Takagi and Nishikata continue their unending contests of low-stakes brinkmanship, this time tackling topics like hide-and-seek, text messaging, and indirect kissing. Despite his best efforts, Nishikata never seems to get anywhere, but Takagi still hasn’t won what she really wants...
For a series that doesn’t have much fluctuation in its structure, it’s important to appreciate how much the context of these little stories has changed since the first volume.
Takagi used to just hint around about liking Nishikata, but she couldn’t be more obvious about it here. Not that he’s particularly helpful, as laser focused as he is on getting one up on her, but their slowly evolving relationship is one of the manga’s most satisfying parts.
Amusingly, the closest he ever gets is in the indirect kiss chapter, where he technically foils Takagi’s plan, much to her slightly concealed disappointment.
While many of these chapters are above average for the series (the texting one and the hide-and-seek I mentioned above are particular highlights), I was absolutely floored by the sneezing chapter in particular.
From the title card I wasn’t expecting much, but it breaks the series’ formula in this brilliantly realized take on the old saw that when you sneeze somebody is thinking about you.
The crux of the story sees one group of the cast mention somebody in another group, then the perspective switches over to the latter via a sneeze and it continues on from there. It’s as clever a conceit as I’ve read in a while and using it to check in on the relatively small supporting cast is a genius move. It’s 100% the reason this gets a full five stars.
On the downside, well, same as with every instalment. This book runs the risk every time of being too same-y because it’s basically doing the manga version of Charlie Brown kicking the football over and over. I’d have to say that these stories were a cut above even the last couple volumes though.
If you have liked the series to this point, I don’t think you’ll mind this one at all. It’s definitely a step up in quality and that sneezing chapter is a magnificent bit of storytelling all on its own.