Hinako wants to get closer to Asahi, but there is still a lot she needs to work out. What will happen when she turns to Fuuka in her time of need? And how will Fuuka handle her own feelings for Asahi?
I am loving this manga series and these characters so much! I’m not sure if they identify as asexual, or if they’re discovering their asexuality, but I really relate to a lot of what they were saying in this volume. 🥹 I can’t wait to read the last volume!
I'm really enjoying this series, but I must admit that with this particular installment, it makes me nervous that we only have one more volume left. There feels as though there is a lot more storytelling left and so I'm concerned that Usui doesn't have enough pages to tell the complete story. Nevertheless, this volume was interesting and complex. There isn't much that I can say due to spoilers. I read what I think was alluding to asexual representation with a particular character and I'm interested in seeing how Usui develops this character and their relationships. Overall, this was another solid installment and I'm intrigued to see how the final volume will wrap up the story.
This series does a lot of things right, but one of the best is how with this volume it really begins to explore the differences between be asexual but not aromantic and to raise the possibility that Asahi is on the demi-sexual end of the ace spectrum - she didn't feel sexually (or just physically) attracted until she was already emotionally invested/attracted. It's not something that gets much attention or representation, and to see it in a distinctly Sapphic story is especially good: not everyone who is in love wants sex, and that's perfectly valid.
A romantic rival is ready to shake up the slow and steady "will they or won't they" limbo of the first two volumes.
I'm coming back to this series after two and a half years as my local library only had the first two volumes for the longest time. But the last two books suddenly appeared in the catalog, and I have the conclusion cued up for tomorrow.
Both Asahi and Hinako are gradually discovering what it means to love and care for the other while trying to accept that maybe it is okay that their own definitions of "love" is vastly different to that imposed by society and media.
It seems like there is some exploration regarding sexuality (potential representation for asexual sapphics), so I am very excited for the next and final volume!
Hinako is dealing with the idea of what love is and how it pertains to her relationship with Asahi. When Subaru acts up, Asahi decides to run away from home (you heard me) and she and Hinako grow even closer. Which completely explains why Asahi ends up on a date… with Fuuka…
Well, Hinako is still trying to figure herself out the same way that Asahi is, now that the latter is considering things that she never had time to consider before, apparently, but with somebody equally unsure of exactly what love means. There’s a story of identity here, with a side order of ‘maybe it doesn’t matter if you define a thing’.
This is a cozy, cozy story. Fuuka decides that she’s finally tired of watching her chances drift by and she can see Asahi changing, and knows exactly why, even if her long-time crush does not. Asahi and Hinako continue to be the place where the two women feel most at peace and that isn’t changing for them (and can be very cute at times).
Thus, even as all four of our leads cling together in a somewhat uneasy companionship, Fuuka makes her move and takes Asahi out to show her what love and dating are all about. And Asahi is aided by Hinako, who helps her pick out some new clothes ahead of the event.
No points for guessing which of these two one-on-ones is actually the most romantic, but it’s pretty obvious that even Fuuka is aware of her chances - she just doesn’t want to carry the regret of never having tried. Between that and her frenemy status with Hinako there’s some welcome nuance to what would otherwise be another case of pointless rival syndrome.
It’s all good stuff. But who cares? SUBARU!!!
Ahem.
Look, Subaru is still the best thing in this story and she is stealing every single scene the mangaka puts her in. I’ve rarely seen a secondary character just run away with everything, but she’s just so much more put together than the adults (and has far more grasp of what’s going on) and she’s just a delight.
No matter who she shares her page time with, Subaru is always going to be the most enjoyable character there and I also like the very subtle hints that she might just be nursing a long crush on Fuuka herself, speaking of unrequited feelings. One hundred percent I would read a spin-off just featuring her and her self-confidence.
This is a story that could be easily reconfigured to be high dramatics all the time, but it’s, you know, actually fairly adult about it all. It’s nice to see people talking about their problems and, while that gives the story a very sedate quality, it isn’t boring.
For some people it might be too slow, but those moments of the barely whispered admonishment or the, okay, admittedly ham-handed, symbolism (the moon conveniently hides behind clouds when it needs to represent something down below) are rather nice. Even when they don’t actually happen (that’s a bit of a nice touch too).
While the awkwardness continues between our leads, the path is at least becoming clearer, even if they aren’t quite ready to admit it. Between that and Subaru (SUBARU!) and what is essentially a wholesale justification for Fuuka and some great stuff with her, well, that’s a strong volume.
4 stars - a low-key, quiet story about not really understanding what love is, but finding the person who makes you want to figure it out. Next volume is the finalé and I feel like that’s about the perfect length for this.
Escogí leer esta historia porque estaba en mi lista y me llamó la atención la portada. ¿Quién diría que iba a encontrar varias partes de mi en los personajes? Me encanta como para dos personas con cero idea de lo que debe ser el amor o el contacto físico íntimo, les encante tanto tomarse de las manos.
Idealizar el amor no está mal pero hay veces donde nos topamos con que realmente el amor no se expresa solo de una forma, no debe ser como lo vemos en otras personas y está bien si nos cuesta. A veces solo una mirada, unas palabras o la presencia de alguien más es suficiente. Me encanta el progreso de Asahi y Hinako. No solo me veo en ellas, e incluso en Fuuka, sino siento que estoy aprendiendo algo. El cariño que se tienen es tan adorable.
Liebe glaube ich alles an dieser Grown Up Yuri Story. Konzepte von Aromantik/Asexualität, die Frauen im Berufsleben, das leckere Essen, die großartigen Outfits und das perfekte Harmonieren der beiden Frauen im Zentrum, dem selbst eine "Rivalin" nichts anhaben kann. Freue mich sehr auf den Finalband. ♥
Developments are made! Feelings are realised!! Absolutely love the direction they went with Fuuka, at least she got the one date in. And how supportive she is to Hinako is just 🥹 Also, the little hints to asexuality while still feeling romantic attraction are everything. It's all handled very well and I can't wait for them to actually get together (hopefully).
3.50 ⭐️ Not gonna lie, this volume kind of felt weak for me. I bet in the last volume they both come out as asexual because that's what Im getting at, for how Hinako wants to be closer to Asahi but doesn't feel the need to kiss her...? Yeah, Hinako you don't know it yet but you are ASEXUAL my girl. And Fuuka girl you deserve better.
Probably the weakest volume so far but only because I didn't like Fuuka's addition. Not that this volume was bad just not as good as the first two. And also sorry I didn't like Fuuka. I have seen the best friend character who actually had a crush on the lead way too much in yuri. Like I think this is the 3rd time? And usually I do feel bad for the friend but Fuuka? She's kinda unlikable and pathetic to me, but the characters act like she's great. So maybe it's just me. But Idk bro she's like getting drunk around a teenager (alone), at least she respected her crush's feelings I guess. But still rancid vibes from her. Though I will say she does kinda serve a function as adding to the theme of what really is love in this volume. However this series is still solid. I liked the sisters relationship explored here, Sato running away was funny and also a good ship tease moment for the leads. I really like how this series explores characters and romance equally. Also possible ace characters? I wonder if they're supposed to be homoromantic or what I'm interested to see where this goes.
Hinako deals with Fuuka confessing her romantic feelings for Asahi. As she tries to understand her feelings for Asahi (she loves her, but doesn't think she wants things like kissing and romance with her), she is jealous of Fuuka's relationship with Suburu and Asahi. It's an interesting dynamic as they all start to spend time with each other.
This volume digs more into Asahi's lack of romantic life. She spent so much of her life focused on and sacrificing for her sister, Suburu.
The ending of this volume makes me sad because apparently vol 4 is the last volume. I'm curious about how this series will end. It's certainly been enjoyable.
Okay... so we're getting closer to the possibility of Hinako being ace, but not aro – in fact actually a hopeless romantic, who gets more confident about it each day – and even Asahi could be a possible aro or demiromantic.
I really LOVED the parts where they thought what "love" is and how each character feels something else. Even if they don't turn out be aro or ace, but simply slow with love (which is not bad at all; even alloromantics/-sexuals can have their first relationship with 30), I'll still love how the author explores these feelings.
I also like that Fuuka could finally talk about her feelings.