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メジロバナの咲く [Mejirobana no Saku] #2
メジロバナの咲く 2
全寮制の女学園を舞台に、繊細かつ芯の強い描線でルビーとステフの深まる関係を軸に紡がれる著者初の長編ガールズラブ、待望の第2巻。
Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2021
6 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Asumiko Nakamura
81 books389 followersAsumiko NAKAMURA (中村明日美子) is a Japanese manga artist.
Born in 1979, she is one of Japan's hidden gems. The artist has penned a lot of titles since 2002 and has reached critical acclaim for her sensitive protrayals of romantic narratives featuring a wide range of characters - men and women, young and old. Nakamura has worked in a range of genres for an equally broad range of audinces winning recognition in every category.
Born in 1979, she is one of Japan's hidden gems. The artist has penned a lot of titles since 2002 and has reached critical acclaim for her sensitive protrayals of romantic narratives featuring a wide range of characters - men and women, young and old. Nakamura has worked in a range of genres for an equally broad range of audinces winning recognition in every category.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 19, 2022
This is such a beautiful riff on the Class S theme, something I appreciate even more since I'm reading Erica Friedman's study of yuri as a genre right now.
March 4, 2022
Ruby and Liz get a time-out for a little reflection that might thaw their relationship just a little. Or not. Steph learns the truth of Ruby’s situation, but even she might struggle to overcome the frilly doom about to be visited upon her friend…
Now I get it. Sometimes it just takes a second volume, you know? I didn’t dislike the first volume of this series, but it was an odd sort of duck. Not necessarily in a bad way, but I couldn’t quite get my head around it.
No such issues this time, where the story just bops along with all-girls-school melodrama and churning emotions and eeeeevil parents that make it feel more like a period drama than ever before. With girl crushes.
Let’s not neglect the art, which is stunning and far better than I gave it credit for last time. There’s a curved reflection shot in a glass that is gorgeous in its subtlety and the dynamic expressions and poses on display are a treat and a half. The emoting in this manga is some of the best I have ever seen.
Even the things in a story like this that would normally drive me bonkers - Liz and Steph’s relationship as non-blood-related sisters is taken exactly where it looked like it was headed - just feels like part of the sweep of the whole thing.
And talk about bad manga dads. When a classmate’s innocent joke proves to be horribly true, Ruby is caught between her dad and her scholarship, with Steph stuck in the middle. Does the boneheaded notion that ‘you’ll change when you meet boys’ get brought up? Bad. Manga. Dad. He’s more balanced than that, but I spent a lot of this volume glaring at him, so he still gets the title.
Of course, one man can’t hope to stand up to wily teenage girls with pluck and the solution to the problem is as grand a gesture as anything else, culminating in a lesson learned and one savage fake-out that I had completely fallen for.
The romance, such as it is, is very understated. I thought this was a two volume series, but it’s listed as ongoing, which is great because it feels like it’s barely even started. Definitely where Steph and Ruby are concerned, though things are starting to pick up steam. Steph is thawing that little bit and Ruby is, well, very Ruby.
All the leads get a lot more to do and to be this time around, whether it’s Ruby and Steph arguing over Ruby’s dad (Ruby, anybody who makes you wear that many frills IS evil) or the Ruby and Liz “friendship”, which gets a lot more development here and is one of my favourite pairings in this entire series. Everybody is getting more nuanced and that makes for a better story.
It has laughs, it has heart, it has tsundere, it has familial relations, it has a heavy deadline weighing on our heroine (who cannot seem to keep from flying through the air). If it ends here, it is actually a very satisfying two book arc, just low on the romance scale. Thankfully it seems like it’ll keep going.
4.5 stars - let’s just give it the 5, romance not even needed. It’s all the wild of the first volume, perfectly distilled to a great take on the traditional yuri boarding school. I love when my expectations are met, and I love it even more when they’re exceeded.
Now I get it. Sometimes it just takes a second volume, you know? I didn’t dislike the first volume of this series, but it was an odd sort of duck. Not necessarily in a bad way, but I couldn’t quite get my head around it.
No such issues this time, where the story just bops along with all-girls-school melodrama and churning emotions and eeeeevil parents that make it feel more like a period drama than ever before. With girl crushes.
Let’s not neglect the art, which is stunning and far better than I gave it credit for last time. There’s a curved reflection shot in a glass that is gorgeous in its subtlety and the dynamic expressions and poses on display are a treat and a half. The emoting in this manga is some of the best I have ever seen.
Even the things in a story like this that would normally drive me bonkers - Liz and Steph’s relationship as non-blood-related sisters is taken exactly where it looked like it was headed - just feels like part of the sweep of the whole thing.
And talk about bad manga dads. When a classmate’s innocent joke proves to be horribly true, Ruby is caught between her dad and her scholarship, with Steph stuck in the middle. Does the boneheaded notion that ‘you’ll change when you meet boys’ get brought up? Bad. Manga. Dad. He’s more balanced than that, but I spent a lot of this volume glaring at him, so he still gets the title.
Of course, one man can’t hope to stand up to wily teenage girls with pluck and the solution to the problem is as grand a gesture as anything else, culminating in a lesson learned and one savage fake-out that I had completely fallen for.
The romance, such as it is, is very understated. I thought this was a two volume series, but it’s listed as ongoing, which is great because it feels like it’s barely even started. Definitely where Steph and Ruby are concerned, though things are starting to pick up steam. Steph is thawing that little bit and Ruby is, well, very Ruby.
All the leads get a lot more to do and to be this time around, whether it’s Ruby and Steph arguing over Ruby’s dad (Ruby, anybody who makes you wear that many frills IS evil) or the Ruby and Liz “friendship”, which gets a lot more development here and is one of my favourite pairings in this entire series. Everybody is getting more nuanced and that makes for a better story.
It has laughs, it has heart, it has tsundere, it has familial relations, it has a heavy deadline weighing on our heroine (who cannot seem to keep from flying through the air). If it ends here, it is actually a very satisfying two book arc, just low on the romance scale. Thankfully it seems like it’ll keep going.
4.5 stars - let’s just give it the 5, romance not even needed. It’s all the wild of the first volume, perfectly distilled to a great take on the traditional yuri boarding school. I love when my expectations are met, and I love it even more when they’re exceeded.
July 22, 2022
還以為這部的英文會很難
其實也還好，不太需要查字典
劇情到目前為止還算甜啦
但中村明日美子不熟
只知道他的BL很厲害
不曉得他喜歡HE還BE????
最後要說東立你ㄊㄇ...
害我要花貴鬆鬆的錢看英文
其實也還好，不太需要查字典
劇情到目前為止還算甜啦
但中村明日美子不熟
只知道他的BL很厲害
不曉得他喜歡HE還BE????
最後要說東立你ㄊㄇ...
害我要花貴鬆鬆的錢看英文
January 1, 2026
Los romances de instituto no son lo mío pero esta historia lo compensa bastante para mí con el estilo de dibujo! Si no fuera yuri seguramente nunca la hubiera empezado pero quiero seguir apoyando a las editoriales que publican yuri así que 100% continuaré :)
March 26, 2022
This series is EVERYTHING. I loved every second I spent reading this volume. Absolutely incredible!
November 26, 2022
4☆ Review:
I’m so glad that I liked this volume more than the first! In this one, Ruby is still preparing for the scholarship exam when her father removes her from school and puts her on house arrest due to his own selfish reasons. Steph shows up at her house and continues to tutor her while they think of how to get her back to school.
I was hoping for an epilogue, but it seems we don’t know if this is the final volume or if there will be a volume three in the future. I enjoyed the ending to this, but would love another volume of them!
I’m so glad that I liked this volume more than the first! In this one, Ruby is still preparing for the scholarship exam when her father removes her from school and puts her on house arrest due to his own selfish reasons. Steph shows up at her house and continues to tutor her while they think of how to get her back to school.
I was hoping for an epilogue, but it seems we don’t know if this is the final volume or if there will be a volume three in the future. I enjoyed the ending to this, but would love another volume of them!
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November 13, 2022Good but i wish it was longer 😣 also steph and liz’s relationship still confuses me
June 4, 2024
Didn't answer my question from last book but cute <33
April 14, 2025
Too much exams, not enough yuri
March 13, 2022
mmmm lovely. the art! the latin! the frilly dresses! the ending when steph got sick.. yes yes v good indeed. i love thèse characters, i just want them to kiiiiissssss
July 6, 2021
You know how I said after reading the first volume that I haven't arrived at that moment yet where I'm feeling both of the characters together? Like I like them both separately* but I wasn't sure I was buying the idea of their attraction to each other yet.
Well volume 2 delivered that in spades.
*I like Ruby the best so guess who was super happy when they found out the toranoana benefit was a Ruby illustration card?
In volume 2 we see Ruby's father come in and try to take custody of his daughter. Ruby is basically put under house arrest while Steph visits daily to help her study for the upcoming exam. There's some talk about the politics of divorce and how Ruby's father was breaking the law in keeping his daughter basically hostage at home. Again, there's that sense of realism (not the nitty gritty but more of, focusing on the mundane details that normally would have been too boring for classical yuri stories to have cared show) in the book which I do like since it gives us something new.
Ruby's insistence that her father is a good person despite maybe pushing the law a bit in trying to take his daughter away is so Ruby, and I really love that scene where Liz goes, 'Well he gave you that goodnight kiss. He seems like a good dad.' Because Ruby needed that reassurance, I forgive you for being such a brat in the earlier volume for that, Liz.
Ruby in her frilly civilian clothes is also super cute ☺
But most of all, we finally start seeing the chinks in Steph's armour and that's totally when I start buying into the two of them together. The last scene with the two of them is super cute. I look forward to the next installment with more hopes and enthusiasm than before.
Well volume 2 delivered that in spades.
*I like Ruby the best so guess who was super happy when they found out the toranoana benefit was a Ruby illustration card?
In volume 2 we see Ruby's father come in and try to take custody of his daughter. Ruby is basically put under house arrest while Steph visits daily to help her study for the upcoming exam. There's some talk about the politics of divorce and how Ruby's father was breaking the law in keeping his daughter basically hostage at home. Again, there's that sense of realism (not the nitty gritty but more of, focusing on the mundane details that normally would have been too boring for classical yuri stories to have cared show) in the book which I do like since it gives us something new.
Ruby's insistence that her father is a good person despite maybe pushing the law a bit in trying to take his daughter away is so Ruby, and I really love that scene where Liz goes, 'Well he gave you that goodnight kiss. He seems like a good dad.' Because Ruby needed that reassurance, I forgive you for being such a brat in the earlier volume for that, Liz.
Ruby in her frilly civilian clothes is also super cute ☺
But most of all, we finally start seeing the chinks in Steph's armour and that's totally when I start buying into the two of them together. The last scene with the two of them is super cute. I look forward to the next installment with more hopes and enthusiasm than before.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2025
This volume is focused on something that feels extremely trivial but is blown out of proportion (the main character staying in this school), while at the same time redeeming the father who is literally keeping his daughter locked up despite it being pointed out by the love interest as abusive and criminal.
April 22, 2024
For much of this volume, Ruby is in a "princess in the tower"-like situation when her father withdraws her from school and keeps her at his home, which conveniently is in the same town/city as the school is. This happens right as Ruby is in the middle of studying for the scholarship exam that would ensure her continued attendance. With the assistance of Steph, and a very reluctant Liz, and even dad's maid Alma, Ruby manages to escape and sit for the exam.
Ruby's surname has been changed to her mother's maiden name, which to me would indicate that her father isn't legally her primary guardian anymore. And here he is, pulling her out of school, very much against her wishes, and saying he'll take her to Italy to live with his extended family. Their relationship wasn't explored at all previous to this plot arc, so it came out of nowhere and felt contrived. But I could forgive that, especially when Liz arrives at dad's house, and she and Ruby bicker their way through Liz's part of the escape plot. Steph, of course, is the "prince" in this arc, to lightly comedic effect.
In the end, the girls and women are running the show, as is made evident in the latter part of the story. The school's uniform suits Ruby much better than the frilly dresses her dad gave her. There's either something about her character design that makes frills look awkward on her, or the body language Nakamura uses for her while wearing them had that effect. Or maybe it was both. That was a cool decision on Nakamura's part.
As an aside, I've gotten so used to dads being creepy toward their daughters in manga and anime, that I half-flinch whenever I see a scenario when a father and daughter are alone, and the mother is absent. Thankfully--and I can't emphasize that enough--I didn't get that vibe from this volume at all. The strongest impression I had was that he was overbearing, and oblivious to her feelings as he tried to mold her into the image of what a daughter in his family would be like.
Ruby's back in the fraught, ethereal refuge of the school. I wonder what her next crisis will be.
Ruby's surname has been changed to her mother's maiden name, which to me would indicate that her father isn't legally her primary guardian anymore. And here he is, pulling her out of school, very much against her wishes, and saying he'll take her to Italy to live with his extended family. Their relationship wasn't explored at all previous to this plot arc, so it came out of nowhere and felt contrived. But I could forgive that, especially when Liz arrives at dad's house, and she and Ruby bicker their way through Liz's part of the escape plot. Steph, of course, is the "prince" in this arc, to lightly comedic effect.
In the end, the girls and women are running the show, as is made evident in the latter part of the story. The school's uniform suits Ruby much better than the frilly dresses her dad gave her. There's either something about her character design that makes frills look awkward on her, or the body language Nakamura uses for her while wearing them had that effect. Or maybe it was both. That was a cool decision on Nakamura's part.
As an aside, I've gotten so used to dads being creepy toward their daughters in manga and anime, that I half-flinch whenever I see a scenario when a father and daughter are alone, and the mother is absent. Thankfully--and I can't emphasize that enough--I didn't get that vibe from this volume at all. The strongest impression I had was that he was overbearing, and oblivious to her feelings as he tried to mold her into the image of what a daughter in his family would be like.
Ruby's back in the fraught, ethereal refuge of the school. I wonder what her next crisis will be.
September 2, 2023
Didn’t read the 1st but love the glassy eyes and heart-shape faces. The exaggerated puff of dresses is silly though, like Miss Fanny from that Pixar movie Robots. The inciting incident where they wind up bruised and borderline expelled, we don’t see, so it’s rather anticlimactic. The little blonde sis confessing in sleeptalk that she’s jealous is far-fetched. Plenty of manga is only good at drawing one sex and the men will look homogenous but Ruby’s dad looks realistic and uniquely handsome (sort of like Victor from Corpse Bride) for his age and features. The tall blonde reminds me of Taylor Momson and Ruby of an Enchanted Doll.
Though it sounds interesting the story is about Ruby’s dad taking her out of school to “kidnap” her after a miserable divorce, it is not. Her dad is too caring and wealthy and we see nothing of the mother or divorce, or why he dislikes the semi-expensive school she goes to now he’s not paying for. A whole book about prepping for a Latin exam is rather dry. There was potential in the sleepover scene but this book is incredibly PG. You forget it’s yuri let alone romance at all. Also, it’s dumb she’s never ridden a bike yet can escape on one. Even with practice, I can’t—let alone zoom through a huge yard under a time crunch. I would not read another installment, but hope the author draws another series or hires a writer so she can focus on art.
Though it sounds interesting the story is about Ruby’s dad taking her out of school to “kidnap” her after a miserable divorce, it is not. Her dad is too caring and wealthy and we see nothing of the mother or divorce, or why he dislikes the semi-expensive school she goes to now he’s not paying for. A whole book about prepping for a Latin exam is rather dry. There was potential in the sleepover scene but this book is incredibly PG. You forget it’s yuri let alone romance at all. Also, it’s dumb she’s never ridden a bike yet can escape on one. Even with practice, I can’t—let alone zoom through a huge yard under a time crunch. I would not read another installment, but hope the author draws another series or hires a writer so she can focus on art.
January 19, 2024
4 stars. Much better! I really liked this volume. Ruby’s dad pretty much takes her out of school after the fight and keeps her locked in his mansion. He wasn’t an awful man but the way he went about everything was completely wrong. Steph comes over consistently to not only check on Ruby but to help her study for the scholarship exams which was nice because it gave us a glimpse of Steph’s softer side. Even Liz helps out in the grand plan of getting Ruby to the exam and I thought that was a great character moment for her as well. Overall, I’m glad I continued on and I really hope volume three will be out soon.
August 15, 2024
Hay algo tan lindo y refrescante en ver su arte e historia girar en torno al romance de dos mujeres y cómo estás se relacionan con sus amigas y tienen sus vidas y aventuras!!
La verdad me asusté un poco con todo lo que incluía al papá porque conociendo sus obras nunca se sabe, pero agradecida de que nada raro pasó hasta ahora.
Historia ligera y muy entretenida de leer, también es una lectura muy rápida.
Ansiosa por el tercer tomo y también por que la saquen en físico para agregarla a mi colección de Nakamura asumiko jiji
La verdad me asusté un poco con todo lo que incluía al papá porque conociendo sus obras nunca se sabe, pero agradecida de que nada raro pasó hasta ahora.
Historia ligera y muy entretenida de leer, también es una lectura muy rápida.
Ansiosa por el tercer tomo y también por que la saquen en físico para agregarla a mi colección de Nakamura asumiko jiji
September 18, 2024
We see how it continues after the fight that Liz and Ruby had their fight. Plus, Ruby's dad is being an absolute dickwad and I just loved how everyone tried their best to help out Ruby and get her to ace that exam. I was at first not entirely happy with how everything was resolved, but I guess I will take it. I hope that next time there will be more moments between Steph and Ruby, because I need it!
The art just stays my absolute favourite!
The art just stays my absolute favourite!
May 13, 2022
It’s been a year since I first read the first volume but I wasn’t too confused at all reading it. I just kinda forgot how the first volume ended.
Reading this just made me want the next volume but I don’t see anything about it online. I will just have to wait impatiently for it.
Steph clearly has feelings for Ruby. Still unsure of her relationship with the other girl.
Reading this just made me want the next volume but I don’t see anything about it online. I will just have to wait impatiently for it.
Steph clearly has feelings for Ruby. Still unsure of her relationship with the other girl.
December 25, 2022
I feel like this series has been underwhelming so far…I don’t feel connected to these characters and I didn’t like how easily ruby’s father was redeemed. whatever’s going on between liz and steph has been weird and uncomfortable also. I might read the next volume when it comes out but I don’t have very high hopes for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2022
lol there's some weird family stuff going on with Liz and Steph (and the headmistress). none of it was ever explained.
But let's be real we wanted to see more romantic interaction between Ruby and Steph instead of all the questionable parenting going on.
3.5 stars
But let's be real we wanted to see more romantic interaction between Ruby and Steph instead of all the questionable parenting going on.
3.5 stars
July 15, 2022
Such a unique, fascinating tale.
Oh, the drama within the walls of a private, gated dormschool for girls. Everyone of importance is trying to help Ruby stay at the school with the girl she's falling in love with. This really is an interesting story. I highly recommend it.
Oh, the drama within the walls of a private, gated dormschool for girls. Everyone of importance is trying to help Ruby stay at the school with the girl she's falling in love with. This really is an interesting story. I highly recommend it.
March 28, 2022
I don’t know what’s going on with Liz and Steph… but Steph and Ruby are so cute. I love Stephs coldness
May 23, 2022
such a sweet series!!
June 18, 2022
Lovely art, an easy read to slip into.
August 22, 2022
kocham te mange, ale czemu relacja steph i jej przybranej siostry musi byc taka dziwna 😭
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January 12, 2023撇開讀到一半的日常運動，這本其實就是我的 2022 最後一本書，真的是喜歡中村明日美子奇妙的氛圍。希望 2023 有機會讀一讀同級生系列
January 31, 2024
10/10
IM GONNA SCREAAAAM I LOVE GOOD GLS THEY MAKE ME FEEL ALIVE. i really wish they had kissed though but I'll take it. I loved the setting, the pace and all the characters sm
IM GONNA SCREAAAAM I LOVE GOOD GLS THEY MAKE ME FEEL ALIVE. i really wish they had kissed though but I'll take it. I loved the setting, the pace and all the characters sm
April 26, 2024
The stakes are a bit higher in this volume, but it still expects all the heavy lifting to come from the reader being Very Familiar with most cliche of story twist tropes of the genre
May 16, 2024
Oh I love the continuation of Ruby's story and her drive to stay at the school! And her reason for staying is on board with helping her achieve her dream!!! Which we love to see!!!
August 22, 2024
(Rating: 3.5/5)
The story has a lot of good parts, I just wish they would start working together! It kinda feels like we’re only half as good as we could be.
The story has a lot of good parts, I just wish they would start working together! It kinda feels like we’re only half as good as we could be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews