Bloom into You, Vol. 3

やがて君になる [Bloom Into You] #3

by Nio Nakatani

A charming love story about two young women who together discover that their dreams of a heart-pounding romance can indeed come true!

Yuu has always loved shoujo manga and fantasizes about the day that she too will get a love confession that will send her heart a-flutter. Yet when a male classmate confesses his feelings for her ... she feels nothing. Disappointed and confused, Yuu enters high school still unsure how to respond. That s when Yuu sees the beautiful student council president Nanami turn down a suitor with such maturity and finesse that Yuu is inspired to ask her for advice. But when the next person to confess to Yuu is the alluring Nanami herself, has Yuu's shoujo romance finally begun?

"

Genres: Manga, Romance, LGBT, Yuri, Graphic Novels, Queer, Young Adult

180 pages, Paperback

First published November 26, 2016

About the author

Nio NAKATANI 仲谷鳰 is a Japanese mangaka and doujinsha.

Associated Names:
Rireba リレバ

Official site:
Doujinsha site: 「リレバ」 rireba
Pixiv: 仲谷鳰[Nakatani]

Reviews

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't stop screaming because :-

1. We have not one but two Sapphic couples.
2. Sayaka have my 💜, I love her soo much.

3. Maki's ace representation is everything I live for.
4. Yuu and Nanami are just sooo cute.
5. We will get the play in next volume and I can't wait to start reading it.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weirdly enough I think I understand both girl's point of views in this relationship. Nanami is fine with loving Yuu, but she seems to be afraid of her reciprocating her feelings in a sense. Nanami doesn't want Yuu to fall for her. She seems to be fine with it being one sided forever. Yuu on the other hand doesn't understand how to fall in love so she seems pretty indifferent to Nanami's feelings, because she doesn't understand them. However, she's slowly starting to reciprocate, but she's pushing down those feelings because she's afraid of the possible rejection. They both want things to remain as is and are afraid of what mutual feelings could possibly bring. It's not the best relationship, but I get it. I'm curious about how things will play out.

[ᗩᑎᗪᖇᗴᗯ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is coming along nicely.

The strong, very likable cast continue to develop, particularly the two leads but also a best friend who has a crush of her own, along with glimpses into the personal life of a teacher and her girlfriend.

I've seen this series described as problematic due to the dynamic of the central relationship - Yuu appears to be asexual/aromantic while Touko regularly declares her love for Yuu. Maybe their life is too far removed from my own experience, but I'm not seeing any issues here. Touko is older, but everything that occurs between them (which is age-appropriate making out, with no suggestion of anything more) is consensual - I see no hint of Yuu being pressured or uncomfortable.

Bring on Vol. 4!

[libby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf bcs this bores me and i can't conect with the story

[julita · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5??? eeeeek i don’t know!! they keep having really sweet moments where yuu is starting to show interest and come out of her shell but that makes some other aspects of their relationship seem like they’re progressing way too fast, though both parties are definitely interested. anyway i want a yuri of the teacher and her hot bar manager girlfriend

[Victoria ✮⋆˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really need to buy these physically so i can cry over it in person!

[Jhosy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I repeat my words from the volume 2 review.
A story with good potential, but spent on these lines of high school girls.

[yvee · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for Hakozaki sensei and her cafe girlfriend <3

[lapetitepritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

[giddy leg wiggle]

[elliot december!! · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok girl you can lie to yourself all you want we all know you’re a lesbian

4.5/5

[Gracyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The supporting characters are really elevate the story and in their interactions are gems I wasn't expecting to find. Getting to witness more of the main characters inner questioning also helps clarify some uncertainties I had in the previous volumes.
I'm pretty sure I'm in for the long haul now, with this series.

[Sonia Pisano · Rating 5 out of 5]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[The Half-blood Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I can hear a heartbeat. It must be Senpai's... Not mine. My heart would never beat this fast."

This yuri manga has very slice of life vibes. Despite everything that's going on, there's no drama. I would like to see more of Yuu's friends, and what her life is like separate from Nanami Touko. What she's like, when she's not worrying about not fitting in due to not falling in love.

It seems to showcase several characters, without going into depth about all of their lives or their interpersonal relationships. It's like we get glimpses as if we're just passing by.

In this volume, we get a look into Sayaka. Her backstory follows an old school yuri genre trope (girls only dating other girls while in school, and leading a heteronormative life like it was a phase or a game of pretend), but I think the mangaka is already deconstructing it in several ways, which is pretty cool and fitting of the 20th century.

At this point, I feel like Yuu's inner monologue is many times not how she actually feels, but her way of self-soothing, by contradicting her truth. As things progress, she has to keep lying to herself, in a fight against change.

As much as she has asked for Yuu's consent after the "surprise attacks" in volume 1, we see Touko bring back the stereotypical "aggressive lesbian" in this volume again. A trope very present in Girl Love manga (and BL for that matter). It is especially common for the older girl to be the pursuer, instigator of emotional and physical intimacy. I was uncomfortable with her "I'm going to do what I want", after Yuu was unable to initiate a kiss as a previously agreed reward, no going to lie. Even if it was just a deeper kiss, Yuu wasn't ready for their kisses to grow more heated, and she was having her own internal struggle. When it comes to this type of subject, it is more complicated than just breaking a promise. On consent and intimacy, changing your mind and being allowed to stop, and space, when you realise you aren't as comfortable as you thought you'd be is everyone's prerogative.

I've come to the realisation Doujima(-kun 😆) is really nosy!

[sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

wtf???

[nara ᵔ◡ᵔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh i love sayaka so much 😭

[Scarlette Josie (scarlettereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Four stars

Super cute.

[Ekene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't too sure about this series in the beginning but book 3 has me hooked. These two are so damn cute together and the romance is cute.

[shananan · Rating 5 out of 5]

i literally love this manga so much its so wholesome and yeah

[Des Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful volume. The cast is great, and we get so many perspectives in this volume, I'm stoked. Having a true aromantic character to contrast Yuu was a really smart move and helps to center the confusing queer feelings at the heart of the series. There's a lot to connect with here, aided further by the introduction of an adult sapphic couple. The kiss at the end too, an incredible moment cementing this as one of the most rewarding girls love books I've ever read.

[Agu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I'm falling in love with this adorable story.

[Miriya Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

finally back to reading it ! the older wlw couple made me really happy to see :)
Yu stays my favourite so far~ can't wait to see them grow as the story progresses!

[Aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely as always.
This volume has calmer, quieter tone, with many a chapter as a little self-contained story. I loved reading Saeki chapter, it has very soft, charming tone. I love the subplot about literature teacher Hakozaki and her girlfriend cafe manager Miyako, later Miyako and Saeki had really cool older sapphic to young sapphic talk. My favorite chapter is about Yuu and Touko sharing umbrella, it was so sweet. Also a chapter about Yuu and Saeki trying to get to know each other and by the end of the day they both are similarly exasperated with Nanami, it was endearing.

As of now, Yuu seems to be aromantic, she states multiple times that she doesn't have romantic feelings to Touko. I'm curious to see what direction the manga will take.

Also I'm sensing sapphic love triangle. Interesting ;)

[Nea Poulain · Rating 4 out of 5]

AY QUE BONITO ES ESTO. Adoro que haya esta representación aro y también un poco demi por parte de uno de los personajes justamente porque así se pueden explorar otras maneras de entablar relaciones amorosas (no sólo desde el amor romántico <3).

[nCarinae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yu: seguro que el dejar que una chica guapa de bese, fijarte en sus pestañas, y sentir "un corazon latir muy rapido" es suuuper normal. Para nada estoy empezando a tener sentimientos por esta persona.

[emelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

the teacher and the restaurant lady… 🥰

[Axel · Rating 5 out of 5]

”Does it make me a coward… to hide my true feelings so that I can stay by her side...?”

I’ve been thinking about Sayaka’s line ever since I read it. Is Sayaka me??

Strangely enough, I feel like I understand Nanami more now than ever. She’s in love with Yuu, but she’s content with her love not being reciprocated as long as she can continue loving her without restraint. I get it. She’s scared of how their relationship could change if Yuu reciprocated her feelings. After all, crushing on someone and then being in a relationship with someone is vastly different. And then we have Yuu who is beginning to feel things for Nanami but pushes them down because she’s never had feelings like this before. And, because she knows Nanami doesn’t want her to love her back.

Moving on, I loved Maki as always. Aromantic/asexual representation is so so important and I like the way the author handled it. Maki is fine watching people fall in love or read relationships in books, but he doesn’t want to be a part of them. What a lovely way to explain it.

Sayaka is quickly becoming a new favorite after the main two. Not only is she witty and loyal, but I definitely have related to her in many ways before in the past. She’s in love with Nanami but knows Nanami doesn’t ’do relationships’ so refuses to reveal her true feelings. She believes it’s better to conceal her feelings as long as it means she can continue to be her closest friend and support her. She sort of parallels Nanami in a way. Nanami is fine with Yuu knowing she loves her (she’s already confessed 1049293 times), but she doesn’t want to be loved in return in case it changes their relationship. Plus Nanami despises herself, but I need more detail of that first. Sayaka loves Nanami, but fears telling her could mean ruining their current bond/friendship, so she’s fine just staying quiet as long as things don’t change between them.

Could I write an essay on all of them? Absolutely. They’re quite complex characters to the point I forget they’re not real. I like when authors make characters feel real instead of creating them to be a frankenstein’s monster of tropes and cliches.

Also we got ANOTHER sapphic couple!! yipeee

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: Blook Into You, Volume 3

Author: Nio Nakatani

Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars



I am still really enjoying the charm that this manga brings to the table. We are pretty much following a group of young girls as they discover love for the first time, all while dealing with the everyday dramas that come along with being a high school student. I don’t know why, but all of this just puts me in such a good mood. It’s like you are reliving your high school days without actually having to go back to them.



We are seeing these girls have to make sense of what is happening to them. We see them struggle with their developing or not so developing feelings for each other. I love how we have one girl who is completely in love with each the other and we have one who doesn’t have any romantic feelings whatsoever. I really like this one-sided relationship. I think what makes it stand out is that we are able to see both girls’ point of view. We can see why one is charmed and why the other doesn’t. This slow burn development is what makes this stand out to me. Getting to see the relationship grow and blossom into what it is to become is what makes this manga.



The overall light tone of the book and artwork just adds to the charm. We have a rather light story when we need to have one and a dark one when we it. I really like this mixing and matching of the artwork to fit the story. It gives us a deeper understanding of what is going on. Not that you couldn’t figure it out otherwise! It just adds to the overall meaning and tone of the story.



I just had a great time with one is what I’m getting at. It makes me want to pick up the next volume soon!

[lauraღ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t think I’m lonely. Not now.

See, I think I will ultimately start enjoying this more when it gets to where it's going, because I do think I see where the author intends to land, and it's a kind of slow burn realisation of love that I always enjoy. But the journey there is not enjoyable. Touko gets pushy and weird in slightly uncomfortable ways, and even though Yuu is ultimately okay with it, I don't like having to read it. And I don't like how this reads as very cute and younger YA most of the time, and then suddenly gets kinda risqué. Idk, I don't mean to come across as pearl-clutchy, but I think we should pick a tone and stick to it.

We did get that conversation about asexuality between Maki and Yuu that I was waiting for, though I didn't like that MAKI was the one to come to the conclusion that Yuu isn't ace. And I know she has certain mental barriers that will continue to get in the way of her realising she has feelings for Touko, but I just... I don't know. The approach isn't my favourite.

Some miscellaneous stuff I liked in this volume were Saeki's backstory, and seeing the cute little romance with the teacher and manager. Yuu and Touko walking home in the rain made me very soft. I liked the art during the field day; lots of arresting panels that I really enjoyed. I'm going to continue with this series because I do have hopes that I'll start enjoying it more. I just hope that comes soon.

[Luce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now we’re getting to the good stuff 💪🏻 I love that their teacher has a girlfriend and that the girlfriend seems like she’ll be a recurring character, I love that the girlfriend owns a cafe and that it was a safe place for Sayaka to go an ask questions, I love that even though the word “aromantic” wasn’t used, Yuu had an unambiguous conversation about being aromantic with a friend who is ALSO aromantic.

Four queer characters who are all friends and two queer supporting adults in a GL manga, we love to see it.