スキップとローファー 6 [Skip to Loafer 6]

スキップとローファー [Skip to Loafer] #6

by Misaki Takamatsu

岩倉美津未、15歳。東京の高偏差値高校に首席入学！　それを機に上京した彼女は、勉強こそできるものの、過疎地育ちゆえに同世代コミュ経験がとぼしい。そのうえちょっと天然で、慣れない都会の高校はなかなかムズカシイ！　だけど、そんな「みつみちゃん」のまっすぐでまっしろな存在感が、本人も気づかないうちにクラスメイトたちをハッピーにしていく！　そわそわするバレンタインの季節から気づけば１年生も残りわずか、大切な友だちと過ごす高１ライフを一日一日ゆっくり大切に。各メディアから広く注目を集める共感度MAXのスクール・ライフ・コメディの最新第６巻は、ときどき不協和音スレスレだけど友情も恋心もゆっくり加速しつつ、いよいよ第１学年課程修了です！

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

182 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 22, 2021

About the author

Name (in native Japanese): 高松美咲

Reviews

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

actually really liked this volume! The friendships are just too cute😭

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

Their friendships are getting tighter, but every beginning has an ending. In this volume, Iwakura Mitsumi's circle of friends gets bigger as Shima Sousuke and his friends Mukai and Yamada joined the group when they realized that they always find themselves as a group. As the end of the first year of high school ends, they find themselves nervous about what the second term will be and if they will still be together...

Also, I would love to see Mukai and Mika as a couple! I love this so much!! I hope to see the next volume, I know there is!

Up to this point, I love that the author is keeping it simple and relaxed. The romance is there, but this is getting more slice of life and friendship than the actual romance, although not disappointing in that way, since it's only the 6th volume. I wouldn’t want to rush it too. I prefer this premise any day rather than the clichéd love triangle or any other heavy issues ann dramas.

See also my review in Volume 1

[literarylesbian · Rating 4 out of 5]

when there’s less than 50 reviews 😭

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valentine’s Day brings the expected levels of drama to the cast, but maybe not (as often happens with this series) the way you expect. Mitsumi has her birthday, goes on a hair-raising misadventure, and looms large in others’ lives, even if she doesn’t realize it.

If the art was better, this would be the perfect shojo. As it is, it is the perfect shojo that has art I am mostly indifferent on, but doesn’t do much for me at the end of the day. This story would be great with stick figures, that being said.

With my usual qualms out of the way, let’s remind ourselves of just how good this story is at presenting the woeful awkwardness of the teenager in all its cringe glory. From that moment when you thought you could do your own hair no problem to letting somebody down easily, it’s all here.

One small detail I especially like is that Mitsumi’s birthday winds up in the middle of exams, so she’s forced to work her way through celebrations and can’t do a big thing with her friends. Which, of course, leaves her amazing aunt, Nao, right? Right? Yeah, about that…

I feel like Nao, besides being a fantastic character doing some amazing representation for manga, low-key steals so many of the best moments in a series that has a lot of them. Her turn in this volume is fantastic and seeing her life is always so fascinating.

It’s subtle but obvious that something is up with Nao early on, but the revelation of what that is and the complicated emotions behind it are beautifully portrayed and so believably gnarled that it’s some of the sharpest character writing I’ve seen in ages.

Honestly, every examination that the mangaka focuses on is brilliant. It’s very hard to narrow down specific good points because I think this is a seminal work of shojo at this stage. Yeah, the romance is quiet and very between the lines, but that’s really okay.

The entirety of the Valentine’s Day section is kind of a masterpiece, as Mika fumbles her way through a polite ‘thanks but no thanks’ and some criticism that ends up forcing her to address her own inability to confess to Shima (and just might see her happy in the end). That’s the main drama, but there’s tons of other solid parts swirling around it.

There’s a lot of other good stuff, including a nice but exuberant guy who can’t figure out why he keeps finishing last. But that’s the beauty of this series, truly - it isn’t afraid to have its characters mess up or have failings. These are not just one note ciphers and they get the space to breathe (and be funny!).

I think that’s the other key - these characters are growing and it shows. That growth is handled well and presented in a way that is refreshingly different from a lot of traditional shojo. This is in a similar vein, but also delightfully unique.

I think the one part that sticks in my craw is Shima having a discussion with the drama guy about always being judged by your most successful work. I get the point, but, whether intentional or not, it feels so meta-textual that he might as well look directly at the reader to say it. Still, small potatoes in the grand scheme of things.

5 stars - this manga kind of snuck up on me with how good it truly was and it’s going to soon become one of my default recommendations for anybody looking to read a good shojo. I could really spend another six paragraphs dissecting every good point about it and that’s strong praise.

[urbooo 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅ · Rating 5 out of 5]

the friendship between everyone literally has me tearing up

[maya ☆ (is furiously studying!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

girl, it's valentines day and white day!!! and this is an egashira and yamada appreciation post, okay? everytime i read some skip and loafer, i am happy and giddy. evertyime, i am back to being a 14 year old girl and i am daydreaming about a highschool boyfriend or girlfriend.

egashira truly is a complex girl, she's flawed, a bit of an asshole but isn't proud of it, se feels undeserving of love and affection :( but she's relatable!!! she's self-aware and sticks to her personality even though she wishes she could change. in this volume, she faces her fear of rejection and i love her for that okay? egashira is me, egashira is us idc. she's opened herself up to loving freely even when it's heard, open to love and its tribulations. she's gritty in someway and i think she deserves great things in her life, for exemple, a bf which i hope will be mukai. mukai has been trying to get over himself and learn more about egashira as he apologizes to her. i rlly hope they get to know and appreciate each other. #egashiralove

there's a little part on different philosophies on love between yamada and mitsumi and they think about it on their part and i just wanna say that yamada would be so much more appreciated in western dating. he learns more about his differences with murashige on affections and it was refreshing! i love how he keeps that in mind but still stays himself.

so as i live vicariously thru shima and mitsumi slow burn teenage romance, i just be screaming for anything like shima noticing the little thingssss about mitsumiiii AAAAAAAAAAAA shima is so cute and mitsumi is so earnest and honest, i know i've said this like 7 times now online but god i love them so much , i will never not love them. they are so genuine and present, they never cease to make me squirm of cuteness.

i can never get enough of this manga

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect cozy book for lazy Sunday afternoon 😌

[Angeliki · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite things to do before heading to bed is reading, I mean we’re all on this app so I can assume that most people like to finish up their day reading. When I snuggled up in my bed, three covers, warm fuzzy socks, and a thick sweater (it’s freezing and has been snowing nonstop for three days), I was transported into the cute and calm world of Skip and Loafer. Volume six proved to show its continuation of character growth, having the students mature from first to second years, and navigating exams while also celebrating Mitsumi’s birthday. That being said, Mitsumi and Shima take a step back in this volume, focusing more on Mika and Nao. Mika really shows her complexities of self hate, and her internalized fat phobia, how she is repulsed that anyone would like her after successfully losing a large amount of weight, she believes no one would love her because of what she thinks she still sees in the mirror. And I felt very seen when she said that she is worthy of love and respect.

Nao also steals the show by also explaining to a friend how they realize they are jealous of Mitsumi, due to Nao wanting to express a different gender growing up, but not being accepted in their small town. I felt that was so real and honest, that Nao loves Mitsumi but can recognize her jealousy. I think that Nao and Mika are both growing into the persons that they see themselves as, not just what society, bullies, or destiny wants you to be. I’m surprised since I didn’t like them at the start at all. I’m still enjoying the subtlety of romance, and that the kids are feeling more comfortable with one another. The artwork for me is unique and simple, while also showing an attention to detail in the clothing design, and in its use of shadowing.

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite character right now is Yuzu Chan, and I can completely relate to her suffering when she was put in a different class then her friends and her anxiety about starting over and establishing new friends while many around you still view you as something you were in the past. She is a supporting character, but if she had been the primary one, I would have made her my whole personality.

[Sölva · Rating 5 out of 5]

“i’m so glad. i am allowed to fall in love…”
brb sobbing

once again i am absolutely captivated by another volume of skip and loafer.
the side characters really make this series what it is !! love love love

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love a Valentine's Day Episode <3 I can't help drawing a connection to (and getting a little confused with) Kimi No Todoke--all of the side characters are so similar, though our main characters are obviously quite different, especially the FMC. Such a cute series so far and I'm curious how a romantic relationship will play out in future volumes.

[helen]

This has to be my favorite yet!! Shima and Mitsumi's storylines never disappoint, but I really enjoyed learning more about the others, not just bits and pieces, but their thoughts and feelings as well.
Overall, it was just so cute and wholesome!

[IvyInThePages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.86 leaves out of 5
Characters: 4.8/5
Cover (+art): 4.90/5
Story: 4.75/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre: Romance/SoL/Seinen
Type: Manga
Worth?: Yes

Hated|Disliked|It Was Okay|Liked|Loved

Still enjoying myself, starting to get a lil tired of the main two dancing around the bush though.

[kutingtin · Rating 4 out of 5]

i enjoyed the zoo date & the sleepoover! 🥰 nao chan is ❤️

[Kurisu Roku · Rating 5 out of 5]

M'encanten les vibes d'aquesta serie

[EJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

made me tear up i love her aunt so much

[Hesbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series melts my heart 😭😭🥺 I adore these characters. Their struggles are so real. The interactions are so genuine. I want to be in this world.

[anna gascón · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best One

[YellowPaige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skip to Loafer

(This review reflects my thoughts on all the six volumes I've read.)

My friend cannot stop recommending this to me so I thought I'd give it a try. And it didn't disappoint. This manga is the ultimate fluff. It's sweet and full of humor. The plot is well-developed. It had the right amount of innocence and maturity combined together. It's a real gem!

The characters are really likable. But the one who takes the top for me is Iwakura. It's just so refreshing to have the main female character be portrayed as pure and innocent without making her an airhead (which can be cute at first, then will become annoying as the series goes on). Iwakura is really a breath of fresh air. She's very lovable.

Lastly, the familial relationship, especially between Mitsumi and her aunt, is very heart-warming. Also, the ambiance of Mitsumi's hometown really felt like home. I just can't wait for more. ^^

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so I don't usually rate or review manga on goodreads but I just have to give a special shout out to my fav <3 today was rough and I was having trouble finding anything that would at least let me escape from my brain, but y'all- this is it. Skip and Loafer is THAT girl. I got so happy just seeing that volume 6 was at the store even before I read it. I love that it's like seasonally themed, that makes me so happy. I love that the two mcs are sunshine x sunshine :) I love that it's slow burn (as it should be since they are so smol and precious), and a story about growing up and having passion and ambitions, and I love the friend aspect between the girls and the boys too. I just love Mitsumi and Shima so much ♡ and I love how much perspective we got from Egashira and Mukai this volume (I actually think they would be cute together too eek!) Any way, i highly recommend this manga, it makes me so happy and I smile every time I read it!

[エミリア · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the complexity of Egashira character. Those characters that are assholes, know it, and aren't proud of it are the best kind. They're in constant battle with themselves and their self-esteem. It's great to watch. Her commentary too. "I want someone that sees my wretchedness in full view. That's why I'll never be loved back". She wants someone good and kind, she wants everything she is not. She herself recognizes her flaws, but she can't help it. IT'S SO INTERESTING. Love it.

And AAAA not Shima noticing every little details about Mitsumi!!

Anyway Nao chan centric chapter is always heartwarming <333 My source of ‘fuwa- fuwa’ for now never getting disappointed!

[Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the milk scene best

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

The weeks and months trickle by, but romance is none the easier to navigate. Spring has arrived. The school year is almost up. And it's time for Mitsumi and her friends to prick and pry their way through Valentine's Day, mindful of a few errant contemplations on relational compatibility. SKIP AND LOAFER v6 is a low-key volume with a handful of deliciously meaningful chapters.

The book's biggest emotional lift comes early, with two episodes dedicated to viewing the eponymous February pseudo-holiday through the eyes of one Mika Egashira, the try-hard stylish girl. Mika's increasing emotional vulnerability is the manga's most visible character arc thus far. Valentine's Day, unsurprisingly, pushes the girl to the brink, due in no small part to a few snide comments from Tsukasa Mukai, Sousuke's childhood buddy. Tsukasa is trying to play both sides of the conversation (e.g., girls are catty and relationship-obsessed; girls should only pursue relationships that are mutually appealing), which leads two a few blow-up scenes in which Mika flashes her true colors: embarrassed teen, fierce socialite, ambitious young woman, resilient best friend.

SKIP AND LOAFER v6 tiptoes around the possibility of Mitsumi and Sousuke chatting awkwardly about sharing chocolates and whatnot, and that's probably for the best. Too many comedy-romance manga have done this before. And to the reader's benefit, several pages are offered to a secondary character: Kento Yamada, the excitable classmate who pines for a relationship just to have one.

Kento admits he doesn't "get" girls, and longs more for friendship than a relationship, per se. But his interaction with Mitsumi, who promptly puts the young man in his place, is a solid example of how this comic book invests its creative energy into observing how characters' growth ably feed off one another. Funnily enough, Kenta may be an idiot, but he's also sincere. He doesn't mind being "the loveable rascal," but has some trouble adapting to women who consistently endeavor to hold their own. It's an interesting, realistic dynamic. The boys in this comic book mumble and stutter and lose their train of thought; their confidence wavers on the wind, impulsive enough to be genuine, but lacking the ambition one might credit as purely pretentious.

Another lovely volume of another lovely manga. Honestly, if this volume only included the first two chapters, focusing on Mika's emotional hardiness, SKIP AND LOAFER v6 would have been worth the purchase. And yet, the manga's swiveling view of growing up and falling in love, and preparing for the worst and hoping for the best, from multiple characters at multiple life stages, is as rewarding as ever.

[Eressea · Rating 4 out of 5]

這部劇雖然也是青春校園戀愛老哽連發
不過氣氛溫馨，青少年的迷罔描寫也十分到位

但....英譯本於我最大的困擾是
常常每個字都看得懂，合起來看不懂
或是句子看得懂，可是覺得跟圖像的劇情搭不起來
後者還把句子丟進狗大神翻譯
確認自己的理解應該沒錯
但反覆看還是還是覺得跟前後圖像要說的劇情不合

看不懂，好煩躁QQ
但等不到下一集更煩躁
花了六集過一年，終於要升高二了
是否可合理推測二十集左右會完結?
動畫出來後不知道有沒有機會出台版

[cami]

IM SORRY I LOVE THIS. I love cutesy mangas that are silly and focus on highschool friendships. Omg as i type this i remember im going to be a senior in a few weeks. NOOO

[karla⁹ ⛈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ya se van a cambiar de clase y nadie está haciendo nada ayudaaaaaaaa 😭😭😭😭

[Rocío García]

Esta historia te cura el alma. Es que les quiero muchísimo a todos, son tan reales, tan majos... Mitsumi es la mejor persona, es que quiero ser así en la vida.

[Hoppipolla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5
Está muy bien, pero no es mí seinen favorito

[luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

this one was 100 percent my favorite volume of the series so far

[leti · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐ vaya tomo de relleno no me jodas