Skip and Loafer, Vol. 5

スキップとローファー [Skip to Loafer] #5

by Misaki Takamatsu, Nicole Frasik (translator)

Endings and Beginnings

As fall turns into winter, Mitsumi and her friends say goodbye to the first half of their freshman year. Meanwhile, Mitsumi’s friendship with Shima-kun takes on a whole new depth.

Genres: Manga, Romance, Slice Of Life, Comics, Seinen, Young Adult, Graphic Novels

184 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2021

About the author

Name (in native Japanese): 高松美咲

Reviews

[syd]

can and will die for nao-chan

[Keiko, the manga enthusiast ♒︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing about this series is that it is very easy to recall. Each volume is separated by seasons connected to the feelings and events in the story. It is finally winter (associated with snow which is viewed romantically in some parts of Asia) and the kids are finally conscious of love and romance.

It is really a slow burn, but I love how the author is giving slowly giving signals to accepting LGBTQA. For instance, Nao and his past. Maybe hinting at being transgender in the present. And also, Murashige Yuzuki and Kurume Makoto's friendship that can lead to shoujo-ai (I'm definitely pushing this ship!)

This is really a gem, I tell you. Everyone's character arc is perfectly written. Aside from the pair-ups, I love the girls' circle so much!! I seriously got teary-eyed with Naoki's panels of him looking sad on the seaside slope. Augh, man, seriously I adore this series so much!! I'm afraid, is volume 6 the last one? I can't say goodbye yet!!


Edit:
Okay so, I tried to search on the internet to see whether this is still ongoing AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS ALREADY ANNOUNCED TO BE AN ANIMATED SERIES—WHAT? ARE YOU SERIOUS IT'S ALREADY PAST 3 AM PLEASE TELL ME IT'S TRUE I'M REALLY SLEEPY BUT GEEZ MOTHER GEESE NOW I HAVE TO SEARCH FOR THE TRAILER IF THERE'S ANY!! ADIOS!

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

God this series is a delight

[maya ☆ (aced her finals!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

this volume is about girlhood, mostly. i say mostly bcs in this volume, mitsumi and shima are starting to catch feelingssssssss im literally so happy, i could pass out at any given time. ofc spoilers ahead like come on neowwww

at first we opened with an update on most of the students, takamine is now president and mitsumi is vice-president of the student council and shima is trying out the drama club, finally at peace and lighter about it.

and then bro, everyone started making a ton of strides for girlhood!!! we've had girl talks, girl friendship/allyship, girls supporting and helping girls. all the talk about beauty, dating, attraction, romance and for some, trauma around peer pressure and popularity. i know i say everytime but murashige is such a girl's girl and i love her so much. there's also a little part where mitsumi questions herself is she was weird to never have had her interest piqued by fashion and all before she did, well after the rest of her girl classmates, you know, asking "when do you reach that age of being able to do older things" and ofc the answer is 'whenever you're ready' :) i rlly liked this part. started small and simple with nails. makoto did tooo and actually went on her first date, okay, a book date with honda!!!! it was rlly cute but she got a bit insecure but the author nudged us, honda thought she was cute and im so excited for them too!!

i rlly do appreciate that this volume pointed that trans girlhood is also girlhood. we leaned more into nao-chan's lore towards the end. all her old feelings of disconnect from country-side family and the fact didnt like children bcs she envied then little girls for being born into a body she wished. a sort of quiet mourning that she didn't get to have the girlhood she wished. but her mind pivotted away and started liking children again when mitsumi was just accepting her as she was, lowkey understanding as a child, and ofc she was a child so it was as validating as a child can be by giving you a flower bracelet and calling you super cute can be. to nao-chan, she was the first to support her girlhood.

also!!!!! thank you for finally cementing mukai as part of the boys we follow, i was rlly liking him!!! justice served!!!

on the boys' side, since it's christmas and the new year's soon, they go shopping for themselves but shima is rlly here for someone else - he wants to gift mitsumi a hand cream and all. his friends ask if he's dating mitsumi "as they had suspected" (rightfully so in my opinion). he denies bcs ofc and he is warned about how he might come across to mitsumi. the popular guy in school gifts a girl a gift? but in the end he buys it anyway, and after a night of bowling with friends, he gives it to her before mitsumi leaves for ikajima. he thinks back and ponders a bit and then!!!! as an answer, he thinks "i know i'm being narcissistic a bit because i wouldn't mind if she felt that way at all". YALL!!!! THE SCREAM I SCRUMPT!! it can never be replicated ever. im screaming, crying, shitting, throwing up in the best way possible ever, im going to puke rainbows and hearts and literally everything cute and romantic thing in the world. the turn of it had such a twist and i was expecting in like volume 8 instead, it was such a surprise, i loved it.

im so in love with this series, like please read it, like yas like do, you will love it!!!!

[Elena Coorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

✍️PUNTUACIÓN: 5/5 ⭐️

✍️LA TRAMA: El año académico avanza 👨‍🎓 y toca esforzarse y preparar con ganas los exámenes finales para después disfrutar de la navidad. 🎄
Mitsumi tendrá que esforzarse mucho para conseguir el puesto número uno, por lo que la vemos tanto luchar por sus metas y objetivos como disfrutar de unas vacaciones con la familia.🐶
Es en este momento de la narración cuando sabremos más de uno de mis personajes favoritos, su tía Naoki y del acoso que sufrió cuando era joven😢.
Por otro lado también avanza la relación entre Mitsumi y Sôsuke e incluso Makoto hará sus inicios en el mundo de las citas yendo a la librería con Korume, el chico que le gusta. 💕

✍️MI OPINIÓN: De este manga me gusta TODO. Me gusta la trama, simple y cotidiana, los personajes, tan diversos, reales y adorables; la narración, tranquila y sosegada, pero que jamás abre, las ilustraciones, cuidadas y monísimas, llenos de detalles y apariciones chibi. Siempre que la leo me siento agradecida de poder hacerlo.😍 Otro de los detalles que me encantan es que vemos una visión optimista sobre alguien que ha sufrido acoso y que, aunque lo denuncia, ha podido rehacer subida, seguir sus convicciones y construirse una realidad feliz, pese a su pasado, transmitiendo esperanza. 🪅

✍️QUÉ ENCONTRARÁS: Aventuras adolescentes en el instituto 🏫, la presión de los exámenes 🙇‍♂️, el valor de la amistad 👯‍♂️ y la importante de tener una buena autoestima y ver el potencial y el valor de uno mismo durante esta época tan crucial en la vida. 🌱

✍️UNA CITA: “Antes trabajaba en una oficina, entré recién graduada y sufrí tanto est´res que me puse enferma. Volví a casa de mis padres. Durante un tiempo parecía un zombi, pero de no haber pasado por aquello, no habría acabado trabajando de estilista. Ay, cómo es la vida, ¿eh?.”

Esta lectura siempre me aporta mucha calma y ternura y me siento siempre muy llena de paz al terminarla 😌
Y tú, ¿Te animas?💕

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skip and Loafer is an absolutely delightful manga! I am eager to see how Yuzuki and Kurume's relationship develops since I have a strong impression that something is about to happen. The relationship between Nao Chan and Mitsumi is also quite lovely. I can't wait for the episode where Nao Chan brings Mitsumi's friends to her birthplace.

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO FUCKING CUTE!!!!

This volume of Skip and Loafer is a fantastic read from start to finish. I love Mitsumi so much. Her hopefulness and "everything will work out" vibes really are everything. It's so relatable to see her questioning if she's actually in love, a totally fair question in teenage years. The focus on her friendships is wonderful, and on top of that, everything with Makoto made me adore her character. I truly hope she finds happiness and begins dating. The support the girls have for each other as they navigate high school is a joy to read.

The romantic tension in this volume is perfectly handled. Shima buying Mitsumi a gift was so fucking cute, and it's clear he has feelings for her. He's just trying to justify his own happiness, too, and he should be happy! BE HAPPY BOTH OF YOU! As their friendship deepens, he begins to grapple with his emotions, leading to a pivotal moment of self-awareness. It's a fantastic part of the story to see him take these small steps toward emotional honesty.

Another major highlight is Mitsumi's aunt, Nao. Her background nearly made me tear up, and her love for Mitsumi and why is so touching. Man, I love how they tackle subject matter with this character, adding an incredible emotional depth to the story. Overall, this is a fantastic freaking volume, a must read, and a 5 out of 5.

[Kesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though the art is not particularly great and the story is not as special I still can not help but look forward to read each next volume of Skip and Loafer. It's kind of calm, sweet and also humorous. Liked the sequence of the bowling game, it reminded me of myself.

[Katarzyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

plEASE
we're finally getting developement between them i love that
PLUS NAO CHANS STORY PLEASE (I forgive you miss Takamatsu for not including her in the previous one because this story was really good i love her and Mitsumi's relationship so much)

[◍❁ꌚꅐꍏꁅ❁◍ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Cecelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

this volume was perfect

[Andrea V · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 increíble no puedo esperar para seguir leyendo el manga y verlo animadooo, siento que ya se están desarrollando mucho mejor cada una de las relaciones qie van teniendo los personajes, que lindo ser adolecente y tener amigos y descubrí el amor

[Hesbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series 😭 I love how we really feel the passage of time through the changing seasons and holidays--it makes everything feel grounded and realistic. I'm so excited to see Mitsumi's Tokyo friends in her home town in the next volume!! (But the Toronto library only has up to this volume in their collection!! 😭😭 looks like I'll have to go to Indigo and sneakily read the next 5 volumes)

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m loving the direction that this manga is taking, I can’t wait to read the next volume ❤️

[jana ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

genuinely one of the most wholesome manga ive ever read. the characters have so much depth, everyone is so lovable, the friendships are so real and so sweet and ugh i love it so much ❤️‍🩹

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nao-chan 😭😭😭

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really interesting volume! I think the discussion of romance and the expectations that come with it is very realistic. It always bothers me as an adult to read about how teenagers who only have a crush on others are 'in love with them' because looking back, that made me think that the singular two people I kind of had a crush on in high school (hello aroace) meant that I was in love with them, and that ended in a shitshow. But I do think it's realistic, even if it ticks me off.

What really strikes me is the conversation Shima has with his friends at the store about how if he gives a present to Mitsumi, it might mean that she likes him. The thing is, she already likes him. And she's being so cautious about that. She doesn't want to screw up a good thing, and at the same time, I think that's what Shima's doing as well. I think he does like her, even if he doesn't realize it, but he doesn't want to give up their friendship dynamic. I really hope that they stay friends for a while and sort out their feelings individually before delving into a relationship together.

Makoto's arc was really good! I do wonder if there was a reason why Yuzuki was pushing it so hard, but she wasn't wrong in that the boy really did have feelings for Makoto, or at least felt some romantic inklings. I really like Makoto and Yuzuki's friendship, I think it's really special.

Egashira continues to be one of the most intriguing characters in this series. She is so adamant on liking Shima because he's popular, not because of who he is, and that is so, so interesting. Her close relationship with Nao-chan is something that is really special to me, I think it will help her realize that she doesn't have to develop feelings for people or pretend to develop feelings for people out of a desire to be loved. Her jealousy towards Mitsumi over even little things like showing her the disastrous attempt at makeup, and then even bigger things like her friendship with Shima, is something I think will manifest in either a really mature way or a really uncomfortable and big way. We'll just have to see!

And then chapter 29. Oh my god. Wow. I have never seen such an honest and nuanced way in a manga, mind you, to depict the transgender experience. I really, really felt for Nao-chan here. It's obvious that she misses her family, and having Mitsumi with her in the city means that she gets to have a piece of her hometown with her, but also she was so miserable when she was living there because she couldn't be herself. I really felt for her when Mitsumi was playing with flower crowns and she wanted to be someone that could fit a flower crown. And then Mitsumi giving her a flower bracelet and saying that she suited it!! AH! No, this entire volume is so meaningful. I think her relationship with Mitsumi is so tender and special. I really enjoy how she gives her advice saying that she doesn't need to rush anything, whether it be makeup or relationships, and that she can take her time when it comes to completing milestones like that, if she even wants to complete them. This series is so wonderful. Ah!

[☽｡⋆ Naidah ₊˚ෆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh. The romance is slowly romancing 🫣 this is too cute

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stand out parts are the female friendship and Nao chan’s memory of becoming her true self. Also the introspect our ML does so interesting.

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this volume just as much as the previous ones! I was laughing and grinning throughout the entire book.

Sidenote: I really loved the mini comic of Shima and his brother! It was soooo adorable!!

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah yeah money is nice but what if I just bought the next 5 volumes immediately. Then what.

It's just so sweet. I can't.

[ToBooksWithLuv · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5⭐️

necesito ya la segunda temporada
(la historia de nao-chan 🥹)

[zatannalover17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

just finished the anime and i’m so in love with the storyline😞 SHIMAMITSU ROMANCE WILL HAPPEN, I BELIEVE IT!!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that the school festival is done, it’s November and that means exams plus the slow arrival of Christmas and the inexorable follow-up of Valentine’s Day. Romance is in the air, but it’s not coming from the places you might expect… Not any time soon, anyway.

Some series don’t necessarily scream ‘anime adaptation’, but I’m glad that this is getting one. This volume firmly established it as one of the best shojo high school stories I’ve read. The romance, sure, it’s fine, but the trappings are what make this.

There’s a perfect chapter where the perspective switches back and forth between the girls being very romance chatty and such, interspersed with what the guys think, which, while not as crass as it could be (thankfully), does feel especially accurate to the difference in the two genders sometimes (the ending to this is wonderfully juvenile on both sides).

And there’s a ton of introspection from everybody and it’s all wonderful. Mika has a bittersweet recognition of the limits of her crush now that she and Mitsumi are friends, Yuzu continues to be annoyed by everybody trying to date her because of her looks, and Makoto and Mitsumi develop feelings and stuff.

Mitsumi’s realization that she’s starting to have feelings and that they’re for Shima is portrayed wonderfully and we get an absolutely hysterical fantasy sequence of her shojo ideal (the way the art changes for this is so, so good) out of it, plus some other excellent gags.

But Makoto, oh lord, poor Makoto. Despite being the most reserved cast member, she winds up on a solo adventure with her friendly senpai from her club. She goes all out (the Yuzu and Makoto friendship is possibly my favourite part of this series) and ends up getting a real backhanding (metaphorically) during this attempted date.

Except not - this story is a testament to friendship and also about having a little more faith in yourself. It’s really well done across the board. Not only in how easy it is to take something the wrong way when you have low self-esteem, but also in showing how good friends are just there when you need them to be.

Right before Christmas can turn into a girls party KFC-binge, the boys throw themselves into the mix for some bowling and Shima’s got the gutter ball heard ‘round the manga, except he’s the only one who notices. We now enter the very awkward ‘mutual attraction but too scared to rock the boat’ phase of our leads’ relationship.

Could it get any better? Oh, well, I guess, if you mean a lot of focus on Nao-chan and how she came to the point in her life where she transitioned and how Mitsumi was there for her (a truly adorable tale), then sure, it definitely could. Nao has been amazing as the voice of adult wisdom, but seeing how she got there is some good backstory.

This has been a somewhat slow manga, but what we get here truly drives home the point that you can take enough time as you like as long as you’re doing something with it. Most of the characters we’ve met along the way have been interesting and spreading the focus to the side cast pays off huge here. It’s as much about friendship as romance and that friendship aspect is shockingly well done.

5 stars - I genuinely think this is the best volume of Skip & Loafer we’ve seen and, while it is taking its sweet time with the romance side, it has so much to explore in the meantime that you don’t even notice. Huge recommendation.

[Andrea Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan, I enjoy it so much. I thought it would be a simple love story but it was so much more than that, it was about family and friendship. They are just kids who are trying to have fun with their classmates and survive exam season, love is not the main character. There are not plane characters, all of them have an interesting backstory and their thoughts and emotions. It's just their first year and they accomplished so much together. All the storyline was so nice, I thought it was too good to be true and something might go wrong at any moment but the entire class was so kind. I'm looking forward to the next volume. <3 <3<3

[Milo (if lost, return to hot fictional character) · Rating 4 out of 5]

shima actually liking mitsumi >>

[Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tag urself I’m Shima’s brother showing him Dino pictures

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

QUE DELÍCIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA a Mitsumi e o Shima finalmente percebendo que gostam um do outro mas com medo demais de fazer alguma coisa e mudar o relacionamento deles!!!!!!!!! gosto tanto desses dois tontos, meu deus 😭

também muito lindinho a Mitsumi pedindo ajuda pras amigas pra aprender a se maquiar e que lindo gancho pra aprofundar ainda mais a relação da Makoto e da Yuzu!!!!! adorei a Yuzu ajudando a Makoto a se arrumar pro date-que-não-é-date!!! mal posso esperar pra ver MAIS do relacionamento dessas duas!!

dito tudo isso chorei em público lindo o flashback da tia Nao lmaooooooooo muito lindo ver como a relação dela e da Mitsumi começou lááááá atrás, quando a Mitsumi era uma criancinha de quatro anos fazendo pulseira de florzinha pra tia que ainda não tinha se assumido, e retomar a conversa das duas sobre autocuidado uns capítulos atrás nesse mesmo volume. amo todo mundo nesse mangá 🤧🤧🤧🤧❤️

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I caught up with the manga because what are exams lol. Anyways, my favourite quotes would be:

1. “You can’t get angry or upset at someone unless you empathise with them.”

2. (This one felt like being doused in cold water, not ice cold! But still cold.) You must have received plenty of love, to not be able to care about how others see you.

The second one reminded me of a friend who I drifted apart from. Her way of saying this to me was far less contemptuous and with a different context but same message regardless. Really made me think about how I’ve always been blessed in terms of the people I have known through life.

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goddddddd… before the last volume, I didn’t even realize that detail about Auntie Nao… And now reading this volume and seeing some of her past… It hurts. But damn. She’s healing and living her best life now!!!! And yes, I’m so looking forward to that summer road trip with Auntie Nao, Mitsumi and her friends!!!!

Oh and how could I forget about Mitsumi finally realizing her feelings about Shima?!? It’s freakin adorable and Shima is shining brighter… He’s on his way to genuine happiness!