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Still Sick #3
Still Sick 3
The anticipated final volume of the whirlwind office romance is here!
Akane and Makoto grow closer, as Makoto is finally able to realize her dream with someone who loves her and believes in her by her side. Are the two women finally able to confess their feelings to one another?
Akane and Makoto grow closer, as Makoto is finally able to realize her dream with someone who loves her and believes in her by her side. Are the two women finally able to confess their feelings to one another?
257 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2020
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148 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
July 8, 2021
3/5 ⭐️
This was a good wrap up to the series. It tied everything together and the two could finally be happy with themselves and being with each other.
This was a good wrap up to the series. It tied everything together and the two could finally be happy with themselves and being with each other.
January 1, 2024
A lot better than the previous volumes, but I wish it had more romance 😭
January 30, 2023
Perfect ending. Gave me the happiest sigh at the end.
March 23, 2022
Comics aren’t something you can create by yourself, right? There are people who draw them... and people who read them.
I adored this!! Genuinely one of those 'my face hurts form smiling too much' type books. I'm so glad I read through this short little series today; it was light and sweet and poignant in all the ways I wanted, and it was just super heart-warming and fulfilling to see this romance play out. Shimizu and Maekawa are perfect for one another, and I liked the type of slice-of-life conflicts we see them through. The art style is reminiscent of a lot of other manga, sure, but that didn't make it any less pretty. I thought it was also really interesting to get a look at what it's liking writing and drawing and being edited and getting published as a mangaka. The whole process was enlightening. And again, I adored the plot thread of both women becoming more comfortable and demonstrative in their sexuality. There are a few panels that had me clutching my chest! Their HEA was so wonderful!
Just... super sweet, really wholesome. I'm smiling my head off. Very tempted to trash my reading plans for the week and go look up some more yuri manga.
August 20, 2025
While I enjoyed this series, I really struggled to understand Maekawa for a lot of it. I wouldn't quite say I disliked her, but also... I kind of disliked her. She did grow a bit though so I didn't mind her as much at the end.
October 6, 2024
I love this manga so much!! Such a great, wonderful journey for both Shimizu and Maekawa together! So sad that this is the end, but I fully enjoyed this cute story! Definitely recommend!
January 13, 2022
I loved this series so much it was cool and interesting it talks alot about drawing and other things.
July 31, 2022
j'ai adoré cette série. les personnages sont touchants, chacun à leur façon. cette histoire est douce, et positive. ça fait du bien de lire ce genre de manga !
December 14, 2021
Yeah, I decided to go ahead and finish the series, despite my earlier ambivalence about doing so. What can I say? They're quick reads, and I wanted closure. I like the ending, but I still am no fan of Maekawa, and I wish that Shimizu's interest in creating doujinshi had gotten more than a sentence or two of space in the plot. Shimizu was the star of the series for me all the way through. And while her relationship with Maekawa did grow into something better than what it started as, I couldn't shake the feeling that Shimizu deserves a girlfriend who's less selfish.
August 9, 2022
Crier pleurer etc tellement ce tome fait du baume au coeur, tout simplement incroyable et vraiment trop heureuse de voir les personnages évoluer comme ça
April 9, 2022
This one was much better. I felt like both behaved as adults and grew as people. Maekawa learned to not be so cruel. The ending was sweet. I don't regret this series.
December 6, 2020
I'm a wreck. I was so overwhelmed I cried through the last two chapters. Still Sick is such a wonderful series full of love and heart. I loved reading about the characters personal growth along with their relationship become deeper and more serious. The characters while fun and quirky are so painfully realistic and relatable. The conflicts were dynamic but never over dramatic, more a realistic escalation and miscommunication became humans are cowards and complicated. Ah! This series is so precious and the characters are so flawed and adorable and it made me so happy. My girls have grown so much and the ending was so nice.
The genuine discussion on creativity and burn out of artists and the meta narrative of yuri manga and fandom and the mangaka who create the stories. It was so moving and fascinating.
Highly recommend this volume and the series as a whole.
The genuine discussion on creativity and burn out of artists and the meta narrative of yuri manga and fandom and the mangaka who create the stories. It was so moving and fascinating.
Highly recommend this volume and the series as a whole.
June 7, 2022
Me ha encantado la historia: sí, la relación entre ellas es importante, pero no lo es todo. Tienen sus trabajos, sus aficiones y familia. Me gusta también cómo las apoyaban y valoraban en en trabajo, y a Akane en la editorial.
Una buena historia contada a buen ritmo y en la cantidad justa de tomos.
Una buena historia contada a buen ritmo y en la cantidad justa de tomos.
July 31, 2021
'Still Sick' wraps up very sweetly in vol 3, as now that they've committed to each other, Akane and Makoto have to figure out how to sort out their professional lives as a manga artist and office worker. It's good and supportive and overall just really cute!
December 31, 2021
3.5 stars...I liked this volume a little better than the 2nd volume and appreciated how it wrapped things up. That said...this isnt something I think I'm ever going to was to reread which is why I'm rounding down to 3 stars. It was fine...but I cant say it will be especially memorable for me.
January 16, 2021
Akane and Makino sort their relationship out, but now they’ve got to deal with Makino’s return to manga, bumps in the road, what will happen at their jobs, and how things will look in the future. It’s time for the last volume of Still Sick!
So, it’s interesting - Makino kind of ran away with this series as it focused on her sorting herself out and getting back into manga. I’m not sure if that was a ‘write what you know’ situation or the plan all along, but it leans hard into it once again.
While I was iffy on it in the second book, I did like it here because it’s used to show the ways Makoto is growing and benefiting from her relationship with Akane. The latter doesn’t get much time in terms of her hobby, but she comes to the fore as a strong, dependable partner.
Akane certainly has it together more in the daily life side of things, but she’s also just learning to share her life with another person. There’s a lot of friction and messy feelings between the two - Makoto’s new editor inadvertently causes problems and Makoto doesn’t help by not explaining anything.
Still, these two feel more believable because they’re messy and still fight even as they come to love one another. Akane and Makoto feel far more believable than a LOT of yuri protagonists. To say nothing of the great way this book tackles actual (to my understanding) lesbian problems in Japan. Both scenes involving their respective parents are quite special.
The art’s not great, some of the dialogue feels like it doesn’t translate as well as it should and, yes, Makoto is definitely prone to lashing out because of her frustration. It can be a bit much, she’s not angel, but it also makes her more believable and complex as a character.
3.5 stars, it’s narratively a bit pointy at the start, but (wo)man does it ever stick that landing. I felt like this book ended in a really good place and it felt earned (and the bonus manga where Akane complains that it wasn’t horny enough is amazing).
The other three volume yuri I read recently was Goodbye, My Rose Garden and that was the superior series until it fell on its face at the finale. This one got better as it went and ended so strong that I can’t deny it an equal score overall. A great ending counts for a lot.
So, it’s interesting - Makino kind of ran away with this series as it focused on her sorting herself out and getting back into manga. I’m not sure if that was a ‘write what you know’ situation or the plan all along, but it leans hard into it once again.
While I was iffy on it in the second book, I did like it here because it’s used to show the ways Makoto is growing and benefiting from her relationship with Akane. The latter doesn’t get much time in terms of her hobby, but she comes to the fore as a strong, dependable partner.
Akane certainly has it together more in the daily life side of things, but she’s also just learning to share her life with another person. There’s a lot of friction and messy feelings between the two - Makoto’s new editor inadvertently causes problems and Makoto doesn’t help by not explaining anything.
Still, these two feel more believable because they’re messy and still fight even as they come to love one another. Akane and Makoto feel far more believable than a LOT of yuri protagonists. To say nothing of the great way this book tackles actual (to my understanding) lesbian problems in Japan. Both scenes involving their respective parents are quite special.
The art’s not great, some of the dialogue feels like it doesn’t translate as well as it should and, yes, Makoto is definitely prone to lashing out because of her frustration. It can be a bit much, she’s not angel, but it also makes her more believable and complex as a character.
3.5 stars, it’s narratively a bit pointy at the start, but (wo)man does it ever stick that landing. I felt like this book ended in a really good place and it felt earned (and the bonus manga where Akane complains that it wasn’t horny enough is amazing).
The other three volume yuri I read recently was Goodbye, My Rose Garden and that was the superior series until it fell on its face at the finale. This one got better as it went and ended so strong that I can’t deny it an equal score overall. A great ending counts for a lot.
July 13, 2022
How to cure lovesickness
You know...for a series called "Still Sick" there is very little sickness to be found within. Certainly one might consider the suffering both Maekawa and Shimizu go through as they feel each other out in this three part story to be some kind of lovesickness and others might even consider that society at a whole would consider the feelings the two of them develop to be an entirely different and less welcomed type of sickness as seen by the times they are cautious about how they act in the public eye or how much they let others know about their budding relationship. Honestly as the story started I thought it was going to be more about Shimizu who could be getting a little reckless thanks to her obsessive doujinshi hobby leading to Maekawa who becomes interested in her work and helps her so she does not make herself sick with the effort (maybe she would call out sick to make a deadline.) No, instead Maekawa whose troubled past and less positive outlooks in life became more of a focus as her past is revealed and her more aggressive stances continued to challenge Shimizu's own beliefs in what is acceptable for real girl love. Alas my version of the story is very much what fan fictions and alternative realities are for though. :)
All in all this series is not a simple one as Akashi not only weaves a believable tale of two women exploring their own feelings toward one another but also through them a society that is not usually accepting of same sex couples and how their pasts affect how the relationship goes (though once again this is mostly Maekawa's past and the choices that have lead to where she goes from here.)
Although there are more risque moments in this book thanks to the acceptance of feelings shared by both women this series could have gotten even more mature as they discover and experience this new experience as their relationship took on a more physical aspect. Thankfully the mangaka wanted to make sure the loose ends to the story were tied up and realized physical relations were only part of a relationship whole as these ladies prepare for the future and all it has in store for them.
You know...for a series called "Still Sick" there is very little sickness to be found within. Certainly one might consider the suffering both Maekawa and Shimizu go through as they feel each other out in this three part story to be some kind of lovesickness and others might even consider that society at a whole would consider the feelings the two of them develop to be an entirely different and less welcomed type of sickness as seen by the times they are cautious about how they act in the public eye or how much they let others know about their budding relationship. Honestly as the story started I thought it was going to be more about Shimizu who could be getting a little reckless thanks to her obsessive doujinshi hobby leading to Maekawa who becomes interested in her work and helps her so she does not make herself sick with the effort (maybe she would call out sick to make a deadline.) No, instead Maekawa whose troubled past and less positive outlooks in life became more of a focus as her past is revealed and her more aggressive stances continued to challenge Shimizu's own beliefs in what is acceptable for real girl love. Alas my version of the story is very much what fan fictions and alternative realities are for though. :)
All in all this series is not a simple one as Akashi not only weaves a believable tale of two women exploring their own feelings toward one another but also through them a society that is not usually accepting of same sex couples and how their pasts affect how the relationship goes (though once again this is mostly Maekawa's past and the choices that have lead to where she goes from here.)
Although there are more risque moments in this book thanks to the acceptance of feelings shared by both women this series could have gotten even more mature as they discover and experience this new experience as their relationship took on a more physical aspect. Thankfully the mangaka wanted to make sure the loose ends to the story were tied up and realized physical relations were only part of a relationship whole as these ladies prepare for the future and all it has in store for them.
April 20, 2025
very sweet and a strong end to the series! this yuri had a lot of depth and the relationship between the two women was explicit instead of implied which i loved because sometimes you just don’t get that in yuri. they also actually talk about the future and how being in a lesbian relationship will affect that, which is quite rare in yuri. i enjoyed the dynamic between shimizu and maekawa; the part where they both got super toxic and jealous was kind of a lot all at once but they resolved it by ACTUALLY COMMUNICATING GASP… overall this is a very strong yuri with a well-developed relationship that ends with the cohabitating and committing to spending their lives together. i think this is kind of a perfect yuri because of everything i’ve mentioned in my reviews (actual established relationship, discussion about being lesbian, strong character development, etc) i just had some small issues with a couple plot points but nothing that was too distracting or severe. thoughout this third volume, it’s revealed that shimizu kissing maekawa “as a joke” was actually because she was unsure of what her feelings for maekawa and didn’t realize how genuine they were which makes more sense the further you get into volume 3 so i’ve decided that i won’t hold that plot point against the book (but i STILL hate it as a plot device it’s so bad…) i would recommend this yuri to anyone who wants a short yuri with a little drama and more actual relationship than slow burn!!!! additionally, both characters are well-developed and the plot is as much about maekawa returning to her love of being a manga artist as it was about the relationship between maekawa and shimizu. i loved that they actually got together by the start of vol 3 instead of waiting until the very end of the last volume to be together which… it happens more often than you’d think… solid 4/5 overall. very cute.
September 24, 2022
I like this final volume slightly more than the previous two, but overall I have to admit I feel kind of meh about the series in general. The most exciting and emotive part of the whole story was when Shimizu thought Maekawa was cheating on her, and even that was resolved fairly quickly (which is a blessing, don’t get me wrong - there’s nothing worse than a long, drawn out misunderstanding that could easily be solved with a simple conversation - but it kind of highlighted how bland the rest of the story was).
Still Sick was a sweet story in its way - it has lots of cute moments, there’s no denying that, but from where I’m standing there’s not a lot of substance. The stakes are low, there’s very little in the way of conflict, and what there is feels forced, manufactured or ultimately pointless. And I’m sorry to say, but neither of the characters were particularly compelling to me - actually, if anything they were slightly off-putting considering they were supposed to be fully grown adult women but they acted like a pair of teenagers a lot of the time (maybe that’s just the manga style throwing me off, but it was distracting as hell regardless).
I didn’t not like Still Sick - it was perfectly serviceable. But it’s not something I can see myself revisiting, and I don’t think I’d have been particularly missing anything if I hadn’t read it.
Still Sick was a sweet story in its way - it has lots of cute moments, there’s no denying that, but from where I’m standing there’s not a lot of substance. The stakes are low, there’s very little in the way of conflict, and what there is feels forced, manufactured or ultimately pointless. And I’m sorry to say, but neither of the characters were particularly compelling to me - actually, if anything they were slightly off-putting considering they were supposed to be fully grown adult women but they acted like a pair of teenagers a lot of the time (maybe that’s just the manga style throwing me off, but it was distracting as hell regardless).
I didn’t not like Still Sick - it was perfectly serviceable. But it’s not something I can see myself revisiting, and I don’t think I’d have been particularly missing anything if I hadn’t read it.
October 22, 2025
⭐3.5
Much better than the previous two volumes, a bit more balanced, had SOME concequences for Maekawa and Shimizu's issues finally got (somewhat) acknowledged.
That being said, Shimizu's still a pushover, mostly on the sidelines cheering on as usual, gets some career/life goals but her own art and hobbies barley get mentioned.
Their relationship is healthier than before but I'm not impressed by Maekawa, it's still all about her and her journey, she basically replaced Shimizu as the main protagonist this volume and Shimizu's explanation for being ok with a relationship like that felt very.. unfinished. That girl has issues that got ignored in favor of yet another chapter about the struggles of creating manga.
Matter of fact this series is more about struggling as a mangaka than romance, so the end didn't feel particularly earned imo. Some of the romantic scenes worked for me, others didn't. It's a mix of lack of chemistry and weirdly written dialog, but every now and then they actually felt like people in love. Crazy I know.
Don't think I'll ever come back to this story hm.
cw: sexual content, lesbophobia, violence (mostly for comedy, getting pushed or hit in the face with an object), toxic friendship, mentions of cheating
Much better than the previous two volumes, a bit more balanced, had SOME concequences for Maekawa and Shimizu's issues finally got (somewhat) acknowledged.
That being said, Shimizu's still a pushover, mostly on the sidelines cheering on as usual, gets some career/life goals but her own art and hobbies barley get mentioned.
Their relationship is healthier than before but I'm not impressed by Maekawa, it's still all about her and her journey, she basically replaced Shimizu as the main protagonist this volume and Shimizu's explanation for being ok with a relationship like that felt very.. unfinished. That girl has issues that got ignored in favor of yet another chapter about the struggles of creating manga.
Matter of fact this series is more about struggling as a mangaka than romance, so the end didn't feel particularly earned imo. Some of the romantic scenes worked for me, others didn't. It's a mix of lack of chemistry and weirdly written dialog, but every now and then they actually felt like people in love. Crazy I know.
Don't think I'll ever come back to this story hm.
cw: sexual content, lesbophobia, violence (mostly for comedy, getting pushed or hit in the face with an object), toxic friendship, mentions of cheating
November 30, 2024
Une belle fin à l'histoire, qui ne nous laisse pas, cependant, croire à un idylle sans hic.
Nos deux protagonistes se mettent en couple, et il s'agit ici de concilier les deux passions et deux capacités créatives d'une façon à ce que les deux soient satisfaites et puissent s'épanouir. Il est effectivement donné que les deux peuvent tout autant bien dessiner les mangas, cependant il est vrai dans les couples artistiques il y a de la jalousie, de la compétition et de la collaboration dans certains cas.
Ici on entrevoit un conflit qui se résout de manière la plus heureuse et la meilleure pour les deux - chacune fait ce qu'elle sait exprimer et faire le mieux, et ce que les lecteurs apprécient le plus, et le comble du positif - l'éditeur les écoute également! Il n'en est pas toujours le cas avec les vrais éditeurs et maisons d'éditions , mais ici tout se termine bien pour le bonheur de tous.
Nos deux protagonistes se mettent en couple, et il s'agit ici de concilier les deux passions et deux capacités créatives d'une façon à ce que les deux soient satisfaites et puissent s'épanouir. Il est effectivement donné que les deux peuvent tout autant bien dessiner les mangas, cependant il est vrai dans les couples artistiques il y a de la jalousie, de la compétition et de la collaboration dans certains cas.
Ici on entrevoit un conflit qui se résout de manière la plus heureuse et la meilleure pour les deux - chacune fait ce qu'elle sait exprimer et faire le mieux, et ce que les lecteurs apprécient le plus, et le comble du positif - l'éditeur les écoute également! Il n'en est pas toujours le cas avec les vrais éditeurs et maisons d'éditions , mais ici tout se termine bien pour le bonheur de tous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2022
The story of closeted nerds and their occasionally-office romance continues and concludes in this volume. The series as a whole was more lighthearted than I expected from the "colleague discovers the secret you REALLY don't want brought up at work" premise.
Adult characters are a plus. They have their foibles and flaws, but they're both (young) adults who are competent in their jobs and lives, so at least here you don't get the messiness of teenage school stories, where everything spills into everything else. The struggles they deal with are how to have a relationship--how do each of them want to be, to act, are they OK with the other person. How do their feel about the trajectory of their lives? (Especially Maekawa, whose past struggles with art before she took her current office job weigh heavily on her mind and her sense of self.)
It is, overall, a cute love story.
Adult characters are a plus. They have their foibles and flaws, but they're both (young) adults who are competent in their jobs and lives, so at least here you don't get the messiness of teenage school stories, where everything spills into everything else. The struggles they deal with are how to have a relationship--how do each of them want to be, to act, are they OK with the other person. How do their feel about the trajectory of their lives? (Especially Maekawa, whose past struggles with art before she took her current office job weigh heavily on her mind and her sense of self.)
It is, overall, a cute love story.
February 5, 2024
A sweet conclusion to Maekawa and Shimizu story.
I really enjoyed that we got to see them being a couple and dealing with couple issues like learning how to communicate with each other. Their development as both individuals characters and as a couple was great.
I really enjoyed that we got to see them being a couple and dealing with couple issues like learning how to communicate with each other. Their development as both individuals characters and as a couple was great.
July 29, 2022
The final book in the series sees jealously, trouble at the printing house, worry about a possible romance with someone else and, eventually, the resolution of the entire series.
This has been a very tasteful series with a lot of focusing on love and kissing but without the blatant sexuality that so many similar books have. It emphasizes some of the best qualities of a relationship between two people who seem to be very nice people, hard workers and still have their dreams. Definitely worth reading.
This has been a very tasteful series with a lot of focusing on love and kissing but without the blatant sexuality that so many similar books have. It emphasizes some of the best qualities of a relationship between two people who seem to be very nice people, hard workers and still have their dreams. Definitely worth reading.
April 17, 2025
This final volume wrapped up the story well. Maekawa is (eventually) more direct with Shimizu and they both figure out what they want with their careers and in their relationship.
March 24, 2025
*Review for the series*
This is a solid story. It’s got some twists and turns that not everyone will like but honesty I didn’t see it coming. I enjoyed this one. Yeah it’s a slow burn but it’s got some really sincere moments that are great. Lots of growth and self acceptance in this story (as a lot of lgbt+ stories have). Solid 8.5. Considering checking out the other stuff from the author l cause the artwork is solid and I enjoyed the story.
This is a solid story. It’s got some twists and turns that not everyone will like but honesty I didn’t see it coming. I enjoyed this one. Yeah it’s a slow burn but it’s got some really sincere moments that are great. Lots of growth and self acceptance in this story (as a lot of lgbt+ stories have). Solid 8.5. Considering checking out the other stuff from the author l cause the artwork is solid and I enjoyed the story.
August 3, 2022
1.7!
beginning was….ok but as the story continued it focused more on maekawa’s storyline which would’ve been fine if i actually liked her or her plot line lmao. not at all a fan of their relationship or the characters themselves. shimuzi’s charac was nice in the beginning tho it dwindled as the story continued.
beginning was….ok but as the story continued it focused more on maekawa’s storyline which would’ve been fine if i actually liked her or her plot line lmao. not at all a fan of their relationship or the characters themselves. shimuzi’s charac was nice in the beginning tho it dwindled as the story continued.
February 20, 2023
This conclusion truly saved the series for me because the other two volumes made me want to rip my hair out. Shimizu and Maekawa were so cute at the end of the book and we were robbed of them being cute the entire time!
Also…why is it called Still Sick?? Throughout the whole series, neither one of them were sick!
Also…why is it called Still Sick?? Throughout the whole series, neither one of them were sick!
December 13, 2023
2 stars. This ending felt unearned and phony. Maekawa switched personalities AGAIN and I still hate her so, so much. Terrible and inconsistent character. No chemistry between her and Shimizu so the romance never did anything for me. I’m just glad to be done with this series. I didn’t like anything about it.
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