Ayumu’s shogi game is still lagging behind Yaotome’s, so it hardly seems likely they’ll be dating any time soon. Still, with field day looming, Ayumu gets the chance to really show off, but will the stars align to let him seize the day?
With the exciting new volume shine worn off, we plunge into this latest release and find… it’s still pretty darn good. This tale hinges on a very silly premise and two characters who are one hormone away from jumping one another, but that’s why it’s fun.
It’s not really a question of if here, these goofs are crazy in love, but the when is the obvious problem. This does let them be a little mushier in a different way than the norm and I like the alternate vibe it gives it.
They also cleverly address the premise yet again when Ayumu improves his game just a little bit and he thinks of breaking his rules in what can only be described as a sudden onrush of common sense, only for Yaotome to unintentionally nip things succinctly in the bud.
And so it continues. In the meantime, while we wait for the cauldron to bubble over, sports day! Yaotome has no preconceptions about her sporting ability, but then it turns out that she kind of does. Even some well-intentioned meddling can’t seem to give her a leg (or three) up.
This section lets Ayumu score a solid win, but also establishes his bonafides as a spectacularly good partner. His declaration to Yaotome is enough to give one the vapours. It’s very sweet and I love the balance the mangaka strikes between him being reserved, yet still emotive and caring.
Of course, the shogi club isn’t a proper club yet and Ayumu wants to grant that wish (pure monkey’s paw fuel, as it turns out). Which leads to the introduction of yet another truly bizarre couple who can’t manage to pair themselves together.
Ayumu’s brash friend spends a lot of time at the library desk with his mutual crush who is so shy she can’t really look at him. Make no mistake, she wears the proverbial pants though - much as my tolerance for five-yen-coin-hypnosis is precariously low, her ability and his susceptibility are a very daft running gag (he’s quite well aware that she’s doing this and doesn’t protest half as hard as he could).
And she ends up using it largely to maintain Ayumu and Yaotome’s privacy in the face of an exuberant junior who knows what’s going on but has a strange code of honour when it comes to clubs. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention her amazing hair, which is the strangest I have ever seen in a manga. Ever. It’s quite the style.
Between these two and Yaotome’s supportive/pushy gal pal, well, nothing much happens, but they try, at least. And it helps to have a little extra complication to things. None of them are bad additions to the cast and the whole ‘new club member’ storyline ends in one heck of a sound effect (you earned it, Ayumu).
I mean, if you’ve had your fill of these types of ‘waiting for the coupling’ stories, yeah, this probably won’t change your mind (and you must not read much shojo, phew). But if you have room in your heart for one more that’s not quite the usual, you could do worse than this one.
4 stars - it’s probably not quite to that level, but I rather adore this series so discretionary points and all that. It’s not only a cute romance, but it’s one with a different flavour and I really like that.