ランウェイで笑って 20 [Runway de Waratte 20]

Smile Down the Runway #20

by Kotoba Inoya, 猪ノ谷言葉

育人、美依、心、花丘、４人で始動した新ブランド。パリコレへと逸る育人だが、当面の目標は東京ファッションウィーク。勿論、実績なしの若手には大きな壁である。「Aphro I dite」という後ろ盾もなくＰＲひとつにも難航するが、そこへ飛び込んできたのは、とある映画制作の噂。ビッグチャンス獲得のため、千雪を巻き込み、美依は一か八かの賭けに出た！　２人の奮闘に、リーダー・育人は応えられるのか──！？

Genres: Manga, Shonen

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2021

Reviews

[Nicolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the story unfolds, Ikuto’s determination pays off, and he manages to get his own brand off the ground. He does not do it alone, but with friends and co-workers he met along the way, like Mii, Kokoro, and Hanaoka.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something has changed about the art this volume. Maybe it's a new assistant, or a new technology being used to make the book, but it's not up to the same quality. It's close enough that you know it's the same series but ever so slightly more "chibi" like, rounder, a bit more gloss and sheen and a bit less depth. There are some pages where there are some gripping and eye-catching moments, but overall the volume is ever so slightly disappointing to look at. Maybe it's an evolution of the art style that will smooth itself out but I'm noticing a difference from even volume 19's artwork.

The story itself is still solid. Mille Neige is being thrown through loops trying to keep its name in tact instead of merging directly into the Beyond umbrella, Ikuto is trying to get his brand off the ground, and Kokoro is having a crisis of faith trying to decide what to do next. After the past few volumes being about everyone figuring out their future path, or trying to reach the next level of their career, we have a volume of every character having grasped their big opportunity and scrambling to make it into a success. It's a bit like everyone is running in place, hoping they can meet the right deadline and take a big leap forward but delicately trying not to fall flat on their face before the starting gun.

Knowing that the series is so close to the end I hope we can start wrapping up some plots, or have some assurance as to what the big end game for everyone is. It feels like we're just starting a new arc, and setting up some big plots and moments, but are we actually drawing to a close? It's difficult seeing a path to victory here, or what a "victory" could even entail, almost like the series is rushing to pull everything together but unable to reconcile all the different trajectories and goals.

ALSO WHY IS ONE OF THE THINGS NAMED AFTER A SLUR? WHAT IS THE "*** MODE" EVENT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? Is this a quirk of translation, or an actual technical term, or what? I need to know why this was so important to keep in.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn its heating up

The last panel of the volume really squeezes the heart. This volume is more of a built up tougher next one but it had some fun build up moments with MC and kokoro

[Adam Sunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chapter 166-174