Hana-Kimi: For You in Full Blossom, Vol. 5

花ざかりの君たちへ [Hanazakari no Kimitachi e] #5

by Hisaya Nakajo

DRAG RACE
It's the final day of the Osaka High School Festival, and two big competitions are still up in the air: the relay race and the cross-dressing pageant! You'd think Mizuki, an actual XX-chromosome girl disguised as a boy at an all-guy high school, would be a better cross-dresser than her classmates, but things are never so easy--and what if winning the contest blows her cover? That might be a relief for her classmate Nakatsu, who doesn't know that Mizuki's a girl, just that he's in love with her. But when a real girl falls in love with Nakatsu, his love life gets even more complicated...

Genres: Manga, Romance, Graphic Novels, Shojo, Genderqueer, Young Adult, Comedy

188 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 1998

About the author

Hisaya Nakajo (中条比紗也) was a Japanese shōjo manga artist. She also used the names Peco Fujiya and Ryou Fumizuki for doujinshi with her circle, Daisanteikoku.

Reviews

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The culture fes continues with more things happening.


I love how this school goes all out for its festivals. And I would have loved to roam the halls of the school to visit all the various fun activities. Like the cafe with cross-dressers, or the one with the mystery, or the one… oh never mind, I would visit them all. 😛

I wasn’t a fan of the karate club, but I am glad that at least that person wasn’t part of all that happened. And I was happy with how he handled it. Maybe a bit overkill, but he did learn these boys a good lesson.

Yep, things still happen in the culture fes. We are nearing the end of it and the dorms are hard pressed to win (though given the prizes that we find out about at the end… oh boy). I definitely was rooting for dorm 2 to win. I do feel it was a shame that we barely see anything on the last dorm. We see the sports dorm and the mixed dorm go head to head, but the students who aren’t either are barely there. Just at the end when it seems they may just win.

But things happen to Mizuki that just had me so pissed off at people. You don’t do that crap. To no one. Bah. I am glad that Mizuki fought back and that she had some back-up from Nakatsu and Sano.

I loved the backstory we got about Mizuki from 3-4 years ago in which she ran away and met a boy named Gil. It was a great story to read and I wouldn’t mind seeing more Gil. Oh wait, maybe just with letters because I don’t want this to end up a love quartet.

Nakatsu, and everyone else. Can we stop with the no homo and I cannot be gay stuff, it is getting annoying.

Also Sano sets a first step, but ARGH the cliched she didn’t hear it because of something. 😛

Can we please not kiss people who are sleeping/unconscious, especially when one isn’t in a relationship with them. How would you like it when someone kisses you while you are asleep/unconscious.

Thankfully, no short story this time, just Hana-Kimi, and I am kind of thankful for that as the past two stories were kind of EH ><.

I cannot wait to read the next volume in the series. What will happen next?

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can do without Mizuki being damseled every few chapters. It's fair to say that she's naive, but for her to never develop self-preservation instincts in the face of the multiple assaults the story's been throwing at her, is not believable. Come up with some different situations, please, Nakajo.

Also, wouldn't Mizuki start twigging on to the fact that Sano knows her secret by now? Has she observed or heard about (non-gay) guys frequently embracing in public, or sleeping together when one has had a bad dream?? (an egregious example from this volume or the previous one) Hugging when one of them is...scared of a bug? C'mon, really? She's unconsciously taking unfair advantage of Sano's cocoon of safety and dependability, and jeopardizing her own secret on top of that.

Sometimes suspension of disbelief works. It totally doesn't for me with Hana-Kimi, obviously. It was certainly popular enough in its day to put me in the minority. The author's pretty good at drawing cute guys, but that isn't going to carry me through another 18 volumes. Unless the storytelling markedly improves soon, things aren't looking good for my finishing it.

[Daniella Murillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARE YOU FOR REAL OH MY GOD THAT HAS GOT TO BE THE BEST ENDING TO A MANGA VOLUME EVER YOU GO NAKATSU YOU GO.
I really ship Sano/Mizuki but if Nakatsu really kisses Mizuki I can't help but smile and be all girly about it.

Also there was with part with the Doctor and the Dorm 1's sensei which was funny and awkward and gay but then it wasn't gay.

I'm so obsessed with this manga.

[Shayshkers · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me longer than normal to read this one. Not because it wasn't good or anything, I just don't remember anything super awesome either.

[Heather D-G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Just okay.
I think I’m going to call it here on this series.
It’s fine, but it’s not holding my interest. Very little changes from volume to volume and the core concept is wearing thin.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god!!!1! I loooove this seriesss!! It's my favorite shoujo series and my second favorite manga series of ALL TIME! I just love everything about it!! I would totally do what Mizuki did.. though I don't think I could get away with it.... especially not in a Japanese school... -_- WELL! That's just not fair. Anyway, It's sooooo funny! AH! It's all so great! I can't contain the fan-girl in me! :O I even loved the TV series! (Especially the Taiwanese one! Ella and Jiro were hilarious!)

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 5 is when the dorm feels like one big reality TV show—except everyone is terrible at keeping secrets. The antics are so over the top that you can’t tell if the romance is moving forward or just running laps. Nakatsu’s dramatic inner monologues deserve their own spin-off. Four stars for sheer entertainment and the never-ending comedy of Mizuki’s balancing act.

[Steph Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, poor Nakatsu...

[Harumichi Mizuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelompok pelaku sabotase terhadap Mizuki akhirnya ketahuan. Ternyata bukan Kujou-senpai. Namun, Megumi Tennouji berlutut dan minta maaf di depan Nanba-senpai atas kelakuan para anggota asramanya. Lomba lari relay 2000 meter pun diadakan dan Asrama Dua berhasil memenangkan pertandingan sehingga posisi berbalik. Mereka berhasil menjadi pemenang festival. Namun, ternyata mereka ditipu Nanba-senpai karena hadiahnya ternyata sangat receh. Enggak sebanding dengan usaha yang dikeluarkan. Wah ini enggak adil. Kalau aku pasti bakal ngamuk ke Nanba-senpai.

Setelah festival, ada gadis manis yang nembak Nakatsukasa. Tapi cowok itu malah bingung karena ia lebih tertarik pada Mizuki wahahaha. Sementara itu Sano makin yakin pada perasaannya bahwa ia menyukai Mizuki dan selalu ingin melindunginya.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume seemed a little lost at times, but it was enjoyable overall. It's nice to see Sano come to terms with his feelings towards Mizuki, and Nakatsu has some great comedic moments in this volume. I also like that the direction seems to be returning towards Sano and his athletics, which I enjoy as a storyline...

[Vivian Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the the brief introduction of Gil even though it was unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. The conclusion of the school festival prize is still funny even though the plotting was a tad overboard. Also, what’s with all this uncool secret kissing? 3.5/5

[Amara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best volume yet. Really loved the conclusion to the festival and that extra chapter just made me smile :)

[Venus Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume is way too cute, Sano realized how he feels about Ashiya. And, Nakatsu is having doubts on his feelings about her, I mean him. Hahahaha

[Luan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally one with a one-shot that I like! Loved the whole drag thing going on xD

[Ananya Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hahahahahaha I pity Nakatsu!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty cute side story! I mean this is a slow-burn series so all the plot is just meant to get these two to realize they love each other.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read: October 2013
Second read: October 2019

Has one of my favorite chapters! About Gil!

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

More school festival bah. The story about Leonardo DiCaprio was good.

[Piper Pringle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was so good!!!! I don't know when I'll get the next volume as my library system doesn't have it in stock. I need it so badly!!!!!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well the book was intimidating and kept me in suspense and my sister has the other one s and i'm going to read them pretty soon when i see her again so i'd definitely recommend this book for people who love manga!.
I wonder...................would my twin brother read this manga?

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://owltellyouaboutit.com/2012/03/12/hana-kimi-volume-5/

I’m really enjoying where this is going now that both Mizuki and Izumi are admitting their feelings, even if it’s just to themselves. Hopefully, I won’t have to wait too long for them to finally approach the subject with each other.

The dorm competition is over and I can’t say I was too sad about that. It was getting a little too silly. I appreciate most of the humor in this series, but it always seems to be just a touch sillier than I want. I’m definitely not sick of Nakatsu’s dilemma. His adoration of Mizuki is just hilarious. Now that he’s getting to the point of maybe acting on it, his part of the story could go in a very funny direction. I was tempted to go ahead and pick up the next volume as soon as I finished this one. I didn’t though because I had a book I needed to finish. The point is, I’m definitely enjoying it.

There was a little extra chapter that was mostly about Mizuki’s past. It was one of those feel good stories about a friend she made before she moved to Japan, where she and a boy help each other grow up a little. It was cute, but kind of pointless. Definitely filler. Things got back on track in the last chapter, when a reporter shows up who writes a lot about Izumi. From what I could gather, she’ll play a part in the next volume. That’s definitely something I enjoy about this series. Each volume leads into the next so it keeps me interested in getting to the next one.

This one’s still going strong for me, but I’ve got a long way to go before the end.

[Starbubbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

are people in japan really suspectible to colds? the concern over mizuki getting a cold appears in just about every volume for the entire series. i love hana kimi, but it's tiresome to keep reading that. why not, 'hey, don't sleep on the floor, you'll get a crick in your neck,' or 'hey, change into dry clothes, you'll smell like mold if you don't,' or something. maybe it's because i've spent too much time in hot hot texas that this stuff doesn't even blip on my radar of concerns in those situations.

another issue, why can't muziki ever hear sano confuse his interest in her? just once, please!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapters 21 - 25: This volume concludes the school festival storyline and also introduces a new character that is a reporter who is obsessed with Sano and has come back around after hearing he has started jumping again. I feel bad for Nakatsu and how confused he is about his feelings. I look forward to reading the next volume and seeing what happens next.

Bonus: You and Me and the May Garden
This was a cute little bonus chapter that has Mizuki get a postcard from one of her friends in America and we get to see how her and her friend Gilbert met. It was a really fun chapter.

[Dexter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of fun, but not as much fun as the first four volumes. But still, I really liked the flashback story about Mizuki and Gilbert, and Sano is getting pretty adorable. It may not be as laugh-out-loud as the previous volumes, but it's far from uninteresting!

Second time reading: As said last time, Sano is really adorable in this volume. I'm still really enjoying Hana-Kimi. While I liked the story about Mizuki and Gilbert, it kind of struck me as random and odd too. I would love Gilbert to make an actual appearance though, I think that would be pretty interesting.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I binge read all of Hana Kimi. It's easy to see why that is so easy once you get into the second chapter of the series. Hana Kimi is filled with complex character moments, tension, and fun. All the characters come to life and its hard to put the story down. I've read my fair share of manga over the years and will continue to. I have the feeling that Hana Kimi will remain one of my favorites. I can't wait to get in a reread.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the characters are starting to realize their feelings, and it's a really cute thing to watch. I'm falling more into the story now, and getting slightly better at remembering who is who now the dorm competition is over and there aren't so many characters in each scene. Moving on to the next book after I finish a 6 hour work shift. Boo work, taking away from my reading time!

[Aymee · Rating 4 out of 5]

And here we get the conclusion of the school festival. And a bit more. Sano is seemingly starting to show his feelings for Mizuki, but it's hard to tell if he's falling for her or if he's just being a concerned friend. Picking up the next two volumes from the library this afternoon and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

[Nikki Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An awesome series with a bit of a cliche plot-line (girl dresses as boy and falls in love at all-boy school). The characters are very likeable however, and a good love triangle is setup. Nice art as well. I never finished it because it's a lonnng series and I could not afford them all.

[Zaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The end of the school festival wasn't really interesting but after that it was nice to learn a little about young Mizuki, to follow Nakatsu while he worked on his feelings and to see some warm moments between Mizuki and Sano.

[Sian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The same as the rest great