Volume 4 of Ao Haru Ride continues to explore the emotional complexities of teenage relationships, and while it has some genuinely heartfelt moments, I found it uneven overall.
One of the strengths of this volume is how it digs deeper into Kou’s emotional walls. We start to see more of what’s been holding him back, and those glimpses of vulnerability are some of the strongest parts of the book. Futaba’s struggle to understand and support him is relatable, and her character continues to grow in subtle but meaningful ways.
However, the pacing of this volume felt off. There are long stretches of internal monologue and drawn-out scenes that don’t move the story forward much. The romantic tension between Futaba and Kou remains, but it feels stuck in place, and the emotional payoff doesn’t quite land as strongly as it should. I found myself wishing the story would either take a bigger step forward or introduce something unexpected to shake things up.
The introduction of new characters (or the development of side characters like Kominato and Murao) adds some freshness, but they’re still not given enough space to truly shine. They’re mostly used to reflect or support the main pair’s storyline, which limits their impact. I’d love to see the supporting cast get more meaningful arcs of their own.
On the art side, Sakisaka’s work continues to be lovely—expressive, clean, and emotionally detailed. The visual storytelling is consistent and effective, especially during quieter moments, but sometimes it leans too heavily on familiar shojo tropes in both paneling and expressions.
In short, Volume 4 is a decent continuation that builds on the characters' emotional layers but lacks momentum. It feels like it's holding its breath for something big, which can be both frustrating and intriguing. I’m still invested in the story, but I’m hoping future volumes deliver more narrative movement and development across the whole cast.