still her own personal struggles whether or not other people understood or agreed with them.

That being said, I'm glad they got their happy ending. I just wish we got to see more of them actually being a couple T-T

[Murainik_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

หงุดหงิดกับการตัดสินใจของฮิโรโกะในเล่มที่แล้วมาก ทั้งๆที่รู้ว่าต้องมีประเด็นฝังใจบางอย่างทำให้ไม่กล้ารักอายากะก็เถอะ แต่เล่มนี้กลับทำให้ความไม่ชอบของเราในเล่มที่แล้วหายไปหมดเลย เราเข้าใจฮิโรโกะมากขึ้น โทรปรักต่างวัยมันสนุกตรงที่จะได้เห็นประโยค 'ตอนฉันเป็นวัยรุ่นก็คิดอย่างเธอนี่แหละ' ซึ่งสุดท้ายก็ไม่ได้มีการjudgeว่าควรต้องเป็นแบบไหน ฮิโรโกะชีเป็นเควียร์หัวโบราณก็เพราะนิสัยส่วนตัวและประสบการณ์หล่อหลอมให้เป็นแบบนั้น ทุกอย่างที่เรารู้สึกว่ามันเกินไปในเล่มก่อนดูเป็นเหตุเป็นผลขึ้นในเล่มนี้ และชอบตอนจบที่ทุกคนบอกว่า ไม่ว่าฮิโรโกะกับอายากะจะคบกันจริงหรือเปล่า แต่ถ้าเขาไม่ได้อยากบอกให้รู้เราก็ไม่ควรไปจุ้นเรื่องเขานะ หวังว่ารุ่นพี่ฮิโรโกะจะสบายใจกับสังคมในออฟฟิศและได้เป็นตัวของตัวเองในซักวันนะ

[Mehsi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Geez, this one was tough to read. And while I do get some parts on how Hiroko got to be who she is... geez, lord, girl. At least give it a shot before acting like a total bitch. I am happy to see that they were able to talk things out and things got a happy ending, but gosh, lord, it took way too long and I am done. Not recommended.

[Loki Wylde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute and a little frustrating how oblivious Hiroko can be. Ayaka literally throwing herself at her and she’s still talkin herself down. Still an interesting story of self discovery, love, acceptance of yourself and others. Definitely some triggers to with age gap, boss and subordinate as well as possibly not respecting a boundary of no? But then there’d be no story so… *shrugs* 8/10

[Brittany Allyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this final volume. I really liked the way some things came full circle, such as Ayaka getting help from Chinatsu, with neither woman actually aware of the connection. I will complain that there was a moment in the second volume where Risa and the bar owner seemed to be vibing, so I’m a bit sad that didn’t pay off. But I loved it otherwise.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ayaka announcing her feelings for Hiroko to everyone at their workplace was a bit cringe. If I'm being honest the whole series is cringey, but not enough to stop me from reading a mostly fun, nicely illustrated yuri title. Good yuri is hard to get my hands on, so I have to take what I can get sometimes.

[sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

puta que pariu esperava bem mais... a mona tinha a faca e o queijo na mão. extremamente repetitivo, a história simplesmente não anda. desperdiçou ótimas personagens e um plot promissor. podia ter muito mais smut tbm (basicamente não tem)

[Paula (lovebookscl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

lo siento, pero me pasé 10 minutos riendo por la escena inicial con la reacción de toda la oficina. Y luego feliz por la reacción linda de todos.

Ayaka… intensa pero linda.

Hiroko… realmente la lesbiana del pueblo.

[Dan Slaughter · Rating 1 out of 5]

No Ending?!!?!!!?!! Absolute trash!

If you want to read a bunch of painful gay stereotypes, adults acting like 12yr olds, a character being outted against their will at their job, (aka sexual harassment) and poorly translated garbage have i got the series for you.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Urgh. I'm happy for them, understood their worries, actually enjoyed the social commentary, but at the same time, this was quite the frustrating read. Good job for Ayaka for staying strong.

[♡Jacqueline♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

The amount of miscommunication and bad character development makes this manga not worth it in the end.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ultimately mostly ok, everything ended up mostly cute but pushy.

[LiliaNNa]

brb i have to binge watch the live action series now 😇😇

[ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

im gonna miss them but that’s but the show is for

[Andie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

[Audrey S · Rating 5 out of 5]

so sad this series is over already but damn this was so goooddd!!

[Linda]

I though I didn’t particularly find this stry as interesting, but this story proves me wrong, so I did enjoy this story.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

CW: lesbophobia

Nice wrap-up to the series and I think the ending worked out well for the MCs, especially since it doesn't shy away from the reality of being a queer person in Japan.

[DR · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just... not great.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new fav yuri mangaka bc she writes real, messy, GROWN ADULT women in her books. Not kids

[Vanna Book-Mage · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending we deserve.

[zari ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

honestly i loved that extra chapter of risa and kyokou 🤭👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩 they’re sooooo cuteeeee i’d love a whole manga about their relationship.

some bits of the manga were a lil frustrating. but overall it was cute and im glad hiroko and ayaka ended up together!!!! ⋆｡‧˚ʚ ୨ৎ ɞ˚‧｡⋆

[Ada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will buy anything this woman makes. No one does lesbian angst and ennui with enough comic overtones to keep it from being pitch-black depressing like Sal Jiang.